Packaging insulation for insertion into a packaging container, which includes an air laid natural fibrous batt comprised primarily of natural fibers, having foldable paper sheet material adhered to both sides of the batt. The resulting method and product provides packaging insulation which can be shipped flat and compressed, which expands when unpacked and which can be readily folded to match the interior configuration of a shipping container, such as a cardboard box.

A box assembly includes an exterior piece including a middle portion; a connecting segment coupled to the middle portion by a fold line; and a end segment coupled to the connecting segment by a fold line, the connecting segment positioned substantially perpendicular to the middle portion and the end segment; an interior piece positioned within the exterior piece, the interior piece including a side panel, a space defined between the middle portion and the side panel, the interior piece defining a cavity, the end segment extending into the cavity, the end segment coupled to the side panel; and an insulator positioned at least partially within the space.

A compostable wall includes a solid inner sheet and a solid outer sheet, both formed primarily of molded plant fiber. The inner sheet and the outer sheet are joined together along adjacent edges to form a generally planar body having a length of at least 2 feet, a width of at least 2 feet, a thickness that is less than the length and width, and an interior space between the inner sheet and the outer sheet. The interior space contains one or more of air, starch or loose plant fiber.

A storage and shipping container system for a set of specific related components, such as multiple blood products, which conveys the components in pre-determined ratios, having a thermally-insulated main container with a plurality of internal chambers, and at least one attached auxiliary container which is thermally-insulated. Optionally, the system is provided with wheels and a collapsible handle for easy movement of one system, and configured for stacking of multiple similar systems for bulk transportation.

An expandable shipping container may be selectively expandable from a collapsed configuration to an expanded configuration by applying pressure to the sides of the container. The shipping container may include an inner structure having mirroring halves, each having a central rectangular face panel with bendable rectangular top, left, right, and bottom partial face panels extending from its sides and a square-shape corner panel positioned between each pair of partial face panels. The expandable shipping container may also include a flexible barrier covering an exterior of the inner structure and forming seams between one or more pairs of partial face panels of each half of the inner structure. The corner panels and left and right partial face panels of each half may include diagonal scorelines that, in conjunction with other scorelines, allow the container to be folded in a manner that facilitates convenient expansion.

A machine for transitioning a box cutout from a flat configuration to a collapsed box configuration includes a first drive wheel configured to drive a box cutout towards a plunging area; a plunger configured to apply force to a central portion of a bottom panel of the box cutout so as to fold the box about a lateral bisecting axis and propel at least a portion of the box cutout downward; and opposed second and third drive wheels configured to grab a box cutout propelled downward by the plunger and further draw the box cutout downward into a collapsed box configuration within a collection area. A box cutout transitioned to a collapsed box configuration in this manner may include a bottom panel having plurality of unbroken minor score lines and broken major score lines.

The invention relates to a smart thermal insulation box, including thermally insulated layers with mitered edges forming a thermally insulated space, and said space surrounded by corrugated material. The box also has externally viewable and operable temperature and humidity sensors, and optionally, a vibration sensor, where the sensors are preferably fixed inside the box to one side. One of the cardboard panels forming the top of the box which overlays the insulation layer has a window configured to overlay the display panel. An audible alert system may also be included to alert users to temperature or humidity excursions.

A box has a bottom panel, first and second side panels, a front panel, and a rear panel defining an interior space of the box, and a top panel serving as a lid covering the interior space. The top panel includes a front tab having an adhesive strip laterally extending across a distal portion of the front tab for securing the front tab to the front panel when the lid covers the interior space; and lines of perforations extending across a proximal portion of the front tab, the lines of perforation defining a tear strip for releasing the top panel from the front panel. The adhesive strip comprises a protective peelable liner. The adhesive strip extends completely across the proximal portion of the front tab from the first lateral side to the second lateral side.

A container for storage and shipping of objects includes a lid assembly having two configurations and an open-top box. In the first configuration the container can be loaded with objects for storage or collection while limiting physical and visual access to the contents of the box and in the second configuration, the container is sealed for shipping. The lid assembly contains side flaps which may be used to stabilize the lid assembly in the first configuration, and in the second configuration, secure the lid assembly to the open-top box. Preferably, the container is formed from one contiguous blank. The blank is preferably made of corrugated cardboard but may be formed from any substantially rigid material. The container is thermally protected with a flame-retardant treatment, such as a thermally protective lining.

Disclosed is a box assembly including an exterior piece comprising a middle portion, and an upper portion joined to the middle portion; and an interior piece positioned within the exterior piece, the interior piece defining a cavity and comprising a side panel, the side panel comprising a top interior portion, the side panel and the middle portion of the exterior piece defining a space therebetween, the upper portion of the exterior piece covering the space and the top interior portion of the side panel, and a bottom panel joined to the side panel.