A modular, top-loading, food transport cabinet and serving platform apparatus is disclosed in various embodiments. The food transport cabinet and serving platform is advantageous because it is alternatively configurable in both a transport condition (e.g., for transporting or delivering prepared food while maintaining a desired (hot or cold) temperature of the food) and a serving condition (e.g., presenting the prepared food for serving while maintaining a desired (hot or cold) temperature of the food). The apparatus can be configured to accommodate various food presentation and serving requirements and arrangements, including heating (e.g., chafing or direct heat) and chilling (e.g., ice) without having to remove the food items to be presented and served from the food transport cabinet to a special serving platform.

A cooler capable of achieving a sufficient temperature gradient between an inside of the cooler and an outside of the cooler such that at least a partial vacuum forms within the cooler may include an enclosure defined by at least one wall and a lid. The lid may form a relatively airtight seal with a wall of the cooler when in a closed position. A vacuum release assembly may be disposed in one of the walls or lid of the cooler, the assembly being capable of reducing a pressure differential between the enclosure and the outside of the cooler.

An insulating container can be configured to retain a volume of liquid, and include a first inner wall having a first end having an opening extending into an internal reservoir, and a second outer wall forming an outer shell. The opening can be sealed by a closure, the closure having an upper portion with a handle that has a circular curvature equal to the cylindrical portion of the closure. The closure may also have a lower portion that is joined to the upper portion by an injection molded polymer element. The closure may also be in the form of “flip” type of closure such that the lid can be selectably opened or closed by the user by rotating a flip closure into either the opened or closed position. The closure may also be a two-part lid having a lower cap that may be configured to be removably-coupled to the container and an upper cap that may be configured to be removably-coupled to the lower cap.

A refrigerated cargo container includes multiple exterior walls defining an exterior volume. Each of the exterior walls is thermally insulating. The container also includes multiple interior walls that define an interior volume within exterior walls. Each of the interior walls is thermally conductive. At least one fluid circuit is disposed between the plurality of exterior walls and the plurality of interior walls. The at least one fluid circuit including an inlet and an outlet and are configured to contain a super cooled fluid.

The disclosed technology includes a passive temperature controlled container for passively maintaining a specified temperature range in a storage chamber of the container for a predetermined amount of time. The passive temperature controlled container may be configured to have an inner PCM layer and an outer PCM layer, with an air chamber layer between the two PCM layers to allow for the free movement of air around all six sides of the container.

A disposable cooler can include: (1) a body having a base and a plurality of support walls coupled to the base, the plurality of support walls and the base defining an interior cavity of the body, and the plurality of support walls extending upwardly from the base to form an opening at an upper terminus of the body in fluid communication with the interior cavity; (2) a lid configured to reversibly couple with the body, the lid shaped to cover the opening of the body; and (3) a handle for carrying the cooler which is extends along a first support wall, the base, an opposite support wall, and above and beyond the lid so that a user can carry and/or transport the cooler with one hand while keeping the other hand free. The body, lid, and handle can be made entirely of a compostable, recyclable, and/or biodegradable.

A vacuum-insulated container (1) comprises a container body (2) and a container lid (3). The container body (2) is formed from an inner body shell (8) and an outer body shell (6), which are both made of a metal material. A core (7) is provided between the inner body (shell 8) and the outer body shell (6), and a seal (11) connects to (flanges 12) of the inner body shell (8) and the outer body shell (6), so as to define an intermediate vacuum space (10) surrounding the core (7). A compressible gasket (17) is provided to protect the seal (11). The lid (103) has two pair of fasteners (122) hingedly connected to opposing sides of the lid (103). Each of the fasteners (122) is releasably connectable to the body (102) whilst the lid is in a closed position with respect to the body.

The present invention provides a thermally insulated shipping container 1 comprising a thermally insulating layer 5 defining a first void, a main layer 9, 10, 11 containing phase change material (main PCM layer) within the first void and defining a second void within the first void, a barrier layer 12 containing phase change material (barrier PCM layer) within the second void and distinct from the main PCM layer, the barrier PCM layer 12 defining a third void within the second void, the container being arranged to receive a product for transportation inside of the third void, wherein the main PCM layer 9, 10, 11 has an average thickness greater than the average thickness of the barrier PCM layer 12, the barrier PCM layer 12 comprises of an envelope in which the phase change material of the barrier PCM layer 12 is contained and the barrier PCM layer 12 is configured to maintain the phase change material with a relatively even distribution within the envelope.

A solar powered warming container apparatus for keeping food warm for prolonged periods of time includes a container body having a container sidewall, a container bottom, and an open container top side. The container body stores warm food. A plurality of heating coils is coupled within the container body. A lid has a lid bottom side is selectively engageable with the container sidewall to seal the container top side. The lid is fully separable from the container body. A solar panel is coupled to a lid top side. A converter is coupled within the lid and is in operational communication with the solar panel and with the plurality of heating coils. A power switch is in operational communication with the plurality of heating coils to selectively turn on or off the heating coils when the converter is supplying power to the plurality of heating coils.

A container assembly for holding containers filled with different items, such as food and cocktail garnishes is disclosed. The container assembly includes a support structure to support a plurality of removable containers. The containers are closed by a cover and sealed by perimeter seals. In illustrated embodiments, the cover includes a plurality of raised or dome shaped portions to provide interior head room for content in the containers. In embodiments described, the perimeter seals are formed of a gasket layer or bands and the support structure includes a support tray and container box.