RECYCLABLE, THERMALLY INSULATED SHIPPING CONTAINER WITH PACKED, LOOSE-FILL ORGANIC INSULATION AND PCM BLADDER INSERT

Abstract

A recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container is entirely constructed from organic fiber materials in such a manner that the container is curbside recyclable without separation of component materials. The container includes a corrugated cardboard outer box having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall, a corrugated cardboard inner liner assembly comprising a corrugated cardboard inner box having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls, and a corrugated cardboard lid assembly. The outer box, inner liner assembly and lid assembly cooperate to create a plurality of thermally insulated cavities which are filled and uniformly packed with predetermined volumes of loose-fill cellulose (organic fiber) insulation to create a predetermined insulating value. The container provides a fully insulated six-sided product cavity to receive a temperature-controlled product. A portion of the product cavity may be filled with a PCM or other thermal media to provide a consistent temperature profile.

Claims

1. A recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container comprising: an outer box having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall; an inner liner assembly comprising an inner box having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls defining a product cavity, said inner liner assembly further comprising a liner flange having a continuous top shelf portion, a plurality of outer securing tabs projecting downwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the top shelf portion, and a plurality of inner securing tabs projecting downwardly from an inner peripheral edge of the top shelf portion, said inner securing tabs being received within the sidewalls of the inner box and secured to inner surfaces of said inner box sidewalls, said outer securing tabs being received within the sidewalls of the outer box and secured to inner surfaces of said outer box sidewalls, said inner liner assembly and said outer box cooperating to form a first thermal insulating cavity between said respective sidewalls; a strengthening panel received within a bottom portion of the outer box and positioned in adjacent facing relation with the bottom wall of the inner box, said outer box bottom wall and sidewalls and said strengthening panel cooperating to form a second thermal insulating cavity; a loose-fill organic fiber insulation being filled and packed within said first and second thermal insulating cavities to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value; and a PCM bladder configured and arranged to receive and retain a flowable phase change material preconditioned at a predetermined temperature, said PCM bladder being removably received within the product cavity.

2. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 1 further comprising a thermally insulated lid assembly, said thermally insulated lid assembly comprising a lid box having a bottom wall, a top wall and a plurality of sidewalls cooperating to define a thermal insulating lid cavity, and a loose-fill cellulose insulation being filled and packed within said thermal insulating lid cavity to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value, said inner liner assembly being secured within said outer box such that the shelf portion is positioned below the top wall thereof to create a lid cavity above said shelf portion and below said top wall, said thermally insulated lid assembly being received within said lid cavity.

3. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 1, wherein said outer box, said liner flange and said inner box are constructed from a wood fiber or plant fiber material.

4. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 1, wherein said wood fiber or plant fiber material is cardboard.

5. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 2, wherein said outer box, said liner flange, said inner box and said lid box are constructed from a wood fiber or plant fiber material.

6. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 5, wherein said wood fiber or plant fiber material is cardboard.

7. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 1 wherein said loose-fill organic fiber insulation is cellulose.

8. The recyclable thermally insulated shipping container of claim 7 wherein said cellulose is packed at a density of between 2 and 6 pounds per cubic foot.

9. The recyclable thermally insulated shipping container of claim 8 wherein said cellulose is packed at a density between 3 and 5 pounds per cubic foot.

10. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 1 wherein said organic fiber insulation provides an insulating value between R2 and R6 per inch of wall thickness.

11. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 7 wherein said organic fiber insulation provides an insulating value between R2 and R6 per inch of wall thickness.

12. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 8 wherein said organic fiber insulation provides an insulating value between R2 and R6 per inch of wall thickness.

13. A recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container comprising: a cardboard outer box having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall; a cardboard inner liner assembly comprising a cardboard inner box having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls defining a product cavity, said inner liner assembly further comprising a cardboard liner flange having a continuous top shelf portion, a plurality of outer securing tabs projecting downwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the top shelf portion, and a plurality of inner securing tabs projecting downwardly from an inner peripheral edge of the top shelf portion, said inner securing tabs being received within the sidewalls of the inner box and secured to inner surfaces of said inner box sidewalls, said outer securing tabs being received within the sidewalls of the outer box and secured to inner surfaces of said outer box sidewalls, said inner liner assembly being secured within said outer box such that the shelf portion is positioned below the top wall thereof to create a lid cavity above said shelf portion and below said top wall, said inner liner assembly and said outer box cooperating to form a side thermal insulating cavity between said respective sidewalls; a loose-fill cellulose insulation being filled and packed within said side thermal insulating cavity to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value a strengthening panel received within a bottom portion of the outer box and positioned in adjacent facing relation with the bottom wall of the inner box; said outer box bottom wall and sidewalls and said strengthening panel cooperating to form a bottom thermal insulating cavity, a loose-fill cellulose insulation being filled and packed within said bottom thermal insulating cavity to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value; and a lid assembly comprising a thermally insulated lid box having a bottom wall, a top wall and a plurality of sidewalls cooperating to define a thermal insulating lid cavity and a loose-fill cellulose insulation being filled and packed within said thermal insulating lid cavity to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value, said thermally insulated lid assembly being received within said lid cavity, and a PCM bladder configured and arranged to receive and retain a flowable phase change material preconditioned at a predetermined temperature, said PCM bladder being removably received within the product cavity.

14. The recyclable thermally insulated shipping container of claim 13 wherein said cellulose is packed at a density of between 2 and 6 pounds per cubic foot.

15. The recyclable thermally insulated shipping container of claim 14 wherein said cellulose is packed at a density between 3 and 5 pounds per cubic foot.

16. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 13 wherein said organic fiber insulation provides an insulating value between R2 and R6 per inch of wall thickness.

17. The recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container of claim 14 wherein said organic fiber insulation provides an insulating value between R2 and R6 per inch of wall thickness.

18. A recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container comprising: an outer box having a bottom wall, a plurality of sidewalls and a top wall; an inner liner assembly comprising an inner box having a bottom wall and a plurality of sidewalls defining a product cavity, said inner liner assembly further comprising a liner flange having a continuous top shelf portion, a plurality of outer securing tabs, and a plurality of inner securing tabs, said inner securing tabs being received within the sidewalls of the inner box, said outer securing tabs being received within the sidewalls of the outer box, said inner liner assembly and said outer box cooperating to form a first thermal insulating cavity between said respective sidewalls; said outer box bottom wall and sidewalls and said inner box cooperating to form a second thermal insulating cavity below said inner box; a loose-fill organic fiber insulation being filled and packed within said first and second thermal insulating cavities to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value; and a PCM bladder configured and arranged to receive and retain a flowable phase change material preconditioned at a predetermined temperature, said PCM bladder being removably received within the product cavity.

19. The shipper of claim 18 further comprising: a strengthening panel received within a bottom portion of the outer box and positioned in adjacent facing relation with the bottom wall of the inner box, said outer box bottom wall and sidewalls and said strengthening panel cooperating to form said second thermal insulating cavity.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] While the specification concludes with claims particularly pointing out and distinctly claiming particular embodiments of the instant invention, various embodiments of the invention can be more readily understood and appreciated from the following descriptions of various embodiments of the invention when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

[0021] FIG. 2 is a top view thereof with the top flaps in a closed and sealed configuration;

[0022] FIG. 3 is a top view thereof with the top flaps open;

[0023] FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

[0024] FIG. 5 is a top view of the inner liner assembly of the present shipping container;

[0025] FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

[0026] FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 7-7;

[0027] FIG. 8 is a top view of the liner flange blank;

[0028] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a liner assembly;

[0029] FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 9

[0030] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of another alternative liner assembly;

[0031] FIG. 12 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 11;

[0032] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a phase change material (PCM) bladder constructed in accordance with the teachings of the present invention;

[0033] FIG. 14 is top view thereof;

[0034] FIG. 15 is a cross-sectional view thereof taken along line 15-15 of FIG. 14;

[0035] FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a filling port;

[0036] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the PCM bladder and a representative product box where the PCM bladder overlays five (5) of the six (6) sides of the product box;

[0037] FIG. 18 is an exploded perspective view of a temperature controlled product shipper including an exemplary PCM bladder of the present invention;

[0038] FIGS. 19-20 are perspective views of an exemplary asymmetrical PCM bladder effective for overlaying six (6) sides of the product box;

[0039] FIGS. 21-22 are perspective views of yet another exemplary embodiment comprising a PCM bladder system having two discrete PCM bladders which are overlaid in coextensive relation;

[0040] FIGS. 23-24 are perspective views of another exemplary embodiment comprising an asymmetric dual PCM bladder system having two discrete PCM bladders which are overlaid in coextensive relation to cover all six (6) sides of the product box;

[0041] FIGS. 25-26 are perspective views of another alternative bladder system effective for overlaying the four side surfaces of the product box;

[0042] FIG. 27 is perspective view of another exemplary dual chamber PCM bladder formed as a single heat sealed construction;

[0043] FIG. 28 is a top view thereof;

[0044] FIG. 29 is a cross-section view thereof taken along line 29-29 of FIG. 28;

[0045] FIG. 30 is an exploded perspective view thereof;

[0046] FIG. 31 is a perspective view of an asymmetrical dual chamber PCM bladder effective for overlaying six (6) sides of the product box; and

[0047] FIG. 32 is a perspective view of an embodiment comprising a dual chamber bladder including a plurality of flutes which divide the bladders into a plurality of sections.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0048] Certain exemplary embodiments will now be described to provide an overall understanding of the principles of the structure, function, manufacture, and use of the device and methods disclosed herein. One or more examples of these embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Those skilled in the art will understand that the devices and methods specifically described herein and illustrated in the accompanying drawings are non-limiting exemplary embodiments and that the scope of the present invention is defined solely by the claims. The features illustrated or described in connection with one exemplary embodiment may be combined with the features of other embodiments. Such modifications and variations are intended to be included within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, in the present disclosure, like-numbered components of the embodiments generally have similar features, and thus within a particular embodiment each feature of each like-numbered component is not necessarily fully elaborated upon. Additionally, to the extent that linear or circular dimensions are used in the description of the disclosed systems, devices, and methods, such dimensions are not intended to limit the types of shapes that can be used in conjunction with such systems, devices, and methods. A person skilled in the art will recognize that an equivalent to such linear and circular dimensions can easily be determined for any geometric shape. Further, to the extent that directional terms like top, bottom, up, or down are used, they are not intended to limit the systems, devices, and methods disclosed herein. A person skilled in the art will recognize that these terms are merely relative to the system and device being discussed and are not universal.

[0049] Referring now to the drawings, a recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated and generally indicated at 10 in FIGS. 1-8.

[0050] As will be more fully described hereinafter, a recyclable, thermally insulated shipping container 10 in accordance with the teachings of the present invention may be entirely constructed from recyclable organic fiber materials (container and insulation) in such a manner that the entire container assembly 10 is curbside recyclable without any separation of component materials.

[0051] The term “recyclable organic fiber” in the context of a box material is intended to include any type of natural wood fiber or plant fiber material which can be provided as a panel or corrugated panel material, such as corrugated cardboard, for forming a box structure.

[0052] The term “recyclable organic fiber” in the context of an insulating material is intended to include any type of natural wood fiber or plant fiber materials which can be provided as a loose-fill insulating material. Exemplary materials include loose-fill cellulose insulation, other non-woven wood or paper materials, rice, hemp, flax, wool, etc.

[0053] The container 10 may include an outer box 12 having a bottom wall 14, a plurality of sidewalls 16 and a top wall 18, an inner liner assembly 20 including an inner box 22 having a bottom wall 24 and a plurality of sidewalls 26, and a lid assembly 28. The outer box 12, inner box 22 and lid assembly, may in some embodiments comprise corrugated cardboard material.

[0054] The outer box 12 may be conventional box construction formed from a box blank secured in a square or rectangular shape along a side wall edge, with top and bottom closure flaps to create a traditional six-sided box.

[0055] The inner box 22 may similarly be conventional box construction forming a square or rectangular five-sided open top box with bottom closure flaps forming the bottom wall 24.

[0056] The inner liner assembly 20 may further consist of a liner flange 30 having a continuous top shelf portion 32, a plurality of outer securing tabs 34 projecting downwardly from an outer peripheral edge of the top shelf portion 32, and a plurality of inner securing tabs 34 projecting downwardly from an inner peripheral edge of the top shelf portion 32. The liner flange 30 may be formed from corrugated cardboard. FIG. 7 illustrates the flange 30 (die cut blank) where it can be seen that the outer tabs 34 are die cut as part of the blank and folded downwardly to provide surfaces to adhere to the outer box 12. The inner tabs 36 are similarly die cut with the blank with inwardly angled cuts 38 forming trapezoidal shaped tabs 36.

[0057] In the assembly, the inner securing tabs 36 of the flange 30 are received within the sidewalls 26 of the inner box 22 and may be secured with glue to inner surfaces of inner box sidewalls 26. After the flange 30 is assembled with the inner box 22, the outer securing tabs 34 are received within the sidewalls 16 of the outer box 12 and may be secured with glue to inner surfaces of outer box sidewalls 16. While glue is described as an exemplary method of attachment, other securing methods are also contemplated including various forms of mechanical fasteners.

[0058] Turning to the cross-sectional view in FIG. 4 it can be seen that the inner liner assembly 20 is secured within the outer box 12 such that the shelf portion 32 is positioned below the top wall 18 (or top lip) thereof to create a lid cavity 40 above the shelf portion 32 and below the top wall 18. The inner box 22 forms a product cavity 42 within the interior of the container assembly 10. The inner liner assembly 20 and the outer box 12 cooperate to form a square annular shaped side thermal insulating cavity 44 between the respective sidewalls 16,26 thereof.

[0059] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 4, a predetermined volume of loose-fill cellulose insulation 46 may be filled and uniformly packed within the side thermal insulating cavity 44 to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value. As noted above, loose-fill cellulose is used in the exemplary embodiments, but, it should be understood that any recyclable, loose-fill, organic wood or plant fiber material may be utilized. In some embodiments, the loose-fill cellulose 46 may be portioned and packed in such a manner to provide an insulting value of between R2-6 per inch of thickness, and preferably between R4-5 per inch of thickness. The density may be in the range of 2-6 pounds of cellulose per cubic foot, and more preferably in the range of 3.5-5 pounds of cellulose insulating material per cubic foot. This packing density provides and insulating value very similar to Styrofoam EPS and thus provides a highly effective alternative. In the exemplary embodiments, the thickness of the insulating material may be about 1.0 inch to about 2.0 inch but may be as much as 4-5 inches thick depending on the application.

[0060] The loose-fill cellulose material 46 may in some embodiments comprise a borate treated loose-fill cellulose material, which is fire resistant, mold, fungus, mildew, and insect resistant.

[0061] Turning to FIG. 7 it is noted that the unique die cut flange 30 allows both the outer and inner tabs 34,36 to be folded and received in downwardly extending orientations, to provide a full-length glue line around the periphery of the inner surface of the outer box 12 and to provide a tight seal around the upper peripheral edge lip of the inner box 22. Accordingly, this die cut configuration forms tight fitting interconnections between the inner and outer boxes 12,22 and the flange 30 and effectively captures and prevents the loose-fill cellulose 46 from leaking out of the side cavity 44 into the interior product cavity 42 of the box 20. While the loose-fill insulating material is advantageous for packing and recycling, the loose-fill nature of the material makes it difficult to capture and contain within enclosed spaces. Both medical and food industry customers express the need to prevent any of the cellulose material 46 from leaking into the interior of the shipper where it could contact the product being shipped.

[0062] After the sidewall cavity 44 is filled and packed, a strengthening panel 48 may be received within a bottom portion of the outer box 12 and positioned in adjacent facing relation with the bottom wall 24 of the inner box 22. The strengthening panel 48 may be formed from corrugated cardboard. The strengthening panel 48 thus closes the sidewall cavity 44 and completely captures the loose fill insulation 46 within the side cavity 44. Additionally, the outer box bottom wall 14 and sidewalls 16, and the strengthening panel 48 cooperate to form a bottom thermal insulating cavity 50 in which another volume of loose-fill cellulose insulation 52 is filled and packed to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value as described hereinabove. Once filled and packed, the bottom closure flaps are closed to form the bottom wall 14 and capture the cellulose material 52 within the bottom cavity 50. The strengthening panel 48 has been found to be a critical strengthening component in drop tests to provide improved rigidity to the container 10 and prevent the loose cellulose material 46,52 from leaking (spraying or blowing) into the interior product cavity 42 due to sudden pressure forces encountered in a drop.

[0063] The lid assembly 28 comprises a thermally insulated lid box 54 having a bottom wall 56, a top wall 58 and a plurality of sidewalls 60 which cooperate to define a thermal insulating lid cavity 62. The lid box 54 may be formed from corrugated cardboard. Before closing the lid box 54, another volume of loose-fill organic insulation (cellulose) 64 is filled and packed within the lid cavity to provide a predetermined thermal insulating value (as described above). The lid assembly 28 is then received within the lid cavity 40.

[0064] The top flaps of the container 10 remain unsealed so that the end consumer or shipper can access the inner product cavity 42 for packing.

[0065] It can thus be seen that the side, bottom, and lid insulation volumes 46, 52, 64 provide a fully thermally insulated six-sided product cavity 42 to receive a temperature-controlled product (now shown).

[0066] In this regard, some embodiments may further comprise a product tray 66 which receives the temperature-controlled product, separating it from a PCM material or other thermal mass (not shown) which may be positioned in a bottom portion of the inner product cavity 42.

[0067] Turning to FIGS. 9 and 10, in some embodiments, an inner liner assembly 20A may be constructed from a flange 30A and an organic fiber liner 22A similar to a vacuum cleaner bag material. The flange 30A may comprise a rigid organic fiber material, such as paperboard or cardboard with downwardly turned tabs 34A as previously described. The liner 22A may comprise an organic, wood or plant fiber material, such as a paper material or reinforced paper material, creating the inner wall 26A with a wall thickness being significantly thinner than the previously described inner box 22, yet providing the same strength as a cardboard material to prevent perforations. The liner 22A may be secured to the flange in a sealed collar configuration with an upper peripheral edge of the liner glued, stitched, or otherwise secured to the lower surface of the flange 30A or captured and secured between two layers of paperboard material (not shown).

[0068] In some embodiments, as illustrated in FIGS. 11 and 12, a liner assembly 20B may include a double walled paper liner assembly wherein the loose-fill organic insulation material 46B is pre-filled and sealed between inner and outer paper liner walls 26B, 27B secured to a flange 30B with a sealed collar configuration. In this regard, the loose-fill insulation may be pre-filled in a separate operation and then the competed liner assembly 20B could simply be inserted into the open top of an outer box without securing the flange to the outer box 12.

[0069] A portion of the product cavity 42 may in some embodiments be filled with phase change material (PCM) packs, bricks, etc. or other heating or cooling medium, such as dry ice, to provide a desired, consistent temperature profile within the product cavity 42.

[0070] Some embodiments may include a novel phase change material (PCM) bladder which is designed and configured to receive and hold a “flowable PCM” 12 at the point of packaging, thus completely eliminating the need to pre-condition and store PCM gel packs.

[0071] The term “flowable PCM” as used within the specification refers to a PCM material which can be pumped with conventional pumping devices from a storage tank or container into the PCM bladder 100 as described herein. At the present time, the exemplary embodiment of a “flowable PCM” comprises a “slurry ice” material that is produced on-site and pumped through insulated hoses to a filling head. However, the inventive concepts herein should not be limited to any specific “flowable PCM”.

[0072] Referring briefly to FIG. 18, the present PCM bladder 100 is designed to be useful in a temperature controlled product shipper generally indicated at 114. The product shipper 114 comprises an exemplary shipper 100 as described hereinable, an interior product box 116, or mastercase, as it is sometimes called. The product box 116 is received inside the product cavity 42, and the PCM bladder 100 is received into a space defined between the inside surface of the inner box and the outside surface of the product box 116.

[0073] The PCM bladder 100 may include a single bladder chamber 122 having a filling port 124. The bladder 100 may be constructed from polyethylene sheets 126,128 which are overlaid in substantially coextensive adjacent relation and heat sealed, or otherwise sealed, around the peripheral edges to form the interior bladder chamber 22. Referring to FIG. 15, the bladder chamber 122 is configured so as to have a substantially uniform thickness “t” across its extent when filled with the flowable PCM 112.

[0074] The filling port 124 may comprises a filling bung 130, or other filling port, which is sealed to the top sheet 126 and a stopper 132 removably seated in the bung hole 134 (FIG. 16). It is noted that the PCM bladder 100 is intended to be filled at the point of shipment, where the PCM bladder 100 is inserted into the shipper 114 with the outer box 12 still open. In this regard, the filling port 124 is presented for filling on the top of the shipper 114 where it can be accessed by an automated filling apparatus (not shown). In use, the filling bung 130 is grabbed by an automated, robotic filling head which removes the stopper 132, fills the bladder chamber 122 with a desired PCM 112, and replaces the stopper 132. It should be noted that a variety of different types of filling ports 124 can be utilized depending on the application and needs of the end user, and the concepts herein should not be limited only to a filling bung with a removable stopper.

[0075] To accommodate the rectangular shape of most typical product boxes 116, the bladder 100 is formed in the shape of a symmetric cross including a central body portion 136 and appendage portions 138 extending outwardly therefrom (See FIG. 14). The central body portion 136 and appendage portions 138 effectively overlay five (5) of the six (6) sides of the product box 116 (See FIG. 17).

[0076] An alternate version indicated at 100A in FIGS. 19 and 20, is asymmetrical and effectively overlays all six (6) sides of the product box 116. The bladder chamber 122 in this version is also configured so that it has a substantially uniform thickness when filled with the flowable PCM 112 whereby the bladder 100A provides a substantially uniform thermal profile around all six (6) sides of the product box.

[0077] While the exemplary embodiment illustrated a rectangular shaped product box 116 and associated shape for the PCM bladder 100, it should be understood that the shape of the bladder 100 may be altered to accommodate other product box shapes, such as for example, a cylinder. In the case of a cylindrical product box (not shown), the PCM bladder may comprise a circular central portion and appendages which extend radially outward from the central portion.

[0078] Referring now to FIGS. 21-22, in another exemplary embodiment, a PCM bladder system 200 comprises two discrete PCM bladders 202, 204 which are overlaid in coextensive relation and cooperate to provide a desired thermal profile. The bladders 202, 204 are constructed in the same manner as in the first embodiment described above. However, the first bladder 202 receives a PCM pre-conditioned at a first temperature while the second bladder 204 receives a PCM pre-conditioned at a second temperature.

[0079] Referring to FIG. 21, the first, or inner, bladder 202 includes a first filling port 206 sealed on the upper sheet, while the second, or outer, bladder 204 includes a second filling port 208 sealed on the upper sheet and an aperture 210 through which the first filling port 206 extends when the second bladder 204 is overlaid on top of the first bladder 202 (See FIG. 22). Both bladders 202, 204 are formed in the shape of crosses in the exemplary embodiments to overlay 5 outer sides of the product box 116. The dual bladder PCM system 200 is received into a product shipper 114 as described hereinabove.

[0080] An alternate version indicated at 200A in FIGS. 23-24, provides asymmetrical first and second PCM bladders 202A and 104A and effectively overlays all six (6) sides of the product box 16. The six-sided, dual-bladder PCM system 200A is also received into a product shipper 114 as described hereinabove.

[0081] Yet another alternate version indicated at 200B in FIGS. 25-26, provides first and second linear PCM bladders 202B and 204B which are effective for overlaying the four side surfaces of the product box 116 leaving the top and bottom surface uncovered. The filling ports 206B, 208B on these linear PCM bladders are positioned in the side edges so that they are accessible from the top of the shipper.

[0082] In some embodiments as illustrated in FIGS. 27-30, a dual chambered

[0083] PCM bladder 300 is provided in a single heat-sealed construction. The dual chamber PCM bladder 300 comprises a first bladder chamber 302 having a first filling port 304 and a second bladder chamber 306 having a second filling port 308. Each bladder chamber 302, 306 receives a flowable PCM 310, 312 preconditioned at a predetermined temperature.

[0084] The dual chambered bladder 300 comprises a lower sheet 314, a middle sheet 316 and an upper sheet 318 overlaid in substantially coextensive relation and sealed around the peripheral edges thereof to form the two chambers 302, 306. The first bladder chamber 302 is defined between the lower sheet 314 and the middle sheet 316 and the second bladder chamber 306 is defined between the middle sheet 316 and the upper sheet 318. The first filling port 304 is sealed at aperture 305 on the upper surface of the middle sheet 316 and the upper sheet 318 is sealed around the peripheral edge of the first filling port 304. The second filling port 308 is sealed at aperture 307 on the upper surface of the upper sheet 318 whereby the first and second filling ports 304, 308 are both accessible for filling from above the upper surface of the upper sheet 318.

[0085] An alternate version indicated at 300A in FIG. 31, provides asymmetrical first and second bladder chambers and effectively overlays all six (6) sides of the product box 16.

[0086] As illustrated in FIG. 32, some embodiments may comprise a PCM bladder 400 that includes a plurality of flutes 402 formed by heat sealing the polyethylene sheets together. The flutes 402 divide the appendage portions 438 of the bladder 400 into a plurality of sections and provide support and stability for the PCM within the bladder 400. The bladder 400 may comprise a single chamber bladder or a dual chamber bladder (as illustrated), both as described hereinabove. The flutes 402 may extend vertically, as illustrated, or may be oriented horizontally, or in any other direction which is necessitated by the design of the shipper and/or bladder.

[0087] While there is shown and described herein certain specific structures embodying various embodiments of the invention, it will be manifest to those skilled in the art that various modifications and rearrangements of the parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the underlying inventive concept and that the same is not limited to the particular forms herein shown and described except insofar as indicated by the scope of the appended claims.