THERMAL AND BREATHABLE LINER FOR TRANSPORT CONTAINERS

Abstract

A liner for a shipping container including one or more sections, each removably disposed in overlying relation to an interior side of the shipping container, and being formed of a thermally insulative material and including at least one breathable material segment. Each breathable material segment is at least partially formed of an air permeable material having an apertured construction structured to facilitate airflow therethrough, between inner and outer surfaces of a corresponding one of said one or more sections. The apertured construction of the one or more breathable material segments may be at least partially defined by an open mesh material or other materials which include a plurality of through holes integrally formed therein.

Claims

1. A liner for a shipping container comprising: at least one section removably connected on an interior of the shipping container, said at least one section at least partially formed of a thermally insulative material and including at least one breathable material segment, said at least one breathable material segment structured to facilitate airflow therethrough between inner and outer surfaces of said at least one section, and said at least one section dimensioned and configured to overlie and interior side of the shipping container.

2. The liner as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one breathable material segment is formed of an air permeable material.

3. The liner as recited in claim 2 wherein said air permeable material comprises an apertured construction including a plurality of through holes integrally formed in said breathable material segment.

4. The liner as recited in claim 2 wherein said air permeable material comprises an open mesh material having an apertured construction.

5. The liner as recited in claim 4 further comprising a moisture absorbent material disposed in aligned relation to said open mesh material and in fluid communication with said airflow through said at least one breathable segment.

6. The liner as recited in claim 5 wherein said moisture absorbent material comprises a plurality of moisture absorbent structures collectively extending along at least a majority of said air permeable material in spaced relation to one another.

7. The liner as recited in claim 1 wherein said at least one section comprises a plurality of breathable material segments each formed of an air permeable material.

8. The liner is recited in claim 7 wherein said air permeable material comprises an open mesh material having an apertured construction.

9. The liner as recited in claim 7 wherein said at least one section comprises different ones of said plurality of breathable material segments extending along at least a majority of a length of an upper and a lower periphery thereof.

10. The liner is recited in claim 1 further comprising a plurality of sections each disposed in removable, overlying relation to a different interior side of the shipping container; each of said plurality of sections formed of a thermally insulative material and including at least one breathable material segment.

11. The liner as recited in claim 10 wherein each of said breathable material segments is structured to facilitate airflow therethrough between inner and outer surfaces of a corresponding one of said plurality of sections.

12. The liner as recited in claim 11 wherein each of said breathable material segments are formed of an air permeable material comprising an open mesh material having an apertured construction.

13. The liner as recited in claim 1 wherein said thermally insulative material comprises a multilayer construction including a first layer of aluminum and polyethylene; a second layer of alveolar and polyethylene film and a third layer of opaque material.

14. The liner is recited in claim 1 wherein said thermally insulative material comprises aluminized raffia.

15. A liner for a shipping container comprising: a plurality of sections each removably disposed in overlying relation to a correspondingly dimensioned and configured interior side of the shipping container, each of said plurality of sections formed of a thermally insulative material and including at least one breathable material segment, each of said breathable material segments at least partially formed of an air permeable material having an apertured construction; said air permeable material structured to facilitate airflow therethrough between inner and outer surfaces of a corresponding one of said plurality of sections, and said apertured construction comprising a plurality of through holes integrally formed in a corresponding one of said breathable material segments.

16. The liner is recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of sections are attached to one another and concurrently disposable in a removable operative position within the shipping container.

17. The liner as recited in claim 15 wherein said plurality of sections include at least two side sections, oppositely disposed to one another; at least two end sections, oppositely disposed to one another and an upper section and a lower section, oppositely disposed to one another.

18. The liner as recited in claim 17 wherein said at least two side sections and at least one of said two end sections comprise a plurality of breathable material segments; different ones of said plurality of breathable material segments extending along at least a majority of the length of an upper and a lower periphery of the corresponding one of said at least two side sections and said at least one and section.

19. The liner is recited in claim 17 wherein at least one of said end sections comprises a closure structure disposable between closed and open orientations; said closed orientation comprising said plurality of sections collectively disposed in surrounding, enclosing relation to an interior of the shipping container.

20. The liner as recited in claim 15 wherein at least one of said plurality of sections comprises a plurality of breathable material segments; different ones of said plurality of breathable material segments extending along at least a majority of a length of an upper and a lower periphery of said at least one section.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be had to the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0042] FIG. 1 is a perspective view in schematic form.

[0043] FIG. 2 is a perspective view in partial cutaway of structural features of at least one embodiment of the present invention.

[0044] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of at least one preferred embodiment of the present invention.

[0045] Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0046] The invention now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which illustrative embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art.

[0047] As represented throughout the Figures, the present invention is directed to a liner, generally indicated as 10, operatively disposed on the interior of a shipping container (not shown for purposes of clarity) which is structured to provide both thermal insulative properties to the contents of the container as well as sufficient “breathability” to avoid or sufficiently restrict condensation formation on the interior of the shipping container.

[0048] As indicated, the one or more embodiments of the shipping container liner 10 are of the type intended for use in the “containerization” industry, including containers intended for both land and sea transport. As such, the containers are commonly referred to as shipping containers and ISO containers. In addition, the term “shipping container” or its equivalent is also meant to include, but not be limited to, containers of the type associated with semi-trailers used for commercial highway and roadway transportation.

[0049] Accordingly, one or more preferred embodiments of the container liner 10 comprise at least one section, but more practically a plurality of sections, each represented as 12. As such, each of the one or more liner sections 12 is disposed in overlying covering relation to interior surfaces of the sidewalls of a shipping container, as clearly represented in FIGS. 2 and 3. Further, when a plurality of such liner sections 12 are utilized, each section 14, 14′, 16, 16′, 18 and 18′ may be correspondingly dimensioned and configured to be operatively disposed in overlying, covering relation to all or a significant majority of specific interior sides or surfaces of the shipping container, as also represented in at least FIG. 3.

[0050] As represented in greater detail hereinafter, one preferred embodiment of the liner 10 of the present invention comprises two side sections 14 and 14′, substantially oppositely disposed to one another, wherein each side section 14 and 14′ is disposed in overlying, covering relation to a lateral interior side of the shipping container. In cooperation therewith, two substantially oppositely disposed end sections 16 and 16′ may be operatively disposed in overlying relation to opposite longitudinal end sides of the shipping container. Also, in order to adequately enclose and/or surround the contained goods or cargo on the interior of the liner 10, a preferred embodiment thereof may also include upper and lower sections 18 and 18′ respectively disposed in overlying, covering relation to an interior roof/ceiling and a bottom/floor of the shipping container.

[0051] Additional structural features of the liner 10 include each of the aforementioned one or more liner sections 12 being at least partially formed of a thermally insulative material 20, specifically structured to provide thermally insulative properties and/or protection to the contained goods or cargo. As also represented throughout at least FIGS. 2 and 3, the thermally insulative material 20 is structured to define a significant majority of the respective liner sections 12 with which it is operatively associated. In addition, each of the one or more liner sections 12 may include at least one “breathable material segment” 22. Moreover, each of the breathable material segments 22 is structured to facilitate air transfer or air flow therethrough between an inner surface and an outer surface of the corresponding section 12 of the liner 10 to which they are operatively attached and associated. For purposes of clarity, the inner surface of each of the liner sections 12 is considered the surface facing inwardly towards the interior, center portion of the shipping container, wherein the outer surface of each liner section 12 is that surface facing towards and/or disposed in confronting relation to the interior surface of a correspondingly positioned container side or wall.

[0052] It is to be further noted that as used herein, the term “breathability”, “breathable material”, “breathable material segment” and the equivalent thereof refers to the structure of the material from which each of the breathable material segments 22 of the container liner 10 is formed, which is structurally operable to facilitate the transfer of air or airflow between inside and outside of the liner sections 12. As such, the facilitated air transfer or airflow will pass between the interior of the liner and the space between the liner and the interior surface of a correspondingly disposed container side. Moreover, this airflow or air transfer, as described in more detail herein, is accomplished by such breathable material and or breathable material segments comprising an air permeable material. In turn, such air permeable material may comprise a material having an apertured construction including a plurality of holes of sufficient size to facilitate such air transfer or airflow.

[0053] In one or more embodiments, the air permeable material and the apertured construction thereof can be defined by an open mesh material or other breathable material that allows the aforementioned air transfer or airflow therethrough. Further, for purposes of clarity the aforementioned mesh or open mesh material can be defined using conventional dictionary terms and include, but not be limited to, a barrier made of connected strands of metal, fiber or other flexible or ductile materials which is similar to a web or net in that it has a plurality of attached woven strands, which in turn define a plurality of through holes therebetween. In contrast, the breathable material comprising the air permeable, apertured construction may be other than an open mesh material such as a plastic, fabric or synthetic material including a plurality of spaced apart apertures of sufficient size to facilitate the aforementioned airflow or air transfer therethrough.

[0054] Also, as represented in at least FIG. 2 in order to further prevent or significantly restrict the formation of condensation within the interior of the shipping container′, a moisture absorbent material 24 may be disposed in aligned relation to individual ones of the one or more breathable material segments 22 and in fluid communicating, moisture absorbent relation to the air transfer or airflow passing through the breathable material segments 22. Further, in at least one embodiment the moisture absorbent material 24 may be in the form of a plurality of moisture absorbent containers, structures, etc. 26 collectively extending along at least a majority of each or selected ones of the breathable material segments 22.

[0055] Therefore, the one or more preferred embodiments of the container liner 10 of the present invention provides meaningful, high-efficiency thermal insulation to the contained goods or cargo, as well as restricting the formation of condensation on the interior of the shipping container. As such, the aforementioned inclusion of one or more breathable material segments 22 in one or more or each of the liner sections 12 provides and facilitates the circulation of air and water vapor efficiently and easily within the interior of the shipping container and between the interior of the container liner 10 and the exterior thereof, such as the space between the interior surface of the container sides or walls and the outer surface of the one or more liner sections 12. The potentially harmful effects of condensation formation to the contained goods or cargo are eliminated or at least significantly reduced.

[0056] With primary reference to FIG. 3, yet additional preferred embodiments of the shipping container liner 10 comprises at least one or all of the liner sections 12 including a plurality of at least two breathable material segments 22 integrated therein, in operative relation to the thermally insulative material 20 associated with each of the liner sections 12. Further, the one or more liner sections as at 14, 14′ and 16 each include a plurality of breathable material segments 22, wherein different ones of the breathable material segments 22 extend along at least a majority of the length of an upper periphery and a lower periphery of at least a plurality of the side liner sections 14 and 14′ and one longitudinal and section 16.

[0057] Moreover, in at least one embodiment of the present invention the longitudinal end 16′ may be structured to define a closure structure including a plurality or at least a pair of closure portions 19 and 19′ as schematically represented in FIG. 1. The closure structure and/or closure portions 19 and 19′ are cooperatively disposable between open and closed orientations and may include including attachment structures 21 such as, but not limited to, hook and loop type fasteners disposed and operative to maintain the closure portions 19 and 19′ in a closed orientation. Also, when the closure structure includes a plurality of closure portions as at 19 and 19′, each may include a liner section 12 secured thereto and movable there with between the aforementioned open and closed orientations.

[0058] In order to dispose and maintain the liner 10 in the intended operative position, as collectively represented in FIGS. 1-3 within the interior of the shipping container and especially when the container liner 10 is comprised of a plurality of attached or interconnected sections 14, 14′, 16, 16′ 18 and 18′, a connector structure 28 is disposed on or connected to an at least partially exterior of the liner 10 and/or the different sections 12 thereof, as clearly represented in FIG. 1. Such a connector structure 28 may include a plurality of hooks 30 or other type connectors disposed to effectively suspend and support the liner 10 from an interior roof or ceiling surface. In cooperation therewith, such a connector structure may also include a plurality of tapes 32 or other type connectors cooperatively disposed relative to one another and the aforementioned plurality of hooks 30 so as to collectively maintain the liner 10 and in particular each of the liner sections 12 in substantially confronting and/or overlying, covering relation to corresponding ones of the interior surfaces or sides of the container to which they are adjacently disposed. Such cooperatively disposed and structured connectors including the hooks 30, tapes 32, etc. are cooperatively and strategically disposed so as to prevent different ones of the plurality of sections 12 from folding or collapsing inwardly toward the interior of the liner when in its intended operative position as represented in at least FIG. 3.

[0059] Since many modifications, variations and changes in detail can be made to the described preferred embodiments of the invention, is intended that all matters in the foregoing description and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted in an illustrative and not in a limiting sense. Thus, the scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents.