Insulated shipping container

Abstract

An insulated shipping container includes an exterior housing; an interior sleeve; and an intermediate insulating portion, wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes an open cell core material having at least about 95% open cell and a metalized barrier material sealed about the core material in an airtight manner, with a reduced pressure atmosphere in the intermediate portion.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An insulated shipping container comprising: 
 an exterior housing;    an interior sleeve; and    an intermediate insulating portion, wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value of about 20 or greater.    
     
     
         2 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing is made of a rigid material.  
     
     
         3 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing is made of cardboard.  
     
     
         4 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing is made of one of fiberboard, metal and plastic.  
     
     
         5 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior housing includes a cap with threads or clasps for opening and reclosing.  
     
     
         6 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value of at least 20.  
     
     
         7 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value between 25 to 30 per inch.  
     
     
         8 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes a core material and a barrier material sealed about the core material in an airtight manner.  
     
     
         9 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 8 , wherein the barrier material is a metal foil or a metalized film laminate.  
     
     
         10 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 8 , wherein the core material is an open cell material.  
     
     
         11 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 10 , wherein the core material is an open-cell polystyrene or polyurethane foam.  
     
     
         12 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes a reduced pressure therein to enhance insulating properties thereof.  
     
     
         13 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 12 , further comprising a vacuum detection indicia to indicate when there is a reduced pressure within the intermediate insulating portion.  
     
     
         14 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 1 , wherein a largest exterior dimension of the container is 20 inches.  
     
     
         15 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 8 , wherein the interior sleeve is made of a rigid plastic material.  
     
     
         16 . An insulated shipping container comprising: 
 an exterior housing;    an interior sleeve; and    an intermediate insulating portion, wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes a core material and a barrier material sealed about the core material in an airtight manner.    
     
     
         17 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the exterior housing is made of a rigid material.  
     
     
         18 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the exterior housing is made of cardboard.  
     
     
         19 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the exterior housing is made of one of fiberboard, metal and plastic.  
     
     
         20 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the exterior housing includes a cap with threads or clasps for opening and reclosing.  
     
     
         21 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value of at least 20.  
     
     
         22 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value between 25 to 30 per inch.  
     
     
         23 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the barrier material is a metal foil or a metalized film laminate.  
     
     
         24 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the core material is an open cell material.  
     
     
         25 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the core material is an open-cell polystyrene or polyurethane foam.  
     
     
         26 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes a reduced pressure therein to enhance insulating properties thereof.  
     
     
         27 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 26 , further comprising a vacuum detection indicia to indicate when there is a reduced pressure within the intermediate insulating portion.  
     
     
         28 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein a largest exterior dimension of the container is 20 inches.  
     
     
         29 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 16 , wherein the interior sleeve is made of a rigid plastic material.  
     
     
         30 . An insulated shipping container comprising: 
 an exterior housing;    an interior sleeve; and    an intermediate insulating portion, wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes an open cell core material comprising at least about 95% open cell and a metalized barrier material sealed about the core material in an airtight manner, with a reduced pressure atmosphere in the intermediate portion.    
     
     
         31 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the exterior housing is made of a rigid material.  
     
     
         32 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the exterior housing is made of cardboard.  
     
     
         33 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the exterior housing is made of one of fiberboard, metal and plastic.  
     
     
         34 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the exterior housing includes a cap with threads or clasps for opening and reclosing.  
     
     
         35 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value of at least 20.  
     
     
         36 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value between 25 to 30 per inch.  
     
     
         37 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the core material is an open-cell polystyrene or polyurethane foam.  
     
     
         38 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the intermediate insulating portion includes a reduced pressure therein to enhance insulating properties thereof.  
     
     
         39 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 38 , further comprising a vacuum detection indicia to indicate when there is a reduced pressure within the intermediate insulating portion.  
     
     
         40 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein a largest exterior dimension of the container is 20 inches.  
     
     
         41 . The insulated shipping container of  claim 30 , wherein the interior sleeve is made of a rigid plastic material.  
     
     
         42 . An insulated shipping container comprising: 
 an exterior housing;    an interior sleeve; and    an intermediate insulating portion, wherein the intermediate insulating portion has an R value of about 20 or greater;    wherein outside dimensions of the exterior housing are equal to or less than twelve inches by six inches by six inches.