Temperature controlled shipping container

Abstract

A temperature controlled shipping has a base formed as a first block of an insulating material. The base has a plurality of base cavities arranged in a rectangular array of rows and is formed to have a central cavity between a pair of adjacent rows of the base cavities. The central cavity is formed to hold a cooling device. The container has a cover formed as a second block of insulating material having a plurality of cover cavities arranged to correspond to the base cavities such that when the cover is placed on the base, the base cavities and the cover cavities align to produce a plurality of receptacles suitable holding a plurality of items. Each receptacle includes a plurality of tapered projections extending inward to allow inner items of varying size to be secured for shipping.

1 . A container for shipping an item in a temperature controlled environment, comprising:
 a base formed as a first block of an insulating material, the base having a plurality of base cavities therein and arranged in a rectangular array of rows, the base being formed to have a central cavity between a pair of adjacent rows, the central cavity being formed to receive therein a cooling device; and   a cover formed as a second block of insulating material, the cover having a plurality of cover cavities therein arranged to correspond to the base cavities such that when the cover is placed on the base, the base cavities and the cover cavities align to produce a plurality of receptacles suitable holding a plurality of items.   
   
   
       2 . The container of  claim 1  wherein the cooling device comprises an ice pack. 
   
   
       3 . The container of  claim 1  wherein each base cavity includes a plurality of tapered projections extending inward from a lower inner wall portion to receive items of varying size. 
   
   
       4 . The container of  claim 3  wherein the cover cavities each include a plurality of vanes that extend inwardly to define a receptacle for receiving an upper end of an item placed in the corresponding base cavity.