Temperature control pack and method

Abstract

A temperature control pack for refrigerating a shipping container includes a mass of gel material which is shape-retaining at room temperature, and is configured as a relatively thick rectangular solid. The mass of gel material is enclosed in a first plastic film bag, and also in a second plastic film bag providing a sheath about the first bag, and also enclosing a quantity of air to provide an insulating and cushioning air space between the bags. Especially at the ends of the mass of gel material and surrounding bags, an air cushion space is provided in order to safeguard the plastic bags against bursting caused by “water hammer” effect from dropping, impacts, or jarring of the shipping container. The thick rectangular shape of the mass of gel material, along with the pair of plastic film bags, in combination with the insulating air space, provide a leak-resistant temperature control pack with increased refrigerating endurance.

1 . A temperature control pack comprising: a mass of gel material, a first bag enclosing said mass of gel material, and a second bag enclosing said first bag and a surrounding quantity of air to form an air space between said first bag and said second bag. 
   
   
       2 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 1  wherein said mass of gel material is shape-retaining and is configured at a rectangular solid, and said second bag defines in cooperation with said first bag a pair of opposite air cushion spaces each interposed between an end of said mass of gel material and an end of said second bag. 
   
   
       3 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 2  wherein said first bag is configured as a tube of plastic film material enclosing said mass of gel material, and said first bag defines a gusseted seam which is heat sealed and lays substantially flat against an end surface of said rectangular solid of shape-retaining gel material. 
   
   
       4 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 2  wherein said second bag is configured as a tube of plastic film material enclosing said second bag and said mass of gel material, and said second bad defines a transverse heat sealed seam that is spaced from an end of said mass of gel material and from said gusseted seam of said first bag, thus to cooperatively define one of said opposite pair of air cushion spaces. 
   
   
       5 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 1  wherein said mass of gel material is shape-retaining, and includes about 93 percent water, starch, and a polymer sufficient to render said mass of gel material shape-retaining. 
   
   
       6 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 1  wherein said mass of gel material has proportions of about 1:3:3.7. 
   
   
       7 . A temperature control pack comprising: a mass of gel material which is shape-retaining at room temperature, a first bag sealingly enclosing said mass of gel material, and a second bag sealingly enclosing said first bag and said gel material. 
   
   
       8 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 7  wherein said second bag defines in cooperation with said first bag an interposed air space confining a quantity of air between said first bag and said second bag. 
   
   
       9 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 8  wherein said mass of gel material is shape-retaining at room temperature, and includes about 93 percent water, starch, and a polymer sufficient to render said mass of gel material shape-retaining. 
   
   
       10 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 7  wherein said mass of gel material has proportions of about 1:3:3.7. 
   
   
       11 . A method of making a temperature control pack comprising steps of:
 providing a mass of gel material which is shape-retaining at room temperature,   enclosing said mass of gel material sealingly in a first bag, and   providing a second bag sealingly enclosing said first bag and said mass of gel material.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 11  further including the steps of utilizing said second bag to sealingly enclose both said mass of gel material within said first bag, along with a surrounding quantity of air forming an air space between said first bag and said second bag. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 11  further including the steps of providing for said mass of gel material to be shape-retaining at room temperature, and configuring said mass of gel material as a rectangular solid. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11  further including the steps of utilizing said second bag to define in cooperation with said first bag a pair of opposite air cushion spaces each interposed between an end of said mass of gel material and an end of said second bag. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 11  further including the steps of configuring said first bag as a tube of plastic film material enclosing said mass of gel material, and said first bag defines a gusseted seam which is heat sealed and lays substantially flat against an end surface of said rectangular solid of shape-retaining gel material. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15  further including the steps of configuring said second bag as a tube of plastic film material enclosing said first bag and said mass of gel material, and configuring said second bad to define a pair of transverse heat sealed seams that are each spaced from a respective end of said mass of gel material and from said gusseted seams of said first bag, thus to cooperatively define said opposite pair of air cushion spaces. 
   
   
       17 . A temperature control pack made according to the method of  claim 11 . 
   
   
       18 . A temperature control pack made according to the method of  claim 16 . 
   
   
       19 . A temperature control pack comprising:
 a mass of gel material which is generally of rectangular solid shape, and is shape-retaining at room temperature, said mass of gel material including water, a starch, and a polymer sufficient to render said gel material shape-retaining at room temperature;   a first bag of plastic film material enclosing said mass of gel material, said first bag being configured as a tube of plastic film receiving said rectangular mass of gel material, and defining a pair of opposite gusseted heat-sealed seams each laying substantially flat against a respective end surface of said rectangular mass of gel material;   a second bag enclosing said first bag and a surrounding quantity of air to form an air space between said first bag and said second bag, said second bag also being configured as a tube of plastic film material receiving said first bag and said mass of gel material, and said second bag defining an opposite pair of transverse heat-sealed seams each being spaced from a respective end of said mass of gel material and cooperatively defining a respective air cushion space at a respective end of said temperature control pack.   
   
   
       20 . A temperature control pack according to  claim 19  wherein said mass of gel material includes about 93 percent water, starch, and polymer sufficient to render said mass of gel material shape-retaining at room temperature. 
   
   
       21 . A method of using a temperature control pack, said method comprising steps of:
 providing said temperature control pack with a mass of gel material which is generally of rectangular solid shape, and providing for said mass of gel material to be shape-retaining at room temperature, providing for said mass of gel material to include water, a starch, and a polymer sufficient to render said gel material shape-retaining at room temperature;   enclosing said mass of gel material in a first bag of plastic film material, configuring said first bag as a tube of plastic film receiving said rectangular mass of gel material, and defining a pair of opposite gusseted heat-sealed seams in said tube of plastic film so that each seam lays substantially flat against a respective end surface of said rectangular mass of gel material;   providing a second bag of plastic film enclosing said first bag, said mass of gel material, and also a surrounding quantity of air to form an air space between said first bag and said second bag, configuring said second bag also as a tube of plastic film material, and utilizing said second bag to define an opposite pair of transverse heat-sealed seams each being spaced from a respective end of said mass of gel material and cooperatively defining a respective air cushion space at a respective end of said temperature control pack;   freezing said temperature control pack and packaging the frozen temperature control pack inside of an insulated container along with items to be shipped; and   utilizing an increased R value provided by said first and second bags in combination with said air space and effective between said mass of gel material and the surroundings of said temperature control pack within the container to both mitigate condensation of water on said temperature control pack, and to increase the refrigerating endurance of said temperature control pack.   
   
   
       22 . The method of  claim 20  further including the step of providing for said mass of gel material to includes about 93 percent water, starch, and polymer sufficient to render said mass of gel material shape-retaining at room temperature. 
   
   
       23 . A temperature control pack comprising: a mass of gel material, a first bag enclosing said mass of gel material, and a second bag enclosing said first bag, and wherein said mass of gel material has proportions of about 1 unit in thickness: to about 3 units in width: to about 3.7 units in length 
   
   
       24 . The temperature control pack according to  claim 23  wherein said mass of gel material includes about 93 percent water, starch, and polymer sufficient to render said mass of gel material shape-retaining at room temperature.