Reusable container

Abstract

A reusable container for storing or transporting a product to be refrigerated or frozen such as a food product is provided, comprising an inner wall, an outer wall, and a wall space provided between the inner wall and the outer wall. The wall space is substantially separated from the environment outside of the reusable container and a slurry is provided in the wall space. In some embodiments, the container can be generally rectangular or generally cylindrical. A method of shipping a product to be refrigerated or frozen in a reusable container and a method of producing a reusable container are also provided.

1 . A reusable container for storing or transporting a product to be refrigerated or frozen, comprising:
 an inner wall;   an outer wall;   a wall space provided between said inner wall and said outer wall, said space being substantially separated from the environment outside of the reusable container;   a slurry provided in the wall space that is allowed to move freely within the wall space.   
     
     
         2 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is generally rectangular, the inner wall is a first inner wall, and the outer wall is a first outer wall, and the container further comprises:
 second, third and fourth inner walls;   second, third and fourth outer walls;   a bottom; and   a top.   
     
     
         3 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is generally cylindrical and further comprises a bottom and a top. 
     
     
         4 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom comprises an inner bottom wall and an outer bottom wall with a bottom space therebetween, and the bottom space includes said slurry. 
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the top comprises an inner top wall and an outer top wall with a top space therebetween, and the top space includes said slurry. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall is formed of steel. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the inner wall and the outer wall is formed of an insulating plastic material. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the slurry comprises at least one of a salt of 2-propenoic acid or a glycol material. 
     
     
         9 . The container of  claim 8 , wherein the glycol material includes polyethylene glycol or methoxypolyethylene glycol. 
     
     
         10 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall are connected together such that the wall space is fully contained. 
     
     
         11 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein 50-99% of the wall space comprises the slurry. 
     
     
         12 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein 75-95% of the wall space comprises the slurry. 
     
     
         13 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the container is stackable. 
     
     
         14 . The container of  claim 13 , wherein the container includes protrusions on a top end of the container and corresponding indentions on a bottom end of the container. 
     
     
         15 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinged lid, said lid including a lid space therein and comprising a slurry within the lid space. 
     
     
         16 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an assembly that allows the container to be locked. 
     
     
         17 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising a single chamber for storing a product to be refrigerated within said inner wall. 
     
     
         18 . The container of  claim 1 , comprising two chambers for storing products within said inner wall and two lids, wherein each lid corresponds to a particular chamber. 
     
     
         19 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner wall and the outer wall have substantially the same thickness. 
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 1 , further comprising an secondary insulating material that surrounds the container. 
     
     
         21 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a chamber defined by an interior surface of the inner wall of the container is capable of maintaining a refrigerating temperature of greater than 32 to 41° F. for 8 or more hours in a room temperature environment. 
     
     
         22 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein a chamber defined by an interior surface of the inner wall of the container is capable of maintaining a freezing temperature of −10 to less than 32° F. for 8 or more hours in a room temperature environment. 
     
     
         23 . The container of  claim 1 , wherein the product to be refrigerated is a food product. 
     
     
         24 . A method of shipping a product to be refrigerated or frozen in a reusable container, comprising:
 refrigerating a reusable container comprising an inner wall, an outer wall, a wall space provided between said inner wall and said outer wall, said wall space being substantially separated from the environment outside of the reusable container, and a slurry provided in the wall space wherein said slurry is allowed to move freely within the wall space;   inserting a product to be refrigerated or frozen in the reusable container; and   storing the product to be refrigerated or frozen in the reusable container until the product can be used or consumed.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said storing step comprises storing the product to be refrigerated in the reusable container in a refrigerated environment for more than 8 hours. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said storing step comprises storing the product at a temperature of greater than 32 to 41° F. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said storing step comprises storing the product at a temperature of −10 to less than 32° F. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 24 , wherein said refrigerating step comprises refrigerating the container at a temperature of −30 to 41° F. 
     
     
         29 . A generally rectangular, reusable container for storing or transporting a product to be refrigerated, comprising:
 first, second, third and fourth inner walls;   corresponding first, second, third and fourth outer walls;   a bottom;   a top;   one or more chambers for storing a product to be refrigerated defined by said inner walls, said bottom and said top;   a wall space provided between at least two of said inner walls and said corresponding outer walls, said space being substantially separated from the environment outside of the reusable container; and   a slurry provided in the wall space and allowed to move freely within the wall space.   
     
     
         30 . A method of producing a reusable container for storing or transporting a product to be refrigerated or frozen, comprises:
 forming a container comprises a side inner wall, a side outer wall, a side wall space provided between said inner wall and said outer wall, a bottom inner wall, a bottom outer wall, a bottom wall space provided between said bottom inner wall and said bottom outer wall, and an aperture in communication with said bottom wall space, wherein said bottom wall space is in fluid communication with said side wall space;   inverting the container;   providing a slurry to said aperture to allow the slurry to flow into the bottom wall space and the side wall space such that the total bottom wall space and the side wall space is at least 50% filled with said slurry; and   sealing said aperture.