Vacuum insulated container

Abstract

A two component box has a lid and a lower body portion; both the lid and the lower body portion have an interior compartment substantially surrounded by at least one interior wall and at least one exterior wall. At least one interior wall and at least one exterior wall of the lid are attached one to the other by a first connecting portion and at least one interior wall and at least one exterior wall of the lower body portion being attached one to the other by a second connecting portion. Disposed between the at least one interior wall and the at least one exterior wall is a vacuum.

1 . A two component box having a lid and a lower body portion; both the lid and the lower body portion having an interior compartment substantially surrounded by at least one interior wall and at least one exterior wall, the at least one interior wall and the at least one exterior wall of the lid being attached one to the other by a first connecting portion and the at least one interior wall and the at least one exterior wall of the lower body portion being attached one to the other by a second connecting portion; disposed between the at least one interior wall and the at least one exterior wall is a vacuum, the interior walls of the lid and lower body portion substantially defining an inner compartment, the interior walls and the exterior walls of the lower body portion having elongated support struts engaging the interior walls and the exterior walls, both the lower body portion and the lid including a vacuum valve. 
     
     
         2 . The box of  claim 1  having at least one orifice, the at least one orifice sized such that insulating material can pass from outside the box to inside the interior compartment, the interior compartment having insulating material therein. 
     
     
         3 . The box of  claim 2  wherein the insulating material is fine low density material. 
     
     
         4 . The box of  claim 2  wherein the insulating material is an amorphous volcanic glass. 
     
     
         5 . The box of  claim 1  wherein a valve recess within the lid is sized to house the vacuum valve of the lower body portion. 
     
     
         6 . A box having an interior compartment substantially surrounded by interior walls, the interior walls surrounded by exterior walls; disposed between the interior walls and the exterior walls is a vacuum space, the box having a lower body portion and a lid, the lid sealingly engaging the lower body portion, the lower body portion having a vacuum valve disposed therein. 
     
     
         7 . The box of  claim 6  wherein the lid includes a vacuum valve disposed therein. 
     
     
         8 . The box of  claim 6  having at least one orifice, the at least one orifice sized such that insulating material can pass from outside the box to an interior space between the interior wall and the exterior wall, the interior space having insulating material therein. 
     
     
         9 . The box of  claim 8  wherein the insulating material is fine low density material. 
     
     
         10 . The box of  claim 8  wherein the insulating material is perlite. 
     
     
         11 . The box of  claim 6  wherein a valve recess within the lid is sized to house the vacuum valve of the lower body portion. 
     
     
         12 . The box of  claim 6  having a height of greater than 2 feet and a width of greater than two feet, 
     
     
         13 . The box of  claim 6  wherein the interior walls and the exterior walls of the lower body portion having elongated support struts engaging the interior walls and the exterior walls, both the lower body portion and the lid including a vacuum valve. 
     
     
         14 . The box of  claim 6  wherein the lower body portion has an upper compartment rim about the top of the lower body portion, the lid having a protruding portion that extends into or onto the upper compartment rim and contacts the upper compartment rim. 
     
     
         15 . The box of  claim 6  wherein the interior walls define a plane and the exterior walls define a plane, at least one recessed handle disposed within a recessed portion of the exterior walls, the at least one handle disposed substantially between the plane of the interior wall and the plane formed by the exterior wall. 
     
     
         16 . A box having an outer bottom case disposed about a bottom interior set of walls, an upper interior cover, an upper exterior cover, a front inner panel, and a front outer panel, the outer bottom case having elongated support struts extending along the outer bottom case from the bottom case floor towards the bottom case top, the bottom interior set of walls having a lip which alone engages the bottom case such that a vacuum exists between the bottom case and the bottom interior set of walls, the upper interior cover and the upper exterior cover forming a void space that is a vacuum, the front inner panel and the front outer panel forming a void space that is a vacuum; the bottom interior set of walls and the upper interior cover and the front inner panel defining a compartment. 
     
     
         17 . The box of  claim 16  wherein the front inner panel is a portion of the bottom interior set of walls and the front outer panel is a portion of the outer bottom case. 
     
     
         18 . The box of  claim 16  having a vacuum valve for use in creating a vacuum within at least one of the void spaces. 
     
     
         19 . The box of  claim 16  wherein a pallet portion is attached to the bottom of the outer bottom case, the pallet portion having slots spaced and sized for being carried by a forklift. 
     
     
         20 . The box of  claim 16  wherein the compartment is substantially sealed from the outside environment.