Combination insulation system

Abstract

A thermally insulating packaging system including insulated walls surrounding an internal cavity. At least one of the faces of the packaging system is insulated with a first type of thermal insulating material and the remaining faces of the packaging system are insulated with a second type of insulating material. The first insulation material is a Vacuum Insulation Panel (VIP). The VIP is fitted to a frame, which is formed by a single piece of the second insulation material. The second insulating material is a shaped insulating foam. The frame provides a support for the VIP via a contact surface. The VIP is held in contact with the frame. Here, the frame can be shaped and sized so as to provide a positive holding force. Additionally or alternatively, an outer cover can be used such as a rigid external fitting, flexible cover, shrinkable or elastic cover or other means.

1 . A thermally insulating packaging system comprising insulated walls surrounding an internal cavity, wherein the insulated walls have a face and at least one of the faces is insulated with a first type of thermal insulating material and the remaining faces of the packaging system are insulated with a second type of insulating material. 
     
     
         2 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the first insulation material is a vacuum insulation material and the second insulating material is a shaped insulating foam. 
     
     
         3 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the vacuum insulation material forms a Vacuum Insulation Panel having a substantially constant thickness. 
     
     
         4 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the shaped insulating foam is formed or machined into a complex shape having varying wall thickness. 
     
     
         5 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 2 , wherein the shaped insulating foam forms a single-piece body that supports the first insulation material. 
     
     
         6 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 5 , wherein the body provides a contact surface for the first insulation material. 
     
     
         7 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 6 , wherein the body comprises a peripheral lip formed by a shoulder section that is adapted to receive the first insulating material. 
     
     
         8 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 1 , wherein the first insulating material at least covers substantially a first major face and the remaining faces other than the faces insulated by the first material are insulated with a single piece of second insulating material. 
     
     
         9 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 8 , wherein at least two major faces are covered substantially by the first insulating material. 
     
     
         10 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 1 , including retaining means to apply a compressive force between the first insulating material and the second insulating material. 
     
     
         11 . The thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 10 , wherein the retaining means comprises an outer shell. 
     
     
         12 . A method of forming a thermally insulating packaging system, the method comprising assembling a first insulating material to a second insulating material in order to form an internal cavity surrounded by insulated walls, wherein the insulated walls have a face and at least one of the faces is insulated with the first type of thermal insulating material and the remaining faces of the packaging system are insulated with the second type of insulating material. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein assembling the first insulating material to the second insulating material comprises locating a Vacuum Insulation Panel having a substantially constant thickness formed of the first insulating material on to a shoulder of a single-piece body of shaped insulating foam formed from the second insulating material. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , including assembling an outer shell around the first insulating material and the second insulating material in order to apply a compressive force between the first insulating material and the second insulating material.