Advantageously recyclable environment-friendly thermal insulation box

Abstract

An advantageously recyclable environment-friendly thermal insulation box includes an inner box, an outer box and an insulation layer. The inner box has a sealed bottom, a peripheral wall, and a top opening having an engaging edge formed therearound. An engaging groove is provided between the engaging edge and the peripheral wall. The outer box includes a closed bottom and an open top provided with an engaging protrusion. Through engagement of the engaging protrusion with the engaging groove, the outer box is externally connected to the inner box with an enclosing space formed between the two boxes for receiving the insulation layer therein. The inner and outer boxes are made of a PP or an HDPE material, and the insulation layer is made of an EPE material, allowing the no longer usable thermal insulation box to be directly recycled to produce plastic pellets with good mechanical properties and accordingly higher value.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An advantageously recyclable environment-friendly thermal insulation box, comprising:
 an inner box being made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene (PP) material and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material, and including a peripheral wall, a sealed bottom connected to a lower end of the peripheral wall, and a top opening locate opposite to the sealed bottom; the top opening having a rim that is outward extended and then downward bent to form an engaging edge around the top opening; and an engaging groove being provided between the peripheral wall and the engaging edge;   an outer box being made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene (PP) material and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material, and including a closed bottom and an open top; the open top being provided with an engaging protrusion for fixedly engaging with the engaging groove, such that the outer box is externally connected to the inner box with an enclosing space formed between the inner box and the outer box; and   an insulation layer being made of an extendable polyethylene (EPE) material and disposed in the enclosing space.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a cover connected to the inner box via a pivoting joint provided on between the cover and the engaging edge of the inner box, whereby the cover is pivotally turnable between a closed position, in which the cover closes the top opening of the inner box, and a lifted position, in which the cover opens the top opening of the inner box. 
     
     
         3 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the engaging edge of the inner box includes a notched portion and the cover includes a protruded portion located at a position corresponding to the notched portion of the engaging edge; the notched portion being provided at two opposite ends with a pivot protrusion each, and the protruded portion being provided at two opposite ends with a pivot hole each; and the pivot protrusions of the notched portion and the pivot holes of the protruded portion being rotatably engaged with one another to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
         4 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the outer box is provided on an outer side of the closed bottom with at least one supporting element, with which the thermal insulation box positioned on a surface is always spaced from the surface by a distance. 
     
     
         5 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a handle; and the handle including two ends that respectively form a pivotal connection section pivotally connected to the engaging edge of the inner box, and a grip section extended between and connected to the two pivotal connection sections. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the engaging edge of the inner box further includes a receiving recess; and, with the two pivotal connection sections of the handle pivotally turnably connected to the engaging edge of the inner box, the grip section of the handle being pivotally turnable between a first position, in which the grip section is located above the top opening of the inner box, and a second position, in which the grip section is in contact with the receiving recess. 
     
     
         7 . An advantageously recyclable environment-friendly thermal insulation box, comprising:
 an inner box being made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene (PP) material and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material, and including a peripheral wall, a sealed bottom connected to a lower end of the peripheral wall, and a top opening locate opposite to the sealed bottom; the top opening having a rim that is outward extended and then downward bent to form an engaging edge around the top opening; and an engaging groove being provided between the peripheral wall and the engaging edge;   an outer box being made of a material selected from the group consisting of a polypropylene (PP) material and a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material, and including a closed bottom and an open top; the open top being provided with an engaging protrusion for fixedly engaging with the engaging groove, such that the outer box is externally connected to the inner box with an enclosing space formed between the inner box and the outer box;   an insulation layer being made of an extendable polyethylene (EPE) material and disposed in the enclosing space; and   an auxiliary layer being made of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) material and disposed in the enclosing space between the outer box and the insulation layer.   
     
     
         8 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a cover connected to the inner box via a pivoting joint provided on between the cover and the engaging edge of the inner box, whereby the cover is pivotally turnable between a closed position, in which the cover closes the top opening of the inner box, and a lifted position, in which the cover opens the top opening of the inner box. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the engaging edge of the inner box includes a notched portion and the cover includes a protruded portion located at a position corresponding to the notched portion of the engaging edge; the notched portion being provided at two opposite ends with a pivot protrusion each, and the protruded portion being provided at two opposite ends with a pivot hole each; and the pivot protrusions of the notched portion and the pivot holes of the protruded portion being rotatably engaged with one another to form the pivoting joint. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the outer box is provided on an outer side of the closed bottom with at least one supporting element, with which the thermal insulation box positioned on a surface is always spaced from the surface by a distance. 
     
     
         11 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 7 , further comprising a handle; and the handle including two ends that respectively form a pivotal connection section pivotally connected to the engaging edge of the inner box, and a grip section extended between and connected to the two pivotal connection sections. 
     
     
         12 . The thermal insulation box as claimed in  claim 11 , wherein the engaging edge of the inner box further includes a receiving recess; and, with the two pivotal connection sections of the handle pivotally turnably connected to the engaging edge of the inner box, the grip section of the handle being pivotally turnable between a first position, in which the grip section is located above the top opening of the inner box, and a second position, in which the grip section is in contact with the receiving recess.