Temperature Controlled Packaging and Transportation Method

Abstract

A thermally insulated product delivery container (PDC), including therewithin a rigid shell defining a hollow tube containing wool, first and second tube-end closure boxes containing wool to thereby collectively define an inner void for receiving at least one phase change material container for providing a temperature controlled condition within the void in the presence of a phase change material (PCM), and at least one thermal baffle positionable between the or each phase change material.

1 . A thermally insulated product delivery container (PDC), including therewithin a rigid shell defining a hollow tube containing wool, first and second tube-end closure boxes containing wool to thereby collectively define an inner void for receiving at least one phase change material container for providing a temperature controlled condition within the void in the presence of a phase change material (PCM), and at least one thermal baffle positionable between the or each phase change material container and a product to be carried within the compartment. 
     
     
         2 . The PDC of  claim 1  further including a corrugated cardboard container within which may be inserted a foldable corrugated tubular cardboard shell containing wool between its inner and outer walls, and a pair of tube closure boxes, one for each end of the tube, each also containing wool to therefore collectively define a product receiving void which acts to hygroscopically control the temperature gradient between the outside of the container and the inside of the container. 
     
     
         3 . The PDC of  claim 1  in which one or more PCM containers may therefore be introduced into the interior of the container as a means of establishing a desired temperature range for the atmosphere within the container 
     
     
         4 . A PDC according to  claim 1  further including a thermal baffle between the product and the or each PCM container in order to ensure that a product to be transported within the container does not become too cold or too hot during transport. 
     
     
         5 . The PDC of  claim 4  in which the thermal baffle comprises one or more layers of corrugated cardboard serving to control the flow of heat to or from the product, thereby to prevent or inhibit thermal shock to the product. 
     
     
         6 . A PDC according to  claim 1  of modular form, being cuboid or cylindrical, in which the hollow wool-containing shell is a sliding fit within the container, the or each PCM container is a sliding fit within the wool-containing shell, a thermal baffle is a sliding fit over the or each PCM container e.g. a medical product in its original primary packaging fitted over or between the or each thermal baffle so that when the container is closed it assumes a generally rigid structure whereby to minimise mechanical damage to the contents during transport. 
     
     
         7 . A PDC according to  claim 1  in which the or each PCM container includes apertures with which to exchange temperature differences within the PDC. 
     
     
         8 . A PDC according to  claim 1  in which the first and second tube closure boxes are each separated into two compartments one for receiving wool and the other for receiving a PCM for controlling the temperature within the interior of the PCD. 
     
     
         9 . A method of transporting temperature-sensitive products by the use of a container, the method including the steps of identifying for the product to be delivered a required minimum and maximum temperature range for the duration of transport, identifying a suitable PCM and identifying a suitable thickness or composition of thermal baffle acting between the PCM and the product being transported so as to prevent or inhibit thermal damage thereto.