Four-piece nestable cooler

Abstract

An insulated shipping container comprising box housing two identical L-shaped pieces attached at first and second junctions to form a right rectangular prism with a top open side and a bottom open side of identical dimensions to the top open side, a bottom piece aligned with the bottom open side of the right rectangular prism, and a top piece aligned with the top open side of the right rectangular prism. A merchant agent may assemble and pack the insulated shipping container with ice or other coolant material and one or more perishable items for shipment to a customer. The merchant agent may secure the insulated shipping container with tape and ship the one or more perishable items to a customer.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated container, comprising:
 two identical L-shaped pieces connected at a first and second junction that form four sides of a right rectangular prism, wherein a top face and a bottom face of the right rectangular prism comprise first and second open faces;   a bottom piece upon which the first open face of the right rectangular prism comprising the connected two identical L-shaped pieces rests; and   a top piece, resting on top of the second open face of the right rectangular prism comprising the connected two identical L-shaped pieces.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the two identical L-shaped pieces, the bottom piece, and the top piece are comprised of foam and are of equal thickness. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated container of  claim 2 , wherein the foam comprises Styrofoam. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , further comprising a box, wherein the bottom piece, two identical L-shaped pieces, and the top piece are housed within the box. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated container of  claim 4 , wherein the box comprises a cardboard box. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated container of  claim 4 , wherein the box is taped shut with tape. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second junctions are at corners of the right rectangular prism. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second junctions are within opposite faces of the right rectangular prism. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein each of the L-shaped piece comprises a protruding edge and an indented edge, wherein the protruding edge of one of the L-shaped pieces fits into the indented edge of the other one of the L-shaped pieces at the first junction, and wherein the protruding edge of the other one of the L-shaped pieces fits into the indented edge of the one of the L-shaped pieces at the second junction. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the first L-shaped piece comprises a first flat edge of the first L-shaped piece that is aligned with a second flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the first junction and wherein the first L-shaped piece comprises a second flat edge that aligns with a first flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the second junction. 
     
     
         12 . A method to assemble an insulated shipping container, comprising:
 laying a first bottom container piece along a bottom of an inside of a box;   connecting a first edge of a first L-shaped container piece to a second edge of a second L-shaped container piece at a first junction, wherein the second L-shaped piece is identical to the first L-shaped piece and connecting a second edge of the first L-shaped container piece to a first edge of the second L-shaped container piece at a second junction to form four adjacent sides of a right rectangular prism comprising a top open side and a bottom open side;   placing the connected first and second L-shaped container pieces on top of the bottom container piece in the box to align the bottom container piece with the bottom open side of the right rectangular prism and aligning the first and second L-shaped container pieces along sides of the inside of the box;   placing a top container piece on top of the top open side of the right rectangular prism to form an assembled container inside the box; and   closing the box around the assembled container.   
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the two identical L-shaped container pieces, the bottom container piece, and the top container piece are made of foam and are of equal thickness. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the box comprises a cardboard box. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12 , further comprising securing the box with tape. 
     
     
         16 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second junctions are at corners of the right rectangular prism. 
     
     
         17 . The insulated container of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second junctions are within opposite faces of the right rectangular prism. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12 , wherein the right rectangular prism comprises a cube. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first L-shaped container piece comprises a first protruding edge and a second indented edge,   wherein the second L-shaped container piece comprises a first protruding edge and a second indented edge,   wherein connecting the first edge of the first L-shaped container piece to the second edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the first junction comprises inserting the first protruding edge of the first L-shaped container piece into the second indented edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the first junction, and   wherein connecting the second edge of the first L-shaped container piece to the first edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the second junction comprises inserting the second indented edge of the first L-shaped container piece into the first protruding edge of the second L-shaped container piece at the second junction.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 12 ,
 wherein the first L-shaped piece comprises a first flat edge and a second flat edge,   wherein the second L-shaped piece comprises a first flat edge and a second flat edge,   wherein connecting the first edge of the first L-shaped piece to the second edge of the second L-shaped piece at the first junction comprises aligning the first flat edge of the first L-shaped piece to the second flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the first junction, and   wherein connecting the second edge of the first L-shaped piece to the first edge of the second L-shaped piece at the second junction comprises aligning the second flat edge of the first L-shaped piece to the first flat edge of the second L-shaped piece at the second junction.