Insulated Shipping System

Abstract

An insulating shipping system may include six outer walls configured into a six-sided container; an insulating layer positioned within the outer walls and formed by a plurality of insulating members; and a thermal mass layer positioned within the insulating members and made from a plurality of thermal mass members. The thermal mass members may contain a thermal energy absorbing material. The container also may have a thermal buffer layer configured to fit within the thermal mass layer. All together, these layers form a passive, thermally stabile cargo cavity for transporting temperature-sensitive cargo.

1 . An insulating shipping system comprising:
 six walls;   an insulating layer fitting within said six walls; and   a thermal mass layer fitting within said insulating layer;   wherein said thermal mass layer substantially surrounds a cargo cavity and said insulating layer substantially surrounds said thermal mass layer.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , further comprising
 a thermal buffer layer fitting within said thermal mass layer;   wherein said thermal buffer layer substantially surrounds said cargo cavity.   
     
     
         3 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said outer walls are made from corrugated fiberboard.   
     
     
         4 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said outer walls are made from double wall corrugated fiberboard.   
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . (canceled) 
     
     
         8 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 2 , wherein
 said thermal buffer layer includes a plurality of buffer panels, each said buffer panel has a honeycomb construction.   
     
     
         9 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said thermal mass layer is adapted to hold thermal energy absorbing material therein,   said thermal energy absorbing material is thermally biased gel.   
     
     
         10 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said thermal mass layer is adapted to hold thermal energy absorbing material therein,   said thermal energy absorbing material is frozen carbon dioxide.   
     
     
         11 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said thermal mass layer includes a plurality of thermal mass members, said thermal mass members include internal thermal mass supports which are configured to fit inside said thermal mass members;   such that said thermal mass supports reduce the relative movement of thermal energy absorbing material retained therein.   
     
     
         12 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein;
 said thermal mass layer includes vents on an interior side leading into said cargo cavity.   
     
     
         13 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 1 , wherein
 said insulating layer includes a plurality of insulating members, said insulating members are made from corrugated fiberboard.   
     
     
         14 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 11 , wherein
 said thermal mass members are made from corrugated fiberboard.   
     
     
         15 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 8 , wherein
 said thermal buffer panels are made from corrugated fiberboard.   
     
     
         16 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 13 , wherein
 said insulating members include insulating material that is recyclable.   
     
     
         17 . The insulating shipping system according to  claim 9 , wherein
 the mass capacity of thermally biased gel in sleeves is in the range of 150 to 200 pounds.