Thermal insulation article with compostable panel and paper film

Abstract

A shipping container includes a plurality of thermally insulating pads positioned in a cavity in a box. Each pad of the plurality of thermally insulating pads includes a solid compostable panel formed primarily of extruded milled sorghum, the panel providing a rectangular plate, and a recyclable film formed primarily of paper. The recyclable film forms a pocket enclosing the panel. The panel is loose within the pocket. At least one of the plurality of thermally insulating pads includes a multi-section panel including a score across its width in at least one location. The score extends partially, but not entirely through the thickness of the multi-section panel. The multi-section panel is folded at a right angle at the score such that the panel provides a plurality of rectangular plates dimensioned to substantially span whichever of the floor, plurality of side walls or cover that the plurality of plates is adjacent.

1 . A thermal insulation article, comprising:
 a thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a rectangular cavity, wherein the thermally insulating pad includes
 a solid compostable panel formed primarily of starch, the panel holding together as a single unit, the panel providing a rectangular plate, and 
 a recyclable film formed primarily of paper, the recyclable film forming a pocket enclosing the panel and wrapped around the panel to cover and contact opposite sides of the panel, and wherein the panel is slidable within the pocket; 
   wherein the thermally insulating pad is configured to be foldable, wherein the film provides two opposing surfaces of the thermally insulating pad where the thermally insulating pad is foldable, and wherein the panel extends through the fold.   
     
     
         2 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the recyclable film is coated with a coating of one or more water-retardant materials. 
     
     
         3 . The article of  claim 2 , wherein the one or more water-retardant materials sssinclude water-resistant materials, water-repellent materials, and water-proof materials. 
     
     
         4 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the recyclable film is substantially pure paper. 
     
     
         5 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the recyclable film is formed primarily of paper mixed with one or more water-retardant materials. 
     
     
         6 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the paper comprises a wood pulp paper. 
     
     
         7 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the recyclable film forms the pocket enclosing the panel without being bonded to the panel. 
     
     
         8 . The article of  claim 7 , wherein an interior of the pocket is evacuated of air. 
     
     
         9 . The article of  claim 1 , wherein the starch comprises a grain starch, a root starch or a vegetable starch. 
     
     
         10 . The article of  claim 9 , wherein the starch comprises a corn starch, wheat starch or milled sorghum. 
     
     
         11 . A thermal insulation article, comprising:
 a multi-section thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a rectangular cavity, wherein the thermally insulating pad includes
 a plurality of solid compostable panel sections formed primarily of starch, each panel section holding together as a single unit, each panel section providing a rectangular plate dimensioned to substantially span whichever of the floor, plurality of side walls or cover that the rectangular plate is adjacent, and 
 a recyclable film formed primarily of paper, the recyclable film forming a pocket enclosing the plurality of panel sections without being bonded to the panel sections; 
   wherein the multi-section thermally insulating pad is configured to be foldable along a boundary between the panel sections, wherein the film provides two opposing surfaces of the multi-section thermally insulating pad where the multi-section thermally insulating pad is folded, and wherein the multi-section thermally insulating pad extends through the boundary between the panel sections;   wherein all of the panel sections are enclosed in the same pocket and   wherein the multi-section thermally insulating pad comprises a panel having a score across its width in at least one location on an interior surface of the panel, the score extending partially but not entirely through the thickness of the panel to divide the panel into the plurality of panel sections.   
     
     
         12 - 13 . (canceled) 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the recyclable film is coated with a coating of one or more water-retardant materials. 
     
     
         15 . The article of  claim 14 , wherein the one or more water-retardant materials include water-resistant materials, water-repellent materials, and water-proof materials. 
     
     
         16 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the recyclable film is substantially pure paper. 
     
     
         17 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein an interior of the pocket is evacuated of air. 
     
     
         18 . The article of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of solid compostable panel sections are slidable within the pocket. 
     
     
         19 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A thermal insulation article, comprising:
 a thermally insulating pad shaped to be positioned in a rectangular cavity, wherein the thermally insulating pad includes
 a solid compostable panel formed primarily of starch, the panel holding together as a single unit, the panel providing a rectangular plate, and 
 a recyclable film formed primarily of paper, the recyclable film being affixed to at least one surface of the solid compostable panel; 
   wherein the insulating pad is configured to be foldable, wherein the film provides two opposing surfaces of the insulating pad where the multi-section thermally insulating pad is foldedable, and wherein the panel extends through the fold.   
     
     
         22 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the recyclable film is affixed across an entirety of the at least one surface of the solid compostable panel. 
     
     
         23 . The article of  claim 21 , wherein the paper comprises a wood pulp paper.