Using fiber or lose starch between side walls

Abstract

An insulating shipping container includes an exterior box formed of paper defining a cavity and an interior box formed of paper and positioned within said cavity. The interior box defines a product cavity. Thermal insulation material formed primarily of plant fiber is received in the outer cavity and around the inner container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermally insulating container, comprising:
 an outer container formed of a paper and having an outer floor and a plurality of outer walls;   an inner container formed of a paper and having an inner floor and a plurality of inner walls and located within the outer container, a space between the plurality of inner walls and plurality of outer walls defining an outer cavity, and a space interior to the plurality of inner walls defining an inner cavity to hold a product; and   thermal insulation material formed primarily of plant fiber and received in the outer cavity and around the inner container.   
     
     
         2 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber is formed from cotton fiber, corn stalks or coconut husk. 
     
     
         3 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the outer container is cardboard. 
     
     
         4 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 3 , wherein the inner container is cardboard. 
     
     
         5 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner container is paperboard. 
     
     
         6 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 5 , wherein the outer container is paperboard. 
     
     
         7 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material formed primarily of plant fiber directly contacts the inner walls and outer walls. 
     
     
         8 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal insulation material has sufficient density to provide the thermal insulation material with a thermal insulating value (R value) substantially equal to or better than EPS. 
     
     
         9 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , comprising an outer cover for the outer container. 
     
     
         10 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 9 , wherein the inner container comprises flaps to form the floor of the inner container. 
     
     
         11 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 9 , wherein the outer container comprises a box having flaps to form the outer cover of the inner container. 
     
     
         12 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 9 , wherein the outer container comprises a box having flaps to form a floor of the outer container. 
     
     
         13 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the plant fiber is compressed by and between the inner container and the outer container. 
     
     
         14 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , comprising an annular sheet formed of a paper and that extends over the outer cavity, the annular sheet positioned between the plurality of inner walls and plurality of outer walls over the outer cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The thermally insulting container of  claim 14 , wherein the annular sheet is secured to the inner container. 
     
     
         16 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 15 , wherein the annular sheet is secured to upper edges of the inner walls. 
     
     
         17 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 15 , wherein the annular sheet is glued to the inner container. 
     
     
         18 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 15 , wherein the annular sheet is secured to the outer container. 
     
     
         19 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 17 , wherein the annular sheet is cardboard or paperboard. 
     
     
         20 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 1 , wherein the inner cavity is a rectangular prismatic cavity. 
     
     
         21 . A thermally insulating container, comprising:
 an outer container formed of a paper and having an outer floor and a plurality of outer walls;   an inner container formed of a paper and having an inner floor and a plurality of inner walls and located within the outer container, a space between the plurality of inner walls and plurality of outer walls defining an outer cavity, and a space interior to the plurality of inner walls defining an inner cavity to hold a product; and   thermal insulation material formed primarily of loose fill plant material received in the outer cavity and around the inner container between the inner walls and outer walls and with the thermal insulation material in direct contact with the inner walls and outer walls.   
     
     
         22 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , wherein the loose fill plant material comprises pellets/granules of starch. 
     
     
         23 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , wherein the loose fill plant material comprises plant fiber. 
     
     
         24 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , wherein the inner container and outer container are cardboard. 
     
     
         25 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , wherein the inner container and outer container are paperboard. 
     
     
         26 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , wherein the inner container comprises flaps to form the floor of the inner container. 
     
     
         27 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , wherein the outer container comprises a box having flaps to form the outer cover of the inner container. 
     
     
         28 . The thermally insulating container of  claim 21 , comprising an annular sheet formed of a paper and that extends over the outer cavity, the annular sheet positioned between the plurality of inner walls and plurality of outer walls over the outer cavity.