Insulated shipping container systems, kits and methods

Abstract

Shipping container systems are provided for shipping a temperature sensitive product or payload. The systems include at least one heat transfer element and a payload container configured to hold payload therein and configured to be positioned within a shipping container; the payload container being spaced from sidewalls of the shipping container. Also included are spacers that may space the payload container from one or more of the heat transfer elements, or the spacers may space the heat transfer elements from an inside surface of the shipping container, or the spacers space multiple heat transfer elements from one another. The spacers are configured to allow air to flow over surfaces of the payload container and heat transfer elements. Also included are kits that include components of the system and methods of packing a shipping container with the system and/or kit components. Further provided are products that include any one or more of the described elements, such as the unique shuttle horizontal spacers provided herein; and fully assembled shipping containers.

1 - 23 . (canceled) 
     
     
         24 . A spacer comprising
 a connector to which three or more cylindrical shuttle spokes having substantially equal radii are attached, said shuttle spokes being configured such that air may flow through the spokes;   wherein said connector has a depth that is smaller than the radius of the cylindrical shuttle spokes.   
     
     
         25 . A containment sleeve comprising:
 a sleeve configured in size and shape to separate a payload container from inside walls of an insulated shipping container; said insulated shipping container being configured to receive the payload container therein;   wherein the payload container is configured in size and shape such that said payload container may be positioned within and spaced from inside sidewalls of the insulated shipping container,   wherein the sleeve is configured to be positioned around and spaced away from outer walls of the payload container; and   wherein the sleeve is further configured to allow airflow between inside walls of the insulated shipping container and outer walls of the containment sleeve such that air is free to flow between outside sidewalls of the payload container and the inside sidewalls of the insulated shipping container.   
     
     
         26 . The containment sleeve of  claim 25 , wherein said payload container is configured to receive a first heat transfer element, and a first horizontal spacing element in direct contact with a first face of the payload container and between and directly contacting and separating the payload container and at least one first heat transfer element such that said payload container and said first heat transfer element do not directly contact one another, said first horizontal spacing element being configured to space the first face of the payload container from the at least one first heat transfer element, such that air flows between the first surface of the payload container and the first heat transfer element and a convection current is created across the at least one first heat transfer element; and a second horizontal spacing element positioned adjacent to a second face of the payload container, on an opposite side of the payload container from the first horizontal spacing element; 
     
     
         27 . The containment sleeve of  claim 25 , wherein said insulated shipping container is configured to receive the payload container therein and is also configured to receive a first heat transfer element, and a first horizontal spacing element positioned above the payload container which directly contacts and spaces and directly separates at least one first heat transfer element from either an inside top surface of the shipping container, or from a second heat transfer element wherein both of said first heat transfer element and said second heat transfer element are facing the first face of the payload container, wherein the first horizontal spacing element allows air to contact and flow freely across all surfaces of the at least one first heat transfer element and a convection current is created across exposed surfaces of the at least one first heat transfer element; and a second horizontal spacing element positioned adjacent to the second face of the payload container below said payload container, on an opposite side of the payload container from the first horizontal spacing element. 
     
     
         28 . A container, comprising:
 a container body having an inner wall configured and arranged to receive a payload and a heat transfer element therein;   a containment sleeve configured and arranged to space the payload from the inner wall thereby defining an air-filled space between the payload and the inner wall over a portion of a surface area of the payload; and   a spacer configured and arranged to space the heat transfer element from the inner wall thereby defining an air-filled space between the heat transfer element and the inner wall over a portion of a surf ace area of the heat transfer element; the air-filled space between the inner wall and the payload surface area and the air-filled space between the inner wall and the heat transfer element surface area in fluid communication to facilitate heat transfer therethrough.   
     
     
         29 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer is further configured and arranged to space the heat transfer element from the payload thereby defining an air-filled space between the heat transfer element and the payload over a portion of the surface area of the heat transfer element adjacent to the surface area of the payload. 
     
     
         30 . The container of  claim 28 , further comprising a carton received over the container body. 
     
     
         31 . The container of  claim 28 , further comprising a lid received in sealable engagement with the container body. 
     
     
         32 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the container body comprises a base container and a collar engaged with the base container. 
     
     
         33 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer forms a grid-like pattern. 
     
     
         34 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the spacer is formed from a plurality of L-shaped supports. 
     
     
         35 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the support comprises a plurality of L-shaped supports extending from the inner wall. 
     
     
         36 . The container of  claim 28 , wherein the heat transfer element is a refrigerant.