Thermally insulating packaging system

Abstract

The present disclosure describes a thermally insulating packaging system configured to maintain within a closed environment a target temperature or temperature range that is lower than the temperature of the environment external to the system for transport of temperature-sensitive materials within the closed environment for an extended period of time.

1 . A thermally insulating packaging system comprising:
 a case having an inner chamber, the inner chamber having multiple sides and an opening;   a lid sized and shaped for mating with and closing the opening to create a closed environment;   a removable cooling layer having inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface disposed on a surface of the inner chamber; and   a removable insulating layer having inner and outer surfaces, the outer surface disposed on the inner surface of the cooling layer;   the system configured to maintain within the closed environment a target temperature that is lower than the temperature of the environment external to the system for transport of a temperature-sensitive material within the closed environment for an extended period of time.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the closed environment is a closed box defined by six substantially planar inner surfaces. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cooling layer and insulating layer are disposed on two of the six substantially planar surfaces. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cooling layer and the insulating layer are disposed on five of the six substantially planar surfaces. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein the substantially planar surface not disposed with the cooling layer and the insulating layer comprises is the bottom inner surface of the closed box opposite the lid. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein one of the substantially planar surfaces disposed with the cooling layer and the insulating layer is the top inner surface of the closed box coinciding with the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 4 , wherein four of the substantially planar surfaces disposed with the cooling layer and the insulating layer is the inner surface of the sides of the closed box. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein the cooling layer comprises multiple panels, each panel having a cooling capacity, and each panel being disposed on one of the substantially planar surfaces. 
     
     
         91 - 11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling layer comprises one or more ductile pouches. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the ductile pouch comprises ice or a gel formulation. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating layer comprises one or more ductile pouches. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the ductile pouch comprises a cellulose material. 
     
     
         16 - 17 . (canceled) 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the temperature sensitive material is a perishable food product, a biological material, a human pharmaceutical product, or a veterinary pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the temperature sensitive material is a veterinary pharmaceutical product. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the veterinary pharmaceutical product is insulin. 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the target temperature ranges from about 0.5° C. to about 8° C. and the extended period of time is from about 48 hours to about 72 hours. 
     
     
         22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method for packaging a temperature-sensitive material, the method comprising:
 placing a cooling layer within an inner chamber of a case, the inner chamber having multiple sides and an opening, the cooling layer being placed against all but one side of the inner chamber;   placing a temperature-sensitive material into the inner chamber through the opening; and   closing the opening to form a closed environment.   
     
     
         24 - 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A method for packaging a temperature-sensitive material, the method comprising:
 wrapping a temperature-sensitive material in a cushioning layer;   placing the wrapped temperature-sensitive material within an inner chamber of a case, the inner chamber having the shape of an open box with a bottom and four sides and an opening, the wrapped temperature-sensitive material placed into the inner chamber through the opening;   placing an insulating layer against an outer surface of the cushioning layer through the opening;   placing a first cooling layer within the inner chamber, an outer surface of the first cooling layer being placed against the four sides of the inner chamber and an inner surface of the first cooling layer being placed against an outer surface of the insulation layer through the opening;   placing a second cooling layer within the inner chamber, the second cooling layer being placed on top of the insulation layer through the opening; and   closing the opening with a lid to form a closed environment.   
     
     
         30 - 39 . (canceled) 
     
     
         40 . A method for packaging a temperature-sensitive material, the method comprising placing a temperature-sensitive material into the inner chamber of the thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         41 . A method of maintaining an internal temperature in a closed environment at a specific range using the thermally insulating packaging system of  claim 1 .