Convection Based Temperature Assured Packaging System

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015232266-A1
Application number	US-201514661478-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Mar 18, 2015
Priority date	Sep 26, 2012
Publication date	Aug 20, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A packaging system for a temperature sensitive payload is provided. The system comprises insulative panels, including side panels and end panels, forming a product compartment. Cooling layers within the product compartment are located below and above the products. Channel members affixed to the side panels and/or the end panels create spaces and channels for convective air movement.

First claim

1 . A packaging system for shipping a temperature sensitive payload, the packaging system comprising:
a housing comprising a bottom panel, a top panel located above and in spaced vertical alignment with the bottom panel, side panels extending vertically between the bottom panel and the top panel, and end panels extending vertically between the bottom panel and the top panel, the housing defining a product compartment for holding a payload; and a channel member affixed to at least one of the side panels or end panels, the channel member comprising an inner facing panel, an outer facing panel connected to the inner facing panel by side panels, and one or more internal panels disposed between the inner facing panel and the outer facing panel ; the inner facing panel, the outer facing panel and the one or more internal panels defining a series of alternating inner channels and outer channels configured to allow vertical air circulation in substantially vertical flow paths that alternate between upward flow through the outer channels and downward flow through the inner channels.

2 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
the one or more internal panels form two sides of each of a series of alternating inner tubes and outer tubes.

3 . The packaging system of claim 2 wherein:
the one or more internal panels is a single internal panel folded in accordion fashion.

4 . The packaging system of claim 3 wherein:
the internal panel is folded in accordion fashion along vertically oriented inner fold lines which define inner apexes and along vertically oriented outer fold lines which define outer apexes ;
each of the inner tubes has a triangular cross sectional profile and comprises an inner facing base and two angled sides, the inner facing base is a part of the channel member inner facing panel and extends from an inner apex to an adjacent inner apex, each angled side is a part of the internal panel, and the angled sides extend from adjacent inner apexes to a common outer apex ; and
each of the outer tubes has a triangular cross sectional profile and comprises an outer facing base adjacent the housing and two angled sides, the outer facing base is a part of the channel member outer facing panel and extends from an outer apex to an adjacent outer apex, each angled side is a part of the internal panel, and the angled sides extend from different outer apexes to a common inner apex.

5 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
each adjacent pair of tubes, shares a common angled side.

6 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
the internal panel is made of corrugated board having flutes that run horizontally.

7 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
the distance between the inner panel and the outer panel is at least one inch.

8 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
the channel member include an outer layer of material wrapped around the inner facing panel, the outer facing panel and the side panels.

9 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
the channel member is spaced from the top panel and from the bottom panel a sufficient distance to allow air to flow through the channel member.

10 . The packaging system of claim 1 wherein:
a channel member is affixed to each of the side panels and end panels.

11 . A packaging system for shipping a temperature sensitive payload, the packaging system comprising:
a housing comprising a bottom panel, a top panel located above and in spaced vertical alignment with the bottom panel, side panels extending vertically between the bottom panel and the top panel, and end panels extending vertically between the bottom panel and the top panel, the housing defining a product compartment for holding a payload; and a channel member affixed to at least one of the side panels or end panels, the channel member comprising one or more corrugated structures, the one or more corrugated structures defining a series of adjacent, laterally spaced outer channels having a rectangular cross section and designed to carry warmed air upward and a series of adjacent, laterally spaced inner channels having a rectangular cross section and designed to carry cooled air downward.

12 . The packaging system of claim 11 wherein:
the outer channels are larger in cross sectional area than the inner channels.

13 . The packaging system of claim 12 wherein:
each outer channel has a lateral dimension greater than the lateral dimension of each inner channel.

14 . The packaging system of claim 13 wherein:
each outer channel has a width twice the width of each inner channel.

Assignees

• Sonoco Dev Inc

Inventors

• Ahmed Iftekhar
• Ranade Ajit
• Bersamin Glen

Classifications

• B65D2519/00159

  Paper · CPC title

• B65D81/3823

  formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls · CPC title

• F25D2303/0845

  below the product · CPC title

• B65D2519/00194

  Paper · CPC title

• F25D17/04

  for circulating air, e.g. by convection · CPC title