GB2065548A - Improvements in portable insulated containers - Google Patents

Improvements in portable insulated containers Download PDF

Info

Publication number
GB2065548A
GB2065548A GB7943267A GB7943267A GB2065548A GB 2065548 A GB2065548 A GB 2065548A GB 7943267 A GB7943267 A GB 7943267A GB 7943267 A GB7943267 A GB 7943267A GB 2065548 A GB2065548 A GB 2065548A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
cells
pockets
portable
film
rigid
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB7943267A
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
OLIVELARK Ltd
Original Assignee
OLIVELARK Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by OLIVELARK Ltd filed Critical OLIVELARK Ltd
Priority to GB7943267A priority Critical patent/GB2065548A/en
Publication of GB2065548A publication Critical patent/GB2065548A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
    • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
    • B32B3/30—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by a layer formed with recesses or projections, e.g. hollows, grooves, protuberances, ribs
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B3/00—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form
    • B32B3/26—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer
    • B32B3/28—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar shape; Layered products comprising a layer having particular features of form characterised by a particular shape of the outline of the cross-section of a continuous layer; characterised by a layer with cavities or internal voids ; characterised by an apertured layer characterised by a layer comprising a deformed thin sheet, i.e. the layer having its entire thickness deformed out of the plane, e.g. corrugated, crumpled
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B9/00—Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00
    • B32B9/02—Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00 comprising animal or vegetable substances, e.g. cork, bamboo, starch
    • B32B9/025—Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00 comprising animal or vegetable substances, e.g. cork, bamboo, starch comprising leather
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B9/00—Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00
    • B32B9/04—Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00 comprising such particular substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material
    • B32B9/045—Layered products comprising a layer of a particular substance not covered by groups B32B11/00 - B32B29/00 comprising such particular substance as the main or only constituent of a layer, which is next to another layer of the same or of a different material of synthetic resin
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D65/00—Wrappers or flexible covers; Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/38—Packaging materials of special type or form
    • B65D65/44—Applications of resilient shock-absorbing materials, e.g. foamed plastics material, honeycomb material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/02—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage
    • B65D81/05—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents
    • B65D81/127—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents specially adapted to protect contents from mechanical damage maintaining contents at spaced relation from package walls, or from other contents using rigid or semi-rigid sheets of shock-absorbing material
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
    • B65D81/3888—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags
    • B65D81/3893—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags formed with double walls, i.e. hollow
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B65—CONVEYING; PACKING; STORING; HANDLING THIN OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL
    • B65D—CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES
    • B65D81/00—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents
    • B65D81/38—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation
    • B65D81/3888—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags
    • B65D81/3897—Containers, packaging elements, or packages, for contents presenting particular transport or storage problems, or adapted to be used for non-packaging purposes after removal of contents with thermal insulation wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/30—Properties of the layers or laminate having particular thermal properties
    • B32B2307/304—Insulating
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B32—LAYERED PRODUCTS
    • B32B—LAYERED PRODUCTS, i.e. PRODUCTS BUILT-UP OF STRATA OF FLAT OR NON-FLAT, e.g. CELLULAR OR HONEYCOMB, FORM
    • B32B2553/00—Packaging equipment or accessories not otherwise provided for
    • B32B2553/02—Shock absorbing
    • B32B2553/026—Bubble films

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Packages (AREA)
  • Laminated Bodies (AREA)

Abstract

The invention is a portable thermally insulated container where the thermally insulating liner comprises a base of relatively stiff or semi- rigid and dimensionally stable sheet material onto one or each face of which is permanently secured a layer of flexible plastics material on which are formed hollow sealed air- tight cells. Each cell is closely separated from its neighbours, and normally projects from the general plane of the layer to a uniform height. The cells are preferably all of the same size and arranged in a regular pattern. A proprietary polyethylene packaging material is particularly suitable. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Improvements in portable insulated containers This invention relates to portable insulated containers and has for an object to provide a relatively inexpensive and mechanically stable thermal insulation material for the lining of such containers, and which also has a low or zero risk of generating toxic products of combustion in the event of fire.
Conventional thermally insulating linings for the walls of portable food or like containers are made of variously effective insulating materials including polyurethane foam. This material has certain advantages -- notably, low density and low cost. However, it has certain disadvantages when used as thermal insulation. These disadvantages are: high initial reduction in thickness under pressure, leading to a significant loss of heat insulating capacity over the zone of deformation; and the evolution of highly toxic fumes at combustion temperatures. The former represents a significant loss of performance in use, and the latter a high health hazard to manufacturer, stockist, and user.
Other conventional insulating materials such as plastic sponge sheeting, embossed plastics films and fibrous materials suffer in varying degrees from high compressibility or ageing, both of which result in loss of heat insulating capacity.
The present invention aims at reducing or eliminating the technical and practical disadvantages noted above in a thermally insulating lining for portable containers.
According to the present invention, a thermally insulating composite liner for a portable container consists of a dimensionally stable relatively stiff sheet to constitute a base or stiffener and a layer of a flexible plastics film permanently attached to at least one surface of the stiffener and having a large number of closely adjacent airtight sealed hollow cells or pockets formed on one face thereof.
Preferably, the material of the base or stiffener is a sheet of at least semi-rigid board such as is used, for example, in the bookbinding industry; or the material known commercially as leatherboard.
Advantageously, the base or stiffener is sandwiched between two layers of the flexible pocketed or cellular film.
Alternatively, one or more layers of the flexible pocketed or cellular film may be sandwiched between two sheets of the base or stiffener material.
The use of a plastics film in which separate sealed airtight pockets or cells are formed has the advantage of low compressibility due to the pneumatic effect of the multiplicity of airfilled pockets or cells. Clearly, it is advantageous to choose a film in which the ratio of area of pockets or cells to inter-pocket area is a maximum so as to minimise the area of unpocketed film across which heat can escape. The thermal insulating property of a compressed pocket or cell is not significantly less than that of an uncompressed pocket or cell, so that the efficiency of a lining according to the present invention is substantially independent of the weight of the load to be insulated.
Furthermore, if the load has sharp corners or protrusions which puncture the film under pressure or impact, only the minimum number of pockets or cells is affected since they are not internally interconnected, as in the case of sponge or like cellular materials, so that the performance of the lining as a ther mal insulator is not greatly affected.
A practical embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of illustration thereof, with reference to the accompany drawings in which: Figure 1 is an exploded perspective view of one corner of a generally flat composite lining; Figure 2 is a section through the thickness of a flexible pocketed film as used in the composite lining of Fig. 1, and Figure 3 is a section similar to Fig. 2 of the composite lining of Fig. 1.
Referring first to Fig. 1, the composite liner 10 consists of a base of stiffener sheet 1 2 of leather-board or like relatively stiff or semirigid material. The mechanical properties, such as resistance to deformation, of this sheet are chosen to suit the intended circumstances or usage of the portable container into which the liner will be fitted.Onto each side of the sheet 1 2 is stuck or bonded a respective layer 14, 1 6 of polyethylene or like film in which are formed sealed airtight pockets or cells 1 8. Typical examples of material suitable for the layers 14, 1 6 are those sold commercially under the trade marks "Aircap" and "Sealed Air". Each of these materials consists of a pair of polyethylene films 15, 1 7 (see especially Fig. 2) which are heat-sealed together, one film passing through the sealing process without deformation while the other film 1 7 undergoes deformation at discrete zones, as by vacuum forming on a roller having recesses in its surface to form the pockets or cells 1 8. The two films thus form a two-ply material, the undeformed field 1 5 sealing the volume within each vacuumformed pocket or cell 1 8.
Fig. 3 shows the base or stiffener sheet 1 2 with the flexible layers 14, 1 6 about to be struck to its opposite faces. Since the volume within each pocket or cell 1 8 is sealed, air is trapped within it during manufacture and acts both as a thermal insulator and a resilient cushion. Although there are areas 20 of flat film between adjacent pockets 18, the diameter of and spacing between the pockets is chosen so as to reduce the size of the areas 20 to a minimum compared with the surface area of the pockets 1 8. Mechanically, each layer 14, 1 6 has minimal rigidity transverse to its means plane, and is incapable of maintaining a shape when standing free on one edge.
Hence the need for a stiffener sheet 1 2 in order to make a liner of the required shape and size to fit into a bag or container.
A composite thermal insulation lining 10 can be shaped to suit the portable container into which it is to be fitted so that assembly of the complete container is facilitated. As will be understood, where the articles to be carried in the container are angular or have sharp protrusions, it may be preferred to invert the arrangement of Figs. 1 and 3 by mounting the layers 14, 1 6 on one side only of their respective base or stiffener sheets 1 2 and bringing the resultant two liners together with their respective flexible layers in face-to-face contact so that a smooth and more penetration-resistant surface is presented to the load.
The invention includes a complete insulating bag wherein the insulating liner is made substantially as described above. The bag itself may be of relatively soft or flexible material stretched over a framework or over a former, which latter may itself be constituted by the base or stiffener 1 2. Such bags are popular as picnic containers. Alternatively, the insulating bag may be of rigid box construction such as are used for the transport of hot meals. A bag may be designed specifically for one special purpose, such as the conveyance of medical or veterinary supplies or specimens under controlled temperature conditions.
Laboratory tests carried out under identical conditions on two bags, one of which had a composite liner according to the present invention and the other of which had a more conventional foamed plastics liner showed that, over a period of 8 hours, there was negligible difference between the interior temperatures of both bags. However, the foamed plastics liner was vulnerable to considerable compression under load which impaired its thermal insulating properties significantly over the deformation zone. A liner according to the invention is also lighter than one of foamed plastics.

Claims (4)

1. A thermal insulation composite material for portable containers comprising a dimensionally stable base or stiffener sheet of rigid or semi-rigid material such as leatherboard on at least one side of which is permanently mounted a flexible plastics film having one face deformed into a plurality of separate closely-spaced hollow air-tight pockets.
2. A material according to claim 1 wherein each side of the stiffener sheet carries a similar flexible film with airtight pockets.
3. A composite material substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
4. A thermally insulating portable container having a liner of composite material as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3.
GB7943267A 1979-12-15 1979-12-15 Improvements in portable insulated containers Withdrawn GB2065548A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7943267A GB2065548A (en) 1979-12-15 1979-12-15 Improvements in portable insulated containers

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB7943267A GB2065548A (en) 1979-12-15 1979-12-15 Improvements in portable insulated containers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2065548A true GB2065548A (en) 1981-07-01

Family

ID=10509874

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB7943267A Withdrawn GB2065548A (en) 1979-12-15 1979-12-15 Improvements in portable insulated containers

Country Status (1)

Country Link
GB (1) GB2065548A (en)

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4796404A (en) * 1982-12-14 1989-01-10 Butler Robert B Light-transmitting thermal barrier
US5484318A (en) * 1995-03-06 1996-01-16 Mayert; Todd M. Stress reduction kit
US5865664A (en) * 1995-02-27 1999-02-02 Martey; Leslie Anne Jumping mat popping toy
WO2008119818A1 (en) * 2007-04-02 2008-10-09 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A packaging element
GB2460675A (en) * 2008-06-04 2009-12-09 Samdel Corp Ltd Insulated bag for ice storage
WO2012007789A1 (en) * 2010-07-13 2012-01-19 Samdel Corporation Limited Insulating material

Cited By (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4796404A (en) * 1982-12-14 1989-01-10 Butler Robert B Light-transmitting thermal barrier
US5865664A (en) * 1995-02-27 1999-02-02 Martey; Leslie Anne Jumping mat popping toy
US5484318A (en) * 1995-03-06 1996-01-16 Mayert; Todd M. Stress reduction kit
WO2008119818A1 (en) * 2007-04-02 2008-10-09 Arcelik Anonim Sirketi A packaging element
GB2460675A (en) * 2008-06-04 2009-12-09 Samdel Corp Ltd Insulated bag for ice storage
GB2460675B (en) * 2008-06-04 2010-09-22 Samdel Corp Ltd Insulated bag for ice storage
WO2012007789A1 (en) * 2010-07-13 2012-01-19 Samdel Corporation Limited Insulating material

Similar Documents

Publication Publication Date Title
US20200407147A1 (en) Compostable insert for shipping container
US6652933B2 (en) Flexible insulated pouch
US5518802A (en) Cushioning structure
US5030501A (en) Cushioning structure
EP3436368B1 (en) Shipping container with compostable insulation
US6149002A (en) Container and foldable panel employing a plurality of gas pockets
KR930004065B1 (en) Protective envelope device for packaging fragile articles
US3577305A (en) Thermal and air shock insulating structure
US4730748A (en) Reusable insulated box
EP0595887A1 (en) Cushioning structure
KR100359445B1 (en) Fixing pad
US6055825A (en) Insulated shipping container
CA2032111A1 (en) Multi-compartment vacuum insulation panels
JPH02180175A (en) Heat insulated container
JP2004516199A (en) Inflatable insulating liner for shipping containers
WO1996015957A1 (en) Thermal insulating and cushioning package
GB2065548A (en) Improvements in portable insulated containers
US4918755A (en) Disposable glove or mitt for self-service gasoline and frozen food handler
JPH03223597A (en) Fire heat insulator and fire resistive heat insulating container
GB2316652A (en) Cushioning material for protective bags
JPH06321263A (en) Shock absorbing packing material
JPH0610177U (en) Cold storage container
JPH0639971Y2 (en) Thin closed-cell cushioning sheet
Brown Evaluation of Expanded Bead Polyethylene Foam Cushioning For Packaging
JPH0623932A (en) Manufacture of hot compression polyurethane laminate

Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)