GB2575796A - Thermally insulating packaging medium - Google Patents

Thermally insulating packaging medium Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2575796A
GB2575796A GB1811957.8A GB201811957A GB2575796A GB 2575796 A GB2575796 A GB 2575796A GB 201811957 A GB201811957 A GB 201811957A GB 2575796 A GB2575796 A GB 2575796A
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GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
thermally insulating
pad
insulating packaging
packaging medium
needling
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB1811957.8A
Other versions
GB2575796B (en
GB201811957D0 (en
Inventor
Andrew Midgley Stephen
Elizabeth Louise Bulman Sophie
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.)
John Cotton Group Ltd
Original Assignee
John Cotton Group 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 John Cotton Group Ltd filed Critical John Cotton Group Ltd
Priority to GB1811957.8A priority Critical patent/GB2575796B/en
Publication of GB201811957D0 publication Critical patent/GB201811957D0/en
Publication of GB2575796A publication Critical patent/GB2575796A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2575796B publication Critical patent/GB2575796B/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • D—TEXTILES; PAPER
    • D04—BRAIDING; LACE-MAKING; KNITTING; TRIMMINGS; NON-WOVEN FABRICS
    • D04H—MAKING TEXTILE FABRICS, e.g. FROM FIBRES OR FILAMENTARY MATERIAL; FABRICS MADE BY SUCH PROCESSES OR APPARATUS, e.g. FELTS, NON-WOVEN FABRICS; COTTON-WOOL; WADDING ; NON-WOVEN FABRICS FROM STAPLE FIBRES, FILAMENTS OR YARNS, BONDED WITH AT LEAST ONE WEB-LIKE MATERIAL DURING THEIR CONSOLIDATION
    • D04H1/00—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres
    • D04H1/40—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties
    • D04H1/44—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling
    • D04H1/46—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling by needling or like operations to cause entanglement of fibres
    • D04H1/498—Non-woven fabrics formed wholly or mainly of staple fibres or like relatively short fibres from fleeces or layers composed of fibres without existing or potential cohesive properties the fleeces or layers being consolidated by mechanical means, e.g. by rolling by needling or like operations to cause entanglement of fibres entanglement of layered webs
    • 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
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/12—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • 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
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/32—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyolefins
    • 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
    • B32B27/00—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin
    • B32B27/36—Layered products comprising a layer of synthetic resin comprising polyesters
    • 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 form; Layered products having particular features of form
    • B32B3/02—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions
    • B32B3/04—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products having particular features of form characterised by features of form at particular places, e.g. in edge regions characterised by at least one layer folded at the edge, e.g. over another layer ; characterised by at least one layer enveloping or enclosing a material
    • 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 form; Layered products 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 form; Layered products 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
    • B32B3/266—Layered products comprising a layer with external or internal discontinuities or unevennesses, or a layer of non-planar form; Layered products 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 an apertured layer, the apertures going through the whole thickness of the layer, e.g. expanded metal, perforated layer, slit layer regular cells B32B3/12
    • 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
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/022—Non-woven fabric
    • 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
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/02—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by structural features of a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/024—Woven fabric
    • 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
    • B32B5/00—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts
    • B32B5/22—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed
    • B32B5/24—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer
    • B32B5/26—Layered products characterised by the non- homogeneity or physical structure, i.e. comprising a fibrous, filamentary, particulate or foam layer; Layered products characterised by having a layer differing constitutionally or physically in different parts characterised by the presence of two or more layers which are next to each other and are fibrous, filamentary, formed of particles or foamed one layer being a fibrous or filamentary layer another layer next to it also being fibrous or filamentary
    • 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
    • B32B7/00—Layered products characterised by the relation between layers; Layered products characterised by the relative orientation of features between layers, or by the relative values of a measurable parameter between layers, i.e. products comprising layers having different physical, chemical or physicochemical properties; Layered products characterised by the interconnection of layers
    • B32B7/04—Interconnection of layers
    • B32B7/08—Interconnection of layers by mechanical means
    • B32B7/09—Interconnection of layers by mechanical means by stitching, needling or sewing
    • 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
    • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
    • B32B2262/04—Cellulosic plastic fibres, e.g. rayon
    • 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
    • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
    • B32B2262/06—Vegetal fibres
    • B32B2262/062—Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
    • 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
    • B32B2262/00—Composition or structural features of fibres which form a fibrous or filamentary layer or are present as additives
    • B32B2262/06—Vegetal fibres
    • B32B2262/062—Cellulose fibres, e.g. cotton
    • B32B2262/065—Lignocellulosic fibres, e.g. jute, sisal, hemp, flax, bamboo
    • 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
    • B32B2307/00—Properties of the layers or laminate
    • B32B2307/70—Other properties
    • B32B2307/724—Permeability to gases, adsorption
    • B32B2307/7242—Non-permeable
    • B32B2307/7246—Water vapor barrier
    • 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
    • B32B2307/70—Other properties
    • B32B2307/728—Hydrophilic
    • 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
    • B32B2439/00—Containers; Receptacles
    • B32B2439/70—Food packaging
    • 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
    • B32B2439/00—Containers; Receptacles
    • B32B2439/80—Medical packaging

Abstract

Thermally insulating packaging medium 200 comprises a cotton pad 210 with in a cover 220, the pad comprising a plurality of layers 212A, 212B connected by needlings. The pad may have a uniform density of needling or a patterned density of needlings with regions of higher 214B and lower 214A needling density. The cotton fibers of the pad may have a mean diameter from 10um (10 micron) to 65um, or from 10um to 25um (25 micron). The cover may be formed from cellulosic fabric which may be cotton, viscose, rayon, jute, flax or hemp. The cover may comprise water impermeable sheet with moisture transmission apertures. The sheet material may be polyester or polyethylene. A thermally insulated package may comprise the medium and a pre-chilled product. The product may be a foodstuff or medical product. Also claimed is a method of delivering pre-chilled products.

Description

THERMALLY INSULATING PACKAGING MEDIUM
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a hydroscopic thermally insulating packaging media for wrapping around pre-chilled or pre-heated items, for example for wrapping around unrefrigerated pre-chilled foodstuffs or medical products being transported from a supplier to a remote consumer.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided thermally insulating packaging medium comprising a cotton pad within a cover, wherein the cotton pad comprises a plurality of layers connected together by needlings.
According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a thermally insulated package comprising:
a pre-chilled or pre-heated product; and a thermally insulating packaging medium according to the first aspect which is providing thermal insulation to the pre-chilled product.
According to a third aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a method of delivering pre-chilled or pre-heated products comprising:
a pre-chilled or pre-heated product; and a thermally insulating packaging medium comprising a cotton pad within a cover, wherein the cotton pad comprises a plurality of layers connected together by needlings, the method comprising:
thermally insulating a pre-chilled or pre-heated product with the thermally insulating packaging medium; and delivering the thermally insulated packaging from a supplier to a customer.
As used herein, the term “needling” has been used to describe fibre entanglement induced along the path of a needle penetration, e.g. by a needle of a needle loom.
The cover resists the shedding of fibres from the cotton pad.
The cotton pad may be formed from recycled cotton fibres, for example from clothing, bedding and tableware.
The formation of the cotton pad from a plurality of layers connected together by needlings provides enhanced thermal insulation relative to a corresponding single layer of cotton fibres.
The cotton pad may be provided with a substantially uniform density of needling.
The cotton pad may be provided with a patterned density of needling, having regions having of higher density needling, and regions of lower density needling. Providing selected regions of higher density needling may provide an enhanced overall structural integrity and flexiblity of the cotton pad whilst maintaining intervening regions of high thermal insulation.
The needling may extend into the cotton pad from a face of the pad, and the regions of higher density needling may extend across the face between opposed sides of the pad. The needling may extend into the cotton pad from each face of the pad, and the regions of higher density needling may extend across each face between opposed sides of the pad. Extending regions of higher density needling across the face of the pad may enhance folding performance of the pad when wrapping around a pre-chilled or pre-heated product.
The face of the pad may be profiled, having portions of the face of the pad corresponding with the regions of higher density needling that are recessed relative to portions of the face corresponding with the regions of lower density needling. Each of the opposed faces of the pad may be profiled, having portions of each face of the pad corresponding with the regions of higher density needling that are recessed relative to portions of the respective face corresponding with the regions of lower density needling.
The cotton fibres of the pad may have a mean diameter in the range 10 pm to 65 pm. The use of fine cotton fibres provides a high surface area and correspondingly high rate of moisture absorption, enhancing the thermal insulation of the thermally insulating packaging medium.
The cotton fibres of the pad may have a mean diameter in the range 10 pm to 25 pm.
The cover may be formed from a cellulosic fabric. Cellulosic fabrics may be domestically composted.
The cellulosic fabric is a sheet material selected from the group consisting of cotton, viscose, rayon, jute, flax and hemp. These materials are naturally occurring and biodegradable.
The cover may comprise a substantially water impermeable sheet material that is provided with moisture transmission apertures extending across the cover.
The water impermeable sheet material may be a polyester sheet material.
The water impermeable sheet material may be a polyethylene sheet material. The polyethylene sheet material may be removed from around the cotton pad for recycling, prior to compositing the cotton pad.
The pre-chilled product may be a pre-chilled foodstuff. The foodstuff may be a packet of meat or a ready-meal.
The pre-chilled product may be a pre-chilled medical product, e.g. a pharmaceutical product (medicine).
The pre-heated product may be a pre-heated foodstuff. The foodstuff may be a readymeal.
The pre-chilled product may be pre-chilled by refrigeration, having a temperature between ambient and 0°C.
The pre-chilled product may be pre-chilled by freezing, having a temperature of 0°C or below.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Examples are further described hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
• Figure 1 shows a cross-sectional view through a first thermally insulating packaging medium;
• Figure 2A shows a cross-sectional view through a second thermally insulating packaging medium; and • Figure 2B shows a cross-sectional view of the second thermally insulating packaging medium perpendicular to the view of Figure 2A.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
Like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout. In the described examples, like features have been identified with like numerals, albeit in some cases having one or more of: increments of integer multiples of 100; and suffix letters. For example, in different figures, 100 and 200 have been used to indicate a thermally insulating packaging medium.
Figure 1A shows a sectional view through a thermally insulating packaging medium 100 for wrapping around pre-chilled products (e.g. refrigerated or frozen foodstuffs or medical products) or pre-heated products (e.g. pre-heated foodstuffs), having a thermally insulating pad 110 within a cover 120.
The pad 110 is formed from a plurality of layers 112A, 112B of crosslaid cotton fibres (or airlaid cotton fibres), with successive layers having perpendicular preferential fibre orientations. In the illustrated thermally insulating packaging medium 100, there are a first plurality of layers 112A of crosslaid cotton fibres (or airlaid cotton fibres) that are interleaved with a second plurality of layers 112B of crosslaid cotton fibres (or airlaid cotton fibres). The plurality of layers 112A, 112B are connected together by a plurality of needlings 114, produced by a needling process performed with a needle loom, in which a plurality of needles is inserted into the plurality of layers to cause entanglement (mechanical engagement) between fibres of different layers along the path of the needlings.
The cover 120 is formed from a sheet of material, which encloses the pad 110. In the illustrated thermally insulating packaging medium, the cover 120 is formed from a material that is substantially impervious to moisture and provided with a plurality of holes 122 for the passage of water vapour into the thermally insulating packaging medium, to the pad 110. For example, the cover 120 may be formed from sheet polyester, e.g. polylactic acid (PLA), or from sheet polyethylene (PE). The cover 120 may be removed from the pad 110 prior to the cover being recycled and the pad being composted.
Instead of the use of a substantially moisture impervious sheet, the cover may be formed from cellulosic fabric, e.g. cotton, viscose, rayon (e.g. lyocell, Tencel®), jute, flax or hemp.
The cellulosic fabric may a finely woven lightweight fabric, e.g. a lightweight gauze. A cellulosic fabric cover is suitable for domestic composting, enabling the whole thermally insulating packaging medium to be domestically composted without requiring the cover to be separated from the enclosed pad.
The cotton fibres of the pad 110 are suitable for domestic composting. Cotton fibres are more suitable for domestic composting than wool fibres (e.g. wool fibres may biodegrade more rapidly than cotton fibres) and have a lower environmental impact than polyester fibres that are not suitable for either domestic or industrial composting.
The cotton fibres of the pad 110 are hydrophilic and hydroscopic. The thermally insulating packaging medium 100 may be used to thermally insulate foodstuffs during non-refrigerated transport and storage, e.g. mail-order meat deliveries, by being wrapped around the foodstuff. In use, the pad 110 of the thermally insulating packaging medium 100 absorb moisture from the air around the foodstuff, reducing condensation on the foodstuff and maintaining a drier atmosphere around the foodstuff, which improves thermal insulation of the foodstuff.
The use of fine cotton fibres provides a high surface area on the fibres, providing a high rate of absorption of moisture. The use of fine cotton fibres provides a low thermal conductivity pad, enabling the use of a less thick and lighter pad, for the same thermal performance, reducing packaging size, transport requirements, and the environmental impact of the mailorder foodstuff.
The thermally insulating packaging medium 100 shown in Figure 1 has a substantially uniform density of needlings. Alternatively, the thermally insulating packaging medium 200 may be provided with an inhomogeneous density of needlings, as shown schematically in Figures 2A and 2B. In the thermally insulating packaging medium 200, regions of lower density needling 214A are spaced apart by regions of higher density needling 214B.
Although only three higher density needling regions 214B are shown in Figure 2A, it will be appreciated that this figure is schematic, and the pad 210 may be provided with a larger (or lower) number of higher density needling regions. Further, although Figure 2B only shows regions of higher density needling extending across the width of the pad 210, it will be appreciated that regions of higher density needling may alternatively, or additionally extend along the pad.
The cotton pad 210 has a variation in thickness, with thinner regions corresponding with regions of higher density needling 214B, where the entangled fibres along the needlings locally compress the structure along the length of the needling. Regions of high density needlings 214B extend across the pad 210, providing corresponding regions of reduced thickness extending across the pad, which provide preferential fold locations, facilitating wrapping of the thermally insulating packaging medium 100 about the pre-chilled product. The regions of high density needlings 214B may have over 40 needlings/cm2 (e.g. 50 needlings/cm2), and the regions of low density needlings 214B may have fewer than 30 needlings/cm2 (e.g. 25 needlings/cm2). The regions of high density needlings 214B may have at least 150% of the density of needlings of the regions of lower density needlings 214A, e.g. having at least 200% of the density of needlings of the regions of lower density needlings.
Figures 2A and 2B are schematic illustrations, in which only a small number of regions with high density needlings have shown. However, it will be appreciated that many regions of high density needlings 214B may be provides in the pad 210.
Although described in relation to thermal insulating foodstuffs, the skilled person will appreciate that the thermally insulating packaging medium may be used to thermally insulate other products, for example to insulate pre-chilled medical products (e.g. pharmaceutical products (medicines)).
The figures provided herein are schematic and not to scale.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of them mean “including but not limited to”, and they are not intended to (and do not) exclude other moieties, additives, components, integers or steps. Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the singular encompasses the plural unless the context otherwise requires. In particular, where the indefinite article is used, the specification is to be understood as contemplating plurality as well as singularity, unless the context requires otherwise.
Features, integers, characteristics, compounds, chemical moieties or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment or example of the invention are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described herein unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The invention is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The invention extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any 5 accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
The reader's attention is directed to all papers and documents which are filed concurrently with or previous to this specification in connection with this application and which are open to 10 public inspection with this specification, and the contents of all such papers and documents are incorporated herein by reference.

Claims (16)

1. Thermally insulating packaging medium comprising a cotton pad within a cover, wherein the cotton pad comprises a plurality of layers connected together by needlings.
2. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 1, wherein the cotton pad is provided with a substantially uniform density of needling.
3. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 1, wherein the cotton pad is provided with a patterned density of needling, having regions having of higher density needling, and regions of lower density needling.
4. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 3, wherein the needling extends into the cotton pad from a face of the pad, and the regions of high density needling extend across the face between opposed sides of the pad.
5. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 3 or 4, wherein the face of the pad is profiled, having portions of the face of the pad corresponding with the regions of higher density needling are recessed relative to portions of the face corresponding with the regions of lower density needling.
6. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to any preceding claim, wherein the cotton fibres of the pad have a mean diameter in the range 10 pm to 65 pm.
7. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 6, wherein the cotton fibres of the pad have a mean diameter in the range 10 pm to 25 pm.
8. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim, wherein the cover is formed from a cellulosic fabric.
9. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 8, wherein the cellulosic fabric is a sheet material selected from the group consisting of cotton, viscose, rayon, jute, flax and hemp.
10. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the cover comprises a substantially water impermeable sheet material that is provided with moisture transmission apertures extending across the cover.
11. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 10, wherein the water impermeable sheet material is a polyester sheet material.
12. The thermally insulating packaging medium according to claim 10, wherein the water impermeable sheet material is a polyethylene sheet material.
13. Thermally insulated package comprising:
a pre-chilled product; and a thermally insulating packaging medium according to any preceding claim providing thermal insulation to the pre-chilled product.
14. The thermally insulated package of claim 13, wherein the pre-chilled product is a prechilled foodstuff.
15. The thermally insulated package of claim 13, wherein the pre-chilled product is a prechilled medical product.
16. A method of delivering pre-chilled products comprising:
a pre-chilled product; and thermally insulating packaging medium comprising a cotton pad within a cover, wherein the cotton pad comprises a plurality of layers connected together by needlings, the method comprising:
thermally insulating a pre-chilled product with the thermally insulating packaging medium; and delivering the thermally insulated packaging from a supplier to a customer.
GB1811957.8A 2018-07-23 2018-07-23 Thermally insulating packaging medium Active GB2575796B (en)

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Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140272223A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 The Procter & Gamble Company Packages for articles of commerce
US20150150286A1 (en) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Glernn W. Milligan Food package insert for preserving freshness and method of manufacture
WO2017083738A2 (en) * 2015-11-12 2017-05-18 Temperpak Technologies Inc. Insulated bag and sleeve for carrying groceries and other objects

Patent Citations (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20140272223A1 (en) * 2013-03-15 2014-09-18 The Procter & Gamble Company Packages for articles of commerce
US20150150286A1 (en) * 2013-11-29 2015-06-04 Glernn W. Milligan Food package insert for preserving freshness and method of manufacture
WO2017083738A2 (en) * 2015-11-12 2017-05-18 Temperpak Technologies Inc. Insulated bag and sleeve for carrying groceries and other objects

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GB201811957D0 (en) 2018-09-05

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