System suitable for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials
System suitable for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials. In a preferred embodiment, the system may include a cooler made of expanded polystyrene foam. The cooler may include a base and a lid. The base may be a unitary structure that includes a cavity bounded by a bottom wall and four side walls. The base also may include an integral support that may include a platform elevated from the bottom wall, as well as a stanchion extending upwardly from the bottom wall along each of the side walls. The support may be constructed to removably receive a product box in the cavity and to orient the product box at an angle offset from the cavity. Dry ice pellets may be positioned around and under the product box, and additional dry ice pellets may be positioned in a tray mounted on the stanchions over the product box.
1 . A system suitable for storing and/or transporting temperature-sensitive materials, the system comprising: (a) an insulated container, the insulated container comprising a plurality of walls, the plurality of walls being molded together and collectively defining a cavity and a support, the cavity comprising a bottom surface having a set of diametrically opposed corners, the support being constructed to removably receive a product box in the cavity and to orient the product box in the cavity at an angle rotationally offset from the cavity, the support being positioned within the cavity and comprising a platform, the platform being elevated relative to the bottom surface of the cavity and being oriented diagonally in a direction extending between the set of diametrically opposed corners; and (b) the product box for holding the temperature-sensitive materials, the product box being removably seated on the platform in the cavity of the insulated container, wherein the insulated container further comprises a shelf bounding, in part, the cavity, the shelf sloping inwardly and angling downwardly towards an interior portion of the cavity moving from an exterior edge of the shelf to an interior edge of the shelf, the interior edge of the shelf being positioned higher than an entirety of the product box.
2 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the insulated container comprises a base and wherein the plurality of walls comprises a bottom wall of the base and four side walls of the base.
3 . The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the base is made of an insulating foam.
4 . The system as claimed in claim 3 wherein the insulating foam is an expanded polystyrene foam.
5 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support further comprises four stanchions, wherein the four stanchions are disposed within the cavity and extend upwardly from the bottom surface of the cavity, with two of the four stanchions located on opposite sides of one of the diametrically opposed corners and with another two of the four stanchions located on opposite sides of the other one of the diametrically opposed corners, and wherein the product box is seated directly on the platform.
6 . The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the platform is shaped to include a top surface and at least one side surface, wherein the at least one side surface includes at least one concave recess, and wherein the at least one concave recess is at least partially positioned directly under the product box.
7 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support is oriented so that the angle rotationally offset from the cavity is approximately 45 degrees.
8 . The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the product box is shaped to have four corner edges and wherein each of the four stanchions is shaped to removably receive a different one of the four corner edges of the product box.
9 . The system as claimed in claim 8 wherein each of the four stanchions has a top end and wherein the top ends of the stanchions are substantially flush with a top surface of the product box.
10 . The system as claimed in claim 5 wherein the platform is shaped to include a top surface and wherein at least one recess is provided in the top surface of the platform.
11 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the support and the product box divide at least a portion of the cavity into four distinct subcavities.
12 . The system as claimed in claim 11 further comprising a quantity of phase-change material disposed in each of the four distinct subcavities.
13 . The system as claimed in claim 12 wherein the phase-change material comprises dry ice pellets.
14 . The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising a tray for holding phase-change material, the tray being removably received in the cavity.
15 . The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the tray is seated on top of the support.
16 . The system as claimed in claim 14 wherein the tray comprises a bottom, four sides, and two handles, wherein the two handles function as top flaps, each handle having an opening and a free end, and wherein the two handles are mateable with one another by inserting the free end of one handle into the opening of the other handle or vice versa.
17 . The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the insulated container further comprises a lid, the lid being removably mounted on the base to close the cavity.
18 . The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the base comprises a shelf that slopes inwardly and downwardly away from each of the plurality of walls towards an opposing one of the plurality of walls, wherein the shelf has an interior edge that is positioned higher than an entirety of the product box, and wherein the lid comprises a plug, the plug having a sloped bottom surface that mates with the shelf.
19 . The system as claimed in claim 17 further comprising a data logger, wherein the data logger comprises a main body and a cord terminating in a probe, and wherein the lid comprises a top surface having a recess for removably receiving the main body of the data logger.
20 . The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the top surface of the lid further comprises at least one channel perpendicular to the recess to provide an air gap that allows for air flow around the main body of the data logger.
21 . The system as claimed in claim 19 wherein the top surface of the lid further comprises a channel for removably receiving the cord.
22 . The system as claimed in claim 21 wherein the channel for removably receiving the cord terminates in an opening having curved edges.
23 . The system as claimed in claim 19 further comprising packaging for returning the data logger and wherein the top surface of the lid comprises a recess for storing the packaging prior to its deployment.
24 . The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the lid comprises at least one recess dimensioned to serve as a handle.
25 . The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein each of the lid and the base has a single chamfered corner and wherein the chamfered corners of the lid and the base mate with one another.
26 . The system as claimed in claim 17 wherein the lid has at least one corner that extends beyond a corresponding corner of the base.
27 . The system as claimed in claim 2 wherein the base is shaped to include a channel that extends downwardly from a top surface of the base and inwardly from an exterior surface of the base into the cavity and wherein the channel is dimensioned for receiving a data logger cord.
28 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the product box comprises a pocket for receiving a temperature probe of a data logger.
29 . The system as claimed in claim 28 wherein the base is shaped to include a channel that extends downwardly from a top surface of the base and inwardly from an exterior surface of the base and transversely through the base into the cavity, wherein the channel is dimensioned for receiving a data logger cord, and wherein the pocket of the product box is aligned with the channel.
30 . The system as claimed in claim 1 further comprising an outer box and wherein the insulated container is removably received within the outer box.
31 . The system as claimed in claim 30 wherein the outer box comprises at least one handle and wherein the insulated container is shaped to include at least one recess for accommodating the at least one handle.
32 . The system as claimed in claim 1 wherein the product box is seated directly on top of the support.