VACUUM ACTIVATED SHIPPING CONTAINER

• US 20090230012A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Anthony Choy, Dennis Chek Kong Chan, Jun Arava
• Original Assignee: Anthony Choy, Dennis Chek Kong Chan, Jun Arava
• Inventors: Arava, Jun, Chan, Dennis Chek Kong, Choy, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 206/524.800
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/0446 the inner and outer containers being rigid or semi-rigid and the outer container being of polygonal cross-section not formed by folding or erecting one or more blanks B65D81/3825 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 77/0486 the inner container being coaxially disposed within the outer container B65D81/3876 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2015 in an at least partially rigid container B65D81/2038 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/2023 in a flexible container B65D81/2038 takes precedence

Abstract

A shipping container having side walls, a bottom and a top defining an internal volume. The top is selectively displaceable for gaining access to the internal volume and for sealing the internal volume of the container. A valve drawing a vacuum on the internal volume from outside of the container is provided. The side walls are capable of contracting and expanding as a result of the pressure within the internal volume.

Claims

1. A shipping container comprising side walls, a bottom and a top defining an internal volume, said top being selectably displaceable for gaining access to the internal volume and for sealing the internal volume, a valve for drawing a vacuum on said internal volume from outside of said container, said side walls being capable of contracting and expanding in relation to pressure differences between said internal volume and ambient.

2. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein said side walls are thermally insulating.

3. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein said side walls comprise an inner wall proximate said internal volume and an outer wall spaced from said inner wall for defining the external volume of said shipping container.

4. The shipping container of claim 3 wherein a vacuum is established and maintained between said inner and outer walls.

5. The shipping container of claim 3 wherein an insulator is positioned between said inner and outer walls.

6. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein a temperature reducing source is positioned within said internal volume.

7. The shipping container of claim 6 wherein said temperature reducing source comprises a member selected form the group consisting of ice, dry ice and gel packs.

8. The shipping container of claim 1 further comprising a pressure relief valve for selectively venting from or relieving pressure of said internal volume.

9. The shipping container of claim 1 wherein a temperature increasing source is positioned within said internal volume.

10. The shipping container of claim 3 wherein a fire retardant is maintained between said inner and outer walls.

11. The shipping container of claim 1 further comprising a support frame positioned at said side walls.

12. The shipping container of claim 11 wherein said support frame is positioned adjacent said side walls within said internal volume.

13. The shipping container of claim 11 wherein said support frame is positioned adjacent said side walls and external thereto.

14. The shipping container of claim 3 further comprising a support frame positioned between said inner and outer walls.

15. The shipping container of claim 11 wherein said support frame is biased to resist contraction of said inner volume.

16. The shipping container of claim 11 wherein said support frame is biased to resist expansion of said inner volume.

17. The shipping container of claim 11 wherein said support frame is fixed to resist contraction or expansion of said inner volume.

18. The shipping container of claim 1 further comprising a second container sized to receive said shipped container.

19. A shipping container comprising a top, a bottom, inner side walls and outer side walls defining a shipping container having an internal volume dictated by said inner side walls and an outer container dimension defined by said outer walls, said top being selectively displaceable for gaining access to said internal volume and for sealing said internal volume, a valve for drawing a vacuum on said internal volume from outside of said container, said inner side walls capable of attracting and expanding in relation to pressure differences between said internal volume and ambient, said vacuum not capable of changing the external volume of said container.