U.S. patent application number 12/544041 was filed with the patent office on 2011-02-24 for recyclable thermally insulated container.
Invention is credited to Scott E. Copenhaver, Andrew Neal Nehrt.
Application Number | 20110042449 12/544041 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43604511 |
Filed Date | 2011-02-24 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110042449 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Copenhaver; Scott E. ; et
al. |
February 24, 2011 |
RECYCLABLE THERMALLY INSULATED CONTAINER
Abstract
A recyclable container is provided wherein the recyclable
container includes an outer carton and an inner wall affixed to the
interior of the outer carton. The inner wall and the carton
defining an enclosed cavity within the carton. A cellulose-based
substrate is disposed within the enclosed cavity.
Inventors: |
Copenhaver; Scott E.;
(Fishers, IN) ; Nehrt; Andrew Neal;
(Crothersville, IN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
DYKEMA GOSSETT PLLC
39577 WOODWARD AVENUE, SUITE 300
BLOOMFIELD HILLS
MI
48304-5086
US
|
Family ID: |
43604511 |
Appl. No.: |
12/544041 |
Filed: |
August 19, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
229/103.11 ;
229/120.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B65D 81/382
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
229/103.11 ;
229/120.01 |
International
Class: |
B65D 81/38 20060101
B65D081/38; B65D 5/42 20060101 B65D005/42 |
Claims
1. A recyclable container comprising: an outer carton; an inner
wall affixed to the interior of the outer carton, the inner wall
and the carton defining an enclosed cavity; and a cellulose-based
substrate disposed within the enclosed cavity.
2. The recyclable container, as defined in claim 1 wherein the
inner wall includes a first wall, a second wall, a third wall and a
fourth wall.
3. The recyclable container as defined in claim 2 wherein each of
the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall
include a horizontal portion and a vertical portion; the enclosed
cavity being defined at least in part by the horizontal portion,
the vertical portion and a portion of the carton.
4. The recyclable container as defined in claim 3 wherein the each
of the first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth
wall are affixed to the carton using an adhesive.
5. The recyclable container as defined in claim 3 wherein the first
wall, the second wall, the third wall, and the fourth wall are
affixed to the carton using a mechanical fastener.
6. The recyclable container as defined in claim 1 wherein the
cellulose-based substrate is loose corrugated cardboard.
7. The recyclable container as defined in claim 3, further
comprising an interior insulated lid operatively configured to be
disposed on the horizontal portion of each of the first wall, the
second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall when the container
is in a closed position.
8. The recyclable container as defined in claim 7 wherein the
interior insulated lid defines an enclosed lid cavity within the
lid, the enclosed lid cavity configured to hold a cellulose-based
substrate material.
9. The recyclable container as defined in claim 3, further
comprising a second interior insulated lid operatively configured
to be disposed on a second horizontal portion of each of the first
wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall, the
second interior insulated lid disposed opposite the interior
insulated lid.
10. The recyclable container as defined in claim 2 wherein the
first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall are
affixed to a bottom face of the carton.
11. The recyclable container as defined in claim 1 wherein the
carton is made of corrugated cardboard.
12. The recyclable container as defined in claim 2 wherein the
first wall, the second wall, the third wall and the fourth wall are
made of corrugated cardboard.
13. A recyclable container comprising: an outer carton; an interior
base an inner wall affixed to the interior of the outer carton at a
first end and the inner wall being affixed to the interior base at
a second end; the inner wall, the carton and the base defining an
enclosed cavity; and a cellulose-based substrate; disposed within
the enclosed cavity.
14. The recyclable container as defined in claim 13 wherein the
interior base and the outer carton define a base cavity that is
co-extensive with a side of the outer carton, the base cavity
configured to hold a base cellulose-based substrate.
15. A recyclable container comprising: an outer carton; an enclosed
inner carton, the enclosed inner carton housing a loose cellulose
based substrate within the enclosed inner carton, wherein the
enclosed inner carton and the outer carton define a thermally
insulated cavity.
16. The recyclable container as defined in claim 15, further
comprising a second enclosed inner carton wherein the second
enclosed inner carton and the enclosed inner carton define, at
least in part a thermally insulated cavity.
17. The recyclable container as defined in claim 15 wherein the
carton is made from corrugated cardboard.
18. The recyclable container as defined in claim 16, further
comprising a third enclosed inner carton wherein the second
enclosed inner carton, the third enclosed inner carton, and the
enclosed inner carton define the thermally insulated cavity.
19. The recyclable container as defined in claim 15 wherein the
outer carton and the enclosed inner carton is made of corrugated
cardboard.
20. The recyclable container as defined in claim 15 wherein the
loose cellulose based substrate is loose corrugated cardboard.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to a recyclable
thermally insulated container. The shipping or transportation of
various perishable materials frequently requires that such
materials be maintained in a stable temperature range, either
higher or lower than ambient temperatures to which the packaging of
the materials will be exposed. Thus, there have heretofore been
provided a number of different types of thermally insulated
containers.
[0002] Containers made from or utilizing expanded polystyrene or
other expanded polymers as an insulating medium have been in use
for many years. Polystyrene is considered suitable insulating
material for many applications. Polystyrene has been traditionally
used to form a lid 112 and a body 114 of a cooler which may be
disposed in a box 116 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. However, the wide
acceptance of using polystyrene for coolers has made polystyrene a
nuisance to dispose of because of the difficulty of disposing in an
environmentally responsible manner.
[0003] Polystyrene is generally not as easily recyclable by
consumers compared with, for example, corrugated cardboard. Most
cities now have recycling programs that will pick up a consumers
corrugated cardboard and other recyclables, such as glass, directly
from a consumer's home. However, may of these programs exclude
expanded polystyrene. If a consumer wishes to recycle expanded
polystyrene, the consumer must usually have to travel a long
distance to dispose of their expanded polystyrene. The sorting of
expanded polystyrene from recyclables produces much waste in terms
of hours spent in sorting and hauling away expanded polystyrene.
Also, if the expanded polystyrene is not recycled, it will most
likely end in a landfill, where its expanded volume takes up
considerable amount of landfill space. The properties that make
expanded polystyrene a good insulating material include being
lightweight, being water resistant, having a high insulating value,
and being generally inexpensive to manufacture. However, expanded
polystyrene also has certain drawbacks, such as being fragile, and
as indicated, being difficult, if not impossible to recycle.
SUMMARY
[0004] A recyclable container is provided wherein the recyclable
container includes an outer carton and an inner wall affixed to the
interior of the outer carton. The inner wall and the carton
defining an enclosed cavity within the carton. A cellulose-based
substrate is disposed within the enclosed cavity.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] Features and advantages of embodiments of the present
disclosure will become apparent by reference to the following
detailed description and drawings, in which like reference numerals
correspond to similar, though perhaps not identical, components.
For the sake of brevity, reference numerals or features having a
previously described function may or may not be described in
connection with other drawings in which they appear.
[0006] FIG. 1 a perspective view of a prior art polystyrene cooler
with the lid in the open position.
[0007] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a prior art polystyrene
cooler with the lid in the closed position.
[0008] FIG. 3 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure wherein the thermally insulated lid is in the closed
position.
[0009] FIG. 4 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure wherein the thermally insulated lid is in the partially
open position.
[0010] FIG. 5 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure wherein the thermally insulated lid is removed.
[0011] FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0012] FIG. 7 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the
present disclosure.
[0013] FIG. 8 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure showing the outer carton as one integral piece and is in
the pre-assembled position.
[0014] FIG. 9 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure where the inner wall is one integral piece and is shown
in the pre-assembled position.
[0015] FIG. 10 is a plan view of an embodiment of the present
disclosure where the lid is one integral piece and is shown in the
preassembled position.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] The present disclosure provides a recyclable cooler 10 which
is also "curbside" recyclable. With reference to FIGS. 3-6
together, the present disclosure allows for a recyclable thermally
insulated container by providing a container which includes an
outer carton 12, an inner wall 14 affixed to the interior 16 of the
outer carton 12. The inner wall 14 and the outer carton 12 may
define an enclosed cavity 18 wherein a cellulose-based substrate is
disposed within the enclosed cavity 18.
[0017] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 together, the inner wall 14
may be made of a first wall 22, an second wall 24, a third wall 26
and a fourth wall 28. The inner wall 14 may also further include a
base 30 as shown in FIG. 6. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 together, the
first wall 22, the second wall 24, the third wall 26 and the fourth
wall 28 may each include a horizontal portion 32 and a vertical
portion 34; the enclosed cavity 18 being defined at least in part
by the horizontal portion 32, the vertical portion 34 and a portion
of the outer carton 12.
[0018] With reference to FIG. 6 the base 30 in conjunction with the
first wall 22 the second wall 24, the third wall 26, and the fourth
wall 28 may define the enclosed cavity 18 which holds the cellulose
based material 20.
[0019] Referring again to FIGS. 5 and 6, each of the first wall 22,
the second wall 24, the third wall 26 and the fourth wall 28 may be
affixed to the outer carton 12 using an adhesive 38. The first,
second, third and fourth walls 22, 24, 26, 28 may be adhered to the
interior side 16 of the outer carton 12 proximate the joint 40
where the horizontal portion 32 of the first, second, third and
fourth walls 22, 24, 26, 28 coincides with the interior side 16 of
the outer carton 12.
[0020] The first, second, third, and the fourth wall 22, 24, 26, 28
may each further include a flange 42 which is integral to each of
the first, second, third and fourth wall 28 that is adjacent to the
upper side of the outer carton 12. The flange 42 may provide an
additional or the only surface to which the first, second, third
and, fourth walls 22, 24, 26, 28 are adhered to the interior side
16 of the outer carton 12.
[0021] It is also to be understood that the use of adhesives 38 is
only one non-limiting example for affixing any one or more of the
first, the second, the third, and the fourth walls 22, 24, 26, 28
to the outer carton 12. Accordingly, another non-limiting example
of affixing any one or more of the first, the second, the third and
the fourth walls 22, 24, 26, 28 to the outer carton 12 is
mechanical fasteners (not shown). Non-limiting examples of the
cellulose-based substrate 20 implemented within the enclosed cavity
18 may be loose corrugated cardboard, loose newspaper material,
loose paper, loose box board, or the like.
[0022] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, an interior insulated lid 35 may
be further included where the interior insulated lid 35 is
operatively configured to be disposed on the horizontal portion 32
of each of the first wall 22, the second wall 24, the third wall 26
and the fourth wall 28 when the container is in a closed position.
The interior insulated lid 35 may also define an enclosed lid
cavity (not shown) within the interior insulated lid 35 wherein the
enclosed lid cavity configured to hold a cellulose-based substrate
material 20.
[0023] In one non-limiting example embodiment, the interior wall
(the first wall 22, the second wall 24, the third wall 26, and the
fourth wall 28) may be adhered to the inner sides of the outer
carton 12 at each upper end 70 (shown in FIGS. 6 and 9).
[0024] The interior base 30 and the outer carton 12 may define a
general width of a base cavity portion 64 wherein the base cavity
portion 64 is co-extensive with the bottom side 66 of the outer
carton 12. The base cavity portion 64 of the cavity 18 is
configured to hold cellulose-based substrate material 20.
[0025] In yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a
recyclable container may be provided where the recyclable container
includes: an outer carton 12, an insulated base 36 integral to the
outer carton 12, and enclosed inner carton 46 disposed within the
insulated base 36. The enclosed inner carton 45 houses a loose
cellulose based substrate (not shown) within the enclosed inner
carton 45. The enclosed inner carton 46 and the insulated base 36
define a thermally insulated cavity 50.
[0026] It is also to be understood that where the use of enclosed
interior carton 46 is implemented within insulated base 36 and the
outer carton 12, the present disclosure may further include a
second enclosed inner carton 48 wherein the second enclosed inner
carton 48 and the enclosed inner carton define 45, at least in part
a thermally insulated cavity 50 as shown in FIG. 7. A third
enclosed inner carton (not shown) may further be included wherein
the second enclosed inner carton 48, the third enclosed inner
carton (not shown), and the enclosed inner carton 46 define the
thermally insulated cavity within the outer carton 12. A thermally
insulated lid 35 (shown in FIG. 3) may also be included. It is also
to be understood that the insulated base 36 may alternatively be
made of separate components such that additional enclosed cartons
(not shown) line the interior of the outer carton 12. Accordingly,
a user may customize the size of the thermally insulated cavity 50
by simply choosing the number and type of enclosed inner cartons
46, 48 for use within the insulated base 36 of the outer carton
12.
[0027] The inner cartons 46, 48 and/or the outer carton 12 may be
made from a cellulose based material, such as but not limited to
corrugated cardboard, loose newspaper, loose paper, loose boxboard
or the like. Similarly, the loose cellulose based substrate
material 20 that is implemented in the cartons 46, 48 may be loose
corrugated cardboard, newspaper, paper, boxboard or the like. By
having the same cellulose based material throughout the container,
the ability to recycle the product is improved.
[0028] Given that cellulose based materials may be used throughout
the various components of the present disclosure, the recyclable
thermally insulated container of the present disclosure may be
"curbside recyclable" such that a user may easily recycle this
product from their own home by depositing it at their curb with
their other recyclable containers/products.
[0029] Referring now to FIGS. 8-10, non-limiting embodiments of the
inner wall 14, the outer carton 12 and interior insulated lid 35
are shown in their pre-assembled state. As shown, each of the inner
wall 14, the outer carton 12 and the interior insulated lid 35 may
be an integral unit wherein each of the inner wall 14, the outer
carton 12 and the interior insulated lid 35 may simply be folded in
order to assemble each piece. However, it is also to be understood
that the inner wall 14, the outer carton 12 and the interior
insulated lid may also each be formed of multiple, separate pieces
that are assembled together.
[0030] While multiple embodiments of the present disclosure have
been described in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in
the art that the disclosed embodiments may be modified. Therefore,
the foregoing description is to be considered exemplary rather than
limiting.
* * * * *