Classifications

• • 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
  • B65D81/3876—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 insulating sleeves or jackets for cans, bottles, barrels, etc.
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C7/00—Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C11/00—Receptacles for purposes not provided for in groups A45C1/00-A45C9/00
  • A45C11/20—Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
  • A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
  • A45C5/14—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C5/00—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage
  • A45C5/14—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means
  • A45C5/143—Rigid or semi-rigid luggage with built-in rolling means detachable
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C7/00—Collapsible or extensible purses, luggage, bags or the like
  • A45C7/0059—Flexible luggage; Hand bags
  • A45C7/0077—Flexible luggage; Hand bags collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• • 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
  • B65D11/00—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material
  • B65D11/18—Containers having bodies formed by interconnecting or uniting two or more rigid, or substantially rigid, components made wholly or mainly of plastics material collapsible, i.e. with walls hinged together or detachably connected
• • 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
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
  • A45C13/008—Details; Accessories for making water- or air-tight
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A45—HAND OR TRAVELLING ARTICLES
  • A45C—PURSES; LUGGAGE; HAND CARRIED BAGS
  • A45C13/00—Details; Accessories
  • A45C13/02—Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
  • A45C2013/026—Inserts

Definitions

• coolers are quite popular, and are used in numerous activities. Large coolers are often used for picnics and other social gatherings, and individual users may utilize smaller coolers to keep a fewer number of items at a desired temperature .
• the walls of contemporary coolers typically include hard outer and inner shells, and an insulating central layer.
• the central layer is usually a product having a high insulation value, or R value.
• hard- sided coolers are useful and popular, they can be heavy and awkward to carry and, once the contents have been consumed, the empty hard-sided cooler can be inconvenient to transport and store. As such, the use of soft-sided coolers has become popular.
• Soft -sided coolers are known and may be formed from an insulating material, such as expanded polyethylene foam, that is surrounded by a flexible fabric, such as polyester, nylon or the like. Such coolers may be produced by covering one or more pieces of insulating material with a flexible material and stitching the pieces or portions of the pieces together so as to form a
• soft-sided insulated containers it is desirable for soft-sided insulated containers to have a water-tight liner which fits inside the container compartment. Users may also desire a certain level of protection for the contents they will put within the soft- sided cooler from damage which can be sustained by
• Hard liners which are made of molded plastic are known. While these liners are water-tight and can additionally provide desired structure to a soft-sided cooler, they are not easy to store when not in use and must be removed and stored separately from the soft-sided insulated container if the user wishes to fold up the soft -sided cooler. Hard liners have the additional benefit of being easy to clean.
• Soft liners are known which include sewn-in liners typically made of flexible poly vinyl chloride or polyethylene vinyl acetate. While these liners do fold up for easy storage, the seams are not water-tight and the liners do not provide much structure to the soft -sided cooler. The absence of a water-tight liner restricts a user to utilization of freezable ice substitutes instead of actual ice to avoid leakage through the seams.
• a soft- sided insulated container comprising a collapsible and water-tight liner having rigid walls, more specifically, comprising at least one flexible side panel and a flexible bottom panel defining a cavity therein, said panels comprising an interior layer of fabric adjacent a first side of a layer of insulating fabric and an exterior layer of fabric adjacent a second side of the layer of insulating fabric; a flexible top panel hingedly connected to the at least one flexible side panel, said top panel configured to removably cover said cavity; a removable liner having rigid sides and flexible seams connecting said rigid sides; said liner configured to fit within said cavity and said liner further configured to be collapsible along said flexible seams from a first expanded configuration to a second folded configuration; and wherein said liner further comprises a first side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends, a second side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends located opposite said first side panel; a first end panel having a top end and
• a container having a first side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends; a second side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends located opposite said first side panel; a first end panel having a top end and a bottom end and connected by a first flexible seam to the first end of said first side panel and by a second flexible seam to the first end of said second side panel; a second end panel having a top end and a bottom end and connected by a third flexible seam to the second end of said first side panel and by a fourth flexible seam to the second end of said second side panel; a bottom panel connected by a flexible fifth seam to the bottom end of said first side panel and by a sixth flexible seam to the bottom end of said second side panel; said container collapsible along said flexible seams; wherein said bottom panel comprises two pieces of rigid material connected to each other by a seventh flexible seam running from a central point of panel; and wherein said first and second end panels each further comprise a center end seam extending from the top end
• a soft- sided insulated container comprising a collapsible and water-tight liner having rigid walls, more specifically, comprising at least one flexible side panel and a flexible bottom panel defining a cavity therein, said panels comprising an interior layer of fabric adjacent a first side of a layer of insulating fabric and an exterior layer of fabric adjacent a second side of the layer of insulating fabric; a flexible top panel preferably hingedly connected to the at least one flexible side panel, said top panel configured to removably cover said cavity; a removable liner having rigid sides and flexible seams connecting said rigid sides; said liner configured to fit within said cavity and said liner further configured to be collapsible along said flexible seams from a first expanded configuration to a second folded configuration; and wherein said liner further comprises a selectively closable drain element providing for fluid communication between the interior of the liner and the exterior of the soft cooler; further comprising a foldable and separate wheeled cart for transporting the soft,
• FIGURE 1 is a side perspective view of a liner in accordance with an embodiment, in the expanded configuration
• FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of a cooler having the liner of FIG. 1 partially inserted therein;
• FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of a liner in accordance with an embodiment, in the expanded
• FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of a liner in accordance with an embodiment, in the expanded
• FIG. 5 is a top view of a flat pattern die cut of the liner of FIG. 1;
• FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the liner of FIG. 1 in a partially collapsed configuration
• FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of the liner of FIG. 1 in an alternate partially collapse
• FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of a liner in accordance with an embodiment, in the expanded
• FIG. 9 is a side perspective view of a liner in accordance with an embodiment, in the expanded
• FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of a cooler releasably secured to a wheeled cart
• FIG. 11 is a back perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 10;
• FIG. 12a-c is a front perspective view of a wheeled cart
• FIG. 13a-c is a front view of a the
• collapsible cooler of FIG. 10 shown in various states of collapsibility between the fully expanded and fully collapsed configurations
• FIG. 14 is a top perspective view of the liner of FIG. 9, showing the drain in exploded view' and
• FIG. 15 is a front perspective view of the liner of FIG. 10.
• FIG. 2 shows a container 10 in accordance with an embodiment.
• the container 10 includes front panel 12, back panel 14, first end panel 16, second end panel 18, bottom panel 20 and mouth 22 which define an interior compartment 24.
• Cooler 10 also preferably comprises top panel 26 which serves as a lid for the container 10.
• Each of the panels 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 26 preferably includes a piece of insulating material, such as expanded polyethylene foam, enclosed in a flexible fabric, such as vinyl, polyester, nylon or similar fabric. In this manner, the container 10 is deemed a soft-sided cooler.
• Container 10 may comprise exterior and interior pockets (not shown) as well as carrying handle 30 which may be attached at various locations.
• handle 30 is depicted as a side handle, but can be of other constructions known and used in the industry. Additionally, although a rectangular shaped container is shown in the figures, it is within the scope of the present invention for container 10 to have other shapes such as cubic, oval, elliptical, cylindrical and the like.
• top panel 26, bottom panel 20, and back panel 14 are connected together along their edges to form a box-like shape.
• the top panel 26 may have an elongated rectangular shape and may be connected along an edge to three consecutive edges of the back panel 14.
• Top panel 26 may comprises a zipper or other closure mechanism 28 for connecting the three consecutive edges fop top panel 34a-c to the three consecutive upper periphery edges of compartment 36a-c.
• top panel 26 may comprise a zipper or other closure mechanism 28 for securing the top panel 26 to one or more of the front or side panels to securely retain items located inside the cavity formed within container 10.
• liner 38 is constructed to fit within interior compartment 24 of insulated container 10.
• Liner 38 is preferably the same general shape as container 10 and slightly smaller in dimension to ensure a secure fit of liner 38 within compartment 24. It is also within the scope of the present invention, however, for liner 38 to be a different shape than container 10, provided liner 38 still fits within the compartment 24.
• Liner 38 is adapted for insertion and removal from compartment 24. As shown in FIG. 1, liner 38 comprises front panel 40, back panel 42, first end panel 44, second end panel 46, bottom panel 48 and an open top 50 forming a cavity 52 within the liner.
• Panels 40, 42, 44, 46, 48 of liner are made of rigid plastic and are connected to each other at seams Sx located at corners and mid-points of panels to allow for the collapse and folding of liner along seam lines.
• First and second end panels 44, 46 of liner may be collapsed inwardly as shown in FIG. 6 or outwardly as shown in FIG. 7.
• seams S 1-15 comprise living hinges made of the same material as liner panels 40, 42, 44, 46, 48, but of a smaller thickness.
• seams S 1-15 are made of a second material different from that of liner panels 40, 42, 44, 46, 48.
• the second material is flexible and waterproof and is preferably thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane , silicone, or the like. It is also within the scope of the present invention for seams S i_i 5 to be of a wider thickness (as shown in FIG. 4) to allow for easier collapsibility of the liner 38.
• a preferred pattern includes two large rectangular panels (front panel 40 and back panel 42) located opposite each other and forming the sides of the receptacle.
• the bottom portion 48 comprises 2 rectangular panels 48a, 48b hingedly attached to each other along a center line seam Si.
• the exterior edge of each bottom panel 48a, 48b is hingedly attached to the lower edge of the front panel 40 and back panel 42, respectively, along seams S 2 and S 3 .
• Two triangular shaped panels 44a, 44b connect to a first end of bottom panels 48a, 48b and two triangular shaped panels 46a, 46b connect to second end of bottom panels 48a, 48b along seams S 4 and S 5 , respectively, located along a first side of the triangular shaped panels.
• Panels 44a, 44b are hingedly connected to each other along a portion of seam S 6
• panels 46a, 46b are hingedly
• 44c, 44d, 46c and 46c are connected to the respective edges of front panel 40 and back panel 42 by seams Si 2 , Si 3 , Si 4 ,
• seams Sx preferably comprise living hinges made of the same material as liner panels, but of a smaller thickness. Seams may also, however, be made of a second material different from that of liner panels.
• the second material is flexible and waterproof and is preferably thermoplastic rubber, thermoplastic polyurethane , silicone, or the like. It is also within the scope of the present invention for seams to be of a wider thickness to allow for easier collapsibility of the liner 38.
• cart 50 may be provided for ease of transport of container 10 and its contents.
• Cart 50 is preferably of a construction generally known in the industry for use with luggage, bags and various containers.
• Cart 50 comprises at least 2 wheels 52 which may be connected along an axis which passes through frame 54.
• Frame 54 is preferably foldable along at least one axis point to enable compact storage when not in use.
• lower frame portion 56 supports container 10 along the horizontal plane and may be rotated around a hinge or axis point for vertical -plane storage of frame 54 when not in use.
• Cart 50 also preferably comprises a retractable handle 58 for use in transport of container 10 and its contents.
• Container 10 comprises a releasable securing mechanism 60 for secure yet selectively releasable retention onto cart 50.
• the preferred securing mechanism 60 comprises a set of adjustable webbing straps having buckles. It is also within the scope of this invention to utilize straps having hook and loop mechanisms or other securing means known and used in the industry.
• liner 38 comprises an integral drain element 70 which provides fluid communication between the interior of liner and the exterior of liner. Drain element 70 allows for melted ice, spilled liquids and other materials to be easily removed from the interior of liner 38 without the need for lift and tipping the entire liner or container, thus avoiding spilling the contents thereof.
• aperture 72 is located on a corresponding panel of container 10 to properly align with drain element 70 located on liner 38. The alignment thereof allows for fluid communication between the interior of liner and the exterior of container 10.
• Aperture 72 is sized and shaped to accommodate drain spout 74.
• drain element 70 and aperture 72 are shown located on the front panel of liner and container, they can easily be located on the back panel, either end panel or on the bottom panel, provided both are in proper alignment with each other.
• drain element 70 is of standard construction, but preferably comprises removable cover 76 to allow for selective access to drain and for selective elimination of fluids from the interior of liner.
• Cover 76 is releasably secured to drain spout 74, preferably through the use of a threaded member, but other means known in the industry are within the scope of the present invention. It is also within the scope of the present invention for spout 74 to comprise a liquid dispenser known in the industry.
• liner 38 may comprise a sliding lock mechanism 80 to assist it retaining liner in its fully expanded configuration when in use and prevent unintentionally folding or collapse of the side walls of liner 38.
• the top side of liner 39 may comprise a detent to retain sliding lock in place and require the exertion of a set amount of force to "unlock" the sliding lock and enable the liner to fold or collapse when desired.
• FIG. 13a-c depicts the collapsibility of container 10 and liner 38 in connection with drain element 70 and further shows the functionality of drain element 70 as a retaining means for retaining the container 10 in its collapsed and folded configuration.
• all contents of the liner and container (with the exception of the liner itself) are removed and any remaining liquid is eliminated, preferably through drain element 70.
• the sliding lock mechanism 80 is slid to one corner of each liner top side 39 to allow the liner 30 to be collapsed.
• the container 10 is thereafter collapsed upon itself in a front/back matter (e.g. in a horizontal manner and not vertically) as shown in FIG. 13a.
• Cover 76 is removed from spout 74 to expose the end of the spout .
• top panel 26 is folded over the front panel of container.
• Top panel 26 may comprise an additional lip 27, but such it not required. Lip 27, if present, or if lip 27 is not present, then the front edge of top panel 26 comprises an aperture 78 sized and shaped to accommodate drain spout 74. Aperture 78 is located over spout 74 and cover 76 is replaced onto spout 74, thereby securing container in a collapsed configuration. Of course, it is within the scope of the present invention for other securing means other than aperture 78 to operate to retain container in its collapsed configuration.
• first and second end panels 44, 46 may be folded inward as shown in FIG. 6 or outward as shown in Fig. 7 to allow the bottom panel 48 to collapse upward (or downward) and the front and back panels 40, 42 to move closer towards each other in relation to where they were in the expanded configuration.
• a preferred method of manufacture comprises using a die-cut piece of rigid plastic material.
• the material is preferably cut in a single sheet of material in the pattern shown in FIG. 5. If a living hinge is to be utilized, the material located along seams Si_i 5 is cut thinner than the remaining panels. The sheet is then folded and assembled into the expanded liner 38 and the open seams are welded together to form the completed liner 38.
• the individual panels are cut apart from the sheet and each panel is placed into a separate die wherein a second more flexible material is added to the rigid panels and allowed to cure such that the rigid panels are connected to each other along seams S to form expanded liner 38 in the desired configuration wherein the flexible material is located at each seam, thereby resulting in a flexible hinge.
• a second more flexible material is added to the rigid panels and allowed to cure such that the rigid panels are connected to each other along seams S to form expanded liner 38 in the desired configuration wherein the flexible material is located at each seam, thereby resulting in a flexible hinge.
• tabs of material connect end panel pieces to each other.
• the tabs are made of the same material as end panels, but in a thinner construction. Tabs (not shown) assist in keeping end panel pieces in the proper location and orientation during the application and curing of the flexible material.
• Container 10 may have additional features, many of which may be common to coolers.
• container 10 may include additional features, such as pockets, carabineers, additional handles and the like.
• additional features such as pockets, carabineers, additional handles and the like.
• the above description refers to soft- sided coolers, the above coolers may be made to have hard sides.
• Fasteners other than zippers may also be used.
• a hook and loop fastener may be used instead of a zipper.
• the container 10 may include more than one zipper or other fasteners.
• the container has the same general construction as described above utilizing flexible material at the seams.
• the seams are wider in relation to the rigid material sections.
• seams S 6 and S 7 extend only partially on end panels 44 and 46, extending only between end panels 44c and 44d and also between end panels 46c and 46d,as shown.
• triangular end panel pieces 44a, 44b, 46a and 46b are not present. The area consumed by 44a, 44b, 46a, and 46b in FIG. 1 and 5 is consumed by the flexible material in FIG. 8.
• seams S 8 , S 9 , Si 0 , and Sn have been eliminated and seams S 4 and S 5 comprise more of a triangular shape and consume the spaces filled by 44a, 44b and 46a, 46b in FIG8. 1 and 5.
• container 10 can function as a collapsible liner for removable insertion in a soft-sided cooler, but container 10 can be utilized on its own as a stand-alone container or used in outer

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Packages (AREA)
• Purses, Travelling Bags, Baskets, Or Suitcases (AREA)
• Bag Frames (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Publications (1)

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Family Applications (1)

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• 2012
  • 2012-03-07 EP EP12712788.4A patent/EP2683268A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-03-07 KR KR1020137026547A patent/KR20140048860A/ko not_active Withdrawn
  • 2012-03-07 CA CA2832688A patent/CA2832688A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-03-07 AU AU2012229382A patent/AU2012229382A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-03-07 JP JP2013557840A patent/JP2014508695A/ja active Pending
  • 2012-03-07 US US14/004,668 patent/US20150175338A1/en not_active Abandoned
  • 2012-03-07 CN CN201280022855.3A patent/CN103547183A/zh active Pending
  • 2012-03-07 WO PCT/US2012/028130 patent/WO2012125378A2/en not_active Ceased

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