SOFT-SIDED INSULATED CONTAINER WITH LID FITTING

• US 20160101924A1
• Filed: 12/01/2015
• Published: 04/14/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Christopher Edwards, Elizabeth Mitchell, Melvin Mogil, Mike Baatz, William Kearns
• Inventors: MITCHELL, Elizabeth, BAATZ, Mike, KEARNS, William, EDWARDS, Christopher, MOGIL, Melvin, Stephens, Richard, BARATTIN, Alexander, WU, Jingchao
• Granted Patent: US 9,809,376 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2200/20 Carrying beverage vessels, e.g. bottles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0077 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 9/00 Purses, Luggage or bags convertible into objects for other use sacks or packs carried on the body and convertible into other articles A45F4/02; trunk-wardrobes A47B61/06; trunk-beds A47C17/82
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/02 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 1/04 Methods of, or means for, filling the material into the containers or receptacles
• CPC Class Codes: B65B 63/08 for heating or cooling articles or materials to facilitate packaging
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/14 Linings or internal coatings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/56 ; linings for domestic water storage heaters F24H1/183
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/28 Handles of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 ; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/16 hinged for upward or downward movement cigar or cigarette receptacles A24F15/00; suitcases, ètuis A45C; casings for cosmetic substances with hinged covers A45D40/22; toolboxes B25H3/02; hinges of door or similar type E05D ; boxes for switchboards with hinged covers H02B1/066
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/22 Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 45/00 Clamping or other pressure-applying devices for securing or retaining closure members screw-threaded or bayonet connections between stoppers or caps and containers B65D39/08, B65D41/04, B65D41/34; expansible stoppers B65D39/12; for pressure vessels in general F16J13/00
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/38 with thermal insulation vacuum bottles or the like A47J41/00 ; thermal insulation of domestic water storage heaters F24H1/182
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3813 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3888 wrappers or flexible containers, e.g. pouches, bags for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/03

Abstract

A soft-sided insulated container assembly has a generally box-shaped form like a school lunch box, having a main body and a lid. The lid is formed of one of the largest panels of the box-structure, and is joined to the main body of the box by a hinge that lets the lid lie flat next to the main body when the box is open. The inside face of the lid then defines a work surface on which to place objects such as foodstuffs and beverages. The work surface may be formed in a substantially rigid molded stiffener member, and may be divided into sub-regions with raised retainers to discourage sliding of objects where not precisely level. The container assembly may include a rigid internal liner with which the lid may mate zipperlessly. The mating portion of the lid may be formed in the same rigid member as the work surface.

Claims

1. A soft-sided insulated container comprising:

a soft-sided insulated body defining an insulated chamber therewithin;

a lid, said lid having a proximal portion hingedly mounted to a rearward portion of the soft-sided insulated body;

said soft-sided proximal portion being non-rigid;

said lid having a distal portion most distant from said rearward portion;

said distal portion having a rigid fitting extending therealong;

said rigid fitting including at least one rigid socket;

said socket having a well protruding inwardly of said lid;

said socket having a retainer arrayed about said socket and extending outwardly proud of said lid.

2. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 1 wherein said rigid fitting defines a leading edge margin of said distal portion most distant from said rearward portion.

3. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 1 wherein said rigid fitting has a substantially planar web, said web defining a rigid forward extension of said proximal portion, said well of said socket protrudes inwardly shy of said web and said retainer stands outwardly proud of said web.

4. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 1 wherein said socket is a first said socket, said distal portion has a second said socket;

and said rigid fitting includes a substantially planar medial web extending between said first and second sockets.

5. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 1 wherein:

said lid is releasably secured to said soft-sided insulated body by a first closure member, said first closure member being operable to permit said lid to move between an open position and a closed position; and

said lid has a second closure member defined therein amidst said proximal portion of said lid.

6. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 5 wherein said second closure member is a zipperless closure.

7. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein said second closure member includes a soft-sided panel hingedly mounted within said proximal portion.

8. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 1 wherein said body is collapsible, and said proximal portion is foldable thereover when said body is collapsed.

9. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 8 wherein a soft-sided closure member is mounted amidst said proximal portion, and said soft-sided closure member is foldable with said proximal portion.

10. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 8 wherein a soft-sided closure member is mounted amidst said proximal portion, and said soft-sided closure member opens toward said rigid fitting.

11. A soft-sided insulated container, comprising:

a soft-sided insulated body defining an insulated chamber therewithin, and a lid hingedly mounted thereto, said lid being movable between an open position and a closed position relative to said chamber;

a securement by which releasably to retain said lid in said closed position;

said body being movable between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration;

said lid being hingedly connected to a rearward portion of said body, and, when said body is in said collapsed configuration, said lid being foldable over said body whereby a distal portion of said lid extends in front of said body;

said distal portion of said lid includes a rigid member running along a margin thereof most distant from said rearward portion of said body;

said rigid member having at least one retainer defined therein, said retainer including a rigid well that protrudes inwardly relative to said chamber when said lid is secured in said closed position, and a rim that stands outwardly of said lid.

12. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 11 wherein said lid has an inset access panel mounted intermediate said rigid member and said rearward portion.

13. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 12 wherein said inset access panel is soft-sided and has a zipperless closure.

14. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 11 wherein said rigid member has two of said retainers, and a medial web extending therebetween.

15. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 11 wherein:

said lid has a proximal portion closest to said rearward portion of said body.

16. A soft-sided insulated container comprising:

a soft-sided insulated body defining an insulated chamber therewithin;

a lid, said lid having a proximal portion hingedly mounted to a rearward portion of the soft-sided insulated body;

said soft-sided proximal portion being non-rigid;

said lid having a distal portion most distant from said rearward portion;

said distal portion having a rigid fitting extending therealong;

said rigid fitting occupying a minority of said lid.

17. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 16 wherein said rigid fitting includes a drink pocket.

18. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 17 wherein said rigid fitting includes a portion that is co-planar with said lid, a first portion of said drink pocket extends proud of said lid;

and a second portion of said drink pocket includes a well that extends shy of said lid.