SOFT-SIDED INSULATED CONTAINER WITH INFLATABLE WALL STRUCTURE
First Claim
1. A soft-sided insulated container assembly including:
- a soft-sided wall structure and at least one auxiliary container removably mounted therewithin;
said soft-sided wall structure including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a layer of insulation trapped between said inner and outer layers;
said inflatable wall structure being collapsible when empty;
said at least one auxiliary container, being collapsible when empty;
said at least one auxiliary container being water-tight and having a removable watertight closure governing access thereto; and
when both said soft-sided wall structure and said at least one auxiliary container are empty, said soft-sided insulated container assembly being movable to a collapsed storage configuration with said at least one auxiliary container in a corresponding collapsed configuration.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A soft-sided insulated container assembly is made of a flexible wall structure that is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. In one variation of the deployed position it resembles a tote-bag; in another variation of folding the deployed position corresponds to a generally box-like shape. The container includes a self-inflating wall structure that has an inner layer or skin, an outer layer or skin, the two skins being welded together, and a resilient, open-cell insulating layer trapped between the two skins. A valve governs the ability to take in or to expel air. The outer layer may be thicker and more robust that the inner layer, the better to resist abrasion or punctures. The inner layer may be reflective. The assembly includes collapsible bottles that, when filled, are predominantly flat and are seated in predominantly flat pockets in the side walls to function as ice packs. When the bottles are empty, they and the container can be rolled up together into a single roll.
89 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A soft-sided insulated container assembly including:
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a soft-sided wall structure and at least one auxiliary container removably mounted therewithin; said soft-sided wall structure including an outer layer, an inner layer, and a layer of insulation trapped between said inner and outer layers; said inflatable wall structure being collapsible when empty; said at least one auxiliary container, being collapsible when empty; said at least one auxiliary container being water-tight and having a removable watertight closure governing access thereto; and when both said soft-sided wall structure and said at least one auxiliary container are empty, said soft-sided insulated container assembly being movable to a collapsed storage configuration with said at least one auxiliary container in a corresponding collapsed configuration. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification