Divided insulated container

• US 6,234,677 B1
• Filed: 06/01/1999
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/25/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: California Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: California Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Mogil, Melvin S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCUA, JES F
• Application Number:
  US09/323,202
• Time in Patent Office: 721 Days
• Field of Search: 383/110, 383/111, 383/38, 383/39, 383/901, 150/113, 150/117, 190/109, 190/110, 190/111, 206/541, 206/544, 206/545, 206/546
• US Class Current: 383/110
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0077 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/126 of cellular type
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/801 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A portable soft sided insulated container has an impermeable liner that provides a liquid holding barrier. The liner is folded from a single monolithic plastic sheet to reduce or eliminate the need for heat welded seams. The liner seats within the container and has a releasable attachment around its lip for mating with the rim of the container. The container has an insulated lid so that the entire assembly may be closed. The liner can be removed for cleaning, or replacement if punctured. When not in use the entire assembly can be folded into a collapsed position for storage. The container has two storage chambers that share a common insulated dividing wall.

Claims

1. A soft sided, collapsible, insulated container comprising:

a first collapsible insulated container portion, a second collapsible container portion and a common wall shared between said first and second container portions;

said first container portion having a first insulated wall structure defining a first enclosed chamber therewithin;

said first insulated wall structure having an opening defined therein, said opening permitting objects to enter or exit said first enclosed chamber, a portion of said first insulated wall structure being moveable to close said opening;

said second container portion having a second insulated wall structure defining a second enclosed chamber therewithin;

said common wall segregating said first and second enclosed chambers from each other;

said first chamber being maintainable at a different environmental condition from the environmental condition of said second chamber;

each of said insulated container portions having a liner for containing liquids mounted within its respective chamber.

2. A soft sided, collapsible, insulated container, comprising:

a first insulated container portion, a second container portion and a common wall shared between said first and second container portions;

said first insulated container portion having a first insulated wall structure defining a first enclosed chamber therewithin;

said second container portion having a second insulated wall structure and a second enclosed chamber defined therewithin;

said common wall segregating said first and second chambers from each other;

said first chamber being maintainable at a different environmental condition from said second chamber;

said first insulated container portion having a liner for containing liquids mounted within said first enclosed chamber;

said liner being removable from said first enclosed chamber;

said first container portion each being moveable between an expanded position and a collapsed position;

said container having fittings mounted to engage said first insulated container portion;

said fittings being operable to maintain said first insulated container portion in said collapsed position.

3. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 2 wherein said container has a partition member mounted within said liner.

4. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 2 wherein:

each of said insulated container portions is moveable between respective expanded and collapsed positions;

said soft sided, collapsible container has fittings mounted to engage each of said first and second insulated container portions; and

said fittings are operable to maintain each of said insulated container portions in its respective collapsed position.

5. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 2 wherein:

said first insulated wall structure has a rectangular base, an upstanding wall having front, rear, left and right hand side portions extending upwardly of said rectangular base;

said rear portion of said upstanding wall has an upper margin distant from said base;

said moveable portion of first insulated wall structure is a top panel; and

said top panel is hingedly attached to said upper margin of said rear portion of said upstanding wall.

6. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 5 wherein said top panel is a lid and said lid is moveable between an open position and a closed position to control access to said first chamber.

7. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 6 wherein said first insulated wall structure includes a closure member operable to secure said lid in said closed position.

8. A soft sided, collapsible, insulated container comprising:

a first collapsible insulated container portion, a second collapsible container portion and a common wall shared between said first and second container portions;

said first container portion having a first insulated wall structure defining a first enclosed chamber therewithin;

said first insulated wall structure having an opening defined therein, said opening permitting objects to enter or exit said first enclosed chamber, a portion of said first insulated wall structure being moveable to close said opening;

said second container portion having a second insulated wall structure defining a second enclosed chamber therewithin;

said common wall segregating said first and second enclosed chambers from each other;

said first chamber being maintainable at a different environmental condition from the environmental condition of said second chamber;

one of said insulated container portions having a liner for containing liquid mounted within its respective chamber;

said container having a partition member mounted within said liner.

9. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 8 wherein said partition member includes a stiffening element.

10. A soft sided collapsible, insulated, container comprising:

a first collapsible insulated container portion, a second collapsible container portion and a common wall shared between said first and second container portions;

said first container portion having an insulated wall structure and a first chamber defined therewithin;

said second container portion having an insulated wall structure and a second chamber defined therewithin;

said common wall segregating said first and second chambers from each other;

said first chamber being maintainable at a different environmental condition from the environmental condition of said second chamber;

one of said insulated container portions having a liner for containing liquids mounted within its respective chamber and a partition member mounted within said liner;

said partition including a stiffening element, and a thermally insulative layer for discouraging heat transfer through said partition.

11. The soft sided collapsible container of claim 10 wherein the liner has fittings for engaging the partition, said partition being movable to a plurality of positions in engagement with said fittings.

12. The soft sided collapsible container of claim 11 wherein said respective chamber has a plan form section, said partition is moveable to lie in a horizontal orientation relative to said chamber, and, in said horizontal position, said partition has a shape to match said plan form section.

13. A soft sided collapsible container comprising:

a collapsible insulated wall structure having a chamber defined therewithin;

a removable liner for discouraging leakage of liquid from within said chamber;

said liner being folded from a monolithic sheet of liner stock, said liner having a lowest extremity and a lip, said liner being seamless to a height at least half way from said lowest extremity to said lip; and

a segregation member located within said liner to define at least two sub-compartments therewithin.

14. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 13 wherein:

said insulated wall structure has a rectangular base and sides extending upwardly therefrom;

each of said sides has a first edge adjoining said base and a second edge distant from said base;

said chamber has an opening defined between said second edges of said sides; and

a portion of said insulated wall structure is moveable to close said opening.

15. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 14 wherein:

said moveable portion of said insulated wall structure is a top panel;

said top panel is hingedly mounted to said distal edge of one of said sides; and

said top panel is moveable between an open position and a closed position relative to said opening.

16. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 15 further comprising a closure member mounted to said top panel;

said closure member being operable to secure said top panel in said closed position.

17. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 13 wherein said insulated wall structure has a second chamber defined therewithin;

and said second chamber is maintainable at a different environmental condition from said first chamber.

18. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 17 wherein said first chamber is segregated from said second chamber by a common wall;

and said common wall has a thermal insulation layer for discouraging heat transfer therethrough.

19. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 18 wherein said common wall has:

a first portion extending therefrom, moveable to restrict access to said first chamber; and

a second portion extending therefrom, moveable to restrict access to said second chamber.

20. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 19 wherein said first moveable portion and said second moveable portion are lid members;

said lid members being moveable between an open and a closed position;

said insulated wall structure having closure members to secure said lid members in said closed position.

21. A soft sided collapsible container comprising;

a collapsible insulated wall structure having a chamber defined therewithin;

a removable liner for discouraging leakage of liquid from within said chamber;

said liner having a lowest extremity and a lip, said liner being seamless to a height at least half way from said lowest extremity to said lip;

a segregation member located to divide said liner into at least two sub-compartments;

said liner having fittings for engaging said segregation member, said segregation member being movable to a plurality of positions in engagement with said fittings.

22. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 21 wherein said segregation member is movable to at least one substantially vertical position for dividing said liner into sub-compartments lying horizontally adjacent to said segregation member.

23. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 21 wherein said segregation member is movable to at least one substantially horizontal position for dividing said liner into sub-compartments lying above and below said segregation member.

24. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 21 wherein said segregation member includes a stiffening element.

25. A soft sided, collapsible container comprising:

a collapsible insulated wall structure having a chamber defined therewithin;

a removable liner for discouraging leakage of liquid from within said chamber;

said liner having a lowest extremity and a lip, said liner being seamless to a height at least half way from said lowest extremity to said lip, and

a segregation member mounted within said liner to define two at least two sub-compartments therewithin;

said segregation member including a stiffening element, and a thermally insulative layer for discouraging heat transfer through said segregation member.

26. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 25 wherein said liner has fittings for engaging said segregation member, said segregation number being movable to a plurality of positions in engagement with said fittings.

27. The soft sided, collapsible container of claim 26 wherein said respective chamber has a plan form section, said segregation member is moveable to lie in a horizontal orientation relative to said chamber, and, in said horizontal position, said segregation member has a shape to match said plan form section.

28. A soft sided, collapsible, insulated container comprising:

a first collapsible insulated container portion, a second collapsible container portion and a common wall shared between said first and second container portions;

said first container portion having a first insulated wall structure defining a first enclosed chamber therewithin;

said first insulated wall structure having an opening defined therein, said opening permitting objects to enter or exit said first enclosed chamber, a portion of said first insulated wall structure being moveable to close said opening;

said second container portion having a second insulated wall structure defining a second enclosed chamber therewithin;

said common wall segregating said first and second enclosed chambers from each other;

said first chamber being maintainable at a different environmental condition from the environmental condition of said second chamber;

each of said first and second insulated container portions is moveable between respective expanded and collapsed positions;

said soft sided, collapsible container has releasable fasteners mounted thereto for engaging each of said insulated container portions; and

said releasable fasteners are operable to retain each of said insulated container portions in its respective collapsed position.

29. A soft sided, collapsible, insulated container comprising:

a first collapsible insulated container portion, a second collapsible container portion and a common wall shared between said first and second container portions;

said first container portion having a first insulated wall structure defining a first enclosed chamber therewithin;

said first insulated wall structure having an opening defined therein, said opening permitting objects to enter or exit said first enclosed chamber, a portion of said first insulated wall structure being moveable to close said opening;

said second container portion having a second insulated wall structure defining a second enclosed chamber therewithin;

said common wall segregating said first and second enclosed chambers from each other;

said first chamber being maintainable at a different environmental condition from the environmental condition of said second chamber;

one of said insulated container portions having a liner for containing liquid mounted within its respective chamber;

said liner being a monolithic liner having a base and sides;

said base meeting said sides at folds defined in said liner.