Soft-sided insulated container with inflatable wall structure

• US 9,408,445 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2013
• Issued: 08/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: California Innovations Incorporated
• Original Assignee: California Innovations Incorporated
• Inventors: Stephens, Rick, Mogil, Melvin S., Mather, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F
• Application Number:
  US13/782,489
• Publication Number:
  US 20140248003A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 383/110, 383/3, 383/111, 383/109, 383/2, 206/522
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/26 Special adaptations of handles A45C13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/001 Flexible materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/04 Shopping bags; Shopping nets
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0081 inflatable and deflatable
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/389 formed of foam material

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, 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. There may be a removable internal liner. That liner may be transparent.

Claims

1. A soft-sided insulated container having an inflatable wall structure, said inflatable wall structure being self-inflating;

said container is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position;

said inflatable wall structure in said deployed position being selectable between

(a) a tote-shaped container configuration and

(b) a cubic container configuration;

said inflatable wall structure, when inflated, forms a peripheral wall having an insulated chamber defined therewithin in which to place objects;

said inflatable wall structure has an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a layer of insulation trapped between said outer membrane and said inner membrane;

said layer of insulation includes an open cell foam captured between said outer membrane and said inner membrane;

said container has an outlet by which to permit said inflatable wall structure to be deflated, and, when said wall structure is deflated, said container is movable to said collapsed position, said collapsed position being a rolled-up position.

2. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 1 wherein at least one of:

(a) said outer membrane is thicker than said inner membrane and defines a scuff resistant outer surface of said container; and

(b) said inner membrane has a reflective surface.

3. A soft-sided insulated container having:

a self-inflating wall structure;

said self-inflating wall structure having inner and outer skins and a resilient insulating member mounted between the inner and outer skins, said wall structure having weldments at an array of fold locations;

said wall structure defining a chamber therewithin and having a closure member governing access to said chamber;

said array of fold locations defining a plurality of panels of said soft-sided insulated container;

said plurality of panels including a first main panel;

said first main panel having a first load spreader doubler mounted to said outer skin thereof and extending away from said closure member; and

there being a first handle mounted amidst said doubler.

4. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 3 wherein said load spreader doubler is mounted externally to said outer skin of said first main panel, and said first main panel is free of penetrations at said load spreader doubler.

5. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 3 wherein said container includes a second main panel opposed to said first main panel;

and said second main panel has a second load spreader doubler and second handle mounted thereto in opposition to said first handle.

6. A soft-sided insulated container having:

a self-inflating wall structure;

said wall structure having inner and outer skins and a resilient insulating member mounted between the inner and outer skins, said wall structure having weldments at an array of fold locations; and

said fold locations defining alternate configurations of said wall structure when inflated;

said alternate configurations including a first configuration and a second configuration.

7. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein said first configuration is a tote bag configuration, and said second configuration is box-shaped.

8. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 7 wherein said container has a releasable securement operable to maintain said container in the selected one of said alternate configurations when said inflatable wall structure is inflated.

9. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 8 wherein said first securement is connected to a weldment of the inner and outer skins.

10. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein said array of fold locations define a plurality of sub-regions of said container wall structure, said plurality of sub-regions being in communication, and said plurality of sub-regions in communication share a single valve at which to introduce air.

11. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein said array of fold locations defines a first main panel, said first main panel has a load distributor mounted thereto, and a handle mounted to said load distributor amidst said first main panel.

12. The soft sided insulated container of claim 11 wherein said load distributor is a doubler welded to said outer skin, and said handle is mounted amidst said doubler.

13. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein:

said array of fold locations defines a first main panel and an opposed second main panel;

a first load distributor is mounted to said first main panel;

a second load distributor is mounted to said second main panel;

a first handle is secured to said first load distributor;

a second handle is secured to said second load distributor; and

in use said first and second handles are mounted on opposite sides of said container.

14. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 13 wherein:

said first and second load distributors are doublers mounted to said first and second panels respectively; and

said first and second handles are secured amidst said first and second doublers, respectively.

15. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein said structure includes a first portion in which a peripheral seal is made between said inner and outer skins, and said wall structure has a weldment at a first pre-fold location that is spaced inwardly and away from said peripheral seal.

16. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein, when uninflated, said soft-sided container is rollable into a collapsed condition.

17. The soft sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein:

said container has a closure at which a first margin and a second margin of said wall structure meet releasably;

said closure has a first end;

said container has a portion distant from said first and second margins;

said container has a releasable securement connected to link said first end of said closure to said distant portion of said container, whereby to secure said container in said first configuration.

18. The soft sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein:

said first configuration is a box-shaped configuration;

said second configuration is a tote-bag shaped configuration;

said container has a closure at which a first margin and a second margin of said wall structure meet releasably, said closure defining a top location of said container;

said container has a region distant from said first and second margins, said distant region defining a bottom location of said container;

said closure has a first end and a second end;

said distant region has a first end and a second end;

a first releasable fastener is mounted releasably to link said first end of said closure to said first end of said distant region;

a second releasable fastener is mounted releasably to link said second end of said closure to said second end of claim distant region; and

when connected, said first and second releasable fasteners retaining said container in said box-shaped configuration.

19. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein:

said outer skin and said inner skin are of corresponding extent;

said resilient insulation member has an extent that is less than the extent of the inner and outer skins;

said inner and outer skins being peripherally sealed to each other with said resilient insulation member being captured therebetween;

said fold locations are defined by weldments of said inner skin to said outer skin;

said fold locations dividing said wall structure into a plurality of panels;

said plurality of panels including a bottom panel, a first main panel, a second main panel opposed to said first main panel, a first end panel and a second end panel;

said bottom panel, first and second main panels, and end panels being in communication to permit common inflation thereof.

20. The soft-sided insulated container of claim 6 wherein:

said first configuration is a tote-bag configuration;

said second configuration is a box-shaped configuration;

said outer skin and said inner skin are of corresponding extent;

said resilient insulation member has an extent that is less than the extent of the inner and outer skins;

said inner and outer skins being peripherally sealed to each other with said resilient insulation member being captured therebetween;

said resilient insulation member including an open-celled foam;

said fold locations are defined by weldments;

said fold locations include weldments located to define a central fold;

said wall structure having first and second margins distant from said central fold, said first and second margins having mating portions of a closure member mounted therealong;

said fold locations dividing said wall structure into a plurality of panels;

said plurality of panels including first and second bottom panels to either side of said central fold, a first main panel, a second main panel opposed to said first main panel, a first right-hand end panel and a first left-hand end panel, and a second right-hand end panel and a second left-hand end panel;

said bottom panels, first and second main panels, and right hand and left-hand end panels being in communication to permit common inflation thereof from a single valve;

said first and second main panels having doublers mounted thereto, and handles mounted amidst said doublers; and

releasable securements mounted at first and second ends of said closure member, said securements being operable in one position to retain said wall structure in said second configuration.