SOFT-SIDED INSULATED CONTAINER WITH INFLATABLE WALL STRUCTURE

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.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the field of insulated containers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Insulated containers have become popular for carrying either articles that may best be served cool, such as beverages or salads or warm, such as appetizers, hot dogs, and so on. Such containers are frequently used to carry liquids, whether hot liquids, such as soup containers, coffee or tea, or cold liquids, such as beer, soft drinks, or other carbonated beverages, juices and milk. Sometimes these containers may be used to carry lunches, which may include a sandwich, fruit, carrot and celery sticks, a drink, cookies, and so on.

Portable insulated containers tend to be of two types: hard-sided insulated containers or soft-sided insulated containers. Hard-sided portable insulated containers tend to be made of moulded plastic, with an inner layer, or wall, and an outer layer or wall, with an insulation space (which may be an air-space) therebetween. Hard-sided portable insulated containers are, as might be understood by the name, substantially rigid. The adjective “portable” is sometimes generous, as a full cooler capable of carrying 24 cans at 385 mL each, plus ice, may have significant weight. Hard-sided coolers, by their nature, may tend to be bulky, and, even when provided with a handle on top or handles at the ends may tend not to be particularly convenient to carry. A user's perception of the convenience of their portability may diminish with each additional step.

A soft-sided cooler, by contrast, relies on external insulated wall structure that is not substantially rigid. In some instances the external insulated wall structure may be foldable between collapsed and expanded conditions. The insulated wall structure may typically include an outside layer of webbing or fabric, an inside layer of webbing or fabric, and a layer of flexible insulation positioned between the inner and outer layers. Soft-sided coolers may sometimes include substantially rigid liners to assist in permitting the cooler to maintain a given shape, or to protect items inside the cooler from being crushed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In an aspect of the invention there is a soft-sided insulated container having an inflatable wall structure.

In a feature of that aspect of the invention, the soft-sided insulated container assembly includes a soft-sided wall structure and at least one auxiliary container removably mounted therewithin. The soft-sided wall structure includes an outer layer, an inner layer, and a layer of insulation trapped between said inner and outer layers. The inflatable wall structure is collapsible when empty. The at least one auxiliary container is collapsible when empty. The at least one auxiliary container is water-tight and has a removable watertight closure governing access thereto. When both the soft-sided wall structure and the at least one auxiliary container are empty, the soft-sided insulated container assembly is movable to a collapsed storage configuration with the at least one auxiliary container in a corresponding collapsed configuration.

In another feature, when the soft-sided insulated container assembly is in the collapsed storage configuration, the at least one auxiliary container is nested within the soft-sided insulated container assembly. In another feature, when the soft-sided insulated container assembly is in the collapsed storage configuration, the soft-sided insulated wall structure and the at least one auxiliary container are formed into a roll. In another feature, the soft-sided insulated container assembly is an inflatable soft-sided insulated container assembly. In another feature the soft-sided wall structure is self-inflating. In another feature the insulation layer is resilient, and, when the container assembly is other than in the collapsed storage configuration, the resilient insulation layer is biased to cause the soft-sided wall structure to self-inflate. In another feature, the soft-sided insulated wall structure has at least one accommodation formed therein in which to receive the at least one auxiliary container. In other feature, the soft-sided wall structure includes a plurality of wall panels that, when deployed, define a chamber in which to receive objects; and at least one of the wall panels has an accommodation formed thereon in which to receive the at least one auxiliary container, the accommodation having a size commensurate to the at least one auxiliary container.

In still another feature, the at least one auxiliary container has a closure through which to admit liquid; and, as mounted in the chamber, the closure is other than uppermost. In another feature, the at least one auxiliary container is a bottle having a flexible bladder and a rigid spout. In another feature, the inner layer and the outer layer are welded together, and the soft-sided insulated wall structure has additional weldments formed between the inner layer and the outer layer other than at respective peripheries thereof, the additional welds defining preferential folding locations for at least first and second alternative deployed configurations.

In still another feature, the soft-sided insulated container assembly has securements mounted thereto selectively operable to retain the soft-sided insulated container assembly in any of the alternative deployed configurations. In still another feature, the soft-sided wall structure includes welded load-spreading doublers and lifting members mounted to the load spreading doublers. In another feature, the soft-sided insulated wall structure is inflatable, the inner layer and the outer layer are joined together at weldments, the soft-sided insulated container assembly has a valve operable to govern inflation of the soft-sided insulated wall structure, and the valve is embedded in a weldment formed along a seam of said inner layer to the outer layer.

In still another feature, the at least one auxiliary container comprises a bladder web and an inlet, the bladder web being made of a single sheet folded over and seamed to itself at water-tight seams; and the inlet includes a spot body fitting, said spout body fitting having a transition to mount in one of the seams. In another feature, the soft-sided insulated container assembly stands taller than wide, and any face thereof is trapezoidal. In another feature, the inner layer and the outer layer are waterproof. In another feature, the container assembly has a water-proof zipper governing access thereto, whereby said container assembly is waterproof.

In still another feature, the at least one auxiliary container is at least twice as wide as thick, and twice as tall as thick, whereby, when located within the soft-sided wall structure, the at least one auxiliary container is more flat than round. In another feature, the soft-sided insulated wall structure has accommodations for at least as many auxiliary containers as may be, and the accommodations are substantially flat. In another feature, the assembly includes a removable liner.

In still another feature, the container assembly is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. In another feature, the container assembly has an outlet by which to permit the inflatable wall structure to be deflated. In a further feature, when the wall structure is deflated the container assembly is movable to a rolled-up position. In still another feature the inflatable wall structure, when inflated, forms a peripheral wall having an insulated chamber defined therewithin. In still another feature, the inflatable wall structure is self-inflating. In another feature, the inflatable wall structure includes an open cell foam captured therewithin. In yet another feature the inflatable wall structure is movable to either of (a) a tote-shaped container; and (b) a cubic container. In still another feature, the container assembly has a washable liner. In a further feature, the liner is at least one of (a) removable; and (b) transparent.

In still another feature, the inflatable wall structure, when inflated, forms a peripheral wall defining an insulated chamber in which to place objects. The inflatable will structure has an outer membrane, an inner membrane, and a layer of insulation trapped between the outer membrane and the inner membrane. In another feature, the layer of insulation includes a resilient open-celled foam. In still another feature, the inflatable wall structure includes a valve operable to permit at least one of (a) inflation thereof; and (b) deflation thereof. In yet another feature, the outer membrane is thicker than the inner membrane and defines a scuff resistant outer surface of the container assembly; and (b) the inner membrane has a reflective surface.

In still another feature, the container assembly is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position. The inflatable wall structure is self-inflating. The inflatable wall structure includes an open cell foam captured therewithin. The container assembly has an outlet by which to permit the inflatable wall structure to be deflated, and, when the wall structure is deflated, the container assembly is movable to a rolled-up position. The inflatable wall structure, when inflated, forms a peripheral wall having an insulated chamber defined therewithin. In still another feature, the soft-sided insulated container assembly floats, when inflated and empty.

These and other aspects of the invention may be more readily understood with the aid of the illustrative Figures and detailed description included hereinbelow.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects of the invention may be more readily understood with the aid of the illustrative Figures included herein below, and showing of an example, or examples, embodying the various aspects of the invention, provided by way of illustration, but not of limitation of the present invention, and in which:

FIG. 1a shows a perspective view from the front, to one side and above, of an example of an embodiment of a soft-sided insulated container according to an aspect of the invention herein in a deployed and closed condition;

FIG. 1b shows a perspective view of the soft-sided, insulated container of FIG. 1a in a deflated, collapsed, and rolled-up condition;

FIG. 1c shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1a in tote bag form, filled;

FIG. 1d is a front view of the container of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 2a shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 1a in a tote-bag configuration, empty, with the top closure member open;

FIG. 2b is a front view of the container of FIG. 2a;

FIG. 2c is a front view of a container of similar construction to the container of FIG. 2a as folded to the “tote bag” configuration;

FIG. 3a shows a developed view of the container of FIG. 2a during manufacture;

FIG. 3b is an exploded end perspective view of the container of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3c is a cross-sectional view of the container of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 3d is a conceptual view showing the container of FIG. 3a being folded during manufacture;

FIG. 4a shows a cut away perspective view of bag of similar construction to that of FIG. 1a in a cut-away view to reveal internal detail;

FIG. 4b shows another cut-away perspective view of the bag of FIG. 4a in which an auxiliary container has been installed;

FIG. 4c shows a developed, inside view of the bag of FIG. 4a;

FIG. 5a shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 4b;

FIG. 5b shows a perspective view of the container of FIG. 4b in an empty and rolled-up condition;

FIGS. 5c, 5d and 5e all show perspective views of the container of FIG. 5a in a deployed and filled condition;

FIG. 6a shows a front view of the container of FIG. 5a; the back view being the same as the front view;

FIG. 6b shows a side view of the container of FIG. 6a, the left hand side view being the same as the right hand side view;

FIG. 6c show a cross-section of the container of FIG. 6a taken on section ‘6c-6c’ of FIG. 6a;

FIG. 7a shows a ¾ perspective view, from in front above, and to the left of an alternate soft-sided insulated container to that of FIG. 1a;

FIG. 7b shows a corresponding ¾ rear view of the soft-sided insulated container of FIG. 7a;

FIG. 7c shows a developed view, from the outside, of the soft-sided insulated container of FIG. 7a; and

FIG. 7d shows a developed view, from the inside, of the soft-sided insulated container of FIG. 7a.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, provided by way of illustration of an example, or examples, of particular embodiments of the principles, aspects and features of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles, aspects, and features of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features of the invention.

For the purposes of this description, the insulated containers herein may be termed “coolers”, as a convenient shorthand. For the purposes of this description, it may be that a Cartesian frame of reference may be employed. In such a frame of reference, the long, or largest dimension of an object may be considered to extend in the direction of the x-axis, the base of the article, where substantially planar, may be considered to extend in an x-y plane, and the height of the article may be measured in the vertical, or z-direction. The largest panels of the containers described herein may be designated arbitrarily as the front and rear sides, faces, or portions of the container. Similarly, the closure member, or opening of the bag is arbitrarily designated as being at the top, and the base panel is designated as being at the bottom, as these terms may be appropriate for the customary orientation in which the objects may usually be found, sold, or used, notwithstanding that the objects may be picked up and placed on one side or another from time to time at the user's choice. Other orientations are possible, such as when carrying a pizza in a flat or generally horizontal orientation, rather than vertical. It may also be understood that, within the normal range of temperatures to which human food and human touch is accustomed, although the term cooler, or cooler container, or cooler bag, may be used, such insulated structures may generally also be used to keep food, beverages, or other objects either warm or hot as well as cool, cold, or frozen.

In this specification reference is made to insulated containers. The adjective “insulated” is intended to be given its usual and normal meaning as understood by persons skilled in the art. It is not intended to encompass single layers, or skins, of conventional webbing materials, such as Nylon (t.m.), woven polyester, canvas, cotton, burlap, leather, paper, and so on, that are not otherwise indicated as having, or being relied upon to have, particular properties as effective thermal insulators other than in the context of being provided with heat transfer resistant materials or features beyond that of the ordinary sheet materials in and of themselves. Following from Phillips v. AWH Corp., this definition provided in the specification is intended to supplant any dictionary definition, and to prevent interpretation in the US Patent Office (or in any other Patent Office) that strays from the customary and ordinary meaning of the term “insulated” as provided herein.

Similarly, this description may tend to discuss various embodiments of soft-sided wall members, as opposed to hard shell or hard-sided containers. In the jargon of the trade, a soft-sided cooler, or container, is one that does not have a substantially rigid, high density exoskeleton (typically a molded shell, e.g., of ABS or polyethylene, or other common types of molded plastic). Rather, a soft-sided wall may tend to have, for example, an outer skin, a layer of insulation, and an internal skin, both the internal and external skins being of some kind of webbing, be it a woven fabric, a nylon sheet, or some other membrane. The layer of insulation, which may be a sandwich of various components, is typically a flexible or resilient layer, perhaps of a relatively soft and flexible foam. A soft-sided container may still be a soft-sided container where, as described herein, it may include a substantially rigid liner, or may include one or more battens (which may be of a relatively hard plastic) concealed within the soft sided wall structure more generally, or where hard molded fittings may be used either at a container rim or lip, or to provide a base or a mounting point for wheels, but where the outside of the assembly is predominantly of soft-sided panels. Again, this definition is intended to forestall the US Patent Office, (or any other Patent Offices), from adopting an interpretation of the term “soft-sided” that diverges from the ordinary and customary meaning of the term as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art in the industry, and as explained herein.

The term “water-tight” as used herein is intended to have the meaning of “liquid tight” so as to include liquids other than water, and may include syrups or flavoured drinks, or beverages such as soda pop or beer or wine, or such fluids as salad dressing, olive oil, cooking oils, and so on. In the context of a cooling medium it may also include a liquid coolant or cooling brine, and so on.

FIGS. 1a to 1c show a soft-sided insulated container or container assembly, indicated generally as 20. It has a soft-sided, insulated wall structure, identified as 22, that defines a peripheral wall enclosing an internal chamber, generally indicated as 24. Access to the interior of chamber 24 is controlled by an access governor such as may be termed a closure member. Closure member 26 may be a tracked fastener such as a zipper 28. The assembly may have handles 30, 32 by which it may be lifted, and it may include a handle cinch or securement member, such as pad 34 which, in use, wraps around the bails of both handles 30, 32 to facilitate their carriage in one hand. A shoulder strap 36 with load spreading shoulder pad 38 may also be provided. External patches, or sheets, or pads 40, 42 may be added, or mounted to wall structure 22, and may include pouches or pockets 44, in which documents or other objects may be received.

As may be noted, container 20 may be deployed as a generally box-shaped container, as in FIG. 1a, or as a tote-bag shaped container as in FIG. 1c, 2a, or 2b or it may be collapsed and rolled up as in FIG. 1d. As seen in FIG. 2c, container 20 may be folded or otherwise positioned in the tote bag configuration in which the bottom panels, such as items 94, are folded under. And the top is brought together on a single line as at zipper 68, such that, in the view seen in FIG. 2c, the container flares from the short base to the long zipper. Container 20 may be secured in this configuration by mating securements 142 (bottom edge) to intermediate height securements 144.

The structure of container 20 may be understood with reference to FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d. In FIG. 3b, it can be seen that the wall structure assembly section indicated as 50 includes a first membrane or sheet 52, a second membrane or sheet 54 and a layer of insulation material 56. First sheet 52 may be designated as the inside skin. Sheet 54 may similarly be designated the outside skin. In each case, sheets 52 and 54 may be made of an air impermeable flexible sheet material, be it a rubberized material or some other, and may tend to be both airtight (for inflation) and watertight (so the bag may tend not to leak). In one embodiment it may be a high denier nylon material that has been impregnated or coated, inside and out, with a thermoplastic urethane. In one embodiment, inside sheet 52 may have a shiny surface, such as a metallic reflective surface, that faces into chamber 24. In other embodiments, the inside sheet may not be reflective. Outside sheet 54 may be thicker than inside sheet 52. It may be roughly one and a half to two and a half times as thick, and may be made of, or include, an outer scuff-resistant skin or surface, such as may tend to resist punctures.

Insulation material 56 is, or includes, resilient material with a memory, such that although it may be compressed to a smaller size, such that the air is squeezed out of it, the material will tend to return to its previous shape when released. The tendency to return to the original shape may tend to result in a self-inflating ability. Material 56 may be an open-cell air-porous foam. Material 56 may be a material other than an open-celled air-porous foam. Although it is convenient that a single sheet of insulation material be used, several smaller sheets could also be used, and alternatively, a laminate could be assembled.

Sheets 52 and 54 are of generally corresponding extent, that extent being greater than the extent of insulation material 56, such that the peripheries of sheets 52 and 54 may be sealed together, whether by bonding or welding to form an air impermeable seal. The width of the sealed zone, or weldment, may be quite substantial, being of the order of one half of an inch to one inch. The welding may be RF welding, and, in general, at each weld the outer layer and the inner layer are welded together. They are welded together along their peripheral edges. They are also welded together at locations lying inwardly of their peripheries in the body of the sheet, such as at locations at which the overall sheet is to be able to fold into panels or sub-panels when in a deployed condition for containing objects. As seen in the various developed views, a number of the already-welded edges mate on assembly to form vertices of the container structure. At those vertices the associated edges are typically over-lapped and joined together in a lap weld, such as may ultimately yield a water-tight structure. To the extent that sheets 52 and 54 are generally rectangular, the edges may be identified as a first end edge 60, a second, opposed edge 62, a first side edge 64 and a second side edge 66. Mating left and right hand guided fastener tracks, i.e., zipper tracks 68, 70 of zipper 28.

The inside face defined by sheet 52 may be substantially unobstructed, other than for the inclusion of fastening or securement fittings, such as fabric hook and eye strips 72 (e.g., Velcro™) mounted by adhesive bonding to the weldment strips immediately adjacent to first and second, or left and right hand, zipper tracks 68, 70 of zipper 28. These securement fittings may be used as releasable securements for mating fittings of like nature of a removable, washable liner 74. Liner 74 may be transparent, and may be a seamless liner. In other embodiment, liner 74 may be permanently fixed in place, and in still other embodiments container 20 may have neither strips 72 nor liner 74.

Considering again FIG. 3a, weldments are also made at various locations at which assembly 50 is intended to be foldable. The various folds permit assembly 50 to be positioned in the tote bag configuration of FIGS. 1c, 2a, and 2b; and also in the box-shaped configuration of FIG. 1a. There are two longitudinal folds 80, 82 that divide assembly 50 into left and right hand margins and a central portion. There are lateral folds, proceeding outwardly from the main centerline fold 84, bottom main face fold 86, and top marginal fold 88. There are also diagonal lower and upper corner folds 90 and 92, respectively. Assembly 50 is thus divided into first and second bottom half portions 94, 96; first and second, or front and rear, main panel portions 98, 100; first and second upper panel portions 102, 104, first and second, left and right hand, end panel halves 106, 108, 110 and 112. There are also inner and outer bottom folding gusset portions 114, 116, and first and second top corner folding gusset portions 118, 120.

A valve, or valve assembly 124 may be welded in place along one of the side margins of assembly 50, as indicated. Valve assembly 124 is a governor that controls, i.e., blocks or permits, flow of air into or out of assembly 50. When rolled up, as in FIG. 1b, valve assembly 124 is open to allow air to be expelled during the collapsing and rolling up, and closed thereafter to keep air out. When rolled up, container 20 may be retained in the rolled condition by a strap 126, such as may have mating hook-and-eye fabric fastener portions. When the strap is released, valve assembly 124 may be opened, and the resiliency of the open celled foam material tends to spread inner and outer sheets 42 and 44 away from each other increasing the volume captured between them and, consequently drawing air into that space.

External shear panels, doublers, or pads, or mountings 130, 132 are attached to the main front and rear panel portions 98, 100 respectively, and function as load distributing anchors of handles 30, 32. That is, the ends of the straps of handles 30, 32 may be attached, as by sewing or other means, to mountings 130, 132, which may themselves be attached to portions 98, 100. Attachment is by non-puncturing means, such as by adhesive bonding or by a thermal bonding process such as welding or vulcanizing. Auxiliary compartment members, such as pockets or pouches 134 may be attached externally to mountings 130, 132.

When the external fittings have been mounted to assembly 50, it is then folded, as suggested by FIG. 3d, and the side edges bonded together, again as by bonding or by a thermal process such as welding at left and right hand main seams 136 and 138.

Upper and lower quick release fittings 140, 142 may be mounted at the zipper ends and at the points formed where the bottom gussets fold. In the tote-bag configuration of FIGS. 1c, 2a and 2b, fittings 140, 142 are not connected. However, when container 20 is used in the more box-shaped configuration of FIG. 1a, the clips or clasps are joined, the effect being to fold down (and up) the end flaps, much as when folding wrapping paper, the securement of the ends tending to hold the package in its box-shaped form. Alternatively, container 20 may also have intermediate level quick-release fittings 144, such as may engage with lower fittings 142. In this embodiment the lower portion of container 20 may have a box shape, while the upper portion remains like the tote bag shape.

In the box-shaped configuration, the first and second bottom half portions 94 and 96 define a generally flat bottom; first and second left hand end panel halves 106, 108 (which are joined at left hand main seam 136) form the left hand end panel; first and second right hand end panel halves 110, 112 (which are joined at right hand main seam 138) form the right hand end panel. The front and rear (or first and second) main side panels are defined by panel portions 98 and 100 respectively; the top wall is defined by first and second upper panel portions 102, 104 joined by zipper 28 in a generally flat panel. In this configuration the top corner panel gusset 120 folds under gusset 118, such that a triangular central point is formed at which fitting 140 is mounted. Similarly, each gusset 116 folds under its associate gusset 114, forming a central point at which fitting 142 is mounted, the whole point then being pulled to lie upwardly, adjacent to the respective end wall.

In the tote-bag configuration, all of the portions to one side of main central fold 84 form one side of a tote pouch, while all of the portions to the other side form the other side of the tote. As the pouch is filled, the sides bulge accordingly.

Although container 20 has been shown and described as having a single communicating space into which air may be introduced or expelled, and thus only a single valve, the apparatus could have more than one valve, such as an inlet valve and an outlet valve. Alternatively, it could have more than one valve that is both an inlet and an outlet valve to allow faster or easier inflation and deflation. In another embodiment, the compressible substance may merely be vented, or portions of the external skin may “breathe”, in either case without the use of a valve. It is not necessary that all sides of the container assembly be inflatable wall panels. For example, it may be desired that the bottom panel of the apparatus (corresponding to items 94 and 96) such as may rest on sharp objects on the ground, and such as may be especially prone to damage or abuse, may be made of a non-inflating panel, or panels, such as substantially solid UHMW polymer. Alternatively, too, it may be that only a subset of panels is inflatable, such as main side panel portions 98 and 100. In that case, each of those panels may be separately inflatable, or they may be in fluid communication. In one embodiment, container 20 is buoyant, such that if it falls in the water it will float even when rolled-up. In another embodiment, given the buoyancy of wall structure 22, container 20 will float when deployed and empty.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 4a, 4b and 4c, a container 150 may be understood to have substantially the same construction as container 20. It may be noted that some of the top and bottom corner weldments 152, 154 and intermediate side edge weldments 156, and bottom mid-panel weldment 158 at which the inner and outer layers are joined together differ in size and arrangement from those of container 20. These differences do not alter the basic structure or function as described above.

FIG. 4a shows an internal accommodation, or seat, or pocket, or pouch 160 formed on the inside face of the main panel portion 98. In this instance it is formed by welding a rectangular web 162 on bottom and side edges 166, leaving the top edge or lip 164 open, whereby to permit objects to be placed in or removed from the pocket or accommodation. As may be noted, the pocket so formed is substantially or predominantly flat. That is, given the context of the walls having a measure of flexibility by virtue of being soft-sided, nonetheless the through-thickness of the pocket normal to the wall is much smaller than either the height of the pocket from bottom-to-top, or the width of the pocket or pouch from side-to-side. As pouch 160 is roughly co-extensive with main wall panel portion 94, it is largely compelled to conform to that same shape. Web 162 may be a sheet of webbing, and may be waterproof. Web 162 may be transparent. In other configurations it may be an open mesh. Web 162 may be insulated. However, where pocket 160 is intended to hold a cooling pack or heating pack, web 162 is left un-insulated. Also seen in FIG. 4a is hook-and-eye fabric fastener strip 168, to which the removable seamless liner is releasably attached when in container 150.

FIG. 4b is a similar view taken from the opposite perspective, and showing an auxiliary container 170 as seated in pouch 160. As can be seen, auxiliary container 170 is largely commensurate with pouch 160 having a length L₁₇₀ from side-to-side of pouch 160 that is comparable to, though suitably less than the side-to-side width of web 162; and having a width W₁₇₀ that is comparable to, though suitably less than the bottom-to-top height of web 162. Both dimensions are smaller to permit auxiliary container 170 to be installed and removed.

FIG. 4c shows the general layout of the panels. A doubler 172 may be mounted to inner layer 54, with web 162 being welded to doubler 172 rather than directly to layer 54. This may tend to protect layer 54 from inadvertent damage.

Auxiliary container 170 may be a water bottle or bladder. It may be used to hold potable liquids. It may, alternatively, be used to hold a cooling brine, or merely frozen water, to function as an ice pack. Notwithstanding that auxiliary container 170 may have flexible sides or a flexible body, and notwithstanding that the contents may have pooled or sagged during freezing, it is generally flat in the sense of having a substantially larger length than thickness (typically more than double, if not much more than double), and a substantially larger width than thickness (typically more than double). The flatness corresponds to the general flatness of accommodation 160. Where heat transfer from frozen contents of auxiliary container 170 is desired, or otherwise relied upon to affect the temperature of objects within container 150, the large, generally flat surface area of accommodation 160 and container 170 may be helpful to advance heat transfer. The generally flat nature of container 170 is seen in FIGS. 5a to 5d, where, although the container is bulging, it nonetheless has the general predominant width and length extents that permit it to function as an ice pack in the generally flat space provided by accommodation 160. It may be noted that in this configuration, container 170 is on its side with the cap sideways, rather than upright. I.e., the cap and spout are other than the uppermost parts of container 170. Each of the front and back walls of container assembly 150 may have an accommodation 160 and an auxiliary container 170. In larger units, more than one container 170 may be provided per accommodation 160, or there may be more than one accommodation 160 per wall panel. Further, there may be accommodations 160 in the bottom wall panel portions 94, 96, or in the end wall portions.

Container 170 may be a two-part container. One part may be a waterproof sheet or blank 174 that has been cut to the profile of the bag generally. The blank has a first portion 176 that forms one side of the bag or bottle, and a second portion 178 that forms the opposite side of the bag or bottle. Although they could be cut to different shapes, where an asymmetric enclosure is desired, in general it is convenient that both sides be cut to the same profile, and the container 170 be manufactured as a symmetrical structure. The middle fold between portions 176, 178 is indicated as 180, and forms the bottom edge of the bottle. Starting at lower corners 182, 184, the two have of the blank are welded together along their side edges in a flat, overlapping weld along margins 186, 188.

The second part of container 170 may be a block or solid member, or molded component that defines a nozzle or spout or tap, however it may be termed indicated as 190. It includes a molded body 192 that has an internal bore 194 through which to conduct liquids. At the outer end, there is a neck ring 196, and external threads 198 that co-operate with the internal threads of a cap 200. Cap 200 is a closure provided to govern the ingress and egress of liquid from container 170. When seen end-wise on (i.e., looking along the axial direction of the bore of the fluid passage), body 170 has the general form of a bird's eye, transitions, or tapers 202, 204, with relatively large, smooth lands 206 such that the upper edge margins 208, 210 of portions 176, 178 can be welded smoothly and continuously to body 170, without a gap. The mid portions of the sides of container 170 may have cusps formed therein as shown.

When container 170 is full of frozen material, it can act as a gel pack. It also acts as a water bottle as the frozen material melts, assuming the contents to be potable, as water or juice. When container 170 is empty it can be rolled up, as seen in FIG. 5b. Consequently, when emptied and collapsed, container 170 can be contained in accommodation 160 while container assembly 150 is also collapsed, and the two can be rolled up together to the rolled up configuration of FIG. 1b, with auxiliary container 170 nested within container 150. In alternate embodiments, container 170 may be rolled up next to one of the outside walls, but still within the final roll.

An alternate embodiment of soft-sided, insulated, self-inflating container assembly 220 is shown in FIGS. 7a-7d. In this embodiment the structural manufacturing and assembly techniques may be understood to be the same as, or substantially the same as, described above in the context of container 20 and 150. Container assembly 220 has inside and outside sheet 222, 224 cut to shape and welded together with a resilient foam layer trapped therebetween, the resilient layer, as above, being biased by its resiliency to expand, and thereby to inflate the structure, as soon as valve 230 is opened. As before, there is a front panel 232, a rear panel 234, a bottom panel 236, a top panel 238, a left hand wall panel 226, and a right hand wall panel 228. The left and right hand wall panels are mirror images of each other. As may be noted, the end walls of the illustrated embodiment may be rectangular, or they may have the trapezoidal form shown. Front panel 232 has a zippered documents pouch 218. Valve 230 is mounted in the lap-welded seam formed at the meeting of the upper edge 242 of panel 232 with the edge 244 of panel 228. Bottom panel 236 is made of two halves 246, 248, of portions that are cut as extension of the side panels 226, 228, and joined on a lap-welded transverse seam.

Whereas in containers 20 and 150 the waterproof closure had its zipper halves welded along adjacent mating edges of the welded laminate, container 220 has an aperture 252 formed in the midst of top panel 238, and a closure member, in this instance zipper 250, welded in place. In this example, zipper 250 may be a regular zipper, or it may be a waterproof zipper. It extends fully along the central length of top panel 238, and its ends continue around the curve of the profile to extend into the upper portion of side wall panels 226 and 228, respectively. As seen in FIG. 7d, accommodations 254, 256 are mounted on the inside faces of panels 232, 234, respectively, for receiving auxiliary containers 170, as before. The removable liner fastening strips are shown as 258. Carrying handles mounted to the front and rear face doublers are indicated as 260.

The principles of the present invention are not limited to these specific examples which are given by way of illustration. It is possible to make other embodiments that employ the principles of the invention and that fall within its spirit and scope of the invention. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described embodiments maybe made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to those details, but only by the appended claims.

Claims

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; andwhen 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.

2. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein, in said collapsed storage configuration, said at least one auxiliary container is nested within said soft-sided insulated container assembly.

3. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein in said collapsed storage configuration said soft-sided insulated wall structure and said at least one auxiliary container are formed into a roll.

4. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided insulated container assembly is a self-inflating soft-sided insulated container assembly.

5. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said insulation layer is resilient, and, when said container assembly is other than in said collapsed storage configuration, said resilient insulation layer is biased to cause said soft-sided wall structure to self-inflate.

6. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided insulated wall structure has at least one accommodation formed therein in which to receive said at least one auxiliary container.

7. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided wall structure includes a plurality of wall panels that, when deployed, define a chamber in which to receive objects; and at least one of said wall panels has an accommodation formed thereon in which to receive said at least one auxiliary container, said accommodation having a size commensurate to said at least one auxiliary container.

8. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 6 wherein said at least one auxiliary container has a closure through which to admit liquid; and, as mounted in said chamber, said closure is other than uppermost.

9. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one auxiliary container is a bottle having a flexible bladder and a rigid spout.

10. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner layer and said outer layer are welded together, and said soft-sided insulated wall structure has additional weldments formed between said inner layer and said outer layer other than at respective peripheries thereof, said additional welds defining preferential folding locations for at least first and second alternative deployed configurations.

11. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 10 wherein said soft-sided insulated container assembly has securements mounted thereto selectively operable to retain said soft-sided insulated container assembly in any of said alternative deployed configurations.

12. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided wall structure includes welded load-spreading doublers and lifting members mounted to said load spreading doublers.

13. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided insulated wall structure is inflatable, said inner layer and said outer layer are joined together at weldments, said soft-sided insulated container assembly has a valve operable to govern inflation of said soft-sided insulated wall structure, and said valve is embedded in a weldment formed along a seam of said inner layer to said outer layer.

14. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one auxiliary container comprises a bladder web and an inlet, said bladder web being made of a single sheet folded over and seamed to itself at water-tight seams; and said inlet includes a spot body fitting, said spout body fitting having a transition to mount in one of said seams.

15. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said container assembly stands taller than wide, and any face thereof is trapezoidal.

16. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said inner layer and said outer layer are waterproof.

17. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said container assembly has a water-proof zipper governing access thereto, whereby said container assembly is waterproof.

18. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said at least one auxiliary container is at least twice as wide as thick, and twice as tall as thick, whereby, when located within said soft-sided wall structure, said at least one auxiliary container is more flat than round.

19. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided insulated wall structure has accommodations corresponding in number to said auxiliary containers, and said accommodations are substantially flat.

20. The soft-sided insulated container assembly of claim 1 further comprising a liner and wherein said liner is at least one of (a) removable; and (b) transparent.