U.S. patent application number 10/958660 was filed with the patent office on 2005-06-02 for foldable insulated bag.
Invention is credited to Mogil, Melvin S., Vonbun, Christine.
Application Number | 20050117817 10/958660 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46303035 |
Filed Date | 2005-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050117817 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mogil, Melvin S. ; et
al. |
June 2, 2005 |
Foldable insulated bag
Abstract
A soft sided insulated cooler bag has a base and side panels.
The upper edge of the bag has a length that is as great as half the
periphery of the bottom panel. The bag can be collapsed to a flat
position and then panel folded to a storage position. Retainers are
provided to keep the bag in the storage position. The bag has
carrying members suitable to allow carriage in a first orientation
or a second orientation.
Inventors: |
Mogil, Melvin S.; (Toronto,
CA) ; Vonbun, Christine; (Toronto, CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ARENT FOX KINTNER PLOTKIN & KAHN
1050 CONNECTICUT AVENUE, N.W.
SUITE 400
WASHINGTON
DC
20036
US
|
Family ID: |
46303035 |
Appl. No.: |
10/958660 |
Filed: |
October 6, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10958660 |
Oct 6, 2004 |
|
|
|
10340851 |
Jan 13, 2003 |
|
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
383/110 ; 383/2;
383/6 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 7/0077 20130101;
B60R 5/04 20130101; A45C 11/20 20130101; A45C 13/30 20130101; A45C
3/04 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
383/110 ;
383/002; 383/006 |
International
Class: |
B65D 030/08 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A foldable insulated bag comprising: an insulated wall
structure, defining an insulated space therewithin; said wall
structure having a closure member operable to allow access to said
insulated space; a carrying member attached to said wall structure,
said carrying member being moveable between a first position for
carrying said bag in a first orientation, and a second position for
carriage of said bag in a second orientation; a securement member
attached to said wall structure, said securement member being
operable to engage said carrying member attached to said wall
structure in the second position; said wall structure, when empty,
being movable to a first, flattened position; said wall structure
being foldable from said first, flattened position to a folded
storage position; and said wall structure being securable in said
folded storage position.
2. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said bag has a
bottom region and a top region, said carrying member is mounted to
said bag near said top region and said securement member is mounted
near said bottom region.
3. The bag of claim 2 wherein said securement member is a strap
having a proximal end and a distal end, with a first releasable
fastening member mounted at the proximal end and a second
releasable fastening member mounted at the distal end, said first
releasable fastening member arranged for mating engagement with
said second releasable fastening member.
4. The bag of claim 3 wherein said first and second releasable
fastening members are mating hook-and-eye-fabric strip
portions.
5. The bag of claim 1 wherein said bag has a length, a breadth and
a through thickness, said through thickness being small relative to
both said length and said breadth; in said first orientation said
length and breadth are oriented in an up-and-down orientation when
carried and, in said second orientation said length and breadth are
oriented in a flat-wise orientation when carried.
6. A foldable insulated bag comprising: an insulated wall
structure, defining an insulated space therewithin; said wall
structure having a closure member operable to govern access to said
insulated space; said wall structure having a length, a breadth and
through thickness, said through thickness being smaller than either
said length or breadth; said wall structure having a face defined
by said length and said breadth, said face having an upper margin
and a lower margin; a carrying member secured nearer to said upper
margin than to said lower margin, for carrying said face in an
up-and-down orientation; a securement member mounted closer to said
lower margin than said upper margin, operable to engage and secure
said carrying member for carriage of said face in a flat-wise
orientation; said wall structure, when empty, being movable to a
first, flattened position; said wall structure being foldable from
said first flattened position to a folded storage position; and
said wall structure being securable in said folded storage
position.
Description
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part application of
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/340,851, filed Jan. 13, 2003,
which application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates to the field of foldable insulated
containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Collapsible insulated containers have been known for some
years. They are typically used as containers for carrying cold
drinks, and other cool refreshments, but can also be used to keep
foods or beverages warm or hot.
[0004] Certain sizes and shapes of coolers are better for some
purposes than others. Some collapsible coolers can be folded to a
collapsed position, but the folding process may tend to require
relatively strong hands, since the insulated panels may be of fair
thickness and may have a resilience that tends to resist folding.
These containers may tend to unfold easily, but tend to be rather
more difficult to fold back into the collapsed or storage
position.
[0005] An example is provided in U.S. Des. Pat. No. 382,771. As
shown therein, the front and rear walls remain generally parallel
planar orientation while the bottom panel can folded up in half In
doing so, the side panels are folded inward to collpase the cooler.
This kind of cooler is secured in the folded position (a) by a
hook-and-eye fabric strip securement between the overfolded lip of
the lid portion of the cooler and the front face of the cooler and
(b) by side fastening straps that retain the bottom portions of the
front panel relative to the back panel, typically by wrapping at
least partially around the back panel and being secured thereto
with hook-and-eye strips. Coolers of this nature tend to be
generally cubic in shape with rectangular sides forming, typically,
a six sided box-shaped structure when unfolded. A cooler of this
type may also tend to require more manufacturing steps than a more
bag-like cooler, and may therefore be more costly and time
consuming to produce.
[0006] Rolling up a collapsible cooler, in the manner in which a
sleeping bag is sometimes rolled up, may tend not to be
particularly satisfactory in all circumstances. Users may tend to
roll up the insulated material too tightly, either damaging the
material, or tending to give it a permanent set. This tight rolling
approach may also tend to favour persons with relatively strong
hands.
[0007] It may be that a different kind of cooler is desired that
may be somewhat more convenient for rapid use, that may be more
quickly and easily folded, or that may provide greater ease of
manufacture that may tend to pack efficiently for shipment, or that
may present a relatively easily displayed product.
[0008] It may also be that it would be preferable to have a cooler
that folds in a continuous direction, or that folds back and forth,
on a folding panel basis rather than in a continuous tight roll
like a sleeping bag.
[0009] It may also be that it would be preferable to have a
foldable cooler that may be carried in a first orientation to suit
one type of cargo and in a second orientation to suit a different
type of cargo.
[0010] There is a need for a foldable insulated container, or bag,
that may be more easily constructed than the more box-shaped type
of cubic collapsible insulated container, that may tend to require
fewer, or simpler, manufacturing steps, or that may tend to provide
an easily displayed and relatively convenient insulated container
for everyday use.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0011] In an aspect of the invention, there is a foldable insulated
bag comprising an insulated wall structure defining an insulated
space therewithin. The wall structure has a closure member operable
to govern access to the insulated space. The wall structure
includes a carrying member attached thereto, wherein the carrying
member is moveable between a first position for carrying the bag in
a first orientation and a second position for carrying the bag in a
second orientation. A securement member is attached to the wall
structure for engaging the carrying member in the second position.
The wall structure, when empty, is movable to a first, flattened
position. The wall structure is foldable from the first flattened
position to a folded, storage position. The wall structure is
securable in the folded, storage position.
[0012] In an additional feature of that aspect of the invention,
the bag has a bottom region and a top region. The carrying member
is mounted to the bag near the top region and the securement member
is mounted to the bag near the bottom region. In another additional
feature of that aspect of the invention, the securement member is a
strap having a proximal end and a distal end, with a first
releasable fastening member mounted at the proximal end and a
second releasable fastening member mounted at the distal end. The
first releasable fastening member is arranged for mating engagement
with said second releasable fastening member. In yet another
additional feature the first and second releasable fastening
members are mating hook-and-eye-fabric strip portions.
[0013] In an additional feature of the of the invention, the bag
has a length, a breadth and a through thickness. The through
thickness is small relative to both the length and the breadth.
When the bag is carried in the first orientation the length and
breadth are oriented in an up-and-down orientation and when the bag
is carried in the second orientation, the length and breadth are
oriented in a flat-wise orientation.
[0014] In another aspect of the invention, there is a foldable
insulated bag comprising an insulated wall structure defining an
insulated space therewithin. The wall structure has a closure
member operable to govern access to the insulated space. The wall
structure has a length, a breadth and through thickness wherein the
through thickness is smaller than either the length or the breadth.
The wall structure has a face defined by the length and the breadth
and the face has an upper margin and a lower margin. A carrying
member is secured nearer to the upper margin than to the lower
margin for carrying the face in an up-and-down orientation. A
securement member is mounted closer to the lower margin than the
upper margin and is operable to engage and secure the carrying
member for carriage of the face in a flat-wise orientation. The
wall structure, when empty, is movable to a first, flattened
position. The wall structure is foldable from the first flattened
position to a folded storage position and is securable in the
folded storage position.
[0015] 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
[0016] In the illustrative Figures 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:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a foldable
insulated bag of an embodiment of the present invention as carried
by a user;
[0018] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1 as
installed in the trunk of an automobile;
[0019] FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1 as
folded;
[0020] FIG. 3b shows a front view of the bag of FIG. 3a in a fully
folded condition;
[0021] FIG. 3c shows a rear view of the bag of FIG. 3a in the fully
folded condition;
[0022] FIG. 3d shows an end view of the bag of FIG. 3a in the fully
folded condition;
[0023] FIG. 3e shows the opposing end view of the bag of FIG. 3a in
the fully folded condition as compared to FIG. 3d;
[0024] FIG. 3f shows a top view of the bag of FIG. 3a in the fully
folded condition;
[0025] FIG. 3g shows a bottom view of the bag of FIG. 3a in the
fully folded condition;
[0026] FIG. 3h shows the bag of FIG. 3c with an alternate hang loop
orientation;
[0027] FIG. 4a shows a perspective view of the unfolded bag of FIG.
1.
[0028] FIG. 4b shows a front view of the bag of FIG. 4a in a fully
unfolded condition;
[0029] FIG. 4c shows a rear view of the bag of FIG. 4a in the fully
unfolded condition;
[0030] FIG. 4d shows an end view of the bag of FIG. 4a in the fully
unfolded condition;
[0031] FIG. 4e shows the opposing end view of the bag of FIG. 4a in
the fully unfolded condition as compared to FIG. 4e;
[0032] FIG. 4f shows a top view of the bag of FIG. 4a in the fully
unfolded condition;
[0033] FIG. 4g shows a bottom view of the bag of FIG. 4a in the
fully unfolded condition;
[0034] FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the bag of FIG. 1,
taken abeam of the handles (with the handles not shown);
[0035] FIG. 6a shows a front view of the bag of FIG. 1 in a
partially folded condition;
[0036] FIG. 6b shows a rear view of the bag of FIG. 6a;
[0037] FIG. 6c shows an end view of the bag of FIG. 6a;
[0038] FIG. 6d shows the opposing end view of the bag of FIG. 6a as
compared to FIG. 6c;
[0039] FIG. 7a shows a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1 in an
open condition with a liner thereof in an inverted position to
facilitate washing thereof;
[0040] FIG. 7b shows a perspective view of the bag of FIG. 1 in an
open condition;
[0041] FIG. 8 shows a developed view of panels of the bag of FIG. 1
prior to assembly;
[0042] FIG. 9a shows a developed view of a bottom panel for an
alternate embodiment of the foldable insulated bag of FIG. 1;
[0043] FIG. 9b shows a developed view of a side panel and a single
side panel for an alternate embodiment of the foldable insulated
bag of FIG. 1;
[0044] FIG. 10a shows an isometric view of a single fold, alternate
insulated bag to that of FIG. 1;
[0045] FIG. 10b shows a front view of the insulated bag of FIG. 10a
in a folded condition;
[0046] FIG. 10c shows a rear view of the insulated bag of FIG. 10a
in a folded condition;
[0047] FIG. 10d shows an end view of the insulated bag of FIG.
10a;
[0048] FIG. 10e shows an opposing end view of the insulated bag of
FIG. 10a as compared to FIG. 10d;
[0049] FIG. 10f shows a top view of the insulated bag of FIG.
10a;
[0050] FIG. 10g shows a bottom view of the insulated bag of FIG.
10a;
[0051] FIG. 11a shows a partially unfolded front view of a triple
fold, alternate insulated bag to that of FIG. 1;
[0052] FIG. 11b shows a front view of the insulated bag of FIG. 11a
in a folded condition;
[0053] FIG. 11C shows a rear view of the insulated bag of FIG. 11a
in a folded condition;
[0054] FIG. 11d shows an end view of the insulated bag of FIG.
11a;
[0055] FIG. 11e shows an opposing end view of the insulated bag of
FIG. 11a as compared to FIG. 11d;
[0056] FIG. 11f shows a top view of the insulated bag of FIG.
11a;
[0057] FIG. 11g shows a bottom view of the insulated bag of FIG.
11a.
[0058] FIG. 12a shows a perspective view of an alternative
insulated bag to that of FIG. 1 in the unfolded condition; and
[0059] FIG. 12b shows a right side view of a detail of the bottom
portion of the bag of FIG. 12a looking in the direction of arrow
"12b", with hand strap removed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0060] The description that follows, and the embodiments described
therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example, or
examples, of particular embodiments of the principles of the
present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of
explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and 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.
[0061] For the purposes of this description, the largest panels of
the bags herein described are arbitrarily designated as the front
and rear sides, faces, or portions of the bag. 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. It should 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.
[0062] As seen in the Figures, an example of a portable,
collapsible soft sided, insulated wall structure is identified as a
foldable cooler tote bag 20. This structure can be referred to as
an insulated bag, an insulated container, a cooler, or the like. As
shown in FIGS. 1-4, the basic structure of bag 20 includes a first
side panel, or wall, or sidewall, arbitrarily designated front
panel 22, a second side panel, or wall, or sidewall, designated
arbitrarily as rear panel 24, and a third panel or wall identified
as a bottom, or base panel 26. As described more fully below, these
panels are joined together to form a pouch, or bag, having an
enclosed internal space 25 surrounded by insulated walls (see FIG.
5). The enclosed volume of internal space 25 varies with the
condition of the bag. That is, while the bag is in a folded (that
is, collapsed) condition or position, or is lying flat, the
internal volume is negligibly small, if not zero. However, when bag
20 is in an unfolded condition, or expanded position, it may tend
to take on a shape to accommodate objects placed within the
internal space, and it may assume a suitably capacious internal
volume.
[0063] When bag 20 is in use, access to the internal volume, namely
internal space 25 thereof, is governed by a closure member 28. In
the illustrated example, closure member 28 may be a linear tracked
closure device in the nature of a zipper assembly 30 mounted
between the upper margins of the side wall panels, namely front and
rear panels 22 and 24. Other kinds of closures could be used such
as a VELCRO.TM. hook-and-eye fabric closure, a series of spaced
apart snaps, a continuous mating plastic tongue and groove or other
device. A relatively robust zipper assembly is preferred, as it may
tend to provide a simple, quick, and relatively strong closure.
[0064] While bag 20 can be made water-tight by other means, it is
preferred to provide a liner 32 shown in FIG. 7a that can be either
sewn in place, or may be removable, or it may be wholly or
partially invertible. A liner that is at least partially
invertible, or removable, is preferred, since this may facilitate
washing.
[0065] When the bag is not in use, it may tend to be readily
foldable. First, the bag is collapsed by lying it flat and folding
front sidewall panel 22 near its bottom margin such that base panel
26 lays in a more or less flat orientation relative to the rear
sidewall panel, 24, as seen in FIGS. 6a and 6b. In this, collapsed,
generally flattened, position, the upward edge 36 of base panel 26
(namely the edge that is folded toward front sidewall panel 22 and
hence toward what would normally be the upper parts of bag 20
generally) acts as a former, or form, for bending the body of bag
20 to define a first fold by rotating the folded part of the bag in
the direction of arrow `A` (see FIGS. 6c & d)
(counter-clockwise in the Figures, but arbitrary since it would be
clockwise if viewed from the other direction, and bag 20 can be
made with either a left handed or right handed fold). This permits
one portion of bag 20 to fold over on another portion, in the
manner of folding a page over on itself.
[0066] When page-folded in the direction of arrow `A`, bag 20 will
arrive at the folded position shown in FIGS. 3a-3g, in which
position it is held by a securement member, or retainer, identified
as 34 in FIG. 46, which may take the form of a pair of mating
securement strips such as hook-and-eye velcro (t.m.) strips 38 and
40 mounted, respectively, to the upper body portion of front side
panel 22 adjacent the upper margin thereof, and to the distal
margin region of base panel 26 that is distant from the forming
edge of base panel 26, such that when base panel 26 is overfolded
in the direction of arrow `A` strips 38 and 40 are brought into
mating contact in a single relatively uncomplicated, and possibly
quite swift motion. The result is a soft sided insulated container
that has been collapsed, and then panel-folded over on itself
(i.e., not scrunched into a tight roll) to a flat folded position,
or flat folded condition, such as may be suitable, for example, for
stacking, transport, display or storage. Display and storage is
facilitated by a suspension member 42, in the nature of a hang loop
44, mounted generally centrally along the upper margin of front
panel 22. To the extent that loop 44 is mounted higher than the
center of gravity of bag 20 more generally, bag 20 will tend to
hang with the upper margin of front panel 22 in a generally
horizontal orientation. An alternate hang loop location is shown in
FIG. 3h, in which hang loop 44 is located at an end edge such that,
when displayed for sale, bag 20 may tend to hang in a vertical, or
substantially vertical orientation, namely with the long dimension
(as folded) running up and down, i.e., more or less vertically.
[0067] Unfolding may tend to be a similarly uncomplicated and
convenient procedure: the retainers 38 & 40 are released, the
bag is unfolded and it is ready to accommodate objects that need to
stay cool or warm. When unfolded, lifting members in the nature of
handles, or straps 46, 48 that extend from the upper regions of the
sidewall panels, namely panels 22 and 24, can be grasped to lift
bag 20, and may, as illustrated in FIG. 1, be found suitable for
carrying over a person's shoulder. Alternatively, or additionally,
as illustrated in FIG. 2, bag 20 is provided with auxiliary
securement devices 50, 52, such as may be in the nature of velcro
straps, to engage the felt-like or fibrous mat interior of an
automobile, especially an automobile trunk, or boot, or cargo
carrying area of a station wagon, van, or sports or utility
vehicle. Securement devices 50, 52 may tend to be used to
discourage a loaded bag 20 from tipping over when travelling, such
as when bringing cold items home from the grocery store, or such as
when transporting refreshments to a campsite, picnic site, playing
field, or arena.
[0068] Considering the construction of bag 20 in greater detail,
reference is made to the developed views of panels 22, 24 and 26
provided in FIG. 8. In the developed views shown in the example of
FIG. 8, the side panels, namely insulated front and rear panels 22
and 24, are of the same size and shape, and are generally
rectangular. They have a breadth dimension indicated as `X`
measured along either the upper or lower marginal edges 54, 56, and
a height dimension indicated as `Y`, measured perpendicular to
dimension `X`, along the side edges 58, 60. By inspection,
L.sub.1=`X`=b.sub.1+2a.sub.1.
[0069] Insulated base panel 26 is also generally rectangular,
having a long dimension measured along long edges 62, 64, and
indicated generally as `b`, and a short dimension measured along
the short, end edges 66, 68, indicated generally as `w`. In this
embodiment, the half width of the panel is identified as `a.sub.1`,
and is equal to half of `w`. The ratio of the half width `a.sub.1`,
to the length `b` may tend to be in the range of less than about
1:2 and greater than about 1:16, or within the narrower range of
less than about 2:5 and greater than about 1:8, or within the
preferable range of less than about 1:3 and greater than about 1:6.
In one particular example the ratio may be about 33/4:111/2, in
another particular example the ratio may be about 33/4:151/2, and
in a third particular example the ratio may be about
33/4:171/2.
[0070] The width `w` of base panel 26 may also be related to the
overall height `y` of bag 20 when unfolded. That is, it is
preferred that retainer strip 40 on the off-side of base panel 26
mate with retainer element 38 on front panel 22 of bag 20 at a
region close to the upper edge 70 of bag 20 generally, to yield a
neatly folded bag for efficient packing, shipping and display. To
that end, with allowance for a bend radius, it is preferred that
the height of bag 20 be within +/-20%, and more preferably within
+/-10%, of an integer multiple of the width of base panel 26. It is
also preferred that bag 20 be a double or triple folded bag. While
bags with a greater number of folds are possible, the benefits of
ease of manufacture, ease of folding, and ease of use may not
necessarily tend to be as marked for a larger number of folds.
[0071] The upper edge, i.e., upper marginal edge 54, of each of the
side panels 22 and 24 is longer than the long dimension `b` of the
bottom, or base panel 26, such that when the closure member 28 is
secured, bag 20 may tend to have an upwardly broadening profile
when viewed from the side, and an upwardly narrowing profile when
viewed from the end. In the embodiment of FIG. 8, the periphery of
base panel 26 is equal to 2(2a.sub.1+b). Each of the side wall
panels, namely front and rear panels 22 and 24, has a lower, or
bottom edge, 56 noted above. Each of these bottom edges 56 extends
about one half of the periphery of base panel 26, having a central
portion of length `b` and two opposite end portions, each of length
`a.sub.1`, or thereabout. In this instance, when bag 20 is
collapsed, and bottom panel 26 is laid flat as in FIG. 6a, a
triangular end fold will be created, made up of the triangular
folds 72 of the bottom corners of the side wall panels, those
triangular portions being indicated as triangular regions 74 on
FIG. 8, and being bounded by fold lines 76, 78.
[0072] When assembled, front and rear panels 22, 24 are sewn
together along their upwardly extending edges 58, 60, the central
portions of their bottom edges 56 are sewn to the long sides, or
edges 62, 64 of base panel 26, and the end portions are sewn to the
half-width portions of end edges 66, 68 of base panel 26. The
closure member 28 has the form of zipper assembly 30 as noted
above. As shown in FIG. 5, zipper assembly 30 has a first side
region 84, a second side region 86, and a zipper 87. Side region 84
has an outboard, or distal edge seamed into front panel 22, and an
inboard edge, or margin, to which one set of teeth of zipper 87 is
mounted. Side region 86 has an outboard, or distal edge that is
seamed into rear panel 24, and an inboard edge along which the
other set of teeth of zipper 87 is mounted. In the usual manner,
motion of zipper car 91 along the track defined by the zipper teeth
controls the opening and closing of the zipper assembly, and hence
controls access to the enclosed space 25 of bag 20 more generally,
thereby permitting objects to be introduced into, or to be drawn
out of, bag 20. Side regions 84 and 86 each have an upper, load
bearing web member 92, 94 and an inner wall member 96, 98. In one
embodiment of the invention, inner wall members 96, 98 may be
reflective, or have a reflective inwardly facing (i.e., inward
relative to the enclosed space 25 of bag 20 so that the reflective
surface is oriented toward objects contained in bag 20) surface,
and may preferably be made of THERMOFLECT.TM. material. In another
embodiment, inner wall members 96, 98 is a white, water proof nylon
sheet. The seaming of the side region of zipper assembly 30 occurs
at a height downset from the very edge of the side wall panels by a
distance .delta..sub.1 roughly equal to the half width
.delta..sub.2 of zipper assembly 30 such that when bag 20 is
folded, side regions 84 and 86 may tend to fold next to those
margins, rather than to protrude excessively.
[0073] The overall width of the web-like region, or panel formed by
zipper assembly 30 is less than, if not significantly less than,
the width `w` of panel 26 such that the through thickness of bag 20
at the elevation of closure member 28 is small, if not very small,
relative to the length of closure member 28, and relative to the
length of upper marginal edge 54. It is preferred that the overall
width of the closure member be less than 60% of the width of the
base, and, in a particular example, is about half the width. As
such, the ratio of through thickness to bag length may be about
a.sub.2/(2a.sub.2+b). This value may typically lie in the range of
1:5 to 1:8 and more narrowly in the range of 1:6 to 1:71/2. The
closure member is mounted between the upper margins of the side
wall panels, namely panels 22 and 24, and, when open, permits at
least central portions of those margins to be moved closer together
or further apart as may be desired to give access to the enclosed
chamber.
[0074] The sidewall construction is as shown in FIG. 5. Each of
sidewall panels 22, 24 has a relatively wear resistant outer
membrane or sheet, or web 80, that may be made of a sheet or woven
webbing fabric, such as woven nylon, canvas, or other suitable
cloth. Each of sidewall panels 22, 24 also has an inner sidewall
membrane, or sheet, or web 82, that may function as a water proof
lining, and may be made of a sheet of extruded plastic of the types
of polymers that include vinyl (t.m.) or nylon (t.m.), or sheets of
monolithic extruded vinyl (t.m.) or nylon (t.m.) sewn together.
[0075] An insulating layer 89 is trapped between the inner and
outer webs 82 and 80. Insulating layer 89 may preferably be a
closed cell polyurethane foam, but could be an open cell insulating
foam, or other type of insulating layer, or it may include more
than one insulating layer.
[0076] As above, in one embodiment the inner sidewall web member
may either be made of a reflective material, such as
THERMOFLECT.TM. sheeting, or may have a reflective surface oriented
to face toward objects contained within bag 20. Alternatively,
inner web 82 member may be made of a water proof extruded nylon or
vinyl sheet, or seamed sheets, to discourage leakage of liquids
from bag 20.
[0077] Optionally, as shown in FIG. 7a water-proof liner 32 may be
included, in addition to the internal sidewall web sheet, namely,
web 82. Where the inner sidewall surface is reflective, the liner
may preferably be translucent, or clear, to permit the reflective
surface of the inner wall to be seen. Although the liner can be
rigidly sewn in place to prevent the liner from being inverted, it
is preferable for the liner to be either removable, or to be sewn
in at its upper peripheral edges, thus permitting at least partial
inversion of the liner as shown in FIG. 7a, and hence to facilitate
washing. The optional liner 32 may be made from a single polymer
sheet, have a first side region 88 and a second side region 90. The
side regions are heat welded along their side margins to form a
pouch, or pocket, commensurate with the general size and shape of
the inside of bag 20, and have their upper margins seamed into the
side-walls of bag 20 at the juncture with the side regions of
zipper assembly 30. Bag 20 will then tend to be water-proof to a
height corresponding to the height of closure member 28. It is
advantageous, and desirable, for a soft sided insulated wall
assembly for use as a cooler, such as bag 20, to be generally leak
resistant, if not even more preferably, water-proof.
[0078] The cross-sectional structure of base panel 26 is generally
similar to the cross-sectional structure of the sidewall panels,
having an inner wall skin, or panel or web 114 that is of
consistent construction to the inner wall sheet or web 82, and an
outer wall skin, or web 116 that is of consistent construction to
outer web 80. It may be noted that the outer web 80 may not be the
same colour as outer web 116, and may not be of the same weave or
fabric. It may have a heavier, more wear resistant fabric, or
coarser, more wear resistant weave, since base panel 26 may tend to
be placed in contact with the ground, or other underlying surface
whether a paved roadway, concrete, rocks, earth, flooring, or some
other support surface against which it may be expected to be slid,
or to rub, in the course of use.
[0079] Base panel 26 may also have an insulated layer, 118,
captured between webs 114 and 116, the insulated layer being made
of an insulated foam, or other suitable heat transfer resistive
medium as described above. In addition, base panel 26 has a
stiffened form member 120, that may be in the nature of a
rectangular, hard plastic sheet 100 of modest thickness located
between insulating layer 118 and outer web 116. Sheet 100, in plan
view, has dimensions that are the same as, or roughly the same as,
dimensions `b` and `w`. Form member 120 serves two functions, the
first being to provide a stiffened base upon which bag 20 can tend
preferentially to stand, and which may tend to aid in discouraging
bag 20 from tipping over as easily as it might otherwise do. The
second is to provide a forming edge to base 26 by which to
pre-determine the fold line, or lines, at which bag 20 will tend to
want to bend when being folded up. This may tend to discourage the
tight-rolling of bag 20, and to encourage repeatable panel folding
to and from the convenient folded form shown in FIGS. 3a-3g.
[0080] Form member 120 need not be a continuos monolithic panel. It
could be an open frame, or a peripheral member sewn in place to
provide a reinforced edge. In one embodiment, even without form
member 120, the seaming at the edge of insulated base panel 26 may
tend to yield a natural fold location at which bag 20 may tend to
prefer to bend or fold. The inclusion of member 120 may tend to
strengthen or to enhance this tendency. Modestly sized feet, stand
offs, or pads, 102, may optionally be provided to the underside of
panel 26. Further, form member 120 may, by itself, tend to have a
greater flexural stiffness that the adjacent layer of insulated
material, and when taken together the resultant bi-laminar, or
possibly multi-layered assembly, has a combined flexural stiffness
that may tend to be significantly stiffer than any other portion of
bag 20.
[0081] Lifting members, or carrying members, in the nature of
straps, or web bands 46, 48, are sewn up the outside faces of side
wall panels 22 and 24, having their roots at the seamed junction
between bottom panel 26 and the side wall panels 22, 24. Each of
bands 46, 48 has a central portion 104, 106 that extends upwardly
beyond the upper margins of the sidewall panels to provide a
grasping, or carrying portion that can be held or place over a
user's shoulder, as in FIG. 1.
[0082] Auxiliary securement straps 50, 52 shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and
6a and 7b have a root end sewn into the upper region of the seam
between panels 22 and 24, at a height near the height of closure
member 28 The distal ends of straps 50, 52 bear velcro patches 110,
suitable for securing in to the trunk fabric of an automobile (or,
alternatively, mating velcro patches can be mounted inside the
automobile for this purpose). When not in use, the ends of straps
50, 52 mount to mating velcro patches 112 located on the outward
face of front side panel 22. Straps 50, 52 could as easily be
oriented to face in the other direction, and to mate with patches
sewn on rear panel 24.
ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS
[0083] In the alternate embodiment of FIG. 9a, an alternate
insulated base panel 126 has the same structural and thermal
properties as base panel 26 in general, but differs in that rather
than being rectangular in plan view, base panel 126 has a length,
or long dimension, indicated as `b.sub.2` and a width indicated as
`w`. These dimensions need not be the same as `b` and `w` indicated
above, but may be. In this case the ends of panel 126 are not
squared, but rather are mitred at an angle .alpha. relative to the
perpendicular to the long edges. The length along each of the
mitred edges is then given as `a.sub.2`. In this case the half
width of base panel 126 is not a.sub.2, but rather a.sub.2 cos
.alpha.. The periphery of base 126 is 2(b.sub.230 2a.sub.2).
[0084] The adjoining side panels are again taken to be `X` wide,
and `Y` high, and to be of the same general insulated construction
as side wall panels 22 and 24, as shown, for example, in FIG. 5.
The length of the lower margin 124 of each of the adjoining side
panels 132 is then (b.sub.2+2a.sub.2). Each panel will then have a
"large fold" 128 and a "small fold" 130. Large fold 128 is a
nominal indication of where there would be a fold in the side wall
of the bag in the fully unfolded condition ready for filling with
diverse objects, if a sharp crease were made. In actual use, the
corner will not be creased, but rather will tend to take on a more
rounded, or radiused form, and the bag will tend to conform to the
shape and bulkiness of objects placed in it, so the actual corner
of the bag may have a bulging appearance rather than a sharp corer.
Small fold 130 indicates the actual location of a fold that is made
when the bag is in a collapsed state and folded for storage.
[0085] The angle .beta..sub.1 of small fold 130, when the bag is
folded for storage, will then tend be roughly equal to the bisector
of the angle between the extension of the horizontal fold line
defined by the edge of base 126 and the mitred edge, namely
1/2(90-.alpha.).
[0086] Base panel 126 need not necessarily be a straight sided
polygon, as are base panel 26, but could have somewhat rounded,
oval or irregular ends. However, in such a case the end fold may
tend to be puckered, and may tend not to lie as flat as might
otherwise be considered desirable or preferable. However, a
straight sided polygon is advantageous, and a square-cornered
(i.e., rectangular) end is preferred since it may tend to
facilitate manufacture and efficient use of materials and reduced
waste cuts.
[0087] Bag 20 is a "double fold" bag. That is, base panel 26 is
folded flat at a first fold (the offside edge of base panel 26),
and then side panels 22 and 24 are bent about the second fold (the
nearside edge of base 26). In alternate embodiments, a soft sided,
collapsible and foldable insulate single-fold bag could be
produced, or a triple-fold, or more, bag could be produced.
[0088] An example of a single fold bag 140 is shown in FIGS.
10a-10g, the views corresponding generally to the views of double
fold bag 20 shown in FIGS. 3a-3g respectively. Except as otherwise
indicated, bag 140 has the same general construction as bag 20,
having insulated side wall panels 142, 144, and an insulated base
panel 146, with a similar closure member 148 and optional liner
similar to liner 32. Bag 140 differs from bag 20 in being a single
fold bag, rather than a double fold bag, and has changes in
dimension and aspect ratios accordingly. In place of the
arrangement of retention member 40, a retention member 150 would
might tend to be mounted near the lower margin of the front panel
142, and another, mating, retention member 152 would be mounted
near the upper edge of the front panel, the two mating when the
base panel is moved to a collapsed position in which it is laid
over against side panel 142.
[0089] An example of a triple fold bag 160 is shown in FIGS.
11a-11g. FIG. 11a shows triple fold bag 160 in a collapsed, or
flattened condition immediately prior to folding into the storage
position (or, alternatively and equivalently, immediately after
being unfolded, and before filling). Bag 160 is presented as being
symbolic of not only a bag having three folds. In general, for a
bag, such as bag 160, having three or more folds, the retention
member 178 would be located on the rear face 164 roughly the width
of two folded panel regions below the upper edge of the front face
with the second retention member 174 being mounted near or at the
upper edge, such that, when folded the two parts 178 and 174 would
tend to mate. An example of a single fold bag is illustrated in
FIG. 10a. An example of a triple fold bag is shown in FIG. 1a.
[0090] In the alternate embodiment of FIGS. 12a and 12b, an
additional securement member 188 is mounted near the bottom margin
of front sidewall panel 22. Securement member 188 may include a
fastening that may be employed releaseably to engage strap 46. When
engaged by securement member 188, strap 46 may be used to carry the
bag 20 in a second orientation which may be generally perpendicular
to the first orientation shown in FIG. 1. The second orientation
may be a flat-wise orientation, such as may be suitable for
carrying objects such as a pizza box, when it would be desirable to
maintain the pizza in a substantially horizontal position during
transport. Securement member 188 may be in the form of a strap 190
mounted near the bottom margin of the front sidewall panel 22,
strap 190 having releasable fastening members 192 arranged to allow
the formation of a releasable loop. Securement member 188 may have
a proximal root end 194 sewn into the seamed junction between
bottom panel 26 and front sidewall panel 22 and may have a distal
end 196 that may be free to loop over the proximal end. Releasable
fastening members 192 may include a pair of mating securement
strips such as hook-and-eye flexible fabric strips sometimes
identified as VELCRO.TM., mounted at respective ends thereof. The
releasable fastening members 192 may be spaced sufficiently far
apart to allow the strap 190 to loop over the strap 46, in a manner
which engages the fastening members 192 to each other and secures
the strap 46 in the region of the bottom margin of the sidewall
panel 22. Other kinds of releasable fastening members 192 such as,
for example, snaps, could be used. Although securement member 188
is shown mounted to front sidewall panel 22, it is possible to
mount securement member 188 to rear sidewall panel 24 to engage
strap 48. When so engaged, the bail, or hand grab portion of strap
46 when carried as in FIG. 1, becomes the root of one side of a
double strap handle, the two portions 198 then being in a position
to be grasped in one hand as the bails of an auxiliary handle. The
placement of securement member 188 may be such that the span of
portions 198 passes above the center of gravity of bag 20, as
loaded, for example, with a pizza, and by holding portions 198
together over the center of gravity, bag 20 may tend to be carried
in a generally flat, or horizontal orientation.
[0091] In the examples discussed so far, the upper edge of a bag
having rectangular sidewall panels is L.sub.i=2(a.sub.1)+(b.sub.i),
whether i is 1 or 2. As shown in FIG. 9b, the side panels of bag 20
need not be made from rectangular sheets, but could be made from
sheets that are of a different shape, such as the trapezoidal side
panel sheets 180. In this case, the resultant bag 182 would tend to
have an upper edge 184 for which the length L.sub.2 would tend to
be greater than the sum of the b+2a.sub.i, or, put generically,
where L.sub.i is greater than half the total periphery of the base
panel 186. This may tend to yield a more flared appearance when the
bag is seen in an unfolded side view, and may tend to yield a
larger access opening, such as may permit objects of greater
relative size to be introduced into the insulated spaced.
[0092] Although the embodiments illustrated and described above are
preferred, 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 may be 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.
* * * * *