US20030198408A1 - Insulated container and liner - Google Patents

Abstract

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

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• Field of the Invention[0001]
• This invention relates to the field of soft sided insulated containers. In particular it relates to soft sided insulated containers having removable impermeable liners for discouraging or preventing the leakage of liquids.[0002]
• In recent times soft sided 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 pop, juices and milk. The containers are typically made in a generally cube like shape, whether of sides of equal length or not, having a base, four upstanding walls, and a top. The top is generally a lid which opens to permit articles to be placed in, or retrieved from, the container.[0003]
• By the nature of their use, it is advantageous for the containers to be water tight. That is, whether to hold melted run-off from ice cubes or to hold spilled liquids, the container must be sufficiently liquid tight that it does not leave a trail of drips, or become moist or sticky to the touch of a person carrying the container.[0004]
• The present inventor has found it disadvantageous to try to seal the container itself. The type of insulating wall used by the present inventor is generally sewn at its seams. Sewn seams have a tendency to leak at the stitches. Another approach is to fold the insulated blanket from which the container is made, to present an assembly that, through folding, has no seams. This is also disadvantageous, in the present inventor's view, because the insulated blanket used to form the container walls is relatively thick. The thick material does not fold well, in the inventor's view. It would be preferable to form an impermeable layer that has a relatively thin wall thickness so that the resulting product does not look bulky and cumbersome.[0005]
• It is also advantageous to be able to clean the inside of the insulated container. Spilt liquids may not always have the most attractive air when allowed to dry, and may cause the inside of the container to become unsightly. It is possible to provide a plastic liner for soft sided insulated containers. A see through plastic liner can be made of the minimum amount of material by using only a single layer, and forming seams where the edges of the material meet. A common method of forming such a seam is to weld two adjacent edges together by heating. However, an existing liner of this type is known to have had a tendency for the heat welded seams to develop leaks over time. It would be advantageous to reduce or eliminate the number of heat welded seams formed in areas of the liner that may need to be water tight.[0006]
• In general, manufacture of an assembly of this type emphasizes cost reduction. One common source of cost savings is a reduction of the raw material used. However, the present inventor has observed, counter-intuitively, that the overall benefit an increase in raw material use can outweigh the cost saving that would otherwise be achieved. Unexpectedly, the use of a greater amount of material in a folded assembly has been found to be advantageous, and has eliminated the need to have a heat welding station in manufacture.[0007]
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In an aspect of the invention there is a soft-sided insulated container, and a removable liner for placement inside the container. The liner is folded from a monolithic sheet of liner stock to define a chamber, capable of holding liquids. The liner is free of heat welded seams.[0008]
• In another feature of that aspect of the invention the liner is made from a water impermeable plastic sheet. In an additional feature of that aspect of the invention the liner is made from a translucent static cling vinyl sheet. In another additional feature of that aspect of the invention the soft sided insulated container has a base, sides and a top. The liner has a base, sides for placement inside and adjacent to the base and sides of the container. The top of the container is moveable to an open position to permit articles to be placed in the chamber.[0009]
• In still another additional feature of that aspect of the invention the chamber has an opening, the opening having a lip, and the liner is mated to the cooler about the lip. In yet another additional feature of that aspect of the invention the opening has four sides, the lip extends about the four sides opening and the liner is mated to the container on the four sides. In a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention the liner has a rectangular base and four sides extending from the base, each of the sides having an edge adjoining the base and a distal edge distant from the base. The chamber has an opening defined between the distal edges of the sides.[0010]
• In a still further additional feature of that aspect of the invention one of the sides has a lid member extending therefrom, the lid member being moveable to close the opening of the liner. In yet another additional feature of that aspect of the invention the lid member is a flap formed integrally with the liner, the flap having four lid edges, one edge being a folded hinge edge adjoining one of the distal edges of the sides, the remaining three lid edges having a closure for mating with the remaining three distal edges.[0011]
• In another aspect of the invention there is a removable liner for placement inside the container. The liner is formed from a water impermeable plastic sheet. The sheet has a periphery. The liner has a quadrilateral base and four sides extending from the base to define a chamber therebetween capable of holding water. Each of the sides are joined to the base at a base edge. Each of the sides has a pair of lateral edges each meeting the base edge at a corner. Each of the sides has an edge opposed to the base edge and meets each of the lateral edges at a corner. The sheet has corner portions defined between adjacent lateral edges of two of the sides and the periphery and the corner positions are folded to lie against the sides.[0012]
• In a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention the base is a rectangle and two of the sides, joined to the base on opposite sides of the rectangle, are trapezoidal. In a still further additional feature of that aspect of the invention the chamber has the shape of an inverted, truncated rectangular based pyramid. In yet another additional feature of that aspect of the invention the container has an internal face made from a reflective material and the liner is transparent.[0013]
• In another aspect of the invention there is a soft sided insulated container, and a removable liner for placement inside the container. The liner is formed from a water impermeable plastic sheet. The sheet has a periphery. The liner has a rectangular base and four sides extending from the base to form a chamber therebetween, each of the sides being joined to the base at a base edge. The sheet is folded on a first pair of parallel fold lines to define one pair of the base edges. The sheet is folded on a second pair of fold lines to define the remainder of the edges. The sheet has four corner portions each defined between an end portion of one of the first pair of fold lines, an adjacent end portion of one of the second pair of fold lines and the periphery, and the corner portions are folded to lie against the sides.[0014]
• In an additional feature of that aspect of the invention the sides have an inside face and an outside face and the corner portions are folded to lie against the outside faces. In another additional feature of that aspect of the invention each of the corners is folded to form a triangular flap, and each of the flaps is folded to lie against one of the sides. In still another additional feature of that aspect of the invention one of the triangular flaps is folded to lie against each of the sides of the liner. In still yet another additional feature of that aspect of the invention two of the triangular flaps are folded to lie against one side of the liner. In a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention two of the triangular flaps are folded to lie against one side of the liner, and the other two triangular flaps are folded to lie against another side of the liner.[0015]
• In still a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention each of the sides has a distal edge opposed to its respective base edge. The chamber has a lip defined by the distal edges. The corner portions are fastened to the sides adjacent the lip. In still yet a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention one of the sides has a cover flap formed integrally therewith, and joined thereto at a cover fold, the cover flap mating with the distal edges of the remaining sides of the liner. In an additional feature of that aspect of the invention the container has a reflective inner surface and the liner is transparent.[0016]
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• These aspects and other features of the invention can be understood by with the aid of the following illustrations of a number of exemplary, and non-limiting, embodiments of the principles of the invention in which:[0017]
• FIG. 1 is a three quarter view, general arrangement drawing of an insulated container and liner assembly according to the present invention;[0018]
• FIG. 2 is a view of the liner of FIG. 1 taken on an opposite angle;[0019]
• FIG. 3 is a developed view of a liner for use in the assembly of FIG. 1;[0020]
• FIG. 4 is a developed view of an alternative liner for an assembly analogous to the liner of assembly of FIG. 1 in which two sides are tapered;[0021]
• FIG. 5 is a developed view of an alternative liner for an assembly analogous to the liner of assembly of FIG. 1 in which four sides are tapered;[0022]
• FIG. 6 is a developed view of an alternative liner for an assembly analogous to the liner of assembly of FIG. 1 in which the forward side of the assembly is wider than the rearward side;[0023]
• FIG. 7 is a front view of the assembly of FIG. 1, in a collapsed position;[0024]
• FIG. 8 is a rear view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position;[0025]
• FIG. 9 is a side view of the assembly of FIG. 1 in a collapsed position;[0026]
• FIG. 10; is a section showing the wall construction of the assembly of FIG. 1 and[0027]
• FIG. 11 is a view of an alternative liner for the assembly of FIG. 1.[0028]
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
• The description which follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided by way of illustration of an example of a particular embodiment, 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 which follows, 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.[0029]
• Referring to the general arrangement illustration of FIGS. 1 and 2, an example of a preferred embodiment of an insulated container and liner assembly according to the principles of the present invention is indicated generally as[0030]20. It has two major elements, those being an outer casing in the nature of a soft-sidedinsulated container22, and a removable,impermeable liner24 for placement insidecontainer22. An optional moveable bulkhead, or baffle, in the nature of apartition wall25 seats withinline24 for dividing the interior space into two sub-compartments27 and29.
• Looking at these major elements in detail, it can be seen that[0031]container22 has a bottom26, afront panel28, arear panel30, and a pair of left and righthand side panels32 and34. In this preferred embodiment the choice of front and rear, left and right, orientations is arbitrary. Each offront panel28,rear panel30, and left and righthand side panels32 and34 is joined at sewn seams to bottom26 atbottom vertices36,37,38, or39 respectively. Similarly,front panel28 andside panels32 and34 havetop edges40,41 and42, distant from their base edges.Rear panel30 is joined by a foldedhinge44 at its top edge to a top panel in the nature of alid46.Lid46 has a closure member in the nature of azipper48 extending in a U-shape around the three free edge portions of its periphery to mate with the other portions ofzipper48 positioned about the threetop edges40,41 and42 ofpanels28,32 and34.Lid46 is moveable between a closed position, in whichzipper48 may be zipped closed, and an open position in whichlid46 is folded back to permit entry and exit of objects to and from aninternal cavity50 defined between bottom26 andpanels28,30,32 and34. A generally rectangular insulatedauxiliary pouch52 is mounted to the front face offront panel28.
• In the preferred embodiment,[0032]lid46 has an extent substantially equal to that ofbottom panel26. This need not be the case.Lid26 could be a small opening set in a larger top panel, or could be an opening of half, or some other portion of the panel. The opening need not extend fully along three sides oflid26, but could extend along part of one or two sides as may be found suitable in a particular use.
• [0033]Top edges40,41, and42 form the rim54 ofcavity50. On the inside of rim54 is a liner securing means, or liner attachment mounting, in the nature of azipper56, which, in the embodiment illustrated, includesportions57,58, and59 mounted respectively topanels28,32, and34 near their upper margins, and a hook and eye fabric fastener strip60 mounted topanel30. Although this arrangement is preferred, in an alternative embodiment all ofstrip portions57,58,59 and60 (or some other combination of them) could be hook-and-eye fabric fasteners. Other types of mounting could be used, in addition to zippers, such as interlocking seal strips, snaps, clips, grommets or other means.
• [0034]Container22, withliner24 installed, can be folded to a collapsed position, as shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and9. In this collapsed, or storage position,side panels32 and34 fold inward, and bottom26 folds upward. This permitsfront panel28 to move towardrear panel30.Lid46 is then drawn forward and downward in front offront panel28 andauxiliary pouch52.Lid46 has, on its inner face, spaced inwardly fromzipper48, a retainer in the nature of another hook andeye fastener strip62 that engages a mating hook andeye fastener strip64 located on a lower portion of the front face ofauxiliary pouch52. In addition, left and righthand side retainers66 and68 mounted to the left and right hand edges ofauxiliary pouch52 offront panel28 are drawn around to fasten to fastening strips70 and72 located on the outer, rearward face ofrear panel30. (Whencontainer22 is in its open position, strips66 and68 engagestorage strips74 and76 located onside panels32 and34 respectively).
• Other features of[0035]container22 are visible in FIGS. 1 and 2. Front and rear carrying handles78 and80 with reinforced bails are attached to bothfront panel28 andrear panel30 to permit two people to carryassembly20 between them. In thepreferred embodiment assembly20 has a maximum capacity of 24 quarts. Smaller embodiments, include a twelve quart container. Asingle shoulder strap79 is attached toside panels32 and34. Anelasticized retaining matrix82 permits other materials, such as cups, plates, serving utensils or other objects to be carried on top ofassembly20. Abovestrip64,auxiliary pouch52 has a see-throughmesh pocket84, such as may be convenient for carrying knives, forks, spoons or other objects.
• FIG. 10 shows a cross section of[0036]front panel28 withliner24 in place. A scab section ofpanel34 is also shown to reveal its layers of construction. With the exception ofauxiliary pouch52, this section is typical not only offront panel28 but also, generally, ofrear panel30,side panels32 and34,bottom panel26 andlid46. The outer facing layer offront panel28 is acanvas covering layer88 for resisting abrasion. It overlays a closed cellfoam insulation layer90. The inner face ofinsulation layer90 is covered by flexible plasticisedmetallic foil sheeting92 that is shiny and reflective. The material is sold under the name Therma-Flect (T.M.).Liner24 lies insidesheeting92, and is pressed against it by the objects it contains. The inside ofpouch52 is lined with white vinyl sheeting,93 on its forward and bottom sides.
• [0037]Liner24, is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. It is made from a membrane, or web, in the nature of asheet100 of flexible, transparent plastic stock, in particular, static cling vinyl. The shiny, reflective surface ofsheeting92 is visible throughliner24 in use.Liner24 has abase102 and four sides, front, rear, left hand and right hand respectively,104,106,108, and110 extending upwardly frombase102. Each ofsides104,106,108 and110 is joined tobase102 at a base edge,112,114,116 or118, as indicated, and each has an opposite,distal edge120,122,124 or126 distant from its respective base edge. The sides meet at respectiveupstanding corners128,130,132 and134. Achamber136 is defined betweenbase102 andsides104,106,108 and110.Chamber136 has anopening138 defined by theperipheral lip140 formed collectively by thedistal edges120,122,124 and126 ofsides104,106,108 and110. Immediately belowlip140 liner support fasteners, in the nature of hook and eye strips, are mounted tosheet100. This mounting may be by heat welding or by use of a bonding agent or adhesive. In thepreferred embodiment lip140 is folded over to form a hem, andfasteners141,144,143 are of the nature of a continuous zipper around three sides oflip140, and afastener142 in the nature of a fabric hook-and-eye strip are sewn in place with stitching145 that is at a height relative to base102 that is expected to be well above the liquid level inliner24.
• In an alternate embodiment,[0038]fasteners141,142, and143 are all fabric hook and eye fasteners each mounted on one side oflip140, and which mate with corresponding hook-and-eye fastener strips mounted tocontainer22. These fastener strips are commonly sold under the name Velcro (T.M.).Optional partition25 is variably positionable. About the upper portion of its periphery it has astrip engaging material146 that catches onmating strips147 and148 located on the inner face ofliner24. These strips can be hook and eye fastener strips. The range of the strips permits the division of sub compartments27 and29 ofchamber136 into equal, half-and half portions, or into some other portions, such as ¼ to ¾, ⅓ to ⅔, ⅖ to ⅗ and so forth as may be found desirable given the objects to be contained inchamber136.
• In FIG. 3[0039]sheet100 is shown in developed view, as it would be before being folded to formliner24. A first pair ofparallel fold lines150 and152 extend acrosssheet100, and a second pair ofparallel fold lines154 and156, perpendicular tolines150 and152 extend alongsheet100, thus dividing it into nine portions within the rectangular periphery,158, ofsheet100. It will also be noted that each oflines150,152,154 and156 has two intersections, and is thus divided into a central sector between the parallel lines it intersects, and a pair of end sectors between each of the parallel lines it intersects and the line's termination atperiphery158.
• The central portion of[0040]sheet100, bounded by the central sector of each oflines150,152,154 and156, definesbase102, each of those sectors defining one of base edges112,114,116 and118.Front side104 is defined between thecentral sector160 ofline150, two parallelforward end sectors162 and164 oflines154 and156, and amid-edge sector166 ofperiphery158.Rear side106 is defined by thecentral sector168 ofline152, two parallelrearward end sectors170 and172 oflines154 and156, and amid edge sector174 ofperiphery158.Left hand side108 is defined bycentral sector176 ofline154, twoleft end sectors178 and180 oflines150 and152, and amid-edge sector182 ofperiphery158.Right hand side110 is defined bycentral sector184 ofline156, tworight end sectors186 and188 oflines150 and152, and amid-edge sector190 ofperiphery158.
• The remaining four portions of[0041]sheet100 arecorner portions192,194,196 and198 defined by a pair of adjacent end sectors of a pair of perpendicular lines, and a corner sector ofperiphery158, indicated respectively as202,204,206 and208.Corner portions192,194,196 and198 are bisected bydiagonal bisectors212,214,216 and218 which extend from the intersection of the respective perpendicular lines toperiphery158.
• Having thus defined the geometry of[0042]sheet100,liner24 is formed by foldingsides104,106,108 and110 upwardly such thatsectors162 and178,164 and186,170 and180, and172 and186 lie adjacent to each other to formcorners128,130,132 and134 respectively. This folding necessitates folding ofcorner portions192,194,196 and198, and this is done along their respective diagonal bisectors.
• When folded along[0043]bisectors202,204,206, and208corner portions192,194,196 and198 formtriangular flaps220,222,224 and226. In the preferred embodiment flaps220 and222 are folded to lie against the outside face offront side104, the corner offlap220 lying most distant fromcorner128 overlapping the corner offlap204 lying most distant fromcorner130. Similarly flaps224 and226 are folded to lie against the outside face ofrear side106 the most distant corner offlap224 overlapping the most distant corner of flap226. One edge of each flap lies roughly flush withlip140, which is folded over and the entire periphery of opening ofchamber136 sewn as ahem228 having a double row of stitches. In thisway liner24 is formed fromsheet100 such that it is not only free of welded seams, but free of any seams belowhem228 oflip140.
• In the preferred embodiment the folding process is purely mechanical, and can be performed relatively quickly, in contradistinction to heat welding or adhesive bonding processes which require a time interval for heating and cooling or for adhesive curing. Inasmuch as the preferred embodiment uses a relatively thick static cling vinyl,[0044]sheet100 can be folded over a cube form of the desired dimensions, and held in place by its own clinging properties in preparation for the sewing ofhem228. The overlap of the tips offlaps202 and204, and flaps206 and208, and subsequent sewing makes it doubly improbable thatliner24 will unfold.
• [0045]Liner24 is formed from a single integral sheet, and, absent punctures of that sheet is not intended to leak below the level of the sewn seam atlip140. The body ofbase102 andsides104,106,108 and110 is seamless, being free of heat welds or other joints. In general use the liquid level inchamber136 is not expected to be greater than one half of the height of the sides, and still less commonly to be more than three quarters of the height. There are no seams below either of these levels, heat welded or otherwise.
• [0046]Liner24 is also thin enough that it can be folded insidecontainer22 whencontainer22 is compressed to its collapsed position as illustrated in FIGS. 7, 8, and9.Liner24 need not be transparent, but could be translucent or opaque. A transparent liner is preferred since it permits the reflection ofsheeting92 to be seen.
• In an optional embodiment, a[0047]liner224 can have its own closure, or lid,230, to provide a double closure withlid46 ofcontainer22 in FIG. 11. As shown in FIG. 11,optional lid230 extends on afolding plastic hinge232 that is an integral part ofsheet234 fromrear side236 ofsheet234, and mates at front, left hand and right hand side edges238,240 and242 along a U-shaped closure interface such as may be held closed by a closure member in the nature of a seal, a zipper, a hook and eye fabric fastener, or a similar device. It is not necessary that the opening of the container, or the liner, form a parallel plane to the respective base or bottom sides. The opening could be in a skewed plane, or could be something other than a plane.
• In alternative embodiments, one of each of corner flaps[0048]220,222,224 and226 can be folded against each ofsides104,106,108 and110, or a pair (220,224) can be folded againstleft hand side108 and another pair (222,226) againstright hand side110, rather than against front andrear sides104 and106 as illustrated in FIG. 11. It is not necessary that the corner portions have one edge lying flush withlip146. However, if the corner portions are cut down, the height at which a liquid tight barrier is provided may not necessarily be as high as shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1. It is also not necessary thatcorner portions192,194,196, and198 be folded against the outside faces of the sides, but could be folded to lie along the inside faces. It would also be possible to fold each flap to lie partially against one side and partially against another side by using more than one fold line and by cutting the periphery of the corner portions differently. There is simplicity in using a single fold and to fold the flaps against the outside of one side of the liner, as shown in the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1.
• As shown in the developed views of the alternate embodiments of FIGS. 4, 5, and[0049]6, the liner need not be a cube or cuboid, but could be a tapered, trapezoidal, or truncated pyramidal shape. In the embodiment of FIG. 4 adeveloped sheet300 has fold lines for forming a liner having a pair of opposedtrapezoidal sides304 and306 which rise at right angles from abase308, and a pair of opposed rectangular sides that are folded upward at an angle corresponding to the rake angle a oftrapezoidal sides304 and306. It can be seen that there is one pair ofparallel fold lines310 and312, each line having acentral sector314,316 and a pair of left andright end sectors318,320 or322,324. There is also a pair offold line sectors326 and328 which define the remaining two sides of base308 (perpendicular tosectors314 and316). The intersections ofsectors326,314,328, and316 define the corners ofbase308. Extending away from those corners toperiphery330 are left and right hand cantedtrapezoidal side sectors332,334,336, and338 to define the remaining vertices oftrapezoidal sides304 and306. At the angular bisector of the included angle between adjacent pairs of rectangular side lateral sectors and trapezoidal side sectors, as, for example betweensectors318 and332, are cornerportion fold lines340,342,344, and346.Corner portions348,350,352 and354, each defined between one trapezoidal side end sector, one rectangular side end sector andperiphery330, have been trimmed alongperiphery330 to lie flush with the resulting lip. Whensheet300 is folded in a manner analogous to the folding ofsheet100, a cradle shaped liner will result, for mating use with a similarly cradle shaped container analogous tocontainer22.
• In the embodiment of FIG. 5 a[0050]developed sheet400 has fold lines for forming aliner402 having a first pair of opposedtrapezoidal sides404 and406 which rise at a non-perpendicular angle α from abase408, and a second pair of opposedtrapezoidal sides410,412 that are folded upward at an angle corresponding to the vertical projection of the rake angle β of the first pair oftrapezoidal sides404 and406. It can be seen that there is one pair offold line sector414,416 pairs of left and righthand end sectors418,420 or422,424 and a perpendicular pair offold line sectors418 and420 which define the remaining two sides ofbase408. The intersections ofsectors418,414,420, and416 define the corners ofbase408. Extending away from those corners toperiphery430 are left and right hand trapezoidal sidelateral sectors422,424,426 and428. Similarly, left and right hand cantedtrapezoidal side sectors432,434,436, and438 extend from those intersections towardperiphery430 to define the remaining vertices of the trapezoidal sides. At the angular bisector of the included angle between adjacent pairs of rectangular side lateral sectors and trapezoidal side sectors, as, for example betweensectors418 and432, are cornerportion fold lines440,442,444, and446 of corner portions448,450,452 and454.
• [0051]Sectors422,424,426,428,432,434,436 and438 all have the same true length, indicated as l. The distance thatsectors422,424,426 and428 are splayed outward from square is indicated as c. Similarly, the distance thatsections432,434,436 and438 are splayed outward from square is indicated as δ. Angle a satisfies the condition that Sin α=[ε/(l²−δ²)]½. Similarly Angle β satisfies the condition that Sin β=[δ/(l¹−δ²)]½.
• When folded in a manner analogous to the folding of[0052]sheet100,sheet400 will form a truncated, inverted rectangular shaped pyramid. It should be noted that the pairs of opposed slanted pyramid sides need not rise at the same angle, but could be at different angles. In the most general case, each side could rise at a different angle, and to a different height. The upper edges of the sides need not be level, but could have a slant, or, alternatively, need not be linear but could be curved as may suit the desired geometry. However, it is expected that the sides will, most often, have straight and level edges.
• In the embodiment of FIG. 6, a[0053]developed sheet500 has fold lines for forming aliner502 having atrapezoidal base504 such as might be desired in a knapsack having a large rearward face for placement against a person's back, and a narrower outer or forward face. A pair of parallel lines of unequal length, being a shortfront fold line506 and a longerrear fold line508, define the parallel sides of thetrapezoidal base504. A pair of left and right handside fold lines510 and512 extend betweenlines506 and508 at angles to define the splayed sides oftrapezoidal base504.Front side514,rear side516,left side518 andright side520 are all hinged alongrespective fold lines506,508,510 and512 tobase504.Corner portions522,524,526 and528 are defined between theperiphery530 and respective pairs ofside sectors532 and534,536 and538,540 and542, and544 and546. Each ofportions522,532,526 and528 has afold line548,550,552 or554 on which the respective corner portion is folded, those portions being trimmed along their peripheral edges to lie flush with the peripheral edges of the respective sides against which they are folded, similar to the manner described above in connection with the preferred embodiment.
• A preferred embodiment has been described in detail and a number of alternatives have been considered. As changes in 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 by or to those details, but only by the appended claims.[0054]

Claims (22)

What is claimed is:

1. A combination comprising:

a soft-sided insulated container, and a removable liner for placement inside said container, said liner being folded from a monolithic sheet of liner stock to define a chamber, capable of holding liquids, said liner being free of heat welded seams.

2. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said liner is made from a water impermeable plastic sheet.

3. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said liner is made from a translucent static cling vinyl sheet.

4. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said soft sided insulated container has a base, sides and a top, said liner has a base, sides for placement inside and adjacent to said base and sides of said container; and said top of said container is moveable to an open position to permit articles to be placed in said chamber.

5. The combination ofclaim 4 wherein said chamber has an opening, said opening having a lip, and said liner is mated to said coder about said lip.

6. The combination ofclaim 5 wherein said opening has four sides, said lip extends about said four sides opening; and said liner is mated to said container on said four sides.

7. The combination ofclaim 1 wherein said liner has a rectangular base and four sides extending from said base, each of said sides having an edge adjoining said base and a distal edge distant from said base; and said chamber has an opening defined between said distal edges of said sides.

8. The combination ofclaim 7 wherein one of said sides has a lid member extending therefrom, said lid member being moveable to close said opening of said liner.

9. The combination ofclaim 8 wherein said lid member is a flap formed integrally with said liner, said flap having four lid edges, one edge being a folded hinge edge adjoining one of said distal edges of said sides, the remaining three lid edges having a closure for mating with the remaining three distal edges.

10. A combination comprising:

a soft sided insulated container; and

a removable liner for placement inside said container, said liner being formed from a water impermeable plastic sheet, said sheet having a periphery;

said liner having a quadrilateral base and four sides extending from said base to define a chamber therebetween capable of holding water;

each of said sides being joined to said base at a base edge;

each of said sides having a pair of lateral edges each meeting said base edge at a corner;

each of said sides having an edge opposed to said base edge and meeting each of said lateral edges at a corner;

said sheet having corner portions defined between

(a) adjacent lateral edges of two of said sides, and

(b) said periphery and said corner positions are folded to lie against said sides.

11. The combination ofclaim 10 wherein said base is a rectangle and two of said sides, joined to said base on opposite sides of said rectangle, are trapezoidal.

12. The combination ofclaim 10 wherein said chamber has the shape of an inverted, truncated rectangular based pyramid.

13. The combination ofclaim 10 wherein said container has an internal face made from a reflective material and said liner is transparent.

14. A combination comprising:

a soft sided insulated container, and

a removable liner for placement inside said container,

said liner being formed from a water impermeable plastic sheet; said sheet having a periphery; said liner having a rectangular base and four sides extending from said base to form a chamber therebetween, each of said sides being joined to said base at a base edge;

said sheet being folded on a first pair of parallel fold lines to define one pair of said base edges;

said sheet being folded on a second pair of fold lines to define the remainder of said edges;

said sheet having four corner portions each defined between

(a) an end portion of one of said first pair of fold lines;

(b) an adjacent end portion of one of said second pair of fold lines, and

(c) said periphery; and

said corner portions are folded to lie against said sides.

15. The combination ofclaim 14 wherein said sides have an inside face and an outside face and said corner portions are folded to lie against said outside faces.

16. The combination ofclaim 14 wherein each of said corners is folded to form a triangular flap, and each of said flaps is folded to lie against one of said sides.

17. The combination ofclaim 16 wherein one of said triangular flaps is folded to lie against each of said sides of said liner.

18. The combination ofclaim 16 wherein two of said triangular flaps are folded to lie against one side of said liner.

19. The combination ofclaim 16 wherein two of said triangular flaps are folded to lie against one side of said liner, and the other two triangular flaps are folded to lie against another side of said liner.

20. The combination ofclaim 14 wherein

each of said sides has a distal edge opposed to its respective base edge;

said chamber has a lip defined by said distal edges; and

said corner portions are fastened to said sides adjacent said lip.

21. The combination ofclaim 20 wherein one of said sides has a cover flap formed integrally therewith, and joined thereto at a cover fold, said cover flap mating with the distal edges of the remaining sides of said liner.

22. The combination ofclaim 14 wherein said container has a reflective inner surface and said liner is transparent.

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