US20060198562A1 - Foldable insulated bag with trailing member - Google Patents

Abstract

A Foldable Insulated Container may be made of a three piece assembly of a base, a front wall and a rear wall. The base may include a reinforcement such as may tend to urge the base to retain a substantially planar orientation, and which may aid in folding the insulated bag. The insulated bag may include a trailing member. The trailing member may be attached to the base. The trailing member may include wheels. The trailing member, or apparatus, may include a retractable wheeled undercarriage.

Description

FIELD OF INVENTION
• This invention relates to the field of foldable insulated containers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
• 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 keep foods or beverages warm or hot.
• 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 tend to unfold easily, but tend to be rather more difficult to fold back into the collapsed or storage position. In the folded position, the front and rear walls remain in generally parallel planar orientation while the bottom panel is folded up in half, and the side panels are folded inward as shown in my issued U.S. Pat. Des. 382,771. 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• It may also be that it would be helpful 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. Optionally, it may be helpful to have members that facilitate towing of the bag.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• In an aspect of the invention there is a foldable insulated bag with trailing member comprising with an insulated wall structure, defining an insulated space therewithin. A wall structure having a closure member operable to govern access to the insulated space and a wall structure including a forming panel. The wall structure, when empty, is movable to a first. flattened position as well as being foldable about at least a portion of the forming panel to a folded storage position. The wall structure being securable in the folded storage position and there is also an undercarriage mounted to the insulated wall structure to facilitate towing thereof.
• In another feature, the foldable insulated bag shows the undercarriage as being retractable. The foldable insulated bag as noted wherein the bag includes a retainer and the retainer being operable to secure the bag in the folded storage position. In another feature, the foldable storage bag of has a bottom region and a top region, and a suspension member is mounted distantly from the bottom region. In further feature, the foldable insulated bag with the forming panel includes a stiffener member. In another feature, the foldable insulated bag with the forming panel has a flexural rigidity greater than any other portion of the bag. In yet another feature, the foldable insulated bag with the forming panel has an insulating layer and a stiffening layer.
• In another feature, the foldable insulated bag wherein the bag has a base panel and a sidewall structure mounted about the base panel, the forming panel being the base panel. In yet another feature, the foldable insulated bag wherein the undercarriage is mounted to the base panel. In further feature, the foldable insulated bag with the undercarriage includes wheels. This feature is also movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and includes a fitting operable to discourage accidental retraction of the undercarriage. The foldable insulated bag includes a retracted position retainer.
• In another feature, the foldable insulated bag with the sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels, each sidewall panel having a first edge adjoining the base panel and a second edge distant therefrom. The closure member being mounted to the distant edges. The foldable insulated bag with the first and second members of the retainer are mating hook-and-eye fabric strip portions.
• In another aspect of the invention, the foldable insulated bag with the sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels, each of the sidewall panels having a first edge adjoining the base panel and a second edge distant therefrom The base panel has a periphery, the periphery including a first edge adjoining the first edge of the first sidewall panel, and a second edge adjoining the first edge of the second sidewall panel. The periphery including two opposed remainder portions between the first and second sides, theportions having lengths 2a₁and 2a₂respectively. The first edge of the first sidewall panel having a length. L and the first edge of the base panel having a length ‘b’; and the length L being at least as great as b+(a₁+a₂).
• In a further feature, the foldable insulated bag with the first edge of the first sidewall panel is centered relative to the first edge of the base panel.
• In still another feature of the foldable insulated bag with trailing member, the first edge of the first sidewall panel is centered relative to said first edge of the base panel. In still another additional feature, the forming panel includes a stiffener member. In yet still another additional feature, the forming panel has a flexural rigidity greater than any other portion of the bag. In yet another additional feature, the forming panel has an insulating layer and a stiffening layer. In a further additional feature, the forming panel includes a stiffened straight edge In still a further additional feature, the forming panel includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel stiffened straight edges. In yet a further additional feature, the bag has a base panel and a sidewall structure mounted about the base panel. The forming panel is the base panel.
• These and other aspects of the invention may be more readily understood with the aid of the illustrative Figures and detailed description included herein below.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The illustrations of an example, or examples, of insulated bags embodying the various aspects and features noted, being provided by way of illustration, but not of limitation include the following Figures:
• 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;
• FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 1 as installed in the trunk of an automobile;
• FIG. 3ashows a perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 1 as folded;
• FIG. 3bshows a front view of the bag ofFIG. 3ain a fully folded condition;
• FIG. 3cshows a rear view of the bag ofFIG. 3ain the fully folded condition;
• FIG. 3dshows a left hand end view of the bag ofFIG. 3ain the fully folded condition;
• FIG. 3eshows a right hand end view of the bag ofFIG. 3ain the fully folded condition;
• FIG. 3fshows a top view of the bag ofFIG. 3ain the fully folded condition;
• FIG. 3gshows a bottom view of the bag ofFIG. 3ain the fully folded condition;
• FIG. 3hshows the bag ofFIG. 3cwith an alternate hang loop orientation;
• FIG. 4ashows a perspective view of the unfolded bag ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 4bshows a front view of the bag ofFIG. 4ain a fully unfolded condition;
• FIG. 4cshows a rear view of the bag ofFIG. 4ain the fully unfolded condition;
• FIG. 4dshows a left hand end view of the bag ofFIG. 4ain the fully unfolded condition;
• FIG. 4eshows a right hand end view of the bag ofFIG. 4ain the fully unfolded condition;
• FIG. 4fshows a top view of the bag ofFIG. 4ain the fully unfolded condition;
• FIG. 4gshows a bottom view of the bag ofFIG. 4ain the fully unfolded condition;
• FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the bag ofFIG. 1, taken abeam of the handles (with the handles not shown);
• FIG. 6ashows a front view of the bag ofFIG. 1 in a partially folded condition;
• FIG. 6bshows a rear view of the bag ofFIG. 6a;
• FIG. 6cshows a left hand end view of the bag ofFIG. 6a;
• FIG. 6dshows a right handed view of the bag ofFIG. 6a;
• FIG. 7ashows a perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 1 in an open condition with a liner thereof in an inverted position to facilitate washing thereof;
• FIG. 7bshows a perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 1 in an open condition;
• FIG. 8 shows a developed view of panels of the bag ofFIG. 1 prior to assembly;
• FIG. 9ashows a developed view of a bottom panel for an alternate embodiment of the foldable insulated bag ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 9bshows a developed view of a side panel for an alternate embodiment of the foldable insulated bag ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 10ashows an isometric view of a single fold, alternate insulated bag to that ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 10bshows a front view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 10ain a folded condition;
• FIG. 10cshows a rear view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 10ain a folded condition;
• FIG. 10dshows a left hand end view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 10a;
• FIG. 10eshows a right hand end view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 10a;
• FIG. 10fshows a top view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 10a;
• FIG. 10gshows a bottom view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 10a;
• FIG. 11ashows a partially unfolded front view of a triple fold alternate insulated bag to that ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 11bshows a front view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 11ain a folded condition;
• FIG. 11cshows a rear view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 11ain a folded condition;
• FIG. 11dshows a left hand end view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 11a;
• FIG. 11eshows a right hand end view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 11a;
• FIG. 11fshows a top view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 11a;
• FIG. 11gshows a bottom view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 11a;
• FIG. 12ashows a perspective view from above, in front and to the left of an alternate embodiment of foldable insulated bag to that ofFIG. 1;
• FIG. 12bshows a perspective view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12afrom below, in front and to the right;
• FIG. 12cshows a front view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12a;
• FIG. 12dshows a rear view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12a;
• FIG. 12eshows a right hand side view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12a;
• FIG. 12fshows a left hand side view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12a;
• FIG. 12gshows a top view of the bag ofFIG. 12a;
• FIG. 12hshows a bottom view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12a;
• FIG. 13ais a perspective view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 12ain a folded condition;
• FIG. 13bis a top view of the insulated bag ofFIG. 13a;
• FIG. 13cis a view looking from the main fold toward the top of the bag ofFIG. 13a;
• FIG. 13dis a side view of the bag ofFIG. 13a;
• FIG. 14ashows a front perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 13ain a laid out, flat condition;
• FIG. 14bis a rear perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 14a;
• FIG. 14cis a front view of the laid out bag ofFIG. 14a;
• FIG. 14dis a rear view of the laid out bag ofFIG. 14a;
• FIG. 15ashows a perspective view of the bag ofFIG. 14awith undercarriage members in a deployed or extended position;
• FIG. 15bshows an end view of the bag ofFIG. 15a;
• FIG. 15cshows a side view detail of the bag ofFIG. 15a;
• FIG. 15dshows a perspective view of a detail of the undercarriage of the bag ofFIG. 15ain a stored or retracted position;
• FIG. 15eshows a perspective view of a detail of the undercarriage ofFIG. 15ain the extended position;
• FIG. 15fshows an enlarged side view of a detail of the bag ofFIG. 12astanding on its undercarriage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
• 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.
• 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.
• As seen in the Figures, an example of a portable, collapsible soft sided, insulated wall structure is identified as a foldablecooler tote bag20. This structure can be referred to as an insulated bag, an insulated container, a cooler, or such like. The basic structure ofbag20 includes a first side panel, or wall, or sidewall, arbitrarily designatedfront panel22, a second side panel, or wall, or sidewall, designated arbitrarily asrear panel24, and a third panel or wall identified as a bottom, orbase panel26. As described more fully below, these panels are joined together to form a pouch, or bag, having an enclosedinternal space25 surrounded by insulated walls. The enclosed volume ofinternal space25 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, whenbag20 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.
• Whenbag20 is in use, access to the internal volume, namelyinternal space25 thereof, is governed by aclosure member28. In the illustrated example,closure member28 may be a linear tracked closure device in the nature of azipper assembly30 mounted between the upper margins of the side wall panels, namely front andrear panels22 and24. Other kinds of closures could be used such as a Velcro (t.m.) 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.
• Whilebag20 can be made water-tight by other means, it is preferred to provide aliner32 that can be either sewn in place, or it 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.
• When the bag is not in use, it may tend to be readily foldable. First, the bag is collapsed by being laid flat, and then foldingfront sidewall panel22 near its bottom margin, such thatbase panel26 may lie in a more or less flat orientation relative to the rear sidewall panel,24, as seen inFIGS. 6aand6b. In this, collapsed, generally flattened, position, theupward edge36 of base panel26 (namely the edge that is folded towardfront sidewall panel22 and hence toward what would normally be the upper parts ofbag20 generally) acts as a former, or form, for bending the body ofbag20 to define a first fold by rotating the folded part of the bag in the direction of arrow ‘A’ (counter-clockwise in the Figures, but arbitrary since it would be clockwise if viewed from the other direction, andbag20 can be made with either a left handed or right handed fold). This permits one portion ofbag20 to fold over on another portion, in the manner of folding a page over on itself.
• When page-folded in the direction of arrow ‘A’,bag20 will arrive at the folded position shown inFIGS. 3a-3g, in which position it is held by a securement member, or retainer, identified as34, which may take the form of a pair of mating securement strips such as hook-and-eye velcro (t.m.) strips38 and40 mounted, respectively, to the upper body portion offront side panel22 adjacent the upper margin thereof, and to the distal margin region ofbase panel26 that is distant from the forming edge ofbase panel26, such that whenbase panel26 is overfolded in the direction of arrow ‘A’ strips38 and40 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 asuspension member42, in the nature of ahang loop44, mounted generally centrally along the upper margin offront panel22. To the extent thatloop44 is mounted higher than the center of gravity ofbag20 more generally,bag20 will tend to hang with the upper margin offront panel22 in a generally horizontal orientation. An alternate hang loop location is shown inFIG. 3h, in which hangloop44 is located at an end edge such that, when displayed for sale,bag20 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.
• Unfolding may tend to be a similarly uncomplicated and convenient procedure: the retainers 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 straps46,48 that extend from the upper regions of the sidewall panels, namelypanels22 and24, can be grasped to liftbag20, and may, as illustrated inFIG. 1, be found suitable for carrying over a person's shoulder. Alternatively, or additionally, as illustrated inFIG. 2,bag20 is provided withauxiliary securement devices50,52, 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 devices50,52 may tend to be used to discourage a loadedbag20 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.
• Considering the construction ofbag20 in greater detail, reference is made to the developed views ofpanels22,24 and26 provided inFIG. 8. In the developed views shown in the example ofFIG. 8, the side panels, namely insulated front andrear panels22 and24, 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 lowermarginal edges54,56, and a height dimension indicated as ‘Y’, measured perpendicular to dimension ‘X’, along the side edges58,60. By inspection, L₁=‘X’=b₁+2a₁.
• Insulated base panel26 is also generally rectangular, having a long dimension measured alonglong edges62,64 and indicated generally as ‘b’ and a short dimension measured along the short end edges66,68, indicated generally as ‘w’. In this embodiment, the half width of the panel is identified as ‘a₁’, and is equal to half of ‘w’. The ratio of the half width ‘a’ 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 3¼:11½, in another particular example the ratio may be about 3¼:15½, and in a third particular example the ratio may be about 3¼:17¼.
• The width ofbase panel26 may also be related to the overall height ofbag20 when unfolded. That is,retainer strip40 on the off-side ofbase panel26 may mate withstrip38 onfront panel22 ofbag20 at a region close to theupper edge70 ofbag20 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 ofbag20 be within +/−20%, and more preferably within +/−10%, of an integer multiple of the width ofbase panel26. It is also preferred thatbag20 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.
• The upper edge, i.e., uppermarginal edge54, of each of theside panels22 and24 is longer than the long dimension ‘b’ of the bottom, orbase panel26, such that when the closure member is secured,bag20 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 ofFIG. 8, the periphery ofbase panel26 is equal to 2(2a₁+b). Each of the side wall panels, namely front andrear panels22 and24, has a lower, or bottom edge,56 noted above. Each of thesebottom edges56 extends about one half of the periphery ofbase panel26, having a central portion of length ‘b’ and two opposite end portions, each of length ‘a₁’, or thereabout. In this instance whenbag20 is collapsed, andbottom panel26 is laid flat, a triangular end fold will be created, made up of the triangular folds72 of the bottom corners of the side wall panels, those triangular portions being indicated astriangular regions74 inFIG. 8, and being bounded byfold lines76,78.
• When assembled, front andrear panels22,24 are sewn together along their upwardly extendingedges58,60, the central portions of theirbottom edges56 are sewn to the long sides, or edges62,64 ofbase panel26, and the end portions are sewn to the half-width portions of end edges66,68 ofbase panel26. Theclosure member28 has the form ofzipper assembly30 as noted above.Zipper assembly30 has afirst side region84, asecond side region86, and azipper88.Side region84 has an outboard, or distal edge seamed intofront panel22, and an inboard edge, or margin, to which one set of teeth ofzipper88 is mounted.Side region86 has an outboard, or distal edge that is seamed intorear panel24, and an inboard edge along which the other set of teeth ofzipper88 is mounted. In the usual manner, motion ofzipper car90 along the track defined by the zipper teeth controls the opening and closing of the zipper assembly, and hence controls access to the enclosedspace25 ofbag20 more generally, thereby permitting objects to be introduced into, or to be drawn out of,bag20.Side regions84 and86 each have an upper, load bearingweb member92,94 and aninner wall member96,98. In one embodiment of the invention,inner wall members96,98 may be reflective, or have a reflective inwardly facing (i.e., inward relative to the enclosedspace25 ofbag20 so that the reflective surface is oriented toward objects contained in bag20) surface, and may preferably be made of “thermoflect” (t.m.) material. In another embodiment,inner wall members96,98 is a white, water proof nylon sheet. The seaming of the side region ofzipper assembly30 occurs at a height downset from the very edge of the side wall panels by a distance δ₁roughly equal to the half width δ₂ofzipper assembly30 such that whenbag20 is folded,side regions84 and86 may tend to fold next to those margins, rather than to protrude excessively.
• The overall width of the web-like region, or panel, formed byzipper assembly30 is less than, if not significantly less than, the width ofpanel26, such that the through thickness ofbag20 at the elevation ofclosure member28 is small, if not very small, relative to the length ofclosure member28, and relative to the length of uppermarginal edge54. 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 a₂/(2a₂+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 1:7½. The closure member is mounted between the upper margins of the side wall panels, namelypanels22 and24, 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.
• The sidewall construction is as shown inFIG. 5. Each ofsidewall panels22,24 has a relatively wear resistant outer membrane or sheet, orweb80, that may be made of a sheet or woven webbing fabric, such as woven nylon, canvas, or other suitable cloth. Each ofsidewall panels22,24 also has an inner sidewall membrane, or sheet, orweb82, 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.
• An insulatinglayer84 is trapped between the inner andouter webs82 and80. Insulatinglayer84 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.
• As above, in one embodiment the inner sidewall web member may either be made of a reflective material, such as thermoflect (t.m.) sheeting, or may have a reflective surface oriented to face toward objects contained withinbag20. Alternatively,inner web82 member may be made of a water proof extruded nylon or vinyl sheet, or seamed sheets, to discourage leakage of-liquids frombag20.
• Optionally, water-proof liner32 may be included, in addition to the internal sidewall web sheet, namely,web82. 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 inFIG. 7a, and hence to facilitate washing. Theoptional liner32 may be made from a single polymer sheet, have afirst side region84 and asecond side region86. The side regions are heat welded along their side margins to form a pouch, or pocket, commensurate with the general site and shape of the inside ofbag20, and have their upper margins seamed into the side-walls ofbag20 at the juncture with the side regions ofzipper assembly30.Bag20 will then tend to be water-proof to a height corresponding to the height ofclosure member28. A soft sided insulated wall assembly for use as a cooler, such asbag20, may be generally leak resistant and may be water-proof.
• The cross-sectional structure ofbase panel26 is generally similar to the cross-sectional structure of the sidewall panels, having an inner wall skin, or panel orweb114 that is of consistent construction to the inner wall sheet orweb82, and an outer wall skin, orweb116 that is of consistent construction toouter web80. It may be noted that theouter web80 may not be the same colour asouter web116, 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, sincebase panel26 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.
• Base panel26 may also have an insulated layer,118, captured betweenwebs114 and116, the insulated layer being made of an insulated foam or other suitable heat transfer resistive medium as described above. In addition,base panel26 has a stiffenedform member120 that may be in the nature of a rectangular, hardplastic sheet100 of modest thickness located between insulatinglayer118 andouter web116.Sheet100, in plan view, has dimensions that are the same as. or roughly the same as, dimensions ‘b’ and ‘w’.Form member128 serves two functions, the first being to provide a stiffened base upon whichbag20 can tend preferentially to stand, and which may tend to aid in discouragingbag20 from tipping over as easily as it might otherwise do. The second is to provide a forming edge to base26 by which to pre-determine the fold line, or lines, at whichbag20 will tend to want to bend when being folded up. This may tend to discourage the tight-rolling ofbag20, and to encourage repeatable panel folding to and from the convenient folded form shown inFIGS. 3a-3g.
• Form member120 need not be a continuous monolithic panel. It could be an open frame, or a peripheral member sewn in place to provide a reinforced edge. In one embodiment, even withoutform member120, the seaming at the edge ofinsulated base panel26 may tend to yield a natural fold location at whichbag20 may tend to prefer to bend or fold. The inclusion ofmember120 may tend to strengthen or to enhance this tendency. Modestly sized feet, stand offs, or pads,102, may optionally be provided to the underside ofpanel26. Further,form member120 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 stillness that may tend to be significantly stiffer than any other portion ofbag20.
• Lifting members, or carrying members in the nature of straps, orweb bands46,48, are sewn up the outside faces ofside wall panels22 and24, having their roots at the seamed junction betweenbottom panel26 and the side allpanels22,24. Each ofbands46,48 has acentral portion104,106 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 inFIG. 1.
• Auxiliary securement straps50,52 have a root end sewn into the upper region of the seam betweenpanels22 and24, at a height near the height ofclosure member28. The distal ends ofstraps50,52bear velcro patches110, 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 ofstraps50,52 mount to mating velcro patches112 located on the outward face offront side panel22.Straps110 could as easily be oriented to face in the other direction, and to mate with patches sewn onrear panel24.
Alternate Embodiments
• In the alternate embodiment ofFIG. 9a, an alternateinsulated base panel126 has the same structural and thermal properties asbase panel26 in general, but differs in that rather than being rectangular in plan view,base panel126 has a length, or long dimension, indicated as ‘b₂’ 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 ofpanel126 are not squared, but rather are mitred at an angle α relative to the perpendicular to the long edges. The length along each of the mitred edges is then given as ‘a₂’. In this case the half width ofbase panel126 is not a₂but rather a₂cos α. The periphery ofbase panel126 is 2(b₂+2a₂).
• The adjoining side panels are again taken to be ‘X’ wide, and ‘Y’ high, and to be of the same general insulated construction asside wall panels22 and24, as shown, for example, inFIG. 5. The length of thelower margin124 of each of the adjoiningside panels126 is then (b₂+2a₂). Each panel will then have a “large fold”128 and a “small fold”130.Large fold128 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 fold130 indicates the actual location of a told that is made when the bag is in a collapsed state and folded for storage.
• The angle β₁ofsmall fold130, 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 ofbase126 and the mitred edge, namely ½(90−α).
• Base panel126 need not necessarily be a straight sided polygon, as isbase panel26, 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.
• Bag20 is a “double fold” bag. That is,base panel26 is folded flat at a first fold (the offside edge of base panel26), and then sidepanels22 and24 are bent about the second fold (the nearside edge of base26). 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.
• An example of asingle fold bag140 is shown inFIGS. 10a-10g, the views corresponding generally to the views ofdouble fold bag20 shown inFIGS. 3a-3grespectively. Except as otherwise indicated,bag140 has the same general construction asbag20, having insulatedside wall panels142,144, and aninsulated base panel146, with asimilar closure member148 and optional liner similar toliner32.Bag140 differs frombag20 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 ofretainer34, aretention member150 may be mounted near the lower margin of thefront panel142, and another, mating,retention member152 may 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 againstside panel142.
• An example of atriple fold bag160 is shown inFIGS. 11a-11g.FIG. 11ashowstriple fold bag160 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).Bag160 is presented as being symbolic of not only a bag having three folds. In general, for a bag, such asbag160, having three or more folds, theretention member178 would be located on thefront face164, roughly the width of two folded panel regions below the upper edge of the front face with the second retention member being mounted near or at the upper edge, such that, when folded the twoparts178 and174 would tend to mate. An example of a single fold bag is illustrated inFIG. 10a. An example of a triple fold bag is shown inFIG. 11a.
• In the examples discussed so far, the upper edge of a bag having rectangular sidewall panels is L_i=2(a_i+b_i), whether i is 1 or 2. As shown inFIG. 9b, the side panels ofbag20 need not be made from rectangular sheets, but could be made from sheets that are of a different shape. such as the trapezoidalside panel sheets180. In this case, theresultant bag182 would tend to have anupper edge184 for which the length L₂would tend to be greater than the sum of the b+2a_i, or, put generically, where L_iis greater than half the total periphery of thebase panel186. 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.
• Another alternate embodiment of foldable insulated container, identified asinsulated bag200 is shown inFIGS. 12athrough15e. In this example,bag200 may include first and secondinsulated panel members202,204 as before, such as may have aninside lining82, anoutside covering80 and a layer ofinsulation84 between lining82 and covering80. That layer ofinsulation84 may be an open or closed cell foam. Further,bag200 may include abase panel212 having the same construction as described above, including a stiffening batten120 such as may be located between anoutside covering layer116 andinsulation layer118. Assuch bag200 may be taken as having substantially the same basic shape and construction asbag20 and the other alternate embodiments of bags described above.
• However,bag200 may differ from the other bags described herein to the extent thatbag200 may have mounted to base panel212 a trailingapparatus220, such as may permitbag200 to be pulled in train, rather than carried clear of the ground. That is to say,bag200 may include one or moreground interface members224,226 operable to permitbag200 to be drawn over a surface. Those ground interface members may be part of anundercarriage230, which may include one or more rolling contact members, such aswheels232,234, which may be mounted to wheel mounts in the nature of shafts oraxles236,238.
• In one embodiment,undercarriage230 may be retractable. That is,wheels232 and234 onaxles236,238 may be movable between a deployed, or down, position suitable for supportingbag200 while in motion (such as shown for example, inFIGS. 12a-12fand15f); and a retracted, or up, position, such as whenbag200 is folded in a storage condition, or is resting in a location in which members for facilitating travel ofbag200 are not required (such as shown, for example, inFIGS. 13a-13dand14a-14c).
• Undercarriage230 may also include support members, such as may be in the nature of rests, or stand-offs, or props or struts, such as may be identified as a foot orfeet240. These supports (or support, as may be) may be co-operable with the trailing members, such aswheels232,234 to provide a base upon whichbag200 more generally may rest when in the unfolded and opened out condition for carrying articles. Whenbag200 is towed,bag20 may tend to have an inclined attitude relative to the axis of rotation ofwheels232,234, and when so inclined,feet240 may tend to be lifted clear of the ground (or other surface) upon whichwheels232,234 may roll. It may be thatfeet240 andaxles236,238 are formed from acontinuous member242, such as a rod or wire, bent at one end to form afoot240, and formed at the other end to defineaxle236 or238, as may be. Each member ofundercarriage230 may also include a stationary mount member orhousing244, connected tobase panel212, and into whichmember242 is mounted in spring loaded biased engagement.Mount member242 may include detent formations, such as at246 and248, into whichmember242 is biased in the retracted and deployed positions respectively.Wheels232,234 are axially reciprocal, with the shafts, namely axles236,238 being mounted in spring loaded sockets ofhousings244. These sockets may require an axial pull and an angular rotation to overcome the detent in order to deploywheels232 and234, and may be biased to the “down” position unless held in the up position be the detent.
• Forbag200, folding may be in the accordion manner, as opposed to roll folding described above. To that end, a temporary,releasable securement250, such as may be in the nature of a hook and eye fastening member, may be mounted to thelower margin252 of the adjacent side, and a mating hook andeye fastener254 may be mounted to the facing portion of the side above the first fold as indicated at256. Similarly, ahalf fold crease258 is located on the lower margin of the other side, permitting the bottom panel to fold flat a full fold. When fully folded, with the wheels retracted, the package may be hung on a display hanger or stored in a comparatively compact package.
• Unfolding may generally proceed from the fully folded position, or condition, ofFIG. 13a, to the unfolded position ofFIG. 14a, in whichbag200 may be in a generally flat condition, toFIG. 15a, in which the wheels are moved to a deployed position, toFIG. 12a, in whichbag200 is filled, and has its wheels down, ready for pulling.
• In other embodiments, the undercarriage assembly may include skids, skis or runners in place of wheels, and in those embodiments the long axis of the skids, skis, or runners may be oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation ofwheels232,234.
• Although various the embodiments have been described and illustrated, the principles of the present invention are not limited to these specific examples, which are given by way of illustration. Since changes in or additions to the above-described embodiments, or both, may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to those details.

Claims (18)

1. 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; and

said wall structure including a forming panel;

said wall structure, when empty, being movable to a first. flattened position;

said wall structure being foldable about at least a portion of said forming panel to a folded storage position;

said wall structure being securable in said folded storage position; and

an undercarriage mounted to said insulated wall structure to facilitate towing thereof.

2. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said undercarriage is retractable.

3. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said bag includes a retainer, said retainer being operable to secure said bag in said folded storage position.

4. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said bag has a bottom region and a top region, and a suspension member is mounted distantly from said bottom region.

5. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said forming panel includes a stiffener member.

6. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said forming panel has a flexural rigidity greater than any other portion of said bag.

7. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said forming panel has an insulating layer and a stiffening layer.

8. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said bag has a base panel and a sidewall structure mounted about said base panel, said forming panel being said base panel.

9. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 8 wherein said undercarriage is mounted to said base panel.

10. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said undercarriage includes wheels.

11. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said undercarriage is movable between an extended position and a retracted position, and includes a fitting operable to discourage accidental retraction of said undercarriage.

12. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 1 wherein said undercarriage includes a retracted position retainer.

13. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 8 wherein said sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels, each sidewall panel having a first edge adjoining said base panel and a second edge distant therefrom. said closure member being mounted to said distant edges.

14. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 13 wherein said first and second members of said retainer are mating hook-and-eye fabric strip portions.

15. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 10 wherein:

said sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels, each said sidewall panel having a first edge adjoining said base panel and a second edge distant therefrom;

said base panel has a periphery, said periphery including a first edge adjoining said first edge of said first sidewall panel, and a second edge adjoining said first edge of said second sidewall panel;

said periphery including two opposed remainder portions between said first and second sides, said portions having lengths 2a₁and 2a₂respectively;

said first edge of said first sidewall panel having a length. L:

said first edge of said base panel having a length ‘b’; and

said length L being at least as great as b+(a₁+a₂).

16. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 15 wherein said first edge of said first sidewall panel is centered relative to said first edge of said base panel.

17. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 10 wherein:

said sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels, each said sidewall panel having a first edge adjoining said base panel and a second edge distant therefrom;

said base panel is rectangular, having two opposed sides of length ‘b’ and two opposed sides of length ‘a’:

said first edge of said first sidewall panel has a length, L; and

said length L being at least as great as b+2a.

18. The foldable insulated bag ofclaim 17 wherein said first edge of said first sidewall panel is centered relative to said first edge of said base panel.

Images