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.

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 posit...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[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 wa

Problems solved by technology

These containers may tend to unfold easily, but tend to be rather more difficult to fold back into the collapsed or storage position.

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.

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