Insulated carrier

Abstract

An insulated carrier for transporting items such as bottles and the like, and retaining them at a predetermined temperature. The carrier is made of a flexible material and includes a pocket-like interior capable of conforming, in a form fitting manner, to the shape of the object to be transported. A flexible insulating film is applied to the pocket-like interior. The insulating layer may be comprised two layers, a first metallic foil layer, facing the item to be transported, and a second, preferably foamed layer.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The invention pertains to insulated carrier in general and specifically to insulated carriers for one bottle or for several bottles, respectively. PRIOR ART [0002] In practice, the problem is known that bottles—especially beverage bottles which are cooled—are to be transported in such a manner that they are still as cool as possible when they arrive. In this respect, it is known in particular to suppress warming up by thermal insulation of the cooled bottles and to thus delay the warming up of the bottles at least by a period of time which is significantly longer than the transport period of the cooled bottles. Conversely, the problem is known to transport hot bottles in a cool environment such that they will not cool down too much during transportation. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,121 A describes an insulated carrier which is collapsible from an upright position to an approximately flat condition. In its upright position, the insulated carrier comprises...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] The invention provides for applying a flexible insulating film for thermal insulation on the flexible carrier material of the insulated carrier on the pocket-type inside or, respectively, insides which will receive one or several bottle shapes in a form-fitting manner. The flexible insulating film together with the flexible carrier material offers the advantage of flexibly forming the insulating carrier overall and, when not in use, to fold it and thus store it in a space-saving manner.

[0025] Inasmuch a reference has been made above to fastening the individual sections or, respectively, the partitions by means of sewing, it is to be understood that other ways of fastening are also taken into account. Separable fastenings—such as zippers or Velcro closures—instead of a seam offer the advantage that, in case of non-use, the fastening can be loosened and the insulated carrier can largely folded apart and be stowed away in an especially space-saving manner.

Problems solved by technology

In practice, the problem is known that bottles—especially beverage bottles which are cooled—are to be transported in such a manner that they are still as cool as possible when they arrive.

Conversely, the problem is known to transport hot bottles in a cool environment such that they will not cool down too much during transportation.

It is a disadvantage that the insulated carrier has a pre-defined, rectangular form due to the supporting part so that the carrier does not have an attractive appearance.

It is furthermore disadvantageous that the insulated carrier is suitable only for such bottles which have specific dimensions, defined by the supporting part, so that bottles with deviating dimensions will not be well insulated.

The minimum three layer design of the insulated carrier with its outer, inner and supporting layer is complex in its manufacture and will only provide a rigid, barely pliable insulated carrier.

It is also disadvantageous that the outer layer and the inner layer are each fastened to the supporting part in a complex and time consuming manner by heat welding.

It is furthermore disadvantageous that cardboard as the material for the supporting part will lose its rigid mechanical properties with prolonged use so that the insulated carrier cannot be used over a long period of time.

It is a disadvantage that the insulated carrier is not designed such that it can accept bottles of different dimensions but that it has—already independent of the bottles to be taken up—a defined outside appearance, for example, essentially rectangular and thus of little pleasing design.

It is furthermore a disadvantage that the three-layer structure of the insulated carrier is expensive to manufacture.

Disadvantageous in all three embodiments is that a coolant is to be provided to be included in the insulated carrier, thus giving it great weight.

It is furthermore disadvantageous that there is little space provided for the temperature-sensitive goods if the goods have the shape of a bottle.

It is moreover disadvantageous that the insulated carrier is only effective for as long as the coolant is present.

It is furthermore disadvantageous that the insulated carrier must first be assembled in a complex manner if a bottle is to be transported.

The cooler bag of the type of a closable plastic bag is generally designed for the transport of cooled goods and thus little suitable to transport bottles especially.

The volume of the cooler bag is either insufficiently used when transporting one or several bottles or it is possibly too small.

When transporting bottles, the cooler bag does not provide an esthetic appearance, especially if several bottles are being transported which are randomly placed in the cooler bag and, during movement, cause jangling and thus irritating noises.

There is furthermore the risk that the bottles collide and break.

It is here disadvantageous that the insert body is rigid and thus cannot be stored in a space-saving manner when the cooler bag is not in use.

The recesses matched to the dimensions of the bottles to be taken can either not take up bottles with slightly varying dimensions at all or will insulate them badly.

An additional disadvantage of this cooler bag is the irritating noise especially when the bottles bang against the recesses.

If a coolant mixture is provided, the described cooler bag will moreover become very heavy.

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