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

[0024] On partitions which separate adjacent compartments, the insulating film is preferably fastened on both sides of the carrier material. This arrangement offers the benefit of material and time savings as compared to a variant wherein the insulating film is applied only on one side and wherein the sides facing away from the insulating film and used for making the partition must yet be fastened with each other. The partitions may be fastened in simple ways, for example by sewing, and will prevent the adjacent bottles from abutting with a correspondingly irritating noise.

[0025] Inasmuch a reference has been made above to fastening the individual sections or, respectively, the partitions by means of sewing, it is to b

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 e

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