INSULATING DEVICE.

Abstract

An insulating device may include a body assembly and a lid assembly, where an insulating layer is attached to both the body and lid assemblies. An opening with a closure is formed between the body and lid assemblies to create a storage compartment. An insulating tab may be formed by a portion of the insulating layer and an inner lining of the body assembly to help isolate the closure region. Additionally, there may be a first magnetic element secured within the insulating tab that can be coupled to a second magnetic element secured within the lid assembly.

Description

INSULATING DEVICE CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application claims priority to U.S. Patent Application No. 16 / 685,124, filed on November 15, 2019, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. FIELD OF INVENTION This disclosure refers generally to portable, non-rigid insulated devices or containers useful for keeping food and beverages cold or hot, and, more particularly, to a soft-sided insulated lunch box. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Insulated lunch boxes are designed to keep food and beverages at low temperatures. The containers can be made of flexible materials, such as fabric or foam. Insulated lunch boxes can be designed to promote portability. They may include straps and / or handles, and in some cases, they may be made of lighter materials for easier carrying. Lunch boxes may include a closure that opens and closes a lid against the body of the lunch box to allow or prevent access to the storage compartment and its contents. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION This Brief Description of the Invention provides a simplified introduction to some general concepts related to the present invention, which are described in greater detail in the Detailed Description of the Invention. This Brief Description of the Invention is not intended to identify key features or essential characteristics of the disclosure. The disclosures herein may relate to an insulating device comprising a body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a bottom layer, a first side wall attached to the bottom layer, an inner lining, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is located between the first side wall and the inner lining, and a lid assembly rotatably connected to the body assembly, wherein the lid assembly includes a top layer, a lid insulating layer, and a lid lining. A storage compartment may be formed by the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the insulating device has an open configuration providing access to the storage compartment and a closed configuration preventing access to the storage compartment.There may be a closure between the body assembly and the lid assembly, where the closure is adapted to selectively connect the body assembly and the lid assembly, and an insulated tab may be formed by a portion of the inner lining and a portion of the insulating layer, where the insulated tab is within the storage compartment and towards the inside of the closure and has a distal end located over a midpoint of the closure. The lid assembly may include perimeter edges that extend upwards in a direction away from the body assembly, where the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from a top surface of the perimeter edges to a top surface of the top layer, where the edge height is at least twice the thickness of the lid's insulating layer.Furthermore, the perimeter edges may have an edge height defined as a vertical height from an upper surface of the perimeter edges, where the edge height may be within a range of 10 percent to 20 percent of the total height and 20 percent of the insulating device. The closure may be attached to the first side wall by a connecting element, where the connecting element extends through the closure, the first side wall, the inner lining, and the insulating layer when viewed in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to a lower surface of the insulating device. Other aspects of this disclosure may relate to an insulating device having an insulated tab behind the closure, wherein the insulated tab is formed by a portion of the inner lining, and the inner lining forms a layer facing outward from the insulated tab and a layer facing inward from the insulated tab. The inner lining may extend around the insulating layer from the inward-facing layer to the outward-facing layer, where the insulated tab is connected to the closure at one end of the base.The insulated tab may be connected to the closure at the base end via a connecting element that extends through the inward-facing layer, the outward-facing layer, the closure, the first side wall, and the insulating layer when viewed in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to a lower surface of the insulating device. The insulated tab may extend the length of the closure to isolate the storage compartment along the closure. Alternatively, the insulated tab may include a first magnetic element that engages with a second magnetic element on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration. The first magnetic element may be located between the inner lining and the insulating layer, and the second magnetic element may be located between the lid lining and the lid's insulating layer. Still other aspects of this disclosure may relate to an insulating device comprising a body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a bottom layer, a side wall attached to the bottom layer, an inner lining, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is located between the bottom layer and the inner lining, and a lid assembly rotatably connected to the body assembly, wherein the lid assembly includes a top layer, a lid insulating layer, and a lid lining. A storage compartment may be formed by the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the insulating device has an open configuration providing access to the storage compartment and a closed configuration.A closure adapted to selectively connect the body assembly and the lid assembly, and a tab, formed at least partially by a portion of the inner lining, wherein the tab is within the storage compartment and located inward of the closure. The tab may have a distal end located at a midpoint of the closure, wherein the tab may include a first magnetic element that engages with a second magnetic element on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration. In some embodiments, the tab may contact the lid lining on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration.The top layer of the lid assembly may include perimeter edges extending upwards away from the body assembly, where the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from the top surface of the perimeter edges. The edge height may be at least twice the thickness of the lid's insulating layer. The top layer may be made of a foam rubber material. Furthermore, the lid assembly and the body assembly may be connected by a hinge on one side of the insulating device, where the hinge is formed by a second side wall extending from the bottom layer of the body assembly to the top layer of the lid assembly's liner. The hinge may also include a portion of the insulating layer enclosed within the inner liner. Other aspects of this disclosure may refer to an insulating device comprising a body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a bottom layer, a first side wall bonded to the bottom layer, an inner lining, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is located between the bottom layer and the inner lining. The insulating device may also include a lid assembly rotatably connected to the body assembly, wherein the lid assembly includes a top layer, a lid insulating layer, and a lid lining.The top layer of the lid assembly may include perimeter edges that extend upwards in a direction away from the body assembly, where the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from a top surface of the top layer to the top of the perimeter edges, where the edge height is greater than a thickness of the lid's insulating layer. A storage compartment may be formed by the body assembly and the lid assembly, where the insulating device has an open configuration providing access to the storage compartment and a closed configuration.The insulating device may also include a closure selectively adapted to connect the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the closure is attached to the first side wall by a connecting element extending through the first side wall, the closure, the inner lining, and the insulating layer. An insulating tab may be formed by a portion of the inner lining and a portion of the insulating layer, wherein the insulating tab is disposed inward of the closure and has a distal end extending over a midpoint of the closure. The insulating tab may include a first magnetic element that engages with a second magnetic element on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration.The insulated flap may consist of the inner lining, where the inner lining forms an outer layer and an inner surface. The insulated flap may extend the entire length of the closure to isolate the storage compartment along its entire length. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above summary, as well as the following detailed description, will be better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which the same reference numbers refer to the same or similar elements in all views in which such reference numbers appear. Figure 1 illustrates a right front perspective view of an example isolating device in a closed configuration according to one aspect of the disclosure; Figure 2 illustrates a right front perspective view of the example isolating device of Figure 1 in a closed configuration; Figure 3 illustrates a front view of the example insulating device of Figure 1; Figure 4 illustrates a top view of the example insulating device of Figure 1; Figure 5 illustrates a rear view of the example insulating device of Figure 1; Figure 6 illustrates a bottom view of the example insulating device of Figure 1; Figure 7 illustrates a right-side view of the example insulating device of Figure 1; Figure 8 illustrates a left side view of the example insulating device of Figure 1; Figure 9 illustrates a right-side cross-sectional view as shown in Figure 4; and Figure 10 illustrates a right-side cross-sectional view as shown in Figure 4. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION The following descriptions of the various examples and components of this disclosure refer to the accompanying drawings, which form part of it. These drawings illustrate different example structures and environments in which aspects of the disclosure can be implemented. It should be understood that other structures and environments may be used, and structural and functional modifications may be made to the structures and methods specifically described, without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Furthermore, while the terms front side, rear side, top, bottom, side, inward, outward, and similar terms may be used herein to describe various exemplary features and elements, these terms are used herein for convenience, for example, in relation to the exemplary orientations shown in the figures and / or the orientations in their typical use. This specification does not indicate that a specific three-dimensional or spatial orientation of the structures is required to fall within the scope of the claims. The reader is further advised that the drawings may not be to scale. Figures 1-10 illustrate an example insulating device 100 that can be configured to keep the desired stored contents cold or hot for a desired period of time. In particular, the illustrated embodiment of the insulating device 100 can be a soft-sided insulated lunchbox that can be used to keep the contents safe and at a suitable storage temperature for at least several hours. The insulating device 100 can comprise a body assembly 120, a lid assembly 140 rotatably coupled to the body assembly 120, a storage compartment 160 formed by the body assembly 120 and the lid assembly 140, and a closure 180 adapted to selectively connect the body assembly 120 and the lid assembly 140. A plurality of handles 190 can be included on the insulating device 10 for carrying, holding, or securing the insulating device 100. The insulating device 100 can be configured to keep the contents stored in the storage compartment 160 cold or warm for several hours. In some embodiments, the insulating device 100 can also be designed to keep water inside the storage compartment 160 and can be configured to be watertight. In these examples, the insulating device 100 can be waterproof, so that water cannot enter the storage compartment 160 from the outside or leak out of the storage compartment 160 when the closure 180 is in the closed position. As shown in Figures 1-10, the insulating device 100 can be in the shape of a cuboid or a rectangular prism and have a front side 102, a back side 104, a right side 106, a left side 108, a top side 110, and a bottom side 112. For example, the body assembly 120 can comprise the bottom layer 122, the first side wall 124A, the second side wall 124B, the third side wall 124C, and the side wall 124D, along with corner members 126 connecting adjacent side walls 124 to form the outer shape of the bottom portion of the cuboid. The lid assembly 140 can comprise a top layer 142 and a top side wall 144 to form the outer shape of the top portion of the cuboid. Other shapes for the insulating device 100 are also considered, for example, cylindrical, spherical, conical, pyramidal, frustoconical, frustospherical, frustopyramidal, etc.The length of the insulating device 100 may be greater than its width and height, and the width may be greater than the height. For example, the height of the insulating device 100 may, in one embodiment, be in the range of 80 mm to 150 mm, where, in a particular example, it may be approximately 115 mm. The length of the insulating device 100 may be in the range of 200 mm to 310 mm, where, in a particular example, it may be approximately 260 mm. Furthermore, the width of the insulating device 100 may, in one example, be in the range of 150 mm to 270 mm, and, in a specific example, the width may be approximately 210 mm. However, it is contemplated that the insulating device 100 may comprise any dimensions of height, length, width, and volume without departing from the scope of these disclosures. The storage compartment 160 of the insulating device 100 can be accessed through the opening 162 formed in the top of the body assembly 120. An inner lining 128 of the body assembly 120 can form an inner surface of the storage compartment, while a lid lining 146 can form the inner surface of the lid assembly 140. As will be discussed in more detail later, a lid insulating layer 148 can be located between the top layer 142 and the lid lining 146, and an insulating layer 130 can be located between the side wall 124 and the inner lining 128 and / or can also be located between the bottom layer 122 and the inner lining 128. The body assembly 120 may also include a plurality of handles 190. The handles 190 may be located on multiple sides of the body assembly 120. For example, in the example embodiment, the handles 190 may include a front handle 192 disposed on the front side 102, a right-side handle 194 on the right side 106, and a left-side handle 196 on the left side. The handles 190 may be joined by connecting elements 198, such as stitches with thread, but these threads joining the handles 190 may not extend, in some examples, to the insulating layer 130 or the inner lining 128. The multiple handles 190 (192, 194, 196) provide a user with options for gripping and carrying the insulating device. In addition, a looped band 202 can be arranged 9 over either or both ends of the front handle 192 to attach various items (e.g., carabiners, storage cases, etc.).In some embodiments, the handles 190 and loop bands 202 can be arranged on any part of the body assembly 120 or the lid assembly 140. The handles 190 and loop bands 202 can be made of nylon webbing. As alternative options, the handles 190 and loop bands 202 can be made of polypropylene, neoprene, polyester, Dyneema, Kevlar, cotton fabric, leather, plastic, rubber, or rope. The handles 190 and loop bands 202 can be attached to the body assembly 120 by stitching, adhesive, or polymer welding. In some embodiments, the handles 190 and loop bands 202 can be sewn to patches with thread, where the patches are then attached to the insulating device 100. The insulating device 100 may also include pockets, anchor points, and D-rings on any part of the outer surface of the outer cover. The pockets can be sized to hold keys, phones, wallets, etc., and may be waterproof. The pockets may also include a waterproof zipper to prevent the contents from getting wet. As shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 9 and 10, the body assembly 120 may comprise an inner lining 128 enclosing an insulating layer 130. For clarity, the handles 190 are omitted from the cross-sectional views of Figures 9 and 10. In one example, as shown in Figure 9, the inner lining 128 may consist of one or more side-wall inner linings 128A and a bottom inner lining 128B. The one or more side-wall inner linings 128A may be secured to each other and to the bottom inner lining 128B with a splice joint using a polymer welding technique. Polymer welding may include external and internal methods. External or thermal methods include hot gas welding, hot wedge welding, hot plate welding, infrared welding, and laser welding.Internal methods may include mechanical and electromagnetic welding. Mechanical methods may include rotary welding, stir welding, vibration welding, and ultrasonic welding. Electromagnetic methods may include resistance welding, implant welding, electrofusion welding, induction welding, dielectric welding, RF (radio frequency) welding, and microwave welding. Welding may be performed on a flat or horizontal plane to maximize the effectiveness of polymer welding in construction materials. Optionally, the 128A and 128B liners may be secured or joined together with tape; for example, TPU tape may be placed over the seams to form the 160 storage compartment. The insulating layer 130 can be located between the inner lining 128 and the outer side walls 124, and can be formed as insulation to help maintain the internal temperature of the storage compartment 160. In one example, the insulating layer 130 can be a free-floating layer that is not directly attached to the outer side walls or the bottom layer 122. The insulating layer 130 can be formed as one or more side wall insulating portions 130A and one bottom insulating portion 130B. The one or more side wall insulating portions 130A and the bottom insulating portion 130B can be made of an insulating foam material as described in more detail later. The one or more side wall insulating layers 130A can be a closed-cell foam and can have a thickness within a range of 2 mm to 6 mm, or approximately 4 mm.The lower insulating layer 130B can be a closed-cell foam and can have a thickness ranging from 4 mm to 8 mm, or approximately 6 mm. For example, the insulating layer 130 could be made of vinyl nitride (NBR / PVC blend) or any other suitable blend. Furthermore, an insulated tab 132 may be formed from a portion of the inner lining 128A and a portion of the insulation layer 130A to improve the overall insulation performance of the insulating device 100. As shown in Figure 11 Figures 2, 9, and 10 show that the insulated tab 132 can be positioned inward or behind the closure 180 to provide a thermal retention member behind the closure 180. The insulated tab 132 can extend upward from one end of the base 133 in a connection region 139 where a lower end of the closure is attached to the side wall 124 to a distal end that can be located on or above a midpoint of the closure 180 in a vertical direction. The midpoint of the closure 180 is defined as the location where the closure 180 is divided between a portion attached to the body assembly 120 and a portion attached to the lid assembly 140. In some cases, the distal end 135 of the insulated tab 132 can contact the lid lining 146 of the lid assembly 140 when the insulating device 100 is in the closed configuration.In some embodiments, the lid liner 146 and the insulated tab 132 may include complementary surfaces forming an interlocking feature to secure the insulated tab 132 to the lid liner 146 in order to improve the insulation performance of the insulating device 100. The interlocking feature may include a groove in the liner 146 that receives a top surface of the insulated tab 132. The insulated tab 132 may also extend continuously along the entire closure 180 or most of it to help isolate the storage compartment 160 along the closure 180. In other words, the insulated tab 132 may extend continuously around the sides 106, 108, the front side 102, and a portion of the rear side 104, where the insulated tab 132 may have ends that are adjacent to or connect to the hinge 138. The insulated tab 132 may be formed by a portion of the inner lining 128A and the insulating layer 130A, wherein the inner lining 128A may form an outward-facing layer 136 and an inward-facing layer 137 of the insulated tab 132. The inner lining 128 may extend around a portion of the insulating layer 130A from the outward-facing layer 136 to the inward-facing layer 137 and connect to the closure at one end of the base 135. As shown in Figures 9 and 10, the insulated tab 132 may be connected to the closure 180 along the connection region 12 139 at the end of the base 135 through a connecting element 198 extending through the outward-facing layer 136, the inward-facing layer 137, the closure 180, a side wall 124, and the insulating layer 130A when viewed in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to a lower surface of the insulating device 100. In some embodiments, the insulated tab 132 may extend from the cap liner 146 where the end of the base is connected to or formed by the cap liner 146 and has a distal end that may be located at or below a midpoint of the closure 180 in a vertical direction. Alternatively, the insulated tab 132 may be formed as a separate component having a separate liner and insulating layer that may be attached to the cap assembly 140 or the body assembly 120. For example, the separately formed insulated tab 132 may have a base end connected to the inner sidewall liner 128A and a distal end that may be located at or above a midpoint of the closure 180 in a vertical direction. As another option, the separately formed insulated tab 132 may have a base end connected to the cap liner 146 and a distal end that may be located at or below a midpoint of the closure 180 in a vertical direction.As a further option, the separately formed insulated tab 132 may be attached to the closure 180 (such as the attached support or fabric 182) such that a first end of the insulated tab 132 may be attached to one side of the midpoint of the closure 180 and the insulated tab extends through the midpoint to the opposite side of the closure 180. Similar to the integrally formed insulated tab 132 described above, in embodiments having a separately formed insulated tab 132, the tab 132 may also extend along the entire length of the closure 180 or along most of it. The tongue 132 can be attached at the ends to the hinge 138 and extend around the sides 106, 108, the front side 102 and a portion of the back side 104, where the insulated tongue 132 can have ends that are adjacent to or connect to the hinge 138. As discussed above, the body assembly 120 may comprise the bottom layer 122, the first side wall 124A, the second side wall 124B, the third side wall 124C, and the side wall 124D, along with corner members 126 that connect adjacent side walls 124 to form the outer shape of the lower portion of the rectangular prism. The side walls 124 and corner members 126 may be formed from multiple pieces and may be joined together by splice joints and secured to each other by connecting elements 198, such as stitches, or joined by any known method, for example, polymer welding, stitching, or other adhesive. The side walls 124 and corner members 126 may provide the outer covering of the insulating device 100. As discussed above, the insulating layer 130 may be freely suspended within the body assembly 120.Alternatively, the insulating layers 130 could also be secured or formed as an integral one-piece structure. The bottom layer 122 may increase the insulation and structural integrity of the insulating device 100. The bottom layer 122 may also provide additional protection around the bottom of the insulating device 100. The bottom layer 122 may have perimeter edges 123 that extend upwards towards the lid assembly 140. In one example, the bottom layer 122 may be made of EVA foam. The bottom layer 122 may also include a design, such as a logo or name, which may be molded or stamped directly into the material. The bottom layer 122 may be attached to the side walls 124 and corner members 126 by connecting elements 198, such as stitching or other known methods. The lid assembly 140 may include a top layer 142, an upper side wall 144, and a lid liner 146. The lid assembly 140 may be generally rectangular in shape and include perimeter edges 150 extending upwards in a direction away from the body assembly 120. These upwardly extending perimeter edges 150 may have a height that provides a user with a handhold to assist in opening and closing the closure 180. The perimeter edges 150 may have an edge height defined as a vertical height from an upper surface 152 of the top layer 142 to the top of the perimeter edges 150, where the edge height may be greater than a thickness of the lid insulating layer 148. In some embodiments, the edge height may be at least twice the thickness of the lid insulating layer 148.The rim height may be approximately 18 mm, or within a range of 15 mm to 21 mm, or within a range of 12 mm to 24 mm. In other embodiments, the rim height may be approximately 15 percent of the total height of the insulating device 100, or within a range of 13 percent to 17 percent of the total height of the insulating device 100, or within a range of 10 percent to 20 percent of the total height of the insulating device 100. The perimeter rims 150 may have a constant height or a variable height where one region of the perimeter rims is higher than an adjacent region. In some embodiments, the perimeter rims 150 may have a mating or receiving member that could receive or secure accessories, such as a bottle opener or utensils.Furthermore, the top layer 142 of the lid assembly 140 may have a pocket formed on the top surface, where the perimeter edges 150 may form a portion of the sides of the pocket where the pocket may be directly connected to the perimeter edges 150. The side wall 144 can be joined to the perimeter edges 150 along its contour by a connecting element such as stitches. Optionally, the top side wall 144 can be joined to the perimeter edges 150 with an RF welded joint, or other types of securing methods could be used, such as other forms of welding, stitches, adhesives, rivets, etc. A rim member 154 can extend along the entire perimeter edges 150 of the lid assembly 140, where the rim member 154 can also be joined to the top layer 142 and the top side wall 144 by connecting elements 198, such as stitches or other means known to people of a mid-level skill. The side walls 144 may be formed from multiple pieces and may be joined together by splice joints and secured to each other by connecting elements 198, such as stitches, or joined by any known method, for example, polymer welding, stitching, or other adhesive. The edge member 154 may be formed from a single nylon webbing or from a plurality of webbing. The insulating layer 148 may be freely suspended within the lid assembly 140 between the top layer 142 and the lid liner 146. Alternatively, the insulating layers 148 could also be secured or formed as an integral, one-piece structure. As another option, the lid liner 146 may be formed as a separate component and joined along the inner edges of the lid assembly 140.Additionally, the 146 lid liner may also include a pocket or other retention member, where the pocket may be configured to hold utensils, a portable ice pack, or other items. The top layer 142 can increase the insulation and structural integrity of the insulating device 100. The top layer 142 can also provide additional protection around the top of the insulating device 100. In one embodiment, the top layer 142 can be made of a foam rubber, such as ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) foam or a similar material. The top layer 142 can also include a design, such as a logo or name, which can be molded or stamped directly into the material. The insulating layer of lid 148 may consist of a single layer of foam, which corresponds to the general shape of the lid assembly 140. In one example, the foam may be an insulating foam, as discussed herein, which may be the same foam used in the body assembly 120, and may not be bonded and may float between the lid lining 146 and the upper side wall 144. In some embodiments, the linings 128 and 146 may be made of double-laminated TPU-coated nylon fabric. The sidewalls 124 and the top sidewall 144 may be made of polyester fabric laminated with ether TPU on one side, or ether TPU laminated to at least one side of 600D POLY fabric. The laminated fabric forming the linings and sidewalls may be waterproof and have an antimicrobial coating or additive that meets all Food and Drug Administration requirements. In addition, all fabrics used to construct the insulating device may incorporate antimicrobial materials to create a mildew-free environment that is safe for use as a food contact surface. In one specific example, the nylon may be 840D nylon with TPU. Alternative materials used to manufacture the inner lining 128.The lid lining 146, side walls 124 and top side wall 144 can be PVC, TPU-coated nylon, coated fabrics and other weldable and waterproof fabrics. Furthermore, as shown in the cross-sectional views of Figures 9 and 10, the lid assembly 140 can be connected to the body assembly 120 on one side of the insulating device 100, forming a live hinge 138. In the example embodiment, the live hinge 138 can be formed by the side wall 124D on a rear side 104 of the insulating device 100. The side wall 124D can be taller than the other side walls 124. The side wall 124D can connect with the lower layer 122 of the body assembly 120 and extend upwards to connect with the upper layer 142 of the lid assembly. The live hinge 138 can also be reinforced by an internal fragment of fabric material.In some embodiments, a portion of the inner lining 128D may reinforce the live hinge 138, so that the inner lining 128D can extend upward from the storage compartment 160 and join the top layer 142 between the top layer 142 and the side wall 124D. By using the live hinge 138, the storage compartment 160 and its contents can be accessed by opening the latch 180 and rotating or folding back the lid assembly 140 along the live hinge 138. As discussed previously, the closure 180 can be selectively connected to the body assembly 120 and the lid assembly 140. The closure 180 can be joined to the side walls 124 by means of connecting elements 198, where the connecting elements 198 can be stitched with thread. In particular, the closure 180 can be joined to at least one of the side walls 124 by means of connecting elements 198, where the connecting elements 198 extend through a side wall 124, the closure 180, the inner lining 128, and the insulating layer 130 when viewed in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to a lower surface of the insulating device, as shown in Figures 9 and 10. Similarly, along the corners of the insulating device 100, the closure 180 can be joined to at least one of the corner members 126 by means of connecting elements 198.where the connecting elements 198 extend through a corner member 126, the closure 180, the inner lining 128, and the insulating layer 130. The closure 180 can be opened to allow access to the storage compartment 160 or closed to prevent access to the storage compartment 160. The closure 180 can be a zipper assembly as shown in Figures 1-10, but it can be other sealing devices. For example, the closure 180 can be a hook-and-loop fastener (i.e., Velcro), snaps, buckles, excess material folded multiple times to form a seal, such as a roll seal, seals, metal or plastic clamps, and combinations thereof, which could be used as a closing mechanism. The closure 180 can extend around the entire perimeter or most of the perimeter of the insulating device 100, such as at least three sides of the insulating device 100. In this particular example, the user can easily access the contents of the insulating device 100 after opening the closure 180 and the lid assembly 140 has been rotated in a direction away from the body assembly 120 along the hinge 138 as shown in Figure 2. The closure 180 can be mounted on a support or fabric 182, which is included as a portion of the closure 180 as described herein. If it is a zipper, it may be referred to as zipper tape 182. The zipper tape 182 can be attached between each side wall 124 and the inner lining 128 on the body assembly 120 and can be attached between the top side wall 144 and the lid lining 146 on the lid assembly 140. Furthermore, as described above, the fact that the connecting element 198 extends through the closure 180 can be interpreted as the connecting element extending through the fabric or zipper tape 182. As discussed above, the storage compartment may include an insulated tab 132 extending along the closure 180, where the insulated tab 132 also extends upward beyond the midpoint of the closure 180. In some embodiments, the insulated tab 132 may include a magnetic element 134 secured within the insulated tab 132. The magnetic element 134 may be located along an upper region of the tab 132 such that it can engage with a magnetic element 156 secured within the lid assembly 140. The attractive forces of the magnetic elements 134 and 156 may cause the lid liner 146 to contact the portion of the inner liner 128 that forms the outer surface of the insulated tab 132 when the insulating device is in its closed configuration.Furthermore, magnetic forces can help keep the insulated tab 132 raised and in its proper position when the insulating device 100 is in its closed configuration, further minimizing any temperature increases or decreases within the storage compartment. The magnetic element 134 can be secured within the insulated tab 132 between the inner lining 128 and the insulating layer portion 130A. Similarly, the magnetic element 156 can be located between the lid lining 146 and the lid insulating layer 148. In some embodiments, the magnetic elements 134 and 156 can be secured under their respective linings 128 and 146 so that they are not visible when the insulating device 100 is in its open configuration, whereas in other embodiments, the magnetic elements 134 and 156 are secured under their respective linings 128 and 146 so that they are not visible when the insulating device 100 is in its open configuration.156 can be located in pockets or protrusions (not shown) on the insulated tab 132 and lid liner 146 that project above the surface of the insulated tab 132 and lid liner 146. The magnetic elements 134, 156 can be secured in place with an adhesive, solder, or other technique known to persons of a mid-level trade. The magnetic elements 134, 156 may have their center points substantially aligned with each other to maximize their attractive force. Furthermore, in some embodiments, the insulating device may comprise a pair of magnetic elements located along a central plane on the front side 102 of the insulating device 100. In other embodiments, the insulating device may include multiple pairs of magnetic elements located along the insulated tab 132 and in corresponding positions on the cap assembly 140. The magnetic elements 134, 156 can be of any shape and size, and in some cases, each magnetic element 134, 156 can be the same size, while in other embodiments, the magnetic elements can be of different sizes. For example, in the example embodiment, the magnetic elements 134, 156 can be rectangular with a length of approximately 25 mm, a width of approximately 5 mm, and a thickness of approximately 2 mm. The magnetic elements 134, 156 can be one or more permanent magnets, strips of metal, or ferromagnetic materials. The present invention has been disclosed above and in the accompanying drawings with reference to a variety of examples. The purpose of the disclosure, however, is to provide examples of the various features and concepts related to the invention, but not to limit the scope of the invention. A person of average skill will recognize that numerous variations and modifications can be made to the examples described above without departing from the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. An insulating device comprising: a body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a bottom layer, a first side wall attached to the bottom layer, an inner lining, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is located between the first side wall and the inner lining; a lid assembly rotatably connected to the body assembly, wherein the lid assembly includes a top layer, a lid insulating layer, and a lid lining; a storage compartment formed by the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the insulating device has an open configuration providing access to the storage compartment and a closed configuration preventing access to the storage compartment.a closure located between the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the closure is adapted to selectively connect the body assembly and the lid assembly; and an insulated tab formed by a portion of the inner lining and a portion of the insulating layer, wherein the insulated tab is within the insulation compartment and into the closure and has a distal end located over a midpoint of the closure.

2. The insulating device according to claim 1, wherein the lid assembly includes perimeter edges extending upwards in a direction away from the body assembly.

3. The insulating device according to claim 2, wherein the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from an upper surface of the perimeter edges to an upper surface of the top layer, wherein the edge height is at least 2 times greater than a thickness of the cap insulating layer.

4. The insulating device according to claim 2, wherein the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from an upper surface of the perimeter edges, wherein the edge height is within a range of 10 percent and 20 percent of a total height and 20 percent of the insulating device.

5. The insulating device according to claim 1, wherein the closure is attached to the first side wall by means of a connecting element, wherein the connecting element extends through the closure, the first side wall, the inner lining and the insulating layer when viewed in a cross section formed by a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to a lower surface of the insulating device.

6. The insulating device according to claim 1, wherein the insulated tab is formed by a portion of the inner lining, wherein the inner lining forms a layer facing outwards from the insulated tab and a surface facing inwards from the insulated tab.

7. The insulating device according to claim 6, wherein the inner lining extends around the insulating layer from the inward-facing layer to the outward-facing layer, wherein the insulated tab is connected to the closure at one end of the base.

8. The insulating device according to claim 7, wherein the insulated tab is connected to the closure at the base end via a connecting element extending through the inward-facing surface, the outward-facing layer, the closure, the first side wall, and the insulating layer when viewed in a cross-section formed by a vertical plane extending perpendicularly to a lower surface 23 of the insulating device.

9. The insulating device according to claim 1, wherein the insulated tab extends along the closure to insulate the storage compartment along the closure.

10. The insulating device according to claim 1, wherein the insulating tab includes a first magnetic element that engages with a second magnetic element on the cap assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration.

11. The insulating device according to claim 10, wherein the first magnetic element is located between the inner lining and the insulating layer, and wherein the second magnetic element is located between the lid lining and the lid insulating layer.

12. An insulating device comprising: a body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a bottom layer, a side wall attached to the bottom layer, an inner lining, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is located between the bottom layer and the inner lining; a lid assembly rotatably connected to the body assembly, wherein the lid assembly includes a top layer, a lid insulating layer, and a lid lining; a storage compartment formed by the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the insulating device has an open configuration providing access to the storage compartment and a closed configuration; a closure adapted for selectively connecting the body assembly and the lid assembly;and a tab, formed at least partially by a portion of the inner lining, wherein the tab is within the storage compartment and towards the inside of the closure and has a distal end located over a midpoint of the closure, and wherein the tab includes a first magnetic element that engages with a second magnetic element on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration.

13. The insulating device according to claim 12, wherein the tab comes into contact with the lid lining on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration.

14. The insulating device according to claim 12, wherein the top layer of the lid assembly includes perimeter edges extending upwards in a direction away from the body assembly, wherein the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from an upper surface of the perimeter edges, wherein the edge height is at least 2 times greater than a thickness of the lid insulating layer.

15. The insulating device according to claim 12, wherein the top layer is made of a foam rubber material.

16. The insulating device according to claim 12, wherein the lid assembly and the body assembly are connected by a hinge on one side of the insulating device, wherein the hinge is formed by a second side wall extending from the lower layer of the body assembly to the upper layer of the lid lining of the lid assembly.

17. The insulating device according to claim 12, wherein the tab includes a portion of the insulating layer enclosed within the inner lining.

18. An insulating device comprising: a body assembly, wherein the body assembly includes a bottom layer, a first side wall attached to the bottom layer, an inner lining, and an insulating layer, wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is located between the bottom layer and the inner lining; a lid assembly rotatably connected to the body assembly; wherein the lid assembly includes a top layer, a lid insulating layer, and a lid lining; wherein the top layer of the lid assembly includes perimeter edges extending upwards in a direction away from the body assembly, wherein the perimeter edges have an edge height defined as a vertical height from an upper surface of the top layer to a top portion of the perimeter edges, wherein the edge height is greater than a thickness of the lid insulating layer;a storage compartment formed by the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the insulating device has an open configuration providing access to the storage compartment and a closed configuration; a closure adapted to selectively connect the body assembly and the lid assembly, wherein the closure is attached to the first side wall by means of a connecting element, wherein the connecting element extends through the first side wall, the closure, the inner lining and the insulating layer;and an insulated tab formed by a portion of the inner lining and a portion of the insulating layer, wherein the insulated tab is disposed inwards into the closure and has a distal end extending over a midpoint of the closure, wherein the insulated tab includes a first magnetic element that engages with a second magnetic element on the lid assembly when the insulating device is in the closed configuration.

19. The insulating device according to claim 18, wherein the insulated tongue is formed by the inner lining, wherein the inner lining forms a layer facing outwards from the insulated tongue and a surface facing inwards from the insulated tongue.

20. The insulating device according to claim 18, wherein the insulated tab 5 extends the entire length of the closure to insulate the storage compartment along the entire length of the closure.

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