Container with reinforced and collapsible portions

Abstract

A soft-sided insulated container assembly has a first insulated portion and a second insulated portion. The first and second insulated portions are generally box-shaped and are mounted in a back-to-back arrangement, such that they share a common wall. One of the portions has a receptacle in the nature of a removable, non-collapsible molded plastic tub, or bucket, that also has a mating, removable, multi-positional divider mounted therein. The molded plastic receptacle is substantially rigid and functions to provide a stiff internal structure within the surrounding soft-sided wall structure. The other portion is foldable, and can be moved between a collapsed, out of use position, to an expanded position for use when the main receptacle is not sufficiently capacious for all objects, or when different objects are better kept at different environmental conditions. The foldable portion is provided with securing straps to keep it neatly in the folded position when not in use.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] This invention relates to the field of portable insulated containers. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Soft sided insulated containers have become popular for carrying either articles that may best be served cool, such as beverages or salads, or warm, such as appetizers, hot dogs, and so on. Such containers are frequently used to carry liquids, whether hot liquids, such as soup containers, coffee or tea, or cold liquids such as beer, soft drinks, or other carbonated beverages, juices and milk. The containers are typically made in a generally cube-like or rectangular parallelepiped shape, whether of sides of equal length or not, having a base, four upstanding walls, and a top. The top is generally a lid which opens to permit articles to be placed in, or retrieved from, the container. Most typically, collapsible, soft sided insulated coolers are used for objects that may tend to be less prone to bruising. For example, a cooler may be filled with ice and...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0014] In a further additional feature of that aspect of the invention the receptacle is a molded plastic bucket. In another feature, the container assembly also includes a multi-positionable divider mountable within the receptacle. In another feature, the soft-sided insulated container assembly includes a third, un-insulated portion mounted...

Problems solved by technology

However, such items as sandwiches or pastries tend not to be overly amenable to immersion in water, and, even if placed in a supposedly waterproof bag or plastic container may tend to become damp or clammy.

Further, sandwiches or appetizers tend not to be particularly resilient, and once squashed may tend not to return to their former state.

While items placed within the rigid insert may be provided with a measure of protection from external forces, they may be adversely affected by other items located within the rigid insert.

This may cause the less durable items to become damaged.

This movement may lead to damage or breakage of the items themselves.

Movement may also cause the contents of durable items such as soft drink and beer bottles to become agitated, causing the contents of such items to be expressed in an undesirable spray when opened.

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