초록 ▼

A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the

A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and an internal, substantially rigid molded plastic receptacle mounted therein. It has a cover structure that includes a reinforcement member for engaging a land region of the molded receptacle, thereby tending to yield an interface tending to have a sealing relationship. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.

대표청구항 ▼

We claim: 1. An insulated, soft-sided container assembly comprising: a body assembly and a lid assembly hingedly joined to said body assembly; said body assembly including an insulated soft-sided outer casing and an internal hard-shell receptacle; said receptacle having a mouth; said lid assembly i

We claim: 1. An insulated, soft-sided container assembly comprising: a body assembly and a lid assembly hingedly joined to said body assembly; said body assembly including an insulated soft-sided outer casing and an internal hard-shell receptacle; said receptacle having a mouth; said lid assembly including a formed structural member having a periphery for mating engagement with said mouth of said receptacle; said structural member being engageable in an interference fit with said mouth of said receptacle; and said structural member includes a bead and said bead is engageable with said mouth. 2. The insulated, soft-sided container assembly of claim 1 wherein said mouth and said structural member are co-operable to form a seal. 3. An insulated, soft-sided container assembly comprising: a body assembly and a lid assembly hingedly joined to said body assembly; said body assembly including an insulated soft-sided outer casing and an internal hard-shell receptacle; said receptacle having a mouth; said lid assembly including a formed structural member having a periphery for mating engagement with said mouth of said receptacle; said structural member being engageable in an interference fit with said mouth of said receptacle; and said mouth defines and opening of said receptacle and includes a land for co-operation with said structural member, said structural member is a surround, said receptacle is made of a stiffer material than said soft-sided outer casing, and said land is a region of said receptacle extending about said opening. 4. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 3 wherein, when said surround engages said land, hoop stresses are developed in at least one of (a) said land; and (b) said surround. 5. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 3 wherein, when said surround engages said land, one of (a) a compressive hoop stress is generated said land, and tensile hoop stresses are generated in said surround; and (b) a compressive hoop stress is generated in said surround, and tensile hoop stresses are generated in said land. 6. An insulated, soft-sided container assembly comprising: a body assembly and a lid assembly hingedly joined to said body assembly; said body assembly including an insulated soft-sided outer casing and an internal hard-shell receptacle; said receptacle having a mouth; said lid assembly including a formed structural member having a periphery for mating engagement with said mouth of said receptacle; said structural member being engageable in an interference fit with said mouth of said receptacle; and a removable thermal storage element. 7. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein said thermal storage element is matingly engageable with said lid assembly. 8. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein said thermal storage element is matingly engageable with said structural member of said lid assembly. 9. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein said thermal storage element is alternately locatable in said lid assembly and in said body assembly. 10. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein, when said lid assembly is in an open position, and said thermal storage element is engaged in said lid assembly, said thermal storage element presents a support surface for objects withdrawn from said body assembly. 11. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein said thermal storage element includes a flat surface, and said thermal storage element is movable to permit said flat surface to act as a support surface for objects removed from said body assembly. 12. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein said thermal storage element has at least one cup-holder recess formed therein. 13. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 6 wherein said thermal storage element has an internal cavity for containing a thermal storage medium, and said cavity is refillable. 14. An insulated, soft-sided container assembly comprising: a body assembly and a lid assembly hingedly joined to said body assembly; said body assembly including an insulated soft-sided outer casing and an internal hard-shell receptacle; said receptacle having a mouth; said lid assembly including a formed structural member having a periphery for mating engagement with said mouth of said receptacle; said structural member being engageable in an interference fit with said mouth of said receptacle; and said mouth and said structural member define an engagement interface of said body assembly with said lid assembly, and said interface is zipperless. 15. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 14 further comprising a grip member by which to urge said structural member to a disengaged position relative to said mouth. 16. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 14 further comprising a mechanical attachment element operable to secure said body assembly in a closed position relative to said lid assembly. 17. An insulated soft-sided container assembly comprising: a first insulated soft sided container portion and a second insulated soft-sided container portion, said second insulated soft sided container portion being movably connected to said first insulated soft-sided container portion; said first insulated soft-sided container portion having a base wall and a soft-sided upstanding sidewall extending away from the base wall, said first insulated soft-sided container portion being broader than tall; said first insulated soft sided container portion having an enclosure defined therein, said enclosure having an opening distant from said base wall; said second insulated soft-sided container portion being movable to govern access to said opening; said second insulated soft-sided container portion including a stiffened member, said stiffened member being stiffer than said soft-sided upstanding sidewall; said first insulated soft-sided container portion having a stiffened land adjacent said opening, said stiffened land being stiffer than said soft-sided upstanding sidewall; and said stiffened member being operable to mate with said stiffened land in an interference fit to close said opening. 18. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein at least one of (a) said stiffened member of said second portion; and (b) said stiffened land of said first portion is a continuous peripherally extending member. 19. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein a substantially rigid liner is mounted within said first insulated soft-sided container portion, said liner has a rim, and said rim defines said stiffened land of said first soft-sided container portion. 20. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein a substantially rigid receptacle is mounted within said first insulated soft-sided container portion, said receptacle has a rim, and said rim defines said stiffened land of said first soft-sided insulated container portion. 21. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein said stiffened member of said second insulated soft-sided container portion seats inwardly of said stiffened land of said first soft-sided insulated container portion. 22. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein one of (a) said stiffened land of said first soft-sided container portion; and (b) said stiffened member of said second soft-sided container portion includes a substantially continuous peripheral bead formed thereon. 23. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein said second soft-sided insulated container portion defines a lid of said first soft-sided insulated container portion. 24. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein said assembly includes a secondary closure member operable to secure said first portion and said second portion in a closed position relative to each other when said stiffened land and said stiffened member are in an interference fit. 25. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 24 wherein said secondary closure member is a trackless closure member. 26. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 25 wherein said secondary closure member employs a hook-and-eye closure. 27. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein said first soft-sided insulated container portion has the form of a generally rectangular box. 28. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 27 wherein said box has a height, a width, and a length; said base being substantially rectangular and having a size defined by said length and width; said upstanding sidewall running peripherally about said base wall, and said height being measured away from said base wall; and at least one of said length and width being greater than said height. 29. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 28 wherein said upstanding sidewall has (a) first and second long sides and (b) first and second short sides, said long sides and said short sides defining a generally rectangular shape, and said assembly has a lifting member mounted to one of (a) said long sides; and (b) said short sides. 30. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 28 wherein said upstanding sidewall has (a) first and second long sides and (b) first and second short sides, said long sides and said short sides defining a generally rectangular shape, and said second soft-sided insulated container portion is hingedly connected to said first soft-sided insulated container portion along one of said long sides. 31. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 28 wherein said second soft-sided insulated container portion is a substantially planar rectangular panel defining a lid of said first soft-sided insulated container portion. 32. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 29 wherein said second soft-sided insulated container portion is hingedly connected to said first soft-sided container portion along an upper, edge of one of said long sides thereof, and has a carrying handle mounted to one of said short sides thereof. 33. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 32 wherein both said length and said width are greater than said height. 34. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 28 wherein said enclosure of said first soft-sided container portion is a first enclosure, and said second soft-sided insulated container portion has soft-sided wall structure defining a second enclosure therewithin. 35. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 34 wherein a substantially rigid receptacle is mounted within said first insulated soft-sided container portion, said receptacle has a rim, and said rim defines said stiffened land of said first soft-sided insulated container portion. 36. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 34 wherein said soft-sided wall structure of said second soft-sided container portion includes first and second end walls and a spanning wall extending between said end walls, said end walls having a downwardly broadening profile. 37. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 36 wherein said spanning wall has a closure member mounted thereto. 38. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 36 wherein said spanning wall has a carrying handle mounted thereto. 39. The insulated soft sided container assembly of claim 17 wherein: said enclosure of said first soft-sided insulated container portion is a first enclosure; said opening of said first soft-sided insulated container portion is a first opening; said base wall of said first soft-sided insulated container portion is substantially rectangular in plan view, and has a length and a width, said length being greater in magnitude than said width; said upstanding sidewall includes first and second short side portions, and first and second long side portions mounted to corresponding long and short margins of said base wall; said upstanding wall having a height, said height being of lesser magnitude than said width; a substantially rigid receptacle mounted within said first soft-sided insulated container portion, said receptacle having a rim, said rim defining said stiffened land of said first insulated soft-sided container portion; said second soft-sided insulated container portion is hingedly connected to one of said long side portions of said first soft-sided insulated container portion; said second soft-sided insulated container portion has a first panel having a footprint corresponding generally to said base wall, said first panel including said stiffened member, and having long sides corresponding to said length of said base wall, and short sides corresponding to said width of said base wall; said second soft-sided insulated container portion includes first and second end walls upstanding from said short sides of said first panel, said first and second end walls having downwardly widening profiles; a spanning wall extending between said first and second end walls; said first panel, said end walls and said spanning wall defining a second enclosure therewithin; and said second soft-sided insulated container portion includes a second opening by which to obtain access to said second enclosure; and said second soft-sided insulated container portion includes a closure member operable to govern access to said second enclosure. 40. The insulated, soft-sided container assembly of claim 14 wherein: said receptacle has a bottom wall, and an upstanding peripheral sidewall, said sidewall terminating at an upper margin distant from said bottom wall, said upper margin having a flange formed thereat extending peripherally about said mouth; said insulated soft-sided outer casing extends about said upstanding sidewall, and includes an outer skin and a layer of foam insulation, the foam insulation layer being located between said outer skin and said upstanding peripheral sidewall of said receptacle. 41. The insulated, soft-sided container assembly of claim 40 wherein said soft-sided outer casing also includes an inner skin, and said receptacle is removably mounted inside said inner skin. 42. The insulated soft sided receptacle of claim 40 wherein: said bottom wall of said receptacle has four sides; said receptacle has a front sidewall portion, a rear sidewall portion, a right hand side portion and a left hand side portion each standing upwardly from a respective one of said four sides; said insulated soft-sided casing has respective front, rear, right hand and left hand side portions corresponding to said front, rear, left hand and right hand side portions of said receptacle respectively. 43. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 42 wherein said assembly includes a hinge located along said upper margin of said upstanding peripheral sidewall along said rear portion thereof; and an auxiliary wall structure mounted to said front portion of said upstanding peripheral wall structure. 44. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 42 wherein said body assembly has lifting apparatus mounted to upper region of opposite sides thereof. 45. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 40 wherein: said formed structural member of said lid assembly includes a first portion for mating with said mouth of said receptacle in said interference fit; said first portion of said formed structural member includes a first wall defining a flange portion of said formed structural member, in use said flange portion contacting said mouth of said receptacle, a second wall, and a third wall joining said first wall to said second wall; said first, second and third walls form a channel section in which said first wall and said second wall define legs of the channel section and said third wall defines a back of the channel section. 46. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 45 wherein said first wall has one of (a) a bulbous portion; and (b) a detent, formed therein. 47. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 45 wherein said second wall defines a wall of a recess defined in said lid. 48. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 47 wherein said second wall includes first and second opposed portions defining a seat for a removable member, said first and second opposed portions having detent fittings for engaging the removable member. 49. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 45 wherein said receptacle and said first wall have mating male and female bulb and detent features. 50. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 40 wherein: said formed structural member of said lid assembly includes a first wall for mating with said mouth of said receptacle in said interference fit; said formed structural member of said lid assembly includes a second wall obliquely inclined toward, and connected to, said first wall to said second wall. 51. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 45 wherein: said receptacle has a rim; said formed structural member of said lid assembly includes a first wall portion, said first wall portion defining a substantially planar flange oriented to abut said rim of said receptacle when said lid is in a closed position relative to said body assembly; said formed structural member of said lid includes a second wall portion, said second wall portion being connected to said first wall portion and being oriented to stand away from said first wall portion, said second wall portion being oriented to engage said receptacle in said interference fit when said lid is moved to said closed position. 52. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 51 wherein said formed structural member includes a third wall portion connected to said second wall portion, said third wall portion extending parallel to said first wall portion. 53. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 51 wherein said formed structural member includes a third wall portion, said second and third wall portions being connected, said second and third wall portions, when viewed in cross-section, defining portions of a channel section, said channel section running along one side of said lid assembly. 54. The insulated soft-sided container assembly of claim 51 wherein said formed structural member includes a third wall portion, said second and third wall portions being connected, said second and third wall portions, when viewed in cross-section, defining portions of a channel section, said channel section running peripherally about said lid assembly.