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. Both the receptacle and the engaging seal member of the lid may be outwardly splayed. The container may also include a thermal storage element, and the container may have an accommodation for receiving the thermal storage element.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A container assembly that includes a soft-sided insulated container and a substantially rigid liner, wherein: said insulated container has a soft-sided insulated wall structure having a top wall, a bottom wall, left and right hand short sidewall portions, and first and second long sidewall portio

1. A container assembly that includes a soft-sided insulated container and a substantially rigid liner, wherein: said insulated container has a soft-sided insulated wall structure having a top wall, a bottom wall, left and right hand short sidewall portions, and first and second long sidewall portions;said bottom wall is substantially rectangular;said bottom wall has first and second short side edges, and first and second long side edges;said first and second long sidewall portions adjoin said first and second long side edges and extend upwardly away from said bottom wall;said left and right hand short sidewall portions adjoin said first and second short side edges and extend upwardly away from said bottom wall;said first and second long side wall portions and said left and right hand short side wall portions co-operate to define a peripheral wall running about said bottom wall;said peripheral wall has an upper margin distant from said bottom wall;said top wall is generally rectangular;said top wall has an edge portion hingedly connected to a corresponding portion of said upper margin of said peripheral wall;said top wall is movable between an open position and a closed position;in said closed position said bottom wall, top wall, left and right hand short sidewall portions, and first and second long sidewall portions define an internal volume therewithin;said insulated container wall structure includes an outer skin, an inner skin, and a layer of insulation sandwiched between said outer skin and said inner skin;said substantially rigid liner is sized to fit closely within said soft-sided insulated wall structure such that said substantially rigid liner occupies substantially all of said internal volume;said substantially rigid liner has a mouth that includes a peripherally extending rim defining a land;said top wall includes a formed structural member, said formed structural member being a peripherally extending engagement member that includes a stiffened member, said stiffened member being operable on closing of said top wall to engage said land of said substantially rigid liner; andsaid co-operable peripherally extending engagement member of said top wall and said land of said substantially rigid liner define a closure of said assembly, said closure so defined being zipperless. 2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said combination defines a container assembly having a length ‘L’, a width ‘W’, and a depth ‘D’;said bottom wall is a substantially planar wall of length ‘L’ and width ‘W’;a ratio of L:W lies in the range of 3:2, +/−25%; anda ratio of L:D lies in the range of 3:1, +/−25%. 3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said combination defines a container assembly having a length ‘L’, a width ‘W’, and a depth ‘D’; said bottom wall is a substantially planar wall of length ‘L’ and width ‘W’; and a ratio of L:W:D lies in the range of one of (i) 3:2:1, all +/−25%; and (ii) 5:3:2, all +/−25%. 4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said substantially rigid liner has a base wall and an upstanding peripheral sidewall;said upstanding peripheral sidewall has short and long sidewall portions corresponding to said short and long sidewall portions of said soft-sided insulated wall structure;said upstanding peripheral sidewall has a distal termination located distant from said base wall; andsaid land is defined at said distal termination. 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said liner includes internal indexing features defining seats for a partition for sub-dividing said liner into sub-compartments. 6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said upstanding peripheral sidewall has an upward and outward flare such that said closure is tapered. 7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said top wall has a fabric outer layer; said reinforcement of said top wall includes a peripheral flange; and said peripheral flange is joined to said outer layer by stitching passing through said peripheral flange. 8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said top wall is a substantially planar lid of said assembly;said formed structural member of said top wall includes a first leg extending out-of-plane relative to said substantially planar lid,a second leg spaced from said first leg; anda distal end portion extending between said first and second legs; andsaid first leg, said end portion and said second leg co-operate to define a channel section;there being portions of said formed structural member running along opposed margins of said lid, those portions having said channel section. 9. The assembly of claim 8 wherein an accommodation for a thermal energy storage element is defined between said opposed portions of said formed structural member. 10. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said top wall defines a substantially planar lid of said assembly; said formed structural member includes a panel having a peripheral lip; said stiffened member is a leg extending away from, and running peripherally about, said panel; and said leg includes a fattened distal end portion distant from said panel. 11. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid liner is a receptacle having a peripheral rim, and said peripheral rim includes a leg folded back upon itself to define a rim stiffening flange. 12. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said land of said substantially rigid liner defines a female closure fitting, and said stiffened member of said top wall defines a male closure fitting sized to fit within said female closure fitting. 13. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid liner is a tub mounted within said soft-sided insulated wall structure, said tub being removable therefrom. 14. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said substantially rigid liner is fixedly mounted within said soft-sided insulated wall structure. 15. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said closure includes one of (a) a peripheral bead; (b) an interference bulge; and (c) an interference detent. 16. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said soft-sided insulated wall structure includes an handle mounted to one of said sidewall portions of said peripheral wall thereof. 17. The assembly of claim 10 wherein said leg defines a cantilever, and, on closing, said cantilever is deflected inwardly relative to said internal volume by engagement with said land of said substantially rigid liner. 18. The assembly of claim 1 wherein: said substantially rigid liner is a receptacle having a peripheral rim;said peripheral rim includes a leg folded back upon itself to define a rim stiffening flange; andsaid top wall defines a substantially planar lid of said assembly;said formed structural member of said top wall includes one of (a) a first leg extending out-of-plane relative to said substantially planar lid, a second leg spaced from said first leg and a distal end portion extending between said first and second legs, such that said first leg, said end portion and said second leg co-operate to define a channel section of said formed structural member running along opposed margins of said lid; and(b) a panel having a peripheral lip, and said stiffened member includes a leg extending peripherally about said panel, said stiffened member leg including a fattened distal end portion distant from said panel, said stiffened member leg defining a cantilever, and, on closing, said cantilever is deflected peripherally inward relative to said internal volume. 19. The assembly of claim 18 wherein: said substantially rigid liner is a tub having a base wall and an upstanding peripheral sidewall having short and long sidewall portions corresponding to said short and long sidewall portions of said soft-sided insulated wall structure;said upstanding peripheral wall has a distal termination located distant from said base wall, and said land is defined at said distal termination; andsaid combination defines a container assembly having a length ‘L’, a width ‘W’, and a depth ‘D’, said bottom wall being a substantially planar wall of length ‘L’ and width ‘W’, and a ratio of L:W:D lying in the range of one of (i) 3:2:1, all +/−25%; and(ii) 5:3:2, all +/−25%. 20. The assembly of claim 18 wherein: said land of said substantially rigid liner defines a female closure fitting, and said stiffened member of said top wall defines a male closure fitting sized to fit within said female closure fitting;said upstanding peripheral wall flares upwardly and outwardly such that said closure is tapered;said reinforcement of said top wall includes a peripheral flange, and a fabric outer layer; andsaid peripheral flange being joined to said outer layer by stitching passing through said peripheral flange. 21. The assembly of claim 18 wherein: said substantially rigid liner is a receptacle having a peripheral rim;said peripheral rim includes a leg folded back upon itself to define a rim stiffening flange;said land of said substantially rigid liner defines a female closure fitting, and said stiffened member of said top wall defines a male closure fitting sized to fit within said female closure fitting;said upstanding peripheral wall has an upward and outward flare;said top wall defines a substantially planar lid of said assembly;said formed structural member of said top wall includes a panel having a peripheral lip;said stiffened member includes a leg extending away from and running peripherally about said panel;said stiffened member leg includes a fattened distal end portion distant from said panel;said leg defines a cantilever; andsaid cantilever is deflected peripherally inward relative to said internal volume as said planar lid closes and said distal end portion encounters said flare of said upstanding peripheral wall.