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  Container with reinforced and collapsible portionsUSPTO Application #: 20070237432Title: 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. (end of abstract) Agent: Arent Fox PLLC - Washington, DC, US Inventor: Melvin S. Mogil USPTO Applicaton #: 20070237432 - Class: 383038000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Flexible Bags, Compartmented The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070237432. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
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 canned or bottled beverages. The cans and bottles may be relatively indifferent to their handling conditions--they are not troubled by being immersed in water, and, within reason, they can be bumped about without coming to much harm. [0003] This may not necessarily be true of other objects that one may wish to carry in a cooler, as for a picnic, for example. If one has egg sandwiches, or cucumber sandwiches, or items of a similar nature, it is desirable that the sandwiches be kept cool before being eaten. If one has warmed canapes or hors d'oeuvres, it may be desirable that those appetizers be kept warm until served. 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. [0004] In that light, then, it may be desirable to have a soft sided insulated container that has a first compartment that is reinforced in a manner to have a relatively rigid form, and therefore to provide a measure of protection for the cucumber sandwiches, and so on. It may still be advantageous also to have a collapsible cooler compartment for carrying hot or cold beverages, or other items. [0005] Further still, even if provided with a soft sided insulated container having a rigid reinforcement, such that the container may be, generally speaking, non-collapsible, it may be helpful to have an auxiliary insulated container, or insulated container portion, such that if there is an extra amount to be carried over what might normally be desired, then that is provided for by having a collapsible compartment that can be moved to a collapsed position, and retained in such position, when not required, and moved to an expanded position when required. Alternatively, it may be desirable to have one insulated container that can be used for keeping objects hot or warm, and another insulated compartment that can be used for keeping objects cool or cold, or further still, one insulated container for segregating relatively dry objects from another insulated container in which one may keep relatively wet objects. [0006] While it may be cumbersome to have two separate containers for this purpose, the problem may be addressed, as in an aspect of the present invention, at least in part, by having a collapsible container and a container with rigid reinforcement mounted together. Further still, it may be advantageous to have the two container portions share a common container profile, and a common insulated wall. [0007] 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. For example, more durable items such as bottles and cans, may come into contact with less durable items such as sandwiches and buns when the items are jostled during transport of the container. This may cause the less durable items to become damaged. In addition to providing a relatively rigid receptacle, it may also be advantageous to provide an internal, multi-positional divider in the container to further segregate objects from each other. [0008] The contents of items such as soft drink or beer bottles, may also be affected. As the container is moved, any item contained therein may move, and contact a side of the rigid receptacle, or contact other items located within the container. 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. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] In an aspect of the invention there is a soft sided insulated container assembly having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first enclosed space defined therewithin. The first portion has a soft-sided insulated wall structure and a reinforcement member mounted therewithin to maintain the first portion in a condition to receive objects in the first enclosed space. The second portion is movable between a first, folded position and a second, unfolded position, and, in the second, unfolded position, the second portion of the insulated container assembly has a second enclosed space defined therewithin in which to receive objects. The second portion has at least one releasable securement for maintaining the second portion in the first position. The container assembly has a first closure member operable to control access to the first enclosed space, and a second closure member operable to control access to the second enclosed space. The first and second portions are insulated one from another to permit different environmental conditions to be maintained in the first and second enclosed spaces respectively. [0010] In another feature of that aspect of the invention, the container assembly has a third portion mounted thereto defining a third enclosed space. In another feature, an entertainment device is mounted in the third portion. In still another feature, the assembly has an access port for accommodating an electrical connection to the entertainment device. [0011] In yet another feature, the second portion has a liner mounted therewithin. In still yet another feature, the liner is a waterproof liner. In a further feature, the liner is folded from a monolithic sheet of plastic stock. In yet a further feature, the liner is free of heat welded seams. In still a further feature, the liner is made of clear plastic, and the second portion has reflective inner walls visible through the liner. [0012] In still yet a further feature, the reinforcement member is a receptacle. In still another feature, the reinforcement member is a waterproof receptacle operable to contain liquids. In yet another feature, the reinforcement member is a receptacle for accommodating objects placed in the first enclosed space, and has a mating divider. The divider is locatable to partition the first enclosed space into upper and lower regions. In still yet another feature, the reinforcement member is a receptacle for accommodating objects placed in the first enclosed space, and has a mating divider. The divider is locatable to partition the first enclosed space into side by side regions. In still another feature, the reinforcement member is a receptacle for accommodating objects placed in the first enclosed space, and has a folding divider for sub-dividing the first enclosed space. In still a further feature, the reinforcement member is a receptacle for accommodating objects placed in the first enclosed space, and the receptacle has a horizontally oriented shoulder defined therein, and a divider. The divider is locatable on the shoulder. [0013] In another aspect of the invention there is a soft-sided insulated container assembly having a first insulated portion and a second insulated portion. The first insulated portion and the second insulated portion share a common insulated wall. The first and second insulated portions are maintainable at different environmental conditions from each other, and different environmental conditions from ambient. The first insulated portion has a non-collapsible receptacle mounted therein. The receptacle is capable of holding liquids. The receptacle provides stiffening to the first insulated portion. The second insulated portion is movable between a collapsed position and an expanded position. The second insulated portion is securable in the collapsed position. [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 thereto. The third, uninsulated, portion has a third closure member operable to control access thereto, and is maintainable at an environmental condition approximating external ambient. In still another feature the first and second portions each have the general shape of a six-sided box, and the first and second portions are mounted back-to-back. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0015] These aspects and other features of the invention can be understood with the aid of the following illustrations of a number of exemplary, and non-limiting, embodiments of the principles of the invention in which: [0016] FIG. 1a shows an isometric view, from the top, right front corner, of an example of an embodiment of a container assembly according to the present invention in which a portion of the container assembly is in a collapsed position; [0017] FIG. 1b shows an isometric view of the container assembly of FIG. 1a in a fully expanded position; [0018] FIG. 1c shows an isometric view of the container assembly of FIG. 1a, from above and diagonally opposite to FIG. 1a; [0019] FIG. 1d shows an isometric view of the container assembly of FIG. 1b, from above and diagonally opposite to FIG. 1b; [0020] FIG. 2 shows a front view of the container assembly of FIG. 1a; Continue reading... Full patent description for Container with reinforced and collapsible portions Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Container with reinforced and collapsible portions patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Container with reinforced and collapsible portions or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: User inflated breachable container, and method Next Patent Application: Flexible liner for fibc or bag-in-box container systems with improved tensile strength Industry Class: Flexible bags ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Container with reinforced and collapsible portions patent info. 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