Abstract:
The insulated container and insert are formed of relatively soft and flexible panels having relatively thick cores of thermal insulation captured between thin impervious sheets. The outer container has a closable top, and the insert has an open top. The insert is about half the height of the outer container, allowing ice or other cooling material, beverage cans and/or bottles, etc., to be placed in the bottom of the outer container with the insert resting thereon for the carriage of food therein. As the outer bottom surface of the insert will be moist from contact with ice or the like therebelow, the outer container includes a drop down panel that may be lowered for placement of the insert thereon to preclude contamination of the bottom of the insert with loose sand or the like. Additional carrying handles and straps are provided, as well as outer pockets on the outer container.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to portable, hand-carried containers and the like, and particularly to an insulated container and insert therefor for the carriage of food, drink, ice, and/or other articles therein. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     The keeping and carriage of food and beverages for various functions has advanced over the years from the traditional picnic basket, to more sophisticated containers better adapted to maintain the quality of the goods carried therein. In relatively recent times, greater concern has developed regarding the maintenance of food at proper temperatures due to potential bacterial growth and resulting illness from consuming such foods. Aside from the aspect of health concerns, food that is maintained at the proper temperature up to the point of consumption is just more pleasant to eat, e.g., keeping a hot dish hot or at least warm, and maintaining the cold or at least cool temperature of a soft drink or the like. 
     Accordingly, a number of thermally insulated containers for the temporary carriage and storage of various foods and beverages have been developed in the relatively recent past. Many, if not most, of these devices have been constructed of relatively rigid panels of plastic foam, providing for an inexpensive yet reasonably efficient thermal insulation for the foods and beverages stored and carried therein. Such containers are difficult and cumbersome to store when not needed, and are often much larger than required for a relatively small amount of food or drink. Moreover, they generally fail to provide any separation between foods stored therein and ice carried within the container to keep the food cool. This usually results in the food becoming soggy and unpalatable as the ice melts, unless the food is extremely well protected by additional smaller containers carried within the larger container. 
     Thus, an insulated container and insert solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The insulated container and insert includes an outer container having a closable lid or top, and an open top insert removably placed therein. Both the outer container and the insert are formed of relatively soft and flexible thermally insulated material having relatively thick thermal insulation captured between thin outer sheets. The outer sheets are preferably waterproof. Laterally opposed carrying handles are provided for both the outer container and the insert. The outer container also is provided with a removable shoulder carriage strap. The outer container has opposite end pockets. One of the pockets is actually a double pocket, and the opposite pocket is formed of a mesh material. The outer container further includes a drop down side panel that serves as a resting surface for the placement of the insert thereon. 
     The outer container is adapted for the placement of ice and/or other cooling agents in the bottom portion thereof, along with beverage cans and/or bottles that will be in contact with the ice. The insert has a depth of about half that of the outer container, and is adapted to rest atop the ice and/or beverage containers placed in the bottom of the outer container. The flexible nature of the material of which the outer container and insert are formed allows the insert to be manufactured to fit very closely within the outer container, thus providing a reasonably good seal therebetween to prevent any significant air circulation to the underlying ice and beverage container compartment when the insert is installed in the outer container. The buoyancy of the insert atop the underlying ice and ice water in the bottom of the outer container assures that little, if any, air remains beneath the insert, thus increasing the insulating efficiency of the assembly. 
     As the outer bottom surface of the insert rests atop any ice and/or other cold articles contained within the lower volume of the outer container, the insert bottom surface will have some moisture thereon when lifted from the outer container. The drop down side panel of the outer container provides a clean resting surface for placement of the insert thereon to preclude the adhesion of loose sand, soil, etc. to the bottom of the insert when removed from the outer container. 
     The insulated container and insert may be adapted for the temporary carriage and storage of any number of various foods and beverages, but is preferably adapted particularly for the carriage of relatively large, elongate submarine sandwiches (“subs”) within the insert, while also carrying accompanying beverages within the outer container below the insert. Accordingly, the insert has a length of about sixteen inches, a width of about half that, and a height of about six inches. The outer container is dimensioned accordingly in order to fit closely about the insert when the insert is installed within the outer container. It will be understood that these dimensions are exemplary for the carriage of submarine sandwiches or the like therein, and the insulated container and insert may be dimensioned to any practicable size and shape. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an insulated container and insert according to the present invention, showing the outer container closed, the insert and other articles contained therein being shown in broken lines. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the insulated container and insert according to the present invention, showing the top open and the insert removed from the outer container. 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the insulated container and insert according to the present invention as seen from the rear of the container, showing the outer container and drop down panel in a closed configuration. 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of the insulated container and insert according to the present invention as seen from the rear, showing the drop down panel open and the insert resting thereon. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The insulated container and insert comprises a closable and sealable outer bag, and an open insert removably installed therein. The outer bag and insert are both made of flexible laminates of conventional material. The outer ply of the outer bag may be formed of a durable woven fabric material, e.g., Nylon® or the like. The outer ply of the outer bag may be plasticized to seal it against moisture and vapor penetration. The inner ply or liner of the outer bag is formed of a waterproof sheet of material. The inner and outer plies capture a soft, flexible, thermally insulating blanket core therebetween, e.g., flexible polyurethane foam or the like. The insert is formed of comparable materials, but the outer ply of the insert comprises a waterproof sheet of material similar in its property to the inner sheet of the outer bag. Such thermally insulating, flexible laminates are conventional and well known in the art. 
       FIG. 1  of the drawings provides a perspective view of the insulated container and insert  10  assembly, comprising the outer bag  12  and an insert shown therein in broken lines and described in detail further below. The outer bag  12  includes mutually opposed first and second side panels  14  and  16 . The second side panel  16  is shown more clearly in  FIG. 4  of the drawings. Mutually opposed first and second end panels  18  and  20  define the ends of the outer bag  12 , the second end panel  20  being shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. A bottom panel  22  and an opposite openable top panel  24  complete the outer bag  12 . The panels  14  through  24  define an outer bag volume  26  therein, as indicated in the open outer bag  12  of  FIG. 2 . Each of these panels  14  through  24  is formed of outer and inner sheets or plies of flexible material sandwiching a soft, flexible, thermally insulating core material therebetween, as described further above. 
     The outer bag  12  includes a number of features that add convenience and utility to the container and insert  10  assembly. The top panel  24  may be closed over the top of the outer bag  12  by a zipper  28  that substantially seals the interior volume  26  of the outer bag  12  when the zipper  28  is closed. The first end panel  18  includes a pair of joined but laterally separated pockets  30   a  and  30   b  attached external thereto. The two pockets are very convenient for the carriage of various condiments or other articles therein. The opposite second end panel  20  includes a larger external mesh pocket  32  for the carriage of various articles therein, as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings. The end panels  18  and  20  are equipped with respective first and second strap attachments comprising D-rings  34  for the removable attachment of a shoulder strap  36  thereto, as shown in  FIG. 1 . The shoulder strap  36  is adjustable in length and attaches to the D-rings  34  by conventional snap hooks  38  or the like. The outer bag  12  is also equipped with laterally opposed first and second handle straps  40   a  and  40   b  extending from the upper edges or portions of the first and second side panels  14  and  16 . The two handle straps  40   a ,  40   b  may be provided with a wraparound grip to facilitate handling the outer bag  12 , if desired. A bottle opener  42  may be provided on one of the handles, e.g., the first handle  40   a , as shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , for the convenience of the user of the device. 
     An open top insert  44  is removably installed within the outer bag  12 . The insert  44  is shown installed in the bag  12  in broken lines in  FIG. 1 , and removed from the bag  12  in  FIGS. 2 and 4 . The insert  44  is formed of similar materials to those of the outer bag  12 , i.e., a soft, flexible thermally insulating core material sandwiched between an outer sheet and an inner liner. Such materials are conventional and well known in the art, as noted further above. However, the outer sheet or surface of the insert  44  comprises a waterproof material, e.g., plastic sheet, etc, for reasons described further below. 
     The insert  44  includes mutually opposed first and second side panels  46  and  48 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  of the drawings. Mutually opposed first and second end panels  50  and  52  define the ends of the insert  44 . A bottom panel  54  completes the insert  44 . The panels  46  through  54  define an insert volume  56  therein, as indicated in the insert  44  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 4  of the drawings. The outer or lowermost surface or ply of the bottom panel  54  is preferably formed of a hydrophobic material having a very low coefficient of friction and very low adhesion to other materials, e.g., having a coating of polytetrafluoroethylene (e.g., Teflon®) or other suitable material, for reasons explained further below. The longitudinal and lateral dimensions of the insert  44  are such that it fits very closely within the interior of the outer bag  12  with essentially no gaps or spaces between the inner surface of the outer bag  12  and the outer surface of the insert  44  in order to substantially seal the insert  44  against the inner liner of the outer bag  12  when the insert  44  is installed therein. The insert  44  may be manufactured to have outer dimensions very slightly larger than the inner dimensions of the outer bag  12 . The soft and flexible nature of the materials used permits the insert  44  to be pushed into the outer bag  12  to assure a tight fit therein. In any event, there is no other attachment means for securing the insert  44  within the outer bag  12 . Laterally opposed first and second handles  58   a  and  58   b , similar to the lateral handles  40   a  and  40   b  of the outer bag  12 , may be provided to extend respectively from the upper portions or edges of the first and second side panels  46  and  48  of the insert  44  to facilitate the withdrawal of the insert  44  from the outer bag  12 . 
     The side and end panels  14  through  20  of the outer bag  12  define an outer bag height  60 , and the side and end panels  46  through  52  of the insert  44  define an insert height  62 . It will be noted particularly in  FIG. 1  of the drawings that the height  62  of the insert  44  is substantially half that of the height  60  of the outer bag  12 . This provides a lower volume  64  within the outer bag  12  for the containment of ice or the like, beverage cans, etc. As this lower volume is substantially half the total volume  26  of the outer bag  12 , a reasonable volume of ice, beverages, etc. may be carried in the lower volume  64  below the insert  44  when the insert is installed therein without the upper edge of the insert  44  extending above the upper edge of the outer bag  12 , generally as shown in  FIG. 1  of the drawings. The thermally insulating foam core of which the panels  46  through  54  of the insert  44  is made provide buoyancy to assure that the insert  44  will float atop ice and ice water contained in the lower volume  64  of the outer bag  12 , while assuring that any air contained in this lower volume is minimized. Moreover, the very close fit of the insert  44  within the outer bag  12  substantially eliminates air circulation, thus further improving the thermal insulating efficiency of the container and insert assembly  10  when the insert  44  is installed within the outer bag  12 . 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  of the drawings illustrate another feature of the insulated container and insert  10 , or more specifically a feature of the outer bag  12  of the assembly, comprising a drop-down panel  66 . The drop-down panel  66  may be attached to and extend from either the first or the second lateral edge  68  or  70  of the bottom panel  12 , but in the example shown and described herein the panel  66  has its lower edge  72  permanently secured to the second lateral edge  70  of the bottom panel  12  along the juncture of the bottom panel  12  with the second side panel  16 . The side and end panels  14  through  20  further define a plurality of vertical edges  74 . The drop-down panel  66  substantially spans the width of the second side panel as defined by the vertical edges  74  of the junctures of the second side  16  with the first and second ends  18  and  20 . 
     The drop-down panel  66  further is substantially congruent with the configurations of the two side panels  14  and  16 . The side panel  66  has mutually opposed first and second edges  76  and  78  disposed very close to the corresponding vertical edges  74  of the outer bag  12  when the panel  66  is raised, generally as shown in  FIG. 3  of the drawings. The lateral edges  76  and  78  of the drop-down panel  66  include mutually opposed first and second outer panel attachments  80  and  82  disposed adjacent thereto, while the corresponding edges of the second panel  16  have mating first and second drop-down panel attachments  84  and  86  disposed along the vertical edges  74  thereof. The attachments  80 ,  84  and  82 ,  86  may comprise mating strips of hook and loop fasteners or other attachment means (e.g., snaps, etc.). 
     The insulated container and insert  10  is used by initially placing ice, cold packs, or other means for lowering the temperature of the interior volume  26  of the outer bag  12  into the bottom of the outer bag  12 . Beverage bottles or cans, etc. may also be placed in the bottom of the outer bag  12 . The ice or cold packs lower or retain the cold temperature of the items placed therewith. The insert  44  may then be placed atop the ice, cold packs, and/or beverage containers within the lower portion of the outer container  12  so that the panels  46  through  52  of the insert  44  fit closely against the inner surfaces of the corresponding panels  14  through  20  of the outer bag  12  to substantially seal the ice and any other articles within the lower portion of the outer bag  12 . Food and/or other articles that the user may wish to retain at colder than ambient temperatures may then be placed within the volume  56  of the insert  44 , and the top panel  24  of the outer bag  12  closed and sealed by means of the zipper  28 . The complete enclosure of the lower portion of the volume  26  of the outer bag  12 , and thus the volume  56  of the insert  44  by the various insulated panels  14  through  24  of the outer bag  12 , assures that the various articles (ice, drinks, food, etc.) placed therein will retain their cold temperatures for an extended period of time. 
     When the food, beverages, and/or other articles contained within the outer bag  12  are to be used or consumed, the lid or upper panel  24  of the outer bag  12  is opened by means of the zipper  28  for access to the contents thereof. However, it may be preferable to lower the drop-down panel  66  first. The drop-down panel  66  provides a clean surface for placement of the insert  44  thereon when the insulated container and insert  10  are transported to an area with a loose or sandy surface, such as a beach or other natural soil. While the outer surface of the bottom panel  54  of the insert  44  comprises a hydrophobic material to preclude substantial adhesion of water or ice thereto, there will still likely be some moisture adhering to this surface, and very light and fine particles of sand, soil, and/or other debris will likely adhere to the bottom panel  54  of the insert  44  in any event. The drop-down panel  66  thus assures that the bottom panel  54  of the insert  44  will not be contaminated with such foreign matter when the insert  44  is returned to the outer bag  12 . 
     The waterproof liner or interior surfaces of the various panels  14  through  24  of the outer bag  12 , and the outer surfaces of the panels  46  through  52  of the insert  44 , ensure that cold water from melted ice cannot soak through either the outer bag  12  to dampen upholstery, carpeting, or other surfaces upon which the container and insert  10  may be placed. Moreover, the complete enclosure of the ice and cold water by the side panels and bottom panel  14  through  22  of the outer bag  12  and the bottom panel  54  of the insert  44  provides superior thermal insulation, even though the top panel or lid  24  of the outer bag may be open. The buoyancy of the insert  44  atop any water and/or ice within the lower portion of the outer bag  12  assures that all water and ice will remain below the insert  44  and will not work up between the walls or panels of the insert  44  and outer bag  12  to pour into the insert  44 . However, any ice and/or excess water that may have formed within the bottom of the outer bag  12  may be poured out when no longer needed, and when use of the container and insert  10  is done. The insert  44  may be stored separately from the outer bag  12  until both are completely dry. The folded or collapsed insert  44  is then placed within the outer bag  12 , and the outer bag  12  is folded or collapsed to minimize storage space until the next use thereof. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.