Abstract:
A portable thermally insulated bag for maintaining contents thereof in a desired thermal state comprises an enclosure having a plurality of interconnected panels including a top, a bottom, front, back, and sides. The enclosure defines an interior volume for storing items to be kept in a desired thermal state and includes a flexible outer shell, an inner insulative layer, a zipper for at least partially separating one of the panels from the enclosure, and a handle. The bag also has a speaker for communicative connection to a personal playback device and a pocket external to one of the panels and proximate to the speaker. The pocket is sized to receive a personal playback device therein.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to thermally insulated bags in general, and more particularly to a portable insulated bag incorporating an integral speaker connectable to a personal music playing device. 
         [0003]    2. Discussion of the Related Art 
         [0004]    Leisure time for many individuals includes enjoyment of open air and outdoors environments. For some, this may include hikes through a forest or landscaping the back yard. For others, a round of golf or a sightseeing trip is the preferred activity. Frequently, these activities also include the enjoyment of eating snacks or entire meals outdoors. Alternatively, individuals may prepare lunches to be taken to their place of employment as a cost saving measure precluding the expense of daily purchasing a restaurant or cafeteria prepared meal. In other leisure time instances, an individual may desire to bring one or more beverages to a location for use and enjoyment throughout a given time period. In these instances, the beverages are often desired to be kept at a preferred thermal state, either cool or hot. To facilitate maintaining either food or beverage at a desired thermal state, these items are transported and temporarily stored in a portable enclosure that exhibits thermal insulative properties. 
         [0005]    In recent years, personal music playing devices have become increasingly popular. The players permitted the user to privately play pre-recorded selections while listening with headphones or ear buds electronically connected to the player. Initially, these playing devices took the form of magnetic tape players using exchangeable pre-recorded cassettes. As technology evolved, the players were centered on playing pre-recorded compact discs. The latest evolution of personal music players are commonly referred to as “MP3” players or iPods ®, generally referring to the recorded format of the individual musical compositions. Instead of receiving pre-recorded tapes or discs, these players have internal electronic memory. The musical compositions for these players are typically electronically transferred to the device&#39;s internal memory and may then be selectively played back in any desired sequence or even erased as the user desire. Again, the selections are typically listened by the user over personal headphones or ear buds. As the popularity of these players has expanded, electronic units have also been developed that include amplifiers and stereo type speakers to which the player can be electronically connected so that multiple individuals can listen to the recordings being played. 
         [0006]    However, when an individual wishes to engage in activities wherein the use of both an insulated enclosure for maintaining food or drink in a desired thermal state and also listen to recordings are desired, they must carry both the insulated container and the portable amplification system in addition to other items they may be transporting for a particular activity. In such instances, the exercise becomes cumbersome at best and may require multiple trips of carrying items to the site where they are to be enjoyed. Thus what is desired is a way to minimize the number of items needed to be carried for an outing, and to provide convenience, portability, and ease of use to insulatively maintain food and drink at a desired thermal state while also providing entertainment for the activity. Specifically, a combination of a thermally insulated enclosure and a means of providing entertainment in a single unit is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The present invention is directed to a portable thermally insulated bag that satisfies the need for maintaining contents thereof in a desired thermal state and aids to provide entertainment in a single unit. The portable thermally insulated bag comprises an enclosure having a plurality of interconnected panels including a top, a bottom, front, back, and sides. The enclosure defines an interior volume for storing items to be kept in a desired thermal state and includes a flexible outer shell, an inner insulative layer, a zipper for at least partially detaching one of the panels from the enclosure, and a handle. The bag also has a speaker for communicative connection to a personal playback device and a pocket external to one of the panels and proximate to the speaker. The pocket is sized to receive a personal playback device therein. 
         [0008]    Another aspect of the present invention is a portable thermally insulated bag for maintaining contents thereof in a desired thermal state. The insulated bag includes an enclosure having a flexible outer shell formed of a non-woven material, an inner insulative layer and at least one partially separable panel to access an interior volume defined by the enclosure. Affixed to the enclosure is a handle and a speaker for communicative connection to a personal playback device. A pocket is affixed to the outer shell wherein the pocket is proximate to the speaker and sized to receive a personal playback device therein. 
         [0009]    These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the invention will be further understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art by reference to the following written specification, claims and appended drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    For a fuller understanding of the nature of the present invention, reference should be made to the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of portable thermally insulated bag embodying the present invention, wherein the bag includes a speaker and a pocket for a personal playback device; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of the portable thermally insulated bag illustrating a cover opened to permit access to an interior; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a cross-sectional view of the portable thermally insulated bag shown in  FIG. 2  illustrating the layered construction of the enclosure and the installation of the pocket and speaker. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4A  is a perspective view of the portable thermally insulated bag illustrating a cover opened to permit access to an interior and further illustrating pre-defined pleats to aid in collapsing the bag to a folded state; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4B  is a perspective view of the portable thermally insulated bag in a partially folded state; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4C  is a perspective view of the portable thermally insulated bag in a folded state for convenient storage. 
       
    
    
       [0017]    Like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    For purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left”, “rear”, “right”, “front”, “vertical”, “horizontal”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the invention as oriented in  FIG. 1 . However, one will understand that the invention may assume various alternative orientations and step sequences, except where expressly specified to the contrary. While the present invention has been shown and described in accordance with preferred and practical embodiments thereof, one will also recognize that departures from the instant disclosure are fully contemplated within the spirit and scope of the invention. Hence, specific dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. 
         [0019]    Turning to the drawings,  FIG. 1  shows a portable thermally insulated bag  20  which is one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention and illustrates its various components. Insulated bag  20  generally has an enclosure  22  which is formed of a number of panels typically including a top  24 , a bottom  26 , a front  28 , a back  30 , and left and right sides  32  and  35  respectively. Panels  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  are arranged in a rectilinear form thereby defining an interior volume  23  ( FIG. 2 ) although different numbers of panels and geometrical configurations are contemplated herein. A handle  36  is attached to enclosure  22  by straps  38  to aid the user in carrying insulated bag  20 . Specifically, the geometry of enclosure  22  can correspond to convenient housing of beverages in 6-pack, 12-pack, 24-pack, or 36-pack sizes common and known within the beverage industry. 
         [0020]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1-3 , additional details of insulated bag  20  are illustrated. Enclosure  22  has an outer shell  44  that is formed of a non-woven material. Non-woven materials such as, but not limited to, felts are well known in the material arts and are neither woven nor knitted. Non-woven material is a fabric-like material made from long fibers extruded from dies. The fibers are randomly accumulated and intertwined in a non-woven manner forming a web-like structure which is then bonded together by chemical, mechanical, heat or solvent treatments. The non-woven fibers being collected from the fiber forming dies are heated by a hot air stream and the material is then further formed by stretching as the fibers are cooled. The resultant non-woven web is collected into rolls for conversion to finished products. The non-woven material of outer shell  44  typically lacks sufficient strength to support the weight of the contents of insulated bag  20 . Consequently, straps  38  of handle  36 , here shown on front  28 , can extend into an interior of enclosure  22  and around bottom  26  to an opposite side, such as back  30 , to provide additional support for the carried contents of insulated bag  20 . 
         [0021]    An inner insulative layer  26  is affixed to an interior surface of outer shell  44 . Insulative layer  26  generally exhibits properties whereby the transfer of thermal energy is resisted. In this manner, warm or hot items that are of an elevated temperature relative to external ambient conditions are maintained at the elevated temperature longer than if the items were directly exposed to the exterior ambient conditions. Insulative layer  26  resists the transfer of thermal energy from the items through insulated bag  20  to the external ambient conditions. In like manner, items that are cooler than external ambient conditions are maintained at lower temperatures by insulative layer  26  resisting the transfer of thermal energy from the external ambient conditions through insulated bag  20  to the items stored therein. Some common materials used for insulative layer  26  can be bubble foil forming a plurality of trapped air bubbles, or a series of gel packs wherein the enclosed gel layer of the gel pack can be either heated or cooled to assist in maintaining the desired interior thermal conditions. Also, insulative layer  26  can be formed of materials known to be resistive to the transfer of thermal energy such as aluminum foil, polyethylene vinyl acetate (PEVA), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), or other similar materials. Insulative layer  26  also functions to render insulated bag  20  waterproof to prevent items spilled within interior  23  of insulated bag  20  from leaking to the exterior. 
         [0022]    Referring again to  FIGS. 1-3 , one of the panels such as top  24  can be partially separable from enclosure  22  so that a user can access interior volume  23  to place items into or remove items from insulated bag  20 . Top  24  can be integrally affixed to or be part of a panel forming top  24  and back  30  and rotates about a crease  42  which functions as a hinge-like area for top  24 . Further, top  24  can be selectively fastened to the remainder of enclosure  22  with a zipper  40  extending about a periphery of top  24 . Alternatively, zipper  40  can be positioned on front  28  and on sides  32  and  34  near top  24 . Zipper  40  can be either a one-way zipper, or a two-way zipper for ease of access. 
         [0023]    Insulated bag also has mounted thereto, preferably front  28 , a speaker  50 , although speaker  50  can be mounted to any of panels  24 ,  26 ,  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  as desired by the manufacturer. Specifically, speaker  50  is a low power speaker of any quality that is compatible with being electrically driven by the output of a personal playback device  12  ( FIG. 1 ) such as those generically referred to as an MP 3  player or as an iPod ®. These players store pre-recorded pieces of entertainment such as musical compositions on internal electronic memory devices for subsequent playback for the enjoyment of the listener. Often the player  12  is listened to with headphones or ear buds, however, the player  12  can also be listened to via a speaker such as speaker  50  so that multiple individuals close to speaker  50  can listen simultaneously. Speaker  50  is permanently affixed to enclosure  22  and is preferably attached to the non-woven outer shell  44  from the interior of enclosure  22 . Speaker  50  includes a conductive cable  52  extending therefrom and terminates at a plug  54 . Plug  54  is of a known configuration that is compatible to being received in a speaker jack or headphone jack of the personal playback device  12 . A pocket  60  is affixed to an exterior of insulated bag  20  proximate to speaker  50  such that the personal playback device  12  can be inserted into slot  62  defined by pocket  60  when attached to speaker  50  with cable  52 . In such manner, a user can carry beverages or food or a combination of both in insulated bag  20  and also have a convenient means of listening to personal playing device  12  without being tethered by headphones or ear buds. 
         [0024]    Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4C , insulated bag  20  can be folded for convenient packing or storage when not in use to thermally insulate items contained therein. To facilitate the folding of insulated bag  20 , left and right sides  32  and  24  respectively include preformed pleats  70 , here shown as being in an inverted “Y” configuration. Such a pleat  70  is commonly used in paper ‘grocery’ bags. Also, front  28  includes a horizontal preformed crease  72  close to bottom  26 . 
         [0025]    As shown in  FIG. 4A , when a user wishes to collapse insulated bag  20  for storage or for ease of empty transport, zipper  40  can be opened and top  24  rotated away from front  28 . Left and right sides  32 ,  34  are then pushed toward one another in an opposing manner to begin collapsing insulated bag  20  with front  28  translating toward back  30  and bottom  26  rotating upwardly at front  28 . 
         [0026]    Referring now to  FIG. 4B , as insulated bag  20  continues to collapse, preformed pleat  70  folds along crease  74  and bottom  26  continues to rotate upwardly toward top  24  as preformed crease  72  in front  28  folds. This collapsing action continues until bottom  26  is substantially parallel to back  30  as illustrated in  FIG. 4C  wherein insulated bag  20  is completely collapsed and folded upon itself. Top  24  can be tucked into preformed crease  72  as illustrated or alternatively, top  24  can be lapped over bottom  26 . A fastening mechanism such as a hook and loop fastener (not shown) can be used to fasten top  24  to bottom  26  to maintain insulated bag  20  in a folded state until use of bag  20  is again desired. When insulated bag  20  is again desired to be used, bag  20  is unfolded in reverse of the above steps and is again ready to receive items for thermal insulation. 
         [0027]    The above description is considered that of the preferred embodiments only. Modifications of the invention will occur to those skilled in the art and to those who make or use the invention. Therefore, it is understood that the embodiments shown in the drawings and described above are merely for illustrative purposes and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention, which is defined by the following claims as interpreted according to the principles of patent law, including the doctrine of equivalents.