Abstract:
An insulated carrier for transporting items such as bottles and the like, and retaining them at a predetermined temperature. The carrier is made of a flexible material and includes a pocket-like interior capable of conforming, in a form fitting manner, to the shape of the object to be transported. A flexible insulating film is applied to the pocket-like interior. The insulating layer may be comprised two layers, a first metallic foil layer, facing the item to be transported, and a second, preferably foamed layer.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The invention pertains to insulated carrier in general and specifically to insulated carriers for one bottle or for several bottles, respectively.  
       PRIOR ART  
       [0002]     In practice, the problem is known that bottles—especially beverage bottles which are cooled—are to be transported in such a manner that they are still as cool as possible when they arrive. In this respect, it is known in particular to suppress warming up by thermal insulation of the cooled bottles and to thus delay the warming up of the bottles at least by a period of time which is significantly longer than the transport period of the cooled bottles. Conversely, the problem is known to transport hot bottles in a cool environment such that they will not cool down too much during transportation.  
         [0003]     U.S. Pat. No. 3,031,121 A describes an insulated carrier which is collapsible from an upright position to an approximately flat condition. In its upright position, the insulated carrier comprises a nearly rectangular volume. The insulated carrier is multi-layered in design and comprises an outer layer, a supporting layer, an insulating layer and an inside layer. The outer layer and the inner layer are made of a synthetic thermoplastic material such as, for example, polyethylene or the like. The supporting layer is part of an essentially rigid supporting part and preferably consists of cardboard. The insulating layer consists of a heat-insulating material such as, for example, foamed light-weight polystyrene or polyurethane. The outer layer, the inner layer and the insulating layer are connected to the supporting part by means of heat welding. It is a disadvantage that the insulated carrier has a pre-defined, rectangular form due to the supporting part so that the carrier does not have an attractive appearance. It is furthermore disadvantageous that the insulated carrier is suitable only for such bottles which have specific dimensions, defined by the supporting part, so that bottles with deviating dimensions will not be well insulated. The minimum three layer design of the insulated carrier with its outer, inner and supporting layer is complex in its manufacture and will only provide a rigid, barely pliable insulated carrier. It is also disadvantageous that the outer layer and the inner layer are each fastened to the supporting part in a complex and time consuming manner by heat welding. It is furthermore disadvantageous that cardboard as the material for the supporting part will lose its rigid mechanical properties with prolonged use so that the insulated carrier cannot be used over a long period of time.  
         [0004]     DE 42 19 033 A1 describes an insulated carrier which is intended for use as a carrier or transport receptacle, especially for drivers&#39; bags. In its outer design, the insulated carrier is adjusted to the receiving carrier or, respectively, transport receptacle, for example a bicycle bag. The insulated carrier is multi-layer in design and comprises an outer layer of a plastic outer shell made of PVC, as well as an inner layer made of a clear plastic film, wherein an insulating material is provided between the outer layer and the inner layer, especially of aluminum foil or a foamed polyurethane film. It is a disadvantage that the insulated carrier is not designed such that it can accept bottles of different dimensions but that it has—already independent of the bottles to be taken up—a defined outside appearance, for example, essentially rectangular and thus of little pleasing design. It is furthermore a disadvantage that the three-layer structure of the insulated carrier is expensive to manufacture.  
         [0005]     WO 96/13 447 A1 describes three embodiments of a portable insulated carrier for temperature-sensitive goods. The first embodiment shows a band of two films with one of the films being made of polyethylene and the other film comprising a polyethylene foam. At least one of the two films has an aluminum coating. Both films comprise two pockets into which coolants can be inserted. The pockets can be placed one on top of the other such that an insulated carrier will be formed which will essentially homogeneously cool an element accepted the pockets, i.e. the temperature-sensitive goods. In the second embodiment, an envelope is arranged in a rectangular pocket, wherein a coolant is provided in the rectangular pocket but outside of the envelope, so that the temperature-sensitive goods arranged in the envelope will be largely homogeneously cooled by the coolant. The third embodiment shows a deformation-resistant receptacle having an inside part which is surrounded on both sides by coolants. Disadvantageous in all three embodiments is that a coolant is to be provided to be included in the insulated carrier, thus giving it great weight. It is furthermore disadvantageous that there is little space provided for the temperature-sensitive goods if the goods have the shape of a bottle. It is moreover disadvantageous that the insulated carrier is only effective for as long as the coolant is present. It is furthermore disadvantageous that the insulated carrier must first be assembled in a complex manner if a bottle is to be transported.  
         [0006]     DE 295 12 942 U1 describes a cooler bag comprising several flexible layers of plastic wherein one plastic layer is designed as a heat-insulating layer having for further insulation grip parts made of thin and flexible plastic loops, as well as closing strips which can be brought into effective connection for closing the cooler bag. The cooler bag of the type of a closable plastic bag is generally designed for the transport of cooled goods and thus little suitable to transport bottles especially. The volume of the cooler bag is either insufficiently used when transporting one or several bottles or it is possibly too small. When transporting bottles, the cooler bag does not provide an esthetic appearance, especially if several bottles are being transported which are randomly placed in the cooler bag and, during movement, cause jangling and thus irritating noises. There is furthermore the risk that the bottles collide and break.  
         [0007]     DE 78 20 558 U1 describes a cooler bag with an insert comprising formed recesses to take up bottles. The insert shape is here provided with a cooling device, for example a cooling unit. A sleeve is inserted in the recesses which encloses the side walls of the bottle at least partially tightly. As an alternative to this, the insert body has a comparatively small volume and is filled with a coolant mixture. It is here disadvantageous that the insert body is rigid and thus cannot be stored in a space-saving manner when the cooler bag is not in use. The recesses matched to the dimensions of the bottles to be taken can either not take up bottles with slightly varying dimensions at all or will insulate them badly. An additional disadvantage of this cooler bag is the irritating noise especially when the bottles bang against the recesses. If a coolant mixture is provided, the described cooler bag will moreover become very heavy.  
         [0008]     It is an aim of the invention to provide an insulated carrier which will take up little space without the bottles.  
         [0009]     It is an additional or an alternative aim of the invention to provide an insulated carrier with a visually attractive appearance when bottles are transported.  
         [0010]     It is an additional or an alternative aim of the invention to provide an insulated carrier which is easy to manufacture.  
         [0011]     It is an additional or an alternative aim of the invention to provide an insulated carrier with a reduced weight.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0012]     According to the invention, these aims are achieved by an insulated carrier for bottles, the carrier being made of a flexible carrier material, the carrier material forming a pocket-like inside which takes up a bottle shape in an approximately form-fitting manner, wherein the inside is provided with a flexible insulating film.  
         [0013]     According to the invention, these aims are achieved by an insulated carrier for the transport of several bottles, the carrier comprising an outside wall made a flexible carrier material, the carrier material forming several compartments separated by partitions, each of the compartments having a pocket-like shape with an inside, wherein the inside of each of the compartment takes up a bottle shape in an approximately form-fitting manner, wherein a flexible insulating film is applied on the inside of each of the compartments.  
         [0014]     The invention provides for applying a flexible insulating film for thermal insulation on the flexible carrier material of the insulated carrier on the pocket-type inside or, respectively, insides which will receive one or several bottle shapes in a form-fitting manner. The flexible insulating film together with the flexible carrier material offers the advantage of flexibly forming the insulating carrier overall and, when not in use, to fold it and thus store it in a space-saving manner.  
         [0015]     The flexible insulating film is designed thinly and thus will provide only a minimal gain of weight of the insulated carrier which is insignificant in comparison with the filled bottles which are to be transported.  
         [0016]     Since the pocket-type inside which takes up the corresponding bottle shape is flexibly designed, it will follow the form of the bottle taken up and will thus provide an esthetically pleasing appearance according to the dimensions of the bottles shapes taken up. It is furthermore advantageous if the inside is dimensioned such that it takes up the bottle shape such that the bottle shape contacts at least in parts the inside and thus the insulating film which will provide for good thermal insulation and avoids developing noises, such as for example irritating jangling. It is additionally advantageous that bottle shapes of slightly variable dimensions can be transported as long as they are approximately form-fittingly received by the inside of the cooling carrier, with the flexible design of the inside of the insulated carrier allowing an adjustment to the corresponding dimension of the bottle shapes to be transported.  
         [0017]     Preferably, the insulating layer is made of two layers, with a first layer—facing the bottle shape—being designed as a metallic foil, preferably a foil made of aluminum. The second layer is preferably made of a foamed material. Such insulating layers are easy to manufacture and easy to cut to size. The metallic foil, especially, lets condensation water run off and not enter into the foam layer where condensation water might significantly reduce thermal insulation.  
         [0018]     Preferably, the marginal edge of the carrier material is bent toward the inside and fastened to the insulating film, for example by sewing so that the passage between carrier material and insulating film will be visually attractive. It is furthermore advantageous that the edge of the insulating film is hidden—in view of the frequent use and the constant introduction of bottles—and will thus be safe from wear such as abrasion etc. so that the service life of the insulated carrier will be increased.  
         [0019]     Preferably, the carrier material is a polyester which is cheap and can easily be processed. Polyester is impermeable to water and does not absorb any developing condensation water so that the insulated carrier cannot become saturated or, respectively, lose its thermal insulation. Polyester can be processed such that there will be the impression of a cloth-type fabric with a corresponding fabric-type pattern which provides a visually attractive appearance of the insulated carrier as a whole.  
         [0020]     Preferably, the insulated carrier consists of several individual sections which are fastened such to each other that the sides having the insulating film are facing the corresponding bottle shape. Together with a bottom which need not necessarily also have a thermal insulating film, an insulated carrier can thus be easily and quickly manufactured in view of series production.  
         [0021]     If the bottom of the insulated carrier is not provided with the insulating film, it will not be burdened by the weight of the transported bottles and thus not damaged in the long run. Furthermore, some of the material of the insulating film can be saved, resulting in the additional advantage that condensation water cannot collect on the bottom. Another advantage is that the bottom without insulating film will be thinner than the side walls of the insides and thus can be folded easier than the insides so that the insulated carrier can be folded altogether in a space-saving manner. Alternatively or additionally, the bottom can be designed of a thinner carrier material than the side walls.  
         [0022]     Preferably, one inside is surrounded by four individual sections fastened to each other for example by sewing so that the received bottle shapes can be taken up even over a greater section of their respective circumference in an at least approximately form-fitting manner, and thus at the same time providing an insulated carrier which is easy and fast to create. In this respect, it has become apparent in practice that more than four individual sections delimiting the inside will provide insignificantly better approximately form-fitting acceptance of the bottle shapes and thus an only slightly improved thermal insulation, but would be expensive in manufacture due to the numerous seams. With insides being formed of only two or three individual sections, the bottle shape only contacts the insulating film with a partial section of the outer circumference which is insufficient for good thermal insulation.  
         [0023]     Preferably, if the insulated carrier is to transport several bottles simultaneously, it may be provided with several compartments, each of which will take up one bottle each in an approximately form-fitting manner so that the above specified advantages will also result in this case.  
         [0024]     On partitions which separate adjacent compartments, the insulating film is preferably fastened on both sides of the carrier material. This arrangement offers the benefit of material and time savings as compared to a variant wherein the insulating film is applied only on one side and wherein the sides facing away from the insulating film and used for making the partition must yet be fastened with each other. The partitions may be fastened in simple ways, for example by sewing, and will prevent the adjacent bottles from abutting with a correspondingly irritating noise.  
         [0025]     Inasmuch a reference has been made above to fastening the individual sections or, respectively, the partitions by means of sewing, it is to be understood that other ways of fastening are also taken into account. Separable fastenings—such as zippers or Velcro closures—instead of a seam offer the advantage that, in case of non-use, the fastening can be loosened and the insulated carrier can largely folded apart and be stowed away in an especially space-saving manner.  
         [0026]     It is furthermore to be understood that means for carrying the insulated carrier may be provided and may be fastened on the insulated carrier—such as grips or handles. The grips or handles may preferably consist of the same material as the insulated carrier, for example of polyester, and thus advantageously may offer a visually harmonic appearance with regard to the actual insulated carrier.  
         [0027]     Additional advantages and features may become apparent from the following description of preferable embodiments of insulating carriers according to the invention, as well as from the appending dependent claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES  
       [0028]     The invention is described below in more detail and explained with reference to the enclosed drawing based on the embodiments of insulated carriers.  
         [0029]      FIG. 1  shows a diagrammatic cross-section through a first embodiment of an insulated carrier according to the invention which is designed for taking up a bottle shape.  
         [0030]      FIG. 2  shows a diagrammatic top view of the insulated carrier of  FIG. 1 .  
         [0031]      FIG. 3  shows a diagrammatic top view of a second embodiment of an insulated carrier according to the invention which is designed for taking up six bottle shapes. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS  
       [0032]      FIG. 1  shows an insulated carrier  1  for taking up a bottle shape not shown here between pocket-like insides  2 . A bottom  3  supports the bottle shape.  
         [0033]     The insides  2  are provided with an insulating film  5  on their inner side, i.e. the respective side  4  facing the bottle shape. The insulating film  5  is formed of two parts and comprises a first layer  6  of aluminum foil facing the bottle shape and a second layer  7  of a foam material. The insulating film  5  is designed as being cut to size and is fastened on the inside  2  by gluing.  
         [0034]     The carrier material  8  of the insulated carrier  1  is a polyester, in the presented embodiment a 600 D nylon polyester. At the opening of the pocket-like inside  2 , the carrier material  8  protrudes somewhat over the insulating film  5  so that the carrier material  8  is bent over on the inside and fastened to the insulating film  5  by means of seams  9 . Near the bottom  3 , the insulating film  5  is additionally fastened to the carrier material  8  by means of additional seams  10 . The bottom  3  is designed as one piece with the carrier material  8 .  
         [0035]     The top view of  FIG. 2  shows that the inside  2  of the insulated carrier  1  comprises four individual sections  10 ,  11 ,  12  and  13  of which the individual sections  10  and  12  are also shown in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 1 . Each of the individual sections  10  to  13  features the two-layered insulating film  5  applied on the inside and shown in  FIG. 1 . Each individual section  10  to  13  is bent over on one end, with the bend being fastened on the adjacent individual section by one seam each  14  to  17 . The individual sections  10  and  12  are designed as one piece and will form, in particular, the bottom  3  shown in  FIG. 1  to which the other individual sections  11  and  13  are fastened by additional seams which are not depicted.  
         [0036]      FIG. 3  presents a second embodiment where, as compared to the first embodiment presented in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  respectively, the equivalent or comparable components are identified by the same reference numerals. The following description intends in particular to emphasize the differences to the first embodiment.  
         [0037]     The insulated carrier  1 ′ shown in  FIG. 3  can be conceived to have been created from the insulated carrier  1  presented in  FIG. 2  in such a way that the individual sections  10  and  12  which are of one piece with the bottom  3  in  FIG. 2  will maintain their longitudinal dimension, while the individual sections  11  and  13  are stretched by approx. half of the longitudinal dimension, wherein—in the then rectangular insulated carrier  1 ′ seen in a top view—partitions  18  to  24  are inserted which separate six compartments  26  to  31  arranged in two rows of three, with each partition  18  to  24  separating precisely two of the compartments  26  to  31 . Each of the compartments  26  to  31  is equivalent to a pocket-like inside such as the inside  2  in the first embodiment of  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , respectively, and will each retain a bottle shape, not depicted here. Each of the compartments  26  to  31  is lined on the inside by the two-layered insulating film  5  shown in  FIG. 1 . Each of the partitions  18  to  24  is provided with the insulating film  5  on both sides.  
         [0038]     The outside wall is formed by the short individual sections  10 ′ and  12 ′ formed as one part with the bottom  3 ′ which are fastened with the longer individual sections  11 ′ and  13 ′ by seams  32 ,  33 ,  34  and  35  such that—on each corner—no section of the adjoining individual sections will project. To this end, with each of the sections  11 ′,  10 ′,  13 ′ and  12 ′, the insulating film  5  is offset from the edge of section  11 ′,  10 ′,  13 ′ and  12 ′ respectively such that the corresponding carrier material protrudes slightly. In parallel with the corresponding edge, the edge of the insulating film  5  will be fastened to the carrier material by means of one seam each, not depicted in  FIG. 3 . A section of the corresponding protrusion of the carrier material—the section being parallel with the edge—is bent to the inside onto the insulating film  5 . For connecting the sections  11 ′,  10 ′,  13 ′ and  12 ′ with each other, one seam each of  33 ,  32 ,  35  and  34 , respectively penetrates the sections of the corresponding protrusions and fastens the adjacent sections  11 ′,  10 ′,  13 ′ and  12 ′ with each other. The corresponding seam  33 ,  32 ,  35  and  34  respectively does not pass through the insulating film  5  so that seam  33 ,  32 ,  35  and  34 , respectively, can be easily applied without passing through a fabric which is too thick.  
         [0039]     The partitions  18 ,  19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  22  and  23  feature each a joint edge with the respective outside walls  11 ′,  12 ′,  10 ′ and  13 ′ on which the partitions  18  to  23  are bent over with the respective bend being fastened on the corresponding outside wall  10 ′ to  13 ′ by means of seams  43  to  48 .  
         [0040]     The edges of partitions  18  to  24  which are not fastened on outside walls  10 ′ to  13 ′ are brought together and fastened to each other by sewing as a quadruple layer at  36  (partitions  18 ,  24 ,  22  and  23 ) or, respectively, at  37  (partitions  19 ,  20 ,  21   5  and  24 ). The partitions  18  to  24  are not fastened to the bottom  3 ′. The bottom  3 ′ does not feature any insulating film  5  and is, for example, easily collapsible along a line formed by the partitions  23 ,  24  and  20  so that the insulated carrier V can overall be simply folded in a space-saving manner.  
         [0041]     Reference numerals  38  and  39  designate each a point of application of a first carrying grip—not presented in detail—on the outside wall  11 ′, whereas reference numerals  41  and  42  each indicate a point of application of a second, additional carrying grip provided on the outside wall  13 ′.  
         [0042]     Both carrying grips can be combined to one joint grip which is arranged in  FIG. 3  approximately above partition  24 , and which grips are fastened to each other by means of Velcro fasteners. The carrying grips consist of 600 D nylon polyester and thus are of the same material as the carrier material.  
         [0043]     The invention has been described above on the basis of a second embodiment of an insulated carrier for six bottles wherein the six compartments  26  to  31  had been arranged in two rows with three compartments each. It is here to be understood that insulated carriers can also be provided for only two bottles, as well as insulated carriers for four or, respectively, eight bottles, wherein the four or, respectively, eight compartments can be especially arranged each in two rows of two or, respectively, four compartments each.