Abstract:
An insulated container includes a bottom and four walls connected to the bottom; a top which fits on the four walls; a portion of the top is pivotally mounted so as to be opened to provide access to the insulated container through a first opening; a portion of one of the four walls is pivotally mounted so as to be opened to provide access to the insulated container through a second opening; wherein the first and second openings are contiguous to provide a combined access area to the container that extends across both the top and the one of the four walls.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   1. Field of the Invention 
   The present invention relates to an insulated container, and more particularly, to an insulated container providing a convenient access. 
   2. Discussion of Related Art 
   It is known in the art to provide insulated containers for shipping goods in a controlled thermal environment. Such a container is frequently a substantially parallelepiped structure made from rotationally molded, insulated walls. In one such structure, each of the dimensions is approximately between three and four feet, thus providing a structure having a cubic volume of between about twenty-seven cubic feet and sixty-four cubic feet. In such a container, the bottom, four legs, and four walls are typically either formed in one piece or permanently connected to form a unitary structure. The lid or top of the container is a separate two-piece configuration and either fits securely on top of the walls, or is hingeably connected to the walls. The door is hingeably connected to the sidewall of the container. 
   One known use for such a described container is the shipping and/or storage of dry ice (carbon dioxide) or ice cream. When using such a container, particularly a container having a dimension of at least four feet in height, it is not difficult to remove products from the container when the container is full and the products are near the top of the container. However, as the container is emptied, the user must lean over into the container to remove the products from the bottom of the container. Having to lean over to remove products from the bottom of the container is ergonomically inefficient, uncomfortable, and in the case of dry ice, unnecessarily exposes the user to vapors from the evaporating carbon dioxide. Also using such a container, particularly a container having a one piece lid having dimensions of at least four foot square, is awkward to handle and is ergonomically inefficient and unsanitary if the lid is placed on the ground or floor. 
   Another insulated structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,310,073, and is described as a freezing container for storing and shipping animal carcasses. The disclosed container includes a truncated portion through which an access is provided. The truncated portion enables the access to be provided closer to the floor of the container than an access which extends through the top of the container. However, the truncated portion also reduces the useable volume of the container. For example, anything within the container above the beginning of the truncated portion could spill out of the container when the access door is opened. 
   OBJECTS AND SUMMARY 
   Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an insulated container which includes an access door that maximizes the useable volume of the container while providing convenient access to the bottom of the interior of the container. 
   It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insulated container that is convenient to use for loading, storage, shipping and unloading. 
   It is still another object of the present invention to provide a two piece lid assembly that is easy open and close with out the need of removal also providing convenient access into container. 
   According to one embodiment of the invention, an insulated container includes a bottom and four walls connected to the bottom; a top which fits on the four walls; at least a portion of the top is pivotally mounted so as to be opened to provide access to the insulated container through a first opening; a portion of one of the four walls provides a second opening for a door which is pivotally mounted so as to be opened to provide access to the insulated container through the second opening; wherein the first and second openings are contiguous to provide a combined access area to the container that extends across both the top and the one of the four walls. 
   According to another embodiment of the invention, an insulated container comprises a bottom, four walls connected to the bottom; and a top which fits on the four walls so as to form a parallelepiped; a closable access opening, a first portion of the access opening extends through the top and a second portion of the access opening, contiguous to the first portion, extends through one of the four walls; and a two part door that closes the access opening, wherein when the two part door is closed, a first part of the door is coplanar with the top and a second part of the door is coplanar with the one wall. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open configuration. 
       FIG. 2  is a perspective view, from the rear side, of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3A  is a side view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration. 
       FIG. 3B  is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the container of  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 4  is a front view of the container of  FIG. 1  in a closed configuration. 
       FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a portion of a hinge used in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6A  is a view of a second portion of the hinge used in an embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6B  is a side view of the portion illustrated in  FIG. 6A . 
       FIG. 7  is a side view of the container of  FIG. 1  in an open configuration. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     FIGS. 1-7  illustrate a preferred exemplary embodiment of an insulated container according to the present invention. In the preferred embodiment, the insulated container is made from rotationally molded plastic, including foamed urethane in the center thereof to enhance the insulation thereof. However, the present invention is not limited to such construction, and the insulated container according to the present invention could be made from any suitable construction known to those of ordinary skill in the art. 
   The container  10  includes a bottom  20  and four walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . The bottom  20  and the four walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  are preferably molded as one piece. A top  23  fits on top of the four walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18 . The top  23  preferably includes two parts or portions  22 ,  24 . By arranging the top  23  in two parts  22 ,  24 , it is easier to open the top  23  in that only one of the two parts needs to be raised. This is lighter and less awkward than raising the entire top  23 . 
   One portion of the top  23  includes a plurality of first regions having a first thickness, wherein adjacent first regions are connected to each other by a second region having a thickness less than the first thickness. In one embodiment, the grooves on the top  23  constitute the second regions. 
   Preferably, the container  10  has four pads  34 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38  secured to the bottom  20 , and which can also be molded as one piece with the bottom and four walls. The top  23  includes four recesses  50  which are designed and arranged to accommodate the pads  34 ,  36 ,  37 ,  38  so that a container  10  can be stacked on top of a similar container  10 . 
   Each of the four walls  12 ,  14 ,  16 ,  18  includes a recessed ledge  30 . In addition, the top  23  includes a flange  32  extending downwardly therefrom. The walls and top are designed such that the recessed ledge  30  and the flange  32  fit together in a mating configuration to enhance the insulation of the container  10 . 
   As can be seen from  FIGS. 1 and 7 , the top includes a first portion  22  and a second portion  24 . The first portion  22  includes an edge  73  which incorporates a recess  72  and a ridge  70 . The second portion  24  similarly includes an edge  64  which incorporates a recess  66  and a ridge  68 . The edge  73  of the first portion  22  engages with the edge  64  on the second portion  24  in such a manner so as to form substantial contact with each other so as to prevent thermal leakage between the two portions. In addition, a surface  74  on the first portion  22  is configured so as to support the second portion  24  in an open configuration when the second portion  24  is opened approximately 110° from the closed position. The overlapping arrangement of the two edges  64 ,  73  helps provide a seal to minimize water and thermal leakage. 
   As can be seen in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the container  10  includes an elastic closing arrangement. Specifically, with regard to top portion  24 , a molded stud  40  is provided, as illustrated in  FIGS. 3A and 3B . Similarly, a corresponding bracket  39  is provided on the sidewall  12 . An elastic cord  42  is interconnected between the bracket  39  and the molded stud  40 , and provides a downward, restraining force, on the parts  22  and  24  of the top, while still enabling the top  24  to be opened. The bracket  39  can be of any suitable type. In one embodiment, the molded stud  40  includes a post applied washer assembly  41  that creates a flange on the molded stud that keeps the elastic cord  42  from slipping off. The bracket  39  and stud  40  are also preferably arranged so that the cord  42  is recessed in a groove along the wall of the container. A similar set of studs and brackets can be provided on wall  16 . 
   In addition, brackets  39  mounted on the rear wall  18  and the second part  24  of the top, respectively, hold an elastic cord  48 . The elastic cord  48  facilitates raising the top part  24  and holds the second part  24  of the top  23  in an upright position after it is been raised by a user. 
   The front wall  14  includes a trapezoidal shaped opening  28  which includes a ridge  29  mounted on the edge of the trapezoidal shaped opening  28 . In addition, a front door  26  is adapted to close the trapezoidal opening  28 . The front door  26  is secured to the front wall  14  with hinges  52  and  53  that are recessed. The hinges  53  include a bottom portion  54  and a top portion  56 , which enable the front door  26  to pivot 180°, and also enable the door  26  to lift up about one half an inch when it is in the vertical upright position. The hinges  53  are attached to the front wall  14  by two flat bars  52  that are recessed in the front wall  14  that engage with part  59  of the hinge portion  54  and provide a stop when lifting the door  26 , thus allowing the door to pivot 180 degrees. A space  60  on hinge part  54  engages a boss  58  on hinge part  56 . Detailed drawings of the hinge  52  can be seen in  FIGS. 5 ,  6 A, and  6 B. 
   The door  26  also includes a groove  27  which is designed to accommodate the ridge  29  on the edge of the trapezoidal opening. Accordingly, the door, when closed, can be lifted up and secured so that the groove  27  and the door  26  engages the ridge  29 . 
   When filling the container  10 , the door  26  can be lifted up and closed. by opening the second part  24  of the top, the container can be filled with whatever contents are desired. In one embodiment, the container is well suited for storing and shipping dry ice. After the container  10  is filled, the second part  24  can be closed and the container is ready for shipment. 
   When unloading the contents of the container  10 , the second part  24  of the top can be opened, thus providing access to the container. After the contents at the top of the container have been removed, the door  26  can be lifted up and pivoted downwardly so as to provide easier access to the bottom portion of the container  10 . 
   In addition, if desired, a drain  55  may be provided in the bottom  20  and the sidewall  12  of the container  10 . The drain is useful for cleaning the container  10 , and also useful when shipping contents that might melt, such as regular water ice. 
   Although only preferred embodiments are specifically illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated that many modifications and variations of the present invention are possible in light of the above teachings and within the purview of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and intended scope of the invention.