Patent Publication Number: US-2022212858-A1

Title: Inflatable insulation panel and vehicle including inflatable insulation panels that define a cargo area of the vehicle

Description:
INTRODUCTION 
     The information provided in this section is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure. 
     The present disclosure relates to inflatable insulation panels and vehicles including inflatable insulation panels that define a cargo area. 
     A delivery truck used for delivering items that must be kept at cold temperatures typically includes insulation panels surrounding the cargo area of truck. The insulation panels in a delivery truck are typically made from fiber reinforced plastic (FRP). One example of such a delivery truck includes a frame, a passenger compartment mounted to the frame near the front end thereof, and storage compartment mounted to the frame near the rear end thereof. The storage compartment includes a roof, a floor, and a pair of sidewalls disposed on opposite sides of the roof and the floor. The roof, the floor, and the sidewalls enclose the cargo area of the truck. Each of the roof, the floor, and the sidewalls includes an insulation panel made from FRP and a bracket securing the insulation panel. 
     SUMMARY 
     An example of an inflatable insulation panel according to the present disclosure includes a bladder configured to contain air, plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the bladder, and at least one reflective film disposed within the interior cavity of the bladder. The bladder includes a first wall, a second wall opposite of the first wall, and perimeter walls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the first and second walls. The first and second walls and the perimeter walls collectively defining the interior cavity of the bladder. The plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the first and second walls. The plurality of tethers limit movement of the first and second walls away from one another when the bladder is inflated. The at least one reflective film is disposed between the interior surfaces of the first and second walls. 
     In one aspect, the at least one reflective film is attached to at least one of the interior surfaces of the first and second walls. 
     In one aspect, the at least one reflective film includes a first reflective film attached to the interior surface of the first wall and a second reflective film attached to the interior surface of the second wall. 
     In one aspect, the at least one reflective film is spaced apart from the interior surfaces of the first and second walls when the bladder is inflated. 
     In one aspect, the at least one reflective film has an emissivity that is less than or equal to 0.5. 
     In one aspect, the inflatable insulation panel further includes a plurality of flexible layers disposed within the interior cavity of the bladder. The plurality of flexible layers extend between and are connected to the interior surfaces of the first and second walls. The plurality of flexible layers divide the interior cavity of the bladder into a plurality of cells. 
     In one aspect, the plurality of flexible layers are attached to the at least one reflective film. 
     In one aspect, the plurality of flexible layers extend through the at least one reflective film and are attached to the interior surfaces of the first and second walls. 
     A cooler according to the present disclosure includes a bottom wall, a top wall, and sidewalls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls. At least one of the bottom wall, the top wall, and the sidewalls is at least partially formed by the inflatable insulation panel. 
     Another inflatable insulation panel according to the present disclosure includes a bladder configured to contain air, a plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the bladder, and a plurality of flexible layers disposed within the interior cavity of the bladder. The bladder includes a first wall, a second wall opposite of the first wall, and perimeter walls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the first and second walls. The first and second walls and the perimeter walls collectively define the interior cavity of the bladder. The plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the first and second walls. The plurality of tethers limit movement of the first and second walls away from one another when the bladder is inflated. The plurality of flexible layers also extend between and are connected to the interior surfaces of the first and second walls. The plurality of flexible layers divide the interior cavity of the bladder into a plurality of cells. 
     In one aspect, the plurality of flexible layers are configured to prevent airflow between the plurality of cells. 
     In one aspect, the plurality of flexible layers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of two of the perimeter walls that oppose one another. 
     In one aspect, the first and second walls are spaced apart from one another by a distance that is greater than or equal to 0.02 meters when the bladder is inflated. 
     A vehicle according to the present disclosure includes a roof, a floor, a first vertical wall, and a second vertical wall that collectively define a cargo area of the vehicle. The roof includes a first bladder and a first plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the first bladder. The first bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, and sidewalls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls. The top and bottom walls and the sidewalls collectively defining the interior cavity of the first bladder. The first plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The floor includes a second bladder and a second plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the second bladder. The second bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, and sidewalls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls of the second bladder. The top and bottom walls of the second bladder and the sidewalls of the second bladder collectively defining the interior cavity of the second bladder. The second plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the second bladder. The first vertical wall includes a third bladder and a third plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the third bladder. The third bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, and sidewalls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls of the third bladder. The top and bottom walls of the third bladder and the sidewalls of the third bladder collectively defining the interior cavity of the third bladder. The third plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the sidewalls of the third bladder. The second vertical wall includes a fourth bladder and a fourth plurality of tethers disposed within an interior cavity of the fourth bladder. The fourth bladder includes a top wall, a bottom wall opposite of the top wall, and sidewalls extending between and connected to perimeter edges of the top and bottom walls of the fourth bladder. The top and bottom walls of the fourth bladder and the sidewalls of the fourth bladder collectively defining the interior cavity of the fourth bladder. The fourth plurality of tethers extend between and are connected to interior surfaces of the sidewalls of the fourth bladder. 
     In one aspect, the roof is disposed above the floor, the first vertical wall abuts a first side of the roof and a first side of the floor, and the second vertical wall abuts a second side of the roof opposite of the first side of the roof and a second side of the floor opposite of the first side of the floor. 
     In one aspect, the first, second, third, and fourth bladders are configured to be deflated to increase a volume of the cargo area. 
     In one aspect, the roof further includes a first reflective film disposed within the interior cavity of the first bladder and between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the first bladder, the floor further includes a second reflective film disposed within the interior cavity of the second bladder and between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the second bladder, the first vertical wall further includes a third reflective film disposed within the interior cavity of the third bladder and between the interior surfaces of the sidewalls of the third bladder, and the second vertical wall further includes a fourth reflective film disposed within the interior cavity of the fourth bladder and between the interior surfaces of the sidewalls of the fourth bladder. 
     In one aspect, the first reflective film is configured to prevent radiation between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the first bladder, the second reflective film is configured to prevent radiation between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the second bladder, the third reflective film is configured to prevent radiation between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the third bladder, and the fourth reflective film is configured to prevent radiation between the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls of the fourth bladder. 
     In one aspect, the roof further includes a first plurality of flexible layers disposed within the interior cavity of the first bladder, the floor further includes a second plurality of flexible layers disposed within the interior cavity of the second bladder, the first vertical wall further includes a third plurality of flexible layers disposed within the interior cavity of the third bladder, and the second vertical wall further includes a fourth plurality of flexible layers disposed within the interior cavity of the fourth bladder. The first plurality of flexible layers extends between and are connected to the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The first plurality of flexible layers divide the interior cavity of the first bladder into a plurality of cells. The second plurality of flexible layers extend between and are connected to the interior surfaces of the top and bottom walls. The second plurality of flexible layers divide the interior cavity of the second bladder into a plurality of cells. The third plurality of flexible layers extend between and are connected to the interior surfaces of the sidewalls of the third bladder. The third plurality of flexible layers divide the interior cavity of the third bladder into a plurality of cells. The fourth plurality of flexible layers extend between and are connected to the interior surfaces of the sidewalls of the fourth bladder. The fourth plurality of flexible layers divide the interior cavity of the fourth bladder into a plurality of cells. 
     In one aspect, the first plurality of flexible layers are configured to prevent airflow between the plurality of cells in the first bladder, the second plurality of flexible layers are configured to prevent airflow between the plurality of cells in the second bladder, the third plurality of flexible layers are configured to prevent airflow between the plurality of cells in the third bladder, and the fourth plurality of flexible layers are configured to prevent airflow between the plurality of cells in the fourth bladder. 
     Further areas of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description, the claims and the drawings. The detailed description and specific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The present disclosure will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a section view of a first example of a vehicle including inflatable insulation panels according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 2  is a section view of a second example of a vehicle including inflatable insulation panels according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view of a third example of a vehicle including inflatable insulation panels according to the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an example inflatable inflation panel according to the present disclosure without perimeter walls around an interior cavity of the panel and without flexible layers in the interior cavity; 
         FIGS. 5 and 6  are graphs illustrating heat loss per unit area of inflatable insulation panels according to the present disclosure having different sized air gaps between outer walls of the panels; 
         FIGS. 7 through 9  are graphs illustrating heat loss per unit area of inflatable insulation panels according to the present disclosure and heat loss per unit area of insulation panels made from fiber reinforce plastic; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the cargo area of any one of the vehicles shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a section view of the cargo area of  FIG. 10  illustrating changes in the volume of the cargo area as the panels are inflated or deflated; and 
         FIGS. 12 and 13  are perspective views of a cooler including inflatable insulation panels according to the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     In the drawings, reference numbers may be reused to identify similar and/or identical elements. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As discussed above, insulation panels used in delivery trucks are typically made from FRP. In addition, the insulation panels are relatively thick to ensure that the insulation panels provide the desired amount of insulation. Since the insulation panels typically surround the cargo area of the delivery truck, increasing the thickness of the insulation panels typically decreases the volume of the cargo area. In addition, insulation panels made from FRP are relatively heavy, which may make them impractical for use in an electric delivery truck with a limited payload. 
     An insulation panel according to the present disclosure includes a bladder configured to be inflated with air and internal tethers that limit the expansion of the bladder. The tethers also increase the rigidity of the insulation panel, and ensure that the insulation panel forms a desired shape when inflated, such as a rectangular cuboid. In one example, the insulation panel further includes fabric layers that divide the internal cavity of the bladder into multiple cells and prevent airflow between the cells to inhibit convention in the internal cavity. In another example, the insulation panel includes a reflective film disposed in the internal cavity of the bladder between opposing walls of the bladder to inhibit radiation between the walls. 
     An insulation panel according to the present disclosure allows less heat loss per unit area relative to an insulation panel made from FRP. Thus, an insulation panel according to the present disclosure may be thinner than an insulation panel made from FRP while providing the same insulation performance as the insulation panel made from FRP. As a result, a delivery truck that includes insulation panels according to the present disclosure in place of insulation panels made from FRP may have a larger cargo area than other delivery trucks. In addition, an insulation panel according to the present disclosure weighs much less than an insulation panel made from FRP even if both types of panels have the same thickness. Thus, an insulation panel according to the present disclosure is better suited for electric delivery trucks. 
     Although the insulation panels according to the present disclosure are primary discussed in the context of a vehicle, the insulation panels may be used in other applications. For example, the present disclosure also discusses using the insulation panels in a soft cooler. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a vehicle  10  includes a body structure  12 , a roof  14 , a floor  16 , a first vertical wall  18 , and a second vertical wall  20 . The roof  14 , a floor  16 , the first vertical wall  18 , and the second vertical wall  20  are secured to the body structure  12 . The roof  14 , a floor  16 , the first vertical wall  18 , and the second vertical wall  20  collectively define a cargo area  22  of the vehicle  10 . In one example, the vehicle  10  is a delivery truck. Each of the roof  14 , the floor  16 , the first vertical wall  18 , and the second vertical wall  20  is formed by an inflatable insulation panel  24 . 
     Each panel  24  has a rectangular cuboid shape when inflated. Each panel  24  includes a bladder  26  having an interior cavity  28 , a plurality of tethers  30  disposed within the interior cavity  28 , a plurality of flexible layers  32  disposed within the interior cavity  28 , and a reflective film  34  disposed within the interior cavity  28 . Each bladder  26  can be inflated and deflated. In one example, each bladder  26  includes a valve (not shown) that regulates airflow into and out of the bladder  26 . Each bladder  26  may be made from a thin layer of material such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) or silicone coated flexible (e.g., nylon, polyester, Kevlar, etc.). The thickness of the each bladder  26  may vary from 0.1 millimeters (mm) to 10 mm depending on the pressure range of the bladder  26 . 
     Each bladder  26  includes a first wall  36 , a second wall  38  opposite of the first wall  36 , and perimeter walls  40  extending between and connected to perimeter edges  42  of the first and second walls  36  and  38 . The first and second walls  36  and  38  and the perimeter walls  40  collectively define and completely enclose the internal cavity  28  of the bladder  26 . The first and second walls  36  and  38  may be spaced apart from one another by a distance that is greater than or equal to 0.02 meters (m) when the bladder  26  is inflated. For the roof  14  and the floor  16 , the first wall  36  may be referred to as a top wall, the second wall  38  may be referred to as a bottom wall, and the perimeters walls  40  may be referred to as sidewalls. For the first and second vertical walls  18  and  20 , the first and second walls  36  and  38  may be referred to as sidewalls, the upper perimeter wall  40  may be referred to as a top wall, and the lower perimeter wall  40  may be referred to as a bottom wall. 
     The tethers  30  extend between and are connected to interior surfaces  44  of the first and second walls  36  and  38 . The tethers  30  limit movement of the first and second walls  36  and  38  away from one another when the bladder  26  is inflated. In addition, the tethers  30  increase the amount of compressive force that the bladder  26  may withstand in a direction extending along the lengths of the tethers  30  before the bladder  26  deforms in response to the compressive force. 
     The tethers  30  may be connected to the first and second walls  36  and  38  using three-dimensional (3D) knitting, weft knitting, hand stitching, an embroidering machine, a clothing tag installation device, and/or adhesive. The tethers  30  may include monofilament threads, such as wires, and/or multifilament threads, such as yarn. Additionally or alternatively, the tethers  30  may include cables and/or ribbons (or tapes). The tethers  30  may have cross-sectional shapes that are circular, star-shaped, and/or rectangular. 
     The flexible layers  32  also extend between and are connected to the interior surfaces  44  of the first and second walls  36  and  38 . In addition, the flexible layers  32  extend between and are connected to interior surfaces  44  of the perimeter walls  40 . The flexible layers  32  divide the interior cavity  28  of each bladder  26  into a plurality of cells  48 . The flexible layers  32  prevent airflow between the cells  48  of each bladder  26  and thereby inhibit convection within the internal cavity  28  thereof. 
     The flexible layers  32  may be connected to the first and second walls  36  and  38  and the perimeter walls  40  using 3D knitting, weft knitting, hand stitching, an embroidering machine, a clothing tag installation device, and/or adhesive. The connections between the flexible layers  32  and the walls  36 ,  38 ,  40  may be air-tight (e.g., sealed). The flexible layers  32  may be made from a flexible material such as fabric and/or plastic. The flexible material may be air-impermeable. 
     The reflective film  34  is disposed between the interior surfaces  44  of the first and second walls  36  and  38  and prevents radiation between the interior surfaces  44 . In the example shown, the reflective film  34  is parallel to the first and second walls  36  and  38 . In the roof  14  and the first vertical wall  18 , the reflective film  34  is attached to the interior surface  44  of the first wall  36 . In the floor  16  and the second vertical wall  20 , the reflective film  34  is attached to the interior surface  44  of the first wall  36 . The reflective film  34  may be attached to the interior surfaces  44  of the first and second walls  36  and  38  using adhesive. The reflective film  34  may be made from aluminum foil and/or may have an emissivity that is less than or equal to 0.05. 
     The flexible layers  32  may extend through the reflective film  34  and be directly connected to the first and second walls  36  and  38 . Additionally or alternatively, the flexible layers  32  may be directly connected to the reflective film  34  and thereby indirectly connected to the first or second wall  36  or  38  through the reflective film  34 . In the roof  14 , the flexible layers  32  are directly connected to the second wall  38  and are connected to the first wall  36  through the reflective film  34 . In the floor  16 , the flexible layers  32  are directly connected to the first wall  36  and are connected to the second wall  38  through the reflective film  34 . In the first and second vertical walls  18  and  20 , the flexible layers  32  extend through the reflective film  34  and are directly connected to the first and second walls  36  and  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a vehicle  50  is shown that is similar or identical to the vehicle  10  except for the position of the reflective film  34  and the connections between the flexible layers  32  and the first and second walls  36  and  38 . In  FIG. 2 , the reflective film  34  is spaced apart from the interior surfaces  44  of the first and second walls  36  and  38  when the bladder  26  is inflated. In the example shown, the reflective film  34  is disposed approximately midway between the interior surfaces  44  of the first and second walls  36  and  38  when the bladder  26  is inflated. In addition, in the roof  14 , the floor  16 , the first vertical wall  18 , and the second vertical wall  20 , the tethers  30  and the flexible layers  32  extend through the reflective film  34  and are directly connected to the first and second walls  36  and  38 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a vehicle  52  is shown that is similar or identical to the vehicle  10  except for the number of layers of the reflective film  34  and the connections between the flexible layers  32  and the first and second walls  36  and  38 . In  FIG. 3 , each panel  24  includes two layers of the reflective film  34 . Each reflective film  34  is attached to the interior surface  44  of the first or second wall  36  or  38 . In addition, the tethers  30  and the flexible layers  32  are directly connected to the reflective film  34  and are thereby indirectly connected to the first and second wall  36  and  38  through the reflective film  34 . 
       FIG. 4  shows an example of any one of the panels  24  in the vehicle  52  with its perimeter walls  40  omitted to illustrate components disposed within the cavity  28  of the bladder  26  except for the flexible layers  32 , which are also omitted. In the example shown in  FIG. 4 , the panel  24  includes one or more additional layers  53  attached to exterior surfaces  54  of the first and second walls  34  and  36 . The layers  53  may be made from the same material as the bladder  26  or a different material. The first and second walls  36  and  38  are separated by an air gap or distance  55 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a graph  56  illustrates a plurality of curves  58  plotted with respect to an x-axis  60  that represents air gap thickness (i.e., the distance  55 ) in m and a y-axis  62  that represents heat loss per unit area in watts per meter squared (W/m 2 ). The curves  58  indicate the heat loss per unit area of examples of the panel  24  when the difference between the temperatures of the first and second walls  36  and  38  is 30 degrees Celsius (° C.). The reflective film  34  has a different value of emissivity in each example. The curves  58  include a first curve  64  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.9, a second curve  66  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.8, a third curve  68  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.7, a fourth curve  70  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.6, a fifth curve  72  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.5, a sixth curve  74  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.4, a seventh curve  76  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.3, an eighth curve  78  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.2, a ninth curve  80  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.1, and a tenth curve  82  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.05. As indicated by the tenth curve  82 , the panel  24  has a heat loss per unit area of 15.68 W/m 2  when the difference between the temperatures of the first and second walls  36  and  38  is 30° C., the reflective film  34  has an emissivity of 0.05, and the air gap thickness is 0.1 m. Thus, if the surface area of each of the first and second walls  36  and  38  is 25 meters squared (m 2 ), the panel  24  has a heat loss of 393 watts (W). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 6 , a graph  86  illustrates a plurality of curves  88  plotted with respect to an x-axis  90  that represents air gap thickness in m and a y-axis  92  that represents heat loss per unit area in W/m 2 . The curves  88  indicate the heat loss per unit area of examples of the panel  24  when the difference between the temperatures of the first and second walls  36  and  38  is 50° C. The reflective film  34  has a different value of emissivity in each example. The curves  88  include a first curve  94  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.9, a second curve  96  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.8, a third curve  98  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.7, a fourth curve  100  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.6, a fifth curve  102  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.5, a sixth curve  104  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.4, a seventh curve  106  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.3, an eighth curve  108  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.2, a ninth curve  110  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.1, and a tenth curve  112  corresponding to an emissivity of 0.05. As indicated by the tenth curve  112 , the panel  24  has a heat loss per unit area of 26.92 W/m 2  when the difference between the temperatures of the first and second walls  36  and  38  is 50° C., the reflective film  34  has an emissivity of 0.05, and the air gap thickness is 0.1 m. Thus, if the surface area of each of the first and second walls  36  and  38  is 25 m 2 , the panel  24  has a heat loss of 673 W. 
     As evidenced by the graphs  56 ,  86  of  FIGS. 5 and 6 , the amount of heat loss per unit area of the panel  24  decreases as the emissivity of the reflective film  34  decreases. In addition, the amount of heat loss per unit area of the panel  24  decreases as the air gap thickness increases. Further, the amount by which the heat loss per unit are of the panel  24  decreases diminishes at emissivity values less than 0.05 and at air gap thicknesses greater than 0.1 m. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , a graph  116  illustrates the curves  88  and an eleventh curve  118  plotted with respect to an x-axis  120  that represents panel thickness in m and a y-axis  122  that represents heat loss per unit area in W/m 2 . The thickness of each panel  24  is the distance  55 . The eleventh curve  118  indicates the heat loss per unit area of an insulation panel made from FRP. An arrow  124  indicates increasing emissivity levels of the reflective films  34  in the panels  24  represented by the curves  88 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 8 , a graph  126  illustrates a first curve  128  and a second curve  130  plotted with respect to an x-axis  132  that represents panel thickness in m and a y-axis  134  that represents heat loss per unit area in W/m 2 . The first curve  128  corresponds to the panel  24  with a panel thickness of 100 mm. Thus, the first curve  128  corresponds to a single point on each of the curves  88  of  FIG. 7  aligned with 0.1 on the x-axis  120 . The second curve  130  corresponds to the FRP panel with a panel thickness of 100 mm. Thus, the second curve  130  corresponds to a single point on the eleventh curve  118  of  FIG. 7  aligned with 0.1 on the x-axis  120 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 9 , a graph  136  illustrates a first curve  138  and a second curve  140  plotted with respect to an x-axis  142  that represents panel thickness in m and a y-axis  144  that represents heat loss per unit area in W/m 2 . The first curve  138  corresponds to the panel  24  with a panel thickness of 200 mm. Thus, the first curve  138  corresponds to a single point on each of the curves  88  of  FIG. 7  aligned with 0.2 on the x-axis  120 . The second curve  140  corresponds to the FRP panel with a panel thickness of 200 mm. Thus, the second curve  140  corresponds to a single point on the eleventh curve  118  of  FIG. 7  aligned with 0.2 on the x-axis  120 . 
     As evidenced by the graphs  116 ,  126 , and  136 , for nearly all of the emissivity values and panel thicknesses represented, the heat loss per unit area of the panel  24  is less than the heat loss per unit area of the FRP panel. The only exceptions to this relative panel performance occur when the reflective film  34  of the panel  24  has an emissivity that is greater than 0.5 and each the panel  24  and the FRP panel has a thickness that is greater than 0.1 m. Thus, the reflective film  34  of each panel  24  may have an emissivity that is less than or equal to 0.5, and each panel  24  may have a thickness that is less than or equal to 0.1 m. The graphs  116 ,  126 , and  136  also show that the panel  24  can have thickness that is less than 0.1 m and still provide the same insulation as, or better insulation than, the FRP panel with a thickness of 0.1 m. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 10 , the cargo area  22  of the vehicle  10  has a length  146 , a width  148 , and a height  150 . In one example, the length  146  is 3.4 m, the width  148  is 2 m, and the height  150  is 2 m. Thus, in this example, the volume of the cargo area  22  is 11.56 meters cubed (m 3 ). In addition, the preceding example corresponds to a panel thickness of 100 mm. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 11 , various examples of the cargo area  22  are shown. A first example 152 of the cargo area  22  is the example described above in which the panel thickness is 100 mm and the volume of the cargo area is 11.56 m 3 . A second example 154 of the cargo area  22  corresponds to an inflated panel thickness (i.e., the distance  55 ) of 50 mm. In the second example 154, the length  146  of the cargo area  22  is 3.5 m, the width  148  of the cargo area  22  is 1.8 m, and the height  150  of the cargo area  22  is 2.1 m. Thus, the volume of the cargo area  22  is 13.23 m 3 , which equates to 14.4% additional cargo space relative to the first example 152. Notably, as shown in  FIG. 7 , even when the thickness of the panel  24  is 50 mm and the thickness of the FRP panel is 100 mm, the panel  24  allows less heat loss per unit area relative to the FRP panel regardless of the emissivity of the reflective film  134 . Thus, the panel  24  may provide better insulation even at a reduced panel thickness that yields additional cargo space. 
     A third example 156 of the cargo area  22  corresponds to a deflated panel thickness of 10 mm. In the third example 156, the length  146  of the cargo area  22  is 3.58 m, the width  148  of the cargo area  22  is 1.88 m, and the height  150  of the cargo area  22  is 2.18 m. Thus, the volume of the cargo area  22  is 14.67 m 3 , which equates to 27.0% additional cargo space relative to the first example 152. In other words, deflating the panel  24  may increase the volume of the cargo area  22  by 27.0%. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 12 and 13 , a soft cooler  160  includes a lid  162 , a bottom wall  164 , and sidewalls  166 . The lid  162 , the bottom wall  164 , and the sidewalls  166  collectively define an internal cavity  168  of the cooler  160 . Each of the lid  162 , the bottom wall  164 , and the sidewalls  166  includes an insulation panel according to the present disclosure such as any of the panels  24  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . The insulation panels may be inflated using a pump (not shown) included in the cooler  160 . The insulation panels may be inflated to increase the insulation and rigidity of the cooler  160  and to provide an air cushion that protects items within the cooler  160 . The insulation panels may be deflated to increase the volume of the internal cavity  168  and decrease the rigidity of the cooler  160 . 
     The foregoing description is merely illustrative in nature and is in no way intended to limit the disclosure, its application, or uses. The broad teachings of the disclosure can be implemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosure includes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure should not be so limited since other modifications will become apparent upon a study of the drawings, the specification, and the following claims. It should be understood that one or more steps within a method may be executed in different order (or concurrently) without altering the principles of the present disclosure. Further, although each of the embodiments is described above as having certain features, any one or more of those features described with respect to any embodiment of the disclosure can be implemented in and/or combined with features of any of the other embodiments, even if that combination is not explicitly described. In other words, the described embodiments are not mutually exclusive, and permutations of one or more embodiments with one another remain within the scope of this disclosure. 
     When an element or layer is referred to as being “on,” “engaged to,” “connected to,” or “coupled to” another element or layer, it may be directly on, engaged, connected or coupled to the other element or layer, or intervening elements or layers may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly on,” “directly engaged to,” “directly connected to,” or “directly coupled to” another element or layer, there may be no intervening elements or layers present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between” versus “directly between,” “adjacent” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.). 
     Although the terms first, second, third, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections, these elements, components, regions, layers and/or sections should not be limited by these terms. These terms may be only used to distinguish one element, component, region, layer or section from another region, layer or section. Terms such as “first,” “second,” and other numerical terms when used herein do not imply a sequence or order unless clearly indicated by the context. Thus, a first element, component, region, layer or section discussed below could be termed a second element, component, region, layer or section without departing from the teachings of the example embodiments. 
     Spatially relative terms, such as “inner,” “outer,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper,” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature&#39;s relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. Spatially relative terms may be intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the example term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly. 
     As used herein, the term “and/or” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and C should be construed to mean a logical (A OR B OR C), using a non-exclusive logical OR, and should not be construed to mean “at least one of A, at least one of B, and at least one of C.”