Patent Description:
Conventionally, various foldable insulated containers have been known. An example of such a known insulated container includes a structure that is provided with heat insulating materials on the inner side, and can be folded together with the heat insulating materials on side and bottom surfaces.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses an example of such an insulated container. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a foldable insulated container that is formed as a substantially rectangular parallelepiped container having outer walls formed by soft bag bodies. The container has a lid openable relative to the main body. Rigid plate-shaped heat insulating materials are inserted into the bag bodies forming the respective outer walls of the container. A part of the heat insulating materials can be taken out from the bag body.

Conventionally an insulated box has been known having heat insulating materials laid on an outer box having a box shape, for conveying food, medicine, and the like while keeping them cool or warm. An example of such an insulated box employs a structure in which left, right, front, and rear insulating inner wall materials, an insulating inner bottom material, and an insulating lid material are provided on the inner side of the outer box.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses an example of such an insulated box. Patent Document <NUM> discloses a fishing cooler having a heat insulating material provided between an outer case and an inner case forming a cooler main body. The heat insulating material uses, as a material, a base material obtained by immersing a foaming agent in a copolymer including vinylidene chloride as a main component.

Patent Document <NUM> discloses an insulated box comprising: an outer box having an opening in an upper surface, the outer box being formed in a shape of a box defined by side walls and a bottom wall; plate-shaped insulating inner wall materials arranged adjacent to the side walls; a plate-shaped insulating inner bottom material placed on the bottom wall; and a plate-shaped insulating lid material that closes the opening. The insulated box comprises an edge member including: a joining piece that faces and is joined to the side walls; an upper surface portion extending inward from upper ends of the joining pieces to form a flat surface in contact with the lid material; and a hook piece bent downward from the upper surface portion. The edge member is joined and fixed to the side walls to make the upper surface portion have a substantially uniform height along an inner circumference of the upper side of the side walls. The insulating inner wall material is joined and fixed to the side walls, with an upper end surface of the insulating inner wall material fit in a rectangular U-shaped space defined by the joining pieces and the hook piece, and the insulating lid material is placed on the upper surface portion to close to opening.

Patent document <NUM> discloses an insulated bag assembly comprising an insulated bag, the insulated bag comprising a pair of opposing main panels, the main panels defined in an insulated blank, the insulated blank comprising an insulation batt, a first sheet, and a second sheet, the insulation batt encapsulated in a blank cavity defined between the first sheet and the second sheet, a blank border extending around a perimeter of the insulated blank, the blank border defined by a perimeter portion of the first sheet being in facing engagement with a perimeter portion of the second sheet, the blank border encompassing the blank cavity and defining an insulated portion of the insulated blank, the insulated bag defining a top end and a bottom end, the top end distal from the bottom end, the insulated bag defining a bag cavity with a bag opening positioned at the top end; and an insulated panel, the insulated panel positioned within the bag cavity, the insulated panel forming a seal with the insulated bag.

Unfortunately, the foldable insulated container according to the mode disclosed in Patent Document <NUM> may not be easily foldable, because the heat insulating material in the bag body corresponding to each surface needs to be taken out when the insulated container is folded. Furthermore, the structure is plagued by a gap formed between the heat insulating materials for the respective surfaces, resulting in a largely compromised cooling effect.

With the structure of the insulated bag according to the mode disclosed in any of Patent Documents <NUM> and <NUM>, the cold air inside leaks through gaps between the insulating members for the respective surfaces, even when the insulating members are in close contact with each other, meaning that cooling effect is difficulty to reliably maintain. In view of this, the insulating members for the respective surfaces may be integrally formed to improve the cooling effect. However, the integrated forming requires cost and labor. Furthermore, when the integrally formed insulating member is removed, it has to be always removed entirely.

The present invention is made in view of the above, and an object of the present invention is to enable an insulated bag to be easily folded, while improving the cooling effect. Another object is to enable insulating members for respective surfaces to be formed more easily and at a lower cost, and to reliably reduce the leakage of cold air between the insulating members for the respective surfaces to improve the cooling effect. Further objects of the present invention will be understood by referring to the entire specification.

The present invention relates to a foldable insulated bag as defined in claim <NUM>. Preferred features of the invention are set out in the dependent claims.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is configured to be provided to cover an end portion of the bottom surface insulating member.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is configured to have a length in a range from <NUM> to <NUM>.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is formed over entire circumference of the side surface insulating member.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is notched at boundary regions among a first side surface insulating member, a second side surface insulating member, and a third side surface insulating member adjacent to each other.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is provided to cover <NUM>% to <NUM>% of a surface area of the bottom surface insulating member.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is provided to cover the bottom surface insulating member.

Embodiments of an insulated bag according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached drawings. Elements common to a plurality of figures are denoted by the same reference numerals through the plurality of figures. Note that for the sake of description, the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

One embodiment of the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As illustrated in the figures, the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a waterproof bag main body <NUM> having a waterproof cloth (obtained by coating a nylon or polyester woven cloth with PVC/PU/EVA) provided on the outer side, a nylon or polyester cloth provided on the inner side, and a synthetic resin foaming material such as PE or Styrofoam provided in between (the waterproof cloth surface may alternatively be used on a reverse side). The foldable insulated bag is formed to be in a shape of a box having a bottom surface and side surfaces, with an internal portion serving as a storage portion, and with a storage port opened in an upper portion. As described later, insulating members accommodating heat insulating materials are provided for respective inner surfaces of the bag main body <NUM> to be side surface insulating members and a bottom surface insulating member. Attachment of the heat insulating materials to the respective surface of the bag main body <NUM> may be implemented in various possible ways, and thus is not limited to a particular mode.

A fastener portion surrounding the outer circumference of the bottom surface of the bag main body <NUM> extends along the outer circumference. The bottom surface of the bag main body <NUM> is coupled via a hinge member (not illustrated) made of a synthetic resin sheet (such as a nylon or polyester woven cloth for example). The bottom surface can be opened closed by being pivoted with respect to the bag main body <NUM> about the hinge member. The bottom surface is configured to be arrangeable to be adjacent to a side portion of the outer surface of the bag main body <NUM> when the insulated bag <NUM> is folded. Similarly, a lid body <NUM> described later is also configured to be arrangeable to be adjacent to a side portion of the outer surface of the bag main body <NUM>, when the insulated bag <NUM> is folded. The bag main body <NUM> is formed by a soft material to be foldable together with the insulating members.

The lid body <NUM> formed of the same material as the bag main body <NUM> is coupled to one side (a rear surface side surface <NUM> described later) via a hinge member (not illustrated) made of a synthetic resin sheet. The lid body <NUM> has a circumference edge portion provided with a fastener portion <NUM> that surrounds an upper portion outer circumference of the bag main body <NUM> when the storage port is covered by the lid body <NUM> (when the storage port is closed by the lid body <NUM>). The fastener portion <NUM> extends along the outer circumference. The inner surface of the lid body <NUM> is provided with the insulating member accommodating the heat insulating material as an upper surface insulating member. The attachment of the heat insulating material to the lid body <NUM> may be implemented in various possible ways, and thus is not limited to a particular mode.

The insulated bag <NUM> may include a handle <NUM> including a pair of both end portions attached to the bag main body <NUM>. The handle <NUM> is attached to upper portion outer circumferences of a front surface side surface <NUM> and the rear surface side surface <NUM> of the bag main body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG> for example. However, this should not be construed in a limiting sense. In the illustrated example, the handle <NUM> includes a pair of U shaped handles <NUM> and <NUM>. For example, center portions of the U-shaped handles <NUM> and <NUM> as the handle <NUM> may be capable of being bundled by a handle bundling loop-shaped grip <NUM> on which hook-and-loop fasteners <NUM> and <NUM> are sewed, to be held by a hand of a person carrying the insulated bag <NUM>.

The insulated bag <NUM> may further include a shoulder belt <NUM> both end portions of which are attached to the bag main body <NUM>. In this case, the shoulder belt <NUM> may be formed as a single thin belt-shaped shoulder belt <NUM> that is made of woven cloth or synthetic resin (molded product), fabric, leather, or the like and is spun between left and right side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the bag main body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. The shoulder belt <NUM> may have both end portions <NUM> sewed and fixed to the left and right side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

The shoulder belt <NUM> of the insulated bag <NUM> has a length long enough for the center portion, in the longitudinal direction, to touch the ground when the shoulder belt <NUM> hangs down from the insulated bag <NUM> placed on the ground. A plate-shaped shoulder pad <NUM> having a dimension (length L) that is substantially <NUM> of the entire length of the shoulder belt <NUM> is attached to the center portion of the shoulder belt <NUM>. Further details will be omitted.

Next, the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described more in detail with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention includes: the bag main body <NUM> including a bottom surface portion <NUM> and side surface portions <NUM>; the lid body <NUM> attached to the bag main body <NUM>; and the bottom surface insulating member <NUM> and the side surface insulating member <NUM> provided to the bag main body <NUM>. The foldable insulated bag <NUM> is configured to include a fold back portion <NUM> extending from the side surface insulating member <NUM> to increase a contact area between the side surface insulating member <NUM> and the bottom surface insulating member <NUM> during the use of the insulated bag. The fold back portion <NUM> illustrated in <FIG> is formed integrally with the side surface insulating member <NUM> to be in a substantially plate shape. The fold back portion <NUM> comes into contact with the bottom surface insulating member <NUM> upon being appropriately bent. With this configuration, when the insulated bag <NUM> is folded, the fold back portion <NUM> can be approximately parallel to the side surface insulating member <NUM>, so that the insulated bag folded would not have the thickness unnecessarily increased.

With the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is thus provided so that the insulated bag can be easily folded, and the leakage of the cold air between the insulating members for the respective surfaces can be reliably reduced, so that the cooling effect can be reliably improved.

It has been known that the cooling effect of the insulated bag depends on two factors: a thermal effect from the ground on which the insulated bag is placed; and leakage of the cold air from the internal of the insulated bag (leakage of the cold air from a portion around the bottom portion in particular). To reduce the impact of the former factor, the bottom portion insulating member may be made thick, but this approach is limited by restrictions in terms of weight and dimensions. On the other hand, regarding the latter, it has been found that effective prevention of the leakage of the cold air between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member individually formed is important, and the inventors of the present application have found a specific measure to achieve this. The side surface insulating member <NUM> may be formed by forming a single plate-shaped insulating member, bending the insulating member, and appropriately coupling/bonding both end portions of the insulating member.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention has the fold back portion <NUM> provided to cover an end portion <NUM> of the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the cold air can be prevented from leaking between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member, whereby the cooling effect can be improved.

In the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention, the length of the fold back portion <NUM> is within a range from <NUM> to <NUM>. It has been found that the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and a thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed with such a configuration. A test has revealed that the percentage of ice remaining after a predetermined period of time has increased by <NUM>% or more.

With the fold back portion <NUM> having a length within such a range, when the insulated bag <NUM> is folded, the size after the folding based on the size of the box can be downsized. Thus, the insulated bag can be easily folded, and can have a reduced thickness in a folded state.

In the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion <NUM> is configured to be formed over the entire circumference of the side surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the cold air can be prevented from leaking between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member, whereby the cooling effect can be further improved.

Next, the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, in the foldable insulted bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion <NUM> is notched at boundary regions among a first side surface insulating member <NUM>, a second side surface insulating member <NUM>, and a third side surface insulating member <NUM> of the side surface insulating member <NUM> adjacent to each other, for example. As illustrated <FIG>, the notching is similarly implemented for the other side surface insulating member. Thus, the fold back portions can be prevented from overlapping, whereby the cold air can be more effectively prevented from leaking between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member, whereby the cooling effect can further be improved.

In the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion <NUM> is provided to cover the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and a thermal effect from the ground can be more effectively suppressed.

In the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion <NUM> is provided to cover <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the surface area of the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and a thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed.

<FIG> illustrates the foldable insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention in a folded state. As illustrated in the figure, opening is implemented by pulling the respective fasteners <NUM> on the lid body <NUM> and the bottom surface portion <NUM>. Then, the lid body <NUM> and the bottom surface portion <NUM> are pivoted by <NUM> degrees in directions opposite to each other to have their surfaces overlapped with and brought into contact with the outer surfaces of the facing side surfaces. Then, the side surface portions <NUM> and <NUM> are bent with their center part recessed to be in a V shape. The resultant form is maintained using a belt with hook-and-loop fastener (not illustrated) on the inner side of the bottom surface portion <NUM>. With the shoulder belt <NUM> taken out in this process, the resultant object can be carried on the shoulder. The inventors have found that, with the lid body <NUM> and the bottom surface portion <NUM> thus designed to be opened toward the opposite directions, they can be pivoted to be in contact with the respective facing side surface, so that the folding can be performed easily and can result in a more compact form.

As described above, when the insulated bag <NUM> is folded, the fold back portion <NUM> can be substantially parallel to the side surface insulating member <NUM>, so that the insulated bag folded would not have the thickness unnecessarily increased.

Thus, with the foldable insulated bag according to one embodiment of the present invention, the fold back portion is thus provided so that the insulated bag can be easily folded, and the leakage of the cold air between the insulating members for the respective surfaces can be reliably reduced, so that the cooling effect can be reliably improved.

One embodiment of the insulated bag not according to the present invention is described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As illustrated in the figures, the insulated bag <NUM> includes a waterproof bag main body <NUM> having a waterproof cloth (obtained by coating a nylon or polyester woven cloth with PVC/PU/EVA) provided on the outer side, a nylon or polyester cloth provided on the inner side, and a synthetic resin foaming material such as PE or Styrofoam provided in between (the waterproof cloth surface may alternatively be used on a reverse side). The foldable insulated bag is formed to be in a shape of a box having a bottom surface and side surfaces, with an internal portion serving as a storage portion, and with a storage port opened in an upper portion. As described later, insulating members accommodating heat insulating materials are provided for respective inner surfaces of the bag main body <NUM> to be side surface insulating members and a bottom surface insulating member. Attachment of the heat insulating members to the respective surface of the bag main body <NUM> may be implemented in various possible ways, and thus is not limited to a particular mode.

The lid body <NUM> formed of the same material as the bag main body <NUM> is coupled to one side (a rear surface side surface <NUM> described later) via a hinge member (not illustrated) made of a synthetic resin sheet (for example, nylon, polyester woven cloth, or the like). The lid body <NUM> has a circumference edge portion provided with a fastener portion <NUM> that surrounds an upper portion outer circumference of the bag main body <NUM> when the storage port is covered by the lid body <NUM> (when the storage port is closed by the lid body <NUM>). The fastener portion <NUM> extends along the outer circumference. The inner surface of the lid body <NUM> is provided with the insulating member accommodating the heat insulating material as an upper surface insulating member. The attachment of the heat insulating member to the lid body <NUM> may be implemented in various possible ways, and thus is not limited to a particular mode.

The insulated bag <NUM> may further include a shoulder belt <NUM> both end portions of which are attached to the bag main body <NUM>. In this case, the shoulder belt <NUM> may be formed as a single thin belt-shaped shoulder belt <NUM> that is made of woven cloth or synthetic resin (molded product), fabric, leather, or the like and is spun between left and right side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM> of the bag main body <NUM> as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>. Both end portions <NUM> of the shoulder belt <NUM> may be sewed and fixed to the left and right side surfaces <NUM> and <NUM>.

The shoulder belt <NUM> of the insulated bag <NUM> has a length long enough for the center portion in the longitudinal direction to touch the ground, when the shoulder belt <NUM> hangs down from the insulated bag <NUM> placed on the ground. A plate-shaped shoulder pad <NUM> having a dimension (length L) that is substantially <NUM> of the entire length of the shoulder belt <NUM> is attached to the center portion of the shoulder belt <NUM>. Further details will be omitted.

Next, an insulated bag <NUM> not according to the present invention will be described more in detail with reference to <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG>, <FIG>, and <FIG>, the insulated bag <NUM> includes: the bag main body <NUM> including a bottom surface portion <NUM> and side surface portions <NUM>; the lid body <NUM> attached to the bag main body <NUM>; and the bottom surface insulating member <NUM> and the side surface insulating member <NUM> provided to the bag main body <NUM>. The insulated bag <NUM> further includes, for increasing the contact area between the side surface insulating member <NUM> and the bottom surface insulating member <NUM> during the use of the insulated bag, one or both of an extending portion <NUM> extending in a vertical direction from the side surface insulating member <NUM> and a step portion <NUM> formed in the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. In the example illustrated in <FIG>, the extending portion <NUM> is formed integrally with the side surface insulating member <NUM> to be in a substantially plate shape. The extending portion <NUM> comes into contact with the bottom surface insulating member <NUM> upon being appropriately bent. On the other hand, in the example illustrated in <FIG>, the extending portion <NUM> is integrally molded with the side surface insulating member <NUM>.

With the insulated bag, the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member do not need to be integrally formed, whereby insulating members for respective surfaces can be formed more easily and at a lower cost, and the leakage of cold air between the insulating members for the respective surfaces can be reliably reduced, so that the cooling effect can be improved.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the insulated bag <NUM> according to one embodiment of the present invention has the extending portion <NUM> provided to cover an end portion <NUM> of the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the cold air can be prevented from leaking between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member, whereby the cooling effect can be improved.

In the insulated bag <NUM>, the length of the extending portion <NUM> is within a range from <NUM> to <NUM>. It has been found that the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and a thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed with this configuration.

In the insulated bag <NUM>, the extending portion <NUM> is configured to be formed over the entire circumference of the side surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the cold air can be prevented from leaking between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member, whereby the cooling effect can be improved.

Next, the insulated bag <NUM> not according to the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> and <FIG>. As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, in the insulated bag <NUM>, the extending portion <NUM> is notched at boundary regions among a first side surface insulating member <NUM>, a second side surface insulating member <NUM>, and a third side surface insulating member <NUM> of the side surface insulating member <NUM> adjacent to each other, for example. As illustrated <FIG> and <FIG>, the notching is similarly implemented for the other side surface insulating member. Thus, the fold back portions can be prevented from overlapping, whereby the cold air can be more effectively prevented from leaking between the bottom surface insulating member and the side surface insulating member, whereby the cooling effect can further be improved.

In the insulated bag <NUM>, the extending portion <NUM> is provided to cover the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and a thermal effect from the ground can be more effectively suppressed.

In the insulated bag, the extending portion <NUM> is provided to cover <NUM>% to <NUM>% of the surface area of the bottom surface insulating member <NUM>. Thus, the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and a thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed.

Next, the insulating member of the insulated bag <NUM> not according to the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> illustrates an example of a case where the extending portion <NUM> and the step portion <NUM> are provided in the insulated bag <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> is provided to have a side portion 32a brought into contact with a side portion 30a of the extending portion <NUM>. With this configuration, the contact area can be largely increased, whereby the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed.

Next, the insulating member of the insulated bag <NUM> not according to the present invention will be described with reference to <FIG> also illustrates an example of the case where the insulated bag <NUM> is provided with the extending portion <NUM> and the step portion <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> (which can be also referred to as a reversed step portion or a protrusion portion, but is referred to as the step portion <NUM> herein) is provided to be in contact with an upper portion 30b of the extending portion <NUM> and the side portion 28a of the side surface insulating member <NUM>. With this configuration, the contact area can be largely increased, whereby the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed. When an article is put in the bag, the weight of the article can contribute to the prevention of the leakage of the cold air inside.

Next, the insulating member of the insulated bag <NUM> not according to the present invention will be described by referring back to <FIG> illustrates an example of a case where the step portion <NUM> is provided in the insulated bag <NUM>. The step portion <NUM> is provided to have a side surface 32a brought into contact with a side portion 28a of the side surface portion insulating member <NUM>. With this configuration, the contact area can be largely increased, whereby the leakage of the cold air in the insulated bag and thermal effect from the ground can be suppressed.

Claim 1:
A foldable insulated bag (<NUM>) comprising:
a bag main body (<NUM>) including a bottom surface portion (<NUM>) and side surface portions (<NUM>);
a lid body (<NUM>) attached to the bag main body (<NUM>); and
a bottom surface insulating member (<NUM>) and a side surface insulating member (<NUM>) provided to the bag main body (<NUM>), wherein
the side surface insulating member (<NUM>) has an end portion, closer to the bottom surface insulating member (<NUM>), provided with a fold back portion (<NUM>) that is provided to cover at least a part of the bottom surface insulating member during use of the insulated bag (<NUM>), and
the side surface portions (<NUM>) comprise a left side surface portion and a right side surface portion (<NUM>, <NUM>),
characterized in that,
when the insulated bag (<NUM>) is folded, the lid body (<NUM>) and the bottom surface portion (<NUM>) are pivoted by <NUM> degrees in directions opposite to each other to have their surfaces overlapped with and brought into contact with the outer surfaces of their respective facing side surface portions (<NUM>), and
the left side surface portion and the right side surface portion (<NUM>, <NUM>) are bent with their center part recessed to be in a V shape.