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Patent 2499291 Summary

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(12) Patent Application: (11) CA 2499291
(54) English Title: FOLDABLE INSULATED BAG WITH TRAILING MEMBER
(54) French Title: SAC A ISOLATION THERMIQUE PLIANT A ELEMENT DE TALONNEMENT
Status: Dead
Bibliographic Data
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC):
  • B65D 81/38 (2006.01)
  • A45C 7/00 (2006.01)
  • A45C 13/00 (2006.01)
(72) Inventors :
  • MOGIL, MELVIN S. (Canada)
(73) Owners :
  • CALIFORNIA INNOVATIONS INC. (Canada)
(71) Applicants :
  • CALIFORNIA INNOVATIONS INC. (Canada)
(74) Agent: RIDOUT & MAYBEE LLP
(74) Associate agent:
(45) Issued:
(22) Filed Date: 2005-03-04
(41) Open to Public Inspection: 2006-09-04
Availability of licence: N/A
(25) Language of filing: English

Patent Cooperation Treaty (PCT): No

(30) Application Priority Data: None

Abstracts

English Abstract





A Foldable Insulated Container may be made of a three piece assembly of a
base, a front
wall and a rear wall. The base may include a reinforcement such as may tend to
urge the base to
retain a substantially planar orientation, and which may aid in folding the
insulated bag. The
insulated bag may include a trailing member. The trailing member may be
attached to the base.
The trailing member may include wheels. The trailing member, or apparatus, may
include a
retractable wheeled undercarriage.


Claims

Note: Claims are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.





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CLAIMS


I claim:

1. A foldable insulated bag comprising:

an insulated wall structure, defining an insulated space therewithin;

said wall structure having a closure member operable to govern access to said
insulated
space; and

said wall structure including a forming panel;

said wall structure, when empty, being movable to a first. flattened position;

said wall structure being foldable about at least a portion of said forming
panel to a
folded storage position;

said wall structure being securable in said folded storage position; and

an undercarriage mounted to said insulated wall structure to facilitate towing
thereof.

2. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said undercarriage is
retractable.

3. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said bag includes a retainer,
said retainer being
operable to secure said bag in said folded storage position.

4. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said bag has a bottom region
and a top
region, and a suspension member is mounted distantly from said bottom region.

5. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said forming panel includes a
stiffener
member.

6. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said forming panel has a
flexural rigidity
greater than any other portion of said bag.

7. . The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said forming panel has an
insulating layer
and a stiffening layer.

8. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said bag has a base panel and
a sidewall
structure mounted about said base panel, said forming panel being said base
panel.




-18-


9. The foldable insulated bag of claim 8 wherein said undercarriage is mounted
to said base
panel.

10. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said undercarriage includes
wheels.

11. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said undercarriage is
movable between an
extended position and a retracted position, and includes a fitting operable to
discourage
accidental retraction of said undercarriage.

12. The foldable insulated bag of claim 1 wherein said undercarriage includes
a retracted
position retainer.

13. The foldable insulated bag of claim 8 wherein said sidewall structure
includes first and
second opposed sidewall panels, each sidewall panel having a first edge
adjoining said base
panel and a second edge distant therefrom. said closure member being mounted
to said distant
edges.

14. The foldable insulated bag of claim 13 wherein said first and second
members of said
retainer are mating hook-and-eye fabric strip portions.

15. The foldable insulated bag of claim 10 wherein:

said sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels,
each said
sidewall panel having a first edge adjoining said base panel and a second edge
distant therefrom;

said base panel has a periphery, said periphery including a first edge
adjoining said first
edge of said first sidewall panel, and a second edge adjoining said first edge
of
said second sidewall panel;

said periphery including two opposed remainder portions between said first and
second
sides, said portions having lengths 2a1 and 2a2 respectively;

said first edge of said first sidewall panel having a length. L:
said first edge of said base panel having a length 'b'; and

said length L being at least as great as b + (a1 + a2).

16. The foldable insulated bag of claim 15 wherein said first edge of said
first sidewall panel is
centered relative to said first edge of said base panel.




-19-


17. The foldable insulated bag of claim 10 wherein:

said sidewall structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels,
each said
sidewall panel having a first edge adjoining said base panel and a second edge
distant therefrom;

said base panel is rectangular, having two opposed sides of length 'b' and two
opposed
sides of length 'a'

said first edge of said first sidewall panel has a length, L; and

said length L being at least as great as b + 2a.

18. The foldable insulated bag of claim 17 wherein said first edge of said
first sidewall panel is
centered relative to said first edge of said base panel.

Description

Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.



CA 02499291 2005-03-04
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FOLDABLE INSULATED BAG WITH TRAILING MEMBER
Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of foldable insulated containers.
Background of the Invention
Collapsible insulated containers have been known for some years. They are
typically
used as containers for carrying cold drinks, and other cool refreshments, but
can also be used
keep foods or beverages warm or hot.
Certain sizes and shapes of coolers are better for some purposes than others.
Some
collapsible coolers can be folded to a collapsed position, but the folding
process may tend to
require relatively strong hands, since the insulated panels may be of fair
thickness, and may have
a resilience that tends to resist folding. These containers tend to unfold
easily, but tend to be
rather more difficult to fold back into the collapsed or storage position. In
the folded position,
the front and rear walls remain in generally parallel planar orientation while
the bottom panel is
folded up in half, and the side panels are folded inward as shown in my issued
US Patent Des.
382,771. This kind of cooler is secured in the folded position (a) by a hook-
and-eye fabric strip
securement between the overfolded lip of the lid portion of the cooler and the
front face of the
cooler and (b) by side fastening straps that retain the bottom portions of the
front panel relative
to the back panel, typically by wrapping at least partially around the back
panel and being
secured thereto with hook-and-eye strips. Coolers of this nature tend to be
generally cubic in
shape with rectangular sides forming, typically, a six sided box shaped
structure when unfolded.
A cooler of this type may also tend to require more manufacturing steps than a
more bag-like
cooler, and may therefore be more costly and time consuming to produce.
Rolling up a collapsible cooler, in the manner in which a sleeping bag is
sometimes
rolled up, may tend not to be particularly satisfactory in all circumstances.
Users may tend to
roll up the insulated material too tightly, either damaging the material, or
tending to give it a
permanent set. This tight rolling approach may also tend to favour persons
with relatively strong
hands.
It may be that a different kind of cooler is desired that may be somewhat more
convenient for rapid use, that may be more quickly and easily folded, or that
may provide greater


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-2-
ease of manufacture, that may tend to pack efficiently for shipment, or that
may present a
relatively easily displayed product.
It may also be that it would be helpful to have a cooler that folds in a
continuous
S direction, or that folds back and forth, on a folding panel basis rather
than in a continuous tight
roll like a sleeping bag. Optionally, it may be helpful to have members that
facilitate towing of
the bag.
Summar~of the Invention
In an aspect of the invention there is a foldable insulated bag with trailing
member
comprising with an insulated wall structure, defining an insulated space
therewithin. A wall
structure having a closure member operable to govern access to the insulated
space and a wall
structure including a forming panel. The wall structure, when empty, is
movable to a first.
flattened position as well as being foldable about at least a portion of the
forming panel to a
folded storage position. The wall structure being securable in the folded
storage position and
there is also an undercarriage mounted to the insulated wall structure to
facilitate towing thereof.
In another feature, the foldable insulated bag shows the undercarriage as
being
retractable. The foldable insulated bag as noted wherein the bag includes a
retainer and the
retainer being operable to secure the bag in the folded storage position. In
another feature, the
foldable storage bag of has a bottom region and a top region, and a suspension
member is
mounted distantly from the bottom region. In further feature, the foldable
insulated bag with the
forming panel includes a stiffener member. In another feature, the foldable
insulated bag with
the forming panel has a flexural rigidity greater than any other portion of
the bag. In yet another
feature, the foldable insulated bag with the forming panel has an insulating
layer and a stiffening
layer.
In another feature, the foldable insulated bag wherein the bag has a base
panel and a
sidewall structure mounted about the base panel, the forming panel being the
base panel. lnyet
another feature, the foldable insulated bag wherein the undercarriage is
mounted to the base
panel. In further feature, the foldable insulated bag with the undercarriage
includes wheels.
This feature is also movable between an extended position and a retracted
position, and includes
a fitting operable to discourage accidental retraction of the undercarriage.
The foldable insulated
bag includes a retracted position retainer.


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
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In another feature, the foldable insulated bag with the sidewall structure
includes first and
second opposed sidewall panels, each sidewall panel having a first edge
adjoining the base panel
and a second edge distant therefrom. The closure member being mounted to the
distant edges.
The foldable insulated bag with the first and second members of the retainer
are mating hook-
and-eye fabric strip portions.
In another aspect of the invention, the foldable insulated bag with the
sidewall structure
includes first and second opposed sidewall panels, each of the sidewall panels
having a first edge
adjoining the base panel and a second edge distant therefrom The base panel
has a periphery, the
periphery including a first edge adjoining the first edge of the first
sidewall panel, and a second
edge adjoining the first edge of the second sidewal l panel. The periphery
including two opposed
remainder portions between the first and second sides, the portions having
lengths 2a~ and 2az
respectively. The first edge of the first sidewall panel having a length. L
and the first edge of the
base panel having a length 'b'; and the length L being at least as great as b
+ (al + az).
In a further feature, the foldable insulated bag with the first edge of the
first sidewall panel is
centered relative to the first edge of the base panel.
In still another feature of the foldable insulated bag with trailing member,
the first edge of the
first sidewall panel is centered relative to said first edge ofthe base panel.
In still another additional
feature, the forming panel includes a stiffener member. In yet still another
additional feature, the
forming panel has a flexural rigidity greater than any other portion of the
bag. In yet another
additional feature, the forming panel has an insulating layer and a stiffening
layer. In a further
additional feature, the forming panel includes a stiffened straight edge In
still a further additional
feature, the forming panel includes a pair of spaced apart, parallel stiffened
straight edges. In yet a
further additional feature, the bag has a base panel and a sidewall structure
mounted about the base
panel. The forming panel is the base panel.
These and other aspects of the invention may be more readily understood with
the
aid of the illustrative Figures and detailed description included herein
below.
Brief Description of the Drawings
The illustrations of an example, or examples, of insulated bags embodying the
various
aspects and features noted, being provided by way of illustration, but not of
limitation include
the following Figures:


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
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Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an example of a foldable insulated bag of
an
embodiment of the present invention as carried by a user;
Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the bag of Figure 1 as installed in the
trunk of an
automobile;
Figure 3a shows a perspective view of the bag of Figure 1 as folded;
Figure 3b shows a front view of the bag of Figure 3a in a fully folded
condition;
Figure 3c shows a rear view of the bag of Figure 3a in the fully folded
condition;
Figure 3d shows a left hand end view of the bag of Figure 3a in the fully
folded
condition;
Figure 3e shows a right hand end view of the bag of Figure 3a in the fully
folded
condition;
Figure 3f shows a top view of the bag of Figure 3a in the fully folded
condition;
Figure 3g shows a bottom view of the bag of Figure 3a in the fully folded
condition;
Figure 3h shows the bag of figure 3c with an alternate hang loop orientation;
Figure 4a shows a perspective view of the unfolded bag of Figure 1;
Figure 4b shows a front view of the bag of Figure 4a in a fully unfolded
condition;
Figure 4c shows a rear view of the bag of Figure 4a in the fully unfolded
condition;
Figure 4d shows a left hand end view of the bag of Figure 4a in the fully
unfolded
condition;
Figure 4e shows a right hand end view of the bag of Figure 4a in the fully
unfolded
condition;
Figure 4f shows a top view of the bag of Figure 4a in the fully unfolded
condition;
Figure 4g shows a bottom view of the bag of Figure 4a in the fully unfolded
condition;
Figure 5 shows a cross sectional view of the bag of Figure 1, taken abeam of
the handles
(with the handles not shown);
Figure 6a shows a front view of the bag of Figure 1 in a partially folded
condition;
Figure 6b shows a rear view of the bag of Figure 6a;
Figure 6c shows a left hand end view of the bag of Figure 6a;
Figure 6d shows a right handed view of the bag of Figure 6a;
Figure 7a shows a perspective view of the bag of Figure 1 in an open condition
with a
liner thereof in an inverted position to facilitate washing thereof;
Figure 7b shows a perspective view of the bag of Figure 1 in an open
condition;
Figure 8 shows a developed view of panels of the bag of Figure 1 prior to
assembly;
Figure 9a shows a developed view of a bottom panel for an alternate embodiment
of the
foldable insulated bag of Figure 1;


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-5-
Figure 9b shows a developed view of a side panel for an alternate embodiment
of the
foldable insulated bag of Figure l;
Figure l0a shows an isometric view of a single fold, alternate insulated bag
to that of
Figure 1;
Figure lOb shows a front view of the insulated bag of Figure l0a in a folded
condition;
Figure lOc shows a rear view of the insulated bag of Figure l0a in a folded
condition;
Figure lOd shows a left hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a;
Figure l0e shows a right hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a;
Figure lOf shows a top view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a;
Figure lOg shows a bottom view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a;
Figure l la shows a partially unfolded front view of a triple fold alternate
insulated bag
to that of Figure 1;
Figure llb shows a front view of the insulated bag of Figure l la in a folded
condition;
Figure l lc shows a rear view of the insulated bag of Figure lla in a folded
condition;
Figure lld shows a left hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure lla;
Figure lle shows a right hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure lla;
Figure llf shows a top view of the insulated bag of Figure lla;
Figure llg shows a bottom view of the insulated bag of Figure lla;
Figure 12a shows a perspective view from above, in front and to the left of an
alternate
embodiment of foldable insulated bag to that of Figure 1;
Figure 12b shows a perspective view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a from
below, in
front and to the right;
Figure 12c shows a front view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 12d shows a rear view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 12e shows a right hand side view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 12f shows a left hand side view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 12g shows a top view of the bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 12b shows a bottom view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 13a is a perspective view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a in a
folded condition;
Figure 13b is a top view of the insulated bag of Figure 13a;
Figure 13c is a view looking from the main fold toward the top of the bag of
Figure 13a;
Figure 13d is a side view of the bag of Figure 13a;
Figure 14a shows a front perspective view of the bag of Figure 13a in a laid
out, flat
condition;
Figure 14b is a rear perspective view of the bag of Figure 14a;
Figure 14c is a front view of the laid out bag of Figure 14a;


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
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Figure 14d is a rear view of the laid out bag of Figure 14a;
Figure 15a shows a perspective view of the bag of Figure 14a with
undercarriage
members in a deployed or extended position;
Figure 15b shows an end view of the bag of Figure 15a;
Figure 15c shows a side view detail of the bag of Figure 15a;
Figure 15d shows a perspective view of a detail of the undercarriage of the
bag of Figure
15a in a stored or retracted position;
Figure 15e shows a perspective view of a detail of the undercarriage of Figure
15a in the
extended position;
Figure 15f shows an enlarged side view of a detail of the bag of Figure 12a
standing on
its undercarriage.
Detailed Description of an Embodiment of the Present Invention
The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, are
provided by
way of illustration of an example. or examples, of particular embodiments of
the principles of the
present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of
explanation, and not of
limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like
parts are marked
throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective
reference numerals. The
drawings are not necessarily to scale and in some instances proportions may
have been
exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features of the invention.
For the purposes of this description, the largest panels of the bags herein
described are
arbitrarily designated as the front and rear sides, faces, or portions of the
bag. Similarly, the
closure member, or opening of the bag is arbitrarily designated as being at
the top, and the base
panel is designated as being at the bottom. It should also be understood that,
within the normal
range of temperatures to which human food and human touch is accustomed,
although the term
cooler, or cooler container, or cooler bag, may be used, such insulated
structures may generally
also be used to keep food, beverages, or other objects either warm or hot as
well as cool, cold, or
frozen.
As seen in the Figures, an example of a portable, collapsible soft sided,
insulated wall
structure is identified as a foldable cooler tote bag 20. This structure can
be referred to as an
insulated bag, an insulated container, a cooler, or such like. The basic
structure of bag 20
includes a first side panel, or wall, or sidewall, arbitrarily designated
front panel 22, a second
side panel, or wall, or sidewall, designated arbitrarily as rear panel 24, and
a third panel or wall


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
_7_
identified as a bottom, or base panel 26. As described more fully below, these
panels are joined
together to form a pouch, or bag, having an enclosed internal space 25
surrounded by insulated
walls. The enclosed volume of internal space 25 varies with the condition of
the bag. That is,
while the bag is in a folded (that is, collapsed) condition or position, or is
lying flat, the internal
volume is negligibly small, if not zero. However, when bag 20 is in an
unfolded condition, or
expanded position, it may tend to take on a shape to accommodate objects
placed within the
internal space, and it may assume a suitably capacious internal volume.
When bag 20 is in use, access to the internal volume, namely internal space 25
thereof, is
governed by a closure member 28. In the illustrated example, closure member 28
may be a
linear tracked closure device in the nature of a zipper assembly 30 mounted
between the upper
margins of the side wall panels, namely front and rear panels 22 and 24. Other
kinds of closures
could be used such as a Velcro (t.m.) hook-and-eye fabric closure, a series of
spaced apart snaps,
a continuous mating plastic tongue and groove or other device. A relatively
robust zipper
assembly is preferred, as it may tend to provide a simple, quick, and
relatively strong closure.
While bag 20 can be made water-tight by other means, it is preferred to
provide a liner 32
that can be either sewn in place, or it may be removable, or it may be wholly
or partially
invertible. A liner that is at least partially invertible, or removable, is
preferred, since this may
facilitate washing.
When the bag is not in use, it may tend to be readily foldable. First, the bag
is collapsed
by being laid flat, and then folding front sidewall panel 22 near its bottom
margin, such that base
panel 26 may lie in a more or less flat orientation relative to the rear
sidewall panel, 24, as seen
in Figures 6a and 6b. In this, collapsed, generally flattened, position, the
upward edge 36 of
base panel 26 (namely the edge that is folded toward front sidewall panel 22
and hence toward
what would normally be the upper parts of bag 20 generally) acts as a former,
or form, for
bending the body of bag 20 to define a first fold by rotating the folded part
of the bag in the
direction of arrow 'A' (counter-clockwise in the Figures, but arbitrary since
it would be
clockwise if viewed from the other direction, and bag 20 can be made with
either a left handed or
right handed fold). This permits one portion of bag 20 to fold over on another
portion, in the
manner of folding a page over on itself.
When page-folded in the direction of arrow 'A', bag 20 will arrive at the
folded position
shown in Figures 3a - 3g, in which position it is held by a securement member,
or retainer,
identified as 34, which may take the form of a pair of mating securement
strips such as hook-


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
_g_
and-eye velcro (t.m.) strips 38 and 40 mounted, respectively, to the upper
body portion of front
side panel 22 adjacent the upper margin thereof, and to the distal margin
region of base panel 26
that is distant from the forming edge of base panel 26, such that when base
panel 26 is
overfolded in the direction of arrow 'A' strips 38 and 40 are brought into
mating contact in a
single relatively uncomplicated, and possibly quite swift motion. The result
is a soft sided
insulated container that has been collapsed, and then panel-folded over on
itself (i.e., not
scrunched into a tight roll) to a flat folded position, or flat folded
condition, such as may be
suitable, for example, for stacking, transport, display or storage. Display
and storage is
facilitated by a suspension member 42, in the nature of a hang loop 44,
mounted generally
centrally along the upper margin of front panel 22. To the extent that loop 44
is mounted higher
than the center of gravity of bag 20 more generally, bag 20 will tend to hang
with the upper
margin of front panel 22 in a generally horizontal orientation. An alternate
hang loop location is
shown in Figure 3h, in which hang loop 44 is located at an end edge such that,
when displayed
for sale, bag 20 may tend to hang in a vertical, or substantially vertical
orientation, namely with
the long dimension (as folded) running up and down, i.e., more or less
vertically.
Unfolding may tend to be a similarly uncomplicated and convenient procedure:
the
retainers are released, the bag is unfolded and it is ready to accommodate
objects that need to
stay cool or warm. When unfolded, lifting members in the nature of handles, or
straps 46, 48
that extend from the upper regions of the sidewall panels, namely panels 22
and 24, can be
grasped to lift bag 20, and may, as illustrated in Figure 1, be found suitable
for carrying over a
person's shoulder. Alternatively, or additionally, as illustrated in Figure 2,
bag 20 is provided
with auxiliary securement devices 50, 52, such as may be in the nature of
velcro straps, to
engage the felt-like or fibrous mat interior of an automobile, especially an
automobile trunk, or
boot, or cargo carrying area of a station wagon, van, or sports or utility
vehicle. Securement
devices 50, 52 may tend to be used to discourage a loaded bag 20 from tipping
over when
travelling, such as when bringing cold items home from the grocery store, or
such as when
transporting refreshments to a campsite, picnic site, playing field, or arena.
Considering the construction of bag 20 in greater detail, reference is made to
the
developed views of panels 22, 24 and 26 provided in Figure 8. In the developed
views shown in
the example of Figure 8, the side panels, namely insulated front and rear
panels 22 and 24, are of
the same size and shape, and are generally rectangular. They have a breadth
dimension indicated
as 'X' measured along either the upper or lower marginal edges 54, 56, and a
height dimension
indicated as 'Y', measured perpendicular to dimension 'X', along the side
edges 58, 60. By
inspection, L1 = 'X' = bl + 2a1.


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-9-
Insulated base panel 26 is also generally rectangular, having a long dimension
measured
along long edges 62, 64 and indicated generally as 'b' and a short dimension
measured along the
short end edges 66, 68, indicated generally as 'w'. In this embodiment, the
half width of the
panel is identified as 'al', and is equal to half of 'w' . The ratio of the
half width 'a' to the length
'b' may tend to be in the range of less than about 1 : 2 and greater than
about 1 : 16, or within the
narrower range of less than about 2 : 5 and greater than about 1 : 8, or
within the preferable range
of less than about 1 : 3 and greater than about 1 : 6. In one particular
example the ratio may be
about 3 '/4 : 11 '/Z, in another particular example the ratio may be about 3
'/4 : 15 '/Z, and in a third
particular example the ratio may be about 3 1/4 : 17 '/4.
The width of base panel 26 may also be related to the overall height of bag 20
when
unfolded. That is, retainer strip 40 on the off side of base panel 26 may mate
with strip 38 on
front panel 22 of bag 20 at a region close to the upper edge 70 of bag 20
generally, to yield a
neatly folded bag for efficient packing, shipping and display. To that end,
with allowance for a
bend radius, it is preferred that the height of bag 20 be within +/- 20 %, and
more preferably
within +/-10 %, of an integer multiple of the width of base panel 26. It is
also preferred that bag
be a double or triple folded bag. While bags with a greater number of folds
are possible, the
benefits of ease of manufacture, ease of folding, and ease of use may not
necessarily tend to be
20 as marked for a larger number of folds.
The upper edge, i.e., upper marginal edge 54, of each of the side panels 22
and 24 is longer
than the long dimension 'b' of the bottom, or base panel 26, such that when
the closure member is
secured, bag 20 may tend to have an upwardly broadening profile when viewed
from the side and an
upwardly narrowing profile when viewed from the end. In the embodiment of
Figure 8, the
periphery of base panel 26 is equal to 2(2a1 + b). Each of the side wall
panels, namely front and rear
panels 22 and 24, has a lower, or bottom edge, 56 noted above. Each of these
bottom edges 56
extends about one half of the periphery of base panel 26, having a central
portion of length 'b' and
two opposite end portions, each of length 'al', or thereabout. In this
instance when bag 20 is
collapsed, and bottom panel 26 is laid flat, a triangular end fold will be
created, made up of the
triangular folds 72 of the bottom corners of the side wall panels, those
triangular portions being
indicated as triangular regions 74 in Figure 8, and being bounded by fold
lines 76, 78.
When assembled, front and rear panels 22, 24 are sewn together along their
upwardly
extending edges 58, 60, the central portions of their bottom edges 56 are sewn
to the long sides,
or edges 62, 64 of base panel 26, and the end portions are sewn to the half
width portions of end


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
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edges 66, 68 of base panel 26. The closure member 28 has the form of zipper
assembly 30 as
noted above. Zipper assembly 30 has a first side region 84, a second side
region 86, and a zipper
88. Side region 84 has an outboard, or distal edge seamed into front panel 22,
and an inboard
edge, or margin, to which one set of teeth of zipper 88 is mounted. Side
region 86 has an
outboard, or distal edge that is seamed into rear panel 24, and an inboard
edge along which the
other set of teeth of zipper 88 is mounted. In the usual manner, motion of
zipper car 90 along the
track defined by the zipper teeth controls the opening and closing of the
zipper assembly, and
hence controls access to the enclosed space 25 of bag 20 more generally,
thereby permitting
objects to be introduced into, or to be drawn out of, bag 20. Side regions 84
and 86 each have an
upper, load bearing web member 92, 94 and an inner wall member 96, 98. In one
embodiment
of the invention, inner wall members 96, 98 may be reflective, or have a
reflective inwardly
facing (i.e., inward relative to the enclosed space 25 of bag 20 so that the
reflective surface is
oriented toward objects contained in bag 20) surface, and may preferably be
made of "
thermoflect" (t.m.) material. In another embodiment, inner wall members 96, 98
is a white,
water proof nylon sheet. The seaming of the side region of zipper assembly 30
occurs at a height
downset from the very edge of the side wall panels by a distance 8~ roughly
equal to the half
width SZ of zipper assembly 30 such that when bag 20 is folded, side regions
84 and 86 may tend
to fold next to those margins, rather than to protrude excessively.
The overall width of the web-like region, or panel, formed by zipper assembly
30 is less
than, if not significantly less than, the width of panel 26, such that the
through thickness of bag
20 at the elevation of closure member 28 is small, if not very small, relative
to the length of
closure member 28, and relative to the length of upper marginal edge 54. It is
preferred that the
overall width of the closure member be less than 60% of the width of the base,
and, in a
particular example, is about half the width. As such, the ratio of through
thickness to bag length
may be about a2/ (2az + b). This value may typically lie in the range of 1 : 5
to 1 : 8 and more
narrowly in the range of 1 : 6 to 1 : 7 %Z. The closure member is mounted
between the upper
margins of the side wall panels, namely panels 22 and 24, and, when open,
permits at least
central portions of those margins to be moved closer together or further apart
as may be desired
to give access to the enclosed chamber.
The sidewall construction is as shown in Figure 5. Each of sidewall panels 22,
24 has a
relatively wear resistant outer membrane or sheet, or web 80, that may be made
of a sheet or
woven webbing fabric, such as woven nylon, canvas, or other suitable cloth.
Each of sidewall
panels 22, 24 also has an inner sidewall membrane, or sheet, or web 82, that
may function as a
water proof lining, and may be made of a sheet of extruded plastic of the
types of polymers that


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-11-
include vinyl (t.m.) or nylon (t.m.), or sheets of monolithic extruded vinyl
(t.m.) or nylon (t.m.)
sewn together.
An insulating layer 84 is trapped between the inner and outer webs 82 and 80.
Insulating
layer 84 may preferably be a closed cell polyurethane foam, but could be an
open cell insulating
foam, or other type of insulating layer, or it may include more than one
insulating layer.
As above, in one embodiment the inner sidewall web member may either be made
of a
reflective material, such as thermoflect (t.m.) sheeting, or may have a
reflective surface oriented
to face toward objects contained within bag 20. Alternatively, inner web 82
member may be
made of a water proof extruded nylon or vinyl sheet, or seamed sheets, to
discourage leakage of
liquids from bag 20.
Optionally, water-proof liner 32 may be included, in addition to the internal
sidewall web
sheet, namely, web 82. Where the inner sidewall surface is reflective, the
liner may preferably
be translucent, or clear, to permit the reflective surface of the inner wall
to be seen. Although the
liner can be rigidly sewn in place to prevent the liner from being inverted,
it is preferable for the
liner to be either removable, or to be sewn in at its upper peripheral edges,
thus permitting at
least partial inversion of the liner as shown in Figure 7a, and hence to
facilitate washing. The
optional liner 32 may be made from a single polymer sheet, have a first side
region 84 and a
second side region 86. The side regions are heat welded along their side
margins to form a
pouch, or pocket, commensurate with the general site and shape of the inside
of bag 20, and have
their upper margins seamed into the side-walls of bag 20 at the juncture with
the side regions of
zipper assembly 30. Bag 20 will then tend to be water-proof to a height
corresponding to the
height of closure member 28. A soft sided insulated wall assembly for use as a
cooler, such as
bag 20, may be generally leak resistant and may be water-proof.
The cross-sectional structure of base panel 26 is generally similar to the
cross-sectional
structure of the sidewall panels, having an inner wall skin, or panel or web
114 that is of
consistent construction to the inner wall sheet or web 82, and an outer wall
skin, or web 116 that
is of consistent construction to outer web 80. It may be noted that the outer
web 80 may not be
the same colour as outer web 116, and may not be of the same weave or fabric.
It may have a
heavier, more wear resistant fabric, or coarser, more wear resistant weave,
since base panel 26
may tend to be placed in contact with the ground, or other underlying surface
whether a paved
roadway, concrete, rocks, earth, flooring, or some other support surface
against which it may be
expected to be slid, or to rub, in the course of use.


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-12-
Base panel 26 may also have an insulated layer, 118, captured between webs 114
and
116, the insulated layer being made of an insulated foam or other suitable
heat transfer resistive
medium as described above. In addition, base panel 26 has a stiffened form
member 120 that
may be in the nature of a rectangular, hard plastic sheet 100 of modest
thickness located between
insulating layer 118 and outer web 116. Sheet 100, in plan view, has
dimensions that are the
same as. or roughly the same as, dimensions 'b' and 'w'. Form member 128
serves two
functions, the first being to provide a stiffened base upon which bag 20 can
tend preferentially to
stand, and which may tend to aid in discouraging bag 20 from tipping over as
easily as it might
otherwise do. The second is to provide a forming edge to base 26 by which to
pre-determine the
fold line, or lines, at which bag 20 will tend to want to bend when being
folded up. This may
tend to discourage the tight-rolling of bag 20, and to encourage repeatable
panel folding to and
from the convenient folded form shown in Figures 3a - 3g.
Form member 120 need not be a continuous monolithic panel. It could be an open
frame,
or a peripheral member sewn in place to provide a reinforced edge. In one
embodiment, even
without form member 120, the seaming at the edge of insulated base panel 26
may tend to yield a
natural fold location at which bag 20 may tend to prefer to bend or fold. The
inclusion of
member 120 may tend to strengthen or to enhance this tendency. Modestly sized
feet, stand offs,
or pads, 102, may optionally be provided to the underside of panel 26.
Further, form member
120 may, by itself. tend to have a greater flexural stiffness that the
adjacent layer of insulated
material, and when taken together the resultant bi-laminar, or possibly multi-
layered assembly,
has a combined flexural stillness that may tend to be significantly stiffer
than any other portion
of bag 20.
Lifting members, or carrying members. in the nature of straps, or web bands
46, 48, are
sewn up the outside faces of side wall panels 22 and 24, having their roots at
the seamed junction
between bottom panel 26 and the side all panels 22, 24. Each of bands 46, 48
has a central
portion 104, 106 that extends upwardly beyond the upper margins of the
sidewall panels to
provide a grasping, or carrying portion that can be held or place over a
user's shoulder, as in
Figure 1.
Auxiliary securement straps 50, 52 have a root end sewn into the upper region
of the
seam between panels 22 and 24, at a height near the height of closure member
28. The distal
ends of straps 50, 52 bear velcro patches 110, suitable for securing in to the
trunk fabric of an
automobile (or, alternatively, mating velcro patches can be mounted inside the
automobile for


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-13-
this purpose). When not in use, the ends of straps 50, 52 mount to mating
velcro patches 112
located on the outward face of front side panel 22. Straps 110 could as easily
be oriented to face
in the other direction, and to mate with patches sewn on rear panel 24.
Alternate Embodiments
In the alternate embodiment of Figure 9a, an alternate insulated base panel
126 has the
same structural and thermal properties as base panel 26 in general, but
differs in that rather than
being rectangular in plan view, base panel 126 has a length, or long
dimension, indicated as 'b2'
and a width indicated as 'w'. These dimensions need not be the same as 'b' and
'w' indicated
above, but may be. In this case the ends of panel 126 are not squared, but
rather are mitred at an
angle a relative to the perpendicular to the long edges. The length along each
of the mitred
edges is then given as 'a2'. In this case the half width of base panel 126 is
not a2 but rather a2
cosa. The periphery of base panel 126 is 2(b2 + 2a2).
The adjoining side panels are again taken to be 'X' wide, and 'Y' high, and to
be of the
same general insulated construction as side wall panels 22 and 24, as shown,
for example, in
Figure 5. The length of the lower margin 124 of each of the adjoining side
panels 126 is then (b2
+ 2a2). Each panel will then have a "large fold" 128 and a "small fold" 130.
Large fold 128 is a
nominal indication of where there would be a fold in the side wall of the bag
in the fully
unfolded condition ready for filling with diverse objects, if a sharp crease
were made. In actual
use, the corner will not be creased, but rather will tend to take on a more
rounded, or radiused
form, and the bag will tend to conform to the shape and bulkiness of objects
placed in it, so the
actual corner of the bag may have a bulging appearance rather than a sharp
corer. Small fold 130
indicates the actual location of a told that is made when the bag is in a
collapsed state and folded
for storage.
The angle (3~ of small fold 130, when the bag is folded for storage, will then
tend be
roughly equal to the bisector of the angle between the extension of the
horizontal fold line
defined by the edge of base 126 and the mitred edge, namely'/Z(90 - a).
Base panel 126 need not necessarily be a straight sided polygon, as is base
panel 26, but
could have somewhat rounded, oval or irregular ends. However, in such a case
the end fold may
tend to be puckered, and may tend not to lie as flat as might otherwise be
considered desirable or
preferable. However, a straight sided polygon is advantageous, and a square-
cornered (i.e.,


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-14-
rectangular) end is preferred since it may tend to facilitate manufacture and
efficient use of
materials and reduced waste cuts.
Bag 20 is a "double fold" bag. That is, base panel 26 is folded flat at a
first fold (the
offside edge of base panel 26), and then side panels 22 and 24 are bent about
the second fold (the
nearside edge of base 26). In alternate embodiments, a soft sided, collapsible
and foldable
insulate single-fold bag could be produced, or a triple-fold, or more, bag
could be produced.
An example of a single fold bag 140 is shown in Figures l0a - lOg, the views
corresponding generally to the views of double fold bag 20 shown in Figures 3a
- 3g
respectively. Except as otherwise indicated, bag l40 has the same general
construction as bag
20, having insulated side wall panels 142, 144, and an insulated base panel
146, with a similar
closure member 148 and optional liner similar to liner 32. Bag 140 differs
from bag 20 in being
a single fold bag, rather than a double fold bag, and has changes in dimension
and aspect ratios
accordingly. In place of the arrangement of retainer 34, a retention member
150 may be
mounted near the lower margin of the front panel 142, and another, mating,
retention member
152 may be mounted near the upper edge of the front panel, the two mating when
the base panel
is moved to a collapsed position in which it is laid over against side panel
142.
An example of a triple fold bag 160 is shown in Figures lla - llg. Figure lla
shows
triple fold bag 160 in a collapsed, or flattened condition immediately prior
to folding into the
storage position (or, alternatively and equivalently, immediately after being
unfolded, and before
filling). Bag 160 is presented as being symbolic of not only a bag having
three folds. In general,
for a bag, such as bag 160, having three or more folds, the retention member
178 would be
located on the front face 164, roughly the width of two folded panel regions
below the upper
edge of the front face with the second retention member being mounted near or
at the upper
35
edge, such that, when folded the two parts 178 and 174 would tend to mate. An
example of a
single fold bag is illustrated in Figure 10a. An example of a triple fold bag
is shown in Figure
11 a.
In the examples discussed so far, the upper edge of a bag having rectangular
sidewall
panels is L; = 2(a; + b;), whether i is 1 or 2. As shown in Figure 9b, the
side panels of bag 20
need not be made from rectangular sheets, but could be made from sheets that
are of a different
shape. such as the trapezoidal side panel sheets 180. In this case, the
resultant bag 182 would
tend to have an upper edge 184 for which the length LZ would tend to be
greater than the sum of
the b + 2a;, or, put generically, where L; is greater than half the total
periphery of the base panel


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-15-
186. This may tend to yield a more flared appearance when the bag is seen in
an unfolded side
view, and may tend to yield a larger access opening, such as may permit
objects of greater
relative size to be introduced into the insulated spaced.
Another alternate embodiment of foldable insulated container, identified as
insulated bag
200 is shown in Figures 12a through 15e. In this example, bag 200 may include
first and second
insulated panel members 202, 204 as before, such as may have an inside lining
82, an outside
covering 80 and a layer of insulation 84 between lining 82 and covering 80.
That layer of
insulation 84 may be an open or closed cell foam. Further, bag 200 may include
a base panel
212 having the same construction as described above, including a stiffening
batten 120 such as
may be located between an outside covering layer 116 and insulation layer 118.
As such bag
200 may be taken as having substantially the same basic shape and construction
as bag 20 and
the other alternate embodiments of bags described above.
However, bag 200 may differ from the other bags described herein to the extent
that bag
200 may have mounted to base panel 212 a trailing apparatus 220, such as may
permit bag 200 to
be pulled in train, rather than carried clear of the ground. That is to say,
bag 200 may include
one or more ground interface members 224, 226 operable to permit bag 200 to be
drawn over a
surface. Those ground interface members may be part of an undercarriage 230,
which may
include one or more rolling contact members, such as wheels 232, 234, which
may be mounted
to wheel mounts in the nature of shafts or axles 236, 238.
In one embodiment, undercarriage 230 may be retractable. That is, wheels 232
and 234
on axles 236, 238 may be movable between a deployed, or down, position
suitable for supporting
bag 200 while in motion (such as shown for example, in Figures 12a - 12f and
15~; and a
retracted, or up, position, such as when bag 200 is folded in a storage
condition, or is resting in a
location in which members for facilitating travel of bag 200 are not required
(such as shown, for
example, in Figures 13a -13d and 14a -14c).
Undercarriage 230 may also include support members, such as may be in the
nature of
rests, or stand-offs, or props or struts, such as may be identified as a foot
or feet 240. These
supports (or support, as may be) may be co-operable with the trailing members,
such as wheels
232, 234 to provide a base upon which bag 200 more generally may rest when in
the unfolded
and opened out condition for carrying articles. When bag 200 is towed, bag 20
may tend to have
an inclined attitude relative to the axis of rotation of wheels 232, 234, and
when so inclined, feet
240 may tend to be lifted clear of the ground (or other surface) upon which
wheels 232, 234 may


CA 02499291 2005-03-04
-16-
roll. It may be that feet 240 and axles 236, 238 are formed from a continuous
member 242, such
as a rod or wire, bent at one end to form a foot 240, and formed at the other
end to define axle
236 or 238, as may be. Each member of undercarriage 230 may also include a
stationary mount
member or housing 244, connected to base panel 212, and into which member 242
is mounted in
spring loaded biased engagement. Mount member 242 may include detent
formations, such as at
246 and 248, into which member 242 is biased in the retracted and deployed
positions
respectively. Wheels 232, 234 are axially reciprocal, with the shafts, namely
axles 236, 238
being mounted in spring loaded sockets of housings 244. These sockets may
require an axial
pull and an angular rotation to overcome the detent in order to deploy wheels
232 and 234, and
may be biased to the "down" position unless held in the up position be the
detent.
For bag 200, folding may be in the accordion manner, as opposed to roll
folding
described above. To that end, a temporary, releasable securement 250, such as
may be in the
nature of a hook and eye fastening member, may be mounted to the lower margin
252 of the
adjacent side, and a mating hook and eye fastener 254 may be mounted to the
facing portion of
the side above the first fold as indicated at 256. Similarly, a half fold
crease 258 is located on
the lower margin of the other side, permitting the bottom panel to fold flat a
full fold. When
fully folded, with the wheels retracted, the package may be hung on a display
hanger or stored in
a comparatively compact package.
Unfolding may generally proceed from the fully folded position, or condition,
of Figure
13a, to the unfolded position of Figure 14a, in which bag 200 may be in a
generally flat
condition, to Figure 15a, in which the wheels are moved to a deployed
position, to Figure 12a, in
which bag 200 is filled, and has its wheels down, ready for pulling.
In other embodiments, the undercarriage assembly may include skids, skis or
runners in
place of wheels, and in those embodiments the long axis of the skids, skis, or
runners may be
oriented perpendicular to the axis of rotation of wheels 232, 234.
Although various the embodiments have been described and illustrated, the
principles of
the present invention are not limited to these specific examples, which are
given by way of
illustration. Since changes in or additions to the above-described
embodiments, or both, may be
made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the
invention is not to
be limited to those details.

Representative Drawing
A single figure which represents the drawing illustrating the invention.
Administrative Status

For a clearer understanding of the status of the application/patent presented on this page, the site Disclaimer , as well as the definitions for Patent , Administrative Status , Maintenance Fee  and Payment History  should be consulted.

Administrative Status

Title Date
Forecasted Issue Date Unavailable
(22) Filed 2005-03-04
(41) Open to Public Inspection 2006-09-04
Dead Application 2010-03-04

Abandonment History

Abandonment Date Reason Reinstatement Date
2009-03-04 FAILURE TO PAY APPLICATION MAINTENANCE FEE

Payment History

Fee Type Anniversary Year Due Date Amount Paid Paid Date
Application Fee $400.00 2005-03-04
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2006-03-28
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 2 2007-03-05 $100.00 2007-02-19
Maintenance Fee - Application - New Act 3 2008-03-04 $100.00 2008-03-03
Registration of a document - section 124 $100.00 2012-12-10
Owners on Record

Note: Records showing the ownership history in alphabetical order.

Current Owners on Record
CALIFORNIA INNOVATIONS INC.
Past Owners on Record
MOGIL, MELVIN S.
Past Owners that do not appear in the "Owners on Record" listing will appear in other documentation within the application.
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Document
Description 
Date
(yyyy-mm-dd) 
Number of pages   Size of Image (KB) 
Abstract 2005-03-04 1 15
Description 2005-03-04 16 1,043
Claims 2005-03-04 3 103
Drawings 2005-03-04 35 922
Representative Drawing 2006-08-08 1 9
Cover Page 2006-08-16 2 39
Correspondence 2008-03-25 1 13
Correspondence 2008-03-25 1 15
Correspondence 2005-04-07 1 27
Assignment 2005-03-04 3 95
Assignment 2006-03-28 5 330
Fees 2007-02-19 1 24
Correspondence 2008-02-07 2 70
Fees 2008-03-03 1 40
Assignment 2012-12-10 19 698