Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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INSULATED BAG WITH LIFTING APPARATUS
Field of Invention
This invention relates to the field of insulated containers.
Background of the Invention
Soft sided insulated containers have been known for some years. They are
typically
used as containers for carrying chilled food or beverage items, but can also
be used to keep
foods or beverages warm or hot.
Certain sizes and shapes of coolers are better for some purposes than others.
It may
be that one type of insulated bag may be of particular use in the
transportation of hot or cold
substantially planar items, that is, items whose width and breadth is of
significantly greater
magnitude than their through-thickness. An example of such an item might be a
pizza box.
That same bag might be desired for use with other items, or as a general
thermally insulated
bag for use in carrying cooled objects home from the grocery store, for
example. Some
goods may tend to be suitable for carriage in a generally upright orientation,
or may be
indifferent to orientation, or may rely upon the bag itself to retain a number
of loose items
that might otherwise scatter. For example, it may be that tins of juice
concentrate may be
carried at the bottom of a bag, with the handles, and the opening of the bag,
uppermost. A
pizza, by contrast, might be an example of a good that may not travel overly
well if the pizza
box is tipped up on one edge. It may travel better if kept in a generally
flat, or level, or
predominantly horizontal orientation. Also, with a pizza, the opening of the
bag may tend to
be along one of the thickness edges, so that the pizza slides in and out of
the bag in a
generally flat orientation along one of the relatively narrow side edges. It
may also be that a
bag of the size and shape to carry a pizza, may be somewhat cumbersome and
inconveniently
shaped for storage when empty.
It may be that a carrying handle that is suitable for using such a bag in a
predominantly upright or vertical orientation, may not be as suited as it
might be for carrying
the bag in a horizontal orientation. Similarly, a handle that may be suited to
carrying the bag
in a generally flat condition may not perhaps serve as well as might be
desired in the
predominantly upright condition.
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Summary of the Invention
In an aspect of the invention, there is a foldable bag having an insulated
wall
structure. The bag has a pair of strap handles by which it may be carried in a
predominantly
up and down orientation. One of the strap handles may be re-positionable to
permit said bag
to be carried in a predominantly horizontal orientation.
In another aspect of the invention, there is an insulated bag having an
insulated wall
structure, the wall structure having a width, a depth, and a thickness. The
width and depth
may each be more than double the thickness. The bag may have opposed sidewall
portions
that are extensive in directions corresponding to the width and depth. The bag
has a handle
that is movable between a first position in which the bag hangs in a
predominantly up-and
down orientation when suspended by the handle, and a second position in which
the bag
hangs predominantly cross-wise when suspended from the handle.
In another feature the wall structure includes a sidewall panel, the side wall
panel
having a centroid, and the strap handle is retained by an array of retainers,
at least one of the
retainers permitting at least one degree of motion of the at least a portion
of the strap handle
relative to the sidewall panel, and the array of retainers defining vertices
of a polygon, the
centroid falling within the polygon. In a further feature, the strap handle is
secured to the
wall structure at a plurality of retention points, one of the retention points
being defined by a
keeper that permits sliding of at least a portion of the strap handle relative
thereto. In yet
another feature, the first position, a bight is formed in the strap handle to
one side of the
keeper, and in the second position, a bight is formed in the strap handle to
another side of the
keeper. In still yet another feature the strap handle is secured to the wall
structure at a
plurality of retention points, two of the retention points being defined by
respective first and
second keepers each of which permits sliding of at least a portion of the
strap handle relative
thereto. In a further additional feature, in the first position a bight is
formed in the strap
handle between the first and second keepers, and in the second position a
bight is formed
elsewhere than between the first and second keepers. In a still further
feature, in the second
position, a first bight is formed in the strap handle between the first keeper
and a retention
point other than that defined by the second keeper, and a second bight is
formed between the
second keeper and a retention point other than that defined by the first
keeper. In a yet still
further feature, the strap handle has a running length, the first ad second
bights have apices,
and the length is great enough that the apices are movable to contact each
other, whereby a
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person lifting the bag may hold both of the bights in one hand. In still yet
another further
feature, the sidewall structure has a largest side, the largest side has a
centroid, and the
plurality of retention points define a footprint that straddles the centroid.
In another feature of that aspect of the invention, the wall structure
includes a
sidewall panel, the sidewall panel having at least a first margin, and a
closure member
running along at least a portion of that first margin. The strap handle is
restrained at first and
second retention points on the sidewall panel distant from the first margin,
and at third and
fourth retention points on the sidewall panel more proximate to the first
margin. The strap
handle having a flexible member running from the first retention point to the
third retention
point, from the third retention point to the fourth retention point, and from
the fourth
retention point to the second retention point. In the first position the strap
handle has a bight
located between the third and fourth retention points, the bight being of size
to extend
beyond the first margin. In the second position the strap handle has a bight
located between
at least one of (a) the first retention point and the third retention point;
and (b) the second
retention point and the fourth retention point.
In another feature the third and fourth retention points are keepers and the
strap
handle is at least partially slidable with respect thereto. In still another
feature, the strap
handle has first and second portions mounted in spaced apart relationship on
the wall
structure, there is an accommodation formed between the portions, and the
accommodation
has a transparent face panel.
In another aspect of the invention, there is a foldable insulated bag. The bag
has an
insulated wall structure, defining an insulated space therewithin. The wall
structure has a
closure member operable to govern access to the insulated space. The wall
structure includes
a forming panel. The wall structure, when empty, is movable to a first,
flattened position.
The wall structure is foldable about at least a portion of the forming panel
to a folded storage
position. At least a first handle member mounted to the wall structure. The
handle member
has first and second ends attached to the wall structure. First and second
keepers are
mounted to the wall structure. The handle member is slidable with respect to
the first and
second keepers, and is threaded through the first and second keepers. The
handle has a first
region between the first end and the first keeper, a second region between the
second end and
the second keeper, and a third region between the first and the second
keepers. The handle
member being movable to form a bight in the third region from which the bag is
suspendable
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in a predominantly up-and-down orientation. The handle member being movable to
form
bights in the first and second regions. The bag is suspendable therefrom in a
predominantly
cross-wise orientation.
In another aspect, there is an insulated bag having an insulated sidewall, and
a bail
attached to the insulated sidewall. The sidewall has a first margin portion
and a generally
opposed second margin portion. A first portion of the bail is retained at a
first retention
location in a region closer to the first margin than to the second margin. A
second portion of
the bail is retained at a second retention location closer to the second
margin than to the first
margin. The handle is movable to a first position wherein, in use, the bag is
suspended from
a location of suspension and the first retention location is between the
location of suspension
and the second retention location. The handle is movable to a second retention
position in
which, in use, the bag is suspended from a second location of suspension, the
second location
of suspension being between the first and second retention locations.
In a further aspect of the invention, there is a bag having an insulated
sidewall and a
first handle mounted to the sidewall. The handle has first and second ends
attached to the
sidewall, and first and second keepers through which the handle is fed, such
that the handle
has a first region between the first end and the first keeper, a second region
between the
second end and the second keeper, and a third region between the first and the
second
keepers. The handle is movable to a first position in which the bag is
suspendable from the
third region in a predominantly up-and-down orientation, and is suspendable
from at least
one of the first and second regions in a predominantly cross-wise orientation.
In still yet a further additional feature, the sidewall structure includes
first and second
opposed sidewall panels. Each side wall panel has a first edge adjoining the
base panel and a
second edge distant therefrom. The closure member is mounted to the distant
edges.
In another additional feature, the sidewall structure includes first and
second opposed
sidewall panels. Each side wall panel has a first edge adjoining the base
panel and a second
edge distant therefrom. The side wall panels have an altitude measured between
the first and
second edges, and the base panel has a width measured between junctures of the
adjoining
edges of the sidewall panels therewith. The altitude has a magnitude X, and
the width has a
magnitude Y wherein X has a value lying on one of the ranges chosen from the
set of ranges
consisting of (a) 0.8 Y to 1.2 Y; (b) 1.8 Y to 2.2 Y; and (c) 2.8 Y to 3.2 Y.
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In still another additional feature, the foldable insulated bag has a retainer
operable to
secure the foldable insulated bag in the folded storage position. The sidewall
structure
includes first and second opposed sidewall panels. Each sidewall panel has a
first edge
adjoining the base panel and a second edge distant therefrom. The base panel
has a first edge
connected to the first sidewall panel, and a second edge connected to the
second sidewall
panel. The base panel has an outer face, and an inward face. In the flattened
position the
inward face of the base panel is oriented to face toward the second sidewall
panel. In the
flattened position the second edge of the base panel lies nearer than the
first edge of the base
panel to the second edge of the first sidewall panel. The outward face of the
base panel has a
first member of the retainer mounted thereto adjacent to the second edge
thereof. The first
sidewall panel has a second member of the retainer mounted adjacent to the
second edge
thereof. The base panel is movable to bring the first portion of the retainer
into mating
engagement with the second portion of the retainer. In yet another additional
feature, the
first and second portions of the retainer are mating hook-and-eye fabric strip
portions.
In still yet another additional feature, the sidewall structure includes first
and second
opposed sidewall panels. Each sidewall panel has a first edge adjoining the
base panel and a
second edge distant therefrom. The base panel has a periphery. The periphery
includes a
first edge adjoining the first edge of the first sidewall panel, and a second
edge adjoining the
first edge of the second sidewall panel. The periphery includes two opposed
remainder
portions between the first and second sides. The portions have lengths 2ai and
2a2
respectively. The first edge of the first sidewall panel has a length, L. The
first edge of the
base panel has a length 'b'. The length L is at least as great as b + (ai +
a2).
In a further additional feature, the first edge of the first sidewall panel is
centered
relative to the first edge of the base panel. In yet a further additional
feature, the sidewall
structure includes first and second opposed sidewall panels. Each sidewall
panel has a first
edge adjoining the base panel and a second edge distant therefrom. The base
panel is
rectangular, having two opposed sides of length `I,' and two opposed sides of
length 'a'. The
first edge of the first sidewall panel has a length, L. The length L is at
least as great as b +
2a. In still a further additional feature, the first edge of the first
sidewall panel is centered
relative to the first edge of the base panel.
In still yet a further additional feature, the sidewall structure includes
equal sized first
and second opposed sidewall panels. Each side wall panel has a first edge
adjoining the base
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panel and a second edge distant therefrom. In another additional feature, the
first edges of
the first and second sidewall panels have a length LI, and the second edges of
the sidewall
panels have a length L2, where L2 is at least as great as LI. In still another
additional feature,
each of the sidewall panels has a second edge distant from the first edge
thereof The second
edges of the sidewall panels are each longer than the base panel.
In yet another additional feature, the sidewall structure includes a pair of
opposed
first and second sidewall panels. The first and second sidewall panels each
includes a first
edge mounted to the base panel, a second edge opposed to and distant from the
second edge,
a third edge, and a fourth edge. The fourth edge is opposed to the third edge.
The respective
third edges are mutually attached. The respective fourth edges are mutually
attached. In
another additional feature, the insulated bag includes a waterproof liner. In
a further
additional feature, the insulated bag includes reflective interior surface
oriented to face
toward objects placed in the insulated space.
In another aspect of the invention, there is a foldable insulated bag
comprising a first
side panel, a second side panel, and a base panel. At least the first side
panel and the second
side panel is insulated. At least the first side panel and the second side
panel is pliable. The
first side panel, the second side panel and the base panel co-operate to
define an enclosed,
insulated space. The first side panel has a first base edge adjoining the base
panel. The
second side panel has a second base edge adjoining the base panel. The first
side panel has a
first distal edge opposite to the first base edge. The second side panel has a
second distal
edge opposite to the second base edge. At least a portion of the first distal
edge is movable
relative to at least a portion of the second distal edge to permit access to
the enclosed
insulated space. A closure member is mounted to govern access to the enclosed,
insulated
space. The base panel has a length and a width, the length being greater than
the width. The
distal edge of the first side panel is longer than 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 hereinbelow.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In the illustrative Figures of an example, or examples, embodying the various
aspects
of the invention, provided by way of illustration, but not of limitation of
the present
invention:
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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;
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Figure 9a shows a developed view of a bottom panel for an alternate embodiment
of
the foldable insulated bag of Figure 1;
Figure 9b shows a developed view of a side panel for an alternate embodiment
of the
foldable insulated bag of Figure 1;
Figure 10a shows an isometric view of a single fold, alternate insulated bag
to that of
Figure 1;
Figure 10b shows a front view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a in a folded
condition;
Figure 10c shows a rear view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a in a folded
condition;
Figure 10d shows a left hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a;
Figure 10e shows a right hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure 10a;
Figure 10f 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 ha shows a partially unfolded front view of a triple fold, alternate
insulated
bag to that of Figure 1;
Figure lib shows a front view of the insulated bag of Figure ha in a folded
condition;
Figure 11c shows a rear view of the insulated bag of Figure ha in a folded
condition;
Figure lid shows a left hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure 11a;
Figure lie shows a right hand end view of the insulated bag of Figure 11a;
Figure llf shows a top view of the insulated bag of Figure 11a;
Figure llg shows a bottom view of the insulated bag of Figure 11a.
Figure 12a shows an isometric view of an alternate embodiment of insulated bag
to
that of Figure 1, showing handles thereof loosely in a first position;
Figure 12b shows another view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a in a standing
condition, with a handle thereof in a second position;
Figure 12c shows a first side view of the insulated bag of Figure 12a;
Figure 12d shows an opposite side view to that of Figure 12c;
Figure 12e shows a predominantly horizontal lifting position of the insulated
bag of
Figure 12a; and
Figure 12f shows a predominantly up and down position of the insulated bag of
Figure 12f.
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Detailed Description
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.
In this specification reference is made to insulated containers. The adjective
"insulated" is intended to be given its usual and normal meaning as understood
by persons
skilled in the art. It is not intended to encompass single layers, or skins,
of conventional
webbing materials, such as Nylon (t.m.), woven polyester, canvas, cotton,
burlap, leather,
paper and so on, that are not otherwise indicated as having, or being relied
upon to have,
particular properties as effective thermal insulators other than in the
context of being
provided with heat transfer resistant materials or features beyond that of the
ordinary sheet
materials in and of themselves. Following from Phillips v. AWH Corp., this
definition
provided in the specification is intended to supplant any dictionary
definition, and to prevent
interpretation in the patent office that strays from the customary and
ordinary meaning of the
term "insulated" as provided herein.
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
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wall 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 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 lying it flat and folding front sidewall panel 22 near its bottom
margin such that
base panel 26 lays 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
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=
as hook-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,
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and a height dimension indicated as 'Y', measured perpendicular to dimension
'X', along the
side edges 58, 60. By inspection, L1 = 'X' = 1)1 + 2at.
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 1/4 : 11 1/2, in another
particular example the
ratio may be about 3 : 15 1/2, and in a third particular example the ratio
may be about 3 3/4:
17 1/2.
The width of base panel 26 may also be related to the overall height of bag 20
when
unfolded. That is, it is preferred that retainer strip 40 on the off-side of
base panel 26 mate
with retainer element 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 20 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 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(2al + 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 on Figure 8, and being bounded by fold lines 76, 78.
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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 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 dovvnset
from the very
edge of the side wall panels by a distance Oi roughly equal to the half width
62 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/ (2a2 + 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 'A. 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.
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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 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 88 and a second side region 90. The side
regions are heat
welded along their side margins to form a pouch, or pocket, commensurate with
the general
size 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. It is
advantageous, and desirable, for a soft sided insulated wall assembly for use
as a cooler, such
as bag 20, to be generally leak resistant, if not even more preferably, 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
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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.
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
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
20 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 stiffness 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 wall panels 22, 24. Each of
bands 46, 48 has
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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 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.
In the 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
'132' and a width indicated as 'w'. These dimensions need not be the same as
'IV 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 conc. The periphery of base 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 fold
that is made when the bag is in a collapsed state and folded for storage.
The angle Pi 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 V2(90 ¨ a).
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Base panel 126 need not necessarily be a straight sided polygon, as are 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., 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 10a ¨ 10g, the views
corresponding generally to the views of double fold bag 20 shown in Figures 3a
¨ 3g
respectively. Except as otherwise indicated, bag 140 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 retention member
40, a
retention member 150 would might tend to be mounted near the lower margin of
the front
panel 142, and another, mating, retention member 152 would 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 ha ¨ 11g. Figure ha
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 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 ha.
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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 L2 would tend to
be greater
than the sum of the b + 2a1, or, put generically, where L; is greater than
half the total
periphery of the base panel 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.
Referring to the embodiment of Figures 12a to 12f, a bag 220 has an insulated
wall
structure 222 such as may include a first side panel 224, a second side panel
226, and a base
or bottom panel 228. These may be of the same, or generally the same,
construction and
assembly as any of the embodiments of Figures 1, 9a, 10a, or 11a, described
hereinabove, as
may be, and may have the folding, closure, and securement features as
described above in
the context of those other embodiments. Bag 220 is illustrated as having a
width or breadth,
L, a height or depth D, and a through thickness T, which, in a tapering bag,
may vary
according to the taper. That is, in the example T may be greater at the bottom
than at the
top, (or, in other embodiments, the other way around, or equal). In any event,
T as indicated
may be taken as the mean value over the depth of bag 220. Typically, L and D
may be of
generally similar magnitude (within a ratio in the range of 2:3 to 3:2 of each
other. Each of
L and D may be more than double the magnitude of T, and one or another, or
both, may
more typically be in the range of 2 to 8 times T, or, more narrowly, in the
range of 2.5 to 6
times T.
Bag 220 may also be thought of as having a center of gravity, CG, which is
generally
centrally located, being generally at or near the geometric centroid (as it
may be taken to be
illustrated) of panel 224 or 226 as viewed from the side as laid flat (Figures
12c and 12d),
and in the central, or middle, plane of the bag as viewed from the end (Figure
12e). The
center of gravity is intended to be notionally representative of the bag when
it is filled with
lading. Given that bag 220 may be employed for a wide number of purposes, the
actual
laden C of G may not be precisely in the notional location shown. In the
predominantly
upright condition, the C of G may quite probably be located somewhat lower
down.
However, when in the mode of carrying hot food, such as a pizza, in a
generally horizontal or
level configuration, the actual C of G may be quite close to the notional C of
G illustrated.
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The insulated wall structure may include a relatively robust outer layer or
covering
80, such as may tend to be wear resistant or tolerant of the abuse and
roughness of everyday
service. There may be an inner layer or covering, 82, which may be a
reflective sheet. There
may also be a layer of open or closed cell foam 84 sandwiched between the
inner and outer
layers, such as to form a thermally insulative assembly. It may be that the
thermal insulation
is itself made of strata, those being an outside layer of closed cell foam
234, a middle layer
of open cell foam, 236, and an inside layer of closed cell foam 238 (that is,
the open cell
foam is bounded on both faces by closed cell foam). The layers may have
relative
thicknesses in which the closed cell layers are thinner than the open cell
layer. In one
embodiment, the ratio of thicknesses of the layers may be in the order of
about 3:4:3. A
substantially water proof or water resistant liner 88, which may be in the
form of a clear
plastic vinyl material, may be contained within the inner layer of the wall
structure.
Each of panels 224 and 226 may have first and second generally opposed top and
bottom margins 242, 244, and generally opposed first and second side margins
246, 248.
Bottom margin 244 may adjoin base member 228, and top margin 242 may be
located
adjacent to a closure member 250. The term top and bottom are arbitrary, and
correspond to
the orientation shown in Figure 12f, in which the top is located generally
higher than, and
generally above, the bottom. The corresponding side margins of panels 224 are
mutually
connected to form the continuous insulated peripheral of the sidewall
structure more
generally. Closure member 250 may be substantially as previously described in
the context
of other embodiments.
Bag 220 may also have first and second lifting members, 252, 254. Lifting
member
252 will arbitrarily be termed an upper or top or front, or primary lifting
member, and lifting
member 254 will arbitrarily be termed a lower or bottom, or back, or secondary
lifting
member. Each of lifting members 252, 254 may be termed a handle, and may be in
the
nature of a flexible filament or substantially linearly extending flexible
member, or cable, or
rope, or web, or band. As a convenience, the term strap may be used for either
of items 252,
254 as a generic proxy for these other alternatives.
Lifting member 254 may be of substantially the same configuration as any of
the
strap handles described hereinabove, such as items 46 and 48, or may be of the
same, or
similar, configuration to that of lifting member 252. Lifting member 252 may
be somewhat
different. Lifting member 252 may have a first end 256 anchored in a first
location relatively
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close to second margin 244, or relatively closer thereto than to first margin
242. That anchor
point may be referred to as a point of retention, or a retainer, or a
securement fitting 260. In
this instance, it may be a fixed retainer. For example, the base region of bag
220 may
include an outer doubler covering, or a single heavier grade, more abuse
tolerant skin or
surface, or webbing 258. First end 256 may be anchored at the join of webbing
258 to the
main portion of the outer skin, namely outer covering 80 more generally.
Lifting member
252 may then be threaded or fed through a first guiding or retaining member,
identified as
first retainer 262, have a portion extending beyond retainer 262, then be fed
back through a
second retaining member or retainer 264, and have a second end 266 anchored
once again
relatively closer to second margin 244 than to first margin 242. Retainers 262
and 264 may
be mounted in a region of panel 222 that is relatively near to first margin
242, or rather
closer to margin 242 than to margin 244.
Retainers 262 and 264 may tend to stand to one side of the center of gravity,
while
first and second ends 256 and 266 may tend to stand on the other side, such
that the centroid
or center of gravity, as may be, is in a sense between the retainer and the
anchor point, or
retainers and anchor points in the depth direction. In the breadth direction,
retainer 262 and
one anchor point 260 may stand to one side of the centroid and center of
gravity, and the
other anchor point 260 and retainer 264 may tend to stand to the other side.
In a four point
embodiment (four retainers), the centroid and center of gravity may tend to
lie within the
quadrilateral defined by the four points, and, indeed, may tend to lie close
to, or at, the
centroid of that quadrilateral. As measured by the longest diagonal between
any pair of the
four points, the centroid of panel 222 may be within 20 % of the length of
that longest
diagonal from the centroid of the quadrilateral. Expressed somewhat
differently, if the
plurality of retention points defined by the retainers and anchors define
vertices of a polygon,
the centroid and center of gravity, when viewed normal to the side panel lie
within the
boundaries of the polygon so defined. Expressed somewhat differently again, it
may be said
that the footprint defined by the plurality of retention points straddles the
center of gravity
and the centroid.
Retainers 262 and 264 may be retainers that permit a degree of freedom of
motion of
lifting member 252. In one embodiment, this degree of motion may be a linear
or arc length
degree of motion by which lifting member 252, or a portion thereof, may move
in linear
translation through retainer 262 or 264. That is, retainers 262 and 264 may
have the form of
an eyelet, or aperture, or tunnel, or prong, or fairlead, or keeper that
allows relative sliding of
a portion of lifting member 252 therethrough. Retainers 262 and 264 may be
anchored quite
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sturdily to the surrounding wall structure more generally, and panel 224 may
be provided
with a reinforcement, such as a lateral web band 268 to provide a locally
stronger load
spreading member that may diffuse a tensile load at the retainer into the
surrounding material
which may tend to act as a membrane.
The overall running length of lifting member 252 may exceed the straight-line,
crow-
flies length of the three sides of the quadrilateral. Member 252 can be said
to have three
portions ¨ that portion between first end 256 and first retainer 262 being
identified as a first
portion 270, that portion between first and second retainers 262 and 264 being
identified as a
second portion 272, and that portion between second retainer 264 and second
end 266 being
identified as a third portion 274. To the extent that member 252 has a total
path length or arc
length greater than the three side length, at any time at least one of the
first, second, and third
portions may have a path length greater than the corresponding straight-line
length between
the two respective retaining points bounding that portion.
It may be that the length of lifting member 252 is such that, in the
predominantly
upright or vertical carrying condition exemplified by Figure 12f, the
resultant bails of
members 252 and 254 have a corresponding length, and may be grasped together
in one
hand. Either or both of members 252 and 254 may have a load spreader 276 at
the apex
either to provide softer carrying in the hand, or to go over a shoulder. In
this orientation, the
bight in the strap may tend to be all in second portion 272, and first and
third portions 270
and 274 may tend to be drawn tight and straight as in Figure 12b or 12f.
In the predominantly horizontal, or flat, or substantially level orientation,
one, or
preferably both, of first and third portions 270 and 274 may be grasped by the
user, possibly
in one hand, and second portion 272 may tend to be drawn tight and straight as
in
Figure 12a. Expressed differently, when the slack in member 252 is moved to
the first and
third portions 270, 274, those portions may be used to lift bag 220 more
generally, and when
lifted by this means, may tend to cause the body of bag 220 to have a
generally horizontal, or
level, or predominantly flat orientation, as opposed to a predominantly up-and-
down
orientation.
Perhaps conveniently, bag 220 may also include a pocket, or pouch, or
accommodation 280, which may be mounted on the front or top surface of panel
222, and
which may, in one embodiment, be mounted generally centrally with respect
thereto.
Accommodation 280 may have a closure member 282, such as a tracked fastener
running
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along one margin thereof Accommodation 280 may be suitable for carrying
papers, or
cutlery or condiments such as may accompany objects transported in the main
insulated
enclosure space of bag 220 more generally.
Bag 220 may also include a pocket or pouch or accommodation 284, which may
have
a clear plastic face sheet 286. Accommodation 284 may be located generally
centrally with
respect to panel 222, and may be located on top of, or in front of
accommodation 280.
Accommodation 284 may be located between first and third portions 270 and 272,
and may
be generally rectangular. Accommodation 284 may have an access opening 288,
which may
tend to be oriented toward the main closure member 250, such that, when the
bag is standing
in the upright condition, access opening 288 faces generally upward. In this
location, a
person engaged in pizza delivery may place invoices, or the delivery sheet
having the
addresses of the delivery locations in accommodation 284, visible on the
passenger's seat of
the car when driving, and also visible when the pizza is carried to the door,
and payment is
received.
As such, foldable bag 220 may be an insulated bag having an insulated wall
structure.
The bag has a pair of strap handles (items 252, 254) by which it may be
carried in a
predominantly up and down orientation (Figure 121). One of the strap handles
(item 252, for
example,) may be re-positionable to permit said bag to be carried in a
predominantly
horizontal direction (Figure 12e). That is, bag 220 may be considered to be a
bag having an
insulated wall structure, the wall structure having a width, a depth, and a
thickness. The
width and depth may each be more than double the thickness. The bag may have
opposed
sidewall portions that are extensive in directions corresponding to the width
and depth. The
bag has a handle that is movable between a first position in which the bag
hangs in a
predominantly up-and down orientation when suspended by the handle, and a
second
position in which the bag hangs predominantly cross-wise when suspended from
the handle.
In another way of expressing this, bag 220 has an insulated sidewall, and a
bail (item
252 for example) attached to the insulated sidewall. The sidewall has a first
margin portion
and a generally opposed second margin portion. The first portion of the bail
is retained at a
first retention location in a region closer to the first margin than to the
second margin. A
second portion of the bail is retained at a second retention location closer
to the second
margin than to the first margin. The handle is movable to a first position
wherein, in use, the
bag is suspended from a location of suspension and the first retention
location is between the
location of suspension and the second retention location. The handle is
movable to a second
McCarthy Tetrault LLP TDO-RED #8318883 v I
CA 02548064 2013-05-08
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retention position in which, in use, the bag is suspended from a second
location of suspension,
the second location of suspension being between the first and second retention
locations. That
is, bag 220 can be described as having an insulated sidewall and a first
handle mounted to the
sidewall. The handle has first and second ends attached to the sidewall, and
first and second
keepers through which the handle is fed, such that the handle has a first
region between the
first end and the first keeper, a second region between the second end and the
second keeper,
and a third region between the first and the second keepers. The handle is
movable to a first
position in which the bag is supendable from the third region in a
predominantly up-and-down
orientation, and is suspendable from at least one of the first and second
regions in a
predominantly cross-wise orientation.
Although the embodiments illustrated and described above are preferred, 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
may be made
without departing from the nature, spirit, or scope of the invention, the
invention is not to be
limited to those details, but only by a purposive construction of the appended
claims as
required by law.
