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US 11,154,122 B2Granted
Flexible insulative container with valve
AssigneeIcemule Company, Inc.
InventorJames E. Collie
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a high-performance, portable, flexible, collapsible, inflatable, insulative container with increased carrying capacity and the portability of a backpack. The container of the present disclosure is both collapsible as well as inflatable via the use of a non-leaking, substantially waterproof valve that facilitates air flow into and out of an insulative space of the container.
Claims20
A pliable, collapsible, inflatable, thermally insulative container, comprising:
- a body portion having a top end, a bottom end, a flexible, waterproof interior liner, and a flexible, waterproof exterior shell, wherein the interior liner and the exterior shell are sealed together at the top end of the body portion forming an interior insulative space therebetween and a storage space that is lined by the interior liner and having an opening at the top end of the body portion;
- a flexible insulative material disposed within the interior insulative space and being sealed therein;
- a roll down quick release closure fixed to the body portion at the top end for closing the opening and the storage space;
- at least one manually operated twist valve disposed through and secured to the exterior shell by a welded seam to control air flow into and out of the interior insulative space between the interior liner and the exterior shell;
- wherein the container is substantially waterproof;
- wherein the twist valve comprises a body and a cap, the cap comprising at least one aperture and configured to be manually rotatable relative to the body, the body comprising at least one air shaft, a first shoulder welded to the exterior shell, a second shoulder within which the air shaft opens into the interior insulative space, and a disc piece spaced apart from the second shoulder to create a clearance between the air shaft and the flexible insulative material;
- wherein the twist valve comprises a substantially air and water tight seal when the cap is manually rotated relative to the body in a first rotational direction to a closed position where the at least one aperture is obstructed;
- and
- wherein the twist valve is configured to allow air flow into the interior insulative space between the waterproof exterior shell and the waterproof interior liner to inflate the container and protect and insulate any article stored therein when the cap is manually rotated relative to the body in a second rotational direction to an open position where the at least one aperture is unobstructed.
6 more elements
A pliable, collapsible, inflatable, thermally insulative container, comprising:
- a body portion having a top end, a bottom end, a flexible, waterproof interior liner, and a flexible, waterproof exterior shell, wherein the interior liner and the exterior shell are sealed together at the top end of the body portion forming an interior insulative space therebetween and a storage space that is lined by the interior liner and having an opening at the top end of the body portion;
- a flexible insulative material disposed within the interior insulative space and being sealed therein;
- at least one manually operated twist valve disposed through and secured to the exterior shell by way of a fluid impervious seal and configured to control air flow into and out of the interior insulative space between the interior liner and the exterior shell;
- wherein the twist valve comprises a body and a cap, the cap comprising at least one aperture and configured to be manually rotatable relative to the body, the body comprising at least one air shaft, a first shoulder welded to the exterior shell, a second shoulder within which the air shaft opens into the interior insulative space, and a piece spaced apart from the second shoulder to create a clearance between the air shaft and the flexible insulative material;
- wherein the twist valve comprises a substantially air and water tight seal when the cap is manually rotated relative to the body in a first rotational direction to a closed position where the at least one aperture is obstructed;
- and
- wherein the twist valve is configured to allow air flow into the interior insulative space to inflate the container and protect and insulate any article stored therein when the cap is manually rotated relative to the body in a second rotational direction to an open position where the at least one aperture is unobstructed.
4 more elements
A pliable, collapsible, inflatable, thermally insulative container, comprising:
- a body portion having a top end, a bottom end, a flexible, waterproof interior liner, and a flexible, waterproof exterior shell, wherein the interior liner and the exterior shell are sealed together at the top end of the body portion forming an interior insulative space therebetween and a storage space that is lined by the interior liner and having an opening at the top end of the body portion;
- a flexible insulative material disposed within the interior insulative space and being sealed therein;
- a roll down quick release closure fixed to the body portion at the top end for closing the opening and the storage space;
- at least one manually operated twist valve disposed through and secured to the exterior shell by way of a fluid impervious seal and configured to control air flow into and out of the interior insulative space between the interior liner and the exterior shell;
- wherein the twist valve comprises a body and a cap, the cap comprising at least one aperture and configured to be manually rotatable relative to the body, the body comprising at least one air shaft, a first shoulder welded to the exterior shell, and a second shoulder within which the air shaft opens into the interior insulative space;
- wherein the twist valve comprises a substantially air and water tight seal when the cap is manually rotated relative to the body in a first rotational direction to a closed position where the aperture is obstructed;
- and
- wherein the twist valve is configured to allow air flow into the interior insulative space to inflate the container and protect and insulate any article stored therein when the cap is manually rotated relative to the body in a second rotational direction to an open position where the at least one aperture is unobstructed.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.