Insulated container assembly with thermal storage accommodation

A soft-sided insulated back-pack container assembly comprising:

• a soft-sided insulated wall structure defining a chamber therewithin in which to receive objects;
• said wall structure including a bottom wall panel, a back wall panel to be worn against the user's back, a front wall panel opposed to said back wall panel, a left-hand side panel, a right-hand side panel;
• said back, front, right-hand side and left-hand side wall panels being mounted peripherally about, and standing upwardly from, said bottom wall panel, and co-operating with said bottom wall panel to define said chamber;
• said back, front, right-hand side, and left-hand side wall panels having respective upper margins that co-operate to define an opening of said chamber;
• said wall structure including a lid hingedly connected to said upper margin of said back wall panel;
• said lid defining a first closure of said opening of said chamber;
• and
• said lid being movable between a closed position and an open position to govern access to said chamber;
• said wall structure having a pair of shoulder straps by which to carry said soft-sided insulated back-pack container;
• said wall structure having a height in an up-and-down direction, a width in a cross-wise direction from said left-hand side wall panel to said right hand side wall panel, and a depth in a direction away from the wearer's back from said back wall panel to said front wall panel;
• said height being greater than the width;
• said height being greater than the depth;
• said width being greater than the depth;
• said front wall panel of said soft-sided insulated wall structure has an inner skin, an outer skin, and a layer of thermal insulation captured between said inner skin and said outer skin;
• said front wall panel including a first region, said first region having at least a first thermal storage member accommodation defined therein in which to receive at least a first thermal storage member;
• said first thermal storage member accommodation being located between said inner skin and said layer of thermal insulation of said front wall panel, next to said chamber;
• said first thermal storage member accommodation is segregated from said internal chamber by said inner skin;
• said first thermal storage member accommodation has a second closure, when open said second closure permitting passage therethrough of at least said first thermal storage member, said second closure being external to said chamber and external to said lid;
• and
• said thermal storage member may be positioned in said first thermal storage member accommodation without opening said first closure;
• said front wall panel has a first opening formed in said outer skin thereof through which to admit said first thermal storage member into said first thermal storage member accommodation;
• said first opening being accessible from outside said soft-sided insulated back-pack when said lid is closed;
• said first thermal storage member is disk-shaped and has a length, a width, and a through thickness, said through-thickness being smaller than each of the span and the width;
• said first thermal storage member is slideable sideways through said first opening into said first thermal storage member accommodation;
• and
• when installed in said first thermal storage member accommodation, said first thermal storage member is located between said thermal insulation and said inner skin of said front wall panel;
• and said inner skin of said front wall panel is between said first thermal storage member and said internal chamber.

A soft-sided insulated back-pack container assembly comprising:

• a soft-sided insulated wall structure defining a chamber therewithin in which to receive objects;
• said wall structure including a bottom panel, a back wall panel to be worn against the user's back, a front wall panel opposed to said back wall panel, a left-hand side panel, a right-hand side panel;
• said back, front, right-hand side and left-hand side wall panels being mounted peripherally about, and standing upwardly from, said base panel, and co-operating with said base panel to define said chamber;
• said back, front, right-hand side, and left-hand side wall panels having respective upper margins that co-operate to define an opening of said chamber;
• said wall structure including a lid connected at a hinge to said upper margin of said back wall panel, said lid defining a first closure of said chamber, and being movable between a closed position and an open position to govern access to said chamber;
• said wall structure having a pair of shoulder straps;
• said wall structure having a height, a width, and a depth in a direction away from the wearer's back;
• the height being greater than the width;
• the height being greater than the depth;
• the width being greater than the depth;
• said front wall panel having an outer skin, an inner skin, and a layer of insulation between said outer skin and said inner skin;
• said front wall panel including a first region, said first region having at least a first accommodation defined therein next to said chamber in which to receive at least a first thermal storage member;
• said accommodation being located within said front wall panel between said inner skin and said layer of insulation;
• and
• said accommodation has a second closure, said second closure permitting passage therethrough of at least said first thermal storage member, said second closure, of said accommodation, being located externally of said chamber and being externally accessible when said first closure, of said chamber, is closed.