Travel cooler with inflatable sidewalls

A portable cooler assembly, comprising:

• (a) a base;
• and
• (b) an insulated container subassembly including,
• (i) inflatable sidewalls,
• (ii) at least one valve for inflating said sidewalls, and
• (iii) a rim attached to a top of said inflatable sidewalls;
• (c) wherein said insulated container subassembly is removably coupled to said base;
• (d) wherein said base defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of said insulated container subassembly is received;
• (e) wherein, when the portable cooler assembly is in a first configuration,
• (i) said inflatable sidewalls are inflated and extend outwardly from the container receiving recess, and
• (ii) said rim is not received within the container receiving recess;
• (f) wherein, when the portable cooler assembly is in a second configuration,
• (i) said inflatable sidewalls are deflated and are received within the container receiving recess in a collapsed condition, and
• (ii) at least a portion of said rim is received within said container receiving recess;
• and
• (g) wherein said base includes a peripheral wall that at least partially defines the container receiving recess, at least a portion of said peripheral wall extending above said insulated container subassembly when the portable cooler assembly is in the second configuration.

A portable cooler assembly, comprising

• (a) a base;
• and
• (b) an insulated container subassembly including,
• (i) an inflatable wall,
• (ii) a valve for inflating said wall,
• (iii) a rim connected to a top of said inflatable wall and defining a top opening of said insulated container subassembly, and
• (iv) a lid arranged on said rim to cover the top opening;
• (c) wherein said insulated container subassembly is removably coupled to said base in fixed disposition relative to said base;
• (d) wherein said base includes a peripheral wall that at least partially defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of said insulated container subassembly is received;
• (e) wherein, when the portable cooler assembly is in a first configuration,
• (i) said inflatable wall is inflated and extends outwardly from the container receiving recess, and
• (ii) said rim and lid are located above the container receiving recess and said peripheral wall of said base;
• and
• (f) wherein, when the portable cooler assembly is in a second configuration,
• (i) said inflatable wall is deflated and is completely received within the container receiving recess in a collapsed condition, and
• (ii) said rim and lid collectively are at least partially received within the container receiving recess.