US 8,777,045 B2 · Insulated container with work surface

Abstract

A soft sided insulated container assembly includes a first portion having an insulated, soft sided external wall structure, and a second portion that defined a lid co-operable with the first portion. The lid includes an auxiliary access opening and closure member that are smaller than the main opening, and that can be operated one-handed. A rigid work surface is provided, typically immediately adjacent to the secondary closure member, the work surface providing a place for holding or mixing a drink or for preparing a snack. In some embodiments the work surface may be movable relative to the container, whether slidable in a co-planar or parallel planar manner in translation, or folding as in a foldable shelf. The entire container assembly may be foldable or collapsible to a storage condition, and the rigid member, whether fixed or movable, does not impede that folding or collapsing.

Claims31

Dependent claims

A soft-sided insulated container having

a body defining an insulated chamber therewithin, and a top;
said top having a rigid member mounted thereto, said rigid member defining a work surface upon which to rest objects;
said top defining a first closure member of said container;
said top being movable relative to said body between an open position and a closed position;
said body being movable between a collapsed position and a non-collapsed position;
said top includes a second closure member, said second closure member being smaller than said first closure member;
and
when said top is in said closed position, said work surface rigid member is movable relative to said top between a first position relative to said top and a second position relative to said top, said first position being a retracted position, said second position being a deployed position;
and
when said body is in said non-collapsed position, and said work surface rigid member is in said deployed position, said secondary closure member is free of obstruction by said work surface rigid member.

7 more elements

A soft-sided insulated container assembly comprising:

a soft-sided insulated lower portion, and an upper portion co-operable therewith;
said soft-sided insulated lower portion having a front wall, a rear wall, first end wall, second end wall and bottom wall, co-operatively mounted to define an insulated chamber having a top opening;
said upper portion being hingedly mounted to said lower portion;
said upper portion defining a first closure member of said insulated chamber assembly, and being movable between a closed position and an open position to govern access thereto;
said lower portion being foldable to a collapsed position and unfoldable to an extended position;
and
said upper portion having an externally positioned rigid member defining a table top thereof when said lower portion is in said unfolded position;
said front wall has a width and a height;
said rear wall has an upper margin;
said upper portion defines a top panel hingedly connected to said upper margin of said rear wall;
said top panel has a proximal portion adjacent to said upper margin of said rear wall, and a distal portion distant from said upper margin of said rear wall;
said distal portion includes said rigid member;
said rigid member has a width and length, said width being measured predominantly parallel to said upper margin of said rear wall, and said length being measured cross-wise to said width;
and
said length of said rigid member is one of (a) less than, and (b) equal to, said height of said front wall of said body.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Insulated container with work surface

Life of this patent

Insulated container with work surface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31