Insert for an insulated container

Abstract

An insert for a container having a rectangular inner cavity is detachably positioned inside the cavity to form an inscribed wall with rounded inner surface. The insert is a rectangular sheet of flexible resilient material that unrolls inside the cavity due to a spring action of the material to cover the straight corners of the cavity. A reinforcing plate secured to the sheet helps retain the flexible plastic sheet in an upright position inside the cavity.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An insert for a container having a generally rectangular cavity defined by a container inner wall, the insert comprising a flexible resilient body forming an inscribed wall when detachably positioned inside the container cavity.  
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said inscribed wall has no straight corners.  
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body has vertical dimensions substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of said container.  
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body has longitudinal dimensions that are smaller than peripheral dimensions of said container inner wall.  
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body assumes and retains a vertical orientation inside said cavity.  
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said body comprises a generally rectangular sheet with opposing first and second vertical edges, and a reinforcing plate secured along a first vertical edge.  
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 6 , wherein said reinforcing plate has plate edges cut on a taper to facilitate forming of a flush connection between the sheet and the reinforcing plate when said body is positioned in said cavity.  
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6 , further comprising a means for releasable securing of the second vertical edge of said sheet to the reinforcing plate.  
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8 , wherein said securing means comprises a pair of compression members clamping the second vertical edge to the reinforcing plate at the upper and lower portions of said second vertical edge.  
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein each of said compression member comprises a generally U-shaped body having a first leg, a second leg and a middle connecting part, and wherein a tightening screw is inserted through the second leg to extend between the first leg and the second leg to contact said sheet and said plate when said compression member is placed on said body.  
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1 , wherein said inscribed wall has rounded portions substantially covering straight corners of the container cavity.  
     
     
         12 . An insert for a container having a generally rectangular cavity defined by a container inner wall, the insert comprising a flexible resilient body detachably positionable in said container cavity to form an inscribed wall covering straight corners of said cavity.  
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said body has vertical dimensions substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of said cavity and longitudinal dimensions that are smaller than peripheral dimensions of said container inner wall.  
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said body comprises a generally rectangular sheet with opposing vertical edges and a reinforcing plate fixedly secured along a first vertical edge of said sheet, said reinforcing plate having plate edges that are cut on a taper to form a flush connection between said sheet and said plate when the body is positioned in said container.  
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14 , further comprising a means for releasable securing a second vertical edge of said sheet to said reinforcing plate, said securing means comprising a pair of compression members clamping upper and lower portions of said sheet and said second vertical edge.  
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein each of said compression members comprises a generally U-shaped body having a first leg, a second leg and a middle connecting part, and wherein a tightening screw is inserted through the second leg to extend between the first leg and the second leg to contact said body when said compression member is placed on said body.  
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 12 , wherein said body assumes and retains a vertical orientation inside said cavity, forming an inscribed wall with no straight corners.  
     
     
         18 . A method of facilitating formation of a wall with no straight corners inside a generally rectangular cavity, comprising the steps of: 
 providing a flexible resilient generally rectangular body having opposing vertical edges;    positioning said body inside said cavity; and    allowing said body to unfold, thereby forming an inscribed wall in said cavity, said wall covering straight corners of said cavity while defining a rounded inner surface.    
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said body assumes and retains a vertical orientation in said cavity.  
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein said body comprises a rectangular sheet and a reinforcing plate secured to said sheet along a first vertical edge of the sheet, said body having vertical dimensions substantially equal to or smaller than vertical dimensions of said cavity and longitudinal dimensions that are smaller than peripheral dimensions of a wall defining said cavity.  
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising the steps of providing a pair of compression members and positioning said compression members at upper and lower portions of a second vertical edge of said sheet and an edge of the reinforcing plate to ensure a flush connection between the second vertical edge and the reinforcing plate.  
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein each of said compression members comprises a generally U-shaped body with a tightening screw.