Collapsible insulated container

Abstract

The present invention provides a collapsible insulative container including a shell having at least one sidewall, a bottom, and a top, where the container is biased toward an operative position wherein the open top is distanced from the bottom to provide an interior defined by the shell. The container further includes a spring that provides the bias urging the container toward the operative position. A liner extends from the shell into the interior defined by the shell to define, in said operative position, a container volume for storing items. In the operative position, air space exists between the shell and the liner. The bias of the spring may be countered to collapse the container from the operative position to a collapsed position to facilitate storage of the container when not in use. Venting means is provided to allow the air to exit and fill the air space when the container is collapsed or moves to the operative position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible insulative container comprising: 
 a shell comprising a top, a bottom and at least one side wall, said container being biased into an operative position by at least one spring;    a liner affixed to said top and disposed within the interior of said shell;    a substantially sealed air space between said shell and said liner; and    a vent means for venting the air from said sealed air space when the bias of said spring is countered to collapse the container from said operative position to a collapsed position and fill said space when said container is released from said collapsed position to assume said operative position.    
     
     
         2 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including at least one releasable means for retain the container in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         3 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including at least one tie-down for retaining the container in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         4 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including at least one hook and loop fastener for keeping the container in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         5 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including insulation material retained within said air space.  
     
     
         6 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said top comprises an annulus attached to said at least one side wall and a lid removably attached to said annulus.  
     
     
         7 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said container has at least one handle means.  
     
     
         8 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said shell is made from a flexible material.  
     
     
         9 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said liner is made from a flexible waterproof material.  
     
     
         10 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said spring is a spiral-wound spring.  
     
     
         11 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein the spring is attached to said side wall.  
     
     
         12 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring follows the contours of said at least one sidewall.  
     
     
         13 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring follows the contours of said at least one sidewall and further includes a sleeve extending along said at least one sidewall of said shell, said sleeve enclosing and retaining said at least one spring.  
     
     
         14 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring is in the space between said side wall and said liner.  
     
     
         15 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring is attached to said liner.  
     
     
         16 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said vent means is in said at least one side wall.  
     
     
         17 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said liner is attached to said top and is free to move in said interior.  
     
     
         18 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including a handle means attached to said bottom and a releasable tie-down means operative in connection with said handle means for selectively holding said container in said collapsed position.  
     
     
         19 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said collapsed position is achieved by bringing said top and said bottom of said shell into close proximity.  
     
     
         20 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring is attached to and extends from said bottom to said top.  
     
     
         21 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including tie-down means for retaining said container in said collapsed position comprising mating hook-and-loop fasteners, at least one of said mating hook-and-loop fasteners being affixed to said bottom of said shell and selectively engaging, when the container is in the collapsed position, another of said mating hook-and-loop fasteners affixed to said top.  
     
     
         22 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including a thermo electric device for selectively heating or cooling the interior of said container.  
     
     
         23 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including wheel means to aid in the transport of the collapsible insulative container.  
     
     
         24 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including a handle means to aid in transport of the collapsible insulative container.  
     
     
         25 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including a temperature aid.  
     
     
         26 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , further including a drain.  
     
     
         27 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein the top is a continuous flexible extension of said at least one side wall and is closed by a drawstring means.  
     
     
         28 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said liner is removably affixed to said top by a fastener.  
     
     
         29 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring comprises at least two springs in end-to-end, linear relationship.  
     
     
         30 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one spring has a spiral-wound or helical shape.  
     
     
         31 . A collapsible insulative container comprising: 
 a shell including at least one sidewall, a bottom, and an top that is biased toward an operative position, wherein said top is distanced from said bottom to provide an interior defined by said shell and the shape of the container is cube-like;    at least one linear spring providing at least a portion of the bias affecting said open top, said at least one spring being located in at least one corner of said container;    at least one stabilizing means for supporting said at least one linear spring during the collapsing and return to operative position of said container;    a liner extending from said shell into said interior to define, in said operative position, a container volume for storing items; and    a substantially sealed air space between said shell and said liner, wherein the bias of said at least one spring may be countered to collapse the container from said operative position to a collapsed position.    
     
     
         32 . The collapsible insulative container according to  claim 31 , wherein said top comprises an annular opening and a lid is associated with said top to releasably close said opening.  
     
     
         33 . A collapsible insulative container comprising: 
 a shell comprising a top, a bottom and at least one side wall, said container being biased into an operative position by a single continuous spring;    a liner affixed to said top and disposed within the interior of said shell; and a substantially sealed air space between said shell and said liner.    
     
     
         34 . The collapsible insulative container of  claim 33 , further including vent means for venting the air from said sealed air space when the bias of said spring is countered to collapse the container from said operative position to a collapsed position and fill said space when said container is released from said collapsed position to assume said operative position.