Collapsible insulated cooler

Abstract

A collapsible insulated cooler case includes a sandwich construction of fabric and cell foam material forming the panel walls of the container and further includes front binding straps that hold the case in a collapsed condition. The binding straps extend from the front flap of the cooler over the bottom and engage with companion straps on the back side of the cooler case. Alternatively, the front binding straps are used to hold the container top panel in the closed position.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A collapsible, insulated cooler case comprising, in combination: 
 a rectangular, parallelepiped assembly of five insulated rectangular wall panels forming an enclosure with an open top and including a bottom side, a front side, a back side and opposite end sides, said sides joined at connecting side edges, the bottom side and end sides being foldable and collapsible;    said assembly further including a top side attached at one edge to the back side and foldable over the open top; said top side including a free edge generally parallel to and spaced from the said one edge;    a first connector member extending from the free edge; and    a second flexible connector member attached to the back side and extendable over the bottom side for connection to the first connector member, whereby the bottom side and opposite end sides may be retained in a collapsed and folded mode by connecting the first and second connector members.    
     
     
         2 . The case of  claim 1  further including a storage pouch on the back side, said second connector member attached at one end inside the pouch.  
     
     
         3 . The case of  claim 1  further including at least two generally parallel spaced first and second connector members for retaining the cooler case in a collapsed and folded mode.  
     
     
         4 . The cooler case of  claim 1  wherein the top flap includes a first portion congruent with the bottom side when the cooler case is in a fully open mode and further including an overlapping portion which overlaps part of the front side of the cooler case in said fully open mode, said first connector members being attached to the overlapping portion.  
     
     
         5 . The cooler case of  claim 4  further including a front side connector member connectable with the first connector member in the said fully open mode to retain the top flap closed over the open top.  
     
     
         6 . The cooler case of  claim 1  further including a shoulder strap connecting the opposite end sides.  
     
     
         7 . The cooler case of  claim 1  further including a carry handle on the outside of the top flap.  
     
     
         8 . The cooler case of  claim 1  wherein the second connector member is adjustable in length.  
     
     
         9 . The cooler case of  claim 1  wherein the connector members each comprise a flexible strap and buckle.  
     
     
         10 . The cooler case of  claim 1  wherein the first connector member is adjustable in length.  
     
     
         11 . The cooler case of  claim 1  wherein the bottom side is comprised of a rectangular panel foldable along a middle seam to define first and second semi-panels, said sides including an outer fabric layer, an intermediate insulating cell foam layer, and an inner fabric layer, said bottom layer further including first and second separate reinforcing, generally rigid semi-plates for the first and second panels respectively, said flexible inner fabric retaining the semi-plates and cell foam therebetween, said bottom side cell foam including a middle seam score line.  
     
     
         12 . The cooler case of  claim 11  including a single boundary stitch seam for connecting the outer and inner fabric layers together along the junction of the back side and bottom side, the opposite end side and bottom side, the opposite end sides and front side and the top side.  
     
     
         13 . The cooler case of  claim 11  including a cell foam layer comprised of closed cell foam and open cell foam layers.  
     
     
         14 . The cooler case of  claim 11  including an inner lining of liquid impervious fabric.  
     
     
         15 . The cooler case of  claim 11  wherein the middle seam score line is a stitched seam.