Insulated water-tight container

Abstract

An insulated container for shipping, transporting, or storing warm or cold items is disclosed, useful for maintaining temperature of items stored or shipped within the container, the container assembly consisting of at least one layer of rigid or semi-rigid material, and at least one layer of flexible, thermally insulating, water-resistant material, in the form of a pouch, which pouch is secured to the rigid material at areas which allow easy reconfiguration of the container to form a finished container having desirable insulating and water-resistant characteristics.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A water-resistant container, comprising: 
 a container having a first folding sidewall and a second folding sidewall, the first and second folding sidewalls being opposing container sidewalls, the first and second folding sidewalls each having two opposing edges creating widths, the first and second folding sidewalls having fold lines approximately midway between their opposing edges, the fold lines running approximately from the top of each of the first and second folding sidewalls to the bottom of each of the first and second folding walls, the container having a first non-folding sidewall and a second non-folding sidewall, the first and second non-folding sidewalls being opposing container walls, the first and second folding sidewalls affixed at two of their edges to two edges of the first and second non-folding sidewalls to form a tubular section,    the tubular section having a top end and a bottom end, the first end of the tubular section having a plurality of flaps attached thereto, the second end of the tubular section having a plurality of flaps attached thereto, the first and second folding sidewalls and the first and second non-folding sidewalls having interior surfaces facing the interior of the tubular section and exterior surfaces facing the exterior of the tubular section, the intersection of the edges of the first and second folding sidewalls with the edges of the first and second non-folding sidewalls creating corners of the container, the first and second non-folding sidewalls having areas near the corners of the container, on the interior surfaces of the non-folding sidewalls, for attachment means, and    a pouch having an interior, a first exterior side, a second exterior side, a bottom edge, a right edge, a left edge, a plurality of top edges forming a top opening, the pouch being formed from a flexible and water-resistant material, the pouch residing within the tubular section of the container, the right edge of the pouch residing near the fold line of the first folding sidewall and the left edge of the pouch residing near the fold line of the second folding sidewall, the top edges of the pouch extending from the top end of the tubular section at least a distance equal to one-half the width of the folding sidewalls, the bottom edge of the pouch extending from the bottom end of the tubular section at least a distance equal to one-half the width of the folding sidewalls.    
     
     
         2 . The water-resistant container of  claim 1 , further comprising means for attaching the first exterior side of the pouch to the attachment areas of the first non-folding sidewall, and means for attaching the second exterior side of the pouch to the attachment areas of the second non-folding sidewall.  
     
     
         3 . The water-resistant container of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible and water-resistant material is also thermally insulative.  
     
     
         4 . The water-resistant container of  claim 3 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material comprises at least one layer of material having bubbles of gas entrapped therein.  
     
     
         5 . The water-resistant container of  claim 4 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material further comprises at least one layer of reflective material.  
     
     
         6 . The water-resistant container of  claim 5 , wherein the means for attaching the pouch to the interior surfaces of the walls of the outer container comprises an adhesive.  
     
     
         7 . The water-resistant container of  claim 6 , wherein the means for attaching the pouch to the interior surfaces of the walls of the outer container comprises a releasable adhesive.  
     
     
         8 . The water-resistant container of  claim 7 , further comprising means for sealing the pouch top opening.  
     
     
         9 . The water-resistant container of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible and water-resistant material is also thermally insulative.  
     
     
         10 . The water-resistant container of  claim 9 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material comprises at least one layer of material having bubbles of gas entrapped therein.  
     
     
         11 . The water-resistant container of  claim 10 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material further comprises at least one layer of reflective material.  
     
     
         12 . A thermally insulative container, comprising: 
 a container having a first folding sidewall and a second folding sidewall, the first and second folding sidewalls being opposing container sidewalls, the first and second folding sidewalls each having two opposing edges creating widths, the first and second folding sidewalls having fold lines approximately midway between their opposing edges, the fold lines running approximately from the top of each of the first and second folding sidewalls to the bottom of each of the first and second folding walls, the container having a first non-folding sidewall and a second non-folding sidewall, the first and second non-folding sidewalls being opposing container walls, the first and second folding sidewalls affixed at two of their edges to two edges of the first and second non-folding sidewalls to form a tubular section,    the tubular section having a top end and a bottom end, the first end of the tubular section having a plurality of flaps attached thereto, the second end of the tubular section having a plurality of flaps attached thereto, the first and second folding sidewalls and the first and second non-folding sidewalls having interior surfaces facing the interior of the tubular section and exterior surfaces facing the exterior of the tubular section, the intersection of the edges of the first and second folding sidewalls with the edges of the first and second non-folding sidewalls creating corners of the container, the first and second non-folding sidewalls having areas near the corners of the container, on the interior surfaces of the non-folding sidewalls, for attachment means, and    a pouch having an interior, a first exterior side, a second exterior side, a bottom edge, a right edge, a left edge, a plurality of top edges forming a top opening, the pouch being formed from a flexible and thermally insulative material, the pouch residing within the tubular section of the container, the right edge of the pouch residing near the fold line of the first folding sidewall and the left edge of the pouch residing near the fold line of the second folding sidewall, the top edges of the pouch extending from the top end of the tubular section at least a distance equal to one-half the width of the folding sidewalls, the bottom edge of the pouch extending from the bottom end of the tubular section at least a distance equal to one-half the width of the folding sidewalls.    
     
     
         13 . The water-resistant container of  claim 12 , further comprising means for attaching the first exterior side of the pouch to the attachment areas of the first non-folding sidewall, and means for attaching the second exterior side of the pouch to the attachment areas of the second non-folding sidewall.  
     
     
         14 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible and water-resistant material is also water tight.  
     
     
         15 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material comprises at least one layer of material having bubbles of gas entrapped therein.  
     
     
         16 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material further comprises at least one layer of reflective material.  
     
     
         17 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 16 , wherein the means for attaching the pouch to the interior surfaces of the walls of the outer container comprises an adhesive.  
     
     
         18 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 17 , wherein the means for attaching the pouch to the interior surfaces of the walls of the outer container comprises a releasable adhesive.  
     
     
         19 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 18 , further comprising means for sealing the pouch top opening.  
     
     
         20 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 12 , wherein the flexible and water-resistant material is also thermally insulative.  
     
     
         21 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 13 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material comprises at least one layer of material having bubbles of gas entrapped therein.  
     
     
         22 . The thermally insulative container of  claim 14 , wherein the flexible, water-resistant, and thermally insulative material further comprises at least one layer of reflective material.  
     
     
         23 . A method of making a water-tight container comprising the steps of: 
 taking a flat blank for a tubular assembly, the blank having, in order, a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel, the blank having a plurality of fold lines between the first, second, third, and fourth side panels, the blank having bottom flaps along its bottom edge for forming a bottom closure, and top flaps along its top edge for forming a top closure,    taking a length of plastic sheet material in lay flat tubular form, the plastic sheet material having a first side and a second side, and a first edge and a second edge, the plastic sheet material being sealed at one end and open at the other end, the plastic sheet material having a lay flat width approximately equal to one-half the combined width of the side panels of the flat blank,    securing a first attachment means to the second side panel of the blank, securing a second attachment means to the fourth side panel of the blank,    laying the plastic sheet material on the flat blank with the width of the plastic sheet material extending across the width of the second side panel, the plastic sheet material also extending across approximately one-half the width of the first side panel and across approximately one-half the width of the third side, thereby attaching the plastic sheet material to the first attachment means of the blank, the sealed end of the plastic sheet material positioned generally near the ends of the bottom flaps of the blank, the open end of the plastic sheet material positioned generally near the ends of the top flaps of the blank, thereby attaching the first side of the plastic sheet material to the first attachment means of the blank in such position,    folding approximately one-half the width of the first side panel across the plastic sheet material,    folding approximately one-half the width of the third side panel, and the fourth panel, across the plastic sheet material, so that a first free edge of the folded first side panel approximately meets a second free edge of the fourth side panel, thereby attaching the second side of the plastic sheet material to the second attachment means, and    securing the first free edge of the folded first side panel to the second free edge of the fourth side panel, thereby forming a tubular folded container assembly with the plastic sheet material adhered to the inside of the tubular assembly along the first and second attachment means.    
     
     
         24 . method of making a water-tight container of  claim 23 , further comprising the steps of expanding the tubular folded container assembly to create a volume therewithin, and then folding the bottom flaps to form a bottom for the expanded container assembly.  
     
     
         25 . The method of making a water-tight container of  claim 24 , further comprising the step of closing the open end of the plastic sheet material to form a water-tight pouch.  
     
     
         26 . A method of making a water-tight container comprising the steps of: 
 taking a flat blank for a tubular assembly, the blank having, in order, a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel, the blank having a plurality of fold lines between the first, second, third, and fourth side panels, the blank having bottom flaps along its bottom edge for forming a bottom closure, and top flaps along its top edge for forming a top closure,    taking a length of plastic sheet material in lay flat tubular form, the plastic sheet material having a first side and a second side, and a first edge and a second edge, the plastic sheet material being sealed at one end and open at the other end, the plastic sheet material having a lay flat width approximately equal to one-half the combined width of the side panels of the flat blank,    laying the plastic sheet material on the flat blank with the width of the plastic sheet material extending across the width of the second side panel, the plastic sheet material also extending across approximately one-half the width of the first side panel and across approximately one-half the width of the third side, the sealed end of the plastic sheet material positioned generally near the ends of the bottom flaps of the blank, the open end of the plastic sheet material positioned generally near the ends of the top flaps of the blank,    folding approximately one-half the width of the first side panel across the plastic sheet material,    folding approximately one-half the width of the third side panel, and the fourth panel, across the plastic sheet material, so that a first free edge of the folded first side panel approximately meets a second free edge of the fourth side panel, and    securing the first free edge of the folded first side panel to the second free edge of the fourth side panel, thereby forming a tubular folded container assembly with the plastic sheet material residing within the tubular assembly.    
     
     
         27 . method of making a water-tight container of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of expanding the tubular folded container assembly to create a volume therewithin, and then folding the bottom flaps to form a bottom for the expanded container assembly.  
     
     
         28 . The method of making a water-tight container of  claim 27 , further comprising the step of closing the open end of the plastic sheet material to form a water-tight pouch.