Insulating/protective covering for a container

Abstract

An insulating wrap for adding to containers to prevent heat adsorbsion or heat loss is composed of conductive insulation material as well as radian barrier material. The insulating wrap conforms to the container shape and has multiple attachment elements for closing and retaining the insulating wrap to the container. The insulating wrap may also have attachment elements for adding a top and/or a bottom insulating cover also comprising conductive insulation material as well as radian barrier material. The insulating wrap may employ insulating tape on the top and bottom edges to protect the edges as well as to further improve heat transfer at the interface between the top or bottom covers and the insulating wrap. In one embodiment the top cover may have an integrated handle piece where the top and bottom cover attachments have sufficient strength to allow a container to be lifted. This embodiment facilitates lifting of a insulated container.

1 . A thermally insulating covering assembly for an enclosed container comprising; 
 a flexible thermally insulating material piece, wherein the flexible thermally insulating material piece has two or more first attachments elements for retaining the flexible thermally insulating material piece in contact with sides of the enclosed container; and    an insulating top cover for coupling to the flexible thermally insulating material piece, wherein the insulating top cover has attachments elements for retaining the insulating top cover on and in contact with a top of the enclosed container.    
   
   
       2 . The covering assembly of  claim 1  further comprising an insulating bottom cover for coupling to the flexible thermally insulating material piece, wherein the insulating bottom cover has attachments elements for retaining the insulating top cover in contact with a bottom of the enclosed container.  
   
   
       3 . The covering assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermally insulating material piece comprises a first layer of thermal conductive insulation coupled to a second layer of thermal radiation insulation.  
   
   
       4 . The covering assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the insulating top cover comprises a first layer of thermal conductive insulation coupled to a second layer of thermal radiation insulation.  
   
   
       5 . The covering assembly of  claim 4 , wherein the insulating bottom cover comprises a first layer of thermal conductive insulation coupled to a second layer of thermal radiation insulation.  
   
   
       6 . The covering assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the first attachment features are mating elements selected from a group consisting of a hook and loop attachment system, a magnetic attachment system, a plug and socket connector attachment system, and a selective, separable adhesive based attachment system.  
   
   
       7 . The covering assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the insulating top cover comprises three or more tab elements that extend radially beyond the flexible thermally insulating material piece when it is wrapped around and in contact with the sides of the container, the tab elements having tab attachment features that couple to mating cover attachment features on the flexible thermally insulating material piece thus retaining the insulating top cover on and in contact with the top of the enclosed container.  
   
   
       8 . The covering assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the insulating bottom cover comprises three or more tab elements that extend radially beyond the flexible thermally insulating material piece when it is wrapped around and in contact with the sides of the container, the tab elements having tab attachment features that couple to mating cover attachment features on the flexible thermally insulating material piece thus holding the insulating bottom cover on and in contact with the bottom of the enclosed container.  
   
   
       9 . The covering assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the tab attachment features and cover attachment features are mating elements selected from a group consisting of a hook and loop attachment system, a magnetic attachment system, a plug and socket connector attachment system, and a selective, separable adhesive based attachment system.  
   
   
       10 . The covering assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the flexible thermally insulating material piece extends a lip distance above the top of the enclosed container forming a top recess when wrapped around and in contact with the sides of the container.  
   
   
       11 . The covering assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the insulating top cover has a thickness corresponding to the lip distance and the insulating top cover sets in the top recess thus protecting the edge of the insulating top cover from mechanical damage and heat loss.  
   
   
       12 . The covering assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the flexible thermally insulating material piece extends a lip distance above a bottom of the enclosed container forming a bottom recess when wrapped around and in contact with the sides of the container.  
   
   
       13 . The covering assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the insulating bottom cover has a thickness corresponding to the lip distance and the insulating bottom cover sets in the bottom recess thus protecting the edge of the insulating top cover from mechanical damage and heat loss.  
   
   
       14 . The covering assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the insulating top cover has a resealable closure for providing access to a sealable fill opening in the enclosed container.  
   
   
       15 . The covering assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the enclosed container is substantially cylindrical in shape.  
   
   
       16 . The covering assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the flexible thermally insulating material piece is substantially rectangular in shape with a top edge, a bottom edge and opposing first and second joining edges.  
   
   
       17 . The covering assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the first attachment features comprise a two or more first elements disposed along the first joining and two or more mating second elements disposed along the second joining edge.  
   
   
       18 . The covering assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the insulating top cover has an integrated handle suitable for lifting the enclosed container when the insulating top cover is coupled to the flexible thermally insulating material piece with the tab elements and the insulating bottom cover is coupled to the flexible thermally insulating material piece with tab elements.  
   
   
       19 . The covering assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal conductive layer is made of a foam material.  
   
   
       20 . The covering assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the thermal radiation layer is made of a reflective metalized fabric material.