Inflatable container

Abstract

An inflatable and deflatable cooler for holding articles such as ice, beverages and food items comprises an inflatable portion having inflatable vertically extending sidewalls and an inflatable bottom portion, the sidewalls and bottom portion being in pneumatic communication. The inflatable vertically extending sidewalls have upper edges that are fixedly connected to a rigid upper frame, and the inflatable bottom portion is connected to a rigid lower frame. The rigid upper frame includes a top surface and side surfaces extending down from the top surface forming a first cavity in the rigid upper frame. The rigid lower frame includes a bottom surface and side surfaces extending up from the bottom surface forming a second cavity in the rigid lower frame. An opening in the top surface provides access to the inflatable cooler when inflated. The side surfaces of the rigid upper frame abut the side surfaces of the rigid lower frame when the inflatable container is deflated, and the deflated sidewalls and deflated bottom portion become nested in the larger cavity formed by the first and second cavities. The inflatable container comprises air chambers disposed between two flexible panels, with flexible ribs extending between the panels to provide strength and integrity to the air chambers.

1 . An inflatable and deflatable cooler for holding articles comprising:
 an inflatable portion having inflatable vertically extending sidewalls and an inflatable bottom portion, the sidewalls and bottom portion being in pneumatic communication;   the inflatable vertically extending sidewalls having upper edges, the upper edges fixedly connected to a rigid upper frame;   the inflatable bottom portion fixedly connected to a rigid lower frame;   the rigid upper frame including a top surface and side surfaces extending downwardly from said top surface forming a first cavity in said rigid upper frame;   the rigid lower frame including a bottom surface and side surfaces extending upwardly from said bottom surface forming a second cavity in said rigid lower frame;   an opening in said top surface providing access to said inflatable cooler when inflated;   said side surfaces of said rigid upper frame abutting the side surfaces of said rigid lower frame when the inflatable container is deflated, said deflated sidewalls and deflated bottom portion nested in said first and second cavities.   
   
   
       2 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 1  wherein said top surface comprises a lid pivotally hinged to said top surface adjacent said opening, said lid moveable between a first position closing said opening and a second position providing access through said opening. 
   
   
       3 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 1  including an air nozzle attached to and in pneumatic communication with one of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls and said bottom portion, said air nozzle selectively providing air passage into and from said sidewalls and said bottom portion. 
   
   
       4 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 1  wherein said bottom portion comprises at least two adjacent panels forming an air chamber in said bottom portion, and ribs of a predetermined dimension flexibly extending between and attached to said at least two panels comprising said bottom portion, said ribs allowing the passage of air between said ribs. 
   
   
       5 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 4  wherein at least one of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls comprises at least two adjacent panels forming an air chamber in said at least one of said sidewalls, and ribs of a predetermined dimension flexibly extending between and attached to said at least two panels comprising said at least one of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls, said ribs allowing the passage of air between said ribs. 
   
   
       6 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 1  wherein said rigid upper frame comprises a first latch mechanism attached to an outer surface of said rigid upper frame, and said rigid lower frame comprises a corresponding second latch mechanism attached to an outer surface of said rigid lower frame, said second latch mechanism receiving said first latch mechanism when said inflatable container is deflated and said side surfaces of said rigid upper frame abut the side surfaces of the rigid lower frame, said first and second latch mechanisms releasably securing said rigid upper frame and rigid lower frame together to provide a rigid enclosure for transport and storage of the inflatable and deflatable cooler. 
   
   
       7 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 1  wherein said rigid upper frame includes at least two handles attached to the frame, said handles enabling manual transport of the cooler when the cooler contains items. 
   
   
       8 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 1  including a collapsible retaining structure disposed in said cooler, said retaining structure extending adjacent upper and lower portions of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls. 
   
   
       9 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 8  wherein said retaining structure comprises a first upper rim extending in the shape of the upper portion of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls, a second lower rim extending in the shape of the lower portion of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls, said first upper rim and said second lower rim connected by at least one collapsible strut enabling said first upper rim and second lower rim to come together and be nested in said first and second cavities when said container is deflated. 
   
   
       10 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 9  wherein said at least one collapsible strut includes two stiffening elements, each stiffening element rotatably connected to one of said first upper rim and said second lower rim. 
   
   
       11 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 10  wherein each of the two stiffening elements forming the at least one collapsible strut are pivotally connected at a location midway between the distance between the upper rim and the lower rim. 
   
   
       12 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 11  wherein each of the two stiffening elements forming the at least one collapsible strut are releasably locked in a liner configuration when the cooler is fully inflated. 
   
   
       13 . An inflatable and deflatable cooler for holding articles comprising:
 an inflatable portion having inflatable vertically extending sidewalls and an inflatable bottom portion, the sidewalls and bottom portion being in pneumatic communication;   at least one of said sidewalls and said bottom portion comprising at least two adjacent panels forming an air chamber in said at least one of said sidewalls and said bottom portion; and ribs of a predetermined dimension flexibly extending between and attached to said at least two panels, said ribs allowing the passage of air between said ribs.   
   
   
       14 . An inflatable and deflatable cooler for holding articles comprising:
 an inflatable portion having inflatable vertically extending sidewalls and an inflatable bottom portion, the sidewalls and bottom portion being in pneumatic communication;   said sidewalls and said bottom portion forming a storage space to hold said articles, a collapsible retaining structure disposed in said storage space, said retaining structure extending adjacent upper and lower portions of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls.   
   
   
       15 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 14  wherein said retaining structure comprises a first upper rim extending in the shape of the upper portion of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls, a second lower rim extending in the shape of the lower portion of said inflatable vertically extending sidewalls, said first upper rim and said second lower rim connected by at least one collapsible strut enabling said first upper rim and second lower rim to come together and be nested in said first and second cavities when said container is deflated. 
   
   
       16 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 15  wherein said at least one collapsible strut includes two stiffening elements, each stiffening element rotatably connected to one of said first upper rim and said second lower rim. 
   
   
       17 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 16  wherein each of the two stiffening elements forming the at least one collapsible strut are pivotally connected at a location midway between the distance between the upper rim and the lower rim. 
   
   
       18 . The inflatable and deflatable cooler of  claim 17  wherein each of the two stiffening elements forming the at least one collapsible strut are releasably locked in a liner configuration when the cooler is fully inflated.