Collapsible thermal container and stand

Abstract

A collapsible ice chest and stand is disclosed. The ice chest has body which is defined by an outer sidewall, an inner sidewall, and an insulator between the outer sidewall and the inner sidewall, a top sealed to said body along the rim of the outer sidewall, a bottom connected at the rim of the outer sidewall opposite the top, and a pair of loop handles joined to the outer sidewall. The ice chest has pockets sized to fit over the top of the upper connector pads of the stand, by which the ice chest is supported and held in place by the stand. The stand has four pairs of crossed legs, each pair of which is pivotally connected at their approximate centers by a pivot pin. The ends of the pairs of crossed legs are connected together using connector pads, which pads are pivotally connected together and frictionally connected to the ends of the legs of the stand. When the crossed legs are compressed together at the pivot pin, the connector pads permit the cross legs to swing together into a collapsed position, whereby the collapsible ice chest is compressed by folds in the outer sidewalls, inner sidewalls, top, and bottom into a collapsed and compressed position, making the ice chest and stand collapsible and integrally foldable into a small shape that is easily transported.

1 . A collapsible thermal container and stand comprising:
 a frame comprised of four pairs of crossed legs pivotally connected;   the lower ends of the crossed legs connected to lower pads;   the lower pads acting to support the thermal container on a surface;   the upper ends of the crossed legs connected to upper pads;   the upper pads and lower pads are substantially similar, each having a bottom surface and two extending arms, the extending arms being pivotally connected to each other, and each arm sized to receive a crossed leg of said frame;   a thermal container comprised of a top, an insulated sidewall, side pockets, and a bottom;   the top having a closure member that extends from a first point on a rim of the top to a second point on the rim of the top, the closure member being constructed and arranged to open the top as a closure member is moved from the first point on the rim toward the second point on the rim;   the sidewall having a sidewall top portion and a sidewall bottom portion, wherein said sidewall top portion is connected to the rim of the top;   wherein the sidewall comprises an inner layer and an outer shell, wherein an insulating material is disposed between the inner layer and the outer shell;   side pockets connected to the sidewall at intervals spaced to meet the upper pads of the upper ends of the crossed legs of the frame;   the bottom connected to the sidewall bottom, opposite the top.   
     
     
         2 . The collapsible thermal container and stand as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sidewall further includes fabric strips applied externally sized to fit human hands. 
     
     
         3 . The collapsible thermal container and stand as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the sidewall further includes fabric strips applied externally sized to fit human shoulders. 
     
     
         4 . The collapsible thermal container and stand as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the insulating material is air. 
     
     
         5 . The collapsible thermal container and stand as set forth in  claim 1  wherein the insulating material is at least one of a fibrous or foam filler material. 
     
     
         6 . A collapsible thermal container and stand comprising:
 a frame comprised of four pairs of crossed legs pivotally connected;   the lower ends of the crossed legs pivotally connected to lower pads;   the lower pads acting to support the thermal container on a surface;   the upper ends of the crossed legs pivotally connected to upper pads;   the upper pads and lower pads are substantially similar, each having a bottom surface and two extending arms, each arm sized to receive a crossed leg of said frame;   a thermal container comprised of a top, an insulated sidewall, side pockets, and a bottom;   the top having a hook and loop connector that extends from a first point on a rim of the top to a second point on the rim of the top, the hook and loop connector being constructed and arranged to open the top as the hook and loop connector member is moved from away from the top from the first point on the rim to the second point on the rim;   the sidewall having a sidewall top portion and a sidewall bottom portion, wherein said sidewall top portion is connected to the rim of the top;   wherein the sidewall comprises an inner layer and an outer shell, wherein an insulating material is disposed between the inner layer and the outer shell;   the side pockets connected to the sidewall at intervals spaced to meet the upper pads of the upper ends of the crossed legs of the frame;   the bottom connected to the sidewall bottom, opposite the top.