Magnetic thermally insulated enclosure

Abstract

A novel thermally insulated enclosure includes an insulated wall and a magnet assembly coupled thereto for mounting the insulated enclosure to ferromagnetic structures. In a particular embodiment, the magnet assembly includes a plurality of magnets coupled to the insulated wall. In another particular embodiment, the magnet assembly is a removable magnetic device that can be connected and disconnected from the insulated enclosure.

1 . A thermally insulated enclosure comprising:
 an insulated wall having a first surface defining an interior of said enclosure and a second surface defining an exterior of said enclosure;   an opening defining a passageway between said exterior of said enclosure and said interior of said enclosure, said opening being closable; and   a magnet assembly coupled to said insulated wall, said magnet assembly providing an attractive magnetic force sufficient to fixedly secure said thermally insulated enclosure to a ferromagnetic structure.   
     
     
         2 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein the attractive magnetic force of said magnet assembly is sufficient to fixedly secure said thermally insulated enclosure to a vertical surface of a ferromagnetic structure. 
     
     
         3 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 2 , wherein the attractive magnetic force of said magnet assembly is sufficient to fixedly secure said thermally insulated enclosure to said vertical surface of said ferromagnetic structure when said thermally insulated enclosure is full of liquid. 
     
     
         4 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet assembly includes at least one magnet mounted to said second surface of said insulated wall. 
     
     
         5 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet assembly includes at least one magnet mounted to said first surface of said insulated wall, said thermally insulated enclosure being an insulated bag. 
     
     
         6 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet assembly includes at least one magnet mounted between said first surface of said insulated wall and said second surface of said insulated wall. 
     
     
         7 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said insulated wall defines a bottom region of said thermally insulated enclosure, said magnet assembly being disposed at said bottom region of said thermally insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         8 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein a portion of said insulated wall defines a side region of said thermally insulated enclosure, said magnet assembly being disposed at said side region of said thermally insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         9 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said insulated wall defines a side region of said thermally insulated enclosure and a bottom region of said thermally insulated enclosure, said magnet assembly including at least one magnet coupled to said side region of said thermally insulated enclosure and at least one magnet coupled to said bottom region of said thermally insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         10 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said magnet assembly is removable from said thermally insulated enclosure. 
     
     
         11 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 10 , wherein said magnet assembly includes:
 a rigid support structure adapted to engage said exterior of said enclosure;   at least one magnet fixedly coupled to said rigid support structure; and   a fastening device coupled to said rigid support structure, said fastening device being operative to fixedly couple said insulated wall to said rigid support member.   
     
     
         12 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein said rigid support structure is a plate having a top surface and an opposite bottom surface, said top surface being adapted to engage said exterior of said insulated wall, said at least one magnet of said magnet assembly being fixedly attached to said bottom surface of said plate. 
     
     
         13 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 12 , wherein said fastening device is a strap. 
     
     
         14 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein said rigid support structure is a molded structure formed around at least a portion of said at least one magnet. 
     
     
         15 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 14 , wherein said fastening device is a strap. 
     
     
         16 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein said magnet assembly is adapted to universally mount objects to ferromagnetic structures. 
     
     
         17 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein said thermally insulated enclosure is a collapsible cooler. 
     
     
         18 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein said thermally insulated enclosure is a rigid cooler. 
     
     
         19 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 11 , wherein said thermally insulated enclosure is a container adapted to dispense potable liquids. 
     
     
         20 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 19 , wherein a portion of said insulated wall defines a bottom region of said container, said magnet assembly being removably coupled to said bottom region of said container, said magnet assembly being operative to fixedly mount said container on a horizontal surface of a ferromagnetic structure. 
     
     
         21 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 19 , wherein a portion of said insulated wall defines a side region of said container, said magnet assembly being removably coupled to said side region of said container, said magnet assembly being operative to fixedly mount said container to a vertical surface of a ferromagnetic structure. 
     
     
         22 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said insulated enclosure is a bag. 
     
     
         23 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said insulated enclosure is a collapsible chest. 
     
     
         24 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 23 , wherein:
 said thermally insulated enclosure includes a removable insert, said removable insert having an inner surface defining at least a portion of said interior of said thermally insulated enclosure;   said thermally insulated enclosure includes a collapsible outer shell, said collapsible outer shell having an outer surface defining at least a portion of said exterior of said thermally insulated enclosure, said collapsible outer shell being adapted to receive said removable insert;   said removable insert and said collapsible outer shell are components of said insulated wall; and   said magnet assembly is coupled to a portion said collapsible outer shell.   
     
     
         25 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 24 , wherein said portion of said collapsible outer shell coupled to said magnet assembly is formed by molding material directly around at least a portion of said magnet assembly. 
     
     
         26 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermally insulated enclosure is a rigid cooler. 
     
     
         27 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 26 , wherein said insulated wall includes:
 a first rigid layer having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, said outer surface of said first rigid layer defining said exterior of said thermally insulated enclosure;   a second rigid layer having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, said inner surface of said second rigid layer defining said interior of said thermally insulated enclosure; and   an insulation layer sandwiched between said inner surface of said first rigid layer and said outer surface of said second rigid layer.   
     
     
         28 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 27 , wherein said magnet assembly includes at least one magnet fixedly coupled to said outer surface of said first rigid layer. 
     
     
         29 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 27 , wherein said magnet assembly includes at least one magnet disposed between said inner surface of said first rigid layer and said insulation layer. 
     
     
         30 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 27 , wherein a portion of said first rigid layer is molded directly on at least a portion of said magnet assembly. 
     
     
         31 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 1 , wherein said thermally insulated enclosure is a container adapted to dispense potable liquids. 
     
     
         32 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 31 , wherein said insulated wall includes:
 a first rigid layer having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, said outer surface of said first rigid layer defining said exterior of said thermally insulated enclosure;   a second rigid layer having an outer surface and an opposite inner surface, said inner surface of said second rigid layer defining said interior of said thermally insulated enclosure; and   an insulation layer sandwiched between said inner surface of said first rigid layer and said outer surface of said second rigid layer.   
     
     
         33 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 31 , wherein said magnet assembly is fixedly coupled to said outer surface of said first rigid layer. 
     
     
         34 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 31 , wherein said magnet assembly includes at least one magnet disposed between said inner surface of said first rigid layer and said insulation layer. 
     
     
         35 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 31 , wherein a portion of said first rigid layer is molded directly on at least a portion of said magnet assembly. 
     
     
         36 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 31 , wherein said insulated wall includes a bottom region, said magnet assembly being coupled to said bottom region of said insulated wall. 
     
     
         37 . A thermally insulated enclosure according to  claim 31 , wherein said insulated wall includes a side region, said magnet assembly being coupled to said side region of said insulated wall. 
     
     
         38 . A thermally insulated enclosure comprising:
 an insulated wall having a first surface defining an interior of said enclosure and a second surface defining an exterior of said enclosure;   an opening defining a passageway between said exterior of said enclosure and said interior of said enclosure, said opening being closable; and   means for magnetically coupling said thermally insulated enclosure to a ferromagnetic structure.