Insulating Material

Abstract

An insulating material for storing contents, such as ice. The material can be in a blanket form or can be formed into a container, such as a bag. The material comprises an inner layer of air cellular sheet material, an outer layer of air cellular sheet material, and a barrier sheet between the inner and outer layers of air cellular sheet material. A container can be provided with a sealable opening for inserting and removing contents from the container. The air cellular sheet material may comprise entrapped air cells or bubbles. The barrier sheet may be formed from paper such as “Kraft” paper. The sealable opening can comprise a closure or seal, such as a plastic zip fastener or a thistle cloth hook and loop fastener, where the opening may be resealed following removal of contents from the container.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated container, comprising:
 an inner layer of air cellular sheet material that forms a compartment;   an outer layer of air cellular sheet material disposed on a side of the inner layer that is opposite to the compartment formed by the inner layer; and   an opaque layer between the inner and outer layers of air cellular sheet material.   
     
     
         2 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer layers of air cellular sheet material each comprise entrapped air cells having a volume of from about 0.05 cm 3  to about 4 cm 3  or from about 0.2 cm 3  to about 1 cm 3 . 
     
     
         3 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein a maximum thickness of the air cellular sheet material of each of the inner and outer layers is from about 3 mm to about 25 mm or from about 5 mm to about 1 cm, and wherein the inner and outer layers of air cellular sheet material each comprise entrapped air cells arranged in a substantially close-packed array. 
     
     
         4 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner and outer layers of air cellular sheet material each comprise entrapped air cells that form an array of protuberances on a first side of the inner and outer layers, wherein a second side of each of the inner and outer layers is substantially flat, and wherein the first sides of the inner and outer layers abut the opaque layer. 
     
     
         5 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein the opaque layer is formed from a paper material. 
     
     
         6 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sealable opening that allows access to the compartment of the container. 
     
     
         7 . An insulated container according to  claim 6 , wherein the sealable opening is resealable. 
     
     
         8 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier layer that surrounds at least a portion of the outer layer, the carrier layer comprising a handle. 
     
     
         9 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein the storage capacity of the container is from about 100 g to about 10 kg or from about 500 g to about 2 kg. 
     
     
         10 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , further comprising from about 100 g to about 10 kg or from about 500 g to about 2 kg disposed within the container. 
     
     
         11 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a collapsible container. 
     
     
         12 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein the container is a bag. 
     
     
         13 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , wherein an air layer exists between at least a portion of the outer layer and the opaque layer. 
     
     
         14 . An insulated container according to  claim 1 , further comprising a vapor barrier disposed adjacent to the inner layer. 
     
     
         15 . An insulating laminate, comprising:
 a first layer of air cellular sheet material;   a second layer of air cellular sheet material; and   a third layer of opaque material disposed between the first and second layers.   
     
     
         16 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second layers each comprise a plurality of entrapped air cells. 
     
     
         17 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second layers each comprise a plurality of entrapped air cells arranged in a substantially close-packed array. 
     
     
         18 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 15 , wherein the first and second layers each comprise entrapped air cells that form an array of protuberances on a first side of each of the first and second layers, and wherein the first sides of the first and second layers abut the third layer. 
     
     
         19 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 18 , wherein a second side of each of the first and second layers is substantially flat. 
     
     
         20 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 15 , wherein the third layer is formed from a paper material. 
     
     
         21 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 15 , wherein the laminate is formed into a container. 
     
     
         22 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 21 , further comprising a sealable opening that allows access to an interior of the container. 
     
     
         23 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 22 , wherein the opening is resealable. 
     
     
         24 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 21 , further comprising a handle coupled to the container. 
     
     
         25 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 21 , wherein the container is a bag. 
     
     
         26 . An insulated container according to  claim 21 , wherein the container is a collapsible container. 
     
     
         27 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 21 , further comprising a fourth layer that encompasses at least a portion of the container. 
     
     
         28 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 27 , wherein the fourth layer comprises a handle. 
     
     
         29 . An insulating laminate according to  claim 15 , wherein the laminate forms a heat insulating material. 
     
     
         30 . An insulated container according to  claim 15 , wherein an air layer exists between at least a portion of the outer layer and the opaque layer. 
     
     
         31 . An insulated container according to  claim 15 , further comprising a vapor barrier disposed adjacent to the inner layer.