Soft-sided container

Abstract

A soft sided insulated container having a bladder incorporated into a continuous sidewall. The bladder includes a spacer and a mechanism to remove excess air, allowing increased insulative properties and adjusting of the sidewall thickness. A one-way air valve is fluidly coupled to the bladder, allowing an individual to pull air from the bladder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A soft-sided insulated container comprising:
 a rigid base;   a continuous sidewall secured to said base and extending upwardly to an upper portion, said continuous sidewall defining a bladder, said upper portion constructed and arranged to fold, forming a storage chamber within said continuous sidewall;   a spacer material placed within said bladder;   an air valve attached to said bladder, said air valve having an aperture fluidly communicated with an interior space of said bladder, wherein said air valve is available for drawing air from said interior space of said bladder to adjust the insulative properties of the container;   a clasp mechanism releasably securing said upper portion in a folded securing access to said storage chamber when said upper portion is in a closed position, and allowing access to said storage chamber when said upper portion is in an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The soft-sided insulated container according to  claim 1  wherein said air valve is further defined as a flexible flapper constructed and arranged to seal said aperture, wherein said flapper allowing excess air to be removed from said interior space of said bladder. 
     
     
         3 . The soft-sided insulated container according to  claim 1  wherein said bladder is constructed from a continuous wall of non-permeable material defining an interior space. 
     
     
         4 . The soft-sided insulated container according to  claim 1  wherein said spacer material includes thermal insulating properties. 
     
     
         5 . The soft-sided insulated container according to  claim 4  wherein said spacer material is fiberglass. 
     
     
         6 . The soft-sided insulated container according to  claim 4  wherein said spacer material is foam rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The soft-sided insulated container according to  claim 1  wherein said upper portion is creased at a predetermined position, forming a living hinge.