Thermal divider system for insulated container

Abstract

A thermal divider system for an insulated container is provided for thermal regulation and defining a plurality of sub compartments for the insulated container. The thermal divider system includes a rigid insert formed of a thermal (hot/cold) material. The rigid insert is engageable with at least one slot defined on an interior sidewall of the insulated container to avoid shifting of food product contents and other thermally sensitive materials carried in the insulated container. In some embodiments, the rigid insert includes a freezable divider panel that preserves cold temperatures inside a recreational cooler. Other embodiments may include a heat retaining pack that preserves warm temperatures within the insulated container. The invention here eliminates the use of ice and free moving cold packs to keep recreational coolers at cold temperatures. The system may be provided to adapt an insulated container with a removable sidewall carrying the at least one slot.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A thermal divider system for an insulated container, comprising:
 a removable sidewall dimensioned to be fitted to opposed interior sidewalls of the insulated container, the removable sidewall having a plurality of ridges protruding towards an interior cavity of the insulated container when installed in the insulated container, the plurality of ridges defining at least one upright slot at opposed sides of the interior cavity; and   a rigid insert having a first end and a second end, each of the first end and the second end having a width dimensioned to be received within the at least one upright slot, and a length to extend between the opposed sides of the interior cavity, the rigid insert having a hollow interior to contain a volume of a thermal material.   
     
     
         2 . The thermal divider system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a fill port opening to the hollow interior.   
     
     
         3 . The thermal divider system of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a seal attached to the fill port to contain the volume of the thermal material within the hollow interior.   
     
     
         4 . The thermal divider system of  claim 1 , further comprises:
 the volume of the thermal material.   
     
     
         5 . The thermal divider system of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal material includes a cold composition. 
     
     
         6 . The thermal divider system of  claim 4 , wherein the thermal material includes a heat composition. 
     
     
         7 . The thermal divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid insert has a uniform width corresponding to a width of the at least one slot. 
     
     
         8 . The thermal divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the rigid insert has an intermediate section having a width greater than a width of the at least one slot. 
     
     
         9 . The thermal divider system of  claim 1 , wherein the first end and the second end each have a channel defied therein, the channel having a width to receive one of the plurality of ridges therein. 
     
     
         10 . The thermal divider system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of protrusions extending from at least one lateral side of the rigid insert, the plurality of protrusions define at least one upright groove in the at least one lateral side of the rigid insert.   
     
     
         11 . The thermal divider system of  claim 10 , further comprising:
 a sub-insert dimensioned to be received in the at least one upright groove for further subdividing the interior cavity of the insulated container.