Travel cooler with collapsible sidewalls

Abstract

A portable cooler assembly includes sidewalls connected by a bottom wall. The sidewalls and bottom wall collectively define an interior space. A rim is attached to a top of the collapsible side walls, and a lid is supported on the rim and encloses the interior space. A base defines a container receiving recess within which the bottom wall is received and supported. A drain conduit defines a passageway in fluid communication with a lower portion of the interior space.

1 . A collapsible container, comprising:
 (a) a base;   (b) collapsible sidewalls; and   (c) a rigid rim for receiving a lid of the container, the rim being attached to the collapsible sidewalls;   (d) wherein the collapsible container is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the collapsible sidewalls extend upwardly from the base and support the rim above the base, thereby defining an interior containment space of the collapsible container for containing items, and a second configuration, in which the collapsible sidewalls are collapsed, do not extend upwardly from the base but, instead, are located substantially proximate the base, whereby the interior containment space of the collapsible container is substantially reduced in volume; and   (e) wherein the collapsible sidewalls comprise inner and outer collapsible walls extending between the base and the rim, each of the inner and outer collapsible walls comprising a tapered, flexible membrane configured to be collapsible.   
   
   
       2 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the collapsible container further comprises a drain conduit defining a passageway in fluid communication with a lower portion of the interior containment space for draining liquid from the interior containment space to an exterior of the collapsible container. 
   
   
       3 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein each said membrane includes a plurality of hinge lines, each membrane being configured to bend at each hinge line. 
   
   
       4 . The collapsible container of  claim 3 , wherein each hinge line of the plurality of hinge lines of each membrane is generally less thick than another portion of the membrane. 
   
   
       5 . The collapsible container of  claim 3 , wherein each hinge line has upper and lower hinge faces associated therewith. 
   
   
       6 . The collapsible container of  claim 5 , wherein upper and lower hinge faces associated with a particular hinge line are configured to generally abut one another when the membrane is folded about the particular hinge line. 
   
   
       7 . The collapsible container of  claim 6 , wherein
 (i) each membrane includes inner and outer surfaces, each surface including upper and lower hinge faces, and   (ii) each hinge line has a complementary hinge line, such that when its membrane is folded at a first hinge line associated with upper and lower hinge faces of one of the inner and outer surfaces, its membrane is also folded at a second, complementary hinge line associated with upper and lower hinge faces of the other of the inner and outer surfaces.   
   
   
       8 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein each membrane includes a stiffening portion. 
   
   
       9 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein each membrane is formed of silicone rubber. 
   
   
       10 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein the rim comprises inner and outer rim walls. 
   
   
       11 . The collapsible container of  claim 1 , wherein each inner collapsible wall and outer collapsible wall of a membrane is attached to the base. 
   
   
       12 . The collapsible container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the inner and outer collapsible walls of the membrane further is attached to the rim. 
   
   
       13 . The collapsible container of  claim 12 , wherein a peripheral opening is defined between the inner and outer rim walls. 
   
   
       14 . The collapsible container of  claim 13 , wherein a plurality of connectors secure the inner rim wall to the outer rim wall in a spaced apart relation. 
   
   
       15 . The collapsible container of  claim 14 , wherein the connectors comprise spokes. 
   
   
       16 . The collapsible container of  claim 11 , wherein each of the inner and outer collapsible walls is configured to transition between a fully expanded configuration, a fully collapsed configuration, and a plurality of partially collapsed configurations. 
   
   
       17 . A portable cooler assembly, comprising:
 (a) a collapsible container subassembly that defines an interior space for storing food items, said collapsible container subassembly including collapsible sidewalls;   (b) a base defining a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of said collapsible container subassembly is received; and   (c) a drain conduit defining a passageway in fluid communication with a lower portion of the interior space for draining liquid from the interior space to an exterior of the portable cooler assembly;   (d) wherein, when the portable cooler assembly is in a first configuration, said collapsible sidewalls extend outwardly from the container receiving recess; and   (e) wherein, when the portable cooler assembly is in a second configuration, said collapsible sidewalls are completely received within the container receiving recess in a collapsed condition.   
   
   
       18 . The portable cooler assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said drain conduit extends through a bottom of said base. 
   
   
       19 . The portable cooler assembly of  claim 17 , wherein said collapsible container subassembly further comprises a bottom wall that extends between and connects the collapsible sidewalls, and wherein said drain conduit extends through said bottom wall of said collapsible container subassembly. 
   
   
       20 . The portable cooler assembly of  claim 19 , wherein said bottom wall of said collapsible container subassembly is flexible.