Transforming insulated container and multipurpose mat

Abstract

A combination insulated container and multipurpose mat and, in particular, a flexible, impermeable multipurpose mat that can be folded and secured to create an insulated bag.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ), comprising:
 a. a flexible panel ( 2 ), having a first outer surface ( 3 ), a second outer surface ( 4 ), and an edge ( 5 ) joining said first and second outer surfaces ( 3  and  4 );   b. a first strap length ( 6 ) attached to said flexible panel ( 2 ) such that a portion of said first strap length ( 6 ) is adjacent a first portion ( 7 ) of said edge ( 5 );   c. a second strap length ( 8 ) attached to said flexible panel ( 2 ) such that a portion of said second strap length ( 8 ) is adjacent a second portion ( 9 ) of said edge ( 5 );   d. a third strap length ( 10 ) attached to said flexible panel ( 2 ) such that a portion of said third strap length ( 10 ) is adjacent a third portion ( 11 ) of said edge ( 5 );   e. a fourth strap length ( 12 ) attached to said flexible panel ( 2 ) such that a portion of said fourth strap length ( 12 ) is adjacent a fourth portion ( 13 ) of said edge ( 5 ), wherein:
 i. said first strap length ( 6 ) is substantially diametrically opposed to said second strap length ( 8 ) across said flexible panel ( 2 ) on a first diametrical axis ( 14 ); 
 ii. said third strap length ( 10 ) is substantially diametrically opposed to said fourth strap ( 12 ) length across said flexible panel ( 2 ) on a second diametrical axis ( 15 ), wherein:
 (a) said first diametrical axis ( 14 ) is orthogonal to said second diametrical axis ( 15 ). 
 
   
     
     
         2 . A combination ( 23 ) of the insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 1  and an object ( 16 ), said object ( 16 ) having a first circumference ( 17 ) and a second circumference ( 18 ) orthogonal to said first circumference ( 17 ), a maximum height ( 21 ) and a maximum width ( 22 ), wherein:
 a. said first diametrical axis ( 14 ) is parallel and proximate a first diameter ( 19 ) of said insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ); 
 b. said second diametrical axis ( 15 ) is parallel and proximate a second diameter ( 20 ) of said insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ); wherein:
 i. said first diameter ( 19 ) and said second diameter ( 20 ) are mutually orthogonal; and 
 ii. said first circumference ( 17 ) is longer than said first diameter ( 19 ); 
 iii. said second circumference ( 18 ) is shorter than said second diameter ( 20 ); 
 iv. said first diameter ( 19 ) is aligned with said first circumference ( 17 ) and said first and second edge portions ( 7  and  9 ) of said edge ( 5 ) at opposite ends of said first diameter ( 19 ) are turned up so that said flexible panel ( 2 ) extends more than halfway up the maximum height ( 21 ) of said object ( 16 ) until said first and second edge portions ( 7  and  9 ) are separated by less than the maximum width ( 22 ) of said object ( 16 ); and 
 v. said first strap length ( 6 ) is releasably connected to said second strap length ( 8 ); wherein: 
 
 c. said second diameter ( 20 ) is aligned with said second circumference ( 18 ) and said third and fourth portions ( 11  and  13 ) of said edge ( 5 ) at opposite ends of said second diameter ( 20 ) are turned up so that a third area ( 26 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said third portion ( 11 ) of said edge ( 5 ) is over a fourth area ( 27 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said fourth portion ( 13 ) of said edge ( 5 ); 
 d. said third strap length ( 10 ) is releasably connected to said fourth strap length ( 12 ); 
 e. a first area ( 24 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said first portion ( 7 ) of said edge ( 5 ) is under said third and fourth areas ( 26  and  27 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ); 
 f. a second area ( 25 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said second portion ( 9 ) of said edge ( 5 ) is under said third and fourth areas ( 26  and  27 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ); 
 g. a portion of said flexible panel ( 2 ) is between said object ( 16 ) and any portion of said edge ( 5 ) not in contact with said object ( 16 ); and 
 h. a portion of said flexible panel ( 2 ) covers any portion of said edge ( 5 ) that is in contact with said object ( 16 ). 
 
     
     
         3 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 2 , wherein:
 a. said edge ( 5 ) has four straight sides ( 28 ), each corresponding to one of said first, second, third and fourth portions ( 7 ,  9 ,  11  and  13 ) of said edge ( 5 ).   
     
     
         4 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 3 , wherein:
 a. said first diameter ( 19 ) bisects said second diameter ( 20 ); and   b. said second diameter ( 20 ) bisects said first diameter ( 19 ).   
     
     
         5 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 4 , wherein:
 a. said object ( 16 ) is generally bounded by a right-angled parallelepiped ( 29 ), said right-angled parallelepiped ( 29 ) having a length ( 30 ), a height ( 21 ), a width ( 22 ), a bottom ( 31 ), first and second long sides ( 32 ), first and second short sides ( 33 ), and a top ( 34 );   b. said first circumference ( 17 ) of said object ( 16 ) is equal to the sum of twice said height ( 21 ) and twice said width ( 22 );   c. said second circumference ( 18 ) of said object ( 16 ) is equal to the sum of twice said height ( 21 ) and twice said length ( 30 ); and   d. said first diameter ( 19 ) of said insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) is greater than the sum of said width ( 22 ) and twice said height ( 21 ) of said right-angled parallelepiped ( 16 ), and less than the sum of twice said width ( 22 ) and twice said height ( 21 ) of said right-angled parallelepiped ( 16 ).   
     
     
         6 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a. a first buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said first strap length ( 6 );   b. a second buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said second strap length ( 8 );   c. a third buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said third strap length ( 10 ); and   d. a fourth buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said fourth strap length ( 12 ).   
     
     
         7 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 6  wherein said flexible panel ( 2 ) is formed from three layers, a first outer layer ( 36 ) the exterior of which is the first outer surface ( 3 ) of the flexible panel ( 2 ), a second outer layer ( 37 ) the exterior of which is the second outer surface ( 4 ) of the flexible panel ( 2 ), and a first inner layer ( 38 ) between said first and second outer layers ( 36  and  37 ). 
     
     
         8 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 7  wherein said first inner layer ( 38 ) is formed from an insulating material substantially more temperature-insulating than said first and second outer layers ( 36  and  37 ). 
     
     
         9 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 8  wherein said first inner layer ( 38 ) is formed from a compressible insulating material that, after being compressed, expands to press the overlapping portions of said flexible panel ( 2 ) together. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 9  wherein the first and second outer layers ( 36  and  37 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) are substantially impermeable. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 10  wherein said second outer surface ( 4 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) is reflective. 
     
     
         12 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 11  wherein said first, second, third and fourth strap lengths ( 6 ,  8 ,  10  and  12 ) interface with and are attached to said first outer surface ( 3 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ). 
     
     
         13 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 12  wherein said third and fourth strap lengths ( 10  and  12 ) are joined to each other. 
     
     
         14 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 1 , adapted for containing an object ( 16 ) having a first circumference ( 17 ) and a second circumference ( 18 ) orthogonal to said first circumference ( 17 ), a maximum height ( 21 ) and a maximum width ( 22 ), wherein:
 a. said first diametrical axis ( 14 ) is parallel and proximate a first diameter ( 19 ) of said insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 );   b. said second diametrical axis ( 15 ) is parallel and proximate a second diameter ( 20 ) of said insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ); wherein:
 i. said first diameter ( 19 ) and said second diameter ( 20 ) are mutually orthogonal; and 
 ii. said first diameter ( 19 ) is adapted to be shorter than said first circumference ( 17 ); 
 iii. said second diameter ( 20 ) is adapted to be longer than said second circumference ( 18 ); 
 iv. said first diameter ( 19 ) is adapted to be aligned with said first circumference ( 17 ) and said first and second portions ( 7  and  9 ) of said edge ( 5 ) at opposite ends of said first diameter ( 19 ) are adapted to be turned up so that said flexible panel ( 2 ) can extend more than halfway up the maximum height ( 21 ) of said object ( 16 ) until said first and second edge portions ( 7  and  9 ) can be separated by less than the maximum width ( 22 ) of said object ( 16 ); and 
 v. said first strap length ( 6 ) can be releasably connected to said second strap length ( 8 ); wherein: 
   c. said second diameter ( 20 ) is adapted to be aligned with said second circumference ( 18 ) and said third and fourth portions ( 11  and  13 ) of said edge ( 5 ) at opposite ends of said second diameter ( 20 ) are adapted to be turned up so that a third area ( 26 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said third portion ( 11 ) of said edge ( 5 ) can be over a fourth area ( 27 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said fourth portion ( 13 ) of said edge ( 5 );   d. said third strap length ( 10 ) can be releasably connected to said fourth strap length ( 12 );   e. a first area ( 24 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said first portion ( 7 ) of said edge ( 5 ) can be under said third and fourth areas ( 26  and  27 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 );   f. a second area ( 25 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) adjacent said second portion ( 9 ) of said edge ( 5 ) can be under said third and fourth areas ( 26  and  27 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 );   g. a portion of said flexible panel ( 2 ) can be between said object ( 16 ) and any portion of said edge ( 5 ) not in contact with said object ( 16 ); and   h. a portion of said flexible panel ( 2 ) can cover any portion of said edge ( 5 ) that is in contact with said object ( 16 ).   
     
     
         15 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 14 , wherein:
 a. said edge ( 5 ) has four straight sides ( 28 ), each corresponding to one of said first, second, third and fourth portions ( 7 ,  9 ,  11  and  13 ) of said edge ( 5 ).   
     
     
         16 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 15 , wherein:
 a. said first diameter ( 19 ) bisects said second diameter ( 20 ); and   b. said second diameter ( 20 ) bisects said first diameter ( 19 ).   
     
     
         17 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 16 , wherein:
 a. said object ( 16 ) is generally bounded by a right-angled parallelepiped ( 29 ), said right-angled parallelepiped ( 29 ) having a length ( 30 ), a height ( 21 ), a width ( 22 ), a bottom ( 31 ), first and second long sides ( 32 ), first and second short sides ( 33 ), and a top ( 34 );   b. said first circumference ( 17 ) of said object ( 16 ) is equal to the sum of twice said height ( 21 ) and twice said width ( 22 );   c. said second circumference ( 18 ) of said object ( 16 ) is equal to the sum of twice said height ( 21 ) and twice said length ( 30 ); and   d. said first diameter ( 19 ) of said insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) is greater than the sum of said width ( 22 ) and twice said height ( 21 ) of said right-angled parallelepiped ( 16 ), and less than the sum of twice said width ( 22 ) and twice said height ( 21 ) of said right-angled parallelepiped ( 16 ).   
     
     
         18 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a. a first buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said first strap length ( 6 );   b. a second buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said second strap length ( 8 );   c. a third buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said third strap length ( 10 ); and   d. a fourth buckle ( 35 ) is joined to said flexible panel ( 2 ) by said fourth strap length ( 12 ).   
     
     
         19 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 18  wherein said flexible panel ( 2 ) is formed from three layers, a first outer layer ( 36 ) the exterior of which is the first outer surface ( 3 ) of the flexible panel ( 2 ), a second outer layer ( 37 ) the exterior of which is the second outer surface ( 4 ) of the flexible panel ( 2 ), and a first inner layer ( 38 ) between said first and second outer layers ( 36  and  37 ). 
     
     
         20 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 19  wherein said first inner layer ( 38 ) is formed from an insulating material substantially more temperature-insulating than said first and second outer layers ( 36  and  37 ). 
     
     
         21 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 20  wherein said first inner layer ( 38 ) is formed from a compressible insulating material that, after being compressed, expands to press the overlapping portions of said flexible panel ( 2 ) together. 
     
     
         22 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 21  wherein the first and second outer layers ( 36  and  37 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) are substantially impermeable. 
     
     
         23 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 22  wherein said second outer surface ( 4 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ) is reflective. 
     
     
         24 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 23  wherein said first, second, third and fourth strap lengths ( 6 ,  8 ,  10  and  12 ) interface with and are attached to said first outer surface ( 3 ) of said flexible panel ( 2 ). 
     
     
         25 . The insulated container and multipurpose mat ( 1 ) of  claim 24  wherein said third and fourth strap lengths ( 10  and  12 ) are joined to each other.