Rigid collapsible liner for insulated container

Abstract

A soft-sided cooler having a rigid liner configured to removably fit within said cooler, wherein said liner comprises panels of rigid material that are collapsible and foldable along seams of flexible material located between the rigid panels to maintain the waterproof condition of the liner and allow for folding, said liner further comprising a drain element for fluid communication with the exterior of the cooler.

1 . An insulated cooler, comprising:
 at least one flexible side panel and a flexible bottom panel defining a cavity therein, said panels comprising an interior layer of fabric adjacent a first side of a layer of insulating fabric and an exterior layer of fabric adjacent a second side of the layer of insulating fabric;   a flexible top panel hingedly connected to the at least one flexible side panel, said top panel configured to removably cover said cavity;   a removable liner having rigid sides and flexible seams connecting said rigid sides;   said liner configured to fit within said cavity and said liner further configured to be collapsible along said flexible seams from a first expanded configuration to a second folded configuration.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said liner further comprises:
 a first side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends;   a second side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends located opposite said first side panel;   a first end panel having a top end and a bottom end and connected by a first flexible seam to the first end of said first side panel and by a second flexible seam to the first end of said second side panel;   a second end panel having a top end and a bottom end and connected by a third flexible seam to the second end of said first side panel and by a fourth flexible seam to the second end of said second side panel; and   a bottom panel connected by a flexible fifth seam to the bottom end of said first side panel and by a sixth flexible seam to the bottom end of said second side panel.   
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein said bottom panel comprises two pieces of rigid material connected to each other by a seventh flexible seam running from a central point of the first end panel to a central point of the second end panel; and wherein said first and second end panels each further comprise a center end seam extending from the top end to the bottom end and further comprise first and second angled seams extending from each corner intersection of end panel, side panel and bottom panel to a point located on said center end seam. 
     
     
         4 . A container, comprising:
 a first rigid side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends;   a second rigid side panel having first and second ends and top and bottom ends located opposite said first side panel;   a first rigid end panel having a top end and a bottom end and connected by a first flexible seam to the first end of said first rigid side panel and by a second flexible seam to the first end of said second rigid side panel;   a second rigid end panel having a top end and a bottom end and connected by a third flexible seam to the second end of said first rigid side panel and by a fourth flexible seam to the second end of said second rigid side panel;   a rigid bottom panel connected by a flexible fifth seam to the bottom end of said first rigid side panel and by a sixth flexible seam to the bottom end of said second rigid side panel;   said container collapsible along said flexible seams.   
     
     
         5 . The container of  claim 4 , wherein said rigid bottom panel comprises two pieces of rigid material connected to each other by a seventh flexible seam running from a central point of the first end panel to a central point of the second end panel; and wherein said first and second end panels each further comprise a center end seam extending from the top end to the bottom end and further comprise first and second angled seams extending from each corner intersection of end panel, side panel and bottom panel to a point located on said center end seam. 
     
     
         6 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein in said second configuration, said first and second ends collapse and fold inward. 
     
     
         7 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein in said second configuration, said first and second ends collapse and fold outward. 
     
     
         8 . The container of  claim 5 , wherein said first end panel and said second end panel each further comprise first and second rigid lower triangular panels connected to said first and second angled seams, respectively. 
     
     
         9 . An insulated cooler, comprising:
 at least one flexible side panel and a flexible bottom panel defining a cavity therein, said panels comprising an interior layer of fabric adjacent a first side of a layer of insulating fabric and an exterior layer of fabric adjacent a second side of the layer of insulating fabric;   a cover for said cavity;   a removable liner having rigid sides and flexible seams connecting said rigid sides;   said liner configured to fit within said cavity and said liner further configured to be collapsible along said flexible seams from a first expanded configuration to a second folded configuration.   
     
     
         10 . An insulated cooler, comprising:
 at least one flexible side panel and a flexible bottom panel defining a cavity therein, said panels comprising an interior layer of fabric adjacent a first side of a layer of insulating fabric and an exterior layer of fabric adjacent a second side of the layer of insulating fabric;   a cover for said cavity;   a removable liner having rigid sides and flexible seams connecting said rigid sides;   said liner configured to fit within said cavity and said liner further configured to be collapsible along said flexible seams from a first expanded configuration to a second folded configuration; and   an integral drain element providing fluid communication between the interior of liner and the exterior of liner.   
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 10 , wherein said liner further comprises a lock mechanism to allow for selective movement between the first expanded configuration and the second folded configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the flexible panels comprises an aperture sized and aligned to cooperate with said integral drain element. 
     
     
         13 . An insulated cooler, comprising:
 at least one flexible side panel and a flexible bottom panel defining a cavity therein, said panels comprising an interior layer of fabric adjacent a first side of a layer of insulating fabric and an exterior layer of fabric adjacent a second side of the layer of insulating fabric;   a cover for said cavity;   a removable liner having rigid sides and flexible seams connecting said rigid sides;   said liner configured to fit within said cavity and said liner further configured to be collapsible along said flexible seams from a first expanded configuration to a second folded configuration; and   an adjustable securing mechanism for securing said cooler to a wheeled cart.