Insulated bag for food delivery by a mobile robot

Abstract

An insulated bag reduces heat exchange between temperature-sensitive items and ambient surroundings. The insulated bag has a bag body which can be covered by a bag lid. The bag lid is provided with a first portion of a securing element. The insulated bag is suitable for insertion into an item space of a mobile delivery robot. The mobile robot has a robot lid provided with a complementary second portion of the securing element. After the insulated bag is inserted into the item space, the two portions of the securing element are connected. Thereafter, when the robot lid is opened, the bag lid is also opened, permitting access to its contents.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulated bag for reducing heat exchange between temperature-sensitive items and ambient surroundings, comprising:
 a bag body comprising a body inner surface, a body outer surface and a body cavity;   a bag lid comprising a lid inner surface and a lid outer surface, the bag lid adapted to selectively assume at least an open position and a closed position, wherein:
 the closed position comprises the bag lid fitting on the bag body, so as to prevent access to the body cavity; and 
 the open position comprises the bag lid positioned so as to allow access to the body cavity; and 
   a securing element attached to the bag lid and adapted to releasably attach the bag lid to an overlying surface not belonging to the insulated bag, such that raising the overlying surface also raises the bag lid.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bag body and the bag lid comprises at least one inner layer adapted to reduce conductive heat transfer between the body cavity and the ambient surroundings. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises a foam-based material. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the inner layer comprises thermal conductivity of 0.03 to 0.05 W/mK. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bag body and the bag lid comprises at least one intermediate layer adapted to reduce radiative heat transfer between the body cavity and the ambient surroundings. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated bag according to  claim 5  wherein the intermediate layer is laminated on both sides of the inner layer. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the bag body and the bag lid comprises at least one outer layer adapted to be removed and/or replaced. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated bag according to  claim 7 , wherein the outer layer comprises a polymer material covering the body inner surface and a low static elastic material covering the body outer surface. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1  wherein the securing element comprises a minimum length of at least 1 cm. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein the securing element is adapted to withstand a force of at least 5 N before detaching from at least one of the bag lid and the overlying surface. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1  wherein the securing element comprises elastic material. 
     
     
         12 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising flaps attached to the body inner surface between the body cavity and the bag lid and wherein: the flaps are adapted to at least partially cover at least part of the body cavity in the closed position of the bag lid; and the flaps are adapted to at least partially fold away from the body cavity in the open position of the bag lid. 
     
     
         13 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one compartment located on the body inner surface and/or on the lid inner surface, said compartment adapted to hold a heating and/or cooling element. 
     
     
         14 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1  comprising a length of 30 to 80 cm, a width of 20 to 70 cm and a height of 20 to 60 cm. 
     
     
         15 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising at least one separating wall adapted to removably attach to the inner surface of the bag body in at least one of horizontal and vertical configurations. 
     
     
         16 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , further comprising a sensor adapted to measure at least one of temperature and humidity inside the insulated bag. 
     
     
         17 . The insulated bag according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the securing element is attached to the lid outer surface; and at least one of the bag body and the bag lid comprises:   at least one inner layer adapted to reduce conductive heat transfer between the body cavity and the ambient surroundings;   at least one intermediate layer positioned on either side of the at least one inner layer, the at least one intermediate layer adapted to reduce radiative heat transfer between the body cavity and the ambient surroundings; and   at least one outer layer positioned on each of said at least one intermediate layer, the at least one outer layer adapted to reduce radiative heat and further adapted to be removed and/or replaced, and wherein:   the inner, intermediate and outer layers are different from one another in material composition.   
     
     
         18 . A mobile robot ( 1000 ) comprising
 a robot body ( 1010 ) comprising a robot item space ( 1030 );   a robot lid ( 1040 ) adapted to assume at least open and closed positions, the robot lid ( 1040 ) adapted to fit on top of the robot body ( 1010 ) in the closed position; and   the insulated bag according to  claim 1  positioned in the robot item space ( 1030 ), with the bag lid attached to the robot lid.   
     
     
         19 . A mobile robot ( 1000 ) comprising
 a robot body ( 1010 ) comprising a robot item space ( 1030 ); and   a robot lid ( 1040 ) adapted to selectively assume at least open and closed positions;
 wherein: 
 the robot lid ( 1040 ) is adapted to fit on top of the robot body ( 1010 ) in the closed position, so as to cover the robot item space ( 1030 ); and 
 the robot lid ( 1040 ) is adapted to be lifted to the open position, so as to allow access to the robot item space ( 1030 ).