Insulating bag

Abstract

An insulating bag includes a pair of opposing side panels; a pair of opposing main panels, each side panel attached to each main panel, the pair of opposing main panels and the pair of opposing side panels together defining a top bag end and a bottom bag end opposite the top bag end; a pair of opposing main top flaps, each main top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the main panels at the top bag end; a pair of opposing side top flaps, each side top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the side panels at the top bag end; and a bottom panel disposed at the bottom bag end; wherein: the insulating bag comprises a paper base layer, a temperature-preserving liner applied to the paper base layer, and a protective layer positioned over the temperature-preserving liner; and the insulating bag defines an interior cavity configured to receive bag contents therein.

That which is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulating bag comprising:
 a pair of opposing side panels;   a pair of opposing main panels, each side panel attached to each main panel, the pair of opposing main panels and the pair of opposing side panels together defining a top bag end and a bottom bag end opposite the top bag end;   a pair of opposing main top flaps, each main top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the main panels at the top bag end;   a pair of opposing side top flaps, each side top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the side panels at the top bag end; and   a bottom panel disposed at the bottom bag end;   wherein:
 the insulating bag comprises a paper base layer, a temperature-preserving liner applied to the paper base layer, and a protective layer positioned over the temperature-preserving liner; and 
 the insulating bag defines an interior cavity configured to receive bag contents therein. 
   
     
     
         2 . The insulating bag of  claim 1 , wherein a top slit is defined between each adjacent pair of the side top flaps and the main top flaps. 
     
     
         3 . The insulating bag of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the insulating bag is configurable in an open orientation and a closed orientation;   a cavity opening is formed at the top bag end and allows access to the interior cavity in the open orientation;   in the open orientation, each of the side top flaps and the main tops flaps are folded away from the interior cavity; and   in the closed orientation, each of the side top flaps and the main top flaps are folded towards the interior cavity to cover the cavity opening.   
     
     
         4 . The insulating bag of  claim 3 , wherein the temperature-preserving liner defines the interior cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating bag of  claim 4 , wherein the paper base layer defines an outer surface of the insulating bag. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating bag of  claim 4 , wherein the temperature-preserving liner is applied to each of the pair of opposing side panels, the pair of opposing main panels, the pair of opposing side top flaps, the pair of opposing main top flaps, and the bottom panel. 
     
     
         7 . The insulating bag of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature-preserving liner comprises a metallized film layer. 
     
     
         8 . The insulating bag of  claim 7 , wherein the temperature-preserving liner is directly bonded to the paper base layer. 
     
     
         9 . The insulating bag of  claim 1 , wherein the protective layer is configured to protect the temperature-preserving liner from oxidation. 
     
     
         10 . An insulating bag assembly comprising:
 an insulating bag defining a top bag end, a bottom bag end, and an interior cavity, the insulating bag comprising:
 a pair of opposing main panels and a pair of opposing side panels, each of the main panels and side panels extending from the top bag end to the bottom bag end; 
 a bottom panel disposed at the bottom bag end; and 
 an upper bag portion extending from the top bag end; 
 wherein the insulating bag comprises a paper base layer, a temperature-preserving liner applied to the paper base layer, and a protective layer positioned over the temperature-preserving liner; and 
   bag contents received within the interior cavity, the bag contents comprising a cold pack.   
     
     
         11 . The insulating bag assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the upper bag portion comprises:
 a pair of opposing main top flaps, each main top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the main panels by a main top hinge at the top bag end; and   a pair of opposing side top flaps, each side top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the side panels by a side top hinge at the top bag end.   
     
     
         12 . The insulating bag assembly of  claim 11 , wherein a top slit is defined between each adjacent pair of the side top flaps and the main top flaps. 
     
     
         13 . The insulating bag assembly of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the insulating bag is configurable in an open orientation and a closed orientation;   a cavity opening is formed at the top bag end and allows access to the interior cavity in the open orientation;   in the open orientation, each of the side top flaps and the main tops flaps are folded away from the interior cavity; and   in the closed orientation, each of the side top flaps and the main top flaps are folded towards the interior cavity to cover the cavity opening.   
     
     
         14 . The insulating bag assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the temperature-preserving liner defines the interior cavity. 
     
     
         15 . The insulating bag assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the cold pack is a first cold pack, the bag contents further comprise a second cold pack, and the insulating bag is configured to receive a food item within the interior cavity between the first cold pack and the second cold pack. 
     
     
         16 . The insulating bag assembly of  claim 10 , wherein:
 the interior cavity defines a lower portion and an upper portion;   the bag contents further comprise an insulation panel received within the interior cavity and separating the upper portion from the lower portion; and   the cold pack is received within the lower portion of the interior cavity.   
     
     
         17 . A method of packaging a food item in an insulating bag comprising:
 providing the insulating bag, the insulating bag defining a top bag end, a bottom bag end, an interior cavity, and a cavity opening formed at the top bag end, the insulating bag comprising:
 a pair of opposing main panels and a pair of opposing side panels, each of the main panels and side panels extending from the top bag end to the bottom bag end; 
 a bottom panel disposed at the bottom bag end; 
 a pair of opposing main top flaps, each main top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the main panels at the top bag end; and 
 a pair of opposing side top flaps, each side top flap hingedly connected to a corresponding one of the side panels at the top bag end; 
 wherein the insulating bag comprises a paper base layer, a temperature-preserving liner applied to the paper base layer, and a protective layer positioned over the temperature-preserving liner; 
   arranging the insulating bag in an open orientation, wherein each of the side top flaps and the main tops flaps are folded away from the interior cavity to uncover the cavity opening;   inserting the food item into the interior cavity through the cavity opening; and   arranging the insulating bag in a closed orientation, wherein each of the side top flaps and the main top flaps are folded towards the interior cavity to cover the cavity opening.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising inserting a cold pack into the interior cavity through the cavity opening in the open orientation. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the cold pack is a first cold pack, and wherein the method further comprises:
 inserting a second cold pack into the interior cavity through the cavity opening in the open orientation; and   arranging the food item between the first cold pack and the second cold pack.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the interior cavity defines a lower portion and an upper portion;   the method further comprising inserting an insulation panel into the interior cavity in the open orientation to separate the upper portion from the lower portion; and   the cold pack is received within the lower portion of the interior cavity.