JP7491213B2 - Assembled and collapsible insulated container - Google Patents

Description

This embodiment relates to an insulated container that can be assembled and folded.

Insulated containers using insulating materials are primarily used to transport goods while keeping them cool, using transportation means that do not have a cooling function, such as refrigerated vehicles. In addition, to prevent radiant heat from sunlight, etc. from reaching the inside of the insulated container, the cooling effect of the insulated container can be improved by covering the container with a heat-shielding sheet that has the property of reflecting visible light and infrared rays. Also, foldable insulated containers that include insulating panels are known in the past (see Patent Document 1).

Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 10-287372

In a foldable insulated container, if the top panel is folded in half, there is a risk that the top panel will bend under its own weight and fall inside the insulated container.

The present disclosure provides an insulated container that can prevent the top panel from falling inside the insulated container simply by assembling the container.

The insulated container according to this embodiment is an insulated container that can be assembled and folded, and includes a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel. In an assembled state in which the insulated container is assembled, the top panel and the bottom panel face each other, the first side panel and the second side panel face each other, and the third side panel and the fourth side panel face each other. The top panel can be folded inward in two and is hingedly connected to the first side panel and the second side panel, respectively. A cover member is provided to cover the top panel, and the cover member is connected to the first side panel and the second side panel. In the assembled state, the cover member holds the top panel in an open state.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, the top panel may be located higher than the first side panel and the second side panel.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, the cover member may be removably connected to the first side panel and the second side panel.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, when the insulated container is in a folded state, the cover member may be sandwiched between the folded top panel.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, the top panel may be composed of two top partial panels having equal widths.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, the third side panel and the fourth side panel may be foldably connected to the first side panel or the second side panel, respectively.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, the third side panel can be folded in two outwardly and is hingedly connected to the first side panel or the second side panel, and the fourth side panel can be folded in two outwardly and is hingedly connected to the first side panel or the second side panel.

In the insulated container according to this embodiment, a shape-retaining member that retains the shape of the corners of the top panel may be provided on the outer surface of the top panel.

According to this embodiment, simply by assembling the insulated container, the top panel can be prevented from falling inside the insulated container.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an insulated container (in an assembled state) according to an embodiment. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing a state in which each panel of an insulated container according to an embodiment has been removed. FIG. 1 is a front view showing an insulated container (in an assembled state) according to an embodiment. FIG. 1 is a plan view showing an insulated container (in an assembled state) according to one embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the insulated container in a state between an assembled state and a folded state. FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing an insulated container (in a folded state) according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a front view showing the insulated container (in a folded state) according to the embodiment. FIG. 2 is a plan view showing an insulated container (in a folded state) according to an embodiment. FIG. 2 is a schematic front view showing a part of the insulating container. 1 is a schematic front view of a portion of the insulated container during transition from a folded state to an assembled state; FIG. FIG. 4 is a schematic front view showing a part of a thermal insulation container according to a first modified example. FIG. 11 is a perspective view showing a heat-insulating container according to a second modified example.

An embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. Each of the figures shown below is a schematic illustration. Therefore, the size and shape of each part are appropriately exaggerated to facilitate understanding. In addition, appropriate modifications can be made without departing from the technical concept. In each of the figures shown below, the same parts are given the same reference numerals, and some detailed explanations may be omitted. In addition, the numerical values such as dimensions of each member and the names of materials described in this specification are examples of an embodiment, and are not limited to these, and can be selected and used as appropriate. In this specification, terms that specify shapes or geometric conditions, such as parallel, orthogonal, and vertical, are intended to include substantially the same state in addition to their strict meanings.

In the following embodiments, the "X direction" refers to a direction parallel to the left and right sides of the insulated container when viewed from the front and parallel to the floor surface on which the insulated container is placed, and the "Y direction" refers to a direction perpendicular to the X direction and parallel to the floor surface on which the insulated container is placed. The "Z direction" refers to a direction parallel to the vertical direction. The "front" refers to a surface perpendicular to the floor surface that faces the user when the contents are mainly put in and taken out of the insulated container, and the "back" refers to a surface perpendicular to the floor surface that faces the front. The "top" refers to a surface parallel to the floor surface that is on the upper side of the insulated container, and the "bottom" refers to a surface parallel to the floor surface that is on the lower side of the insulated container. The "right" refers to a surface perpendicular to the floor surface that is located on the right side of the insulated container when viewed from the front, and the "left" refers to a surface perpendicular to the floor surface that is located on the left side of the insulated container when viewed from the front. The "side" refers to a surface perpendicular to the top and bottom.

(Configuration of the insulated container)
The configuration of the heat-insulating container according to this embodiment will be described with reference to FIGS.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the insulated container 10 according to this embodiment, which can be assembled and folded, includes six panels 11 to 16. The panels 11 to 16 have a generally rectangular parallelepiped shape when assembled, and include a top panel 11, a bottom panel 12, a right panel 13, a left panel 14, a front panel 15, and a rear panel 16. A cover member 40 is provided to cover the top panel 11. This cover member 40 is connected to the right panel 13 and the left panel 14. The cover member 40 holds the top panel 11 in an open state when assembled.

The main surfaces of the top panel 11, bottom panel 12, right panel 13, left panel 14, front panel 15, and back panel 16 (the widest pair of opposing surfaces among the six surfaces that make up each panel) are each roughly rectangular or roughly square in shape. The main surfaces of the right panel 13 and left panel 14 are roughly the same size, and the main surfaces of the front panel 15 and back panel 16 are roughly the same size. The main surface of the top panel 11 is larger than the main surface of the bottom panel 12. Each of the panels 11 to 16 is made of a rigid plate-like material, and is designed not to flexibly deform when in use.

The panels 11 to 16 are designed to be freely assembled and folded as a whole, and can be in an assembled state in which they are assembled into a box shape (Figs. 1 to 4) or in a folded state in which they are folded up small (Figs. 6 to 8).

When the insulated container 10 is assembled, the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 face each other, the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 face each other, and the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 face each other. The top panel 11 is located above the right panel 13 and the left panel 14. The bottom panel 12 is sandwiched between the right panel 13 and the left panel 14. The fitting portion 15f of the front panel 15 and the fitting portion 16f of the back panel 16 are surrounded by the top panel 11, the bottom panel 12, the right panel 13, and the left panel 14, respectively.

The front panel 15 and the back panel 16 are each foldably connected to the right panel 13. However, this is not limited thereto, and the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 may each be foldably connected to the left panel 14. Alternatively, one of the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 may be foldably connected to the right panel 13, and the other may be foldably connected to the left panel 14.

The top panel 11 is made up of two top partial panels 11c, 11d, and can be folded inward in two. The top panel 11 is connected to the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 with hinges. The bottom panel 12 is made up of two bottom partial panels 12c, 12d, and can be folded inward in two. The bottom panel 12 is connected to the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 with hinges.

The front panel 15 is made up of two front partial panels 15c and 15d, and can be folded in half outward. The front panel 15 is connected to the right panel 13 in a hinged manner. The front panel 15 may also be connected to the left panel 14 in a hinged manner.

The rear panel 16 is made up of two rear partial panels 16c and 16d, and can be folded in two outward. The rear panel 16 is connected to the right panel 13 in a hinged manner. The rear panel 16 may also be connected to the left panel 14 in a hinged manner.

Here, "being able to fold inward in two" means that when the panel is folded in two, the folded part faces inward (towards the storage space 20) and the outer surfaces of the partial panels face each other. Also, "being able to fold in two outward" means that when the panel is folded in two, the folded part faces outward (the opposite side of the storage space 20) and the inner surfaces of the partial panels face each other.

Each of the panels 11 to 16 has an outer surface and an inner surface. Specifically, the top panel 11 has an inner surface 11a and an outer surface 11b, and the bottom panel 12 has an inner surface 12a and an outer surface 12b. The right panel 13 has an inner surface 13a and an outer surface 13b, and the left panel 14 has an inner surface 14a and an outer surface 14b. The front panel 15 has an inner surface 15a and an outer surface 15b, and the back panel 16 has an inner surface 16a and an outer surface 16b.

As shown in FIG. 5, the inner surface 11a of one top partial panel 11c and the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13 are connected in a hinge-like manner, and the inner surface 11a of the other top partial panel 11d and the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14 are connected in a hinge-like manner. Also, the inner surface 12a of one bottom partial panel 12c and the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13 are connected in a hinge-like manner, and the inner surface 12a of the other bottom partial panel 12d and the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14 are connected in a hinge-like manner.

In this embodiment, the right panel 13 corresponds to the first side panel, the left panel 14 corresponds to the second side panel, the front panel 15 corresponds to the third side panel, and the back panel 16 corresponds to the fourth side panel. As long as the first side panel and the second side panel face each other, and the third side panel and the fourth side panel face each other, it is sufficient that the panels 13 to 16 correspond to any of the first side panel, second side panel, third side panel, and fourth side panel.

In the assembled state, the insulated container 10 is surrounded by six panels 11 to 16 to form a storage space 20 (see FIG. 2) of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape for storing a load. Each of the six panels 11 to 16 includes an insulating panel, as described below. Therefore, the storage space 20 is surrounded by insulating material, which limits the inflow and outflow of heat from the outside, and the thermal insulation properties can be maintained. Each of the six panels 11 to 16 is provided so as to be movable relative to any of the other adjacent panels 11 to 16. This allows the insulated container 10 to be changed from an assembled state in which the storage space 20 is formed to a folded state in which the storage space 20 is not formed, and from the folded state to the assembled state. Therefore, when the insulated container 10 is not in use, it is possible to store it in a smaller overall size than in the assembled state by folding the panels 11 to 16. In addition, when assembled, the edges of each of the six panels 11-16 are in close contact with one of the other panels 11-16, ensuring that the storage space 20 is airtight.

Next, the configuration of each of the panels 11-16 will be further explained. Note that, hereinafter, "panels 11-16 are parallel (perpendicular) to a specified plane" means "the main faces of panels 11-16 are parallel (perpendicular) to the specified plane." Additionally, "inner faces" refers to the faces of the main faces of each of the panels 11-16 that face the storage space 20 in the assembled state, and "outer faces" refers to the faces that face outward in the assembled state, and refers to the main faces of each of the panels 11-16 and each side face perpendicular to these main faces.

(Top panel)
The top panel 11 is a panel located on the top side (positive side in the Z direction) in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4), and is disposed parallel to the horizontal plane (XY plane). In addition, in the assembled state, the top panel 11 is disposed above (positive side in the Z direction) the bottom panel 12, the right panel 13, the left panel 14, the front panel 15, and the rear panel 16.

As described above, the top panel 11 is composed of two top partial panels 11c and 11d, and can be folded in two. The top partial panels 11c and 11d are each composed of a plate-shaped member. One top partial panel 11c is foldably attached to the right panel 13 via a first hinge member 21, and the other top partial panel 11d is foldably attached to the left panel 14 via a second hinge member 22. The first hinge member 21 connects the inner surface 11a of one top partial panel 11c to the upper end of the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13 in a hinge-like manner. The second hinge member 22 connects the upper end of the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14 to the inner surface 11a of the other top partial panel 11d in a hinge-like manner. The two top partial panels 11c and 11d are foldably attached to each other via the top folding portion 11g. The top folding portion 11g connects the outer surfaces 11b of the two top panels 11c and 11d in a hinge-like manner.

In this specification, "hinge member C connects panel A and panel B in a hinge-like manner" means that panel A and panel B are relatively rotatable around hinge member C as a rotation axis. It is preferable that the distance between panel A and panel B at hinge member C does not substantially change during the rotation of panel A and panel B.

When the two top partial panels 11c, 11d move from the assembled state to the folded state (Figs. 6 to 8), they rotate around the top folding portion 11g and bend into a V shape when viewed from the front side (negative Y direction). One of the top partial panels 11c rotates relative to the right panel 13, and its inner surface 11a comes into contact with the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13. Furthermore, the other top partial panel 11d rotates relative to the left panel 14, and its inner surface 11a comes into contact with the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14. At this time, the outer surfaces 11b of the two top partial panels 11c, 11d face each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the widths W1 and W2 (lengths in the X direction) of the two top panels 11c and 11d are equal to each other (W1=W2). This allows the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 to be folded so that they overlap each other when the panels 11 to 16 are folded, allowing the insulated container 10 to be folded compactly.

In addition, in the assembled state, the top panel 11 is positioned higher than the right panel 13 and the left panel 14, but this is not limited to the above. In the assembled state, the top panel 11 may be positioned so as to be sandwiched between the right panel 13 and the left panel 14. In this case, the main surfaces of the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 may have approximately the same size.

(Bottom Panel)
The bottom panel 12 is a panel located on the bottom side (negative side in the Z direction) in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4), and is arranged parallel to the horizontal plane (XY plane). In addition, in the assembled state, the bottom panel 12 is arranged lower (negative side in the Z direction) than the top panel 11, and is arranged so as to be surrounded by the right panel 13, the left panel 14, the front panel 15, and the rear panel 16.

As described above, the bottom panel 12 is composed of two bottom partial panels 12c and 12d, and can be folded in two. The bottom partial panels 12c and 12d are each composed of a plate-shaped member. One bottom partial panel 12c is foldably attached to the right panel 13 via a third hinge member 23, and the other bottom partial panel 12d is foldably attached to the left panel 14 via a fourth hinge member 24. The third hinge member 23 connects the inner surface 12a of one bottom partial panel 12c to the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13 in a hinge-like manner. The fourth hinge member 24 connects the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14 to the inner surface 12a of the other bottom partial panel 12d in a hinge-like manner. The two bottom partial panels 12c and 12d are foldably attached to each other via the bottom folding portion 12g. The bottom bend 12g connects the outer surfaces 12b of the two bottom partial panels 12c and 12d together in a hinge-like manner.

When the two bottom partial panels 12c, 12d move from the assembled state to the folded state (Figs. 6 to 8), they rotate around the bottom folding portion 12g and bend into an inverted V shape when viewed from the front side (negative Y direction). One of the bottom partial panels 12c rotates relative to the right panel 13, and its inner surface 12a comes into contact with the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13. Furthermore, the other bottom partial panel 12d rotates relative to the left panel 14, and its inner surface 12a comes into contact with the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14. At this time, the outer surfaces 12b of the two bottom partial panels 12c, 12d come into contact with each other.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the widths W3, W4 (length in the X direction) of the two bottom partial panels 12c, 12d are equal to each other (W3=W4). This allows the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 to be folded so that they overlap each other when the panels 11-16 are folded, allowing the insulated container 10 to be folded compactly. The widths W3, W4 of the bottom partial panels 12c, 12d are shorter than the widths W1, W2 of the above-mentioned top partial panels 11c, 11d (W1=W2>W3=W4).

(Right panel)
The right panel 13 is a panel located on the right side (positive side in the X direction) in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4), and is disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane). In addition, in the assembled state, the right panel 13 is disposed lower (negative side in the Z direction) than the top panel 11, and is disposed on the right side (positive side in the X direction) than the bottom panel 12 and the left panel 14.

The right panel 13 is composed of a single plate-like member. In addition, one top panel 11c is foldably attached to the right panel 13 via a first hinge member 21, and one bottom panel 12c is foldably attached to the right panel 13 via a third hinge member 23.

In the folded state (FIGS. 6 to 8), the right panel 13 contacts the inner surface 11a of one of the top partial panels 11c and the inner surface 12a of one of the bottom partial panels 12c. In the folded state, the right panel 13 contacts the outer surface 15b of one of the front partial panels 15c and the outer surface 16b of one of the back partial panels 16c.

(Left panel)
The left panel 14 is a panel located on the left side (negative side in the X direction) in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4), and is disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane). In addition, in the assembled state, the left panel 14 is disposed lower (negative side in the Z direction) than the top panel 11, and is disposed on the left side (negative side in the X direction) than the bottom panel 12 and the right panel 13.

The left panel 14 is composed of a single plate-like member. The other top panel 11d is foldably attached to the left panel 14 via a second hinge member 22, and the other bottom panel 12d is foldably attached to the left panel 14 via a fourth hinge member 24.

In the folded state (FIGS. 6 to 8), the left panel 14 contacts the inner surface 11a of the other top panel 11d and the inner surface 12a of the other bottom panel 12d. At this time, the left panel 14 is positioned on the outermost side (negative side in the X direction) of the folded insulated container 10.

(Front panel)
The front panel 15 is a panel located on the front side (negative side in the Y direction) in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4), and is disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane). The front panel 15 has a door portion 15e located on the outside and a fitting portion 15f protruding inward from the door portion 15e. In the assembled state, the fitting portion 15f is disposed so as to be surrounded by the top panel 11, the bottom panel 12, the right panel 13, and the left panel 14.

As described above, the front panel 15 is made up of two front partial panels 15c and 15d, and can be folded in two. The fitting portions 15f of the front partial panels 15c and 15d are each made of a plate-shaped member. The door portion 15e of one of the front partial panels 15c is foldably attached to the right panel 13 via a fifth hinge member 25. The fifth hinge member 25 connects the outer surface 15b of one of the front partial panels 15c to the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13 in a hinge-like manner. The two front partial panels 15c and 15d are foldably attached to each other via a front folding portion 15g. The front folding portion 15g connects the inner surfaces 15a of the two front partial panels 15c and 15d in a hinge-like manner.

When the two front partial panels 15c, 15d move from the assembled state to the folded state (Figs. 6 to 8), they rotate around the front folding portion 15g and bend into a V shape when viewed from the top side (positive side in the Z direction). At this time, the inner surfaces 15a of the two front partial panels 15c, 15d come into contact with each other. Therefore, the inner surface 15a of the front panel 15 is not exposed to the outside in the folded state, so the inner surface 15a is less likely to get dirty and is hygienic.

As shown in FIG. 3, it is preferable that the widths W5 and W6 (lengths in the X direction) of the two front partial panels 15c and 15d are different from each other. In this case, the width W5 of one front partial panel 15c is larger than the width W6 of the other front partial panel 15d. Therefore, in the assembled state, the front folding portion 15g of the front panel 15 and the top folding portion 11g of the top panel 11 (the bottom folding portion 12g of the bottom panel 12) are in positions offset from each other. This makes it possible to prevent the airtightness of the storage space 20 from decreasing due to the overlapping of the front folding portion 15g and the top folding portion 11g (the bottom folding portion 12g). The distance d1 (X direction distance) between the front folding portion 15g and the top folding portion 11g (the bottom folding portion 12g) may be 5 mm or more and 40 mm or less, and is preferably 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

The front panel 15 has ears 15h along its periphery. In the assembled state, the ears 15h contact each edge (surface perpendicular to the main surface) of the panels 11 to 14. As described above, the front panel 15 has a door portion 15e located on the front side (negative Y-side) of the panels 11 to 14, and a fitting portion 15f protruding inward from the door portion 15e. The fitting portion 15f is rectangular when viewed from the front (negative Y-side). In the assembled state, the fitting portion 15f is fitted inside the panels 11 to 14 and contacts the inner surfaces 11a to 14a of the panels 11 to 14, respectively. The door portion 15e is rectangular when viewed from the front and is larger than the fitting portion 15f. The portion of the door portion 15e that protrudes to the periphery from the fitting portion 15f constitutes the above-mentioned ears 15h. This improves the adhesion between the door portion 15e and each edge of the panels 11 to 14. The door portion 15e is hinged to the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13 using the fifth hinge member 25.

(Rear Panel)
The rear panel 16 is a panel located on the rear side (positive side in the Y direction) in the assembled state (FIGS. 1 to 4), and is disposed perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane). The rear panel 16 has a door portion 16e located on the outside and a fitting portion 16f protruding inward from the door portion 16e. In the assembled state, the fitting portion 16f is disposed so as to be surrounded by the top panel 11, the bottom panel 12, the right panel 13, and the left panel 14.

As described above, the rear panel 16 is made up of two rear partial panels 16c and 16d, and can be folded in two. The fitting portions 16f of the rear partial panels 16c and 16d are each made of a plate-shaped member. The door portion 16e of one of the rear partial panels 16c is foldably attached to the right panel 13 via a sixth hinge member 26. The sixth hinge member 26 connects the outer surface 16b of one of the rear partial panels 16c to the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13 in a hinge-like manner. The two rear partial panels 16c and 16d are foldably attached to each other via a rear folding portion 16g. The rear folding portion 16g connects the inner surfaces 16a of the two rear partial panels 16c and 16d in a hinge-like manner.

When the two rear partial panels 16c, 16d move from the assembled state to the folded state (Figs. 6 to 8), they rotate around the rear folding portion 16g and bend into a V shape when viewed from the top side (positive side in the Z direction). At this time, the inner surfaces 16a of the two rear partial panels 16c, 16d come into contact with each other. Therefore, the inner surface 16a of the rear panel 16 is not exposed to the outside in the folded state, so the inner surface 16a is less likely to get dirty and is hygienic.

As shown in FIG. 4, it is preferable that the widths W7 and W8 (lengths in the X direction) of the two rear partial panels 16c and 16d are different from each other. In this case, the width W7 of one rear partial panel 16c is larger than the width W8 of the other rear partial panel 16d. Therefore, in the assembled state, the rear bend 16g of the rear panel 16 and the top bend 11g of the top panel 11 (the bottom bend 12g of the bottom panel 12) are offset from each other. This makes it possible to prevent the airtightness of the storage space 20 from decreasing due to the overlap between the rear bend 16g and the top bend 11g (the bottom bend 12g). The distance d2 (X direction distance) between the rear bend 16g and the top bend 11g (the bottom bend 12g) may be 5 mm or more and 40 mm or less, and is preferably 10 mm or more and 20 mm or less.

The rear panel 16 has ears 16h along its periphery. In the assembled state, the ears 16h contact each edge (surface perpendicular to the main surface) of the panels 11 to 14. As described above, the rear panel 16 has a door portion 16e located on the rear side (positive side in the Y direction) of the panels 11 to 14, and a fitting portion 16f protruding inward from the door portion 16e. The fitting portion 16f is rectangular when viewed from the rear (positive side in the Y direction). In the assembled state, the fitting portion 16f is fitted inside the panels 11 to 14 and contacts the inner surfaces 11a to 14a of the panels 11 to 14, respectively. The door portion 16e is rectangular when viewed from the rear and is larger than the fitting portion 16f. The portion of the door portion 16e that protrudes to the periphery from the fitting portion 16f constitutes the above-mentioned ears 16h. This improves the adhesion between the door portion 16e and each edge of the panels 11 to 14. The door portion 16e is hinged to the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13 using the sixth hinge member 26.

In this embodiment, as described above, a cover member 40 is provided to cover the top panel 11. The cover member 40 is made of a flexible material such as a plastic sheet, band, belt, or cloth, and is capable of applying tension to the top panel 11 in the assembled state. The thickness of the cover member 40 may be 0.1 mm or more and 5 mm or less.

In the assembled state, the cover member 40 has an inverted U shape when viewed from the front side (negative Y-direction side). The cover member 40 has a portion covering the outer surface 11b of the top panel 11, a portion covering the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13, and a portion covering the outer surface 14b of the left panel 14. In the assembled state, the cover member 40 extends over the entire area of the top panel 11 in the left-right direction (X-direction). The cover member 40 may also extend over at least half of the area of the top panel 11 in the front-to-rear direction (Y-direction), or may extend over the entire area of the top panel 11 in the front-to-rear direction (Y-direction).

The cover member 40 is connected to the right panel 13 and the left panel 14. That is, the cover member 40 is connected to the right panel 13 by the right connection part 41, and is connected to the left panel 14 by the left connection part 42. The right connection part 41 and the left connection part 42 may be composed of, for example, a sewing part where the cover member 40 is sewn to the panels 13 and 14. Alternatively, the right connection part 41 and the left connection part 42 may be composed of a detachable member such as a hook-and-loop fastener. When the cover member 40 is detachably connected to the panels 13 and 14, the tension can be appropriately adjusted when attaching the cover member 40 to the panels 13 and 14 by applying tension to the cover member 40. In addition, when the right connection part 41 and the left connection part 42 are composed of a hook-and-loop fastener or the like, it is preferable to cover the right connection part 41 and the left connection part 42 with tape or the like. This makes it possible to prevent the cover member 40 from coming off accidentally except when adjusting the tension. In this embodiment, the cover member 40 is not connected to the panels 11 to 16 at any point other than the right connection portion 41 and the left connection portion 42. In other words, the cover member 40 is not directly connected to the top panel 11.

The cover member 40 holds the top panel 11 in an open state in the assembled state. That is, the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 are connected to each other by the cover member 40, and the top panel 11 is supported by the tension of the cover member 40 at this time. Therefore, in the assembled state, the top panel 11 does not bend in two due to its own weight. On the other hand, when changing from the assembled state to the folded state, the top panel 11 is bent in two against the tension of the cover member 40 by applying a force from above the cover member 40. Also, when changing from the folded state to the assembled state, the top panel 11 becomes horizontal simply by assembling the top panel 11, and is held in an open state by the cover member 40. Therefore, there is no need to perform any other operation to hold the top panel 11 horizontal.

The hinge members 21-26 may be formed of, for example, a sewn portion where the panels 11-16 are sewn together. Alternatively, the hinge members 21-26 may be formed of a connecting member such as a foldable connecting cloth, or may be formed of a resin hinge. In this case, it is preferable that the hinge members 21-26 are configured to rotate the panels 11-16 relative to each other without substantially changing the spacing between the connected panels 11-16. By preventing the spacing between the connected panels 11-16 from substantially changing, when the panels 11-16 are folded (FIGS. 6 to 8), the panels 11-16 do not shift position, and the panels 11-16 can be stably held.

In addition, a pocket (not shown) capable of storing an ice pack may be provided on the inner surface of the panels 11 to 16. The pocket is made of a flexible material such as cloth, and in the assembled state, protrudes toward the inner surface of the panels 11 to 16 to form a space capable of storing the ice pack. By storing the ice pack in the pocket in this way, cold air from the ice pack descends and is sent to the load, improving the cooling properties of the storage space 20. On the other hand, when the folding state is to be achieved, the ice pack in the pocket is removed and then the pocket is folded. The pocket may be provided on any of the panels 11 to 16.

Figures 6 to 8 show the panels 11 to 16 in a folded state. As shown in Figures 6 to 8, in the folded state, each panel 11 to 16 is folded, and the thickness of the insulated container 10 in the left-right direction (X direction) is thinner than in the assembled state (Figures 1 to 4). Note that Figures 6 to 8 show an example in which each panel 11 to 16 is arranged perpendicular to the horizontal plane (XY plane) (parallel to the YZ plane), but this is not limiting, and each panel 11 to 16 may be positioned parallel to the horizontal plane (XY plane), for example.

As shown in Figures 6 to 8, in the folded state, from the right side (positive side in the X direction), the front panel 15, rear panel 16, right panel 13, top panel 11, bottom panel 12, and left panel 14 overlap each other in this order.

In the folded state, the panels 11-16 are all positioned parallel to each other (parallel to the YZ plane). In this case, the panels 11-16 are not positioned at an angle to the other panels 11-16 in the folded state. This makes it difficult for unnatural forces to be applied to the panels 11-16, and deformation of the panels 11-16 can be prevented. In addition, multiple insulated containers 10 in the folded state can be stacked on top of each other. In this case, the insulated containers 10 are unlikely to be tilted, so it is possible to prevent the multiple stacked insulated containers 10 from collapsing. In addition, multiple insulated containers 10 can be stored efficiently.

In this folded state, the cover member 40 is in a relaxed state and is folded along the folded top panel 11. At this time, the cover member 40 covers the outer surface 11b of the top panel 11 and is sandwiched between the top partial panels 11c and 11d.

The thickness of each of the panels 11-16 can be 5 mm or more and 100 mm or less. The thickness of each of the panels 11-16 is preferably 20 mm or more and 60 mm or less, and more preferably 30 mm or more and 55 mm or less. In this embodiment, the thickness of each of the panels 11-16 is the same, but the thickness of each of the panels 11-16 may be different from each other. The "thickness" of each of the panels 11-16 refers to the length in the direction perpendicular to the main surface of each of the panels 11-16.

(Internal structure of the panel)
Next, the structure of the fitting portions 15f, 16f of the panels 11 to 14 and the panels 15 to 16 will be further described.

The fitting parts 15f, 16f of each of the panels 11-14 and the panels 15-16 are composed of insulating panels having thermal insulation properties as described above. The insulating material used in such insulating panels may be any material that exhibits the desired thermal insulation properties, and examples of such insulating materials include fiber-based insulating materials such as glass wool, rock wool, cellulose fiber, and insulation board, natural insulating materials such as wool and carbonized cork, polyethylene foams such as extruded expanded polystyrene and bead-processed polystyrene, polyurethane foams such as rigid urethane foam, polyethylene foams such as highly expanded polyethylene, foam insulating materials such as phenol foam, and vacuum insulating materials.

As the heat insulating material, plastic board (hollow structure), polypropylene Plapearl (registered trademark of Kawakami Sangyo Co., Ltd.), polypropylene Twin Cone (registered trademark of Ube Exsymo Co., Ltd.) may be used. In this case, hollow structure plastic board made of polypropylene or the like can be used.

The vacuum insulation material may have a core material and an exterior material. The core material may be, for example, a porous material such as a powder of silica, a foam of urethane polymer, or a fiber material such as glass wool. The exterior material is a member that covers the outer periphery of the core material, and may be a flexible sheet in which a heat-sealed layer and a gas barrier layer are laminated in this order from the core material. The gas barrier layer may be a metal foil, a vapor deposition sheet in which a vapor deposition layer is formed on one side of a resin sheet, or the like. The metal foil may be, for example, aluminum. The vapor deposition layer may be, for example, aluminum, aluminum oxide, or silicon oxide. The foam insulation material may be disposed adjacent to at least the storage space 20 side of the vacuum insulation material. Furthermore, a thermal insulation outer envelope may be formed to surround the vacuum insulation material.

The panels 11 to 16 may also be made of a radio wave-transmitting non-metallic material. In this case, when an IC tag is placed inside the insulated container 10, it is possible to read the information in the IC tag from outside the insulated container 10 using a reading device via non-contact communication.

(Length of cover member)
Next, the length of the cover member 40 when viewed from the front side will be described with reference to FIGS.

9(a) is a front view showing a part of the insulated container 10 in an assembled state. As shown in FIG. 9(a), in the assembled state, the outer surface 11h of the top panel 11c is on the same plane as the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13, and the outer surface 11h of the top panel 11d is on the same plane as the outer surface 14b of the left panel 14. In FIG. 9(a), the width (length in the X direction) of the top panels 11c and 11d is L. Note that the width L is equal to the widths W1 and W2 described above (L=W1=W2). Also, the thickness (length in the Z direction) of the top panels 11c and 11d is T. Furthermore, the length D of the cover member 40 is the length of the part of the cover member 40 that covers the top panel 11, and refers to the length from the upper end of the right panel 13 along the outer surface 11b of the top panel 11 to the upper end of the left panel 14. In this case, the relationship D≧2×(L+T) is established.

である。 Fig. 9(b) is a front view showing the state where the strongest tension is applied to the cover member 40 (the state corresponding to Fig. 10(b) described later). As shown in Fig. 9(b), the cover member 40 is stretched to a maximum length of 2 x (D1 + D2 + D3). In Fig. 9(b), each diagonal line Ld of the top surface partial panels 11c and 11d passing through the top surface folding portion 11g is horizontal (parallel to the XY plane). Also, the angle between the outer surface 11b of the top surface partial panel 11d and the diagonal line Ld is θ. In this case, D1 = Lcos θ, and D2 = T.

It is.

Therefore, if the length D of the cover member 40 is less than 2 x (D1 + D2 + D3), the top panel 11 will not bend under its own weight. From the above, it is preferable that the relationship 2 x (L + T) ≤ D < 2 x (D1 + D2 + D3) is satisfied. As an example, if L = 300 mm and T = 40 mm, it is preferable that 680 mm ≤ D < 685.3 mm.

The elongation of the cover member 40 may be caused by the elongation of the material of the cover member 40 itself, the elongation of the right connection portion 41 and the left connection portion 42, deformation of each panel 11, 13, 14, etc.

(Folding and assembly of insulated containers)
Next, the operation of folding and assembling the insulated container 10 will be described.

(Assembly of the insulated container)
First, the operation of unfolding the insulated container 10 in a folded state (see Figs. 6 to 8) and assembling it (see Figs. 1 to 4) will be described. The following series of operations are performed manually by an operator.

First, assume that the six panels 11 to 16 are folded and the insulated container 10 is in a folded state, as shown in Figures 6 to 8.

Next, the panels 11 to 14 are unfolded as a unit. At this time, the top surface partial panels 11c and 11d of the top panel 11 rotate relative to the right surface panel 13 and the left surface panel 14, respectively, so that the top surface panel 11 is at a right angle to the right surface panel 13 and the left surface panel 14. Specifically, one top surface partial panel 11c rotates via the first hinge member 21 so as to be perpendicular to the right surface panel 13. Furthermore, the other top surface partial panel 11d rotates via the second hinge member 22 so as to be perpendicular to the left surface panel 14. At this time, the top surface partial panels 11c and 11d are unfolded via the top surface folding portion 11g and become horizontal.

During this time, the cover member 40 is pushed up by the outer surfaces 11h of the top panels 11c and 11d from a relaxed state (FIG. 10(a)) sandwiched between the top panels 11c and 11d, and the cover member 40 is in a state in which the strongest tension is applied (FIG. 10(b)). In FIG. 10(b), each diagonal line Ld of the top panels 11c and 11d passing through the top folding portion 11g is horizontal (parallel to the XY plane), and at this time the cover member 40 is most stretched. If the top panels 11c and 11d are further expanded from this state, the top panels 11c and 11d become horizontal and stable (FIG. 10(c)). At this time, the cover member 40 holds the top panels 11c and 11d in an open state, so the top panels 11c and 11d do not bend under their own weight and do not reach the state shown in FIG. 10(a) under their own weight. In other words, the weight of the top panels 11c and 11d does not stretch the cover member 40 to its most stretched state (FIG. 10(b)), and the top panels 11c and 11d do not reach the folded state (FIG. 10(a)).

Meanwhile, the bottom partial panels 12c and 12d of the bottom panel 12 rotate relative to the right panel 13 and left panel 14, respectively, so that the bottom panel 12 is perpendicular to the right panel 13 and left panel 14. Specifically, one bottom partial panel 12c of the bottom panel 12 rotates via the third hinge member 23 so as to be perpendicular to the right panel 13. Also, the other bottom partial panel 12d of the bottom panel 12 rotates via the fourth hinge member 24 so as to be perpendicular to the left panel 14. At this time, the bottom partial panels 12c and 12d are spread out via the bottom bend portion 12g and become horizontal. In this way, the panels 11 to 14 become rectangular when viewed from the front.

Next, the front panel 15 is rotated relative to the right panel 13, and the front panel 15 is moved to the front side of the panels 11 to 14 (the negative Y direction). The front partial panels 15c and 15d are also rotated relative to each other via the front bend 15g, so that the front partial panels 15c and 15d are positioned on the same plane. At this time, the fitting portion 15f of the front panel 15 is fitted into the panels 11 to 14.

Similarly, the rear panel 16 is rotated relative to the right panel 13, and the rear panel 16 is moved to the rear side of the panels 11 to 14 (the positive Y direction). The rear partial panels 16c and 16d are also rotated relative to each other via the rear bent portion 16g, so that the rear partial panels 16c and 16d are positioned on the same plane. At this time, the fitting portion 16f of the rear panel 16 is fitted into the panels 11 to 14.

In this way, the six panels 11 to 16 of the insulated container 10 are assembled as a whole as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

(Folding the insulated container)
The method of folding the insulated container 10 can be performed by performing the above-mentioned assembly method in the reverse order. The following series of operations is performed manually by an operator.

First, assume that the six panels 11 to 16 are assembled and the insulated container 10 is in an assembled state, as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

First, as shown in FIG. 5, the front panel 15 is rotated relative to the right panel 13 via the fifth hinge member 25, and moved toward the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13. The front partial panels 15c and 15d are then folded in half via the front fold 15g. At this time, one of the front partial panels 15c is positioned so as to contact the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13. The inner surfaces 15a of the two front partial panels 15c and 15d are also in contact with each other. This makes the inner surfaces 15a of the front partial panels 15c and 15d less likely to get dirty and more hygienic.

Similarly, the rear panel 16 is rotated relative to the right panel 13 via the sixth hinge member 26 and moved toward the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13. The rear partial panels 16c and 16d are also folded in half via the rear folding portion 16g. At this time, one of the rear partial panels 16c is positioned so that it contacts the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13. The inner surfaces 16a of the two rear partial panels 16c and 16d are also in contact with each other. This makes the inner surfaces 16a of the rear partial panels 16c and 16d less likely to get dirty and more hygienic.

Next, the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 are folded together. Specifically, one top partial panel 11c of the top panel 11 is folded towards the right panel 13 via the first hinge member 21, and the other top partial panel 11d of the top panel 11 is folded towards the left panel 14 via the second hinge member 22. The top partial panels 11c and 11d are then folded in half via the top folding portion 11g. At this time, one top partial panel 11c is positioned so as to contact the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13, and the other top partial panel 11d is positioned so as to contact the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14.

During this time, the top panel 11 is pressed from above by the worker, and transitions from a state in which it is supported by the cover member 40 (FIG. 10(c)) to a state in which the strongest tension is applied to the cover member 40 (FIG. 10(b)). When the top panel 11 is pressed further from above, the top partial panels 11c and 11d are folded (FIG. 10(a)). At this time, the cover member 40 is sandwiched between the top partial panels 11c and 11d. In this way, by the worker applying force to the top partial panels 11c and 11d, the top panel 11 can easily transition from a state in which the cover member 40 is most stretched (FIG. 10(b)) to a folded state (FIG. 10(a)).

Meanwhile, one bottom partial panel 12c of the bottom panel 12 is folded towards the right panel 13 via the third hinge member 23, and the other bottom partial panel 12d of the bottom panel 12 is folded towards the left panel 14 via the fourth hinge member 24. The bottom partial panels 12c and 12d are also folded in half via the bottom fold portion 12g. At this time, one bottom partial panel 12c is positioned so as to contact the inner surface 13a of the right panel 13, and the other bottom partial panel 12d is positioned so as to contact the inner surface 14a of the left panel 14.

In this way, the six panels 11-16 of the insulated container 10 are in the folded state as shown in Figures 6 to 8. At this time, all six panels 11-16 are arranged parallel to one another. Finally, the six panels 11-16 may be fixed in the folded state using an attachment/detachment device (not shown). As described above, when the insulated container 10 is not in use, the panels 11-16 can be folded to make the overall volume as small as possible for storage and transportation.

As described above, according to this embodiment, the multiple panels 11-16 can be in an assembled state in which they are assembled into a box shape, or in a folded state in which they are folded up small. As a result, by putting the panels 11-16 in an assembled state, a storage space 20 capable of storing cargo and having a high airtightness can be formed inside the panels 11-16. On the other hand, when the insulated container 10 is not in use, the panels 11-16 can be put in a folded state, allowing the insulated container 10 to be stored compactly.

In particular, according to this embodiment, the procedure for transitioning the insulated container 10 from the assembled state to the folded state, or from the folded state to the assembled state, is easy. Specifically, in the folded state, the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 are horizontally unfolded, and then the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 are rotated inwardly of the right panel 13 and the left panel 14, respectively. This allows the insulated container 10 to easily transition from the folded state to the assembled state. Also, in the assembled state, the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 are first folded outwardly of the right panel 13 and the left panel 14, respectively, and then the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 are folded. This allows the insulated container 10 to easily transition from the assembled state to the folded state.

According to this embodiment, the cover member 40 holds the top panel 11 in an open state in the assembled state. As a result, the top panel 11 is held in an open state simply by unfolding the top panel 11. Therefore, there is no need to perform other work to prevent the top panel 11 from bending under its own weight, and the insulated container 10 can be assembled without mistakes. In this way, by simply assembling the insulated container 10 in a predetermined procedure, the top panel 11 can be prevented from falling inside the insulated container 10. In this case, there is no need to fix the top panel 11 to other panels with a fixing member such as a band so that the top panel 11 does not bend under its own weight. This allows the insulated container 10 to be assembled and folded efficiently. In addition, the fixing member such as the band will not be damaged or deteriorated, improving the maintainability of the insulated container 10.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the assembled state, the top panel 11 is positioned higher than the right panel 13 and the left panel 14. As a result, while the top panel 11 is transitioning from the assembled state (FIG. 10(c)) to the folded state (FIG. 10(a)), the outer surface 11h of the top panel 11 is in surface contact with the cover member 40. In this case, frictional force acts between the cover member 40 and the top panel 11 (FIG. 10(b)), making it more difficult for the top panel 11 to bend under its own weight.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the cover member 40 is detachably connected to the right panel 13 and the left panel 14, so the tension of the cover member 40 can be adjusted as needed.

In addition, according to this embodiment, in the folded state, the cover member 40 is sandwiched between the folded top panel 11, so when the panels 11 to 16 are folded, the cover member 40 does not protrude from the insulated container 10, and the insulated container 10 can be stored compactly.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the top panel 11 can be folded in half toward the inside, and is connected to the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 in a hinged manner. As a result, when the panels 11 to 16 are moved from the assembled state to the folded state, the top panel 11 does not protrude from between the right panel 13 and the left panel 14 in the height direction (Z direction), and the insulated container 10 can be folded compactly.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the top panel 11 is composed of two top partial panels 11c, 11d, each having an equal width W1, W2. This allows the overall height (length in the Z direction) of the insulated container 10 to be reduced when the panels 11 to 16 are folded, and the insulated container 10 can be folded compactly.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 are each foldably connected to the right panel 13. This makes it possible to prevent the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 from interfering with the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 when the top panel 11 and the bottom panel 12 are folded in half.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 can each be folded in half toward the outside. As a result, the inner surface 15a of the front panel 15 and the inner surface 16a of the back panel 16 are not exposed to the outside when folded, which makes it possible to prevent the inner surfaces 15a, 16a from becoming dirty. In addition, when the storage space 20 is at a lower temperature than the outside air, it is possible that condensed water adheres to the inner surfaces 15a, 16a. Even in this case, it is possible to prevent the condensed water on the inner surfaces 15a, 16a from adhering to the surroundings.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the top bend 11g of the top panel 11 and the bottom bend 12g of the bottom panel 12 are offset from the front bend 15g of the front panel 15 and the back bend 16g of the back panel 16, respectively. This prevents the creation of a flow path that connects the storage space 20 to the outside of the insulated container 10, and prevents the airtightness of the storage space 20 from decreasing.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16 are provided with ears 15h, 16h along their outer periphery, respectively. This improves the airtightness between the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16 and the panels 11 to 14. Note that the ears may be provided on only one of the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16.

Furthermore, according to this embodiment, in the assembled state, the fitting portion 15f of the front panel 15 and the fitting portion 16f of the rear panel 16 are arranged so as to be surrounded by the panels 11 to 14. This can improve the insulation of the storage space 20. Furthermore, in the assembled state, the fitting portion 15f of the front panel 15 and the fitting portion 16f of the rear panel 16 are sandwiched between the panels 11 to 14, so the front panel 15 and the rear panel 16 can be stably held.

In addition, according to this embodiment, each of the panels 11 to 16 is a rigid plate-like member. This prevents the panels 11 to 16 from flexibly deforming, so that the insulated container 10 has a rectangular parallelepiped shape when assembled, and the storage space 20 can be reliably formed.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the panels 11 to 16 are integrally connected to one another. Therefore, there is no need to cover each of the panels 11 to 16 with an outer bag. The absence of an outer bag allows the folding and assembly of each of the panels 11 to 16 to be carried out more efficiently. Furthermore, the outer bag does not obscure the view of the panels 11 to 16.

In addition, according to this embodiment, the storage space 20 is covered from all sides by the panels 11 to 16, so the cargo within the storage space 20 can be protected from all sides.

(First Modification)
Next, a first modified example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Figures 11(a) and 11(b). Figures 11(a) and 11(b) are diagrams showing a part of the insulated container 10 according to the first modified example. Figure 11(a) shows the insulated container 10 in a folded state, and Figure 11(b) shows the insulated container 10 in an assembled state. In Figures 11(a) and 11(b), the same parts as those shown in Figures 1 to 10 are given the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In Figures 11(a) and (b), a shape-retaining member 33 is provided on the outer surface 11b of the top panel 11 to retain the shape of at least the corners of the top panel 11. The shape-retaining member 33 may be made of a plate-shaped resin member such as Pladan, Plapearl (registered trademark of Kawakami Sangyo Co., Ltd.), Texel (registered trademark of Gifu Plastic Industry Co., Ltd.), or Twin Cone (registered trademark of Ube Exsymo Co., Ltd.).

As shown in Figures 11(a) and (b), the shape-retaining member 33 is fixed to the outer surface 11b of the top panel 11, and is preferably positioned so as to cover at least the outer corners of the top panel 11 (the corners on the right panel 13 side and the corners on the left panel 14 side). This makes it possible to prevent the outer corners of the top panel 11 from becoming rounded when used repeatedly. This makes it possible to prevent the tension of the cover member 40 from decreasing after long-term use.

(Second Modification)
Next, a second modified example of the present embodiment will be described with reference to Fig. 12. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing a thermal insulation container 10 according to the second modified example. In Fig. 12, the same parts as those shown in Figs. 1 to 10 are designated by the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In FIG. 12, the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 of the insulated container 10 are structured so that they cannot be folded in two, and each panel includes a plate-shaped door portion 15e, 16e and a plate-shaped fitting portion 15f, 16f. In this case, the outer surface 15b of the front panel 15 and the outer surface 13b of the right panel 13 are hingedly connected via a fifth hinge member 25, and the outer surface 16b of the back panel 16 and the outer surface 14b of the left panel 14 are hingedly connected via a sixth hinge member 26. This allows the structure of the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 to be simplified. Note that one of the front panel 15 and the back panel 16 may be structured so that it can be folded in two, and the other may be structured so that it cannot be folded in two.

The multiple components disclosed in the above embodiments and modifications may be combined as necessary. Alternatively, some components may be deleted from all the components shown in the above embodiments and modifications.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 10 Insulated container 11 Top panel 11c, 11d Top partial panel 12 Bottom panel 12c, 12d Bottom partial panel 13 Right panel 14 Left panel 15 Front panel 15c, 15d Front partial panel 16 Rear panel 16c, 16d Rear partial panel 20 Storage space 21 First hinge member 22 Second hinge member 23 Third hinge member 24 Fourth hinge member 25 Fifth hinge member 26 Sixth hinge member 40 Cover member 41 Right-side connection portion 42 Left-side connection portion

Claims (8)

An insulated container that can be assembled and folded,
a top panel, a bottom panel, a first side panel, a second side panel, a third side panel, and a fourth side panel;
In an assembled state of the insulated container, the top panel and the bottom panel face each other, the first side panel and the second side panel face each other, and the third side panel and the fourth side panel face each other,
The top panel is foldable inwardly in two and is hinge-connected to the first side panel and the second side panel,
A cover member is provided to cover the top panel,
the cover member is connected to the first side panel and the second side panel;
The cover member holds the top panel in an open position in the assembled state. The insulated container according to claim 1, wherein the top panel is positioned above the first side panel and the second side panel. The insulated container according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the cover member is detachably connected to the first side panel and the second side panel. The insulated container according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein when the insulated container is in a folded state, the cover member is sandwiched between the folded top panel. The insulated container according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the top panel is composed of two top partial panels having equal widths. The insulated container according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the third side panel and the fourth side panel are foldably connected to the first side panel or the second side panel, respectively. The third side panel is foldable in two outwardly and is hingedly connected to the first side panel or the second side panel,
The insulated container according to claim 1 , wherein the fourth side panel is foldable in two outwardly and is hingedly connected to the first side panel or the second side panel. The insulated container according to claim 1 , wherein a shape-retaining member is provided on an outer surface of the top panel to retain a shape of a corner of the top panel.