MXPA99006870A - Collapsible cooling box - Google Patents

Abstract

A portable box (1) has stiff box parts, namely side walls (6, 7), bottom (5), front (4) and rear (3) walls interconnected in a movable manner by joints or hinges so that the box parts can be folded upon a surface, for example that of the bottom, rear wall, side walls or front wall. The joint or hinge connection between at least two box parts is formed by at least one guiding rail which extends along the first box part and by a joint element mounted on the second box part which can be linearly displaced within the guiding rail. The second box part can swivel around a stationary joint axis together with its joint or hinge connection with another box part located away from the joint element with the first box part, at the same time as the first box part is moved in parallel in the direction of the other box part.

Description

FOLDING ICE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION German descriptions 31 16 198 and 30 13 180 describe an insulating container, for example, in the form of a cooler, in which at least a part of the wall of the container consists of thermally insulating and transparent material. This measure should ensure that the cashier of a shopping center can inspect the contents of the insulating container without having to remove the product from it, possibly very cold or frozen. Also, the insulating container must maintain the cooling chain for the product purchased, from the freezer of the shopping center to the consumer's private freezer. A chilling bag suitable for this purpose, as described in the cited documents, has the disadvantage of the difficulty of handling. Carrying a cooler bag with it is especially uncomfortable when the potential consumer wants a certain frozen product, however, the shopping center he comes to has no such product. In this case, the consumer must return home with the large empty bag. German description 38 17 871 describes a cooler with a regulated temperature, which has a separate chamber for receiving a cold source in the form of a cold store or a refrigerating agent. In addition, an air circulation device is provided in the container. This container is large and heavy and, even so, can only accommodate limited products. For the German description DE 43 11 142 C2 a transport box is known in which a side wall can be inserted therein in order to take the product. The folding of the transport box is very problematic. In the same way, through the industrial model 1 693 496 a folding transport container is known, which reassembly is very complicated. In US-1 620 143 a chicken basket is described, which can be easily transported and stored thanks to its folding. The chicken basket includes a bottom, ends and folding sides and a lid that is joined in such a way with the corresponding ends, that when lifting the lid an ascending rotation movement of the final parts is facilitated. In addition, additional means are provided in the lid that co-act with the side parts to maintain a vertical position. In detail, the bottom, side walls and cover respectively consist of a network of rods together, which are joined together in an articulated manner at the ends. The side parts and the lid are held together even in the folded state. In US Pat. No. 5,181,612 a compact folding breakfast box is described, in which the plate-like side portions and a plate-like bottom are in permanent articulated connection with each other, so that the side portions can be folded down. outward and remain in a state erected by the action of latching elements. The open box obtained by the side parts erected serves as an insert in an indivisible refrigerated container.

OBJECTIVES AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION With respect to the foregoing, the invention is based on the objective of providing a portable cooler that is much better manageable than known embodiments. For this purpose, the invention proposes that at least one articulated joint or hinge be formed between at least two parts of the cooler, by at least one guide rail projecting along the first part of the cooler or an articulated element respectively housed in it in a linearly displaceable manner of a second part of the cooler, the second part of the cooler being able to be folded by means of an articulated hinge connection remote from the articulated element, relatively to another part of the cooler, with a parallel closing movement of the first part of the cooler with respect to the other part of it, around a non-displaceable articulation axis. In this way it is achieved that the parts of the cooler, in order to fold them to obtain a flat configuration, they do not have to be separated from each other. The special advantage in this also results in that, with this particular articulated joint between at least two parts of the cooler, which leads to a parallel closed movement of two parts of the cooler, the dimensions proportions of the cooler can be kept unlimited and without considering. None of the parts of the cooler can be lost more, because the unions of the same are maintained even when folding. In this way, the lid is also attached to the cooler so that it can not be lost. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the present invention, the articulated joint formed by a guide rail and the articulated element housed therein in a linearly displaceable manner, is disposed between the side walls and the front wall. This allows the joining of three parts of the ice chest to the system according to the invention. In a convenient embodiment of the present invention, it is provided that between the bottom and the rear wall, as well as between the lid and the rear wall and between the side walls and the rear wall, there is respectively a hinge connection, which is formed by articulating forks and articulation flanges arranged on their adjacent marginal sides, meshed together, through which an articulation axis passes. In the case of the hinge connection between the bottom and the rear wall, it is thus possible to fold the bottom against the internal surface of the rear wall. The hinge connection between the lid and the rear wall allows the lid to be rotated about the articulation axis, by an angle of 270 °, so that the lid can be folded against the external surface of the rear wall. The hinge connection between the side walls and the rear wall allows it to be folded around its articulation axes against the bottom which is in contact with the internal surface of the rear wall, the front wall being able to make a closed movement during the movement rotating the side walls towards the rear wall and resting on the side walls that are in contact with the bottom and that were previously lowered. That is, the user does not have to worry about matching the hinge joints when unfolding the cooler or hooking certain parts of the cooler in the unfolded state, because this happens virtually automatically by the unfolding process, since all parts of hinge and union are permanently in contact with each other, even during the process of folding and unfolding. In a convenient embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the articulation elements of the side walls, housed in a linearly displaceable manner in the guide rail, can be rotated respectively around an articulation axis arranged in the front wall of the adjacent side walls. to the front wall, and which projects longitudinally between the top and the bottom. The above prevents that this union that acts both radially and linearly jams. Preferably, these articulation axes are disposed respectively in a concavity of the side walls, which are configured open towards the front side presenting the front wall and towards its external side, so that the articulation element guided therein has a corresponding rotating movement, without bumping into the parts of the cooler. Preferably, the articulation element is formed respectively by a hammer-shaped upper part protruding from the front side of the side walls, housed in the guide rail, and a joint fork configured thereto, which movably encloses the articulation axis disposed in the marginal zone of the side walls facing the front side. In this way the means are provided that prevent pulling the articulation element of the guide rail outwards. For it, in a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the guide rails are respectively arranged in a bag of the front wall projecting transversely between the side walls, open towards the interior of the cooler. The guide rails have an essentially U-shaped configuration and have a passage chamber for the hammer-shaped upper part of the articulation element of the lateral parts. This upper part in the form of a hammer is hooked by two found heels of the guide rail. The parts of the ice chest itself are configured as hollow chamber profiles. In this way they can be filled with a thermoinsulating material. There is also the possibility of filling the hollow chambers with a cooling gas, the corresponding valves having to be provided in this case. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is provided that in order to form the hollow chamber profiles, the individual parts of the ice chest are configured in at least two pieces. From the point of view of the manufacturing technology, these can be made in such a way that they consist of a piece of cover and a base piece, which have means on the opposite internal sides, by means of which the pieces can be interlaced, hook or fit. In order not to allow the lid that is folded on the outer side of the rear wall to project from the rear wall, the lid has a corresponding concavity, in which the rear wall is folded backwards. In order to give the deployed base, that is to say, in the position of use, a limit of rotation, a support flange supporting the bottom is arranged on the front wall. Said flange externally appears as a foot, another foot being configured on the opposite side of the rear wall, which has the same height as the support flange. Preferably, auxiliary lifting means are provided on the inner side of the bottom, for example in the form of a gripping concavity. The rear wall is provided with lateral boundaries, which extend in the plane of the side walls and thus form a part thereof. The widths of the side walls can be configured according to the length of these lateral limits. In addition, in the step formed by the lateral boundary, between the front edge of the lateral boundary and the inner wall of the rear wall, the receiving concavity for the bottom and the side walls is formed. In a particularly preferred embodiment, it is envisaged that these lateral limits also serve as joint receptions. If you intend to use the portable cooler as a cooler, the bags arranged on the rear wall can be used to house refrigerated elements inside the cooler. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a transport handle is provided, which simultaneously serves as a sealing and sealing element. To this end, retaining heads are arranged on the outer sides of the side walls, which can be hooked by the hook-shaped transport lug. The carrying handle essentially consists of a U-shaped heel, whose arms parallel to one another extend beyond the outer sides of the side walls and are provided at their free ends with at least one hook. The arms respectively have an elongated perforation extending in the longitudinal direction of the arms, in which a displaceable pin arranged on the corresponding lateral edge of the cover is housed, forming an axis of rotation or pivoting. The pin itself is fixed non-rotatably to the cover, or formed therefrom. By means of this bead configuration, it is ensured that the transport bead not only rotates about the pivot axis of the pin, but can also be linearly displaced against this axis. If the hook-shaped arms of the transport stub engage the holding heads arranged on the outer sides of the side walls, the lid is pressed on the side walls, the rear wall and the front wall, since the pin can not be moved in this position in the elongated hole, because through the articulation axis of the hinge between the lid and the rear wall, it had to perform a pivoting movement. However, because in this situation the elongated perforation extends linearly, vertically upwards, between the transport bead and the lid an effective sealing is achieved. Therefore, by means of the invention, a container in the form of a cooler is obtained, which is essentially portable, in which the side walls, the cover, the bottom, the front and rear walls fixed in shape, are movably and hooked together each other, in such a way that the cooler can be folded to a surface of approximately the rear or front wall. Thus, while the consumer has not found the product that interests him, the cooler according to the invention can be folded or folded in such a way that it only takes up little space. With this improvement of the manageability of the cooler according to the invention, the customer is willing to load prophylactically with the cooler for the case in which he found in the shopping center an interesting offer, for example, of frozen products. In one embodiment of the invention, each side wall has a central fold line, which extends parallel to the rear wall. In this case, the front wall and the bottom can be folded in front of the back wall, found the side walls folded place between them. To hang the cooler, for example, in a supermarket cart, on the rear wall of the same, in a concavity open outwards, hooks are arranged that can be pivoted outwards if necessary. For the manufacture of the ice chest according to the invention, almost all known production processes are suitable. The cooler, or else, parts of it can be produced in the so-called sandwich procedure, or also, blow or rotate. The cooler made in this way is suitable not only as a thermal or refrigerating cooler for purchases, but also as an excellent way to be used in industry and in free time.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Through the following drawings, which show particularly preferred embodiments of the invention, this is described in more detail. They show: Figure 1, a side view of the ice chest according to the invention. Figure 2 shows a side view of the cooler in accordance with the representation according to Figure 1, the rotational movement for opening the lid to its final position on the rear wall being presented here. Figure 3, the final position after the movement of Figure 2. Figure 4, a side view of the cooler according to the invention, with the course of the movement of the collapsible bottom. Figure 5, a plan view of the cooler with the course of the movement of the side walls and the front wall. Figure 6, the ice chest folded in a side view. Figure 7, the ice chest folded in a plan view. Figure 8, a vertical section through the cooler. Figure 9, a horizontal section through the cooler. Figure 10, the detail marked "A" in Figure 9, in an amplified representation. Figure 11, the detail marked "B" in Figure 8, in an amplified representation. Figure 12, the detail marked "C" in Figure 8, in an amplified representation. Figure 13, the detail marked "D" in Figure 8, in an amplified representation. Figure 14, the detail marked "E" in Figure 8, in an amplified representation. Figure 15, the detail marked "F" in Figure 8, in an amplified representation. Figure 16, the detail marked "G" in Figure 9, in an amplified representation. Figure 17, a simplified embodiment, namely, in a schematic representation in perspective. Figure 18, the view of a vertical section through the cooler according to Figure 17 along the line Z. Figure 19, the view of a horizontal section through the cooler according to Figure 17 as shown in FIG. along the line X. Figure 20, a schematic representation of another embodiment of the joining of two external walls of the ice chest according to Figure 17. Figure 21, a section through the ice chest according to Figure 1. The Figure 22, a representation rotated at 180 °, amplified, according to Figure 21.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION Figures 1 to 9, as well as the detailed drawings of Figures 10 to 16, show a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention. In this case, the cooler, which is indicated in its entirety with reference 1, is configured essentially in the form of a drawer and has cooler parts fixed in their shape, namely, side walls 6, 7, lid 2, bottom 5, front wall 4 and rear 3, which are all movably joined together, so that the ice chest can be folded into a surface of approximately the rear or front wall. The cooler shown in this mode is a thermo-chiller, in particular a cooler. In the section representations according to Figures 8 and 9 and the corresponding detailed drawings of Figures 10 to 16, the individual parts can be better described. Both the rear wall 3 and the front wall 4, the lid 2, the bottom 5 and the side walls 6 and 7 are configured as hollow chamber profiles. The cover 2, the rear wall 3, the front wall 4, the bottom 5 and the side walls 6 and 7 are formed in at least two parts and consist respectively of a base part 8, 10, 12, 14, 16 or 18 and respectively a cover part 9, 11, 13, 15, 17 or 19. The base part 12 of the rear wall 3 is essentially configured as a flat plate and carries in conveniently distributed locations of its internal sides 21 directed to the cover part 13 , protruding pins coacting with matching sleeves 171 on the inner side 172 of the cover part 13, in the manner of a clamping joint. On its lateral edge 23 adjacent to the bottom 5, in this mode, five articulation forks 26 are configured, which extend along the base part 12 in a meshed manner in the articulation axes 27 of the bottom 5. As shown in Figure 15, the articulation forks 26 consist of respectively two arms 28, 29 arranged parallel one above the other and at a distance from each other, and form a hook 30 having an opening 37 at its free end. At its end opposite the opening 37, the hook is transformed into a bearing 38, which, like the articulation shafts 27 of the bottom 5, has accommodation rollers 40. The upper arm 28 of the articulation fork 26 is provided with a rounded outer surface 41 at its free end. On the inner surface 43 of the base part 12, directed to the interior of the cooler, is arranged a bag 45 (Figure 8) suitable for the housing of refrigerating elements. The cover part 13 forms a part of the outer wall of the cooler 1. Between the base part 12 and the cover part 13 is formed at least one hollow chamber 47 and / or 50. The depth of the chamber is determined by the edge layer 54 and the central layer 57. The bottom of the cover 51 is formed in a stepped manner and has approximately half between the bottom and the cover, a step 60, so that the bottom of the cover 51 is more behind the bottom of the cover 53 and a concavity 70 of approximately the thickness of the cover 2 is formed. At the height of the step 60, a spacing rib 72 is provided, which is presented as either a continuous flange or as a flange 73 distributed along the cooler. In the case of the configuration of a flange, the base part 12 is subdivided, that is to say formed by an upper part and a lower part, which rest on or are in contact with the flange. In the other case, when the projection is configured as beads, the base part of a piece 12 is perforated by corresponding reception interruptions. The lateral limits 58, 59 are configured as bags for the reception of articulation arms 75, 76. For this, the lateral limits 58, 59 have corresponding hollow chambers 77, in which the articulated arms 75, 76 can be inserted, or well, press respectively. In this case it should be noted that the lateral limits 58, 59 have such a length that a step 78 is formed with respect to the base part 12 of the rear wall 3, in such a way that sufficient space is available for receiving the bottom 5 which will fold upwards, on which the side walls 6 and 7 can pivot.

The link arms 75, 76 have a connecting piece 79 and at the end directed to the side walls 6, 7, a series of articulating forks 101 arranged one below the other. The connection piece 79 of the articulation arms 75, 76 may consist of several arms arranged one above the other along the height of the rear wall, or of only one rectangular hollow parallelepiped. Regardless of its configuration, a connection flange 102 is provided covering the hollow chamber 77 of the lateral boundary 58. As clearly seen in Figure 16, the articulating forks 101 and the articulating forks 26 consist of arms 86 and 110 spaced apart together, which form a hook 88 suitable for the introduction of a bearing shaft 112, which opens into a bearing 89 within the articulation fork, where the bearing shaft 112 rests. To be able to effect without friction or resistance the turning movement inward of the side wall 7, or 6, also in this case the arms 86 of the articulation fork 101 have rounded external surfaces. The bottom 5 in turn comprises a base part 14 and a cover part 15. The base part 14 is essentially formed by a flat plate carrying pins 91 projecting downwards. These pins 91 are inserted into opposite receiving sleeves 93, arranged on the inner side 92 of the cover part 15. Likewise, on the inner side 92 of the cover part 15, spacing ribs 94 protruding, spaced from each other, are provided. , which again form at least one hollow chamber 95 of the bottom 5. In its lateral edge directed to the rear wall 3, the bottom 5 has the articulation flanges 27 that penetrate the intermediate spaces of the articulation forks 26. that the bottom 5, the side walls 6, 7 and the rear wall 3, also the front wall 4 is configured as a hollow chamber profile and consists of a base part 8 and a cover part 9. The base part 8 is configured essentially as a flat plate and carries on its inner side 96 directed to the cover part 9, protruding pins 97, which can be inserted into receiving sleeves 99 arranged on the internal side 98 of the cover part 9. In particular Figures 10 and 11 show that in the base part 8 bags 120 are formed directed towards the cover part 9, which fulfill two functions. On the one hand, these bags 120, with their side walls 150 and their front surface 151, constitute a distance means with respect to the cover part 9, and on the other, they serve for the accommodation of a rail 103. This has a cross section essentially U-shaped and projecting almost all over the inner side of the front wall 4, from a side wall 6 to the opposite side wall 7. The U-shaped rail 103 has a passage chamber 104 which also extends along the length of the rail 103. In the distanced flange 105 of the rail 103, towards the inner side of the cooler, heels 106 are designed facing downwards, or upwards, forming a guide groove 4108 between their front surfaces 107 The articulation segment 109 arranged in the side walls 6, 7 is guided in the passage rails. Preferably, in the side walls 6, 7, at the level of the rails 103, inlets 152 are provided, in which they are located. axes of bearing 111 that extend vertically. The articulation elements 109 have a hammer-shaped head 153, which is placed in the passage chamber 104 of the rail 103 and engages the heels 106 of the flange 105. From the guide groove 108 the articulated fork 113 protrudes on the head 153, which can be hooked around the bearing shaft 111 by slightly separating the arms from the fork 114. As shown in Figures 8, 9 and 16, the side walls 67, on the opposite side, bear articulating shafts 115, which engage respectively between the articulation fork 101 of the rear wall 3. The lid 2, like the other parts of the ice chest, is also configured as a hollow chamber profile and consists of a base part 10 and a cover part 11. The base part 10 is essentially a flat plate, the plate being provided at its step edges 116, 117 in this case. On its inner side 118 facing the part of cover 11, the base part 10 carries protruding pegs 119, 154, which cooperate with sleeves 122 disposed on the inner side 121 of the cover part 11. By means of the spacer ribs 123 and the outer ribs 124, at least one hollow chamber 125 between the base part 10 and the cover part 11. Along its lateral edge directed in the opposite direction to the front wall, the cover 2 carries articulation shafts 126, which are introduced In the intermediate spaces of the hinge covers 127 of the rear wall 3 and, either, they carry articulation shafts 128 which extend themselves transversely, with which they can be hooked on the hinge covers 127, or are traversed by this type of articulation axes 128 or, likewise, can be hooked into them. Also, the above also refers to the other articulation parts of the side walls, the rear wall, etc. By means of the arrangement of the articulation parts described, in particular between the side walls 6, 7 with the rear wall 3, as well as between the bottom 5 and the rear wall 3, hinges 129, 130 are formed. It is also a feature of the present invention that the individual parts of the cooler are made of separate modules, which eliminate the screwing or riveting, as also the rear wall 3, the front wall 4, the bottom 5, the side walls 6 and 7 as well as the cover 2, they are composed of individual segments. In the side edges 131 near the side walls 6, 7 (see Figures 1 to 9), the cover 2 carries a pin 132, which is formed from the lateral edge, respectively. Similar to the parts of the walls, the pin may be formed by a separate part, which engages in the side wall. A carrying handle 25 is hingedly placed on this pin 132. This is essentially configured as a transport bead approximately U-shaped, whose downwardly extending arms 133 respectively have an elongated hole 134 projecting in the longitudinal direction of the legs. arms. Through this elongated hole 134 the pins 132 are inserted. The free ends of the carrying handle 25 are configured as double hook parts. The width of the transport handle 25 in the shape of a heel, that is to say the distance of the arm extending downwards 133, is chosen in such a way that the force of the side walls 6, 7 can be hooked by means of parts of the same. hook 135 in retention heads 136 arranged in the walls. For this, the carrying handle 25 can be pivoted approximately about the axis of the pin 132, so that the hook with its concavity 137 can be disengaged from the retaining element 136. Additionally, the transporting bead 25 is configured in such a way through its elongated perforation 134, the pin 132, with its rod not visible here in detail, can be guided along the elongated hole 134, thereby guaranteeing a relative linear movement in addition to the pivoting movement for the heel of 25. On the side 138 facing the front wall 4, the transport bead 25 carries another hook 139, which with the open lid 2 can be hooked on the retaining pins 140 at the lateral limits 58/59 of the rear wall 3. In the state of the portable cooler 1 according to Figure 1, all parts of the cooler were folded to obtain a box-like configuration. The carrying handle 25 is hooked with its hook 135 in the retaining head 136, so that the carrying handle 125 protrudes vertically from the lid 2. If the cooler 1 is not to be used, it can fold itself, so that the side walls, the lid, the bottom, the front wall and the rear wall can be bent to a surface of approximately the rear wall or the front wall, without the parts therein being to be separated from each other. For this purpose, first the transport bead 25 is released from its engagement with the retaining head 136. In the exit position, the pin 132 is approximately half of the elongated perforation 134. By pressing on the transverse rib 141 of the transport bead 25 in the direction of the arrow A, the hook 135 is released from the holding head 136 and can be pivoted approximately about the axis of the pin 132, against the rear wall 3. In the exit position shown in FIG. Figure 1, not only is a hold of the carrying handle 25, but also the lid 2 is tightly closed on the side walls 6, 7, the front wall 4 and the rear wall 3. In the situation in which the carrying handle 25 is hooked with its hook 135 in the retaining head 136 of the side walls 6/7, the lid 2 can not be distanced from its seat, since the pin 132 can not escape from the perforation wing rgada 134 of the carrying handle 25. If it is released from its retention, it can be moved linearly upwardly relative to the pin 132 in the position still slightly inclined towards the rear wall 3, so that the pin 132 abuts the lower limit 142 of the elongated perforation 134. At this time, it is also possible to open the lid 2 in situations II to VII (Figure 2), the hinge 143 formed by the articulation parts 126 to 128 acting between the lid 2 and the rear wall 3. Due to the pivoting ability of the carrying handle around the pin shaft 132, it is maintained in a vertical orientation to the position marked VII of the lid 2, in which it is placed inside the concavity 70. Immediately, the hook 139 of the carrying handle 25 engages in the retaining pin 140 of the rear wall 3. While in Figure 2 the intermediate stations of the pivoting movement of the cover 2 are shown, Figure 3 shows the pos. The above-described final embodiment of the lid 2 in the concavity 70. In order to further reduce the ice chest 1 in volume, the bottom 5 is first turned inward until it is as much as possible on the inner surface 43 of the rear wall 3. Also in this case acts the hinge 130 formed by the articulation parts 26, 27 and 40. The pivoting movement inward of the bottom 5 is illustrated in Figure 4. As a lifting means, on the inner side of the bottom is it provides a grip concavity not shown. Figure 5 clarifies the pivoting movement of the side walls 6 and 7, these permanently carrying the front wall 4, so that this, with the final position of the side walls 6 and 7 also adopts its final position, until reaching the position shown in Figures 6 and 7. At this point reference is made again to Figures 8 and 5. During the pivoting movement of the side walls 6 and 7 around the pivot point of their hinges 129, the hammer-shaped head 112 of the articulation element 109, fixedly caught in the rail 103, is guided along the passage chamber 104 and, due to the presence of the heels 106, it is prevented from leaving the rail 103. From the above it results a forced movement of the front wall 4 synchronized with the pivoting movement of the side walls 6 and 7, the articulation element 109 can not be subjected to any clamping force, as it can rotate about the bearing shaft 111. In this way, the d front 4 comes simultaneously with the side walls 6 and 7 pivoted inward, to their final position according to Figures 6 and 7. Both for the unfolded and collapsed situation of the cooler 1, the flanges 157 and 157a shown especially in Figures 13 and 15 have an important function. The flange 157 forms a support and a pivoting limit for the bottom 5. Since the flange protrudes from the bottom side of the bottom, on the bottom side of the side wall 3 there is a flange 157a at the same height. In this way, the cooler is always right. The variant of the ice chest indicated in its entirety as 201 and shown in perspective rear view in Figure 17, has an essentially parallelepiped shaped configuration and fixed external walls, namely a front wall 204, a rear wall 203 , a cover 202, a bottom 205 and the two side walls 206 and 207 opposite each other. All of said external walls are hingedly joined to the rear wall 203 along their side edges 231, 232, 233, 234, the side walls 2065, 207 possessing a central bending line 261, 271, parallel to the surface of the wall. back wall 203. The fold lines 261, 271 are indicated dotted in Figure 17. Along the fold lines 261, 271, any of the side walls 206, 207 can be folded inwardly, so that the wall front 204 can be moved with side walls 206, 207 folded inward, in the direction of the rear wall 203, after releasing the connections by engagement between the lid 202 and the front wall 204, as well as between the bottom 205 and the front wall 204. At this time, the lid 202 and the bottom 205 can be folded around the side edges 232, 234, in front of the front wall 204, downwards, or upwards, and latched there. Two pairs of flanges are formed from the rear wall, which consist respectively of the flanges 231, 233, 235, 237, which protrude outwards. The flanges 231, 233 of the first pair enclose a sharp angle upwards and the flanges 235, 237 of the second pair of flanges, which are at the same height as the flanges 231, 233, also enclose an acute angle upwards. These flanges find their counterpart not shown in a supermarket trolley either shown, so that the ice chest 201 can be hung with the flanges 231, 233, 235, 237 in the supermarket trolley. The view shown in Figure 18 of the section along the line Z of Figure 17, shows that the outer walls are lined on the inside with a thick thermal insulating material, which is indicated for the cover 202 with 222, for the front wall 204 with 242, for the bottom with 252 and for the rear wall with 239. In the heat-insulating material 239 a hollow bag 280 is formed, whose internal space is communicated through a filling valve 282 and a drain valve 284 , with the outside of the ice chest 201. The bag 280 is intended to house a refrigerating medium, for example, in the form of a gas cooled to a very low temperature, which the user of the ice chest 201 can load into the bag 280 of a The central reservoir through the filling valve 282. Otherwise, Figure 18 shows how, on the one hand, the lid 202, and on the other hand, the bottom 205 can be cuneiformly hooked on an upper flange 244, or good, lower flange 246 co nfiguradas in the front wall 204. Also, Figure 18 shows that the cover 202 provides a depression 224, which serves to accommodate a carrying handle 225 fixed to the lid. The partial view, presented in Figure 19, of a horizontal section along the line X of Figure 17, illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a side wall 206. The bottom 205 of the ice chest 1 is lined with insulating material 252 Respectively, also the side wall 206 is provided with insulating material 262 on the inner side. Along the bending line 261 a hinge 264 is formed over the entire height of the side wall 206, at its center, and the insulating material 262 is separated along the fold line 261. The resulting wall halves. lateral 266268, joined by means of the link 264, are respectively connected by a pin joint 263, 265 to the rear wall 203, or to the front wall 204. In this way, the side wall halves 266, 268 are connected to each other. they can pivot inwards according to the double arrows 267, 269, without losing the connection of the front wall 204 with the rear wall 203. In this inward turn on the insulating material 252 of the bottom 205, with the same configuration of the wall 207, the front wall 204 moves approximately parallel to the rear wall 203.

In an alternative embodiment of the ice chest 201, the side walls 206, 207 are not divided, that is, they do not have any fold lines 261, 271. While the side walls 206, 207 may be attached to the rear wall 203 by means of hinges corresponding to the pin joint 263, for the joining of the side walls 206, 207 to the front wall 204, a modality shown schematically in Figure 20 is preferably considered, in the action of the side wall 207 with the wall 204. The side wall 207 is provided at the lower end with a bent arm 274, which protrudes in the direction of the front wall 204. Along the lower edge of the front wall 204, an angular flange 248 is formed, the which has such dimensions, that the edge 249 that rises vertically from the angular flange, parallel to the surface of the front wall 204, can be hooked in the elbowed part of the arm 274. As can be seen, the insulating material 242 is correspondingly withdrawn in the region of the angular flange 48. At the upper end as well as at the upper and lower end of the side wall 206, directed to the front wall 204, a corresponding configuration of the joint is formed between the lower end shown of the side wall 207 and the front wall 204.

In this way, it is possible to fold inward the side walls 206 and 207 on the insulating material 252 of the bottom 205. Regarding the dimensions of the ice chest 201, it should be recommended that the width of one of the side walls 206, 207 is only half the width of the front wall 204. Both side walls 206, 207 can be folded completely in front of the rear wall 203 to fold the ice chest 201, pulling the side walls 206 and 207 the front wall 204 toward the rear wall 203. Next, the lid 202 and the bottom 205 can be rotated in front of the front wall 2Q4. Figure 21 shows a section through the rear wall 3, so that here the concavity 301 suitable for housing the hook 302 can be observed. Figure 22 shows an enlargement of the situation of Figure 21, rotated by 180 °. In this representation the pivoting capacity of the hook 302 is illustrated. It can also be seen that the hook 302, if not used, is immersed in the concavity 301.

Claims (35)

NOVELTY OF THE INVENTION Having described the above invention, it is considered as a novelty, and therefore, the content of the following is claimed as property: CLAIMS

1. A portable cooler essentially in the form of a drawer, in which the parts of fixed form, namely the side walls, the lid, the bottom, the front wall and the rear wall, are joined together movably by means of hinges or hinges , such that the parts of the cooler can be folded to a surface of approximately the bottom, the rear, side or front wall, characterized in that at least one articulated or hinge connection is formed (129, 130, 143, 155, 302, 265) between at least two parts of the cooler (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 and 207), by at least one guide rail (103, 248, 249 ) that is projected along the first part of the cooler (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207) or an articulated element respectively (109, 274) housed in it in a linearly displaceable manner of a second part of the ice chest (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207), the second part can be folded down of the cooler (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207) by means of its hinged or hinge joint (129, 130, 143 or 155, 300, 265) of the articulated element (109, 274), relatively to another part of the cooler (2, 3, 4, 5, 6 or 7, 202, 203, 204, 205, 206 or 207), with a parallel closing movement of the first part of the cooler with respect to the other part thereof, around a non-displaceable articulation axis (112, 301).

2. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulation joint (155, 300) formed by a guide rail (103, 248, 249) and the articulation element (109, 274) housed in a manner linearly movable therein, is disposed between the side walls (6, 7, 206, 207) and the front wall (4, 204).

3. A cooler according to claim 2, characterized in that there is a hinge connection (103) between the bottom (5) and the rear wall (3), which is formed by articulating forks (26) and articulation flanges (27) arranged on their adjacent marginal sides (163, 164), meshed together, through which an articulation axis (40) passes, around which the bottom (5) can be pivoted against the inner surface (43) of the rear wall (3).

4. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that there is a hinge connection (143) between the lid (2) and the rear wall (3), which is formed by articulation covers. (127) and articulation flanges (126) disposed on their adjacent marginal sides (165, 166), meshed together, through which an articulation axis (128) passes, around which the cover (2) can be pivoted against the external surface (156) of the rear wall (3).

5. A cooler according to claim 1 in any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that between the side walls (6, 7) and the rear wall (3) there is a hinge connection (129), which is formed by hinge flanges (115) and articulating forks (101) arranged on their adjacent marginal sides (167, 168), interlinked, through which passes a hinge axis (112), around which the side walls (6, 7) can be pivoted against the bottom (5) which is in contact with the inner surface (43) of the rear wall (3), being able to move the front wall (4) during the pivoting movement of the side walls (6, 7) towards the rear wall (3) and resting on the side walls (6, 7) that make contact with the bottom (5) rotated.

6. An ice chest as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the articulation elements (109) of the side walls (6), 7), housed in a linearly displaceable manner in the guide rail (103), can be pivoted, respectively, around an articulation axis (111) disposed in the front wall of the side walls (6, 7) adjacent to the front wall ( 4), and which extends longitudinally between the lid (2) and the bottom (5).

7. A cooler according to claim, characterized in that the articulation axes (111) are respectively arranged in a concavity (152) of the side walls (6, 7), which is configured on its front side ( 160) directed to the front wall (4) and open to its outer side (161).

8. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the articulation elements (109) of the side walls (6 and 7) are formed respectively by a hammer-shaped upper part (153) protruding from the front side (160) of the side walls (6, 7), and a hinge pin (113) formed therein, which movably surrounds the hinge axis (111).

9. An ice chest according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide rails (103) are respectively arranged in a bag (120) of the front wall (4), open towards the interior of the cooler ( 170), which extends transversely between the side walls (6, 7).

10. A cooler according to claim at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the guide rails (103) have essentially a U-shape and form a passage chamber (104) for the upper part in the form of hammer (153) of the articulation element (109), which is engaged by two found heels (106) of the guide rail (103).

11. A cooler according to claim 1 in any of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the parts of the cooler (2 to 7) are configured as hollow chamber profiles.

12. A cooler according to claim 11, characterized in that the parts of the cooler (2 to 7) are configured in at least two parts and consist respectively of a base part (8, 10, 12, 14, 16 , 18) and a cover part (9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19).

13. A cooler according to claim 12, characterized in that the base parts (8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) and the corresponding cover parts (9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) have means (122 and 154, 119 and 122, 97 and 99, 91 and 93, 20 and 171), with which they can be fitted, interlocked or hooked to a hollow chamber profile. 1 .

A cooler according to claim 13, characterized in that the means (122 and 154, 119 and 122, 97 and 99, 91 and 93, 20 and 171) for fitting, interlacing or hooking the base parts (8, 10). , 12, 14, 16, 18) and the corresponding cover parts (9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19) are respectively arranged on their adjacent internal sides.

15. An ice chest as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the rear wall (3) is formed with a bead (60) which forms a concavity (70) on the outer side (156). ) of the rear wall (3), suitable for housing the open cover (2).

16. A cooler according to claim as in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a support flange (157) supporting the bottom (5) is arranged on the front wall (4).

17. An ice chest as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the rear wall (3) has lateral limits (58, 59), which project in the plane of the side walls). , 7) and form a part of the side wall.

18. A cooler according to claim 17, characterized in that the lateral limits (58, 59) are configured as hollow chamber profiles suitable for the housing of articulation arms (75, 76).

19. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that a bag (45) suitable for housing refrigerating elements is disposed on the internal surface (43) of the rear wall (3).

20. An ice chest as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that retaining heads (136) that can be hooked by a handle are arranged on the outer sides of the side walls (6, 7). transport (25) configured with hook-shaped arms (133).

21. A cooler according to claim as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the carrying handle (25) is configured as a heel essentially U-shaped, whose arms (133) arranged parallel with distance protrude from the outer sides of the side walls (6, 7) and at least one hook (135) is formed at their free ends.

22. A cooler according to claim 21, characterized in that the arms (133) are traversed respectively by an elongated hole (134) projecting in the longitudinal direction of the arms, in which is housed a displaceable pin (132) forming an axis of rotation or pivoting, arranged in the corresponding lateral edge of the lid (2).

23. A cooler according to claim 22, characterized in that the pins (132) are arranged fixed to the rotation in the lid (2).

24. An ice chest as claimed in at least one of claims 1 to 23, characterized in that a retaining pin (140) engageable by a hook (139) disposed on the side limits (58, 59) is disposed respectively. the arms (133) of the carrying handle (25).

25. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that the side walls (6, 7, 206, 207) of the cover (2, 202), the bottom (5, 205), of the wall front (4, 204) and rear wall (3, 203) are coated with heat insulating material (22, 42, 52, 39, 222, 242, 252, 239).

26. A cooler according to claim as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a bag (280) is configured on the rear wall (203) and / or on the front wall (204) and / or the lid (202). ) that can be filled with coolant.

27. A cooler in accordance with the claim in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the bag (280) has a filling valve (282) as well as a drain valve (284).

28. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that each side wall (206, 207) has a central bending line (261, 271), which extends parallel to the rear wall (203). .

29. A cooler according to claim as claimed in any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rear wall (203) is profiled in such a manner (281, 283, 285, 287) that the cooler can be hung on a supermarket cart with the help of rear wall profiles.

30. A cooler according to claim 29, characterized in that the profiles have flanges protruding from the rear wall, formed from it.

31. A cooler according to claim 30, characterized in that the flanges are arranged in a cuneiform manner.

32. A cooler according to claim 1, characterized in that on the inner side of the side walls are configured guide flanges (249) in which guide elements (274) configured in another side wall are introduced.

33. A cooler according to claim 1 in any of the preceding claims, characterized by latching means for releasable fastening of the external walls of the cooler, both in the folded state and in the unfolded state.

34. A cooler according to claim as in at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the rear wall (3) there is provided at least one concavity (301) open towards the external side of the cooler, in which it is housed at least one pivoting hook (302).

35. A cooler according to claim at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on / on the inner side of the bottom provide auxiliary means to raise it.