US20220274764A1

US20220274764A1 - Thermal container

Info

Publication number: US20220274764A1
Application number: US17/185,976
Authority: US
Inventors: Jinfei Dong
Original assignee: Xiamen Kingqueen Industrial Co Ltd
Current assignee: Xiamen Kingqueen Industrial Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-02-26
Filing date: 2021-02-26
Publication date: 2022-09-01

Abstract

A thermal container includes a cover, a main body, an opening-closing assembly, and a plurality of support poles. The main body has a storage space therein. The opening-closing assembly includes an upper connecting member and a lower connecting member. The lower connecting member is hermetically connected to the main body. The upper connecting member is hermetically connected to the cover. The support poles are vertically arranged in the main body for supporting the lower connecting member. The support poles, the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are made of a hard material. The overall supporting strength of the thermal container is improved.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a thermal box, and more particularly to a thermal container.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Thermal containers are containers having thermal insulation properties. In our daily life, thermal boxes are widely used, especially in the fields of take-away food, medicine, scientific research, etc. for carrying articles that need to be kept in a constant temperature environment. Compared with a general storage box, the main body of a thermal box is made of special materials to attain a thermal function, so that the main body has a short-term thermal effect for storing food, medicines, samples, and the like and for maintaining the temperature and freshness of the above items.
The material of the main body of a conventional thermal box emphasizes its thermal insulation performance and can play a certain role in shaping. The load-bearing capacity of the overall structure is poor. Once a heavier object is placed on the top of the thermal box, it will cause the thermal box to deform or even collapse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a thermal container with high load-bearing capacity to ensure that the overall structure is stable and not deformed.
In order to achieve the above object, the present invention adopts the following technical solutions.
A thermal container comprises a cover, a main body, an opening-closing assembly, and a plurality of support poles. The main body has a storage space therein. The opening-closing assembly includes an upper connecting member and a lower connecting member. The lower connecting member is hermetically connected to an opening of the storage space. The lower connecting member has a through hole communicating with the storage space. The upper connecting member is hermetically connected to the cover. The upper connecting member is provided with a protruding portion matching the through hole. The protruding portion is movably, hermetically fitted in the through hole. The support poles are vertically arranged in the main body. Upper ends of the support poles support an underside of the lower connecting member. The support poles, the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are made of a hard material.
Preferably, the cover and the upper connecting member as well as the main body and the lower connecting member are connected in a sealed manner by bonding.
Preferably, the cover includes a first outer layer, a first interlayer and a first inner layer that are stacked in sequence.
Preferably, the main body includes a second outer layer, a second interlayer and a second inner layer that are stacked in sequence. The support poles are arranged between the second outer layer and the second inner layer.
Preferably, the main body is in the form of a box. The number of the support poles is four, and the four support poles are arranged at four corners of the main body, respectively.
Preferably, the second interlayer after being folded is formed with pole cavities at corner positions of the second interlayer for the support poles to be fitted therein.
Preferably, a side wall of each support pole is formed with a groove for insertion of the second interlayer.
Preferably, rear ends of the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are pivotally connected together, and front ends of the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are provided with a locking mechanism. The locking mechanism includes a hook disposed on the front end of the upper connecting member and a catching portion disposed on the front end of the lower connecting member. When the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are closed, the hook is buckled to the catching portion.
Preferably, the opening-closing assembly further includes a sealing ring. A side wall of the through hole is provided with an annular step. One side of the step, facing the protruding portion, is formed with an annular flange. The sealing ring is fitted onto the flange. When the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are closed, the protruding portion is in contact with the sealing ring and compresses the sealing ring to be deformed.
Preferably, the hard material is an injection moldable plastic material.
By adopting the above solutions, in the present invention, the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member serve as the frame of the thermal container. The support poles support the underside of the lower connecting member. The upper connecting member can increase the supporting strength of the cover, and the lower connecting member and the support poles can increase the supporting strength of the main body, so that the thermal container has a higher load-bearing capacity. Even if a heavy object is placed on the top of the thermal container, the overall structure is stable and will not be deformed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention in a closed state;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention in an open state;

FIG. 3 is a front view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a top view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a first implementation of the support poles of the preferred embodiment of the present invention (a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3);

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of a second implementation of the support poles of the preferred embodiment of the present invention (a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A of FIG. 3);

FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along line B-B of FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along line C-C of FIG. 4;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the opening-closing assembly of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the opening-closing assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the opening-closing assembly of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.
The present invention discloses a thermal container, comprising a cover 1, a main body 2, an opening-closing assembly, and a plurality of support poles 3.
The main body 2 has a storage space 21 therein.
The opening-closing assembly includes an upper connecting member 4 and a lower connecting member 5. The lower connecting member 5 is hermetically connected to an opening of the storage space 21. The lower connecting member 5 has a through hole 51 communicating with the storage space 21. The upper connecting member 4 is hermetically connected to the cover 1. The upper connecting member 4 is provided with a protruding portion 41 matching the through hole 51. The protruding portion 41 is movably, hermetically fitted in the through hole 51.
The support poles 3 are vertically arranged in the main body 2. The upper ends of the support poles 3 support the underside of the lower connecting member 5.
The support poles 3, the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 are made of a hard material.
FIGS. 1 to 11 show an embodiment of the present invention.
The rear ends of the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 are pivotally connected together. The front ends of the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 are provided with a locking mechanism. The upper connecting member 4 can be opened and closed relative to the lower connecting member 5. When opened, the upper connecting member 4 and the cover 1 are in an open state and suspended on the side of the main body 2. The upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 may be pivoted through a rotating shaft or a hinge, depending on the actual needs.
The cover 1 and the upper connecting member 4 as well as the main body 2 and the lower connecting member 5 are connected in a sealed manner by bonding.
The cover 1 includes a first outer layer 11, a first interlayer 12 and a first inner layer 13 that are stacked in sequence. The upper connecting member 4 is provided with a hollow structure 42 passing through the upper and lower surfaces of the upper connecting member 4. The first interlayer 12 is fitted in the hollow structure 42. The first outer layer 11 and the first inner layer 13 are hermetically connected to the upper surface and the lower surface of the upper connecting member 4, respectively.
The main body 2 includes a second outer layer 22, a second interlayer 23 and a second inner layer 24 that are stacked in sequence. The lower surface of the lower connecting member 5 is formed with an annular mounting groove 52. The upper end of the second interlayer 23 is fitted in the mounting groove 52. The second outer layer 22 and the second inner layer 24 are attached to the outer side and the inner side of the second interlayer 23, respectively. The upper ends of the second outer layer 22 and the second inner layer 24 are hermetically connected to the outer side and the inner side of the mounting groove 52, respectively. The support poles 3 are arranged between the second outer layer 22 and the second inner layer 24.
The first outer layer 11, the first inner layer 13, the second outer layer 22 and the second inner layer 24 are all made of a fabric. The fabric is formed of a composite material of a polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU), ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA) or poly ethylene-vinyl acetate (PEVA) material and a textile material. Both the first interlayer 12 and the second interlayer 23 are made of a plastic material. The plastic material is formed of a material having thermal insulation properties, such as PE cotton, ethylene-vinyl acetate (EVA), thermoplastic rubber (TPR), foam or nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR).
The main body 2 is in the form of a box. The number of the support poles 3 is four. The four support poles 3 are arranged at four corners of the main body 2, respectively.
There are many specific ways for the support poles 3 to be fitted in the main body 2 as long as the support poles 3 are always perpendicular to the lower connecting member 5 without shaking. FIG. 5 shows the first implementation of the support poles 3 in this embodiment. The second interlayer 23 after being folded is formed with pole cavities 231 at corner positions of the second interlayer 23 for the support poles 3 to be fitted therein. That is, the second interlayer 23 is used to fill the periphery of each support pole 3 to prevent the position of the support pole 3 from changing or to prevent the support pole 3 from shaking. FIG. 6 shows the second implementation of the support poles 3 in this embodiment. Each support pole 3 is formed with a groove 31 for insertion of the second interlayer 23. That is, the second interlayer 23 is retained by the side walls of the support poles 3, so that the two are held in place.
The locking mechanism includes a hook 6 disposed on the front end of the upper connecting member 4 and a catching portion 53 disposed on the front end of the lower connecting member 5. When the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 are closed, the hook 6 is buckled to the catching portion 53, so that the front end of the upper connecting member 4 is fastened to the front end of the lower connecting member 5. In this embodiment, the hook 6 is pivotally connected to the front end of the upper connecting member 4. The front end of the lower connecting member 5 is formed with a recess 54. The catching portion 53 is disposed in the recess 54. After the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 are closed, the hook 6 is located in the recess 54 and will not extend beyond the front ends of the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5, keeping the front ends of the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 flat. That is, the surface of the thermal container is flat.
The opening-closing assembly further includes a sealing ring 7. The side wall of the through hole 51 is provided with an annular step 55. One side of the step 55, facing the protruding portion 41, is formed with an annular flange 56. The sealing ring 7 is fitted onto the flange 56. When the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 are closed, the protruding portion 41 is in contact with the sealing ring 7 and compresses the sealing ring 7 to be deformed, so as to maintain airtightness between the protruding portion 41 and the step 55. The sealing ring 7 is secured on the flange 56 of the step 55. The sealing ring 7 is not easy to loose when the opening-closing assembly is closed or opened. The flange 56 abuts on the sealing ring 7 to deform the sealing ring 7, and the stressed area is small. The sealing ring 7 is more fully deformed and has a better sealing effect. In this embodiment, the sealing ring 7 is adhered to the flange 56. The sealing ring 7 is made of PVC, TPU, TPR, rubber or silicone.
The hard material is an injection moldable plastic material.
In practical applications, the main body 2 is generally made into the shape of a box or bag. Of course, in the present invention, the thermal container may be designed into two separate parts in other forms.
By adopting the above solutions, in the present invention, the upper connecting member 4 and the lower connecting member 5 serve as the frame of the thermal container. The support poles 3 support the underside of the lower connecting member 5. The upper connecting member 4 can increase the supporting strength of the cover 1, and the lower connecting member 5 and the support poles 3 can increase the supporting strength of the main body 2, so that the thermal container has a higher load-bearing capacity. Even if a heavy object is placed on the top of the thermal container, the overall structure is stable and will not be deformed.
When the thermal container of the present invention is used for bearing weight, it can be used as a chair. The thermal container provided by the present invention is more suitable for carrying when going out on a picnic or traveling.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A thermal container, comprising a cover, a main body, an opening-closing assembly, and a plurality of support poles;

the main body having a storage space therein;

the opening-closing assembly including an upper connecting member and a lower connecting member; the lower connecting member being hermetically connected to an opening of the storage space, the lower connecting member having a through hole communicating with the storage space; the upper connecting member being hermetically connected to the cover, the upper connecting member being provided with a protruding portion matching the through hole, the protruding portion being movably, hermetically fitted in the through hole;

the support poles being vertically arranged in the main body, upper ends of the support poles supporting an underside of the lower connecting member;

the support poles, the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member being made of a hard material.

2. The thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover and the upper connecting member as well as the main body and the lower connecting member are connected in a sealed manner by bonding.

3. The thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cover includes a first outer layer, a first interlayer and a first inner layer that are stacked in sequence.

4. The thermal container as claimed in claim 3, wherein the main body includes a second outer layer, a second interlayer and a second inner layer that are stacked in sequence, and the support poles are arranged between the second outer layer and the second inner layer.

5. The thermal container as claimed in claim 4, wherein the main body is in the form of a box; the number of the support poles is four, and the four support poles are arranged at four corners of the main body, respectively.

6. The thermal container as claimed in claim 5, wherein the second interlayer after being folded is formed with pole cavities at corner positions of the second interlayer for the support poles to be fitted therein.

7. The thermal container as claimed in claim 5, wherein a side wall of each support pole is formed with a groove for insertion of the second interlayer.

8. The thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein rear ends of the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are pivotally connected together, front ends of the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are provided with a locking mechanism; the locking mechanism includes a hook disposed on the front end of the upper connecting member and a catching portion disposed on the front end of the lower connecting member, when the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are closed, the hook is buckled to the catching portion.

9. The thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the opening-closing assembly further includes a sealing ring; a side wall of the through hole is provided with an annular step, one side of the step, facing the protruding portion, is formed with an annular flange, the sealing ring is fitted onto the flange; when the upper connecting member and the lower connecting member are closed, the protruding portion is in contact with the sealing ring and compresses the sealing ring to be deformed.

10. The thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the hard material is an injection moldable plastic material.

11. The thermal container as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main body includes a second outer layer, a second interlayer and a second inner layer that are stacked in sequence, and the support poles are arranged between the second outer layer and the second inner layer.