US 9,290,313 · Granted 2016-03-22

The Collapsible Cooler Bag That Ships Flat and Keeps Food Fresh

This is a specialized insulated shipping bag that keeps food or medicine at the right temperature during delivery, then collapses down to almost nothing so companies can stack thousands of them in a warehouse. It uses reflective layers and foam insulation to trap cold (or heat) for hours or days without needing ice packs or electricity.

Curated and verified by the IsItPatented Editorial team

The plain-English version

What it protects

The claim covers a foldable insulated bag made of three key layers: a reflective outer shell that bounces heat away, a middle layer of open-cell foam that traps air and insulates, and an inner pouch that holds the cargo. What's protected is specifically this combination of materials working together in a bag that can be compressed flat for storage or shipping to retailers, then expanded and used to maintain precise temperatures for perishable goods during transit.

Why it matters

This patent matters because temperature-controlled shipping is critical for food delivery services, pharmaceutical companies, and meal-kit businesses—industries that exploded in the 2010s. A collapsible design cuts shipping costs dramatically; instead of sending rigid coolers that take up truck space going both directions, companies send flat bags that fold up after use. The patent blocks competitors from using this exact three-layer insulation approach in foldable form, which is the key innovation.

Real-world use

Every time someone receives a fresh meal kit, specialty cheese, or refrigerated medication at their door in an insulated pouch that arrives folded in a box, they're seeing this patent's design in action.

Original USPTO abstract

A collapsible insulated bag designed to allow items retained within an inner pouch thereof to remain within predetermined temperature ranges for predetermined periods of time and wherein the bags are designed to be easily compressed or compacted for storage or shipment to end users. The bags include at least an outer reflective layer, an intermediate open foam layer and the inner pouch layer.

Patent details

Publication number: US 9,290,313
Filing date: 2007-08-14
Grant date: 2016-03-22
Assignee: Coldkeepers, Llc
Inventor(s): DE LESSEUX LIONEL DE BAZELAIRE, STAMPFLI ROBERT GARY, FLOWERS, III LANGDON STRONG
CPC class: B65D81/3893

View original record on Google Patents →

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