INSULATING CONTAINER AND METHOD OF FORMING SUCH A CONTAINER
An insulating container can be configured to retain a mass of food and/or beverages, and include an outer shell with a cuboidal shape and a first opening extending into a first inner cavity. The insulating container may also have an inner structure with an inner cuboidal shape and a second opening extending into the second inner cavity. A flange may be coupled between the outer shell and the inner structure to seal the first opening such that the outer shell is offset from the inner structure. A sealed vacuum cavity may be formed within the insulated double wall structure between the outer shell and the inner structure. Further, a bracing structure may brace a planar surface of the outer shell against the vacuum within the vacuum cavity.
1 . An insulating container comprising:
an outer shell defining an outer cuboidal shape with a first opening at a top side of the container extending into a first inner cavity;
an inner structure defining an inner cuboidal shape with a second opening at the top side of the container extending into a second inner cavity;
a flange, coupled between the outer shell and the inner structure at the top side of the container to seal the first opening, and such that the outer shell is offset from the inner structure;
a insulated double wall structure forming a sealed vacuum cavity between the outer shell and the inner structure; and
a bracing structure configured to brace a planar surface of the outer shell.
2 . The insulating container of claim 1 , wherein the container is formed of stainless steel.
3 . The insulating container of claim 1 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a bracket rigidly coupled to an outer surface of the inner structure, and configured to abut an inner surface of the outer shell.
4 . The insulating container of claim 1 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a ribbing structure.
5 . The insulating container of claim 4 , wherein the ribbing structure is integrally formed with the outer shell.
6 . The insulating container of claim 4 , wherein the ribbing structure is rigidly coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell.
7 . The insulating container of claim 1 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a lattice structure positioned within the sealed vacuum cavity.
8 . The insulating container of claim 1 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a vacuum-insulated panel within the sealed vacuum cavity.
9 . The insulating container of claim 1 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a boss structure.
10 . The insulating container of claim 9 , wherein the boss structure is integrally-formed with the inner structure.
11 . The insulating container of claim 1 , further comprising a lid configured to resealably-seal the second opening.
12 . The insulating container of claim 11 , wherein the lid is removably-coupled to the insulating container by a magnetic hinge element.
13 . A method of forming an insulating container comprising:
forming an outer shell defining an outer cuboidal shape with a first opening at a top end of the container extending into a first inner cavity;
forming an inner structure defining an inner cuboidal shape with a second opening at the top end of the container extending into a second inner cavity, the inner structure having a flange, integrally formed with the inner structure, and extending around the second opening;
forming a bracing structure configured to brace a planar surface of the outer shell;
rigidly coupling the flange to the outer shell to seal the first opening; and
evacuating a mass of gas from a cavity between the outer shell and the inner structure to form a vacuum-insulated double wall structure.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the outer shell and the inner structure are formed using stamping processes.
15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a ribbing structure.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ribbing structure is integrally formed with the outer shell.
17 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the ribbing structure is rigidly coupled to an inner surface of the outer shell.
18 . The insulating container of claim 13 , wherein the bracing structure comprises a boss structure.
19 . The insulating container of claim 18 , wherein the boss structure is integrally-formed with the inner structure.
20 . An insulating container comprising:
an outer shell defining an outer cuboidal shape with a first opening at a top side of the container extending into a first inner cavity;
an inner structure defining an inner cuboidal shape with a second opening at the top side of the container extending into a second inner cavity, the inner structure rigidly coupled to the outer shell at the top side of the container;
a insulated double wall structure forming a sealed vacuum cavity between the outer shell and the inner structure; and