Conventional chest coolers store a coolant (typically ice or freezer packs) with items to be kept cool. These coolers generally include a single internal storage space to store items. Frequently, the items inside will become moist from condensation or simply as ice melts within the cooler. Such an environment is not suitable for many items that may be needed for activities requiring the use of the cooler. For example, paper products and other moisture-sensitive items, as well as items that do not need to be cooled, may still need to be transported to the location of a desired activity. Traditionally, these items would be carried separate from the cooler thereby increasing the number of separate items that need to be carried from a vehicle or storage location to the location of the activity.
A chest cooler wrap system including a flexible base that may be formed from a textile material configured to substantially surround an outer surface of a chest cooler. The end potions of the base may overlap one another and be secured together with the overlapping portion adjustable to account for differently sized coolers. Accommodations for drainage taps and cooler handles may be made by the placement of recesses in the base and accessories for use with the cooler may be mounted to the base.
It will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the various drawings are for illustrative purposes only. The nature of the present invention, as well as other embodiments of the present invention, may be more clearly understood by reference to the following detailed description, the attached appendix, to the appended claims, and to the several drawings.
Throughout the description, similar reference numbers may be used to identify similar elements.
The present disclosure relates to a wrap for a cooler. It will be readily understood that the components of the embodiments as generally described herein and illustrated in the appended figures could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of various embodiments, as represented in the figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure, but is merely representative of various embodiments. While the various aspects of the embodiments are presented in drawings, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale unless specifically indicated.
Cooler wraps in accordance with the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of this disclosure includes the material present in the drawing figures, the appended claims, and the attached appendix rather than being limited by this detailed description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of this disclosure are to be embraced within its scope.
Reference throughout this specification to features, advantages, or similar language does not imply that all of the features and advantages that may be realized with the present invention should be or are in any single embodiment in accordance with this disclosure. Rather, language referring to the features and advantages is understood to mean that a specific feature, advantage, or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment in accordance with this disclosure. Thus, discussions of the features and advantages, and similar language, throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, refer to the same embodiment.
Furthermore, the described features, advantages, and characteristics discussed in this disclosure may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, in light of the description herein, that the teachings of this disclosure can be practiced without one or more of the specific features or advantages of a particular embodiment. In other instances, additional features and advantages may be recognized in certain embodiments that may not be present in all embodiments.
Reference throughout this specification to “one embodiment,” “an embodiment,” or similar language means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the indicated embodiment is included in at least one embodiment in accordance with the present disclosure. Thus, the phrases “in one embodiment,” “in an embodiment,” and similar language throughout this specification may, but do not necessarily, all refer to the same embodiment.
While many embodiments are described herein, at least some of the described embodiments include an external storage system configurable to be placed on the outside of a chest cooler. The described embodiments facilitate removable and configurable storage, attachment, and organization of items on the outside of the cooler. In some embodiments, the system adds carrying capacity to a cooler without occupying internal space. In some embodiments, the system has adjustment structures to facilitate adjustment of the system to fit a variety of cooler sizes and shapes. In some embodiments, the system provides additional functionality described in more detail with reference to the corresponding figures.
The illustrated embodiment of the wrap 12 includes a base 20 and accessories 22. The base 20 may be a fabric, composite, polymer, or other material.
The base 20 may be flexible to adapt to the surface of the cooler 14 or have rigid portions to provide more resilience and other functions. The base 20 fits around the outer surface of the cooler 14. The base 20 facilitates mounting the accessories 22 of the wrap 12.
The accessories 22 attach to the base 20 of the wrap 12 to provide additional functionality. For example, the accessories 22 may be containment structures such as pockets to provide storage locations, mounting structures such as attachment points or retaining clips/straps/loops, connecting structures to provide electrical connections (described in more detail relative to
Some examples of the accessories 22 also include, waterproof pockets, mesh pockets, cinchable pockets, multi-layer pockets, cup holders, straps, chains, handles, clips, loops, lockable attachment points, wheels, skids, electronic devices or device mounts, electrical connectors, and logo or other aesthetic panels. Other accessories may also be included in the wrap 12.
The accessories 22 may attach using hook-and-loop, clips, snaps, buttons, post-and-hole, magnetic, or other attaching means. In some embodiments, one or more of the accessories 22 is fixed while one or more of the accessories are removable. In some embodiments, specific accessories 22 may match with specific locations on the base 20. For example, one location on the base 20 may be designated for pockets while another location is designated for attachment loops. In other embodiments, the base 20 may universally accept any accessory 22 having the corresponding mounting means.
In another embodiment, wheels 26 may be incorporated as an accessory attached to the wrap 12. This would allow wheels to be used for a cooler 14 that does not come with wheels 26 installed on the cooler 14. Other embodiments may include accommodations for other features or aspects of the cooler 14.
In some embodiments, the accommodation 24 may be an accessory that provides a handle 28 on a cooler 14 that does not include original handles. Other embodiments may include other accommodations 24 with other functionality and advantages.
The top securing structures 34 and 36 may incorporate hook-and-loop closure or a clip closure 38 or a snap closure 40. Other embodiments include other attachment means. Additionally, although the top securing structures 34 are shown as attaching directly to the base portion of the top securing structure 36, a second set of straps may extend from the wrap 12 to attach the top securing structures 34 and 36 together. In some embodiments, the top securing structures 34 and 36 are adjustable.
The illustrated embodiment of the wrap 12 includes a base 20 and accessories 22. The base 20 may be a fabric, composite, polymer, or other material. The wrap 12 may include recesses 117 formed as cuts for accommodating wheels or drainage taps on the side of the cooler 14.
The base 20 may be flexible to adapt to the surface of the cooler 14 or have rigid portions to provide more resilience and other functions. The base 20 fits around the outer surface of the cooler 14. The base 20 facilitates mounting the accessories 22 of the wrap 12.
The accessories 22 attach to the base 20 of the wrap 12 to provide additional functionality. For example, the accessories 22 may be containment structures such as pockets to provide storage locations, mounting structures such as attachment points or retaining clips/straps/loops, connecting structures to provide electrical connections (as was described in more detail relative to
Some examples of the accessories 22 also include, waterproof pockets, mesh pockets, cinchable pockets, multi-layer pockets, cup holders, straps, chains, handles, clips, loops, lockable attachment points, wheels, skids, electronic devices or device mounts, electrical connectors, and logo or other aesthetic panels. Other accessories may also be included in the wrap 12.
One especially useful accessory may be a water resistant or waterproof pouch. Such a pouch may have a transparent plastic or vinyl panel allowing the contents to be viewed. Such a pouch may be especially useful for retaining electronic devices such as cell phones, table computers, MP3 players, etc and allow them to be used. Such pouches may include connections allowing use with other electronic devices retained in accessories 22 or constructed as part of the wrap 12 as discussed in connection with
The accessories 22 may attach using hook-and-loop portions 122 (
As depicted, the embodiment of
Chest cooler wrap 12 may further include securing structures 30, 32, 110, 112, 114, and 116. The illustrated embodiment depicts the wrap 12 with hook-and-loop side securing structures 30 and 32. Other embodiments may include clips, straps, laces, buttons, snaps, zippers, or other manners of securing. In some embodiments, the side securing structures 30 and 32 are adjustable to accommodate various sizes and shapes of coolers 14. For example, the width of the two securing structures 30 and 32 allows the overlap therebetween to the adjusted to accommodate different sized chest coolers 14.
While adjusting the tautness of the wrap 12 around the chest cooler 14 may be sufficient to retain the wrap 12 in place in some embodiments, additional securing may be provided by a securing strap 110. In the embodiment depicted in
The illustrated embodiment of the wrap 12 includes a base 20 and accessories 22. The base 20 may be a fabric, composite, polymer, or other material. The wrap 12 may include one or more recesses 117 formed as a side cut for accommodating a drainage tap on the side of the cooler 140 or 142. Similarly, it may include one or more accommodating recesses 118 formed as a passage therethrough for allowing a structure, such as a cup holder, on the cooler 140 or 142 to pass therethrough and be used.
The base 20 may be flexible to adapt to the surface of the cooler 140 or 142 or may have rigid portions to provide more resilience and other functions. The base 20 fits around the outer surface of the cooler 140 or 142. The base 20 facilitates mounting the accessories 22 of the wrap 12.
The accessories 22 attach to the base 20 of the wrap 12 to provide additional functionality. For example, the accessories 22 may be containment structures such as pockets to provide storage locations, mounting structures such as attachment points or retaining clips/straps/loops, connecting structures to provide electrical connections (as was described in more detail relative to
Some examples of the accessories 22 also include, waterproof pockets, mesh pockets, cinchable pockets, multi-layer pockets, cup holders, straps, chains, handles, clips, loops, lockable attachment points, wheels, skids, electronic devices or device mounts, electrical connectors, and logo or other aesthetic panels. Other accessories may also be included in the wrap 12.
One especially useful accessory may be a water resistant or waterproof pouch. Such a pouch may have a transparent plastic or vinyl panel allowing the contents to be viewed. Such a pouch may be especially useful for retaining electronic devices such as cell phones, table computers, MP3 players, etc and allow them to be used. Such pouches may include connections allowing use with other electronic devices retained in accessories 22 or constructed as part of the wrap 12 as discussed in connection with
The accessories 22 may attach using hook-and-loop portions 122, clips, snaps 120, buttons, post-and-hole, magnetic, or other attaching means. In some embodiments, one or more of the accessories 22 may be fixed while one or more of the accessories may be removable. In some embodiments, specific accessories 22 may match with specific locations on the base 20. For example, one location on the base 20 may be designated for pockets while another location is designated for attachment loops 124. In other embodiments, the base 20 may universally accept any accessory 22 having the corresponding mounting means. This can allow a user to customize the wrap for a particular use or as the user desires.
As depicted, the embodiment of
Chest cooler wrap 12 may further include securing structures 30 and 32. The illustrated embodiment depicts the wrap 12 with hook-and-loop side securing structures 30 and 32. Other embodiments may include clips, straps, laces, buttons, snaps, zippers, or other manners of securing. In some embodiments, the side securing structures 30 and 32 are adjustable to accommodate various sizes and shapes of coolers 14. For example, the width of the two securing structures 30 and 32 allows the overlap therebetween to be adjusted to accommodate different sized chest coolers 14.
In the above description, specific details of various embodiments are provided. However, some embodiments may be practiced with less than all of these specific details. In other instances, certain methods, procedures, components, structures, and/or functions are described in no more detail than to enable the various embodiments of the invention, for the sake of brevity and clarity.
Although the operations of the method(s) herein are shown and described in a particular order, the order of the operations of each method may be altered so that certain operations may be performed in an inverse order or so that certain operations may be performed, at least in part, concurrently with other operations. In another embodiment, instructions or sub-operations of distinct operations may be implemented in an intermittent and/or alternating manner.
While this disclosure has been described using certain illustrative embodiments, the teachings of the present disclosure can be further modified within its spirit and scope. This application is therefore intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as come within known or customary practices in the art.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/169,168, filed Jun. 1, 2015, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
62169168 | Jun 2015 | US |