Removable Lining System For Coolers

Abstract

A lining system for a cooler may include a waterproof container portion that defines an opening that has a generally cuboid shape and a volume of greater than 20 quarts. The bottom surface of the container portion as well as the walls of the container portion may be formed from a biodegradable polyester material. In addition, a drain tube may extend at least five inches from a wall of the container portion to allow a liquid collecting within the opening to drain from the waterproof container.

Description

FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure relates to coolers and, more specifically, to a removable lining system for coolers.

BACKGROUND

Beverage containers come in many different sizes and shapes. Beverages may be served in bottles, in cans, in plastic cups, in glasses, and in insulated containers just to name a few. Many of these containers are designed to be hand-held, but there are circumstances that make holding multiple containers at once difficult or dangerous. Moreover, there are times when it is desirable to keep a collection of beverage containers cold or hot for extended periods of time. Aquatic and outdoor activities are frequently enjoyed in areas that do not lend themselves to the use of a refrigerator or an oven, and it is common for a person to want a cold or warm beverage while they are enjoying these types of activities. As such, individuals often need a cooler that is capable of holding multiple containers and keeping those containers at or near a desired temperature. Additionally, other items may be stored in a cooler such meats, cheeses, etc.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one example, a removable lining system for a cooler includes: a waterproof container at least partially defining an opening having a generally cuboid shape with a volume of greater than 20 quarts; a bottom surface of the container; a front wall of the container; a back wall of the container; a first side wall of the container; a second side wall of the container; a lifting handle; a drain tube extending at least five inches from the first side wall and formed such that a liquid collecting within the opening can drain from the waterproof container through a hole in the first side wall and the drain tube; and a biodegradable polyester material forming the waterproof container.

In an example, the system further comprises a top component of the container that includes a closing component that facilitates a sealing of the container, where the closing component includes at least one of a zipper, a hook and loop component, an adhesive material, and cooperating coupling structures that removably interlock when pressed together.

In an example, the system further comprises a second lifting handle.

In an example, the system further comprises a platform structure component extending downward from an exterior side of the bottom surface that facilitates a maintaining of the waterproof container away from an interior bottom surface of a cooler within which the waterproof container is placed.

In an example, the biodegradable polyester material is a semirigid plastic, and the waterproof container is molded to fit within the cooler.

In an example, the biodegradable polyester material is a rigid plastic, and the waterproof container is molded to fit within the cooler.

In an example, the biodegradable polyester material is a flexible plastic, and the waterproof container is molded to fit within the cooler.

In another example, a removable lining system for a cooler, comprises: a waterproof insert at least partially defining an opening with a volume of greater than 20 quarts; a bottom surface of the insert; a front wall of the insert; a back wall of the insert; a first side wall of the insert; a second side wall of the insert; a first lifting handle extending from at least one of the front wall and the first side wall; a second lifting handle extending from at least one of the back wall and the second side wall; and a polyester material forming the bottom surface, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first lifting handle, and the second lifting handle.

In an example, the polyester material has a thickness between two mils and eight mils.

In an example, the polyester material has a thickness that is greater than eight mils.

In an example, the waterproof insert has a geometry that facilitates a stacking of a first waterproof insert within a second waterproof insert.

In an example, the waterproof insert has a geometry that facilitates a fitting within the cooler that results in a gap between an interior surface of the cooler and an exterior surface of the waterproof insert that is less than one inch.

In an example, the gap does not exceed one inch at any point along the bottom surface, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall.

In an example, the polyester material is a biodegradable plastic that dissolves into nontoxic components in seawater, further where the polyester material has a density of greater than 1.05 g/cm{circumflex over ( )}3.

In an example, the system further comprises a sealable top component of the waterproof insert that includes a closing component including at least one of a zipper, a hook and loop component, an adhesive material, and cooperating coupling structures that removably interlock when pressed together.

In an example, the insert surfaces are not all of an identical thickness.

In an example, the system further comprises the cooler.

In an example, the cooler is a roto-molded cooler with insulating foam in its walls, further where the cooler has an interior capacity selected from a group of a 22+/−10% quart capacity, a 28+/−10% quart capacity, a 37+/−10% quart capacity, a 46+/−10% quart capacity, a 52+/−10% quart capacity, a 79+/−10% quart capacity, an 84+/−10% quart capacity, and a 92+/−10% quart capacity.

In one example, the cooler is a soft-sided cooler, and in another example, the cooler is a hard-sided cooler

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

A more complete understanding of the present embodiments and advantages thereof may be acquired by referring to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numbers indicate like features, and wherein:

FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a removable lining system for coolers that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 illustrates an element of a given embodiment of a lining system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 illustrates an element of a given embodiment of a lining system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 illustrates an element of a given embodiment of a lining system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 illustrates an element of a given embodiment of a lining system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 6 illustrates an element of a given embodiment of a lining system that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following discussion is intended to provide one skilled in the art with various teachings that can be combined and/or separated to create useful and/or desirable products. The teachings can be employed in a variety of settings. For example, a designer could use these teachings to create a hiking-oriented, hunting-oriented, fishing-oriented, and/or other use-oriented product. Additionally, a designer may want to employ many of these teachings to produce a product that works in the absence of a cooler.

While there are many opportunities for designers to use the teachings disclosed herein, the majority of this detailed description section will focus on embodiments designed for utilizing a removable lining system in a hard-sided cooler that typically utilizes ice cubes or other frozen objects to keep items located within the cooler at or near a desired temperature. The decision to focus on this implementation is not intended to limit the scope of the teachings, but rather to facilitate a clear presentation of the teachings.

Coolers tend to be of two types: hard-sided insulated containers or soft-sided insulated containers. Portable hard-side insulated containers tend to be made of molded plastic, with an inner surface that helps define the parameters of the volume or space inside the cooler, an outer surface that a user can see and touch when the cooler lid is closed, and an insulation space between the inner and outer surfaces. Hard-sided containers are usually rigid and frequently heavy. They also tend to be more expensive than their soft-sided counterparts. A soft-sided cooler, by contrast, often relies on an external wall structure that is not substantially rigid. The wall structure may incorporate a multi-layer design that includes an outside layer of webbing or fabric, an inside layer of waterproof webbing or fabric, and a flexible insulation layer positioned between the inner and outer layers. A designer will recognize that layers may be added or removed to meet certain objectives. In some embodiments, a soft-sided cooler may include a rigid or semi-rigid element to give the cooler some stability and to help the cooler maintain a given shape or protect items inside the cooler.

No matter the cooler type, many users do not like to have certain things placed within the cooler. There may be, for example, a fear that a given item placed within the cooler will contaminate the cooler and disallow continued general use of the cooler. Whether any contamination exists may not be that important. The fear of contamination may be paramount. For example, a hunter may skin and quarter an elk or whitetail deer and place the meat inside a cooler. A fisherman may throw fish inside the cooler while fishing only to clean the fish later. In either case, the hunter or the fisherman may not want to continue using that cooler for general uses like cooling down sodas, etc. In effect, the cooler may be relegated to only being used with game or fish. Given the price of many modern coolers, this may be an expensive decision. The hunter and fisherman may benefit from being able to insert a liner into the cooler before adding the quarters or fish and then simply discard the liner as opposed to limiting further use of the cooler.

Throughout this description, containers of all sorts may be referred to as “coolers.” Similarly, the portion of the container that opens and closes to facilitate accessing whatever is stored within the container will typically be referred to as the top or lid of the container. As such, the base panel upon which a cooler may rest when placed on the ground or other surface will typically be referred to as the bottom. The multiple layers that may make up the sidewalls may be formed as a sandwich of various components. For example, an inner and outer layer may be molded plastic while an insulating layer may include a foam component. As noted above, sidewall elements of the cooler may have insulating properties such that heat transfer across the panel is limited. An example of a potential panel construction is an internal core of foam such as closed cell polyurethane foam. The insulating foam may be encased within a protective, potentially waterproof layer provided on the interior and exterior of the container. As explained in more detail below, a lining system incorporating teachings disclosed herein may include a draining tube that facilitates a removal of liquid such as melted ice from a space defined by the lining system.

To be clear, potential insulated coolers incorporating the teachings of this disclosure may be used to carry cold items such as soda, beer, sandwiches, ice cream, meat, and so on. Alternatively, the insulated coolers can be used to transport hot items such as casseroles, lasagna, vegetables, etc.

With that said and as mentioned above, FIG. 1 depicts an exploded view of a removable lining system 100 for coolers that incorporates teachings of the present disclosure. As shown, removable liner 102 is sized and shaped to fit within cooler 104. In practice, liner 102 could come in various sizes and shapes. The shapes might be customized for specific coolers and the sizes could be designed such that the volume of the liner could be around 25, 35, 45, 65, 75, and 120 quarts. Other sizes may also be chosen. Liner 102 may be formed as a semi-rigid shape that holds its shape and may be formed to fit snugly within cooler 104. For example, liner 102 could be formed from a 15 mils material of a thermoplastic polymer such as a high-density polyethylene. Liner 102 could also be formed of a non-rigid material that may be less thick than 15 mils and may fold down easily and open to create a generally cuboid shaped opening that sits within cooler 104. Given that a cooler liner may make its way into the environment at some point, a designer may choose to make liner 102 from a biodegradable and bioactive thermoplastic aliphatic polyester derived from a renewable resource like corn starch. Other biodegradable materials could be chosen like polyhydroxyalkanoates. In some cases the material, which could be for example a PLA or a PHA material could be chosen to have both marine and compost degradability while also working well in the potentially wet and cold environment of a cooler liner.

As shown, liner 102 includes a lid flap 106, sidewalls 108, and a bottom 110. As such, liner 102 may effectively create a lining system that can be closed to create a completely enclosed cuboid shape. A designer will recognize that a liner could be made that is missing one or more of the six sides shown in FIG. 1. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a drain tube 112 that extends from one of the sidewalls 108. Drain tube 112 may be formed such that water located within liner 102 may escape the opening in liner 102 via a hole formed through drain tube 112. As shown, drain tube 112 is formed at a location on liner 102 that allows drain tube 112 to pass through a hole 116 formed into cooler 104 at a drain plug location 114. In other words, liner 102 may be placed within cooler 104 and drain tube 112 may be extended through hole 116. This may help drain water from inside the cooler. In such a circumstance, a user may unscrew or otherwise remove a drain plug or cap 118 from cooler 104 and allow drain tube 112 to extend unencumbered through hole 116. In such an embodiment, a designer may want to create liner 102 to have a drain tube 112 that is between one inch long and fifteen inches long. In some cases the tube may be between five and ten inches long. In some embodiments, drain tube 112 may include its own plug, or stop cock, or other mechanism for limiting the flow of water through drain tube 112. In some embodiments, drain tube may be designed to utilize a cap or plug like cap 118 for a given cooler to limit the flow of water from within the cooler and liner.

Referring back to FIG. 1, cooler 104 includes a cabinet portion 120 that helps to define the opening or inside of the cooler. The walls of portion 120 have a thickness that may become apparent by looking at seating surface 122. Similarly, cooler 104 has a lid 124 that includes a lid seating portion 126. When lid 124 is closed and secured in place, seating surface 122 and lid seating portion 126 may be brought into contact with one another. In practice, one or both of surface 122 and portion 126 may have a rubber or other sealing material that helps to keep a tight seal between cabinet 120 and lid 124 when cooler 104 is closed. This may help with the insulating properties of the cooler. As shown, liner 102 may include a sealing flap 128 that is formed as part of liner 102 and located such that flap 128 may be pinched between surface 122 and portion 126 when cooler 104 is closed. This might help to keep liner 102 in a specific location. In some embodiments a cooler designer and a liner designer may work together to facilitate a loading and an unloading of a lining system from a cooler. For example, the inside or outside of a cooler may have one or more attachment points and a lining system may have one or more attachment devices that interact with the attachment points to hold a liner in place. Such an embodiment could include hook and loop fasteners, adhesives, locking channels, clips, etc.

As mentioned above, FIG. 2 illustrates a system 200 having a cooler 202 (depicted with dotted lines) and lining system 204 located within cooler 202. System 200 depicts a given embodiment of a lining system 204 that includes a draining tube 208 and a tube plug 206. As shown, plug 206 may be placed inside tube 208 to keep a liquid like water from escaping from within lining system 204. Though depicted as a plugging type system, other techniques may be used to stop the flow of a liquid through a tube like tube 208. The tube may be pinched closed, incorporate a stop cock system, roll closed, etc.

As mentioned above, FIG. 3 illustrates a system 300 having a cooler 302 (depicted with dotted lines) and a lining system 304 located within cooler 302. System 300 depicts a given embodiment of a lining system 304 that includes a draining tube 306 that extends from a bottom lining surface of system 304. As shown, system 300 has an elevation rack 308. As shown, rack 308 may be part of lining system 304. In practice, lining system 304 may be located within cooler 302, and rack 308 may effectively hold the bottom surface of system 304 off the bottom of cooler 302. In some circumstances, an item placed within cooler 302 may benefit from avoiding contact with ice or water. For example, a hunter placing animal quarters inside the cooler may not want the quarters to touch the ice or the water. Similarly, a cardboard container may degrade if left in contact with ice or water. Rack 308 may help limit direct contact with ice or water. In practice, the ice or water may be inside the cooler but outside the lining system. The ice might simply rest on top of the bottom surface of the cooler and beneath the bottom surface of the lining system. If ice is placed within lining system 304, lining system 304 may have a drain tube like tube 306 that may help to drain the water produced by the melting ice.

As mentioned above, FIG. 4 illustrates a system 400 having a lining system 402 with lifting handles 404. As shown, system 400 also has an elevation rack 406. In practice, a user may opt to fill a fraction of a cooler with ice or some other cooling (or potentially heating) component. The user may then place rack 406 on top of the ice or other component and then place the lining system 402 on top of rack 406 such that a bottom surface 408 of lining system 402 rests on rack 406. The use of handles 404 may facilitate the placing and removing of lining system 402 from a cooler.

As mentioned above, FIG. 5 illustrates a system 500 that includes a lining system 502. As shown, system 500 also has a drain plug 504. In practice, a user may start with a lining system that does not include a drain. If the user elects to add a draining system, the user may insert drain plug 504 into lining system 502. In some circumstances, the user may elect to locate drain plug 504 such that it fits inside an existing opening in a cooler. For example, drain plug 504 may be located such that liquids draining from lining system 502 exit a given cooler through the opening of the cooler's existing drain plug. Such a system may allow a lining system to fit a broader range of coolers, as the draining location can be added when user of the lining system knows where the plug belongs for a given cooler. Additionally, drain plug 504 may be sized and designed to help ensure that nothing draining from within the lining system touches the inside of the cooler or the pathway created by the cooler's own drain plug opening.

As mentioned above, FIG. 6 illustrates a system 600 that includes a drain plug 602 with a channel 604 formed through its length. Plug 602 may include a head 606 that may include a texture and/or be made from a material that might help a user to hold and/or to turn plug 602. The turning may be necessary to screw plug 602 into a secure position. Plug 602 may also include a gasket 608 and threads 610. If the plug is in a secured position, gasket 608 may be pinched between head 606 and another material and/or object.

As shown, plug 602 includes a tapered end 618. This end may be shaped such that plug 602 is capable of forming a hole in a lining system when plug 602 is pressed against the lining system. As depicted in FIG. 6, a hole 614 exists in a wall 616 of a cooler. Hole 614 could be, for example, an existing location for a drain plug formed into the cooler. Similarly, hole 614 also extends through a portion of a lining system 612. In operation, plug 602 may be pushed through lining system 612 and fit within a hole 614 formed in the wall 616 of a cooler. At that point, a locking nut 620 may be threaded onto plug 602 and secured such that gasket 608 forms a watertight seal between head 606 and lining system 612. Once secured in place, a user may elect to attach a hose 622 over tapered end 618 and onto a threaded portion of plug 602. In other embodiments, hole 614 may include a threaded portion that mates with threads 610 to allow plug 602 to be secured in position without the need for locking nut 620.

A designer will recognize that certain elements form the various figures could be added or removed from other figures without departing from the scope of the disclosure. One will also recognize that the figures focus on cuboid shaped coolers but other shapes are available and workable with the current teachings. A lining system for a cooler may include a waterproof container portion that defines an opening that could be generally cuboid shape or some other shape. A bottom surface of the container portion as well as the walls of the container portion may be formed from a biodegradable polyester material, which could facilitate decomposition of the liner whether on land or water. While a cooler made of such a material may seem counterintuitive, the present teachings discuss, among other things, the use of a removable and disposable lining system for a cooler. One time and/or limited time use of a liner may allow a designer to utilize a polyester material that degrades in water. The durability of the liner may be improved some by adding a drain tube that extends some distance from a wall of the container portion to allow a liquid collecting within the opening to drain from the waterproof container.

The benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any element(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature or element of the present invention. Accordingly, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the invention as provided by the claims below.

While the present invention has been described with respect to a limited number of embodiments, those skilled in the art will appreciate numerous modifications and variations therefrom. It is intended that the appended claims should cover any such modifications and variations as fall within their true spirit and scope.

Claims

1. A removable lining system for a cooler, comprising: a waterproof container at least partially defining an opening having a generally cuboid shape with a volume of greater than 20 quarts;a bottom surface of the container;a front wall of the container;a back wall of the container;a first side wall of the container;a second side wall of the container;a lifting handle;a drain tube extending at least five inches from the first side wall and formed such that a liquid collecting within the opening can drain from the waterproof container through a hole in the first side wall and the drain tube; anda biodegradable polyester material forming the waterproof container.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a top component of the container that includes a closing component that facilitates a sealing of the container, wherein the closing component includes at least one of a zipper, a hook and loop component, an adhesive material, and cooperating coupling structures that removably interlock when pressed together.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a second lifting handle.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising a platform structure component extending downward from an exterior side of the bottom surface that facilitates a maintaining of the waterproof container away from an interior bottom surface of a cooler within which the waterproof container is placed.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polyester material is a semirigid plastic, and the waterproof container is molded to fit within the cooler.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polyester material is a rigid plastic, and the waterproof container is molded to fit within the cooler.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the biodegradable polyester material is a flexible plastic, and the waterproof container is molded to fit within the cooler.

8. A removable lining system for a cooler, comprising: a waterproof insert at least partially defining an opening with a volume of greater than 20 quarts;a bottom surface of the insert;a front wall of the insert;a back wall of the insert;a first side wall of the insert;a second side wall of the insert;a first lifting handle extending from at least one of the front wall and the first side wall;a second lifting handle extending from at least one of the back wall and the second side wall; anda polyester material forming the bottom surface, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the first lifting handle, and the second lifting handle.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the polyester material has a thickness between two mils and eight mils.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the polyester material has a thickness that is greater than eight mils.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the waterproof insert has a geometry that facilitates a stacking of a first waterproof insert within a second waterproof insert.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the waterproof insert has a geometry that facilitates a fitting within the cooler that results in a gap between an interior surface of the cooler and an exterior surface of the waterproof insert that is less than one inch.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the gap does not exceed one inch at any point along the bottom surface, the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, and the second side wall.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein the polyester material is a biodegradable plastic that dissolves into nontoxic components in seawater, further wherein the polyester material has a density of greater than 1.05 g/cm{circumflex over ( )}3.

15. The system of claim 8, further comprising a sealable top component of the waterproof insert that includes a closing component including at least one of a zipper, a hook and loop component, an adhesive material, and cooperating coupling structures that removably interlock when pressed together.

16. The system of claim 8, wherein the insert surfaces are not all of an identical thickness.

17. The system of claim 8, further comprising the cooler.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the cooler is a roto-molded cooler with insulating foam in its walls, further wherein the cooler has an interior capacity selected from a group of a 22+/−10% quart capacity, a 28+/−10% quart capacity, a 37+/−10% quart capacity, a 46+/−10% quart capacity, a 52+/−10% quart capacity, a 79+/−10% quart capacity, an 84+/−10% quart capacity, and a 92+/−10% quart capacity.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the cooler is a soft-sided cooler.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the cooler is a hard-sided cooler.