Patent Application
20250115410
This invention relates to the field of portable insulated containers.
Hard-sided coolers are typically molded plastic coolers formed of a hollow rigidly molded plastic. The thermal insulation value is provided predominantly by the hollow molded envelope, which may itself be filled with a low density expanded foam insulation. That low density foam may then itself be substantially rigid when cured. Hard-sided coolers are distinguished from soft-sided coolers in that the body of a soft-sided cooler is made of a soft, flexible foam, typically captured between an inner layer and an outer layer of fabric. The predominant insulation value in a soft-sided cooler is in the layer of flexible foam captured between the inner and outer skins or layers.
Coolers may be used to transport articles that may best be served cool, such as beverages or salads, or warm, such as appetizers, hot dogs, and so on. Such containers are also used to carry liquids, whether hot liquids, such as soup containers, coffee or tea, or cold liquids such as beer, soft drinks, or other carbonated beverages, juices and milk. The containers are typically made in a generally cube-like shape, whether of sides are of equal length or not, having a base, four upstanding walls, and a top. The top wall is often a lid which opens to permit articles to be placed in, or retrieved from, the container.
It may sometimes be desired to provide an additional external wrapping for a hard-sided cooler, whether to provide a layer of protection against damage, or to provide an auxiliary layer of thermal insulation on the outside of the hard-sided cooler body. The addition of an external wrap may provide opportunities to enhance to overall cooler assembly. However, it is also desirable for the wrap to be secured to the unit in a manner that does not impair the integrity of the insulating envelope.
In an aspect of the invention, there is an insulated container assembly having an external insulated wrap, the wrap being mounted to the insulated container, and the mountings of the wrap to the container being free of punctures of the insulated container assembly.
In another aspect of the invention there is an insulated container assembly. It has a hard-sided insulated container and a wrap that mounts to the hard-sided insulated container. The hard-sided insulated container has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion defines a chamber therewithin. The chamber has an opening through which to introduce objects for storage within the chamber. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position to govern access to the chamber. The first position defines a closed position of the chamber. The second position defines an open position of the chamber. At least the first portion is a molded body. The molded body has a closed volume defined between an inside wall bounding the chamber and an outside wall spaced away from the inside wall. The wrap is an insulated wrap. The wrap defines a band extending peripherally about the first portion of the hard-sided cooler. The band has an upper margin and a lower margin. The band has at least a first suspender. The first suspender has a fixed mounting to the first portion of the cooler. The molded body of the first portion is free of any puncture at the fixed mounting.
In a feature of that aspect, the hard-sided insulated container has at least a first latch. The first latch has a first latch retainer. The first latch retainer defines a first stationary anchor mounted to the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container. The first suspender is secured to the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container at the stationary anchor. In another feature, the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has a second latch and a second latch retainer. The second latch retainer defines a second stationary anchor. The wrap has a plurality of those suspenders spaced along the upper margin of the wrap. The plurality includes the first suspender and at least a second suspender. At least the first and second of the suspenders are secured to the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container at the first and second stationary anchors.
In another feature of that aspect, the wrap has at least a first peripheral tightening strap operable to establish a hoop stress in the wrap. In a further feature, the wrap includes an outer fabric skin, an inner fabric skin, and a layer of insulation captured between the inner and outer skins of the wrap. In a further feature, the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has an upstanding body that is surmounted by a flange that stands outwardly proud of the upstanding body. The flange has at least first and second accommodations formed therein. There are at least first and second strap anchor hard points mounted in corresponding ones of the at least first and second accommodations.
In a further feature, the second portion of the hard-sided insulated container is hingedly mounted to the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container. The hinge is mounted along a rear side of the hard-sided insulated container. The hard sided-insulated container has a front side opposite the rear side. The wrap is free of suspenders along the rear side of the hard sided insulated container. In another feature, the second portion of the hard-sided insulated container is hingedly mounted to the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container. The hinge is mounted along a rear side of the hard-sided insulated container. The hard sided-insulated container has a front side opposite the rear side. The upper margin of the wrap has a downward deviation that extends along at least a portion of the front side relative to at least one other side of the hard-sided insulated container. The downward deviation clears at least the first latch. In another feature, the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has a drain. The lower margin of the wrap has a deviation that clears the drain. In a further feature, the container has the first latch and a second latch. The first latch is spaced from the second latch. There is an accommodation defined between the first and second latches. The wrap includes an auxiliary container that locates in the accommodation between the first and second latches. In a still further feature, the container assembly has a carrying handle that has a rigid handle and bail. The handle has first and second ends. The first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has first and second handle seats formed therein. The wrap has corresponding suspenders that anchor to the first and second ends of the rigid handle at the first and second handle seats. In another feature, the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has an upstanding body that is surmounted by a flange that stands outwardly proud of the upstanding body. The flange has at least first and second handholds formed therein. The handholds define a respective strap opening through the flange. There are at least first and second strap ends wrapped through the respective strap openings.
In another aspect of the invention there is an insulated container assembly that has a hard-sided insulated container and a wrap that mounts to the hard-sided insulated container. The hard-sided insulated container has a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a chamber defined therewithin. The second portion is movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position to govern access to the chamber. At least the first portion is a molded body. The molded body has a closed volume defined between an inside wall bounding the chamber and an outside wall spaced away from the inside wall. The wrap is an insulated wrap. The wrap defines a band extending peripherally about the first portion of the hard-sided cooler. The band has an upper margin and a lower margin. The band has at least a first suspender. The first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has at least a first mounting accommodation. The first suspender engages the first mounting accommodation. The first mounting accommodation is free of any wall penetration of the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container. The first mounting accommodation includes a corner aperture formed in the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container.
In a feature of that aspect, the first suspender includes a loop. As installed, the loop passes through the first mounting accommodation. In another feature, the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container has a bottom wall and first, second, third and fourth walls standing upwardly from the bottom wall. The first wall and the second wall meet at a corner. The first mounting accommodation defines a passageway that has a first opening in the first wall and a second opening in the second wall. The first suspender defines a loop that seats in the first passageway. In a further feature, the wrap has the first suspender, a second suspender, a third suspender and a fourth suspender. The first, second, third and fourth suspenders define loops that seat in respective first, second, third and fourth passageways that extend diagonally at the respective corners of the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container.
In another feature, the cooler has single large central release latch. In a further feature, the wrap has external auxiliary compartment. In still another feature, the wrap is removable. In yet another feature, the container assembly has a lifting strap anchor and a lifting handle, the wrap has an upper margin, and the upper margin of the wrap is clear of and below the lifting strap anchor and the lifting handle.
These aspects and other features of the invention may be understood with the aid of the following illustrations of a number of exemplary, and non-limiting, embodiments of the principles of the invention in which:
The description that follows, and the embodiments described therein, are provided to illustrate examples of particular embodiments of the principles of the present invention. These examples are provided for the purposes of explanation, and not of limitation, of those principles and of the invention. In the description, like parts are marked throughout the specification and the drawings with the same respective reference numerals. The drawings are substantially to scale, except as noted otherwise, such as in those instances in which proportions may have been exaggerated in order more clearly to depict certain features of the invention.
For the purposes of this description, it may be that a Cartesian frame of reference may be employed. The vertical direction, or z-axis, extends in an up and down orientation from bottom to top. The x-axis extends in the shorter dimension of the container assembly, when fully expanded, running in the front-to-back direction. The y-axis extends cross-wise horizontally relative to the x-axis, running in the side-to-side direction. Unless noted otherwise, the terms “inside” and “outside”, “inwardly” and “outwardly”, refer to location or orientation relative to the associated enclosed space of the container assembly, as may be. The base of the article, where substantially planar, may be considered to extend in an x-y plane. The height of the article may be measured in the vertical, or z-direction. In other contexts, when looking at a single panel, reference may also be made to the “through-thickness” direction or dimension through the wall structure. The largest container panels herein may be designated arbitrarily as either the front and rear sides, walls, faces, or portions of the container. Similarly, the closure member, or opening is arbitrarily designated as being at the top, and the base panel is designated as being at the bottom, as these terms may be appropriate for the customary orientation in which the objects may usually be found, sold, or employed, notwithstanding that the objects may be picked up and placed on one side or another from time to time at the user's choice. It should also be understood that, within the normal range of temperatures to which food and touch is accustomed, although the term cooler, or cooler container, or cooler bag, may be used, such insulated structures may generally also be used to aid in keeping food, beverages, or other objects either warm or hot as well as cool, cold, or frozen. That is, although the term “cooler” may be used for convenience in describing a thermally insulted container, the “cooler” may sometimes be used to keep objects warm rather than cold, e.g., as when hot foods are being transported from a kitchen, or take-out restaurant, to a place where those foods will be eaten some distance away.
The term “insulated” or “insulated wall structure” may be used in this description. It is intended to pertain to walls having a layer of thermal insulation. Typically such walls have an inner surface or lining or web, an outer surface or lining or web, and a layer of insulation material captured between the inner and outer surfaces. The outside layer may be a wear-resistant or scuff resistant material. In a soft-sided insulated container, thin single membranes or sheets of web material, such as woven high density Nylon (t.m.), or vinyl (t.m.), or leather, or paper, are not of intended to fall within the meaning of the term “insulated” as used herein unless they have been treated or formed in an manner deliberately to enhance thermal insulating properties.
Accordingly, the adjective “insulated” is intended to be given its usual and normal meaning as understood by persons skilled in the art. It is not intended to encompass single layers, or skins, of conventional webbing materials, such as Nylon (t.m.), woven polyester, canvas, cotton, burlap, leather, paper and so on, that are not otherwise indicated as having, or being relied upon to have, particular properties as effective thermal insulators other than in the context of being provided with heat transfer resistant materials or features beyond that of the ordinary sheet materials in and of themselves. Following from Phillips v. AWH Corp., this definition provided herein is intended to supplant any dictionary definition, and to prevent interpretation in the US Patent Office (or any other Patent Office) that strays from the customary and ordinary meaning of the term “insulated”. The Applicant also explicitly excludes cellophane, waxed paper, tin foil, paper, or other single use disposable (i.e., not intended to be re-used) materials from the definition of “washable”.
A soft-sided insulated structure is one in which the insulated panels are flexible panels, typically in the form of fabric or plastic sheets with insulation inside. The insulation usually has the form of a flexible open cell or closed cell billet, or slab, which may have been bent or folded or molded into the shape of the wall structure.
A hard-sided insulated structure may be understood as being in contrast to a soft-sided insulated structure. In a hard-sided insulated structure the insulation is contained within a rigid molded structure, and in which the insulation itself may be substantially rigid. In that regard, too, this description distinguishes of hard-shell containers from soft-sided containers. In the jargon of the trade, a soft-sided cooler, or bag, or container, is one that does not have a substantially rigid, high density exoskeleton. In a hard-sided insulated container the inner and outer layers of the wall are typically molded rigid plastic. The molding may be rotational molding, or injection molding, and so on. A typical example of a hard-sided container having a hard exoskeleton is one having a molded shell, e.g., of polypropylene or polyethylene, or other common types of molded plastic. Rather, whereas a hard-sided cooler has a rigid molded shell, a soft-sided container may tend not to be substantially rigid, but may rather have a skin that is flexible, or crushable, or sometimes foldable. By way of an example, which is not intended to be exhaustive, comprehensive, exclusive or limiting, a soft-sided cooler may have an outer skin, a layer of insulation, and an internal skin, both the internal and external skins being of some kind of webbing, be it a woven fabric, a nylon sheet, or some other membrane. In a soft-sided cooler, the layer of insulation, which may be a sandwich of various components, is typically a flexible or resilient layer, perhaps of a relatively soft and flexible foam.
This specification discusses apparatus termed a “wrap”. A wrap is an external member that is applied to the outside of an insulated container member. A wrap is non-rigid, but may have the texture and stiffness of a flexible matrix. A “wrap” map be applied to the upstanding sidewalls of an insulated container. It may also be applied to the lid of the container, where it may be termed a cover. In some circumstances it may be applied to the bottom of a container. Application to the bottom of a container may include cut-outs to permit feet of a container to protrude and may include use of materials that may tend to be wear resistant to resist scuffing and dragging across a ground or other surface.
More commonly the term “wrap” applies to a flexible band or mat that is mounted to the predominantly vertical upstanding side wall, or side walls, of the container. The wrap may tend to perform the function of an arras, or tapestry, or wall hanging, or quilt, in respect of the outside wall of the insulated container. It may be insulated, and it may provide an insolation barrier. It may also perform the function of a protection blanket, such as might be used in moving furniture or other objects, to prevent damage to the underlying hard-sided container walls during transportation. Additionally, the “wrap” may include auxiliary fittings, such as pouches, pockets, auxiliary containers, bottle holding accommodations, and so on, whether or not those additional fittings, pouches, pockets, containers, or accommodations are insulated. The wrap may generally have an outside layer and inside layer and a filling between the inside and outside layers. The wrap may be replaceable when worn or damaged, in a way that a rigid, hard-sided molding may tend not to be. A wrap may tend to extend predominantly around the container. That is, its extent in the peripheral or circumferential direction may tend to be larger than the extent in the up-and-down or vertical direction. A wrap may extend fully around the container, or it may cover less than the full periphery of the container. It may, for example, cover three sides of a four-sided container. The wrap may have the form or appearance of a band that wraps about some or all of the girth of the container. The band may have upper and lower margins. Those margins may extend at a constant level or may deviate locally upwardly and downwardly.
As a general overview,
Second portion 24 is a hard-sided insulated element defining a top or lid or lid assembly 28 of container assembly 20. Second portion 24 is movable between a first position and a second position. In the first position is a position in which lid 28 obstructs opening 36 of chamber 26 and thereby may also be referred to the closed position. The second position is an open position in which lid 28 is less obstructive of opening 36. As shown, lid or lid assembly 28 hingedly mounted to the upper rearward margin of first portion 22. Lid assembly 28 is movable in a first degree of freedom, namely pivotally about a hinge axis of hinges 48, between the first position and second positions to govern access to chamber 26. When lid 28 is closed, it may be held in the closed position by a securement, such as identified as latch 50.
The outer casing defined by first portion 22 may be generally box-shaped. That is, it may have a base or bottom panel 32, and an upstanding peripheral wall structure 34 that defines the sidewall of first portion 22 and that includes four sides or side panels 40, 42, 44 and 46, being, respectively, front panel 40, rear panel 42, left-hand side panel 44 and right-hand side panel 46. Base or bottom panel 32, and the four side panels 40, 42, 44, and 46 of upstanding peripheral wall structure 34 may combine to form a five-sided open-topped box. Chamber 26 is defined within the box, i.e., it defines the upstanding hard-sided insulated wall structure. The respective upper margins of the sides co-operate to define the four sides or margins of opening 36 of chamber 26. In summary, bottom panel 32, and side panels 40, 42, 44, 46 of upstanding peripheral wall structure 34 co-operate to define a five-sided, open-topped box. As seen, bottom panel 32 has rounded corners and the respective sides merge into each other on rounded corners having a large radius, as seen from above or below.
In container assembly 20, each of panels 32, 40, 42, 44 and 46 may tend to be square or rectangular although this need not be so. For example the side panels could be trapezoidal such as to produce a box of tapering dimensions. Bottom panel 32 may tend to be rectangular, and may typically have two short sides, or edges, and two long sides or edges. The long edges may typically correspond to the front and back sides. Bottom panel 32 may have, and in the example illustrated does have, a set of feet 154 upon which container assembly customarily sits. The front and rear panels may tend to be the largest, or major, panels of the assembly. In some embodiments the front and back portions or sides or panels may be taller than wide. As shown in
In the sectional view of
In general, each of the upstanding sidewall panels 40, 42, 44, 46 has a main body portion that has a lower margin that merges with bottom panel 32 and has an upper margin distant from bottom panel 32. In hard-sided container 20, the upper margin of container main body 22 is formed in the shape of a molded formation identified as flange 60 that has, or that defines, a first interface, or first land 62 that is matingly opposed to an opposed molded formation or flange 61 of lid assembly 28 that has, or defines, a second interface, or second land 64. In this context, flanges 60 and 61 can be considered as be molded formations that extend peripherally about the upper margin of first portion 22 generally, and, correspondingly, about the periphery of lid assembly 28 generally, flanges 60 and 61 being formed to work in co-operating opposition to each other when lid assembly 28 is closed. In such an assembly, one or other of the body or lid had a female formation or fitting, and the other has a male formation or fitting, the two male and female fittings defining an interface of mutually engageable mating parts. For example, the male fitting may be, and in the illustration of
This relationship can be seen in the enlarged details of
Latch 50 is seen in cross-section in
The main body, or casing defined by first portion 22 has external lifting members identified as handles 90. These may be, and in the example illustrated are, hand grips that are molded into the upper flange of first portion 20.
The description so far relates to the hard-sided container. External casing or covering or wrap 30 is applied to the outside of the rigid container. Wrap 30 is shown in the developed views of
Wrap 30 has an array or set of attachments, or suspenders or mountings 100 by which wrap 30 is secured to container assembly 20 more generally. Wrap 30 has the form of a continuous band. As may be noted, wrap 30 has a first panel or portion 102 that locates in front of front sidewall panel 40; a second panel or portion 104 that, on installation, locates next to left sidewall panel 44; a third panel or portion 106 that, on installation, locates next to right sidewall panel 46. The end portions of wrap 30, identified as 108 and 110, fold around the rear of container assembly 20 to define what is effectively the fourth or rear panel of wrap 30, and have mutually engaging securements in the form of releasable male and female engagement members 112, 114, in this case in the form of releasable clasps. Clasps 112, 114 cinch to tighten wrap 30 about the girth of container assembly 20. Mountings 100 include first, second, third and fourth links 124, 126, 128 and 130. Mountings 124, 126 have the form or straps having a lower end sewn into the upper margin of portion 102, the upper ends are then secured to mounting posts 78.
Links 128 and 130 have the form of straps that secure to sidewall panels 44 and 46 as seen in
The positioning of mountings 100 and of posts 78 and hard point fittings 118 also fixes the peripheral position of wrap 30 relative to upstanding sidewall. Notably, this relationship means that the upwardly formed relief 152 in the left-hand end wall panel 104 of wrap 30 is then properly positioned to clear the drain fitting, or spigot, or cap, indicated as drain 148.
Wrap 30 may also include an array of auxiliary fittings. For example, front panel 102 may provide a platform, or substrate, or peg-board, or base structure, or structural datum, upon which, or from which to mount or suspend a secondary or auxiliary enclosure or container. In the example shown, an auxiliary container is shown as 160. In one version, secondary container 160 is insulated. In another embodiment, secondary container 160 is not insulated. Secondary container may be used for holding and carrying items such as plates and bowls; knives, forks and spoons; other kinds of tools, maps and compasses, a first aid kit, or a range of other items such as may be suitable. To that end secondary container 160 has a body 162 that includes a panel of two side walls and a bottom that extends forwardly and outwardly from front panel 102 and a front wall that is spaced forwardly away from front panel 102. Secondary container 160 may also have a movable panel in the form of a lid (
Similarly, left-hand and right-hand end wall panels 104, 106 may host further secondary closure pouches or pockets or compartments 170 (
In another embodiment, seen in
Container assembly 200 is also provided with a wrap or wrap assembly 220. As with wrap assembly 30, wrap assembly 220 has an inner skin, an outer skin, and a layer of insulation captured between the inner and outer skins. However, the relationship of wrap assembly 220 to container assembly 200 is different from the relationship of wrap 30 to container assembly 20.
In the example shown, first portion 202 has an upstanding sidewall molding 208 that includes first, second, third and fourth wall panels 212, 214, 216 and 218 corresponding to the front, rear, left-hand-and right-hand wall panels. The corners of the lower molding, which is to say first portion 202, have accommodations 222. Accommodations 222 are molded fittings in the form of a rebate or socket, or cleft, or slot or passage that extends diagonally through the mass of the corner, as seen in
Whereas wrap 30 has the form of a band whose ends are connected by clasps 112, 114, wrap 220 has the form of a continuous band formed in a loop of suitable girth to encompass the body of first portion 202. Indeed, the girth may be somewhat undersized such that when installed wrap 220 forms a girdle about first portion 202 that is in light tension so that the overall fit is reasonably snug and less prone to sagging and swaying in the manner of an excessively loose wrap. Wrap 220 is maintained in place by a set of suspenders 230, such as may have the form of straps or loops 232, 234, 236, 238. Those straps, or loops, or suspenders may be, and in the example shown are, elasticized as in the nature of bungee cords. They may have, and in the example show do have, enlarged central features, such as represented by a blister or bulge or bulb 240 which is mounted to the mid-section of each respective loop. As may be noted, bulb 240 is sized to fit snugly in an interference fit in widened region 228 between corner pedestal 224 and the main body of first portion 202. When the respective bulbs 240 are located in widened regions 228 of the passages of accommodations 222 the suspenders, and hence wrap 220 more generally, are positively located relative to first portion 202. Wrap 220 can be removed by extracting loops 232, 234, 236, 238 from the respective diagonal passageways defined by accommodations 222.
Loops 232, 234, 236, 238 are located at the corners of wrap 220. That is, although wrap 220 is essentially a ring, or a skirt, once it is installed on container assembly 200 it maps into a substantially rectangular, or generally four-sided configuration corresponding to the four-sided upstanding wall configuration of container assembly 200. As such wrap 220 effectively resolves into four panel portions, 242, 244, 246 and 248 each located between two respective corners at which there are respective pairs of loops 232, 234, 236 and 238.
As with wrap 30, wrap 220 can be used to provide a structural datum, or structural foundation for secondary or auxiliary features such as pouches or pockets or auxiliary container or drink holders, and so on. In the example shown, an auxiliary storage compartment 254 is mounted to the front wall panel, as shown.
In this configuration, the side wall mounting straps 128, 130 and their associate hard points are replaced by end wall anchors 278 that are mounted to the upper margin of wrap 280, and that are secured to the ends of handle 262. That is, the respective upper ends of anchors 278 have holes formed in them to admit the ends of handle 262. As before, wrap 280 may provide a structural datum, or backing, or peg-board for such auxiliary features as may be.
In summary, there is an insulated container assembly 20 or 200 having an external insulated wrap 30 or 220. The wrap 30 or 220 is mounted to the insulated container 20 or 200. The mountings of the wrap at which the mounting straps attach to the container body to the container are free of punctures of the insulated container assembly. In the first instance, the straps of mountings 124, 126 are attached by the threaded fasteners of latch posts 78 to first portion 22, and those fasteners secure into the molded structure without protruding into the hollow space between the inner and outer skins. Similarly hard point fittings 118 do not involve a puncture of the inner or outer walls to puncture or penetrate that hollow space 56, such as might cause a leak or otherwise impair the integrity of the insulated wall. In the case of container assembly 200, the diagonal corner passages of accommodations 222 permit loops 232, 234, 236 and 238 to seat, again without requiring a puncture of other penetration of the molded plastic wall that would otherwise impair the integrity of the corresponding hollow space 56 in first portion 202.
The hard-sided insulated container wrap 30 or 220 mounts to the hard-sided insulated container, in these cases the respective rigid plastic moldings of first portion 22 or 202 as may be. The hard-sided insulated container has a first portion 22 or 202; and a second portion 24 or 204, as may be. The first portion defines a chamber therewithin, such as chamber 26. Chamber 26 has an opening 36 through which to introduce objects for storage within chamber 26. The second portion 24 or 204 defines lid 28 that is movable relative to the first portion between a first position and a second position, corresponding to open and closed positions, to govern access to chamber 26. The first position defines a closed position of the chamber. The second position defines an open position of the chamber. At least first portion 22 or 202 is a molded body. In the examples that may be a rigid plastic molding. The molded body has a closed volume, or space, 56 between an inside wall 52 bounding chamber 26 and an outside wall 54 spaced away from inside wall 52. Wrap 30 or 220 is insulated, i.e., includes a layer of insulation. Wrap 30, 220 defines a band extending peripherally about at least a first portion of the hard-sided cooler, i.e., the hard-sided insulated container body, like a belt or cummerbund or girdle extending about the girth of the main container body. The band has an upper margin and a lower margin. The band has at least a first suspender be it a strap of mountings 124, 126, 128, 130, or of a strap of one or another of loop 232, 234, 236 or 238. The first suspender, whichever it may be, has a fixed, or permanent, mounting to the first portion of the cooler. The molded body of the first portion is free of any puncture at the fixed mounting such as might tend to impair the integrity of the insulated space 56, and of the structure more generally.
The hard-sided insulated container 20 or 200 has at least a first latch, 50 or 210. The first latch has a first latch retainer such as latch post 78. The first latch retainer 78 defines a first stationary anchor mounted to the first portion 22 or 202 of the hard-sided insulated container 20 or 200. The first suspender 124, 126, 128 or 130; or 232, 234, 236 or 238, as may be, is secured to the first portion 22 or 202 of the hard-sided insulated container 20 or 200 at the stationary anchor be it 78 or 222. In the first example, the first portion 22 of the hard-sided insulated container 20 has a second latch 50 and a second latch retainer 78. They are spaced apart from the first latch 50 and the first latch retainer 78. The second latch retainer 78 defines a second stationary anchor. Wrap 30 has a plurality of those suspenders spaced along the upper margin of the wrap. The plurality includes the first suspender and at least a second suspender. At least the first and second suspenders are secured to first portion 22 of the hard-sided insulated container at the first and second stationary anchors 78.
In the first example wrap 30 has at least a first peripheral tightening strap, namely the cinch straps of male and female clasps 112, 114 that are used to establish a hoop stress in wrap 30. Wrap 30 has an outer fabric skin 92, an inner fabric skin 96, and a layer of insulation 94 between the inner and outer skins 92 and 96. First portion 22 of hard-sided insulated container 20 has an upstanding body 34 that is surmounted by a flange 60 that stands outwardly proud of the upstanding body 34. Flange 60 has at least first and second accommodations 122 formed therein. There are at least first and second strap anchor hard points 118 mounted in corresponding ones of the at least first and second accommodations 122.
The second portion 24 of hard-sided insulated container 20 is hingedly mounted to first portion 22 of hard-sided insulated container 20. Hinge 48 is mounted along a rear side of hard-sided insulated container 20. The hard sided-insulated container has a front side 40 opposite rear side 42. Wrap 30 is free of suspenders along the rear side of the hard sided insulated container. The upper margin of wrap 30 may have a downward deviation that extends along at least a portion of front side 40 relative to at least one other side of hard-sided insulated container 20. The downward deviation clears at least first latch 50. First portion 22 of hard-sided insulated container 20 has a drain 148, and the lower margin of the wrap has a deviation 152 that clears drain 148. Container 20 has a first latch 50 and a second latch 50. The first latch is spaced from the second latch. There is an accommodation between first and second latches 50. Wrap 30 has an auxiliary container 160 that locates in the accommodation.
Container assembly 260 has a carrying handle 262. It is a rigid handle and bail 264. Handle 262 has first and second ends 266, 268. First portion 22 has first and second handle seats or sockets 270, 272 formed therein. Wrap 280 has corresponding suspenders or anchors 278 that anchor to first and second ends 266, 268 of rigid handle 262 at first and second handle seats 270, 272. First portion 22 of container 260 has an upstanding body 34 that is surmounted by a flange 60 that stands outwardly proud of upstanding body 34. In some instances, flange 60 has at least first and second handholds 90 formed therein. Handholds 90 define respective strap openings through flange 60. There are at least first and second strap ends wrapped through the respective strap openings that hold up the top edge of wrap 30.
There is an insulated container assembly 200 that includes a hard-sided insulated container 202 and a wrap 220 that mounts to hard-sided insulated container 200. The hard-sided insulated container 200 has a first portion 202 and a second portion 204. First portion 202 has a chamber 26 defined therewithin. Second portion 204 is movable relative to first portion 202 between a first position and a second position to govern access to chamber 26. At least first portion 202 is a molded body. The molded body has a closed volume or space 56 defined between an inside wall 52 bounding chamber 26 and an outside wall 54 spaced away from inside wall 52. Wrap 220 is an insulated wrap. Wrap 220 defines a band extending peripherally about first portion 202 of hard-sided cooler, or insulated container assembly 200. The band has an upper margin and a lower margin. The band has at least a first suspender 230. First portion 202 of hard-sided insulated container 200 has at least a first mounting accommodation 222. First suspender 232 engages first mounting accommodation 222. First mounting accommodation 222 is free of any wall penetration of the first portion of hard-sided insulated container 202. First mounting accommodation 222 includes a corner aperture 242 formed in first portion 202 of hard-sided insulated container 200.
The first suspender includes a loop, be it 232, 234, 236 or 238. As installed, the loop passes through first mounting accommodation 222. First portion 202 of hard-sided insulated container 200 has a bottom wall 32 and first, second, third and fourth walls 212, 214, 216 and 218 standing upwardly from bottom wall 32. First wall 212 and the second wall 216 meet at a corner. First mounting accommodation 222 defines a passageway that has a first opening 252 in first wall 212 and a second opening 252 in second wall 216. The first suspender defines a loop 232 that seats in first passageway 222. Wrap 220 may have a first suspender 232, second suspender 234, third suspender 236 and fourth suspender 238. Those suspenders define loops that seat in respective first, second, third and fourth passageways that extend diagonally at the respective corners of the first portion of the hard-sided insulated container.
Cooler 200 has single large central release latch 210. Wrap 220 has an external auxiliary compartment 254. Wrap 220 is removable. In
Various container body and lid combinations have been shown, or described, or both. The features of the various embodiments may be mixed and matched as may be appropriate without the need for further description of all possible variations, combinations, and permutations of those features.
The principles of the present invention are not limited to these specific examples which are given by way of illustration. It is possible to make other embodiments that employ the principles of the invention and that fall within its spirit and scope of the invention. Since changes in and or additions to the above-described embodiments may be made without departing from the nature, spirit or scope of the invention, the invention is not to be limited to those details, but only by a purposive reading of the appended claims.
