U.S. patent application number 10/652780 was filed with the patent office on 2005-03-03 for soft-sided cooler or lunch kit with quick access flap defining a decorative figure.
Invention is credited to Johnson, Rhonda Sue.
Application Number | 20050045520 10/652780 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34217740 |
Filed Date | 2005-03-03 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050045520 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Johnson, Rhonda Sue |
March 3, 2005 |
Soft-sided cooler or lunch kit with quick access flap defining a
decorative figure
Abstract
Quick access to the interior of a soft-sided cooler is provided
by means of a quick access flap (26) hinged to the top panel (18)
of a cooler body (10) and overlying an access opening (30). A
decorative figure (25) is formed on the top panel (18), with a
portion (32) of the decorative figure (25) being defined by the
flap (26).
Inventors: |
Johnson, Rhonda Sue; (Vernon
Hills, IL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
WOOD, PHILLIPS, KATZ, CLARK & MORTIMER
500 W. MADISON STREET
SUITE 3800
CHICAGO
IL
60661
US
|
Family ID: |
34217740 |
Appl. No.: |
10/652780 |
Filed: |
August 29, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/542 ;
206/457; 206/545 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 3/00 20130101; A45C
11/20 20130101; A45C 13/08 20130101; A45C 5/06 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/542 ;
206/457; 206/545 |
International
Class: |
B65D 073/00; A45C
011/20 |
Claims
1. A soft-sided lunch kit comprising: a body including a pliable
bottom wall, a pliable side wall joined to and extending in
upstanding-fashion about the periphery of the bottom wall, the side
wall including an upper loading/unloading access opening to the
interior of the body; a pliable top panel sized to close the
loading/unloading access opening and hinged to said body to be
movable between positions opening and closing said
loading/unloading access opening, an exterior side of said top
panel having a decorative figure formed thereon; and a quick access
structure including a quick access opening in the top panel, and a
flap hinged to the top panel to be movable between positions
opening and closing the quick access opening, the flap defining a
portion of said decorative figure.
2. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein the flap has a periphery shaped
to resemble at least a part of said portion of said decorative
figure.
3. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein the flap comprises an opening
tab extending from the flap to overlay a surface of said exterior
of said top panel, the opening tab defining part of said portion of
said decorative figure.
4. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein said pliable bottom wall,
pliable side wall, pliable top panel and flap are all thermally
insulated.
5. The lunch kit of claim 1 further comprising a zipper-like
closing device extending about the loading/unloading access opening
and a periphery of the top panel for selectively securing the top
panel in a position closing said loading/unloading access
opening.
6. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein said decorative figure is in
the form of an animal or a car, and said portion of said decorative
figure comprises a lower jaw of the animal or a hood of the
car.
7. The lunch kit of claim 6 wherein the flap comprises an opening
tab extending from the flap to overlay a surface of said exterior
of said top panel, the opening tab defining part of said portion of
said decorative figure, said part of said portion of said
decorative figure comprises a tooth or a lip of said animal or a
grill of said car.
8. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein the quick access opening
provides access to a storage compartment carried on an interior
side of the top panel.
9. A soft-sided lunch kit comprising: a pliable body surrounding an
storage compartment having a loading/unloading access opening; a
lid connected to said body and sized to close said
loading/unloading access opening with the lid in a closed position,
the lid including a quick access opening therein to allow access to
the storage compartment with the lid in the closed position, an
exterior of said lid having a decorative figure formed thereon; a
flap connected to said lid to be movable between positions opening
and closing said quick access opening in said lid, said flap
defining a portion of said decorative figure.
10. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein said pliable body is thermally
insulated.
11. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein said pliable body and said lid
are thermally insulated.
12. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein said pliable body, said lid,
and said flap are thermally insulated.
13. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein said lid is pliable.
14. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein said lid and said flap are
pliable.
15. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein the flap comprises an opening
tab extending from the flap to overlay a surface of said exterior
of said lid, the opening tab defining part of said portion of said
decorative figure.
16. The lunch kit of claim 9 further comprising a zipper-like
closing device extending about the loading/unloading access opening
and a periphery of the lid for selectively securing the lid in a
position closing said loading/unloading access opening.
17. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein said decorative figure is in
the form of an animal or a car, and said portion of said decorative
figure comprises a lower jaw of the animal or a hood of the
car.
18. The lunch kit of claim 17 wherein the flap comprises an opening
tab extending from the flap to overlay a surface of said exterior
of said lid, the opening tab defining part of said portion of said
decorative figure, said part of said portion of said decorative
figure comprising a tooth or lip of said animal or a grill of said
car.
19. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein the flap has a periphery
shaped to resemble at least part of said portion of said decorative
figure.
20. The lunch kit of claim 9 wherein the quick access opening
provides access to a storage compartment carried on an interior
side of the top panel.
21. A soft-sided cooler comprising: a body including an insulated,
pliable bottom wall, an insulated pliable side wall joined to and
extending in upstanding-fashion about the periphery of the bottom
wall, the side wall including an upper loading/unloading access
opening to the interior of the body; an insulated pliable top panel
sized to close the loading/unloading access opening and hinged to
said body to be movable between positions opening and closing said
loading/unloading access opening, an exterior side of said top
panel having a decorative figure formed thereon; and a quick access
structure including a quick access opening in the top panel, and a
flap hinged to the top panel to be movable between positions
opening and closing the quick access opening, the flap defining a
portion of said decorative figure.
22. The cooler of claim 21 wherein the flap has a periphery shaped
to resemble at least a part of said portion of said decorative
figure.
23. The cooler of claim 21 wherein the flap comprises an opening
tab extending from the flap to overlay a surface of said exterior
of said top panel, the opening tab defining part of said portion of
said decorative figure.
24. The lunch kit of claim 21 wherein the quick access opening
provides access to a storage compartment carried on an interior
side of the top panel.
Description
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates to insulated containers typically
employed for the transport of food or beverages and in more
particular application to such containers that are insulated to
transport food or beverages in either a heated or a cooled state
and generally referred to as coolers.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Insulated containers for transporting food and/or beverages
in a heated or cooled state have long been known. Originally, rigid
containers with insulated walls and pivoted lids were employed for
the purpose. Indeed, such rigid coolers are still employed today
for many purposes.
[0003] More recent years have seen the development of so-called
"soft-sided coolers" which typically are not as bulky as
rigid-sided coolers but in some instances may approach the size
thereof. Soft-sided coolers are frequently provided with carrying
straps and offer the advantage that when carried by the carrying
strap, the user of the cooler is in contact with a relatively
soft-sided cooler to make carrying more comfortable. Moreover, in
soft-sided coolers by their very nature are partially collapsible
and therefore are more readily stored by the user when not in use
and are more easily transported by the manufacturer to a point of
sale and/or maintained in inventory by a merchandiser of the
cooler.
[0004] As a consequence of these attributes, soft-sided coolers
have become quite popular and their use has proliferated
accordingly. One form of soft-sided coolers is provided to replace
conventional hard sided lunch boxes in a size appropriate for use
to pack a meal for an individual, for example lunch, and are
commonly referred to as soft-sided lunch kits or bags.
[0005] A typical soft-sided cooler is usually, but not always, in
the form of a rectangular solid having an insulated, pliable bottom
wall, an upstanding, insulated pliable side wall and a pliable top
panel which also is insulated. In the usual case, the vast majority
of the side wall is attached to the bottom wall while a short,
upper section of the side wall is attached to and depends from the
periphery of the top panel. Around the remaining three sides, a
zipper or other securing device extends which may be closed to
secure the top panel in a closed state to the side wall. When the
zipper is opened about three sides, the top panel (and that small
portion of the side wall secured to the top panel) may be pivoted
away from a loading/unloading opening near the upper part of the
side wall through which items to be transported may be introduced
into or taken from the interior of the cooler.
[0006] This sort of structure is highly desirable in that it allows
the top panel to be pivoted away from the remainder to the cooler
to expose an access opening that is essentially the same size as
the bottom panel, there-by allowing easy introduction or removal of
the materials to be transported in the cooler. However, it is not
without a drawback. In particular, when only one or two items of
many contained within the cooler are to be removed therefrom, the
zipper must be moved about three sides of the cooler to achieve
access to the interior. After removal, the zipper must be
re-zipped. This requires more effort than is desired when only a
single or a few of the items contained in the cooler are to be
accessed.
[0007] To solve this problem, the assignee of the instant
application introduced an improvement wherein the top panel itself
was provided with a much smaller quick access opening that is
closed by a flap forming part of the top panel and which carries a
body of insulation sufficiently large so as to close the quick
access opening. A quick release securing device as, for example,
Velcro.RTM. fastener is employed to secure the flap to the
remainder of the top panel at a point opposite that whereat the
flap is hinged to the remainder of the top panel. While this
solution works well for its intended purpose, there is always room
for improvement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0008] It is a principal object of the invention to provide a new
and improved portable cooler as, for example, a soft-sided cooler
or lunch kit.
[0009] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a soft-sided
lunch kit or cooler is provided and includes a body, a pliable top
panel, and a quick access structure. The body includes a pliable
bottom wall, and a pliable side wall joined to and extending in
upstanding-fashion about the periphery of the bottom wall. The side
wall includes an upper loading/unloading access opening to the
interior of the body. The pliable top panel is sized to close the
loading/unloading access opening and hinged to the body to be
movable between positions opening and closing the loading/unloading
access opening. The quick access structure includes a quick access
opening in the top panel, and a flap hinged to the top panel to be
movable between positions opening and closing the quick access
opening. An exterior side of the top panel has a decorative figure
formed thereon, and the flap defines a portion of the decorative
figure.
[0010] In one aspect, the flap has a periphery shaped to resemble
at least a part of the portion of the decorative figure.
[0011] In accordance with one aspect, the cooler or lunch kit
further includes a zipper-like closing device extending about the
loading/unloading access opening and a periphery of the top panel
for selectively securing the top panel in a position closing the
loading/unloading access opening.
[0012] According to one aspect, the flap includes an opening tab
extending from the flap to overlay a surface of the exterior of the
top panel, and the opening tab defines part of the portion of the
decorative figure.
[0013] In one aspect, the pliable bottom wall, pliable side wall,
pliable top panel and flap are all thermally insulated.
[0014] According to one aspect, the decorative figure is in the
form of an animal or car and the portion of the decorative figure
comprises the lower jaw of the animal or hood of the car. In a
further aspect, the flap includes an opening tab extending from the
flap to overlay a surface of the exterior of the top panel, and the
opening tab defines part of the portion of the decorative figure,
with the part of the portion of the decorative figure including a
tooth or lip of the animal or a grill of the car.
[0015] In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a soft-sided
lunch kit is provided and includes a pliable body surrounding
storage compartment having a loading/unloading access opening, a
lid connected to the body and sized to close the loading/unloading
access opening with the lid in a closed position, and a flap
connected to the lid to be movable between positions opening and
closing the quick access opening in the lid. The lid includes a
quick access opening therein to allow access to the storage
compartment with the lid in the closed position. An exterior of the
lid has a decorative figure formed thereon, and the flap defines a
portion of the decorative figure.
[0016] In one aspect, the pliable body is thermally insulated. In
one aspect, the pliable body and the lid are thermally insulated.
In one aspect, the pliable body, the lid, and the flap are
thermally insulated.
[0017] According to one aspect, the lid is pliable.
[0018] In accordance with one aspect, the lid and the flap are
pliable.
[0019] In one aspect, the flap includes an opening tab extending
from the flap to overlay a surface of the exterior of the lid, with
the opening tab defining part of the portion of the decorative
figure.
[0020] In one aspect, the flap has a periphery shaped to resemble
at least a part of the portion of the decorative figure.
[0021] In accordance with one aspect, the lunch kit further
includes a zipper-like closing device extending about the
loading/unloading access opening and a periphery of the lid for
selectively securing the lid in a position closing the
loading/unloading access opening.
[0022] In one aspect, the quick access opening allows access to an
additional storage compartment carried on an interior side of the
top panel.
[0023] Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the
following specification taken in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0024] FIG. 1 is a top view of one embodiment of a soft-sided
cooler/lunch kit embodying the invention showing a top panel and a
flap both in closed positions;
[0025] FIG. 2 is a top view of the soft-sided colorfast FIG. 1
illustrating the top panel in a closed position but with the flap
moved to an open position;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a top perspective view showing the flap in a
closed position and the top panel in an open position;
[0027] FIGS. 4-6 are similar to FIGS. 1-3, respectively, but
illustrate another embodiment of a soft-sided cooler/lunch kit
embodying the invention; and
[0028] FIGS. 7 and 8 are similar to FIGS. 1 and 2, but show yet
another embodiment of a soft-sided cooler/lunch kit embodying the
invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0029] With reference to FIGS. 1-3, a preferred embodiment of a
soft-sided cooler made according to the invention is illustrated in
the form of lunch-kit. The soft-sided cooler includes a body,
generally designated 10, that surrounds a storage compartment 11
defined by the interior of the body 10. As is apparent from FIGS. 1
and 2, the body 10 is in the form of a rectangular solid. However,
other shapes may be employed as well. For example, a cylindrical
shape could be employed if desired as could a number of other
geometric configurations.
[0030] In any event, the body 10 includes a pliable, insulated
bottom wall 12. A rectangular side wall 14 of insulated pliable
material extends upwardly from the bottom wall 12 and, near its
upper end, includes an access opening, generally designated 16. The
access opening 16 is for unloading or loading the cooler and can be
closed by a top panel 18 which is secured to a rear section 20 of
the side wall 14 for pivoting between positions opening and closing
the access opening 16 by a hinge 21, typically fabric but which can
be of any suitable form such as a tape hinge or as by stitching the
panel 18 to the wall 14. The periphery of the top panel 18 defines
its envelope and in many instances, a short skirt 22 depends from
the top panel 18 in alignment with the side wall 14 to form a
continuation thereof. A conventional zipper 24 may be utilized to
secure the panel 18 or the skirt 22 to the side wall 14 so that the
top panel 18 closes the interior of the cooler body 10. The zipper
24 may be opened to allow the top panel 18 to be pivoted from a
closed position shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 to an open position shown in
FIG. 3 exposing the loading/unloading access opening 16.
[0031] Preferably, the top panel 18 is also insulated and made of a
pliable material. In the usual case, a sandwiched construction will
be utilized for the walls 12 and 14 as well as the top panel 18
wherein the exterior part of each wall is formed of a fabric and
the interior part formed of a liquid impervious plastic or the
like. Suitable insulating fiber of a flexible nature is located
between the two panels in a manner known in the art.
[0032] The top panel 18 has a decorative FIG. 25 formed thereon,
which in the embodiment of FIG. 1 is a character figure in the form
of a dog. It should be understood that any decorative figure can be
used for the FIG. 25, such as for example, other types of animals,
cartoon characters, landscapes, portraits, buildings, abstract
figures, etc. In this regard, FIG. 4 shows an alternate embodiment
wherein the decorative FIG. 25 is in the form of a race car, and
FIG. 7 shows an alternate embodiment wherein the decorative FIG. 25
is in the form of a frog.
[0033] The top panel 18 also includes a quick access flap 26 which
is shown in a closed position in FIG. 1 and in an open position in
FIG. 2. The flap 26 is hinged at 28 to the remainder of the top
panel 18 using any suitable means, such as a fabric hinge, a tape
hinge, or as by stitching the fabric of which the flap 26 may be
formed to the fabric on the exterior of the top panel 18 at the
location 28. This allows the flap 26 to move between a closed
position, as shown in FIG. 1, and an open position, as shown in
FIG. 2, to close and open a rectangular quick access opening 30
which will be typically sized so that one may insert one's hand
into the storage compartment 11 through the quick access opening 30
to retrieve a beverage or a sandwich or the like when the flap 26
is in the open position shown in FIG. 2. Shapes other than
rectangular ones could also be employed in forming the opening 30.
For example, the embodiment of FIG. 5 has a parallelogram-shaped
opening 30, and the embodiment of FIG. 8 has an oval-shaped opening
30. Together, the flap 26 and the opening 30 define a quick access
structure 31.
[0034] As best seen in FIG. 1, the flap 26 defines a portion 32 of
the decorative FIG. 25, with the portion 32 in the embodiment of
FIG. 1 being in the form of the lower jaw of the dog. It should be
understood that the particular portion 32 of the decorative FIG. 25
defined by the flap 26 will be highly dependent upon the particular
decorative figure used. For example, the portion 32 in the
embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is in the form of the hood of the car,
the portion 32 of the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 is in the form of
the lower jaw of the frog. Preferably, an outer periphery 33 of the
flap 26 defines at least part of the portion 32. For example, as
best seen in FIG. 2, the periphery 33 defines the outline of the
lower jaw of the dog including the teeth associated with the lower
jaw. As further examples, the outer periphery 33 of the flap 26 of
the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 defines the outline of the hood of
the car, and the periphery 33 of the flap 26 of the embodiment of
FIGS. 7 and 8 define the outline of the lower jaw of the frog.
Additionally, as best seen in FIGS. 2 and 5, it may be desirable
for at least part of the panel 1 8 that underlies the flap 26 to
include a reproduction of at least a part of the portion 32 defined
by the flap 26. However, in some embodiments this might not be
desired, as shown for the embodiment of FIG. 8.
[0035] Preferably, the flap 26 is pliable and is also preferably
insulated using the same type of construction as described for the
wall 14 and panel 18. As an alternative to, or in addition to being
pliable and/or insulated, the flap 26 can carry a small,
rectangular body (not shown) of insulating material which is sized
to approximately the same size and shape as the quick access
opening 30. This block may extend into the quick access opening 30
if desired or, in the alternative, may be sized so as to abut the
edges of the access opening 30 to form a gross seal thereat.
[0036] Preferably, a quick release fastener 34, such as a hook and
loop type fastener or Velcro.RTM. patch, may be located adjacent
the access opening 30 at a location remote from the hinge line 28.
A mating patch 35 is located on the flap 26 so as to engage with
the patch 34 to hold the flap 26 in a closed position when desired.
Other suitable quick release fasteners, such as buttons or snaps,
may be used in place of a hook and loop type fastener.
[0037] The flap 26 preferably includes at least one tab 36 which is
intended to be gripped by a user of cooler when the user desires to
achieve access to the interior of the cooler body 10 through the
quick access opening 30 by gripping the tab 36 to release the
fastener 34 and move the flap 26 to the open position. In the
embodiment of FIG. 1, two tabs 36 are provided, each in the form of
a tooth extending upward from the lower jaw of the dog. It should
be appreciated that the tab(s) 36 can take many forms. For example,
the tab 36 of the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5 is provided in the
form of a grill structure attached to the hood of the car, and the
tab 36 in the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8 is provided in the form
of a junction between a lip and a perimeter of the jaw of the frog.
Preferably, the tab(s) 36 extends away from the hinge line 28.
[0038] One possible alternative for the quick access structure 31
is best seen in FIGS. 5 and 6 wherein the quick access opening 30
allows access to an additional storage compartment 38 that is
formed on the interior side of the top panel 18, extending into the
storage compartment 11. Preferably, the additional storage
compartment 38 is formed of the same type of pliable materials used
in forming the wall 14, panel 18 and flap 26, and is attached to
the top panel 18 using any suitable means, which in the illustrated
embodiment is by sewing. The additional storage compartment 38 can
be used to store food, particularly when the soft-sided cooler is a
lunch kit as in the illustrated embodiments, but can also be used
to store any other item desired, such as a toy, money, or key ring.
Preferably, the additional storage compartment 38 has a shape that
corresponds to the shape of the access opening 30. In this regard,
it can be seen that the additional storage compartment of FIGS. 5
and 6 has a parallelogram shape similar to the parallelogram shape
of the access opening 30, and the storage compartment 38 of FIG. 8
has an oval shape similar to the oval shape of the access opening
30 in FIG. 8. However, in some applications, it may be desirable
for the additional storage compartment 30 to have a shape that does
not conform to the shape of the access opening 30.
[0039] The decorative FIG. 25 can be formed on the panel 18 and
flap 26 using any suitable method, which in the illustrated
embodiments is colored printing on the surfaces of the panel 18 and
flap 26, but which can include, without limitation, painting, silk
screening, embroidering, stitching, weaving, sculpting, etc.
[0040] The body 10 can be provided with a flexible carrying strap
40 secured to the side wall 14 at spaced locations thereon near the
upper end thereof.
* * * * *