Soft-sided cooler or lunch kit including a spinning pointer on an interior side of the lid

Abstract

Entertainment is provided by a soft-sided cooler or lunch kit by means of a spinning pointer (28) mounted for rotation about axis (30) to an interior side (26) of a top panel or a lid (18) of the soft-sided cooler or lunch kit.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] This invention relates to soft-sided coolers or lunch kits.

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 lunch kits or bags.

[0005] A typical soft-sided cooler or lunch kit 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. 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, thereby allowing easy introduction or removal of the materials to be transported in the cooler.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] 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.

[0007] 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 spinning pointer mounted to an interior side of the top panel for rotation about an axis. 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; and the top panel is hinged to the body to be movable between positions opening and closing the loading/unloading access opening. The spinning pointer and the interior side are exposed with the top panel in an open position.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, a soft-sided lunch kit or cooler is provided and includes a pliable body surrounding a storage compartment having a loading/unloading access opening, a lid connected to said body and sized to close the loading/unloading access opening with the lid in a closed position, and a spinning pointer mounted to an interior side of the lid for rotation about an axis. The pointer and the interior side being exposed with the top panel in an open position.

[0009] In one aspect, at least two different indicia are provided on the interior side, and the pointer is rotatable about the axis to point at each of the at least two different indicia.

[0010] According to one aspect, the indicia are in the form of generally worded answers to yes or no type questions or words indicating a result of an at-bat in baseball.

[0011] In one aspect,-the pointer is shaped to resemble an arrow. According to one aspect, the body and the panel are thermally insulated.

[0012] In one aspect, a zipper-like closing device extends 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.

[0013] Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] FIG. 1 is a top perspective view of one embodiment of a soft-sided lunch kit embodying the invention showing a top panel in an open position with a spinning pointer and an interior side of the top panel exposed;

[0015] FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of the spinning pointer and the interior side of the top panel of FIG. 1;

[0016] FIG. 3 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 1, but showing the top panel in a closed position; and

[0017] FIG. 4 is a top view of another embodiment of a soft-sided lunch kit embodying the invention showing a top panel in an open position with a spinning pointer and an interior side of the top panel exposed.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0018] With reference to FIG. 1, a preferred embodiment of a soft-sided cooler made according to the invention is illustrated in the form of a lunch kit. The soft-sided cooler includes a body, generally designated 10. As is apparent from FIG. 1, 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.

[0019] In any event, the body 10 includes a pliable, and preferably insulated, bottom wall 12. A rectangular side wall 14, again preferably 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 lunch kit and can be closed by a top panel or lid 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. 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 skirt 22 to the side wall 14

[0020] 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 FIG. 3 to an open position shown in FIG. 1 exposing the loading/unloading access opening 16.

[0021] 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.

[0022] An interior side 26 of the top panel 18 has a spinning pointer 28 mounted thereto for rotation about an axis 30 that is preferably perpendicular to the plane of the surface 26. The pointer 28 and the interior side 26 are exposed with the top panel 18 in an open position. Preferably, at least two different indicia 32 are provided on the interior side 26 and said pointer 28 is rotatable about the axis 30 to point at each of the indicia 32. In the illustrated embodiment, the pointer 28 is shaped to resemble an arrow, the indicia 32 are provided in the form of generally worded answers to yes or no type questions, and instructions are provided on the interior side 26 to ask a yes or no question and then spin the pointer 28. This allows a user of the lunch kit to be entertained when the top panel 18 is in the open position. It should be appreciated that there are many types of indicia which can be used with the pointer 28, including without limitation, colors, figures, numbers, shapes, etc., and that the particular type of indicia selected will be highly dependent upon the type of game or entertainment desired for the cooler or lunch kit. For example, the various shapes and figures that are shown in FIG. 1 adjacent each of the indicia 32 could also serve as indicia depending upon the particular type of entertainment or game desired. The same applies for the particular shape of the pointer 28. By way of further example, another embodiment is shown in FIG. 4 wherein the indicia 32 are in the form of words that indicate a result of an at-bat in baseball, i.e., the type of base hit or out achieved, and instructions are provided on the interior side 26 to spin the pointer 28 while using coins to run bases, record outs and keep score.

[0023] The indicia 32 can be formed on the panel 18 using any suitable method, which in the illustrated embodiment is colored printing on the surface 26 of the panel 18, but which can include, without limitation, painting, silk screening, embroidering, stitching, weaving, sculpting, etc.

[0024] As best seen in FIG. 3, the body 10 can be provided with a flexible carrying strap 37 secured to the side wall 14 at spaced locations thereon near the upper end thereof.

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; and a spinning pointer mounted to an interior side of said top panel for rotation about an axis, said interior side and said pointer being exposed with the top panel in an open position.

2. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein at least two different indicia are provided on said interior side and said pointer is rotatable about said axis to point at each said at least two different indicia.

3. The lunch kit of claim 2 wherein said indicia is in the form of at least one of generally worded answers to yes or no type questions or words indicating a result of an at-bat in baseball.

4. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein said pointer is shaped to resemble an arrow.

5. The lunch kit of claim 1 wherein said pliable bottom wall, pliable side wall, and pliable top panel are all thermally insulated.

6. 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.

7. A soft-sided lunch kit comprising: a pliable body surrounding a 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; and a spinning pointer mounted to an interior side of said lid for rotation about an axis, said interior side and said pointer being exposed with the top panel in an open position.

8. The lunch kit of claim 7 wherein at least two different indicia are provided on said interior side, and said pointer is rotatable about said axis to point at each said at least two different indicia.

9. The lunch kit of claim 7 wherein said indicia are in the form of at least one of generally worded answers to yes or no type questions or words indicating a result of an at-bat in baseball.

10. The lunch kit of claim 7 wherein said pointer is shaped to resemble an arrow.

11. The lunch kit of claim 7 wherein said pliable body is thermally insulated.

12. The lunch kit of claim 7 wherein said pliable body and said lid are thermally insulated.

13. The lunch kit of claim 7 wherein said lid is pliable.

14. The lunch kit of claim 7 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.

15. A soft-sided cooler comprising: an insulated pliable body surrounding a storage compartment having a loading/unloading access opening; an insulated lid connected to said body and sized to lose said loading/unloading access opening with the lid in a closed position; and a spinning pointer mounted to an interior side of said lid for rotation about an axis, said interior side and said pointer being exposed with the top panel in an open position.

16. The cooler of claim 15 wherein at least two different indicia are provided on said interior side, and said pointer is rotatable about said axis to point at each said at least two different indicia.

17. The lunch kit of claim of claim 15 wherein said insulated lid is pliable.