U.S. patent application number 16/867403 was filed with the patent office on 2021-11-11 for customizable, modular thermal insulator.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jeffrey Herold. Invention is credited to Jeffrey Herold.
Application Number | 20210348825 16/867403 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 1000004858932 |
Filed Date | 2021-11-11 |
United States Patent
Application |
20210348825 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Herold; Jeffrey |
November 11, 2021 |
CUSTOMIZABLE, MODULAR THERMAL INSULATOR
Abstract
A novel modular thermal insulator is disclosed. The insulator
comprises a pliable, thermally insulated container and a one-piece,
self-standing, pliable shell. The container includes a front wall,
rear wall, left wall, right wall, and bottom wall defining an
interior compartment preferably lined with a thermoplastic
polyurethane coated nylon. The container also includes a top cover
pivotally connected to the rear wall. Each wall and top cover of
the container is preferably thermally insulated using high-density
open-cell foam insulation. Each wall of the shell defines a
form-fitting receptacle for frictionally receiving the container.
The shell is preferably comprised of a fabric material capable of
being embroidered with, for example, a logo, name, or other
indicia. The front wall, rear wall, left wall, right wall, and
bottom wall of the container are slid into the receptacle of the
shell and held in place by frictional engagement. Thus, with this
invention, a user may have multiple, personalized shells, and
choose which shell to use depending on the occasion. The result is
a high-performance, soft-shelled, customizable thermal insulator
with different looks.
Inventors: |
Herold; Jeffrey; (Huntington
Beach, CA) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Herold; Jeffrey |
Huntington Beach |
CA |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
1000004858932 |
Appl. No.: |
16/867403 |
Filed: |
May 5, 2020 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 2331/804 20130101;
B65D 81/3853 20130101; B65D 81/3858 20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101;
B65D 81/3851 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/08 20060101
F25D003/08; B65D 81/38 20060101 B65D081/38 |
Claims
1. A customizable, modular thermal insulator comprising: a pliable,
thermally insulated container having a front wall, rear wall, left
wall, right wall, bottom wall, and top cover; and a one-piece,
self-standing, pliable shell having a front wall, rear wall, left
wall, and right wall, each wall of the shell defining a
form-fitting receptacle for frictionally receiving the front wall,
rear wall, left wall, and right wall of the container, wherein the
shell is comprised of a fabric material capable of being
embroidered, whereby the front wall, rear wall, left wall, right
wall, and bottom wall of the container may be slid into the
receptacle of the shell and held in place by frictional
engagement.
2. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the top cover is pivotally
connected to the rear wall of the container via a hinge.
3. The insulator of claim 2, wherein the front wall, rear wall,
left wall, right wall, and bottom wall of the container define an
interior compartment, wherein the top cover may be pivoted about
the hinge to open or close the interior compartment.
4. The insulator of claim 3, further comprising a zipper disposed
substantially about the rear wall and the top cover near the hinge
for maintaining the top cover in a closed position over the
interior compartment.
5. The insulator of claim 4, further comprising a D-ring opener
disposed about one end of the zipper.
6. The insulator of claim 3, further comprising a liner disposed
about the interior compartment of the container, wherein the liner
of the container is made of thermoplastic polyurethane coated nylon
fabric.
7. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the top cover has a bottom
side and an opposing top side, wherein the bottom side of the top
cover has a liner disposed thereon, and wherein the liner of the
top cover is made of thermoplastic polyurethane coated nylon
fabric.
8. The insulator of claim 7, wherein the top side of the top cover
has a drawstring for retaining one or more items.
9. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the front wall of the shell
includes a logo, name, or indicia embroidered thereon.
10. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the shell has an embroidered
front wall, wherein the front wall, rear wall, left wall, right
wall, and bottom wall of the container are slid into the receptacle
of the embroidered shell and form-fitted therein for use by a
user.
11. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the container is thermally
insulated using high-density open-cell foam insulation.
12. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the fabric material is 1680D
ballistic nylon.
13. The insulator of claim 1, wherein the shell further comprises a
bottom wall.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to thermal
insulators, such as portable coolers or ice boxes.
SUMMARY
[0002] One exemplary embodiment of the disclosed subject matter is
a customizable, modular thermal insulator having a pliable,
thermally insulated container and a one-piece, self-standing,
pliable shell. The container includes a front wall, rear wall, left
wall, right wall, bottom wall, and top cover. Each wall and top
cover is preferably thermally insulated using high-density
open-cell foam insulation.
[0003] The shell has a front wall, rear wall, left wall, right
wall, and optional bottom wall. Each wall of the shell defines a
form-fitting receptacle for frictionally receiving the front wall,
rear wall, left wall, right wall, and bottom wall of the container.
The shell is preferably comprised of a fabric material, such as
1680D ballistic nylon, which is capable of being embroidered.
[0004] With the above arrangement, the front wall, rear wall, left
wall, right wall, and bottom wall of the container may be slid into
the receptacle of the shell and held in place by frictional
engagement. Thus, with this invention, a user may have multiple,
personalized shells, and choose which shell to use depending on the
occasion. The result is a high-performance, soft-shelled,
customizable thermal insulator with different looks.
[0005] In addition to the above-disclosed structure, the top cover
of the container is preferably pivotally connected to the rear wall
of the container via a hinge. Moreover, the front wall, rear wall,
left wall, right wall, and bottom wall of the container define an
interior compartment. With this arrangement, the top cover may be
pivoted about the hinge to open or close the interior
compartment.
[0006] The invention may further comprise a zipper disposed
substantially about the top cover and rear wall near the hinge for
maintaining the top cover in a closed position over the interior
compartment. A D-ring opener may be disposed about one end of the
zipper.
[0007] A liner may be disposed about the interior compartment of
the container. The liner is preferably is made of thermoplastic
polyurethane coated nylon fabric.
[0008] The top cover of the container includes a bottom side and an
opposing top side. The bottom side of the top cover preferably has
a liner disposed thereon, wherein the liner of the top cover is
made of thermoplastic polyurethane coated nylon fabric. The top
side of the top cover may include a drawstring for retaining one or
more items.
[0009] One of more of the walls of the shell may include a logo,
name, or indicia embroidered thereon. The front wall, rear wall,
left wall, right wall, and bottom wall of the container are slid
into the receptacle of the embroidered shell and form-fitted
therein for use by a user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] Some non-limiting exemplary embodiments of the disclosed
subject matter are illustrated in the following drawings. Identical
or duplicate or equivalent or similar structures, elements, or
parts that appear in one or more drawings are generally labeled
with the same reference numeral, optionally with an additional
letter or letters to distinguish between similar objects or
variants of objects, and may not be repeatedly labeled and/or
described. Dimensions of components and features shown in the
figures are chosen for convenience or clarity of presentation. For
convenience or clarity, some elements or structures are not shown
or shown only partially and/or with different perspective or from
different point of views.
[0011] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the
customizable, modular thermal insulator disclosed herein;
[0012] FIG. 2A is a perspective view of an embodiment of a shell of
the thermal insulator disclosed herein;
[0013] FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the shell of the thermal
insulator seen in FIG. 1;
[0014] FIG. 3A is an exploded view of an embodiment of the
customizable, modular thermal insulator disclosed herein,
illustrating how the container is to be form-fitted within the
self-standing shell seen in FIG. 2A; and
[0015] FIG. 3B is an exploded view of the thermal insulator seen in
FIG. 1, illustrating how the container is to be form-fitted within
the self-standing shell of FIG. 2B.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0016] Thermal insulators, such as portable coolers or ice boxes,
are often desirable when relaxing at the pool or beach, playing
sports, or otherwise enjoying the great outdoors. The typical such
insulator generally falls within two types: (1) hard cooler, or (2)
soft cooler.
[0017] The conventional hard cooler is usually leakproof and highly
insulative. This hard cooler, which may be referred to as an ice
chest, is typically made of polyethylene plastic or metal on the
outside, polypropylene on the inside, and polyurethane insulation
in the middle. As the polyethylene plastic or metal on the outside
is quite hard, it is incapable of being embroidered. Thus, should
one desire to customize or personalize the typical hard cooler,
such customization may be done during the manufacturing process via
silk screening or the like. Should one desire to customize an ice
chest after market, jackets or wraps exists. Such jackets or wraps
include fastening means, such as hook-and-loop or elastic pockets
or the like, for keeping the jacket or wrap held onto the hard
outside of the cooler.
[0018] The conventional soft cooler also comes in myriad designs
and performance characteristics. The soft cooler is typically a
one-piece unit made from soft materials such as vinyl or polyester
sewn around insulation. As vinyl and polyester are known to leak,
an impermeable plastic liner may be sewn into the interior of the
soft cooler. Should one desire to personalize a soft cooler, such
customization may be done during the manufacturing process via silk
screening or the like. However, as the typical soft cooler is a
one-piece unit and leakage is a significant issue, customization
via embroidery is not possible once the soft cooler is sealed up
and ready-for-market.
[0019] Accordingly, a novel insulator is desired that comprises a
pliable, thermally insulated container and a one-piece,
self-standing, pliable shell capable of being embroidered. The
walls of the container may be slid into a receptacle of the shell
and held in place by frictional engagement. Thus, with this
invention, a user may have multiple, personalized shells, and
choose which shell to use depending on the occasion. The result is
a high-performance, soft-shelled, customizable thermal insulator
with different looks.
[0020] A general non-limiting overview of practicing the present
disclosure is presented below. The overview outlines exemplary
practice of embodiments of the present disclosure, providing a
constructive basis for variant and/or alternative and/or divergent
embodiments, some of which are subsequently described.
[0021] FIGS. 1-3B illustrate embodiments of the novel thermal
insulator 100 disclosed herein. As seen in these figures, insulator
100 includes two main modular or interchangeable components:
container 102 and shell 104.
[0022] The pliable, thermally insulated container 102 includes a
front wall 106, a rear wall 108, a left wall 110, a right wall 112,
bottom wall 114, and a top cover 120. The front wall 106, rear wall
108, left wall 110, right wall 112, and bottom wall 114 define an
interior compartment 116. The interior compartment is fitted with a
liner 118. The liner 118 is preferably a Food and Drug
Association-approved thermoplastic polyurethane coated nylon
fabric.
[0023] The top cover 120 includes a top side 128 and an opposing
bottom side 130. The top side 128 preferably includes a drawstring
132 for retaining items on the top cover 120. The bottom side 130
preferably includes a liner 134. The liner 134 is preferably a Food
and Drug Association-approved thermoplastic polyurethane coated
nylon fabric.
[0024] Top cover 120 is preferably coupled to the rear wall 108 via
a hinge 122. Doing so permits the top cover 120 to pivot about the
hinge 122 to open or close the interior compartment 116.
[0025] A zipper 124 is disposed substantially about the rear wall
108 and the top cover 120 near the hinge 122 for maintaining the
top cover 120 in a closed position over the interior compartment
116. A D-ring opener 126 may be disposed about one end of the
zipper 124. The opener 126 permits a user to open a refreshment
having a bottle cap or the like.
[0026] The shell 104 is a one-piece, self-standing modular unit.
The shell 104 includes a front wall 136, a rear wall 138, a left
wall 140, a right wall 142, and an optional bottom wall 144. Each
wall 136-144 of the shell 104 defines a form-fitting receptacle for
frictionally receiving the front wall 106, rear wall 108, left wall
110, right wall 112, and bottom wall 114 of the container 102. The
shell 104 is preferably made of fabric material such as 1680D
ballistic nylon.
[0027] The shell 104 may include handle members 146, 152. Handle
member 146 may be seen stitched on front wall 136 in FIG. 1. In
like manner, handle member 152 is preferably stitched on rear wall
138 of shell 104. A decorative diamond-shaped pattern 148, for
customer recognizability as to the source of the product 100, may
also be seen in FIG. 1.
[0028] FIG. 1 also illustrates how a wall, such as the front wall
136 of the shell 104, may include a logo, name, or indicia 150
embroidered thereon. FIG. 2A illustrates how the front wall 136 of
the shell 104 may be made without any indicia, whereas FIG. 2B
illustrates another embodiment of the shell 104 with indicia 150.
FIG. 2B also illustrates a buckle 156 may be disposed on the right
wall 142 of shell 104. A complementary buckle member 154 may be
seen in FIG. 1 on left wall 140. The buckle members 154, 156 are
designed to engage a strap (not shown) or the like for ease of
portability of the insulator 100.
[0029] Should the occasion call for it, the user of the disclosed
invention 100 may not want to display any level of personalization
or customization. If so, then FIG. 3A illustrates how the user may
choose the soft shell 104 of FIG. 2A, and then slide the front wall
106, rear wall 108, left wall 110, right wall 112, and bottom wall
114 of the pliable, thermally insulated container 102 into the
receptacle of the one-piece, self-standing, pliable shell 104. Such
engagement holds the container 102 in place by frictional
engagement, i.e., no fastening means are needed.
[0030] In the alternative, the user may choose a personalized look
and feel of the invention 100. If so, then FIG. 3B illustrates how
the user may choose the soft shell 104 of FIG. 2B, for example, and
then slide the front wall 106, rear wall 108, left wall 110, right
wall 112, and bottom wall 114 of the pliable, thermally insulated
container 102 into the receptacle of the one-piece, self-standing,
pliable shell 104, whereby the walls 106-112 of the container 102
are held in place by frictional engagement.
[0031] It should now be apparent the disclosed thermal insulator
100 is a pliable, thermally insulated container and a one-piece,
self-standing, pliable shell capable of being embroidered. As the
walls of the container may be slid into a receptacle of the shell
and held in place by frictional engagement, the user may have
multiple, personalized shells, and choose which shell to use
depending on the occasion. Thus, the present invention
advantageously effects a high-performance, soft-shelled,
customizable thermal insulator with different looks.
[0032] While certain embodiments have been described, the
embodiments have been presented by way of example only and are not
intended to limit the scope of the inventions. Indeed, the novel
thermal insulator embodiments described herein may be embodied in a
variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions,
substitutions, and changes in the form of the disclosed elements
may be made without departing from the spirit of the inventions.
The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover
such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and
spirit of the inventions.
* * * * *