US20040144783A1 - Liquid resistant cooler container - Google Patents

Abstract

A leak resistant container that is received inside of a flexible walled, insulated cooler. The container consists of a lid, a base, and a gasket that are frictionally engaged to prevent leakage from the container. The lid has an outer wall and an inner wall separated by a channel that is covered by the gasket. The base has an extending wall and a ledge. In use, the combination of the outer wall, the inner wall, the gasket, the extending wall, and the ledge coact to provide a frictional engagement that creates a water tight seal to the food or liquid that is placed in the container.

Description

I. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention relates to a leak resistant container for a flexible walled, insulated cooler for preventing leakage from the container into the cooler.[0001]
II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
• Portable soft sided insulated coolers are known for their ability to minimize the change in temperature over time of cooled or heated food and beverages. People use the coolers to transport food and beverages to work, to school, to sporting events, to picnics, to go camping, or countless other activities where refrigeration or heating is not easily accessible or possible.[0002]
• However, these portable coolers present a problem of leaking during use. When the cooler is used to maintain the temperature of cold items, ice or some other refrigerant is used to maintain the cooled temperature. As the ice or refrigerant melts, water from the ice or condensation from an ice substitute forms which accumulates inside the cooler. The melted water or condensation then tends to leak through seams where the cooler is sewn together or the seams become saturated and provide a path for leakage through the cooler. The condensation resulting from heated foods likewise provides the same results. Leakage also results in saturation of the thermally insulating material which hinders the ability of the cooler to provide a thermal barrier. At other times, the food or beverage stored in the cooler may leak. This liquid may leak through the cooler as previously described.[0003]
• Thus, there is a need and there has never been disclosed a portable soft sided cooler having a container within the cooler for preventing leakage due to the cooling medium or condensation from cooled or heated items or spilled foods or beverages contained within the portable cooler.[0004]
III. OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
• It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a container for preventing leakage from a portable soft sided cooler due to condensation forming cooled or heated food or beverages contained within the portable cooler. A related object is to provide a container that prevents leakage from spilled foods or beverages held in the container.[0005]
• A related object of the present invention is to provide a portable cooler that, in combination with the container, minimizes the change in temperature over time of cooled or heated food and beverages.[0006]
• Another object of the invention is to provide a portable cooler that it not compromised by leakage and, thereby, retains its insulating or thermal properties while in use.[0007]
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a container that is releasably retained within the portable cooler. A related object of the invention is to provide a container that is substantially the same size as the interior of the portable cooler.[0008]
• Another object of the present invention is to provide a container that has a hinged top and gaskets to seal the top to the container body to minimize the possibility of liquid leaking from the container.[0009]
• Still another object of the invention is to provide a container in the portable cooler that is safe and easy to use.[0010]
• Other objects of the present invention will become more apparent to persons having ordinary skill in the art to which the present invention pertains from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.[0011]
IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
• The present invention is a leak resistant container received in a soft sided insulated cooler. The container consists of a lid, a base, and a gasket that are frictionally engaged to prevent leakage from the container. The lid has an outer wall and an inner wall separated by a channel that receives the gasket. The base has an extending wall and a ledge. In use, the combination of the outer wall, inner wall, gasket, extending wall, and ledge coact to provide a frictional engagement that creates a seal to keep liquids from leaking out of the container and into the soft sided cooler.[0012]
V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
• The Description of the Preferred Embodiment will be better understood with reference to the following figures:[0013]
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the container being received into a portable, soft sided cooler, illustrated in phantom.[0014]
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the container seated within the portable, soft sided cooler, illustrated in phantom.[0015]
• FIG. 3 the top view of lie container illustrating the lid in the open position and exposing the base of the container.[0016]
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the corner of the lid where it joins the base, with portions removed, showing the walls and the gasket that coact to seal the lid to the base.[0017]
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the corner of the container, with portions removed, illustrating the lid and tee base and, in particular, showing the placement of the gasket in relation to the inner and outer walls of the lid.[0018]
• FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the lid, taken along line[0019]6-6 of FIG. 5, showing the gasket within the channel between the inner wall and the outer wall of the lid.
• FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view of the container, taken along line[0020]7-7 of FIG. 1, showing the lid as sealed to the base of the container.
• FIG. 8 is a cross sectional view of the lid, taken along line[0021]8-8 of FIG. 5, showing the gasket in relation to the inner wall and outer wall of the lid adjacent to the base.
• FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the container, taken along line[0022]9-9 of FIG. 1, showing the lid as sealed to the base of the container and, in particular, the gasket in relation to the inner wall of the lid adjacent to the extending wall and the living hinge of the base.
VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
• Turning first to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a[0023]container20 being received into a flexible walled, insulatedportable cooler22. Thecontainer20 consists of alid24 and abase26. In the preferred embodiment, thelid24 and thebase26 are rectangular in shape and correspond to the rectangular shape of theportable cooler22. Alternatively, it is contemplated that thecontainer20 may be any shape including but not limited to square, circle, ovid, triangular, hexagonal, etc., provided that the sealing aspects described herein for thecontainer20 are properly utilized. Also, thecontainer20 is preferably substantially the same size as theportable cooler22 such that theentire container20 may be releasably retained within theportable cooler22 as illustrated in FIG. 2. The reasons for this are threefold: (1) the maximum volume of theportable cooler22 using thecontainer20 remains available by the user for use with cooled or heated food or beverages; (2) the flexible walledportable cooler22 receives structured support from thecontainer20 protecting the contents of theportable cooler22; and (3) with the exterior of thecontainer20 abutting the inside of theportable cooler22, the maximum effectiveness of the insulating properties of theportable cooler22 are realized.
• In the preferred embodiment, the[0024]container20 is made of a durable, injection molded, plastic material. Alternatively, thecontainer20 may be made of any other type of material provided the sealing aspects further discussed below are utilized.
• Turning to FIG. 3, the[0025]container20 and, in particular, thelid24 and thebase26 are more clearly illustrated. Thelid24, in a non-limiting example, is rectangular in shape and has aninterior surface28 and an exterior surface30 (FIG. 2). Located on theinterior surface28 is anouter wall32, aninner wall34, and achannel36 which separates theouter wall32 from theinner wall34. Theouter wall32, theinner wall34, and thechannel36 remain parallel and adjacent to each other around the entire circumference of thelid24 on theinterior surface28. Thelid24 is attached to thebase26 by aliving hinge38.
• The[0026]base26, in a non-limiting example, is rectangular in shape and has vertical walls40a-40d(more clearly illustrated in FIG. 2) and abottom42. The vertical walls40 extend around the entire circumference of thebottom42 and form anopen top44 within thebase26. Theopen top44 permits thecontainer20 to receive and retain the hot or cold food and beverages. Located at the top of the vertical walls40 is anextending wall46. The extendingwall46 is aligned parallel to the vertical walls40 and is provided around the entire circumference of the vertical wall40 of thebase26. Situated adjacent to theextending wall46 is a ledge48. The ledge48 extends outwardly from the vertical walls40 and remains perpendicular to the extendingwall46 around the circumference of the vertical wall40. In the preferred embodiment and as discussed in further detail below, the ledge48 is located a distance50 (FIG. 7) from the top of the extendingwall46 and connects with and is in the same plane as the living hinge38 (FIG. 9).
• Turning to FIG. 4, the preferred embodiment includes a[0027]gasket52 preferably made of a rubber material. Thegasket52 may be made of any suitable gasket sealing material. Thegasket52 is located on theinterior surface28 of thelid24 and is positioned in the channel36 (FIGS. 3, 5) between theouter wall32 and theinner wall34. Theinner wall34 is not a constant height around the entire perimeter of thelid24. Along the backvertical wall40a, theinner wall34 is less than or equal to the thickness54 (FIG. 9) of thegasket52. Theinner wall34 remains at this nominal height along thevertical wall40aand around the corners connecting the backvertical wall40ato the left and rightvertical walls40band40c, respectively. This point is designated as position “A” in FIG. 4. Theinner wall34 then ramps upward to a height56 (FIG. 6) that is maintained around the sidevertical walls40band40cand front vertical wall40d.
• In the preferred embodiment, the[0028]inner wall34 and theouter wall32 remain parallel to each other around the entire circumference of thelid24 and remain substantially the same distance apart. This forms a uniform,constant channel36 to receive thegasket52. Along theouter wall32 adjacent to the livinghinge38, thegasket52 covers theentire channel36 and extends over the inner wall34 (more clearly illustrated in FIG. 9). From position A and for the remainder of the circumference of thelid24, thegasket52 fills theentire channel36 between theouter wall32 and theinner wall34 as illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6. Turning to FIG. 5, thegasket52 at position A is more clearly shown. Along theouter wall32 adjacent to the livinghinge38, thegasket52 has awidth58. Once thegasket52 reaches position A, thegasket52 splints into twosections60 and62.Section60 of thegasket52 continues around the perimeter of thelid28 and fills theentire channel36 between theouter wall32 and theinner wall34.Section62 of thegasket52 continues past position A, on the opposite side of theinner wall34 tosection60, and stops slightly past position A. In this manner,Section60 and62 coact to form a secure seal at position A in relation to theinner wall34. FIGS. 6 and 8 further illustrate thegasket52 and, in particular,Sections60 and62 of thegasket52 in relation to theouter wall32 after and prior to position A, respectively.
• When the[0029]lid24 is closed over thebase26, thegasket52 forms a water tight seal between thelid24 and the base26 as illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 9. Turning to FIG. 7, thelid24 is releasably retained to thebase26. Specifically, the extendingwall46 of thebase26 is frictionally received into thechannel36 between theouter wall32 andinner wall34 to contact with and compress against thegasket52. Theouter wall32 continues along the exterior of the extendingwall46 until it engages and becomes flush with the ledge48. The frictional engagement between theouter wall32, theinner wall34, thegasket52, the extendingwall46, and the edge48 creates a secure seal between thelid24 and thebase26. If any liquid within thecontainer20 penetrates the frictional engagement between theinner wall34 and the extendingwall46, thegasket52 provides a barrier that minimizes the possibility of the liquid from penetrating any further or escaping from thecontainer20.
• Turning to FIG. 9, the[0030]lid24 is rotated about the livinghinge38 and releasably retained to thebase26. Specifically, the extendingwall46 of thebase26 is compressed against thegasket52 within thechannel36. As thegasket52 completely covers theinner wall34, the compression of thegasket52 by the extendingwall46 creates a tight seal between theouter wall32 and theinner wall34. Additionally, thewidth58 of thegasket52 covering theinner wall34 provides a water tight seal between theinterior surface28 of thelid24 and the food or liquid in thecontainer20. Also, theouter wall32 continues around the exterior of the extendingwall46 until it engages and becomes flush with the livinghinge38. The extendingwall46, theouter wall32, and the livinghinge38 coact with thegasket52 to provide a frictional engagement that further enhances the seal to minimize any leakage from thecontainer20.
• Thus, there has been provided a container that uses a unique interaction of walls and gasket between the lid and base that prevents leakage from liquid accumulating within the container due to cooled or heated food placed within the container. While the invention has been described in conjunction with a specific embodiment, it is evident that many alternatives, modifications and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, it in intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.[0031]

Claims (13)

What is claimed is:

1. A container and flexible walled insulated cooler, comprising:

a sealable Container having a bottom and a plurality of sides defining an open end and a closed end;

a lid having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having a side wall projecting outwardly from the interior surface and extending around the entire circumference of the lid;

a first wall projecting outwardly from the interior surface of the lid and located adjacent to a portion of the side wall;

a second wall projecting outwardly from the interior surface of the lid and located adjacent to the other portion of the side wall not adjacent to the first wall;

a channel formed between both the first wall and the side wall and the second wall and the side wall;

a gasket filling the entire channel and covering the second wall;

a living hinge connecting the lid to the sealable container, the living hinge affixed to the side wall of the lid adjacent to substantially the entire second wall and affixed to at least one of the plurality of sides adjacent to the open end;

a flexible walled insulated cooler having interior dimensions to closely receive the entire sealable container within the flexible walled insulated cooler;

whereby, upon the lid rotating about the living hinge to be secured to the sealable container, the at least one of the plurality of sides of the sealable container engages the side wall of the lid and compresses the gasket between the side wall and the second wall, the remaining plurality of sides of the sealable container are frictionally received between the first wall and the side wall of the lid until the plurality of sides engages the gasket within the channel, the combination of the side wall, the first wall, the second wall, and the plurality of walls creating a water tight seal within the channel between the lid and the sealable container.

2. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the lid and box are made of a durable plastic material.

3. The container ofclaim 1 wherein the gasket is made of a rubber material.

4. A flexible walled insulated cooler and a container for preventing leakage of liquid into the insulated cooler, comprising:

a box having a bottom and a plurality of side walls, each side wall having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom ends connected to the bottom to form a closed bottom, and the top end forming an open top;

a lid having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having at least two projecting walls extending around at least a portion of the circumference of the lid and correspondingly aligned to receive the plurality of side walls of the box, the at least two projecting walls further defining a channel between them;

a gasket situated between the at least two projecting walls and covering the entire channel and extending around the entire circumference of the lid;

a flexible walled insulated cooler having interior dimensions to closely receive the entire container within the flexible walled insulated cooler;

whereby, upon the lid being secured to the open end of the base, the plurality of sides of the box are frictionally received between the at least two projecting walls on the interior surface of the lid until the receiving wall engages the gasket, thereby, creating an impermeable seal between the lid and the base.

5. The container ofclaim 4 wherein the at least two projecting walls are substantially parallel to each other.

6. A container for preventing leakage of liquid, comprising:

a base having a bottom and a vertical wall, the vertical wall having a top end and a bottom end, the bottom end of the vertical wall connected to the bottom to form a closed bottom, and the top end forming an open top;

a lid having an interior surface and an exterior surface, the interior surface having an outer wall and an inner wall, the outer wall and the inner wall further defining a channel between them;

a living hinge connecting the lid to the base, the living hinge affixed to the lid along the outer wall and affixed to the top end of the vertical wall of the base;

a gasket disposed in the channel of the lid and adjacent to the living hinge;

whereby, upon the lid being rotated about the living hinge to cover the opening in the base, the vertical wall of the base becomes flush with the side wall of the lid and compresses the gasket adjacent to the living hinge, the remaining vertical wall of the base is frictionally received between the outer wall and the inner wall and compressed against the gasket within the channel, thereby, enabling a water tight seal in the container.

7. The container ofclaim 6 wherein the outer wall extends around the entire circumference of the interior surface of the lid.

8. The container ofclaim 6 wherein the inner wall is located on the interior surface adjacent to and within the outer wall, the inner wall extending around the circumference of the lid and remaining parallel to the outer wall.

9. The container ofclaim 6 wherein the inner wall has a height which is slightly smaller than the outer wall.

10. The container ofclaim 6 wherein the gasket covers the entire channel between the outer wall and the inner wall.

11. The container ofclaim 6 wherein the gasket covers the inner wall adjacent to the living hinge.

12. The container ofclaim 6 further defining a ledge projecting outwardly from the vertical wall in a direction away from the opening and extending around the entire circumference of the vertical wall, the ledge coacting with the channel to prevent the further insertion of the vertical wall into the lid and provide a seal between the vertical wall of the base and the outer wall of the lid.

13. The container ofclaim 6 wherein the lid and the base are rectangular in shape.

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