US20080134714A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20080134714A1
Application number: US11/836,716
Authority: US
Inventors: Jose Luis Villanueva
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-08-09
Filing date: 2007-08-09
Publication date: 2008-06-12

Abstract

A removable cooler insert for a portable cooler, comprising an insert body having an outer peripheral surface proportional to an inner surface of the portable cooler, where the inner surface of the portable cooler defines a container. The removable cooler insert includes an elongate sealing member positioned on the outer peripheral surface to form a fluid tight seal between at least a compartment of the insert body and at least the container of the portable cooler.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a non-provisional of U.S. provisional patent application 60/836,281 filed Aug. 9, 2006; the prior application is herewith incorporated by reference in its entirety.

INTRODUCTION

Coolers have been used for many years to hold and to chill food such beverages and other items that otherwise might perish unless kept cool. Oftentimes, coolers are designed in a manner that provides for a single compartment in which to store items such as ice and food. Because of such designs, foods that are mixed with ice can become saturated by the ice and thus, become undesirable to consume. Additionally, liquid foods, such as water and juice, present in the cooler can also become undesirable to consume if such liquid foods are mixed with solid foods such as sandwiches that are not properly wrapped or protected from the consumable liquid.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The images provided in the figures are not necessarily to scale. In addition, some images in the figures may have been enlarged relative other figures to help show detail.

FIG. 1A illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a removable cooler of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1B illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a removable cooler insert of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1C illustrates a cross-sectional view of a lip portion of a removable cooler insert taken along lines1B-1B.

FIG. 1D illustrates a top-down view of a removable cooler insert of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1E illustrates an embodiment of a removable cooler insert of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1F illustrates an embodiment of a removable cooler insert of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1G illustrates an embodiment of a removable cooler insert of the present disclosure.

FIGS. 2A-2B illustrates an embodiment of a portable cooler system of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C illustrates an embodiment of a portable cooler having a removable cooler insert positioned therein.

FIG. 2D illustrates a close-up view of the portable cooler having the removable cooler insert ofFIG. 2C taken along line2D.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to portable coolers and removable cooler inserts that can be positioned within the portable coolers to preserve food and/or separate the food from liquids and other items in the container of the cooler. The removable cooler inserts can include various configurations and components that provide for a fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of insert body and at least the container of the portable cooler when the insert is positioned inside the portable cooler. This fluid tight seal can prevent fluids such as water or gases, which may be present within the container of the portable cooler from entering the compartment of the removable cooler insert, and vice versa. In addition, such configurations and components of the removable cooler insert also provide stability to the removable cooler insert when the insert is positioned in the portable cooler. The stability imparted by such configurations and components can ensure that the fluid tight seal remains functional in situations where the portable cooler is dropped, tipped on its side, or otherwise is not in its upright position.

The Figures herein follow a numbering convention in which the first digit or digits correspond to the drawing Figure number and the remaining digits identify an element in the drawing. Similar elements between different figures may be identified by the use of similar digits. For example,102 may reference element “102” inFIG. 1A and a similar element may be referenced as “202” inFIG. 2A. As will be appreciated, elements shown in the various embodiments herein can be added, exchanged, and/or eliminated so as to provide a number of additional embodiments. In addition, discussion of features and/or attributes for an element with respect to one figure can also apply to the element shown in one or more additional Figures.

The Figures presented herein provided illustrations of non-limiting example embodiments of the present disclosure. For example,FIGS. 1A-1C illustrate an embodiment of aremovable cooler insert100 having certain features whileFIGS. 1D and 1E illustrate another embodiment of theremovable cooler insert100 having some features that are similar and some that are different than those illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1C.

Referring now toFIGS. 1A-1C, a removable cooler insert for a portable cooler of the present disclosure is illustrated. In various embodiments, theremovable cooler insert100 includes aninsert body102. The insert body can be formed of a variety of materials including, but not limited to, rigid and/or flexible plastics, including food grade plastics, composites of plastics, rigid and/or flexible metals, composites of metals, for example, metal alloys, ceramics, foams, and inflatable materials, among others. In various embodiments, theinsert body102 can be formed in a molding process. For example, in some embodiments, theinsert body102 can be molded of a thermoset composite material. In other embodiments, theinsert body102 can be molded of a thermoplastic material. And in some embodiments, the insert body can be formed of an inflatable material such that the insert body takes on a predetermined shape when inflated.

Theinsert body102 has afirst end104, asecond end106, aninner surface108, and anouter surface110. The inner and

outer surfaces

108 and110 respectively, extend longitudinally from thefirst end104 toward thesecond end106 of theinsert body102. Each of the inner and

outer surfaces

In some embodiments, the outerperipheral surface112 of theinsert body102 can define alip114 that extends radially from theouter surface110, as illustrated, for example, inFIGS. 1A-1C. As will be discussed in more detail herein, the lip defined by the portion of the outer peripheral surface can include an elongate sealing member on the lip where the elongate sealing member is positioned on a rim portion of the container of the portable cooler when the insert body is positioned in the container, the container being defined by the inner surface of the portable cooler. The elongate sealing member can then form the fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of insert body and at least the container of the portable cooler when a removable cooler lid is coupled to the portable cooler, as will be discussed herein.

In other embodiments, such as the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1E-1G, the outerperipheral surface112 can define achannel115, best shown inFIG. 1F. In various embodiments, thechannel115 can extend transversely along the outerperipheral surface112 of theinsert body102, as shown inFIG. 1F. Thechannel115 can have a variety of cross-sectional shapes, the particular shape depending on a shape of a component, such as an elongate sealing member, positioned within thechannel115. For example, in various embodiments, thechannel115 can include a concave or semi-circular shape such that a portion of an elongate sealingmember136 having a circular cross sectional shape can be easily positioned within thechannel115, as shown, for example, inFIGS. 1E and 1G. In such embodiments, the elongate sealing member positioned within the channel can provide for a fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of insert body and at least the container of the portable cooler when the insert body is positioned adjacent an inner surface of the portable cooler so as to compress the elongate sealing member against the inner wall of the portable cooler, as will be discussed in more detail herein. As the reader will appreciate, the channel can include other shapes such as a rectangular cross-sectional shape and a polygonal cross-sectional shape. In such embodiments, at least a portion of an elongate sealing member having the same or similar cross sectional shape can be positioned securely within the channel.

In various embodiments, theinner surface108 of theinsert body102 defines acompartment116. As best shown inFIGS. 1A,1D, and1E, thecompartment116 includes anopening120 at thefirst end104. Theopening120 is defined by a cylindrically shapedwall122 of theinner surface108 that extends longitudinally toward thesecond end106 of theinsert body102. More particularly, the cylindrically shapedwall122 of theinner surface108 extends longitudinally from thefirst end104 toward thesecond end106 and abuts afirst base124 of theinner surface108 proximal thesecond end106 of theinsert body102.

In various embodiments, thecompartment116 of the removablecooler insert100 can include at least onesegmented sub-compartment118. In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 1A,1B, and1D-1G, for example, thecompartment116 includes sixsegmented sub-compartments118. Each of the six segmented sub-compartments illustrated inFIGS. 1A,1B, and1D-1G are defined by a cylindrically shaped sub-wall126 of theinner surface108. The cylindrically shaped sub-wall126 extends longitudinally from asub-compartment opening128 toward thesecond end106 and abuts asecond base130 of the inner surface at thesecond end106 of theinsert body102. In various embodiments, the compartment and/or segmented sub-compartments can include other shapes, for example, a square shape or rectangular shape. In various embodiments, each of the differing shapes can be formed based upon on a shape of a cooler in which the insert body is to be used. For example, in some embodiments, thecompartment116 can be formed of a rectangular shape where the cooler is rectangular such that the compartment can be positioned within the rectangularly shaped cooler.

As will be discussed herein, thecompartment116 and thesegmented sub-compartment118 defined by theinner surface108 can hold one or more food items, for example, sandwiches and other food. In various embodiments, the segmented sub-compartments defined by the inner surface can hold one or more food items, for example, canned items containing liquids such as soda pop. As will also be discussed herein, the one or more food items can be kept at approximately a temperature attained inside the container of the portable cooler.

In various embodiments, the removablecooler insert100 can include at least onehandle132. In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 1A, for example, twohandles132 are shown. In various embodiments, thehandles132 can extend inwardly away from theinner surface108 of theinsert body102 so as to provide a grasping surface for removal of the removable cooler insert from a container of a portable cooler. Thehandles132 can be coupled to the insert body in a variety of ways. For example, the handles can be mechanically coupled to the insert body with the use of coupling devices such as nuts and bolts, screws, staples, among others. The handles can also be chemically coupled to the insert body with the use of adhesives. In some embodiments, the handles can be formed as part of the removable cooler insert, for example, in a molding process to form the removable cooler insert as discussed herein.

In various embodiments ofFIGS. 1A-1F, the insert body can include a number ofgrips134 coupled proximal or adjacent each of thesub-compartment openings128 of eachsegmented sub-compartments118. As shown inFIGS. 1A and 1D, thegrips134 extend inwardly over thesub-compartment openings128. The grips can be formed of a semi-flexible or rigid material, for example, a semi-flexible or rigid plastic or rubber. Grips formed of such material will have a resistive bias and thus, a tendency to resist outward movement or movement away from the first base. As such, an object within a segmented sub-compartment can be held in the segmented sub-compartment by the grips due to the resistive bias imparted by the grips when they catch the object, or otherwise, are in contact with an object in the segmented sub-compartment. For example, food items such as a beverage container can be positioned within asegmented sub-compartment118 and thegrips134 can contact and hold the beverage container to prevent the beverage from sliding out of thesegmented sub-compartment118.

In various embodiments ofFIGS. 1A-1G, the removablecooler insert100 can include the elongate sealingmember136, as discussed herein. Also as discussed herein, in various embodiments, the elongate sealing member can be positioned at various locations on both the outer surface and on the outer peripheral surface of the insert body. For example, in some embodiments, the elongate sealingmember136 can be positioned on thelip114 defined by outer peripheral surface as shown inFIGS. 1A-1C. And, in other embodiments, the elongate sealingmember136 can be positioned withinchannel115, as shown inFIGS. 1F and 1G.

In various embodiments, the elongate sealingmember136 can include at least one of the following: a flexible gasket, a flexible o-ring, a rigid gasket, and a rigid o-ring. As discussed herein, the elongate sealing member can also include various cross-sectional shapes, including, but not limited to, planar, circular, oval, and polygonal cross-sectional shapes, for example, a U-shaped cross sectional shape, as shown inFIG. 1C or a circular cross-sectional shape, as shown inFIGS. 1E and 1G. In addition, the elongate sealing member can be formed of a number of materials including, but not limited to, rubbers, plastics, metals, metal alloys, and shape memory plastics, metals, and metal alloys. Other embodiments can include inflatable elongate sealing member where the elongate sealing member is formed of air tight plastic or rubber such that the elongate sealing member forms a predefined shape when inflated.

In the various embodiments of the insert body described herein, the type of elongate sealing member used with the various insert bodies can depend on the particular embodiment of the insert body. For example, as shown inFIG. 1C, the elongate sealingmember136 is a flexible rubber gasket having a U-shaped cross sectional shape positioned on thelip114 defined by the outerperipheral surface112. As will be discussed in more detail herein, the elongate sealing member provides for a fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of insert body and at least the container of the portable.

Referring now toFIGS. 2A-2D, a portable cooler system of the present disclosure is illustrated. In various embodiments, theportable cooler system250 includes aportable cooler252 having at least a container258 a lid264. In various embodiments however, the portable cooler can include other components, for example, a water dispenser and handles, among other things. As shown inFIGS. 2A-2D, the portable cooler includes anouter surface254 and aninner surface256, theinner surface256 defining thecontainer258 as discussed herein. Thecontainer258 includes anopening260 which is bounded by arim portion262 of theinner surface256 of thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252, as discussed herein.Portable cooler system250 also includes a removable cooler insert200. The removable cooler insert200 illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2B can include the insert200 which was illustrated and described in connection withFIGS. 1A-1D.

As discussed herein, the outerperipheral surface212 of theinsert body202 defines thelip214 that extends radially from the outerperipheral surface212, as shown inFIGS. 2A and 2B. In various embodiments, the lip allows the insert body to be suspended within the container as the lip rests on a rim portion of the inner surface of portable cooler to suspend the compartment and sub-compartments in the container of the portable cooler. And, in embodiments that include an elongate sealing member positioned on the lip, the elongate sealing member can rest on the rim portion of the inner surface of the portable cooler when the insert body is positioned in the container of the portable cooler. For example,FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate a cross sectional view of aninsert body202 positioned in acontainer258 of aportable cooler252. As shown inFIG. 2A, the elongate sealingmember236 having a U-shape cross-sectional shape is positioned on thelip214 of theinsert body202, which is positioned in thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252. InFIG. 2A, the elongate sealingmember236 is shown positioned proximal therim portion262 of theinner surface256 of theportable cooler252 for purposes of simplicity in illustration ofFIG. 2A.

FIG. 2B illustrates a cross sectional view of theportable cooler system250 with a lid264 positioned on portable cooler. In this embodiment, the fluid tight seal is formed between at least thecompartment216 ofinsert body202 and at least thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252. As shown inFIG. 2B, theinsert body202 includes thelip214 having the elongate sealingmember236 positioned on thelip214 such that thelip214 and elongate sealingmember236 are resting on therim portion262 of theportable cooler252 thereby suspending the insert body within thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252. Also shown inFIG. 2B is lid264 positioned on the portable cooler. In this embodiment, lid264 is positioned on the portable cooler by the use ofmale threads272 positioned on theouter surface254 portable cooler252 to receive correspondingly shapedfemale threads274 positioned on aninner surface276 of the lid264. In various embodiments however, the male and female threads can be reversed such that the cooler has female threads and the lid has male threads. In the embodiments illustrated inFIGS. 2A-2D, the removable cooler lid264 closes thecompartment216 of the removable cooler insert200 inside thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252.

In the embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2B, a fluidtight seal270 is formed between at least thecompartment216 ofinsert body202 and at least thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252 as result of lid264 being positioned on the portable cooler. This is so because when the lid264 is positioned on the portable cooler, for example, by threading the lid264 to thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252, theinner surface276 of the lid264 compresses the elongate sealingmember236 against thelip214 defined by the outerperipheral surface212 of theinsert body202 when the lid264 is positioned on theportable cooler252. This compression creates the fluidtight seal270 between at least thecompartment216 of theinsert body202 and thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252. As such, fluids are prevented from moving from thecontainer258 into thecompartment216 and vice versa. In addition, the compression of the elongate sealing member provides stability to the removable cooler insert when the insert is positioned in the portable cooler. This stability can help to ensure that the fluid tight seal remains functional in situations where the portable cooler is dropped, tipped on its side, or otherwise is not in its upright position.

As the reader will appreciate, the lid can be positioned on the portable by other means, and is not limited to the use of male and female threads. For example, in some embodiments, the lid can be positioned on the portable cooler using other mechanical components such as hinges, snaps, among others.

FIG. 2C illustrates an embodiment of a portable cooler system having a removable cooler insert positioned within a container of the portable cooler, andFIG. 2D illustrates a close-up view of the portable cooler having the removable cooler insert ofFIG. 2C taken along line2D.

As illustrated inFIG. 2C, portablecooler system250 includes portable cooler252 having at least thecontainer258. In various embodiments however, theportable cooler252 can include other components, for example, a water dispenser and handles, among other things. The embodiment illustrated inFIG. 2C can also include all or some of the features of the portable cooler system illustrated inFIGS. 2A and 2B, for example, a lid, among other things.Portable cooler system250 includes a removable cooler insert200. In this embodiment of the removable cooler insert200, the insert body includes the embodiment of the insert body illustrated inFIGS. 1E-1G. In this embodiment, the elongate sealingmember236 positioned within thechannel215 provides for the fluidtight seal270 between at least thecompartment216 ofinsert body202 and at least thecontainer258 of theportable cooler252 when theinsert body202 is positioned adjacent theinner surface256 of theportable cooler252 so as to compress the elongate sealingmember236 against the outer peripheral surface and theinner surface256 of the portable cooler.

While the present disclosure has been shown and described in detail above, it will be clear to the person skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

In other alternative embodiments, the removable cooler insert of the portable cooler can include an insert body formed either entirely of an inflatable material or a portion thereof being formed of an inflatable material. In such embodiments, when the insert body is inflated, its outer peripheral surface compresses against the inner surface of the container of the portable cooler to provide for the fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of the insert body and the container of the portable cooler. In addition, the compression can stabilize the insert body when the insert body is inflated and positioned within the portable cooler. Moreover, the inflatable insert body can include many of the features of the insert body illustrated inFIGS. 1A-1G, for example, segmented sub-compartments and grips, among other features. As such, that which is set forth in the foregoing description and accompanying drawings is offered by way of illustration only and not as a limitation. The actual scope of the invention is intended to be defined by the following claims, along with the full range of equivalents to which such claims are entitled.

In addition, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate on reading and understanding this disclosure that other variations for the invention described herein can be included within the scope of the present disclosure. For example, the removable insert body can be used with portable water coolers having a variety of inner surface shapes, for example, square and rectangular portable coolers.

Claims

1. A removable cooler insert for a portable cooler, comprising:

an insert body having an outer peripheral surface proportional to an inner surface of the portable cooler, where the inner surface of the portable cooler defines a container; and

an elongate sealing member positioned on the outer peripheral surface to form a fluid tight seal between at least a compartment of the insert body and at least the container of the portable cooler.

2. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 1, wherein a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insert body defines a lip that extends radially from the outer surface, the elongate sealing member positioned on the lip, the lip and the elongate sealing member resting on a rim portion of the container when the insert body is positioned in the container of the portable cooler.

3. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 2, including a lid having an inner surface, the inner surface to compress the elongate sealing member against the lip when the lid is positioned on the portable cooler.

4. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 1, wherein the elongate sealing member includes at least one of the following: a flexible gasket, a flexible o-ring, a rigid gasket, and a rigid-o-ring.

5. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 1, including a channel defined by a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insert body, wherein a portion of the elongate sealing member is positioned within the channel.

6. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 1, wherein the insert body includes an inner surface defining the compartment.

7. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 6, wherein the compartment includes at least one segmented sub-compartment.

8. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 6, wherein the compartment and segmented sub-compartment defined by the inner surface hold one or more food items, the segmented sub-compartment having at least one grip positioned coupled proximal or adjacent an opening of the at least one segmented sub-compartment.

9. A portable cooler system, comprising:

a portable cooler having an outer surface and an inner surface, the inner surface defining a container within an opening, the opening bounded by a rim portion of the container, wherein the portable cooler includes a removable cooler lid;

a removable cooler insert, the removable cooler insert including:

an insert body having an inner surface and an outer peripheral surface, the inner surface of the insert body defining a compartment, the compartment positioned in the container of the portable cooler, the outer peripheral surface defining a lip that extends radially over the rim portion of the inner surface of the portable cooler;

an elongate sealing member positioned on the lip, the elongate sealing member positioned on the rim portion to suspend the compartment in the container of the portable cooler; and

wherein the elongate sealing member forms a fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of insert body and at least the container of the portable cooler when the removable cooler lid is positioned on the portable cooler.

10. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the removable cooler insert includes a handle positioned on the inner surface of the insert body.

11. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the elongate sealing member forming the fluid tight seal provides stability to the removable cooler insert when the insert is positioned in the portable cooler.

12. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the insert body positioned inside the container of the portable cooler allows the removable cooler lid to be positioned on the portable cooler.

13. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the compartment defines a shape sufficient to receive one or more food items.

14. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the one or more food items are kept at approximately a temperature attained inside the container of the portable cooler.

15. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the removable cooler lid closes the compartment of the removable cooler insert inside the container of the portable cooler.

16. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the compartment includes one or more segmented sub-compartments sized to hold a beverage container.

17. The system ofclaim 9, wherein the insert body is formed of a food grade plastic.

18. A removable cooler insert for use with a portable cooler, comprising:

an insert body having an inner and outer surface, the inner surface defining at least one compartment and at least one handle, a portion of the outer surface defining an outer peripheral surface having an elongate sealing member positioned on the outer peripheral surface to form a fluid tight seal between at least the compartment of the insert body and at least a container of the portable cooler, wherein the elongate sealing member stabilizes the insert body relative the portable cooler when the insert body is positioned in the container of the portable cooler.

19. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 18, including a channel defined by a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the insert body, wherein a portion of the elongate sealing member is positioned within the channel.

20. The removable cooler insert ofclaim 18, wherein the outer peripheral surface extends radially from the outer surface of the insert body to define a lip, the elongate sealing member positioned on the lip to form the fluid tight seal and to stabilize the insert body relative the portable cooler when the elongate sealing member is compressed against the outer peripheral surface by an inner surface of a portable cooler lid when the lid is positioned on the portable cooler.