Insulating device

• US 10,029,842 B2
• Filed: 05/13/2016
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: YETI Coolers LLC (YETI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: YETI Coolers LLC (YETI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seiders, Roy Joseph, Sullivan, Derek G., Bosway, Andrew M., Fritzsche, Karl, Keller, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Pascua, Jes F
• Application Number:
  US15/154,626
• Publication Number:
  US 20160257479A1
• Time in Patent Office: 802 Days
• Field of Search: 383110, 383 66, 383 88, 383 89, 383 611, 383 613, 383 97, 383100-103, 383107
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/30 Straps; Bands
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/001 Flexible materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/389 formed of foam material
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3897 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/801 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work

Abstract

An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure may also prevent any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

Claims

1. An insulating device having a front, a rear, and a base, wherein the insulating device is configured to stand upright from the base, comprising:

an outer shell defining a sidewall and the base, the outer shell having a front portion and a rear portion;

an inner liner forming a storage compartment, the inner liner having a front portion and a rear portion;

wherein top portions of the front and rear portions of the outer shell and the front and rear portions of the inner liner are connected by a joint;

an insulating layer positioned in between the outer shell and the inner liner, the insulating layer providing insulation for the storage compartment;

a vertically extending front facing surface on the front of the insulating device;

an opening located on the front facing surface configured to allow access to the storage compartment; and

a closure located on the front facing surface adapted to substantially seal the opening, the closure being substantially waterproof so as to resist liquid from exiting the opening when the insulating device is in any orientation;

wherein the insulating layer has a first height extending from the base and a second height extending from the base, wherein the first height is greater than the second height, and the insulating layer in the front of the insulating device extends to the second height and the insulating layer in the rear of the insulating device extends to the first height.

2. The insulating device of claim 1 further comprising a binding material and wherein the binding material is placed over the joint of the top portions of the inner liner and the outer shell.

3. The insulating device of claim 2 wherein the binding material is stitched onto the insulating device and the stitching creates openings into the outer shell for venting air trapped between the insulating layer and the outer shell.

4. The insulating device of claim 2 wherein the binding material creates at least one strap for holding the insulating device.

5. The insulating device of claim 2 wherein the binding material comprises a first folded portion attached to the outer shell, a second folded portion and wherein the second folded portion forms a strap.

6. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the closure is a zipper.

7. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the closure extends at least 80% of the length of the insulating device when measured along the closure.

8. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the length of the closure is longer than the length of the bottom of the insulating device.

9. The insulating device of claim 8 wherein the length of the closure is at least 5% longer than the length of the bottom of the insulating device.

10. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein a handle is located on a rear facing surface opposing the front facing surface.

11. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer comprises a foam material.

12. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer comprises a first portion and a second portion wherein the second portion is formed thicker than the first portion.

13. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer is at least partly formed of a first rectangle and a second rectangle and wherein the first rectangle has a larger area than the second rectangle.

14. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulation device approximates a trapezoid from a front view.

15. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating device approximates a conical shape from a side view.

16. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein a majority of the insulating layer extends to the second height.

17. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the base comprises a separate insulating layer.

18. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating device increases from 0°

F. to 50°

F. in a duration of 70 hours or greater when filled with approximately 0.52 lbs. of ice per each quart in capacity of the insulating device.

19. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating device is configured to withstand being held inverted for 15 minutes without any water escaping or leaving the storage compartment.

20. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer covers 80% or more of the inner liner covering the storage compartment.

21. The insulating device of claim 20 wherein the insulating layer covers 90% or more of the inner liner covering the storage compartment.

22. A method of forming an insulating device having a front, a rear, a base having a bottom perimeter, and a vertically extending front facing surface comprising:

forming an inner liner the inner liner defining a storage compartment, the inner liner having a front portion and a rear portion;

forming an outer shell defining a sidewall, the outer shell having a front portion and a rear portion;

placing an insulating layer comprising a first portion and a base portion, wherein the base portion is located in the base of the insulating device, in between the outer shell and the inner liner, the insulating layer providing insulation for the storage compartment, wherein the first portion of the insulating layer has a first height and a second height, wherein the first height is greater than the second height, and the first portion of the insulating layer in the front of the insulating device extends to the second height and the first portion of the insulating layer in the rear of the insulating device extends to the first height;

connecting top portions of the front and rear portions of the outer shell and the front and rear portions of the inner liner with a joint;

placing an opening on the front facing surface in the inner liner and the outer shell; and

placing a closure on the front facing surface between the inner liner and the outer shell, the closure adapted to substantially seal the opening, the closure being substantially waterproof so as to resist liquid from exiting the opening when the insulating device is in any orientation.

23. The method of claim 22 further comprising forming the insulating layer at least partly of a first rectangle and a second rectangle and forming the first rectangle of a larger area than the second rectangle.

24. The method of claim 22 further providing the insulating layer on a base and providing an additional insulating layer along the base.