Foldable portable cooler with enhanced over-center locking handle
First Claim
1. a sheet-like blank to be folded into a container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said blank comprising:
- a generally rectangular center panel having ends and sides;
a pair of integral, foldable, end panels adjacent ends of said center panel;
a pair of integral, foldable, side panel adjacent sides of said center panel;
an integral handle panel formed on each side panel, each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment, the handle segments comprising corners with locking tabs, and hand grip holes enabling carrying; and
, an integral locking panel formed on each end panel for engaging the handle panels when the blank is folded, each locking panel comprising a pair of mirror image halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising a receptive slot adapted to be penetrated by said tabs when the blank is foldably transformed into said container.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A rugged, hand-held container for storing beverage containers is formed by folding together multiple panels defined in a pre-scored, slot-less blank Each blank comprises a rectangular center panel integrally bordered by a pair of end panels and side panels. Integral, diametrically spaced apart corner panels interconnect the center panel with the other panels. Score lines between the adjacent panels facilitate folding. The center panel forms a cooler bottom, and blank end and side panels respectively form carton ends and sides. Each end panel has an outer locking panel comprising an elongated receptive slot. Each side panel has an integral outer handle panel comprising an inner roof segment that forms the container top and handle segments with locking tabs that are captivated within the receptive slot. A radiused locking tab ramp comprises an enlarged portion providing an overcenter action. Notches adjacent the tabs captivate the locking panels.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. a sheet-like blank to be folded into a container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said blank comprising:
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a generally rectangular center panel having ends and sides;
a pair of integral, foldable, end panels adjacent ends of said center panel;
a pair of integral, foldable, side panel adjacent sides of said center panel;
an integral handle panel formed on each side panel, each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment, the handle segments comprising corners with locking tabs, and hand grip holes enabling carrying; and
,an integral locking panel formed on each end panel for engaging the handle panels when the blank is folded, each locking panel comprising a pair of mirror image halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising a receptive slot adapted to be penetrated by said tabs when the blank is foldably transformed into said container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A sheet-like blank to be folded into a container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said blank comprising:
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a generally rectangular center panel having ends and sides;
a pair of integral, foldable end panels adjacent ends of said center panel;
a pair of integral, foldable side panels adjacent sides of said center panel;
an integral handle panel formed on each side panel, and each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment with a fold line therebetween, each handle segment comprising corners with locking tabs and hand grip holes enabling carrying; and
,an integral locking panel formed on each end panel for engaging the handle panels when the blank is folded, each locking panel when unfolded comprising an hourglass shape, each locking panel comprising a pair of trapezoidal halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising an elongated, receptive slot that is penetrated by said tabs when the container is folded. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said container foldably erected from a sheet-like blank and comprising:
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a generally rectangular bottom formed from a center panel of the blank, the center panel having ends and sides;
a pair of parallel, spaced apart ends formed from blank end panels located adjacent ends of said blank center panel;
a pair of parallel, spaced apart sides formed from blank side panels located adjacent sides of said blank center panel;
an integral handle formed from abutting handle panels on each side panel of said blank, each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment, the roof segments forming the container top and the handle segments comprising corners with locking tabs and hand grip holes enabling carrying; and
,integral locks formed from locking panels formed on each blank end panel for engaging the handle when the blank is folded, each locking panel comprising a pair of mirror image halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising a receptive slot adapted to be penetrated by said locking tabs when the container is foldably erected from said blank. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said container foldably erected from a sheet-like blank and comprising:
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a generally rectangular bottom formed from a center panel of the blank, the center panel having ends and sides;
a pair of parallel, spaced apart ends formed from blank end panels located adjacent ends of said blank center panel;
a pair of parallel, spaced apart sides formed from blank side panels located adjacent sides of said blank center panel;
an integral handle formed from abutting handle panels formed on each side panel of said blank, each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment with a fold line therebetween, the roof segments forming the container top and the handle segments comprising corners with locking tabs and hand grip holes enabling carrying; and
,integral locks formed from locking panels formed on each blank end panel for engaging the handle when the blank is folded, each locking panel comprising a pair of trapezoid-shaped halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising an elongated tab-receptive slot adapted to be penetrated by said locking tabs when the container is foldably erected from said blank. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification