Collapsible Cooler Pack with Barrier Film

• US 20070137222A1
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Kastanek, Raymond, Nicholls, Dale, Wilson, Weston
• Granted Patent: US 7,900,816 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/62
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/064 Rectangular containers having a body with gusset-flaps folded outwardly or adhered to the side or the top of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/606 Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3848 semi-rigid container folded up from one or more blanks
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A collapsible cooler pack carton includes a barrier film on the cooler pack interior capable of retaining liquids in the cooler pack. The blank used to form the cooler pack can be provided with the barrier film and shipped or displayed as a flat partially assembled cooler pack article. A consumer or other user can assemble the cooler pack from the article. After use, the user can disassemble or collapse the cooler pack back into the partially assembled or collapsed cooler pack article.

Claims

1. A collapsible cooler pack having an interior surface, comprising:

a plurality of bottom flaps;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a front panel;

a rear panel; and

a barrier film attached to at least a portion of the interior surface of the blank.

2. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 1, wherein the first side panel is bisected by a first fold line, and wherein the second side panel is bisected by a second fold line.

3. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 2, further comprising:

a first side panel top flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel top flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

4. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 3, wherein a closing tab extends from the rear panel top flap and a corresponding closing tab slot is formed in the front panel top flap.

5. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 3, further comprising at least one handle.

6. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 2, further comprising:

a first side panel tuckable flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel tuckable flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

7. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 6, further comprising:

a first plurality of fold lines formed in the first side panel tuckable flap; and

a second plurality of fold lines formed in the second side panel tuckable flap.

8. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 7, wherein the first plurality of fold lines comprises a first oblique fold line, a second oblique fold line, a first tuck-assist fold line, a second tuck-assist fold line, and a third tuck-assist fold line.

9. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 8, wherein the second plurality of fold lines comprises a third oblique fold line, a fourth oblique fold line, a fourth tuck-assist fold line, a fifth tuck-assist fold line, and a sixth tuck-assist fold line.

10. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 9, wherein the first side panel includes a first side panel slot, and wherein the second side panel includes a second side panel slot.

11. A cooler pack article, comprising:

a blank, the blank comprising;

a plurality of bottom flaps;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a front panel; and

a rear panel; and

a barrier film attached to at least a portion of the interior surface of the blank, wherein the barrier film is formed into a vessel capable of retaining liquid.

12. The cooler pack article of claim 11, wherein the barrier film includes at least one sealed edge.

13. The cooler pack article of claim 12, wherein the at least one sealed edge of the vessel includes a bottom edge of the barrier film.

14. The cooler pack article of claim 11, wherein the cooler pack article is folded substantially flat.

15. The cooler pack article of claim 14, wherein the first side panel is folded at a first fold line in the first side panel, and the second side panel is folded at a second fold line in the second side panel.

16. The cooler pack article of claim 11, further comprising:

a first side panel tuckable flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel tuckable flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

17. The cooler pack article of claim 11, further comprising:

a first side panel top flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel top flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

18. A method of assembling a cooler pack, comprising:

providing a blank, the blank comprising;

a plurality of bottom flaps;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a front panel; and

a rear panel;

providing a barrier film;

attaching the barrier film to an interior surface of the blank to form a cooler pack article;

sealing at least one edge of the barrier film so that the barrier film forms a vessel capable of retaining liquid; and

closing a bottom of the cooler pack article with the bottom flaps.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the blank further comprises a plurality of top flaps, the method comprising closing a top of the cooler pack with the top flaps, the cooler pack having a generally parallelepipedal shape.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein the first side panel is folded at a first fold line in the first side panel, and the second side panel is folded at a second fold line in the second side panel.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the cooler pack article is folded substantially flat at the first and second fold lines.

22. The method of claim 18, wherein sealing the at least one edge of the barrier film includes sealing a bottom edge of the barrier film.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising closing a top of the cooler pack with a plurality of flaps at a top of the blank.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of flaps at a top of the blank comprises:

a first side panel tuckable flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel tuckable flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein the plurality of flaps at a top of the blank comprises:

a first side panel top flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel top flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

26. A method of use of a cooler pack article, comprising:

providing a cooler pack article, the cooler pack article comprising;

a plurality of bottom flaps;

a plurality of panels; and

a fluid-impervious vessel attached to an interior surface of at least one of the plurality of panels;

forming a cooler pack from the cooler pack article;

loading a plurality of beverages into the vessel;

loading ice into the vessel;

removing the plurality of beverages from the cooler pack;

removing the ice and/or water formed from melting of the ice from the cooler pack; and

collapsing the cooler pack for reuse.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the cooler pack article further comprises a plurality of top flaps, the method comprising closing a top of the cooler pack with the top flaps, the cooler pack having a generally parallelepipedal shape.

28. The method of claim 26, wherein the cooler pack article is folded substantially flat.