Insulated grocery cart cooler

• US 5,533,361 A
• Filed: 12/22/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samuel J. Halpern
• Original Assignee: Samuel J. Halpern
• Inventors: Halpern, Samuel J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bennett, Henry A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOERRLER, WILLIAM CHARLES
• Application Number:
  US08/361,742
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• Field of Search: 62/371, 62/457.1, 62/457.2, 62/457.7, 62/529, 62/530
• US Class Current: 62/457.2
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/04 comprising a cooling unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/06 comprising insulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/1464 Bags or containers specially adapted to the baskets
• CPC Class Codes: B62J 9/21 above or alongside the front wheel, e.g. on the handlebars
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/082 disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A cooler for retaining food items in a refrigerated condition within a grocery cart. The inventive device includes an insulated container positionable within the upper basket of a grocery cart. A mounting assembly coupled to the container secures the container to both the handlebar of the grocery cart and a portion of the upper basket thereof. Freezable gel packs are positioned within the container and cooperate to retain foods positioned therein in a refrigerated condition.

Claims

1. A insulated grocery cart cooler comprising:

an insulated container means comprises a flexible container including a front web spaced from and parallel to a rear web, with a first lateral web spaced from and parallel to a rear web, with a first lateral web and a second lateral web extending substantially orthogonally between opposed vertical edges of the front and rear webs, a bottom web extending substantially orthogonally between lower horizontal edges of the front and rear webs and the lateral webs;

a top web pivotally coupled along a longitudinal edge thereof to an upper edge of the rear web;

a rear pocket web coupled to an interior surface of the rear web, with a first lateral pocket web and a second lateral pocket web being coupled to interior surfaces of the first lateral web and the second lateral web, respectively; and

a plurality of gel packs of flexible construction and containing a freezable gel, each of the gel packs being position within a individual pocket defined by the pocket webs so as to impart a cooling effect to an interior of the flexible container of the insulated container means;

a mounting means comprises a first hook coupled to an upper portion of the rear web proximal to a juncture of the top web and the upper edge of the rear web; and

a second hook positioned in a substantially spaced and parallel orientation relative to the first hook and secured to the rear web proximal to the junction between the top web and the upper proximal to the junction between the top web and the upper edge of the rear web, the hooks being operable to engage a straight elongated handlebar of a shopping cart to support the insulated container means within an upper basket of the cart.

2. The insulated grocery cart cooler of claim 1, wherein the mounting means further comprises a securing strap coupled to the rear web, the securing strap including a center portion secured to the rear web, and extending laterally beyond the flexible container of the insulated container means to define a first lateral portion extending beyond the first lateral web, and a second lateral portion extending beyond the second lateral web;

a male coupler coupled to a distal end of the second lateral portion of the securing strap; and

a female coupler secured to a distal end of the first lateral portion of the securing strap, wherein the lateral portions of the securing strap can be extended through apertures in an upper basket of a grocery cart, with the male coupler being selectively securable to the female coupler to secure the securing strap and the attached insulated container means relative to the grocery cart.

3. The insulated grocery cart cooler of claim 2, wherein the lateral webs each include an angled upper edge which will extend into a substantially horizontal orientation relative to a horizontal plane directed orthogonally through the vertical plane when the cooler is positioned within an inclined upper basket of a grocery cart.

4. The insulated grocery cart cooler of claim 3, wherein the top web includes a depending sealing flange which extends into abutting engagement with a portion of the front web;

a depending tab coupled to the sealing flange of the top web and extending downwardly therefrom along the front web; and

a latch means coupled to the depending tab for securing the depending tab to a portion of the front web.

5. The insulated grocery cart cooler of claim 4, wherein the latch means comprises a female snap coupled to the depending tab;

and a male snap coupled to and extending from the front web.