Paper-based cooler

• US 5,582,343 A
• Filed: 10/13/1994
• Issued: 12/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Jodi A. Schwendimann
• Original Assignee: Jodi A. Dalvey
• Inventors: Dalvey, Jodi A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US08/322,779
• Time in Patent Office: 789 Days
• Field of Search: 229/101, 229/103, 229/117.14, 229/229, 229/3.1, 206/427, 206/435, 62/457.5, 62/457.7, 62/457.8, 62/457.9
• US Class Current: 229/101
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/0005 of variable capacity
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/061 Rectangular containers having a body with gusset-flaps folded inwardly beneath the closure flaps
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/42 Details of containers or of foldable or erectable container blanks
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46096 two opposite closure flaps being provided with handle elements which are in contact with each other
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/46144 either the handle elements being formed with lugs which engage with the other side walls or closure flaps, or the other closure flaps folding over a part of the handle to maintain the handle in position
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/48004 Squaring, i.e. at least four not aligned compartments
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 71/36 having a tubular shape, e.g. tubular wrappers, with end walls
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans

Abstract

The present invention provides a disposable and recyclable cooler made of paper coated with a polymer. Some embodiments of the present invention transform from a first configuration that snugly retains a set of beverage containers, to a second, expanded configuration, that retains ice proximate the beverage containers.

Claims

1. A water resistant, cardboard carton for beverage containers comprising:

a rectangular, water resistant bottom having a perimeter;

a first water resistant side wall extending upward from a side of said bottom;

a second water resistant side wall extending upward from an opposite side of said bottom;

a first water resistant end wall extending upward from an end of said bottom;

a second water resistant end wall extending upward from an opposite end of said bottom, wherein said side walls and said end walls cooperate with said bottom to define an open-ended, water resistant compartment in which beverage containers are packaged; and

a coolant storage means for storing a coolant proximate the beverage containers including;

a first water resistant flap connected to an upper end of said first side wall;

a second water resistant flap connected to an upper end of said second side wall, wherein said flaps fold toward one another and overlap to close said compartment;

a first water resistant hinge member connected to an upper end of said first end wall and interconnected between said first flap and said second flap; and

a second water resistant hinge member connected to an upper end of said second end wall, opposite said first hinge member, and interconnected between said first flap and said second flap, wherein said first hinge member is segregated into an upper rectangle and a lower rectangle by a first fold line extending parallel to said upper end of said first end wall, and said upper rectangle is segregated into adjacent squares by a second fold line extending perpendicular to said first fold line, and said lower rectangle is segregated into two smaller isosceles right triangles and one larger isosceles right triangle by third and fourth fold lines diverging, perpendicular to one another, from a point of intersection between said first and second fold lines, to opposite corners of said lower rectangle proximate said upper end of said first wall, wherein said second hinge member is segregated into an upper rectangle and a lower rectangle by a fifth fold line extending parallel to said upper end of said second end wall, and said upper rectangle is segregated into adjacent squares by a sixth fold line extending perpendicular to said fifth fold line, and said lower rectangle is segregated into two smaller isosceles right triangles and one larger isosceles right triangle by seventh and eighth fold lines diverging, perpendicular to one another, from a point of intersection between said fifth and sixth fold lines, to opposite corners of said lower rectangle proximate said upper end of said first wall, and wherein when said flaps are unfolded away from said compartment, said hinge members and said flaps cooperate to define a substantially enclosed, additional compartment above the beverage containers.

2. A water resistant, cardboard carton for beverage containers comprising:

a rectangular, water resistant bottom having a perimeter;

a first water resistant side wall extending upward from a side of said bottom;

a second water resistant side wall extending upward from an opposite side of said bottom;

a first water resistant end wall extending upward from an end of said bottom, wherein said first end wall is segregated into a first upper portion and a first rectangular lower portion by a first fold line extending parallel to said bottom, wherein said first upper portion is substantially an isosceles triangle and defines a first slot;

a second water resistant end wall extending upward from an opposite end of said bottom, wherein said second end wall is segregated into a second upper portion and a second rectangular portion by a second fold line extending parallel to said bottom, wherein said first upper portion is substantially an isosceles triangle and defines a second slot;

a first water resistant corner flap connecting a side end of said first side wall to an adjacent side end of said first end wall, wherein an interior corner of said first corner flap, adjacent to said first side wall and to said first end wall, is bisected by a first fold line;

a second water resistant corner flap connecting an opposite side end of said first side wall to an adjacent side end of said second end wall, wherein an interior corner of said second corner flap, adjacent to said first side wall and to said second end is bisected by a second fold line;

a third water resistant corner flap connecting a side end of said second side wall to an adjacent side end of said first end wall, wherein an interior corner of said third corner flap, adjacent to said second side wall and to said first end, is bisected by a third fold line;

a fourth water resistant corner flap connecting an opposite side end of said second side wall to an adjacent side end of said second end wall, wherein an interior corner of said fourth corner flap, adjacent to said second side wall and to said first end, is bisected by a fourth fold line, and said side walls, said end walls, and said corner flaps cooperate with said bottom to define an open-ended, seamless, water resistant compartment in which the beverage containers are packaged; and

a coolant storage means for storing a coolant proximate the beverage containers, including;

a first water resistant top wall connected to an upper end of said first side wall;

a second water resistant top wall connected to an upper end of said second side wall;

a first handle flap connected to an upper end of said first top wall, and defining a first gap proximate a first side end of said first handle flap, and defining a second gap proximate a second side end of said first handle flap;

a second handle flap connected to an upper end of said second top wall, wherein said handle flaps fold toward one another and into contact, and said first upper portion folds towards said first side end of said first handle flap, and said first slot engages said first gap, and said second upper portion folds towards said second side of said first handle flap, and said second slot engages said second gap.