Paper-based cooler

• US 6,164,526 A
• Filed: 05/06/1997
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• 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:
  US08/809,851
• Time in Patent Office: 1,330 Days
• Field of Search: 229/101, 229/103, 229/117.14, 229/229, 229/117.15, 229/186, 206/427, 206/435, 62/457.5, 62/457.7, 62/457.8, 62/457.9, 53/468, 53/491
• 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

A disposable and recyclable cooler (300) 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 waterproof package, comprising;

a plurality of walls that interengage to form a package, the package having a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped first configuration enclosing a first volume suitable for snugly retaining a set of beverage containers for storage and shipment, and a second configuration where the plurality of walls enclose a second volume, the second volume including the first volume and an additional volume, wherein the package in the second configuration is adapted to retain and enclose the beverage containers and a quantity of ice proximate the set of beverage containers, and wherein the package in the second configuration comprises a carrying handle formed above the second volume; and

a waterproof coating on one or more of the plurality of walls.

2. The package according to claim 1 wherein the waterproof coating is repulpable.

3. A method of making a carton for packaging beverage containers, comprising:

providing a sheet of paper, the sheet of paper having a waterproof coating on one or more sides;

folding the sheet of paper along a plurality of fold lines wherein the sheet has portions that interengage to retain the sheet in the form of a carton, the carton having a bottom, a pair of opposing end walls, and a pair of opposing sidewalls;

providing at least one enclosed expandable pocket on the carton; and

providing a carrying handle opposite the bottom wherein the handle is formed by extensions of the opposing sidewalls.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising forming the carrying handle on an end of the expandable pocket.

5. The method according to claim 3, further comprising releasably securing the expandable pocket in a closed position relative to the carton to facilitate shipment of the carton.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising disposing beverage containers in the carton by positioning the beverage containers upright and side by side.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said bottom, said end walls and said sidewalls cooperate to retain water when the carton is properly oriented, and providing at least one expandable pocket on the carton is accomplished in a manner that allows a cooling source to be placed in fluid communication with the beverage containers.

8. 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 second 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 comprising;

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; and

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.

9. The carton according to claim 8 wherein the carton is repulpable.

10. A twelve-pack of beverage containers comprising a one-piece carton housing the beverage containers, the carton including a bottom, a pair of opposing end walls having end wall extensions, and a pair of opposing side walls having sidewall extensions, wherein the carton, in a first configuration, is fastened to provide a shippable, stackable carton where the end wall extensions and sidewall extensions cooperate with the bottom, the end walls, and the sidewalls to generally define three pairs of orthogonal sides, and in a second configuration, may be unfastened to release the end wall extensions and the side wall extensions to provide a volume above the beverage containers to receive ice, and in a third configuration, provides that the volume above the beverage containers may be enclosed with the sidewall extensions and the end wall extensions wherein the sidewall extensions define a one-handed handle above the carton.

11. The twelve pack of claim 10 further comprising a quantity of ice.

12. The twelve-pack of claim 10 wherein the carton further comprises a waterproof coating.

13. The twelve-pack of claim 12 wherein the waterproof coating is repulpable.

14. A method for transporting beverage containers comprising providing a one-piece package having a waterproof coating applied thereto, the package having a first, sealed configuration amenable to shipping the beverage containers and a second, open configuration providing access to the beverage containers within the package, and a third, closed configuration in which both the beverage containers and an additional volume are enclosed within the package, wherein a handle is provided above the beverage containers when the package is in the third, closed configuration.

15. A method for transporting beverage containers comprising:

providing a package having a waterproof coating applied thereto, the package having a first, sealed configuration amenable to shipping and a second, open configuration providing access to the package from above wherein a quantity of ice may be added, and a third, closed configuration enclosing the beverage containers and the quantity of ice wherein a handle is provided above the beverage containers and ice when the package is in the third, closed configuration;

adding the beverage containers; and

adding the quantity of ice.

16. The method of claim 15 wherein the package and the waterproof coating are repulpable.

17. A method of shipping beer containers comprising:

providing a one-piece package, the package having a repulpable, waterproof coating applied to one or more portions;

loading a plurality of beer containers into the package;

sealing the package to define a first, sealed configuration amenable to shipping;

shipping the package to a retailer;

selling the package to a consumer;

unsealing the package to define a second, open configuration providing access to the package;

adding a quantity of ice to the package when the package is in the second, open configuration; and

closing the package to define a third, closed configuration enclosing the beer containers and the ice.

18. The method of claim 17 further comprising providing a one-handed handle above the ice and beer containers, the handle adapted to carry the package in the third configuration.

19. A method of shipping beverage containers comprising:

providing a one-piece package, the package having a repulpable, waterproof coating applied to one or more portions;

loading a plurality of beverage containers into the package;

sealing the package to define a first, sealed configuration amenable to shipping;

shipping the package to a retailer;

selling the package to a consumer;

unsealing the package to define a second, open configuration providing access to the package;

adding a quantity of ice to the package when the package is in the second, open configuration; and

closing the package to define a third, closed configuration enclosing the beverage containers and the ice.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising providing a one-handed handle above the quantity of ice and the plurality of beverage containers, the handle adapted to carry the package in the third configuration.

21. An article, comprising:

a plurality of beverage containers;

a quantity of ice; and

a unitary material portion comprising;

a bottom panel;

a pair of opposing end walls, each end wall defining a slot, the end walls interconnected with the bottom panel;

a pair of opposing sidewalls interconnected with the bottom panel and the end walls such that the bottom panel, sidewalls, and end walls enclose the beverage containers and the quantity of ice wherein at least one of the bottom panel, sidewalls, and end walls have a waterproof coating applied thereto; and

a handle portion opposite the bottom panel comprising tabs positionable in each of the slots of the end walls.

22. The article according to claim 21, wherein the handle portion further comprises openings formed through the opposing sidewall extensions.

23. The article according to claim 22 wherein the waterproof coating is repulpable.