Tote-bag cooler

• US 6,409,066 B1
• Filed: 07/31/2000
• Issued: 06/25/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Sener, James T., Mears, Terry A., Schneider, Rachel
• Primary Examiner(s): Cronin, Stephen K.
• Application Number:
  US09/629,600
• Time in Patent Office: 694 Days
• Field of Search: 224/148.1, 224/148.3, 224/148.4, 224/578, 224/579, 224/580, 224/585, 224/602, 224/603, 224/610, 224/611, 224/620, 224/621, 224/622, 224/680, 224/681, 224/682, 224/236, 224/237, 224/241, 224/249, 224/250, 224/275, 224/572, 224/926, 190/107, 190/108, 190/110, 190/112, 190/115, 190/125, 206/541, 206/545, 206/546, 220/592.1, 220/592.17, 220/524, 220/525, 220/530, 220/254
• US Class Current: 224/585
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45F 3/02 Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of one strap passing over the shoulder

Abstract

A tote-bag cooler includes a multi-chambered, closeable container enclosed by overlapping flaps creating a self-sealing, sleeve-style aperture. Handle straps may be attached to the sides of the container. A handle grip may be attached to the mid-section of one of the handle straps and may be wrapped around the opposing handle strap when grasping the handle straps. A shoulder strap may be included also. The outer surface of the container optionally may include a beverage holder, a seat belt strap, mesh pockets, and/or a fabric pocket.

Claims

1. A flexible, closeable insulated container comprising:

a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge;

a bottom side attached to the bottom edge of the sidewall;

a top side attached to the top edge of the sidewall; and

at least one strap attached to the container such that the container may be suspended by the at least one strap;

the top side including two overlapping flaps formed by a first flap and a second flap, each of the first flap and the second flap being attached to and extending inward from the top edge, the overlapping flaps creating a self-sealing, sleeve-style aperture between the first flap and the second flap, the aperture providing access to at least one chamber delimited by the sidewall, the bottom side and the top side; and

,

the sidewall, the bottom side and the top side each having an inner surface and an outer surface, an insulating material being disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface of each of the sidewall, the bottom side and the top side.

2. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one beverage holder movably connected to the outer surface of the closeable container, the at least one beverage holder including an upper portion having an opening through which a predetermined beverage container may be disposed, the at least one beverage holder being moveable between a closed position adjacent the outer surface and an open position extending from the outer surface, wherein when the at least one beverage holder is in the open position, the predetermined beverage container can be supported adjacent the outer surface by the at least one beverage holder.

3. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 2, wherein the predetermined beverage container includes a stemware vessel having a stem, the opening of the upper portion having a slot through which the stem may be passed, the stemware vessel being supported by the upper portion while the stemware vessel traverses the opening.

4. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vertical interior wall, and wherein the at least one chamber includes a primary chamber and at least one secondary chamber delimited by the at least one vertical interior wall, the primary chamber being enclosed by the overlapping flaps, and wherein the top side further includes additional overlapping flaps located between the top edge of the sidewall and the overlapping flaps, the additional overlapping flaps creating at least one secondary self-sealing, sleeve-style aperture providing access to the at least one secondary chamber.

5. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, wherein the top side is attached to the top edge by a zipper assembly, wherein unzipping the zipper assembly permits the top side to open away from the top edge to provide a user access to the at least one chamber.

6. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, further comprising at least one vertical interior wall delimiting a primary chamber and at least one secondary chamber, the primary chamber being enclosed by the overlapping flaps, wherein the top side includes at least one releasably engageable lid being located between the top edge of the sidewall and the overlapping flaps and providing a sealing connection to the at least one secondary chamber.

7. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 6:

wherein the at least one secondary chamber includes two secondary chambers positioned on either side of the primary chamber, the primary chamber being centrally located between the secondary chambers;

wherein the at least one releasably engageable lid includes two lids; and

wherein the sealing connection of each lid is formed by a zipper assembly divided between an exposed perimeter of each lid and an exposed corresponding perimeter of each corresponding top edge.

8. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, further comprising one of a mesh pocket and a fabric pocket attached to the outer surface of a sidewall.

9. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 8, wherein the fabric pocket includes a closure mechanism to secure an opening of the fabric pocket to the outer surface.

10. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, further comprising a seat belt holder connected to a lower portion of the outer surface, the seat belt holder providing a releasably engageable connection between the closeable container and the seat belt of a vehicle to maintain the closeable container in an upright position.

11. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, further comprising an outer flap having a perimeter that sealably covers the outer surface near the aperture of the overlapping flaps, the outer flap being fixedly attached to the container along a first portion of the perimeter of the outer flap;

wherein a second portion of the perimeter of the outer flap is releasably attached to a section of the outer surface near the aperture, thereby covering the aperture and creating a seal between the outer flap and the section of the outer surface near the aperture.

12. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap includes one of at least one handle strap and an adjustable shoulder strap.

13. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 12, wherein the at least one handle strap includes two handle straps.

14. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 13, wherein the two handle straps include a closeable handle grip.

15. The flexible, closeable insulated container according to claim 1, wherein the at least one strap includes a plurality of folds displaced vertically along the outer surface of the sidewall, the plurality of folds forming gaps between the outer surface and portions of the at least one strap;

wherein items to be carried may be inserted in the gaps and held against the outer surface by the plurality of folds.

16. A cooler comprising:

an closeable container having a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge, a bottom side sealed to the bottom edge of the sidewall, a top side attached to the top edge of the sidewall, overlapping flaps attached to and extending inward from the top side, and at least one chamber delimited by the sidewall, the top side, the bottom side, and overlapping flaps;

the closeable container having an inner surface and an outer surface, an insulating material being disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface throughout the closeable container; and

an adjustable handle assembly connected to the outer surface of the closeable container, the adjustable handle being adjustable between a first handbag position and a second shoulder bag position;

wherein at least one chamber is enclosed by the overlapping flaps, the overlapping flaps creating a self-sealing, sleeve-style aperture leading into at least one chamber of the container.

17. The cooler according to claim 16, wherein the adjustable handle assembly includes:

a first strap having a first end and a second end, the first end and second end connectable to the outer surface of the container respectively by a first end connection and a second end connection;

a second strap having a primary end and a secondary end, the primary end and secondary end connectable to the outer surface of the closeable container respectively by a primary end connection and a secondary end connection; and

a closeable handle grip adjustably positioned along the first strap;

wherein the first strap and the second strap are in the first handbag position when the first end, the second end, the primary end, and the secondary end are connected to the outer surface of the closeable container; and

wherein the closeable handle grip may wrap around the second strap and then releasably close, joining the first and second straps at a midpoint.

18. The cooler according to claim 17, wherein the first end connection, the second end connection, the primary end connection, and the secondary end connection releasably attach the first end, the second end, the primary end, and the secondary end to the outer surface of the closeable container;

and

wherein the second end connection may releasably interconnect with the primary end connection, thereby releasably attaching the second end to the primary end, and connecting the first strap and the second strap to form the second shoulder bag position.

19. The cooler according to claim 17, wherein the first end connection and the secondary end connection fixedly attach the first end and the secondary end to the outer surface of the closeable container, whereas the second end connection and the primary end connection releasably attach the second end and the primary end to the outer surface of the closeable container;

and

wherein the second end connection may releasably interconnect with the primary end connection, thereby releasably attaching the second end to the primary end, and connecting the first strap and the second strap to form the second shoulder bag position.

20. A closeable, insulated container comprising:

a sidewall having a top edge and a bottom edge;

a bottom side sealed to the bottom edge of the sidewall;

a top side attached to the top edge of the sidewall, the sidewall, bottom side and top side delimiting at least one chamber;

the top side includes two overlapping flaps, a first flap and a second flap, attached to and extending inward from the top edge;

the closeable container having an inner surface and an outer surface, an insulating material being disposed between the inner surface and the outer surface throughout the closeable container; and

at least one handle attached to the container;

wherein the at least one chamber is enclosed by the two overlapping flaps, the overlapping flaps creating a self-sealing, sleeve-style aperture leading into the at least one chamber of the container.