Nested cooler system

• US 6,505,479 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2002
• Issued: 01/14/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Original Assignee: Abbott Laboratories
• Inventors: Roberts, James R., Defelice, Terry Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jones, Melvin
• Application Number:
  US10/153,183
• Publication Number:
  US 20020189278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 238 Days
• Field of Search: 624/571, 624/572, 624/573, 624/575, 624/577, 625/29, 625/30, 623/71
• US Class Current: 62/457.2
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0822 Details of the element
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/801 Bags
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A nested cooler system for temporary storage of perishable foodstuffs and more particularly to articles for convenient, temporary storage of human breast milk and infant formulas. The inner and outer coolers jointly or independently receive the perishable foodstuffs and freezable gel packs for cooling the perishable foodstuffs. The gel packs can be frozen and thawed several times and temporarily keep containers of milk within an acceptable temperature range to prevent spoilage. The gel packs fit within pockets in the coolers to maintain proper positioning of the gel packs relative to the bottles.

Claims

1. A nested cooler system comprising:

(a) an inner cooler having (i) a plurality of panels defining a first interior space, and (ii) at least one cooling means; and

(b) an outer cooler having a plurality of panels defining a second interior space, wherein said inner cooler and said second interior space are dimensioned such that said inner cooler can be removably inserted into said second interior space; and

wherein one or more of said inner cooler panels comprise insulating material, said insulating material is open cell foam with a thickness of at least about 2.0 mm.

2. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said inner cooler panels comprise open cell foam with a thickness of at least about 4.0 mm.

3. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein said open cell foam thickness is from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.

4. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said inner cooler panels further comprise (i) an outer protective layer of polyvinyl chloride from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick and (ii) an inner protective layer of polyvinyl chloride from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick that sandwich (iii) an intermediate layer of polyurethane foam filler from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm thick.

5. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said outer cooler panels further comprise (i) an outer protective layer of polyvinyl chloride from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick and (ii) an inner protective layer of polyvinyl chloride from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick that sandwich (iii) an intermediate layer of polyurethane foam filler from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm thick.

6. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein said cooling means is selectively removable from said inner cooler.

7. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein said inner cooler further comprises at least one securing means for said cooling means.

8. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein said outer cooler further comprises (i) at least one cooling means, and (ii) at least one securing means for said cooling means within said second interior space.

9. The nested cooler system of claim 8 wherein said cooling means is selectively removable from said outer cooler.

10. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein one or more of said outer cooler panels comprise open cell foam with a thickness of at least about 2.0 mm.

11. The nested cooler system of claim 10 wherein said open cell foam thickness is from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.

12. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein said outer and inner cooler each comprise closure means for selectively opening and closing said inner and outer cooler.

13. The nested cooler system of claim 8 wherein a securing means for securing said inner cooler within said second interior space is placed so that said inner cooler is just positioned near said cooling means of the outer cooler.

14. The nested cooler system of claim 1 wherein said outer cooler further comprises external securing means for securing additional items near said outer cooler panels.

15. The nested cooler system of claim 14 wherein said external securing means is a pocket.

16. The nested cooler system of claim 14 wherein said external securing means is a pocket that further comprises a closure means for selectively opening and closing said pocket.

17. A nested cooler system comprising:

(a) an inner cooler comprising

(i) a floor, four side panels and a top defining a first interior space,

(ii) a closure means,

(iii) at least one reusable gel-pack cooling means; and

(b) an outer cooler comprising a floor, four side panels and a top defining a second interior space, wherein said inner cooler and said second interior space are dimensioned such that said inner cooler can be removably inserted into said second interior space; and

wherein one or more of said inner cooler floor, four side panels and top comprise insulating material, said insulating material is open cell foam with a thickness of at least about 2.0 mm.

18. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein one or more of said inner cooler floor, four side panels and top comprise open cell foam with a thickness of at least about 4.0 mm.

19. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein said open cell foam thickness is from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.

20. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein one or more of said outer cooler floor, four side panels and top comprise open cell foam with a thickness of at least about 2.0 mm.

21. The nested cooler system of claim 20 wherein said open cell foam thickness is from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm.

22. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein one or more of said inner cooler floor, four side panels and top further comprise;

(i) an outer protective layer of polyvinyl chloride from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick,

(ii) an inner protective layer of polyvinyl chloride form about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick that sandwich, and,

(iii) an intermediate layer of polyurethane foam filler from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm thick.

23. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein one or more of said outer cooler floor, four side panels and top further comprise;

(i) an outer protective layer of polyvinyl chloride from about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick,

(ii) an inner protective layer of polyvinyl chloride form about 0.1 mm to about 0.5 mm thick that sandwich, and,

(iii) an intermediate layer of polyurethane foam filler from about 2.0 mm to about 10.0 mm thick.

24. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein said outer cooler further comprises closure means for selectively opening and closing said outer cooler.

25. The nested cooler system of claim 17 wherein said outer cooler further comprises one or more external securing means for securing additional items near said side panels.

26. The nested cooler system of claim 25 wherein said external securing means is a pocket.

27. The nested cooler system of claim 25 wherein said external securing means is a pocket that further comprises a closure means for selectively opening and closing said pocket.