Quick erecting foldable portable cooler

• US 6,736,309 B1
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 05/18/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pratt Corrugated Holdings Inc.
• Original Assignee: WES Pak, Inc.
• Inventors: Westerman, Frank G., Westerman, Frank E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins, Gary E.
• Application Number:
  US10/295,171
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.05, 229/117.06, 229/117.19, 229/117.24, 229/148, 229/149, 229/186, 624/571, 624/575, 624/577
• US Class Current: 229/117.05
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/2057 Inter-engaging self-locking flaps B65D5/4254 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/241 and the gussets folds connected to the inside of the container body B65D5/247 and B65D5/248 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3678 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides and the central panel
• 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 81/38 with thermal insulation vacuum bottles or the like A47J41/00 ; thermal insulation of domestic water storage heaters F24H1/182
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 40/963 Off-grid food refrigeration

Abstract

A quick erecting, disposable cooler which is transformable from a flat blank of corrugated sheet material may be non-destructively “knocked down” or collapsed after being semi-erected. The deployed cooler is moisture-proof and lacks leak paths, so it reliably stores and transports melting ice and beverage containers. A generally rectangular center panel is integrally bordered by pairs of end panels and side panels. Each side panel supports a foldable top panel with special knockouts and tabs to facilitate subsequent coupling of the panels. Each end panel has a small flap at its outer edge facilitating coupling. Four, integral, diametrically spaced-apart corner panels interconnect the center panel with the end and side panels. Score lines defined between the orthogonally arranged panels facilitate folding. Corner panels include diagonal score lines. The center panel forms a cooler bottom, and the end and side panels respectively form carton ends and sides when foldably deployed.

Claims

1. A blank that is adapted to be folded to form a non-leaking box-like cooler for containing and transporting ice and containers of food or beverages, said blank comprising:

a generally rectangular center panel comprising a pair of spaced-apart ends;

a foldable end panel integrally disposed adjacent each center panel end;

a first integral, foldable side panel adjacent said center panel;

a first integral, foldable top panel adjacent said first side panel;

a second integral, foldable side panel adjacent said center panel;

a second, integral, foldable top panel adjacent said second side panel;

four, foldable diametrically spaced-apart corner panels, each corner panel integrally bordering a side panel and an end panel, and each corner panel comprising a diagonal score line;

said second top panel comprising an elongated anchor slot disposed between it and said second side panel, a foldable locking tab extending generally perpendicularly across said anchor slot, and anchor holes for securing a separate cooler handle;

said first top panel comprising a central hole for clearing said separate cooler handle upon assembly thus enabling the handle to be externally grasped by a consumer, an outermost foldable locking flap, and a tab-receptive slot defined between the locking flap and said first top panel;

a first pair of spaced apart, generally parallel score lines running the length of said blank and separating said center panel from said end panels and corner panels and enabling folding;

a second pair of spaced apart, generally parallel score lines generally perpendicular to and intersecting said first pair of score lines, said second pair of score lines running the width of said blank and separating said center panel from said side panels and corner panels;

knock-down score line arrays for facilitating the quick collapse of said cooler into a flattened configuration for convenient transport and storage; and

,

whereby, upon the folding together of said blank, said corner panels fold and interiorly project into the interior of the resulting cooler, said locking flap engages and penetrates said anchor slot, and the locking tab engages the tab receptive slot to lock the cooler together with said first top panel overlying said second top panel, with the handle anchored to the second top panel and extending through said first top panel exteriorly from the cooler.

2. A portable, user deployable leak-proof cooler for containing and transporting ice and containers comprising food and/or beverages, said cooler comprising:

a resilient handle for enabling the carrying of said cooler, the handle comprising a body adapted to be grasped by a user and a pair of integral, spaced-apart feet; and

,

a foldable blank comprising;

a generally rectangular center panel comprising a pair of spaced-apart ends;

a foldable end panel integrally disposed adjacent each center panel end;

a first integral, foldable side panel adjacent said center panel;

a first integral, foldable top panel adjacent said first side panel;

a second integral, foldable side panel adjacent said center panel;

a second, integral, foldable top panel adjacent said second side panel;

four, foldable diametrically spaced-apart corner panels, each corner panel integrally bordering a side panel and an end panel, and each corner panel comprising a diagonal score line;

said second top panel comprising an elongated anchor slot disposed between it and said second side panel, a foldable locking tab extending generally perpendicularly across said anchor slot, and anchor holes for securing a separate cooler handle;

said first top panel comprising a central hole for clearing said separate cooler handle upon assembly thus enabling the handle to be externally grasped by a consumer, an outermost foldable locking flap, and a tab-receptive slot defined between the locking flap and said first top panel;

a first pair of spaced apart, generally parallel score lines running the length of said blank and separating said center panel from said end panels and corner panels and enabling folding;

a second pair of spaced apart, generally parallel score lines generally perpendicular to and intersecting said first pair of score lines, said second pair of score lines running the width of said blank and separating said center panel from said side panels and corner panels;

knock-down score line arrays for facilitating the quick collapse of said cooler into a flattened configuration for convenient transport and storage; and

,

whereby, upon the folding together of said blank, said corner panels fold and interiorly project into the interior of the resulting cooler, said locking flap engages and penetrates said anchor slot, and the locking tab engages the tab receptive slot to lock the cooler together with said first top panel overlying said second top panel, with the handle feet anchored to the second top panel and with the handle body extending through said first top panel exteriorly from the cooler thereby enabling grasping by a user.