Collapsible cooler pack with barrier film

• US 7,900,816 B2
• Filed: 12/18/2006
• Issued: 03/08/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Graphic Packaging International LLC (Graphic Packaging International Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Graphic Packaging International Incorporated
• Inventors: Wilson, Weston R., Nicholls, Dale F., Kastanek, Raymond S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Elkins; Gary E
• Assistant Examiner(s): DEMEREE, CHRISTOPHER R
• Application Number:
  US11/612,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20070137222A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,541 Days
• Field of Search: 229/117.13, 229/117.34, 229/117.33, 229/117.27, 220/592.26, 220/739
• US Class Current: 229/117.13
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/064 Rectangular containers having a body with gusset-flaps folded outwardly or adhered to the side or the top of the container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/3628 collapsed along median lines of two opposite sides of the rectangular tubular body
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 5/606 Bags or bag-like tubes loosely glued to the wall of a "tubular" container
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3848 semi-rigid container folded up from one or more blanks
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A collapsible cooler pack carton includes a barrier film on the cooler pack interior capable of retaining liquids in the cooler pack. The blank used to form the cooler pack can be provided with the barrier film and shipped or displayed as a flat partially assembled cooler pack article. A consumer or other user can assemble the cooler pack from the article. After use, the user can disassemble or collapse the cooler pack back into the partially assembled or collapsed cooler pack article.

Claims

1. A collapsible cooler pack, comprising:

a blank including a plurality of bottom flaps and a plurality of panels, wherein

each bottom flap of the plurality of bottom flaps includes opposite proximal and distal ends,

the proximal ends of the bottom flaps are respectively connected to bottom ends of panels of the plurality of panels, so that the distal ends of the bottom flaps are spaced apart from the bottom ends of the panels,

the plurality of panels defines an interior surface of the blank, which extends around an interior of the collapsible cooler pack, and

the plurality of panels includes a first side panel, a second side panel, a front panel, and a rear panel, wherein the first side panel is bisected by a first fold line, and the second side panel is bisected by a second fold line;

at least one handle in a panel selected from the group consisting of the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel and the rear panel;

a first side panel top flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel top flap;

a rear panel top flap; and

a barrier film attached to at least a portion of the interior surface of the blank, wherein

the barrier film is formed into a vessel that is for retaining fluid,

the vessel includes opposite top and bottom ends,

the top end of the vessel defines an opening for accessing an interior of the vessel,

the bottom end of the vessel is closed,

the closed bottom end of the vessel extends outwardly from the interior of the collapsible cooler pack and past the distal ends of the bottom flaps, so that a distance that the closed bottom end of the vessel is spaced apart from the bottom ends of the panels is greater than how far the distal ends of the bottom flaps are spaced apart from the bottom ends of the panels, and

in a side elevation view of the collapsible cooler pack in an upright configuration, the vessel, including the top end of the vessel, is positioned below the at least one handle, so that the barrier film does not obstruct the at least one handle.

2. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 1, wherein a closing tab extends from the rear panel top flap and a corresponding closing tab slot is formed in the front panel top flap.

3. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 1, wherein:

the first side panel top flap is a first side panel tuckable flap; and

the second side panel top flap is a second side panel tuckable flap.

4. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 3, further comprising:

a first plurality of fold lines formed in the first side panel tuckable flap; and

a second plurality of fold lines formed in the second side panel tuckable flap.

5. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 4, wherein the first plurality of fold lines comprises a first oblique fold line, a second oblique fold line, a first tuck-assist fold line, a second tuck-assist fold line, and a third tuck-assist fold line.

6. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 5, wherein the second plurality of fold lines comprises a third oblique fold line, a fourth oblique fold line, a fourth tuck-assist fold line, a fifth tuck-assist fold line, and a sixth tuck-assist fold line.

7. The collapsible cooler pack of claim 6, wherein the first side panel includes a first side panel slot, and wherein the second side panel includes a second side panel slot.

8. A method of assembling the collapsible cooler pack of claim 1, comprising:

attaching the barrier film to the interior surface of the blank;

thereafter forming the barrier film into the vessel, wherein the forming of the barrier film into the vessel comprises sealing at least one edge of the barrier film so that the barrier film forms the vessel; and

thereafter closing a bottom of the collapsible cooler pack with the bottom flaps.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the method comprises closing a top of the cooler pack with the top flaps, and the cooler pack has a generally parallelepipedal shape.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the first side panel is folded at the first fold line in the first side panel, and the second side panel is folded at the second fold line in the second side panel.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the collapsible cooler pack is folded substantially flat at the first and second fold lines.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein sealing the at least one edge of the barrier film includes sealing a bottom edge of the barrier film.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising closing a top of the cooler pack with the top flaps at a top of the blank.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein:

the first side panel top flap is a first side panel tuckable flap; and

the second side panel top flap is a second side panel tuckable flap.

15. A method of use of the collapsible cooler pack of claim 1, comprising:

forming a cooler pack from the collapsible cooler pack;

thereafter loading a plurality of beverages into the vessel;

thereafter loading ice into the vessel;

thereafter removing the plurality of beverages from the cooler pack;

thereafter removing the ice and/or water formed from melting of the ice from the cooler pack; and

thereafter collapsing the cooler pack for reuse.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the method comprises closing a top of the cooler pack with the top flaps, and the cooler pack has a generally parallelepipedal shape.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the collapsible cooler pack is folded substantially flat.

18. A cooler pack article, comprising:

a blank, the blank comprising;

a plurality of bottom flaps;

a first side panel;

a second side panel;

a front panel;

a rear panel;

at least one handle in a panel selected from the group consisting of the first side panel, the second side panel, the front panel and the rear panel; and

a barrier film attached to at least a portion of an interior surface of the blank, wherein

the barrier film is formed into a bag capable of retaining liquid,

the bag includes opposite top and bottom ends,

the bottom end of the bag is closed,

the top end of the bag defines an opening for accessing an interior of the bag, and

in a side elevation view of the cooler pack article in an upright configuration, the bag, including the top end of the bag, is positioned below the at least one handle, so that the barrier film does not obstruct the at least one handle.

19. The cooler pack article of claim 18, wherein the barrier film includes at least one sealed edge.

20. The cooler pack article of claim 19, wherein the at least one sealed edge of the bag includes a bottom edge of the barrier film.

21. The cooler pack article of claim 18, wherein the cooler pack article is folded substantially flat.

22. The cooler pack article of claim 21, wherein the first side panel is folded at a first fold line in the first side panel, and the second side panel is folded at a second fold line in the second side panel.

23. The cooler pack article of claim 18, further comprising:

a first side panel tuckable flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel tuckable flap; and

a rear panel top flap.

24. The cooler pack article of claim 18, further comprising:

a first side panel top flap;

a front panel top flap;

a second side panel top flap; and

a rear panel top flap.