Collapsible coolers

• US 8,317,046 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2009
• Issued: 11/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Vanderberg, Matthew Alexander, Bizzell, Daniel Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US12/636,225
• Publication Number:
  US 20100147015A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,082 Days
• Field of Search: 383/3, 220/6, 220/666, 220/720, 220/592.27, 220/592.2, 220/915.2, 215/900
• US Class Current: 220/6
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0036 collapsible to a minimal configuration, e.g. for storage purposes
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3895 provided with liquid material between double walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0831 the liquid is disposed in the space between the walls of the container
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/061 Collapsible walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/002 Liquid coolers, e.g. beverage cooler receptacle coolers F25D31/006

Abstract

A cooler includes a base; an upper rim; and a collapsible wall extending between the base and the upper rim. The cooler wall is capable of transitioning between a fully collapsed configuration and a fully expanded configuration and is stable in each configuration. Additionally, in transitioning between the fully collapsed and fully expanded configurations, the cooler transitions to at least one intermediate configuration in which the cooler is in a stable state and may be used. The collapsible wall preferably comprises a flexible membrane that is configured to be collapsible between three or more stable states, and preferably is formed from silicone.

Claims

1. An expandable and collapsible cooler, comprising:

(a) a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler;

(b) an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; and

(c) a cooler wall extending between the base and the upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler;

(d) wherein the cooler wall comprises an inner collapsible wall that extends between and is attached to the base and the upper rim;

(e) wherein the cooler wall comprises an outer collapsible wall that extends between and is attached to the base and the upper rim;

(f) wherein each of the inner and outer collapsible walls comprises a flexible elastomeric membrane formed of silicone rubber that includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a respective collapsed configuration and a respective expanded configuration, each hinge line of the plurality of the hinge lines being generally less thick than other portions of the membrane;

(g) wherein the outer collapsible wall surrounds the inner collapsible wall such that the inner and outer collapsible walls define an intermediate space therebetween for insulating the interior storage space of the cooler from an exterior of the cooler;

(h) wherein the cooler is transitional between an expanded configuration for use of the cooler, and a collapsed configuration during nonuse of the cooler, by bending of the membranes of the inner and outer collapsible walls along the respective hinge lines, each of the configurations corresponding to a stable configuration of the cooler;

(i) wherein the cooler further comprises one or more openings in the upper rim through which access is provided to the intermediate space defined between the inner and outer collapsible walls, and which cause the intermediate space to be open to external air flow, when the one or more openings are uncovered; and

(j) wherein the cooler includes a lid sized and dimensioned to extend over both a top of the interior storage space and each of the one or more upper rim openings.

2. The cooler of claim 1, wherein each hinge line has upper and lower hinge faces associated therewith that are configured to generally face in opposing relation to one another when the membrane is folded about the particular hinge line.

3. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the inner collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the inner collapsible wall is fully collapsed, and wherein the outer collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the outer collapsible wall is fully collapsed.

15. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the inner collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the inner collapsible wall is fully collapsed, and wherein the outer collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the outer collapsible wall is fully collapsed.

16. The cooler of claim 15, wherein the nested peripheral portions of the outer collapsible wall collectively surround the nested peripheral portions of the inner collapsible wall.

17. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the nested peripheral portions of the outer collapsible wall and the nested peripheral portions of the inner collapsible wall are generally arranged in a common plane.

4. An expandable and collapsible cooler, comprising:

(a) a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler;

(b) an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; and

(c) a cooler wall surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler;

(d) wherein the cooler wall comprises an inner collapsible wall that extends between and is attached to the base and the upper rim;

(e) wherein the cooler wall comprises an outer collapsible wall that extends between and is attached to the base and the upper rim;

(f) wherein each of the inner and outer collapsible walls comprises a flexible elastomeric membrane that includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a respective collapsed configuration and a respective expanded configuration;

(g) wherein the outer collapsible wall surrounds the inner collapsible wall such that the inner and outer collapsible walls define an intermediate space therebetween for insulating the interior storage space from an exterior of the cooler;

(h) wherein the cooler is transitional between different configurations by bending of the membranes of the inner and outer collapsible walls along the respective hinge lines, the configurations corresponding to different stable configurations of the cooler and comprising,

(i) an expanded configuration for use of the cooler,

(ii) a collapsed configuration during nonuse of the cooler,

(iii) a first partially expanded configuration for use of the cooler, the interior storage space of the cooler when the cooler is in the first partially expanded configuration being greater than the interior storage space of the cooler when the cooler is in the collapsed configuration, but being less than the interior storage space of the cooler when the cooler is in the expanded configuration, and

(iv) a second partially expanded configuration for use of the cooler, the interior storage space of the cooler when the cooler is in the second partially expanded configuration being greater than the interior storage space of the cooler when the cooler is in the first partially expanded configuration, but being less than the interior storage space of the cooler when the cooler is in the expanded configuration;

(i) wherein the cooler further comprises one or more openings in the upper rim through which access is provided to the intermediate space defined between the inner and outer collapsible walls, and which cause the intermediate space to be open to external air flow, when the one or more openings are uncovered; and

(j) wherein the cooler includes a lid sized and dimensioned to extend over both a top of the interior storage space and each of the one or more upper rim openings.

5. The cooler of claim 4, wherein the inner collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the inner collapsible wall is fully collapsed, and wherein the outer collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the outer collapsible wall is fully collapsed.

6. An expandable and collapsible man-portable cooler, comprising:

(a) a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler;

(b) an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; and

(c) a cooler wall extending between said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler;

(d) a lid;

(e) wherein said cooler wall comprises an inner collapsible wall that extends between and is attached to the base and the upper rim;

(f) wherein said cooler wall comprises an outer collapsible wall that extends between and is attached to the base and the upper rim;

(g) wherein each of said inner and outer collapsible walls comprises a flexible elastomeric membrane that includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitionable between a respective collapsed configuration and a respective expanded configuration;

(h) wherein, when the inner and outer collapsible walls are in their respective expanded configurations, the outer collapsible wall surrounds the inner collapsible wall such that the inner and outer collapsible walls define an intermediate space therebetween for insulating the interior storage space from an exterior of the cooler;

(i) wherein the cooler is transitionable between an expanded configuration for use of the cooler, and a collapsed configuration during nonuse of the cooler, by bending of said membranes of the inner and outer collapsible walls along said respective hinge lines, each of said expanded and collapsed configurations corresponding to a stable configuration of the cooler;

(j) wherein the hinge lines are defined in the membranes regardless of whether the cooler is in the expanded configuration or the collapsed configuration;

(k) wherein the cooler further comprises one or more openings in the upper rim through which access is provided to the intermediate space defined between the inner and outer collapsible walls, and which cause the intermediate space to be open to external air flow, when the one or more openings are uncovered;

(l) wherein each of the flexible elastomeric membranes is self supporting such that the cooler can remain in the expanded configuration even when the one or more openings in the upper rim are uncovered;

(m) wherein the lid is sized and dimensioned to extend over both a top of the interior space defined by the inner collapsible wall and each of the one or more upper rim openings; and

(n) wherein the cooler is sized and dimensioned to be transportable by a single person.

7. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the inner collapsible wall includes a bottom wall that is integrally formed therewith.

8. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a top surface that bounds the interior storage space and the intermediate space.

9. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a top surface that defines a bottom surface of the interior storage space.

10. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a top surface that defines a bottom surface of the interior storage space and that defines a bottom surface of the intermediate space.

11. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a top surface that defines a bottom surface of the intermediate space.

12. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the base comprises a top surface that defines a bottom surface of the intermediate space but not the bottom surface of the interior storage space, and wherein the inner collapsible wall includes an integral bottom wall that defines the bottom surface of the interior storage space.

13. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the upper rim comprises an inner rim wall and an outer rim wall, wherein the inner collapsible wall is attached to the inner rim wall of the upper rim, and the outer collapsible wall is attached to the outer rim wall of the upper rim.

14. The cooler of claim 13, wherein one or more rigid connectors extend between and join the inner rim wall and the outer rim wall.