Collapsible coolers

• US 8,365,944 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2010
• Issued: 02/05/2013
• 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:
  US12/940,953
• Publication Number:
  US 20110042398A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 220/666, 220/6, 220/720, 220/592.27, 220/592.2, 220/915.2, 215/900, 383/3
• US Class Current: 220/666
• 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

An expandable and collapsible cooler includes: a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler; an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; a collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the cooler wall including a flexible elastomeric membrane that includes hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and one or more bracket members selectively positionable to extend between and interconnect the base and the upper rim for conveying tensional forces between the base and the upper rim upon lifting of the cooler from a location above the cooler wall. The rim preferably includes one or more handles for lifting of the cooler.

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 collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the cooler wall comprising inner and outer flexible elastomeric membranes that each includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, 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 along the hinge lines, each of the configurations corresponding to a stable configuration of the cooler;

(d) wherein the upper rim comprises one or more handles for lifting of the cooler;

(e) wherein, when the inner and outer flexible elastomeric membranes are in their respective expanded configurations, the outer flexible elastomeric membrane surrounds the inner elastomeric membrane such that the inner and outer elastomeric membranes define an intermediate space therebetween for insulating the interior storage space from an exterior of the cooler;

(f) 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 flexible elastomeric membranes, and which cause the intermediate space to be open to external air flow, when the one or more openings are uncovered; and

(g) 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.

2. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein each handle is integrally formed with the upper rim, the handle being formed by an extension of the upper rim that includes an aperture.

3. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 2, wherein the extension of the upper rim extends beyond a lid of the cooler when the lid is in a closed position on top of the cooler.

4. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein each handle is defined by an aperture in said upper rim.

5. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein a handle extends on each of a pair of opposite sides of the cooler.

6. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the upper rim and the base are configured to engage each other in locking engagement when the cooler is in the collapsed configuration.

7. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the collapsible wall is generally unexposed and thereby protected when the cooler in the collapsed configuration.

8. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the base and the upper rim each receives the outer collapsible wall within a respective recess thereof and the base and upper rim are shaped and dimensioned to mate with one another when the cooler is transitioned to the collapsed configuration.

9. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the cooler further comprises a wheeled platform, and wherein the base and the wheeled platform are removably coupled together.

10. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the cooler has a generally rectangular perimeter or generally elliptical perimeter.

11. 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 collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the cooler wall comprising inner and outer flexible elastomeric membranes that each includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration, 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 along the hinge lines, each of the configurations corresponding to a stable configuration of the cooler;

(d) wherein the upper rim comprises one or more handles for lifting of the cooler;

(e) wherein the upper rim comprises inner and outer rim walls;

(f) wherein a peripheral opening is defined between the inner and outer rim walls; and

(g) wherein a plurality of connectors secure the inner rim wall to the outer rim wall in a spaced apart relation.