Insulating container

• US 9,139,352 B2
• Filed: 09/08/2014
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: YETI Coolers LLC (YETI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: YETI Coolers LLC (YETI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Seiders, Roy Joseph, Keller, Christopher M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US14/479,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20150225164A1
• Time in Patent Office: 379 Days
• Field of Search: 220/62.15, 220/62.21, 220/62.11, 220/592.03, 220/592.05, 220/592.1, 220/592.09, 220/592.25, 220/592.2, 220/915.2, 220/915.1, 190/125, 190/124
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/26 Special adaptations of handles A45C13/22 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/30 Straps; Bands
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/00 Flexible luggage; Handbags collapsible or extensible luggage, bags or the like A45C7/00
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 3/001 Flexible materials therefor
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 59/02 by mechanical means, e.g. pressing B29C59/007 takes precedence; embossing expanded porous articles B29C44/5627
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/02 by heating, with or without pressure
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/562 using extra joining elements, i.e. which are not integral with the parts to be joined using plastic snap elements B29C65/58; using plastic rivets B29C65/601
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 65/72 by combined operations or combined techniques, e.g. welding and stitching
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/43 Joining a relatively small portion of the surface of said articles B29C66/45 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4322 by joining a single sheet to itself B29C66/4332 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B29C 66/4326 for making hollow articles or hollow-preforms, e.g. half-shells
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/142 Laminating of sheets, panels or inserts, e.g. stiffeners, by wrapping in at least one outer layer, or inserting into a preformed pocket
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 37/185 Laminating sheets, panels or inserts between two discrete plastic layers
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/18 spaced appreciably from container wall
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/205 Means for the attachment of labels, cards, coupons or the like; cards or coupons for the other types of rigid or semi-rigid containers B65D25/36 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/2873 Straps or slings
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3858 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls; for shock absorbing purposes B65D81/1275
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/389 : formed of foam material
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/801 : Bags
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 : portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 : Assembling or joining
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49828 : Progressively advancing of work assembly station or assembled portion of work

Abstract

An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure also prevents any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

Claims

1. An insulating container comprising:

an outer shell;

an inner liner forming a storage compartment;

a foam layer floating in between the outer shell and the inner liner, the foam layer providing insulation;

an opening extending through the outer shell and the inner liner;

a closure adapted to substantially seal the opening, the closure being substantially waterproof so as to resist liquid from exiting the opening when the insulating container is in any orientation.

2. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the outer shell has a top portion and wherein the top portion of the outer shell has a first perimeter circumference in a first configuration, wherein the outer shell has a bottom portion, the bottom portion of the outer shell has a second perimeter circumference in a second configuration different from the first configuration and wherein the first perimeter circumference is equal to the second perimeter circumference.

3. The insulating container of claim 2 wherein the first configuration and the second configuration are both oval shaped.

4. The insulating container of claim 1 further comprising an upper wall and a base, the upper wall defining an upper wall circumference, an upper wall length and an upper wall width, and the base defining a base circumference, a base length and a base width and wherein the upper wall circumference is equal to the base circumference and a ratio of the upper wall length to the upper wall width is greater than the ratio of the base length to the base width.

5. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein a heat gain rate of the insulating container is approximately 1 to 1.5 degF/hr.

6. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the storage compartment is configured to maintain a liquid therein while inverted for greater than 15 minutes.

7. The insulating container of claim 6 wherein the storage compartment is configured to maintain the liquid for a period of greater than 30 minutes therein when inverted and at least a half of a volume of the storage compartment is filled with the liquid.

8. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer is floating freely in between the outer shell and the inner liner.

9. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the closure is a zipper assembly comprising a plurality of zipper teeth, wherein the zipper teeth are formed of plastic or metal.

10. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the outer shell and the inner liner are made of a double laminated TPU nylon fabric.

11. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer is formed of closed cell foam.

12. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer is made of a NBR and a PVC blend.

13. The insulating container of claim 11 wherein at least a portion of the insulating layer is constructed with an EVA foam layer.

14. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the outer shell further comprises at least one of a strap or handle.

15. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the outer shell further comprises at least one ring for securing the insulating device.

16. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the closure has a first flange and a second flange wherein the outer shell is secured to top surfaces of the first flange and the second flange and the inner liner is secured to bottom surfaces of the first flange and the second flange.

17. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the outer shell and the inner liner are connected to the closure by a polymer weld.

18. The insulating container of claim 1 wherein the closure is watertight up to 2 to 14 psi above atmospheric pressure.

19. The insulating container of claim 1 further comprising a loop patch.

20. An insulating container comprising:

an outer shell;

an inner liner forming a storage compartment;

a foam layer floating in between an outer shell and an inner liner, the foam layer providing insulation;

an opening extending through the outer layer and the inner layer;

a closure adapted to substantially seal the opening, the closure being substantially waterproof so as to prevent liquid from exiting the opening when the insulating container is inverted for a period of greater than 15 minutes.

21. The insulating container of claim 20 wherein a heat gain rate of the insulating container is approximately 1.0 to 1.5 degF/hr.

22. The insulating container of claim 20 further comprising at least one handle, wherein the at least one handle is configured to support 100 lbs. to 300 lbs. of weight for 1 to 10 minutes without showing signs of failure.

23. The insulating container of claim 20 wherein the insulating container is configured to withstand 35 lbs. to 100 lbs. of puncture force.