Insulating Device

• US 20190071238A1
• Filed: 02/03/2017
• Published: 03/07/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: YETI Coolers LLC (YETI Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: YETI Coolers LLC (YETI Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: SEIDERS, Roy Joseph, KELLER, Chris, SULLIVAN, Derek G., LARSON, Erik Steven, BAIRES, Alex, BOSWAY, Andrew M., FRITZSCHE, Karl, FLORES, Laura
• Granted Patent: US 10,981,716 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/22 Watertight containers for use while swimming
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/008 for making water- or air-tight
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/10 Arrangement of fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/103 Arrangement of zip-fasteners
• 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 65/62 Stitching
• 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 81/3897 formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls
• 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 may also prevent 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 that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

Claims

1. A insulating device comprising:

an outer shell defining a first sidewall;

an inner liner forming a storage compartment;

an insulating layer positioned in between the outer shell and the inner liner, the insulating layer providing insulation for the storage compartment;

an opening configured to allow access to the storage compartment; and

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 device is in any orientation.

2. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the outer shell further comprises a second sidewall and a third sidewall and wherein the opening extends through the first sidewall, the second sidewall, and the third sidewall.

3. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating device is in a shape of a cuboid.

4. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the inner liner and the outer shell form a joint and wherein the joint comprises a vent to gases.

5. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the outer shell comprises one or more handles and wherein a vent is formed adjacent to a location of the one or more handles.

6. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the closure is substantially waterproof so as to resist liquid from exiting the opening when the insulating device is filled completely with water and is dropped from a distance of six feet.

7. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the outer shell defines a bottom wall extending in a first plane and wherein the inner liner is secured to the outer shell in a second plane extending perpendicular to the first plane.

8. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the inner liner is formed of a first piece and a second piece and wherein the first piece is joined to the second piece by way of a weld to define a seam and wherein the seam is covered with a seam tape.

9. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the inner liner is formed by way of injection molding.

10. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the closure is a zipper and is substantially waterproof and wherein the zipper comprises a pull, the pull being formed of a cloth, string, or rope.

11. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the insulating device when filled with ice of approximately 0.52 lbs. per quart capacity of the insulating device increases from 0°

F. to 10°

F. in a duration of 0.5 hours to 1.5 hours.

12. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the insulating device when filled with ice of approximately 0.52 lbs. per quart capacity of the insulating device increases from 10°

F. to 50°

F. in a duration of 22 hours to 28 hours.

13. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the temperature of the insulating device when filled with ice of approximately 0.52 lbs. per quart capacity of the insulating device increases from 0°

F. to 50°

F. in a duration of 24 hours to 30 hours.

14. The insulating device of claim 1 further comprising a lid assembly and a body assembly.

15. The insulating device of claim 14 wherein the lid assembly and the body assembly together form the inner liner, the insulating layer, and the outer shell.

16. The insulating device of claim 14 wherein the lid assembly includes at least a portion of the insulation layer.

17. The insulating device of claim 14 wherein the lid assembly includes a handle and a reinforcement layer that is more rigid than the inner liner, the insulating layer, and the outer shell.

18. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer floats between the inner liner and the outer shell.

19. The insulating device of claim 1 wherein the insulating layer is attached to the inner liner or the outer shell.

20. A method comprising:

forming a body assembly by forming a lower outer shell, placing a lower insulating layer into the lower outer shell, and securing a lower inner liner portion to the lower outer shell;

forming a lid assembly of an upper outer shell, an upper inner liner portion and an upper insulating layer therebetween; and

joining the lid assembly to the body assembly by securing a closure between the lid assembly and the body assembly and by securing a binding material to the body assembly and the lid assembly.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein the insulating layer floats between the lower outer shell and the lower inner liner portion.

22. The method of claim 20 wherein the binding material is nylon.

23. The method of claim 20 wherein the binding material is stitched to the body assembly and the lid assembly.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein the lid assembly is also welded to the body assembly.

25. The method of claim 20 wherein the lower inner liner portion is formed by injection molding.

26. The method of claim 20 wherein the lower inner liner portion is secured to the lower outer shell by a weld.

27. The method of claim 26 wherein the weld is formed by clamping the lower outer shell to the lower inner liner portion with a top U-shaped portion, a plate portion, and a bottom U-shaped portion and applying a current through the top U-shaped portion, the plate portion, and the bottom U-shaped portion.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein the current is applied through the top U-shaped portion, the plate portion, and the bottom U-shaped portion in a first direction to weld a first side and the current is applied in a second direction to weld a second side.

29. The method of claim 20 further comprising forming the lid assembly with a handle and a reinforcement layer that is more rigid than the inner liner, the insulating layer, and the outer shell.

30. The method of claim 20 further comprising attaching the insulating layer to the inner liner or the outer shell.