Soft-sided cooler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10544976-B2
Application number	US-201715715751-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 26, 2017
Priority date	Sep 26, 2016
Publication date	Jan 28, 2020
Grant date	Jan 28, 2020

Abstract

Described in detail herein is cooler apparatus. The cooler can include an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell can include a top face, a bottom face, a front surface, back surface a first side and a second side. The top face can be secured to the cooler using a zipper. The top face can provide access the inner shell. One or more bottle openers can be affixed to the front surface of the outer shell. The front surface can further include an enclosure accessible using a zipper. The bottom side can be compressible in response to receiving pressure. One or more straps can be affixed to either the first side, second side or back surface of the cooler. The inner shell can form a volume to store physical objects. The cooler can be a backpack, tote or a 24-pack cooler.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A backpack apparatus comprising:
an outer shell including a front surface, a back surface, and a first and second side surfaces;
a top face coupled to the outer shell by a hinge and a first zipper, the first zipper being configured to rotate around the hinge formed at terminal ends of the first zipper;
a bottom face defining a base of the backpack apparatus;
the outer shell, top face and bottom face forming an inner shell constructed of insulated material including a volume for storing physical objects;
wherein the front face includes one or more bottle openers and a pouch accessible by a second zipper;
wherein each of the first and second side including one or more buckles; and
wherein the top face and the bottom face are constructed from a material different from a material of the outer shell.

2. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising at least two shoulder straps coupled to the back surface.

3. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein bungee cords are coupled to the top face of the backpack and the top face is constructed of EVA compression foam.

4. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the front surface comprises a first and second bottle cap openers.

5. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the pouch is disposed underneath the first and second bottle openers.

6. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , further comprising at least two back pads disposed on the back surface.

7. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the pouch is welded onto the front face.

8. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the first and second zippers are tapped, water-proof zippers.

9. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the material of the outer shell is 600D Poly Body with Thermal Polyurethane coating.

10. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the material of the bottom surface is EVA compression foam.

11. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein the material of the inner shell is 27 mm expandable polyethylene (EPE) foam insulation and 600D Poly Liner with poly ethylene vinyl acetate coating.

12. A cooler backpack comprising:
an outer shell constructed of 600D Poly Body with Thermal Polyurethane coating and including a front surface; a back surface and a first and second side;
a top face constructed of EVA compression foam coupled to the outer shell by a first zipper, the top face configured to rotate around a hinge formed at terminal ends of the first zipper, wherein bungee cords are coupled to the top face;
a bottom face constructed of EVA compression foam;
the outer shell, top face and bottom face forming an inner shell constructed of 27 mm expandable polyethylene (EPE) foam insulation and 600D Poly Liner with poly ethylene vinyl acetate coating and including a volume for storing physical objects;
wherein the front surface including a first and second bottle cap opener coupled to first and second article of fabric and a pouch accessible by a second zipper, the first and second article of fabric coupled to a first and second piece of plastic and the first and second piece of plastic and the pouch are welded onto the front surface;
wherein two shoulder straps are coupled to the back surface;
wherein each of the first and second side including a first and second set of buckles constructed of fabric, coupled to a third and fourth article of plastic and the third and fourth articles of plastic are welded onto the first and second side; and
wherein the first and second zipper are tapped water-proof zippers.

13. The backpack apparatus in claim 1 , wherein a raised lip is disposed around the perimeter of the bottom face.

14. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the material of the top face and the bottom face defines an outer surface of the backpack apparatus at the top and bottom faces, and the material of the outer shell defines an outer surface of the backpack apparatus at the outer shell.

15. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the top and bottom faces are constructed from the same material.

16. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first zipper forms a one way, watertight seal between the top source and the outer shell.

17. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 , wherein in a closed position, the first zipper prevents liquid from entering an interior of the backpack apparatus from an exterior of the backpack apparatus through the first zipper, and allows liquid to escape from the interior of the backpack apparatus to the exterior of the backpack apparatus through the first zipper.

18. The backpack apparatus of claim 17 , wherein in the closed position, the first zipper includes strips of tape that engage to prevent liquid from entering the backpack apparatus from the exterior of the backpack apparatus through the first zipper, the strips of tape allowing liquid to escape from the interior of the backpack apparatus to the exterior of the backpack apparatus through the first zipper.

19. The backpack apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the strips of tape include adjacent strips of waterproof tape extending a length of the first zipper.

20. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the material of the bottom face is a compressible foam configured to compress and reduce in thickness upon application of pressure on the bottom face, compression of the bottom face absorbing pressure received by the inner shell.

21. The backpack apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the bottom face defines a substantially planar surface including a raised lip disposed around the perimeter of the bottom face, the raised lip elevated as compared to the substantially planar surface of the bottom face.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Triska Nathan Andrew
• Overbey Patrick

Classifications

• F25D23/12

  Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove · CPC title

• A45C11/20

  Lunch or picnic boxes or the like · CPC title

• A45F3/04 Primary

  Sacks or packs carried on the body by means of two straps passing over the two shoulders · CPC title

• B65D81/3897

  formed of different materials, e.g. laminated or foam filling between walls · CPC title

• F25D2331/801

  Bags · CPC title