Portable container and container assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10773852-B2
Application number	US-201815908350-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 28, 2018
Priority date	Feb 28, 2017
Publication date	Sep 15, 2020
Grant date	Sep 15, 2020

Abstract

A portable container and container assembly provides a durable, functional and simple carry-all solution for dry and wet provisions, goods and gear. Exemplary features of various embodiments include one or more of an overmolded pad on the bottom of the container, a removable handle incorporating a releasable retaining structure, a lid that seals within the container cavity and is flush with the outer periphery of the container sidewall and/or has a cellular internal reinforcing structure, a skirt extending around the sidewall that is integral with handle mounts for the handle and/or provides a connection point for external components, and a drop-in tray with a collapsible handle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A portable container assembly comprising:
a container comprising:
a bottom;
a sidewall connected to the bottom and extending upward from the bottom to define an internal cavity with an opening at a top of the sidewall, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
first and second handle mounts connected to the outer surface of the sidewall, each of the first and second handle mounts having a vertical connecting portion with a receptacle defined therein, the vertical connecting portion being spaced from the sidewall to define a gap between the vertical connecting portion and the outer surface of the sidewall; and
a skirt connected to the outer surface of the sidewall and extending outward and downward from the outer surface around at least a portion of a periphery of the sidewall, such that a portion of the skirt is spaced from the sidewall, the skirt is connected to the vertical connecting portions of the first and second handle mounts, and the gap between the vertical connecting portions and the outer surface of the sidewall further extends between the skirt and the sidewall; and

a handle assembly comprising a handle configured for use in lifting the container assembly and first and second connection members connected to opposed ends of the handle, wherein the first and second connection members are removably connected to the first and second handle mounts to removably connect the handle assembly to the container, each of the first and second connection members comprising a plug, wherein the plug of the first connection member is received within the receptacle of the first handle mount and the plug of the second connection member is received within the receptacle of the second handle mount, the handle assembly further comprising first and second removable fastening members, wherein the first and second removable fastening members are engaged with the plugs of the first and second connection members at locations within the gap to secure the plugs within the receptacles of the first and second handle mounts,
wherein the handle comprises an elongated piece of a flexible textile material, wherein the first and second connection members are overmolded onto the opposed ends of the handle such that an overmolded material of the first and second connection members infiltrates between fibers of the flexible textile material.

2. The portable container assembly of claim 1 , wherein each of the first and second connection members further comprises a recess extending around the plug, and wherein the first and second removable fastening members are engaged with the plugs of the first and second connection members within the recesses to removably secure the plugs within the receptacles of the first and second handle mounts.

3. The portable container assembly of claim 2 , wherein the first and second removable fastening members each comprise a grip portion configured for manipulation by a user and a pair of bowed legs extending from the grip portion, wherein a slot is defined between the legs, and wherein the first and second removable fastening members are engaged with the plugs of the first and second connection members such that the plug of the first connection member is received within the slot of the first removable fastening member and the legs of the first removable fastening member are received in the recess of the first connection member on opposite sides of the plug, and the plug of the second connection member is received within the slot of the second removable fastening member and the legs of the second removable fastening member are received in the recess of the second connection member on opposite sides of the plug.

4. The portable container assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and second removable fastening members each comprise a grip portion configured for manipulation by a user and a pair of bowed legs extending from the grip portion, wherein a slot is defined between the legs, and wherein the first and second removable fastening members are engaged with the plugs of the first and second connection members such that the plug of the first connection member is received within the slot of the first removable fastening member and the legs of the first removable fastening member are positioned on opposite sides of the plug of the first connection member, and the plug of the second connection member is received within the slot of the second removable fastening member and the legs of the second removable fastening member are positioned on opposite sides of the plug of the second connection member.

5. The portable container assembly of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of ports are defined in the skirt and configured for connection to external components.

6. A portable container assembly comprising:
a container comprising:
a bottom comprising a base and a pad connected to a bottom side of the base, the base having a rib extending downward from the bottom side of the base, wherein the pad is formed from a flexible material that is overmolded onto the bottom side of the base, such that the rib penetrates the pad and is covered by the flexible material;
a sidewall connected to the bottom and extending upward from the bottom to define an internal cavity with an opening at a top of the sidewall, the sidewall having an inner surface and an outer surface; and
a first handle mount connected to the outer surface of the sidewall; and

a handle assembly comprising a handle configured for use in lifting the container assembly and a first connection member connected to the handle, wherein the first connection member is removably connected to the first handle mount to removably connect the handle assembly to the container, and wherein the first connection member is overmolded onto a first end of the handle,
wherein the handle comprises an elongated piece of a flexible textile material, wherein the first connection member is overmolded onto the first end of the handle such that an overmolded material of the first connection member infiltrates between fibers of the flexible textile material.

7. The portable container assembly of claim 6 , wherein the container further comprises a second handle mount connected to the outer surface of the sidewall, and the handle assembly further comprises a second connection member overmolded onto a second end of the handle, wherein the second connection member is removably connected to the second handle mount to removably connect the handle assembly to the container, and wherein the second connection member is overmolded onto a second end of the handle.

8. The portable container assembly of claim 7 , wherein the first and second ends of the handle are opposed ends of the handle.

9. The portable container assembly of claim 7 , wherein each of the first and second handle mounts has a receptacle defined therein, and each of the first and second connection members comprises a plug, wherein the plug of the first connection member is received within the receptacle of the first handle mount and the plug of the second connection member is received within the receptacle of the second handle mount, wherein the handle assembly further comprises first and second removable fastening members, wherein the first and second removable fastening members are engaged with the plugs of the first and second connection members to secure the plugs within the receptacles of the first and second handle mounts.

10. The portable container assembly of claim 9 , wherein each of the first and second connection members further comprises a recess extending around the plug, wherein each of the first and second handle mounts has a vertical connecting portion with a receptacle defined therein, the vertical con

Assignees

• Yeti Coolers Llc

Inventors

• Seiders Roy Joseph
• Bondhus Andy
• Nichols Steve Charles
• Zuck Dennis
• Bosway Andrew M

Classifications

• B25H3/00 Primary

  Storage means or arrangements for workshops facilitating access to, or handling of, work tools or instruments (containers or packages with special means for dispensing contents B65D83/00; {nail dispensers B25C3/00}) · CPC title

• B65D1/165

  Cylindrical cans · CPC title

• B65D25/287

  Rope or string · CPC title

• B65D25/2873

  Straps or slings · CPC title

• B65D2543/00296

  Plastic · CPC title