Apparatus for enhancing temperature stabilization of a cooler

Abstract

An apparatus for enhancing the temperature stabilization of a cooler comprises a composite material being formed from a predetermined material. Such composite material includes a bottom panel sized to fit under a bottom portion of such cooler. A generally rectangular back panel is sized to fit over a back wall of such cooler. A substantially rectangular top panel is sized to fit over a top portion of such cooler. Such apparatus has a generally rectangular front panel sized to fit over a front wall of such cooler and a pair of side panels engageable with the back panel and the front panel. A flap member is integrally formed with the top member and is releasingly engageable with the front panel and there is a means for securing the flap member to the front panel when the apparatus is in a closed position.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates, in general, to a jacket for an ice chest, and more specifically the present invention relates to an insulation system for extending the length of time contents in an ice chest will remain cool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Keeping food safe has been a concern of persons in food handling areas, medical and health related institutions and with just people in general. One problem that is encountered with individuals is keeping food safe for relatively short periods of time such as the time required for a picnic or other such family affairs. For these uses ice chests have been used routinely to protect the food from preparation time to the time it is eaten. Generally these affairs occur more frequently in the summer, although tailgating at football games is also a concern.

Coolers and ice chests have been in use for a considerable length of time. Ice chests have been used for many years by adding ice to an insulated chest in order to protect the contents by keeping them cold. Coolers with better insulation and utilizing various coolants encased, generally, in a plastic container have in some instances replaced the original ice chests. However, ice is still used quite frequently at picnics and many outdoor family gatherings. Various designs and configurations have been devised through the years for the purpose of increasing the efficiency of these ice chests and, thus, prolong the useful life of such ice used in coolers.

One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 6,027,249 to Bielinski wherein is disclosed ice cooler jacket system including a one piece composite material formed with an interior flexible fabric and an exterior flexible fabric with thermal insulation therebetween. Another example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,857,778 to Ells who discloses a collapsible thermal insulating container including a bottom wall, side wall, and integral lid. The side wall is formed from hinged panels including fastener strips.

There is a continuing need for new and improved ice cooler jackets which can be used for extending the length of time the contents of such ice cooler remain cold in the cooler or chest.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention provides an apparatus for enhancing the temperature stabilization of a cooler. The apparatus comprises a composite material having a predetermined configuration and being formed from a predetermined material. Such composite material includes a bottom panel sized to fit under a bottom portion of such cooler. There is a generally rectangular back panel sized to fit over a back wall of such cooler and a substantially rectangular top panel sized fit over a top portion of such cooler. Such apparatus has a generally rectangular front panel sized to fit over a front wall of such cooler and a pair of side panels engageable with the back panel and the front panel. There is also a flap member integrally formed with the top member, such flap member is releasingly engageable with the front panel and a means for securing the flap member to the front panel when the apparatus is in a closed position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an insulating medium which will increase the efficiency of ice chests and thus prolong the useful life of such ice used in coolers.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating medium which will reduce the frequency at which ice has to be replaced in an ice chest.

Yet, another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating medium which will use reflective aluminum foil sandwiched around bubble wrap material to form dead air space to provide insulation.

Still, another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating medium which can be made in various sizes to fit the different sizes of commercial coolers.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a open cut away view of an unassembled ice cooler insulating apparatus according to an embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the assembled ice cooler insulating apparatus that was shown unassembled in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a open cut away view of an unassembled ice cooler insulating apparatus according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of the assembled ice cooler insulating apparatus that was shown unassembled in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a open cut away view of an unassembled ice cooler insulating apparatus according to yet another embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 6 is a partial perspective view of the assembled ice cooler insulating apparatus that was shown unassembled in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the ice cooler insulating apparatus that was shown unassembled in FIG. 5.

FIG. 8 is a partial perspective view of the insulation used in the ice cooler insulating apparatus.

FIG. 9 is a cross sectional view of the insulation used in the ice cooler insulating apparatus shown in FIG. 8.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

Reference is now made to FIGS. 1 and 2, illustrated therein is an apparatus, generally designated 10, for enhancing temperature stabilization of a cooler. Such apparatus 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as open cut away view of the apparatus 10 showing the unassembled version of the apparatus 10. Shown are openings 2 on the left side 4 and right side 6 for handles on the cooler. Additionally as is evident in FIG. 1 there is a front panel 8, a bottom panel 12, a back panel 14, a top panel 16 and a flap 18. All of the panels listed above have a substantially rectangular shape. In a presently preferred embodiment of the invention such panels are formed as a single piece. As such the back panel 14 is integrally formed with the bottom panel 12, the top panel 16 is integrally formed with the back panel 14, the front panel 8 is integrally formed with the bottom panel 12 and the pair of side panels 4,6 are integrally formed with the bottom panel 12.

Illustrated in FIG. 2 is the closed version of the apparatus 10 as it fits over a cooler. The closed version is formed by simply folding in the sides 4,6 and folding up the front panel 8 and the back panel 14. Then the top panel 16 is folded down and the flap 18 is sealed to the front panel 8. Such flap 18 is secured by means of snaps or Velcro (hook and loop fasteners) 32. It is presently preferred that the top flap 18 is secured to the front panel 8 by means of the hook and loop fasteners 32.

Seamed areas 26 such as the jointures of the right side 6 and the front panel 8 and the back panel 14; and also between the jointures of the left side 4 with the front panel 8 and the back panel 14 are sewn together. It is presently preferred that these edges are sewn be a machine.

Webbing 28 is provided on these sewn or seamed edges 26 for protection. Webbing 28 is also provided on the edges between the top panel 16 and the right side 6 and the left side 4 for protection. Webbing 28 is also provided on the edge between the flap 18 and the front panel 8.

Such apparatus 10 can be made in various sizes to accommodate the different sizes of coolers that are available.

Illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4 is an alternate embodiment of the apparatus 10 for enhancing temperature stabilization of a cooler. This embodiment is very similar to that described previously with regard to FIGS. 1 and 2. The difference in this embodiment is that there are a pair of side flaps 22 that are integrally formed on the outer edges of such top panel 16. These side flaps 22 engage side panels 4 and 6 to form a seal when the apparatus 10 is in a closed position. Similar to the top flap 18 these side flaps 22 are secured to the side panels 4,6 by means of hook and loop fasteners 32 or snaps.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, illustrated in FIGS. 5, 6 and 7, there is an apparatus 10 which is similar to the other embodiments. However, this embodiment provides for feet 24 which protrude from the bottom panel 12 so that the apparatus rests on the feet 24 rather than on the unit itself. This embodiment is designed to prevent the air bubbles that are in the insulating material from being crushed through usage. However, in extensive tests with the apparatus 10 filled with ice and beverages and with the ice chest resting on the bottom panel 12 there was no evidence that the air bubbles in the insulating material of the bottom panel 12 were crushed but the air bubbles remained intact.

Illustrated in FIGS. 8 and 9 is the insulating material, generally designated 20, of the present invention. Such insulating material 20 is a one piece composite material. Such one piece composite material is a commercially available product called “Reflectix”® that is marketed by Reflectix Inc. The insulating material 20 has an exterior foil layer 42 that is disposed on both sides of the one piece composite material 20. There is a dead air space 44 in the form of bubble wrap material 46 that is adhered to the inner surface foil lining 42. In a preferred embodiment of the invention such dead air space 44 is in the form of a double layer of bubbles in the bubble wrap 46 material. It is preferred that such dead air space 44 be between about ¼ inch and about ⅜ inch. In a most preferred embodiment of the invention such dead air space 44 is about 5/16 inch.

While both the presently preferred and a number of alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above it should be understood that various other adaptations and modifications of the present invention can be envisioned by those persons who are skilled in the relevant art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An apparatus for enhancing the temperature stabilization of a cooler, said apparatus comprising:

(a) a composite material having a predetermined configuration and being formed from a predetermined material, said composite material including; (i) a bottom panel sized to fit under a bottom portion of such cooler; (ii) a generally rectangular back panel sized to fit over a back wall of such cooler; (iii) a substantially rectangular top panel sized to fit over a top portion of such cooler; (iv) a generally rectangular front panel sized to fit over a front wall of such cooler; (v) a pair of side panels engageable with said back panel and said front panel; (vi) a flap member integrally formed with said top panel and releasingly engageable with said front panel; and (vii) a means for securing said flap member to said front panel when said apparatus is in a closed position.

2. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein each of said panels and said flap member are formed as a single piece.

3. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein each of said pair of side panels has an aperture disposed in a predetermined location to accommodate handles from such cooler.

4. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein each of said side walls is sewn to said back panel and said front panel.

5. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein outer edges of each of said side walls is sewn to an outer edge of said back panel and an outer edge of said front panel by means of monofilament thread.

6. The apparatus, according to claim 4, wherein a seam formed by sewing said each of said side walls to said back panel and said front panel is further protected by webbing.

7. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein each of outer edges of said top panel and said flap member and top edge of said side panels are protected by webbing.

8. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said means for securing said flap member to said front panel is selected from at least one of hook and loop fastener and snaps.

9. The apparatus, according to claim 8, wherein said means for securing said flap member to said front panel is hook and loop fasteners.

10. The apparatus, according to claim 3, wherein said aperture disposed in a predetermined location in each of said side panels is protected by reflective aluminum foil tape.

11. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said composite material further includes a pair of additional flap members integrally formed on each side of said top panel, said pair of additional flap members being releasingly engageable with each of said pair of side panels.

12. The apparatus, according to claim 11, wherein said apparatus further includes a second means for securing each of said pair of additional flap members with each of said pair of side panels when said apparatus is in a closed position.

13. The apparatus, according to claim 12, wherein said second means for securing each of said pair of additional flap members to each of said pair of side panels is selected from at least one of hook and loop fasteners and snaps.

14. The apparatus, according to claim 13, wherein said second means for securing each of said pair of additional flap members to each of said pair of side panels is hook and loop fasteners.

15. The apparatus, according to claim 1, wherein said predetermined material includes:

(a) an exterior foil layer disposed on both sides of said composite material; and

(b) a means disposed between an inner surface of each of said exterior foil layer for forming a dead air space between said exterior foil layers.

16. The apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said dead air space is formed by bubble wrap.

17. The apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said exterior foil layer is a reflective aluminum foil.

18. The apparatus, according to claim 15, wherein said dead air space is between about ¼ inch and about ⅜ inch in thickness.

19. The apparatus, according to claim 18, wherein said dead air space is about 5/16 inch thick.

20. The apparatus, according to claim 16, wherein said bubble wrap material forming said dead air space has a double layer of bubbles.