COOLER BAG AND WRAP

Abstract

A cooler bag and wrap is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the cooler bag includes a pair of side panels and at least one pocket formed within each side panel. A plurality of fluid filled beads are contained within the pocket and are visible through an outside layer of the side panels to provide a distinctive appearance to the bag. In addition, the fluid within the beads is adapted to be frozen to keep contents of the bag cool. The bag may also include at least one baffle within the at least one pocket. The baffle helps to evenly disperse the beads and to prevent all the beads from collecting at the bottom of the bag.

Description

I. FIELD

The present disclosure is generally related to a cooler bag and wrap.

II. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

The ability to maintain a desired temperature of food and beverages while transporting has been accomplished in the past through the use of various types of coolers. Typically, the coolers are fabricated using some type of insulating material so that when food and beverages are placed within the cooler, the current temperature is maintained as long as possible. There are rigid side coolers and also flexible side coolers. In addition, often times ice or ice packs are added to the inside of the coolers to help maintain the desired temperature of the food and beverages longer.

A disadvantage of using ice is that when it melts it can create a wet environment within the cooler. Ice packs have a disadvantage in that they contain a liquid that is frozen solid so that the ice pack does not contour around a bottle or other contents within the cooler to provide the most efficient thermal transfer. In addition, coolers are rather bland in appearance. Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a cooler that is aesthetically appealing and easily contours around the contents of the cooler while at the same time does not create a messy and wet residue during use.

A wrap, generally known as a koozie, is used to maintain a cool temperature of a single bottle or beverage can. They typically use a flexible insulating layer that is formed into a shape of can, so that the can (or bottle) may be slid into the koozie. In use, a person's hand holding the koozie is insulated from transferring the heat of the person's hand to the beverage can or bottle. Although the koozie does have some thermal insulating properties, the koozie does not have any cooling properties. Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a wrap that has the ability to not only insulate a can or bottle, but also is aesthetically appealing and cools a beverage can or bottle.

III. SUMMARY

In a particular embodiment, a cooler bag is disclosed. The bag includes a pair of side panels and at least one pocket formed within each side panel. A plurality of fluid filled beads are contained within the pocket and are visible through an outside layer of the side panels to provide a distinctive appearance to the bag. In addition, the fluid within the beads is adapted to be chilled to keep contents of the bag cool. The bag may also include at least one baffle within the side panels. The baffle helps to evenly disperse the beads and to prevent all the beads from collecting at the bottom of the bag. A pair of end panels are secured adjacent to opposing edges of each side panel and may also include fluid filled beads. A bottom panel is used to form the bag with the pair of side panels and the pair of end panels. Similar to the side panels, the bottom panel may also include the beads. A handle is disposed proximate a top portion of the bag and is used to carry the bag and contents of the bag.

In another particular embodiment, a cooler wrap is disclosed. The wrap includes at least one translucent panel and at least one pocket formed within the at least one panel. A plurality of fluid filled decorative beads are contained within the at least one pocket. The wrap may also include at least one baffle within the panel to keep the beads evenly dispersed within the wrap. Opposing free ends of the at least one panel are secured to one another to form the panel into a tubular enclosure. Alternatively, the wrap may include fasteners at opposing free ends of the at least one panel, such as hook and loop, where the fasteners are adapted to removably secure the wrap around a bottle or other object. The wrap may also include a bottom panel secured to edges along a lower periphery of the tubular enclosure. A resealable top opening of the pocket of the wrap may be used to add and remove all or some portion of the plurality of beads, where the plurality of beads are adapted to be chilled and are visible within the pocket.

One particular advantage provided by embodiments of the cooler bag and wrap is that the beads provide a dual purpose of cooling the contents of the bag or wrap while providing an attractive appearance. The beads also have the advantage of being able to conform around contours of the contents, such as a bottle, even while the beads are frozen. In contrast, cooling packs filled with frozen liquid are inflexible and cannot contour around an object, such as a bottle, as the beads of the cooler bag and wrap.

Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections: Brief Description of the Drawings, Detailed Description, and the Claims

IV. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of a side panel of a particular illustrative embodiment of a cooler bag;

FIG. 2 is an elevational view of an end panel of the particular illustrative embodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top view of the particular illustrative embodiment of the cooler bag;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the particular illustrative embodiment of the cooler bag;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view along line 5-5 of FIG. 1 of the side panel and pocket of the cooler bag;

FIG. 6 is a front view of one of a plurality of fluid filled beads contained within the side panel and the pocket of the cooler bag;

FIG. 7 is a cross sectional view along line 7-7 of FIG. 6 of one of the fluid filled beads;

FIG. 8 is a front view of the particular illustrative embodiment of the cooler with alternating end panels and side panels in a flat position;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view along line 9-9 of FIG. 8 of the end panels and side panels showing the pockets and baffles within the side panels;

FIG. 10 is an elevational view of a particular illustrative embodiment of a cooler wrap for use with a wine bottle; and

FIG. 11 is an elevational view of a particular illustrative embodiment of an alternative embodiment of the cooler wrap for use with a beverage can.

V. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to FIG. 1, a particular illustrative embodiment of a cooler bag is disclosed and generally designated 100. The bag 100 includes a pair of side panels 106 where at least one pocket 114 is formed within each side panel 106. A plurality of fluid filled beads 116 are contained within the at least one pocket 114 and are visible through an outside layer of the side panels 106 to provide a distinctive appearance to the bag 100. The fluid 120 within the beads 116 is adapted to be chilled and frozen to keep contents of the bag 100 cool. The bag 100 may also include at least one baffle 108 within the side panel 106.

The bag 100 also includes a pair of end panels 112, as shown in FIG. 2, where each end panel 112 is adjacent to opposing edges of each side panel 106 to form the bag 100. The pair of end panels 112 may also include fluid filled beads similar to that of the side panels 106.

Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, a bottom panel 110 is used to form the rectangular shaped bag with the pair of side panels 106 and the pair of end panels 112. However, the bag may have any shape such as round, triangular, or diamond, for example. A handle 102 disposed proximate a top portion 104 of the bag 100 may be used to carry the bag 100 and contents of the bag, such as wine bottle. In the preferred embodiment, the side panels 106, end panels 112 and bottom panel 110 are comprised of a flexible material.

The beads 116 may be any shape such as diamond, square, star, for example, but in the preferred embodiment the beads are spherical in shape. As shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the beads 116 each include a flexible outer layer to contain the fluid 120 therein. Even when the fluid 120 is frozen, the outer layer 118 remains relatively soft and pliable.

Referring now to FIG. 8, the cooler bag 100 is shown with alternating end panel 112 and side panel 106. The end panels 112 are shown without any beads 116. However, in alternative embodiments, the end panels 112 may also contain the beads 116.

A cross sectional view of the bag 100 shows the pockets 114 that are formed within the side panels 106 to contain the beads 116. The baffles 108 are used to divide the side panel 106 and serve to keep the beads 116 from all collecting at the bottom of the panel 106 or mixing.

In another embodiment, a cooler wrap is disclosed as shown in FIG. 9. The wrap uses a similar configuration to the cooler bag 100, in that panels are used to contain beads 116. However, instead of connecting the panels together to form a bag, the wrap consists of adjacent panels 124, where each panel 124 contains beads 116. Baffles 108 are used to keep the beads 116 relatively in place and to prevent mixing. This is advantageous as the beads may be colored and have aesthetic appeal. The beads 116 may be installed within the panel 124 to provide a desired color effect. Also, the panels 124 are translucent so that the beads 116 are visible from the outside. The wrap is preferable of a flexible material so that it can easily be wrapped around an object such as a wine bottle. The beads 116 are adapted to be chilled and frozen. The baffle(s) 108 of the bag 100 and wrap are generally orientated longitudinally within the panels in the preferred embodiment. The wrap also includes fasteners 122 at opposing free ends of the at least one panel 124, where the fasteners 122 are adapted to removably secure the wrap around a bottle, for example. The fasteners 122 may be hook and loop, buttons, zippers, or snaps, for example.

Referring now to FIG. 11, opposing free ends of the at least one panel 126 are secured to one another to form the panel 126 into a tubular enclosure or commonly known as a koozie, which is generally used to keep a beverage can 128 cool. A bottom panel may be secured to edges along a lower periphery of the tubular enclosure. Similar to that of the bag and wrap described above, the tubular enclosure includes beads 116 and baffles 108 within the panels 126.

In addition to that described above, the bag, wrap and cooler may also include a resealable top opening that is adapted to add and remove all or some portion of the plurality of beads 116.

The previous description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the disclosed embodiments. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope possible consistent with the principles and novel features as defined by the following claims.

Claims

1. A cooler bag, the bag comprising:

a pair of side panels;

at least one pocket formed within each side panel; and

a plurality of fluid filled beads within the at least one pocket that are visible through an outside layer of the side panels to provide a distinctive appearance to the bag;

wherein the fluid within the beads is adapted to be chilled to keep contents of the bag cool.

2. The cooler bag of claim 1, the bag further comprising at least one baffle within the side panels.

3. The cooler bag of claim 2, the bag further comprising a pair of end panels, wherein each end panel is adjacent to opposing edges of each side panel.

4. The cooler bag of claim 3, wherein the pair of end panels further comprising the plurality of fluid filled beads.

5. The cooler bag of claim 3, the bag further comprising a bottom panel to form the bag with the pair of side panels and the pair of end panels.

6. The cooler bag of claim 5, the bag further comprising a handle disposed proximate a top portion of the bag, the handle adapted to carry the bag and contents of the bag.

7. The cooler bag of claim 6, wherein the side, end and bottom panels are comprised of a flexible material.

8. The cooler bag of claim 7, wherein the beads each further comprise a flexible outer layer to contain the fluid therein.

9. The cooler bag of claim 8, wherein the beads are spherical in shape.

10. A cooler wrap, the wrap comprising:

at least one translucent panel;

at least one pocket formed within the at least one panel; and

a plurality of fluid filled beads within the at least one pocket.

11. The cooler wrap of claim 10, the wrap further comprising at least one baffle within the side panel.

12. The cooler wrap of claim 10, wherein the wrap is comprised of a flexible material.

13. The cooler wrap of claim 10, wherein the beads each further comprise a flexible outer layer to contain the fluid therein.

14. The cooler wrap of claim 10, wherein the beads are spherical in shape.

15. The cooler wrap of claim 10, wherein the fluid within the beads is adapted to be chilled and frozen.

16. The cooler wrap of claim 11, wherein the at least one baffle is orientated longitudinally within the wrap.

17. The cooler wrap of claim 12, wherein opposing free ends of the at least one panel are secured to one another to form the panel into a tubular enclosure.

18. The cooler wrap of claim 12, the wrap further comprising fasteners at opposing free ends of the at least one panel, wherein the fasteners are adapted to removably secure the wrap around a bottle.

19. The cooler wrap of claim 17, further comprising a bottom panel secured to edges along a lower periphery of the tubular enclosure.

20. A cooler wrap, the wrap comprising:

a translucent planar pocket;

a plurality of decorative beads disposed within the pocket;

a resealable top opening adapted to add and remove all or some portion of the plurality of beads;

wherein the plurality of beads are adapted to be chilled and visible within the pocket.