Alaskawrap

Abstract

Alaskawrap is a new innovative product, a way of adding refrigeration to the traditional cooler/thermos bag or similar designed bags/containers that have been designated for carrying or transporting, such items as food, beverages, blood and or organs. Items that need to be chill, cool, cold or to maintain a level of coldest for an extended or prolong period, of time in high temperatures. The Alaskawrap adjusts to various size bags and containers and functions as an organizer and divider providing various levels of refrigeration. The wrap can be easily removed from the unit (bag/container) after use, easy clean up and folded, for freezer storage. The frozen wrap is designed with thin compartment which allow maximum storage space for the cooler contents.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This is invention is a new innovative way of cooling/chilling and organizing the contents of traditional cooler/thermos bags or such type of bags/containers used for carrying items that need to remain cool or cold for a prolong periods of time. The invention is designed to maximize the intended usable storage space. Companies that currently market and manufacture such cooler type products today provides tips on how to add cooling to their product. These recommendations include adding more ice cubes or ice packs to prolong or increase cold temperature in addition to the ice cubes and or ice packs, they recommend adding water and then add salt to drop the freezing temperature of the water, salt adding will cause the ice cubes to melt at a faster rate, which defeats the purpose of adding the ice cubes. All or most of the recommendation to increase coldest or prolong the cold temperature period reduces the usable maximum storage space or forces the consumer to purchase a bigger bulker unit to accommodate their need. Another such items on the market that make the similar claim as being a cooling for this type of application is the ice blanket or also known as the ice sheet. That is individual ice cubes that has been laid out on a sheet or so-called blanket. Their claim states this product can be wrapped around such items that one would desire to remain cold; they further claim this product can be used in conjunction with a thermos or cooler and serve as a space saver to the unit. The individual cubes of this product are traditional to the old fashion ice trays, that has been blanketed into a sheet with gaps between each cube and each roll/column. This product in a thermos or cooler type container doesn't have anything that would hold it in place but the items that are being stored, therefore once an item is moved or shifted, the blanket will fall out of place, becoming one of the items to be stored. Also, due to the small dimension of the cubes, the melting process increases. The Alaskawrap is a firm wrap that hold itself in place once seated; it sits bottom to bottom of the bag/container and the walls of the wrap lays in the same fashion in such it's placed. Alaskawrap can also be designed with snap, sewn over lapped, chemical filled, zippers or devices that will hold the wrap in place.

This invention gives back all the use that original product was designed for with added function.

This very traditional product, that is incorporates into soft and hard side coolers, thermos bags, lunch boxes carrying cases, bags, container, and transport carrying cases insulated or not, which millions of such/type units are sold every year by the various of vendors and manufacturing companies are used for storing transporting items where a desired temperature or level of coldest is desired. This innovator invention incorporates the normal known type products of liquids gels, gels, blue ice and or solid chemical formulates that can be used in a similar fashion and that are appropriate for this type of application, which has been packaged such products into a sewn/heat bonded application, better referred to as a liner/cold wrap, (Alaskawrap), the material, is water proof and works to deter the sun heat rays while adding cooling to the unit without adding ice cubs, water, salt or the traditional individual ice packs that will subtract from the storage space of the unit, bag or container. This liner/cold wrap is extendable to increase, decrease or to fashion itself to the body of the bag/container and act as a cooling agent that gives the same results of the adding of ice cubs or individual ice packs. The liner is sewn or and heat bonded and made of a heat ray deterring material, the liner has pockets, for the packaged or sprayed gel cooling agent which is or can be one of the known or future developed type water or non-toxic product liquids gels, gels, blue ice and or solid chemical formulates, fixes into the pockets. This cooling agent in the pockets of this fabric which is now configures into a lining/cold-wrap, (Alaskawrap) to fit the proposed unit and works as a removable part, it moves in and out of the unit to be made ready for its next use. The liner has been specially designed to fold (collapse) for convenient storage. The liner/cold-wrap is to be stored in the freezer. Once the liner/cold-wrap is frozen it unfolds and refigures itself to fit into the assigned unit for use, you will see further in my description of the Alaskawrap many uses that the wrap can even be used in its flat position again for chilling and keeping content cold as needed. Its use is cooling, chilling or maintaining a cool to cold temperature to the items stored in unit. This is a thin space controlled lining; it doesn't take away from the space that was intended for product storage. Therefore, a cooler or thermos bag/container that were designed to hold 6, 12, 18, 24, and 36 and so on cans or bottles will fit into the space with the lining/cold-wrap around the walls and bottom of the unit. The lining takes away NO SPACE from the items stored inside and because of it's now frozen position it begins to cool and chill.

This is information that you will find on many manufacturer recommendations to help maintain or prolong the cold effect of their product/products.

There are many variables which can affect the length of time food, beverages, and other cooler contents will stay cold/hot. Here are a few tips that will help to maximize the performance of your cooler or lunch pack.

• • In order to keep the contents cold, keep your cooler/lunch pack out of the sun. The sun transmits radiant heat that warms up the cooler at an accelerated rate.
  • Keep your cooler off the ground as much as possible. The ground absorbs heat and will transfer the heat to your cooler through the process of conduction.
  • The tighter you pack the contents of your cooler; the less air will be available to circulate inside. Circulating air can warm the contents of your cooler.
  • The more ice or ice packs you add, the longer your contents will stay cold; conversely, hot packs will help keep contents warm.
  • Always keep your cooler close when not in use. Please note that the ambient air temperature will affect the length of time that your cooler contents will stay cold/hot.

How about a couple of ideas to get your cooler contents to cool faster?

• • In addition to the ice you pack your cooler with, add a little water, It aids in the surface conduction of the cold ice to the drink.
  • If you want really speed cooling, fill your cooler with ice water and then add some salt. Salt drops the freezing temperature of the water, so it actually dips below 32(° C.). The super cold water surrounds your drink and you have frosty drinks in a few minutes. Please note that by adding salt you will melt a faster rate.

Custom Unit Designs

The present invention is or can be one part of a unit to a specific thermos bag/cooler type carrying case, design. The design of such units currently comes designed with extra padding or insulation, this extra padding or insulation is to help with the cooling or desired temperature control. The Alaskawrap material fabric along acts insulation and is water proof. This material made up with its cooling agent, serves both purposes of insulation and cooling. Therefore, a unit design that might contain pockets or openings on each side, top, sides and bottom for custom sized cold wraps to be dropped into the open and closed with a device such as snaps, over lapping, Velcro, or zipper, show in drawing (FIG. 3) 2-B. In drawing (FIG. 4), Component 1-B “standard thermos bag” or a “designed to custom thermos bag” that would have slot/pocket opening for an individual cold wrap to be frozen and dropped into the slot for chilling, cooling/cold purposes, Component 1-A is the dividing shelve that contributes to colder on the bottom and less cold on the top portion of the bag. The wraps or cold packs would be custom sized to fit the slot/opening. Once in place the coldest being in lining next to the items stored inside the unit would begin its chilling/cooling process. Taking room temperature beverages from 76 to mid-40 in temperature or already cold cans to a lower degree and maintaining that temperature for a prolong period of time. The drawing on (page 18) carries the same concept but a zipper lining has been added to the thermos bag here and the full 5 panel Alaskawrap is dropped in and the zipper lining comes around and zips, holding the wrap in place. The full wrap in place is a tighter fit and sets off a colder effect being that the cold wrap has surrounded the full interior, much as showed on (FIG. 4), component 1-B, the surface is surrounded leaving very little chance for air to circulate and for the cold process to set in and begin its chilling and cooling action. A different design is showed in drawing (FIG. 3), this is the full 5 panel Alsakawrap dropping down into a thermos bag and becoming the interior lining of the unit, this places that cold wrap right next to the contents stored inside. Each of the illustrations above talks about and shows how the Alaskawrap can be part of a custom design bag/thermos bag or cooler (new product) by adding refrigeration, through new innovated design.

Alaskawrap with Traditional Products Lines

Alaskawrap with the traditional, current on the market product, again the current product on the market provides no interior means of refrigeration. Their recommended advice is to add ice cubes, water, salt and or ice packs to a unit, which in return reduces the specified number of cans or items one can carry. Without following these recommendations, once recommended numbers of can/bottles are entering, the unit is full and room temperature items will stay at its store temperature or become warmer. Items that might be cool or chilled will quickly begin to lose its chill and become room temperature. What the Alaskawrap offers the traditional products line is refrigeration without losing the space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: is a devise “Alaskawrap liner” that is used to cool a single can or bottler.

FIG. 2: is two components of the devise, “Alaskawrap liner” 1-A is the lid, divider or shelf, 1-B liner in its flat position and 1-C is 1-B in its folded position for storage.

FIG. 3: is showing the devise “Alaskawrap” 2-B, in its configured position being lower into a thermos bag or contain type holder 2-C and 2-A is again the lid, divider or shelf as seen in (FIG. 2) 1-A.

FIG. 4: is the devise “Alaskawrap” inside of a thermos bag/container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In (FIG. 2) 1-A and 1-B show the components of the Alaskawrap. The components are constructed of insulated material with rigid plastic inserts filled with blue ice. The component shown in (FIG. 2) 1-A is designed as a lid, divider or shelf of component 1-B when 1-B is configured as shown in (FIG. 3) 2-B. FIG. 1-B shows the component in a flat configuration. Component 1-B is a removable unit that collapses (folds), as show (FIG. 2) 1-C to save space in the freezer, during the freezing process. Once frozen the component 1-C is ready for use. Component 1-B is 2-B once configured into its ready to use configuration by securing the snap button or other such devices/overlap. Component 2-B is designed to easily slip in and out of the standard size cooler (thermos) bag or carrying case intended for medical purposes such as transporting blood or organs that would need to be at a cooler/cold temperature as shown in (FIG. 3) 2-C.

The Alaskawrap becomes the liner to FIG. 2-C keeps cold/chilled, such items stored inside as food, drinks/beverages or (medical) blood or organs.

Once component 2-B is inserted into the bag, component 1-A, because of the rigid construction can be used as a lid, divider or shelf. Note that the lower compartment as shown in (FIG. 4) “standard thermos bag” is surrounded by the Alaskawrap frozen (liner), insert, providing a double insulation, maximum cold compartment for ice cream or other items that need to remain frozen or kept very cold or coldest. The (liner), Alaskawrap can be sized to fit small to large cooler (thermos) type units/bags and can be configured to fit a single holder for a beverage, as seen in (FIG. 1) 3-B Reference: FIG. 1-C Alaskawrap is a refrigeration (liner), its reusable and removable and collapsible (folds) for saving space in freezer, (storages) between uses. The panels of the wraps and organizers are thin in order to maximize, (not to take away) usable storage space, once in place, (References) (FIG. 3) 2-C. Alaskawrap is a space saver, its thin walled design takes less space than conventional ice packs or ice cubes. Unlike conventional ice packs or ice, the Alaskawrap is a sewn sleeve with pockets for holding the cooling agent. Once in place the “standard thermos bag” (FIG. 4), 1-B, it holds its shape even during the thawing process. This removable lining lefts out and is not fixed (removable by unsnapping or lifting) out of the unit. This provides quicker availability in that it freezes in hours, (FIG. 2) 1-C. Component 1-A, as shown in (FIG. 4), acts as a lid, divider or shelf, and organizer and by forming the two compartments creates two different temperature spaces, very cold in the lower compartment and a more moderate cool temperature in the upper compartment.

• • The separate and organized compartments make the cooler (thermos) bag more functional for different foods/beverages in that it acts in a similar fashion as a refrigerator and freezer. Various combinations of the Alaskawrap components are available for different size cooler (thermos) bags and that provide different space divisions.
  • I claim a combination of thin walled blue ice/ice packs that can be sewn/heat bonded into various panels and shapes that can be used and inserted into a thermos bags or other containers and sewn as dividers and organizers and in turn create compartments with different levels of coldness. The thin walls save space and then wraps can be folded in a compact fashion for convenient. I further claim a combination of rigid construction ice pack inserts, liners, or combination liner materials that can be sewn, molded, or otherwise made into panel shapes that can be configured to form varying compartments and that maintain their shape and the integrity of the division or compartment as the fill panels, when configured, in maintaining the division and compartment shapes. As part of their claims I claim an insert configuration sewn or otherwise formed as described above that can be sized to different size coolers by adding blue ice inserts in one or multiple panels and collapsing these panels by folding or overlapping filled panels and securing in position, therefore reducing or increasing the size of the configured insert.
  • Blue ice—Note: Blue ice as referred to in all descriptions in the above includes all gels, liquids, and solid chemical formulations that can be used in a similar fashion and that are appropriate for this application.

Claims

1. An insulated reusable and resizable freezable cold-wrap liner, containing a cooling agent that is spread throughout its top, sides and bottom known as the Alaskawrap it collapses (folds) for convenient freezer storage. Its versatile functions allow it to serve as a removable (inner changeable) part to a cooler thermos bag/container or such type units, it pops in and out of all typically sized containers and can be configured in different shapes and sizes by snapping connecting the attached devices or adjusting the wrap, by moving the snaps to increase or decrease to the size. Its thin minimized construction allows the unit the maximum available storage space while cooling, chilling in a similar fashion and organized compartment to a refrigerator/freezer.

2. Part of claim 1. Alaskawrap is a cold lining that is made up of an insulated, water proof fabric, containing a cooling agent that is freezable, other similar type, fabrics or materials could be used that would be appropriate for this application.

3. Part of claim 1. The cooling agent Blue Ice, as referred to in all descriptions includes all gels, liquids, and solid chemical formulations that can be used in a similar fashion and that are appropriate for this application.

4. Part of claims 1&3. I claim a combination of thin walled blue ice/ice packs that can be sewn or heat bonded into various panels and shapes that can be used and inserted in thermos bags or other containers and sewn/heat bonded as dividers and organizers in turn, create compartments with different levels of coldness.

5. Part of claims 1&4 The sewn/heat bonded packs in creative organized compartments provide complete top, bottom, and side refrigeration and eliminate non-chilled air circulation.

6. Part of claims 1&5 The thin walled and compartment configurations construction of the Alaskawrap provides more efficient chilling and cooling than conventional ice packs and cubes and takes less space which in turn provides more space for contents.

7. Part of claims 1&6. Compared to ice cubes and conventional ice blanket or packs, alaskawrap construction, does not budge or slide out of place but maintains its shape during the thawing process, leaving no water, leaking or wetness in the compartment.

8. Part of claims 1&6 The ice blankets and ice packs have attempted to improve the cooling unit use of thermos bag however they tend to be bulking and lose their shape during the thawing process, exposing the contents of the unit to water and wetness.

1. Part of claims 1,5&6 The Alaskawrap is a space saver, the wrap is configured to the shape of the bag, cooler, container or unit by attaching the snaps or devices. Therefore, the full capacities of the unit are available for the maximum storage the unit was intended.

9. Part of claim 1 Figuration 1-C The Alaskawrap is collapsible (folds) in a compact fashion for convenient freezer storage. As seem in drawings FIG. 1-C this is the wrap in its folded position.

10. Part of claims 1&8 Alaskawrap is removable, it comes out of the unit for sanitizing (cleaning) and is stored in the freezer for quicker reuse, other similar items that are on the market today with a similar function are sewn into the unit, therefore the whole unit would have to be freezer stored, this storing increase cross contamination in your freezer/refrigerator as well as, it takes up more space in freezer, FIG. 1-C from drawing.

11. Part of claim 1 Figuration 1-A & 1-B Alaskawrap separates and divides for different level of coldest, as seem in drawings FIG. 4, component 1-B; this is the Alaskawrap inserted into a thermos type bag, component 1-A is the top of component 1-B, these two components when assembled in their frozen states provide a colder lower, compartment and less cold upper compartment for different storage uses.

12. Part of claims 1& 10 Figuration 1-A& 1-B Unlike similar on the market products, such as the ice blanket or the ice Sheet, which are made up of a thin bubbles and material that can easily puncture in the thawing process and allow its contents to leak out, the Alaskawrap material is smooth with a flat surface that remains firm during melting, firm enough to endure weight and brushing and does not come to a watery substance once melted, it remain firm and hold its integrity.

13. Part of claims 1,5, &6 Figuration 2-B&2-C Once the Alaskawrap is configured as seen in drawings in 2-B and placed in bag/unit(2-C), it is ready to receive items into its open and available space. These items can be organized for chill, cool or cold temperature as desired or refigured for medical purposes because of its wrap and compartment configuration.

14. Part of claim 1 Alaskawrap can and maintain its coldest up to 10 to 12 hours and longer, it will also keep ice cream solid up to 4 hours.

15. Part of claim 1 Alaskawrap can be sold as part of an original cooler, thermos bag, unit/container or sold separate to fit an aftermarket competitors type product.

16. Part of claim 1 Alaskawrap is extendable and collapsible as stated in the detail of description of drawing. As part of their claims I claim an insert configuration sewn/heat bonded or otherwise formed as described above that can be sized to different size coolers by adding blue ice or liquid, gel or and formulated type chemical used for this application and inserted in one or multiple panels and collapsing these panels by folding or overlapping filled panels and securing in position therefore reducing or increasing the size of the configured insert.

17. Part of claims 1&15 Alaskawrap can be sewn/heat bonded in various of sizes and shapes to accommodate the different bags, coolers, units on the market or can be designed as part of its own unit.