Cooler Harness Carrying System with Storage Panels and Pockets
A harness system for carrying storage panels and pocket panels on a cooler includes a flexible harness extending around the outer surfaces of a cooler. The flexible harness has a first longitudinal surface of one part of a hook and loop fastener, and the cooler has a plurality of bracket to removably mount the flexible harness to the cooler walls. The first longitudinal surface of the flexible harness faces away from the cooler walls. Pocket panels for storing items have a second portion of a hook and loop fastener, or a rim, are removably attached to the flexible harness, or the brackets mounted to the walls of the cooler.
This application claims priority to U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/907,385, filed Sep. 27, 2019, to the extent allowed by law.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to storage devices, and particularly to a device with pockets to be supported by a cooler, which pockets are provided to hold items such as bottles, utensil, condiments and the like on the outside of the cooler.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPortable coolers are a convenience typically used to keep drinks and food preserved and chilled for later consumption. Typical coolers are portable and utilize ice, dry ice, chemical coolness retaining devices, or an electronic means of cooling for users traveling by vehicle or on foot on outings to picnics and parks, the beach, fishing, boating, camping, tailgating, and even the home and backyards.
Coolers are available in many different sizes and are designed to fit a limited number of drink and food articles. When users take coolers on outings, they typically need to bring numerous bags, totes, duffels and backpacks in order to have all plates, utensils, condiments and other accessories needed for a dining event.
Because of the size of typical coolers, users can not store larger bottles such as wine, water and 1-2 liter soft drink bottles in the cooler.
Users have limited hands available to carry all the coolers, bags and packs from the vehicle to the picnic location. Many times, users require several additional trips back and forth from the vehicle to picnic point which is time consuming and an inconvenience.
When picnickers, campers, tailgaters and the like arrive at the final picnic destination there is usually limited space for setting out all of the condiments plates, cups, bottles and utensils. necessary for a picnic. Even a picnic table has limited space, and a beach or camping location becomes challenging.
Users with limited space to set up a picnic usually have to bring along an extra table, which is not always convenient. Tables are heavy and do not provide reliable support for all the condiments and picnic accessories.
It is not always convenient to bring along extra tables, and on beaches and boats there is a tendency for things to tip over or fall off the table.
Users use the top of the cooler as a table but have the inconvenience of having to remove the items of the top of the cooler every time they need to remove the lid of the cooler to access contents within the cooler.
Users frequently bring along dollies, wagons and carts to transport all the picnic items from a vehicle to the picnic site.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present cooler harness provides a solution for users by providing a means of carrying all of the condiments, plates, accessories, and larger bottles in pockets specially designed to attach to the exterior walls of a cooler. Carrying picnic items on the outside of the cooler will double or triple the carrying space and make additional bags and packs unnecessary.
Items can even be loaded into the cooler harness at home or in the vehicle making extra trips between to vehicle and picnic location because the cooler harness provides a means for carrying all the picnic needs, totes, bags and packs are not necessary. Dollies, wagons and carts are not necessary as all of the picnic items are carried along with the cooler, on the outer sides of the cooler.
When the cooler harness is used in boating and tailgating situations, tips and drops are virtually eliminated making it easy to provide instant and immediate access to all of the picnic items.
The disclosed cooler harness provides a system for the easy attachment and removal of pockets and panels specially designed to carry such items as bottles, utensils, condiments, lanterns and flashlights, acoustic speakers as well as a means for keeping valuables in a safe and dry location on the outside of the cooler. The cooler harness provides the means for a user to select the desirable pocket and panel needed for the picnic or outing.
Because the cooler harness is designed to support a wide range of objects and things that typically sit on top of a table, a table is not needed.
Varied pockets and panels can be attached to the cooler or to the cooler harness that range from waterproof to open stretchable mesh. Some pockets and panels are thermally insulated, have lighting diffusers and acoustically transparent pockets.
Typical objects stored in pockets and panels are drink bottles and cans, food, glasses, cooking condiments, plates, and utensils. Panels also have pockets for storage of valuables such as a wallet, watches, keys, sun glasses and the like.
Pockets are configured to attach to the cooler walls that provide a means for a tip-proof and wind-proof method of use.
Because the cooler harness and pockets can attach to the harness system by means of combinations of hook and loop fasteners, zippers, and buttons, the panel pockets are easy to remove for cleaning.
The panels can also be easily removed for storage.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTClaims
1. A harness system for carrying storage panels and pocket panels on a cooler, comprising;
- a. a flexible harness having a first longitudinal surface comprising one portion of a hook and loop fastener;
- b. at least one bracket configured to be mounted adjacent to the at least one sidewall of the cooler, the at least one brackets supporting the flexible harness when the flexible harness is removably mounted on the at least one bracket, with said first longitudinal surface of said flexible harness facing away from said cooler sidewalls;
- c. at least one pocket panel having one of a second surface including a second portion of a hook and loop fastener and a rim configured to receive a bracket, the bracket configured to be attached to the cooler.
2. The harness system of claim 1, further comprising:
- a plurality of corner gripping pads slidably attached to the flexible harness, each of said plurality of corner gripping pads movable along the longitudinal surface and adapted to extend between said flexible harness and corners of the cooler when the flexible harness extends around the cooler.
3. The harness system of claim 1, wherein:
- the brackets supporting the flexible harness have a first top portion configured to extend over an upper rim of the cooler; and
- a second bottom portion configured to support a panel pocket adjacent the cooler.
4. The harness system of claim 1, wherein:
- said at least one pocket panel having a back side surface, said second portion of said hook and loop fastener formed on said back side surface;
- said rim extending above the back side surface; and
- a front pocket formed on a front surface of the packet panel.
5. The harness system of claim 4, wherein:
- the front pocket is formed from one of mesh fabric and solid fabric material.
6. The harness system of claim 4, wherein:
- the front pocket has an outer surface comprised of a light diffuser material.
7. The harness system of claim 4, wherein:
- the front pocket has an outer surface comprised of one of an acoustically transparent and a waterproof membrane material.
8. The harness system of claim 4, wherein:
- the panel pocket includes insulation on the inner surfaces of the panel pocket.
9. A harness system for carrying a cooler, comprising:
- a flexible fabric body having an open top, a bottom surface, and a plurality of sidewall surfaces, the surfaces providing a chamber configured to receive the cooler;
- the plurality of sidewalls having a plurality of panel pockets removably attached to the sidewalls, each panel pocket configured to hold items;
- the flexible fabric body including at least one of a shoulder strap and dual handle loops.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 28, 2020
Publication Date: Apr 1, 2021
Inventors: Christopher Gantz (Northbrook, IL), Ron Theis (Kewaskum, WI), Bruce Megleo (Palatine, IL)
Application Number: 17/034,560