Packable Cooler Bag
The present disclosure relates generally to coolers, and more particularly, to a packable cooler bag.
This non-provisional patent application claims priority to and benefit of, under 35 U.S.C. § 119(e), U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/177,626, filed Apr. 21, 2021 and titled “Packable Cooler Bag”, all of which is incorporated by reference herein.
TECHNICAL FIELDThe present disclosure relates generally to coolers, and more particularly, to a packable cooler bag.
SUMMARYAccording to some embodiments, a packable cooler bag may comprise a cooler bag, a first sidewall and a second sidewall defining an outer shell of the cooler bag, the outer shell having an opening to access an interior of the cooler bag, a pocket disposed on an exterior of the cooler bag, the cooler and pocket having a packed configuration wherein the cooler bag is inside the pocket and an unpacked configuration wherein the cooler bag is unpacked from within the pocket, and, a reversible panel disposed on the outer shell and defining a portion of the pocket, wherein the cooler bag is packable from the unpacked configuration by reversibly pulling the cooler bag into the pocket so that the bag is retained inside the pocket in the packed configuration.
According to some optional embodiments, the following features may be used alone with the packable cooler bag, or in combination with other features and the packable cooler bag. In some embodiments, the reversible panel may be a portion of the pocket in the unpacked configuration. The pocket may be disposed on the exterior of the cooler bag in the unpacked configuration. The reversible panel may be reversed in the packed configuration from the unpacked configuration and forms a portion of the pocket. The pocket may contain the cooler bag in the packed configuration. The reversible panel may be connected to the cooler bag along three sides of the reversible panel. A bottom side of the three sides of the reversible panel is disposed adjacent to a bottom of the outer shell. The packable cooler bag may further comprise a reversible zipper to open and close the pocket. The packable cooler bag may further comprise an insulating material disposed within the outer shell. The reversible panel may be uninsulated or insulated. The cooler bag may further comprise at least one strap. The pocket may be sized to contain the cooler bag when the cooler bag is compressed.
In some embodiments, a method for unpacking a packable cooler bag comprises the steps of providing a pocket with cooler bag in a packed configuration within the pocket, unfastening a reversible zipper of the pocket in the packed configuration, reversing a reversible panel defining a portion of the pocket and removing the cooler bag from within the pocket, and, obtaining a top closure for the cooler bag in the unpacked configuration.
According to some optional embodiments, the following features may be used alone with the method, or in combination with other features and the method. The method further comprising obtaining one or more carrying straps of the cooler bag. The method further comprising fastening the reversible zipper assembly to close the pocket.
In some embodiments, a method for packing a packable cooler comprises the steps of providing a cooler bag in an unpacked configuration with a reversible panel on an outer shell of the cooler bag an defining a portion of a pocket, unfastening a reversible zipper of the pocket, grasping an internal area of the pocket and pulling the cooler bag into the internal portion of the pocket as the pocket reverses inside to outside, and packing any remaining portion of the cooler bag into the pocket which is reversed.
According to some optional embodiments, the following features may be used alone with the method, or in combination with other features and the method. The method may further comprise the step of fastening a reversible zipper assembly when the cooler bag is in a packed configuration within the pocket. The method may further comprise compressing the cooler bag while the pulling the cooler bag into the internal portion of the pocket occurs.
The accompanying drawings illustrate only example embodiments of a packable cooler bag and method and therefore are not to be considered limiting of the scope of this disclosure. The principles illustrated in the example embodiments of the drawings can be applied to alternate methods and apparatus. Additionally, the elements and features shown in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the example embodiments. Certain dimensions or positions may be exaggerated to help visually convey such principles. In the drawings, the same reference numerals used in different embodiments designate like or corresponding, but not necessarily identical, elements.
The example embodiments discussed herein are directed to a packable cooler bag. The disclosed packable cooler bag includes a pocket that can be packed to save space. For example, carrying straps, a top closure, and other features of the cooler bag can be packed into the pocket when a packed configuration for the cooler may be preferred. The packable cooler bag can also include an inner liner and one or more openings for storage or insulation purposes. The one or more openings can be of suitable size and shape to allow cans or other items to be placed in a storage cavity defined at least in part by the liner.
In the following paragraphs, particular embodiments will be described in further detail by way of example with reference to the drawings. In the description, well-known components, methods, and/or processing techniques are omitted or briefly described. Furthermore, reference to various feature(s) of the embodiments is not to suggest that all embodiments must include the referenced feature(s).
The pocket closure 106 can be attached to the reversible panel 103 and adapted for substantially closing one or more pockets of the packable cooler bag 100. The pocket closure 106 can include a reversible zipper assembly 109, comprising for example a first zipper 109a (
The packable cooler bag 100 is adapted to be in a packed configuration, an unpacked configuration, and various other configurations. In examples with reference to
Another example method includes a method for packing the packable cooler bag 100. The method includes packing the top closure 118 and the one or more carrying straps 121 into a pocket defined by at least a portion of the reversible panel 103 and the outer shell 115, and fastening the reversible zipper assembly 109 (e.g., the first zipper 109a) for the packed configuration shown in
Referring to
In operation, the reversible panel 103 can be reversed for the packable cooler bag 100 to enter the packed configuration, the unpacked configuration, or various other configurations.
Moving on to
For any figure shown and described herein, one or more of the components may be omitted, added, repeated, and/or substituted. Accordingly, embodiments shown in a particular figure should not be considered limited to the specific arrangements of components shown in such figure. Further, if a component of a figure is described but not expressly shown or labeled in that figure, the label used for a corresponding component in another figure can be inferred to that component. Conversely, if a component in a figure is labeled but not described, the description for such component can be substantially the same as the description for the corresponding component in another figure.
With respect to the example methods described herein, it should be understood that in alternate embodiments, certain steps of the methods may be performed in a different order, may be performed in parallel, or may be omitted. Moreover, in alternate embodiments additional steps may be added to the example methods described herein. Accordingly, the example methods provided herein should be viewed as illustrative and not limiting of the disclosure.
Terms such as “first”, “second”, “top”, “bottom”, “side”, “distal”, “proximal”, and “within” are used merely to distinguish one component (or part of a component or state of a component) from another. Such terms are not meant to denote a preference or a particular orientation, and are not meant to limit the embodiments described herein. In the example embodiments described herein, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a more thorough understanding of the invention. However, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the invention may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known features have not been described in detail to avoid unnecessarily complicating the description.
The terms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include plural alternatives, e.g., at least one. The terms “including”, “with”, and “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language), unless specified otherwise.
Various numerical ranges are disclosed herein. When Applicant discloses or claims a range of any type, Applicant's intent is to disclose or claim individually each possible number that such a range could reasonably encompass, including end points of the range as well as any sub-ranges and combinations of sub-ranges encompassed therein, unless otherwise specified. Numerical end points of ranges disclosed herein are approximate, unless excluded by proviso.
Values, ranges, or features may be expressed herein as “about”, from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such values, or ranges are expressed, other embodiments disclosed include the specific value recited, from the one particular value, and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It will be further understood that there are a number of values disclosed therein, and that each value is also herein disclosed as “about” that particular value in addition to the value itself. In another aspect, use of the term “about” means±20% of the stated value, ±15% of the stated value, ±10% of the stated value, ±5% of the stated value, ±3% of the stated value, or ±1% of the stated value.
Although embodiments described herein are made with reference to example embodiments, it should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications are well within the scope of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the example embodiments described herein are not limited to any specifically discussed application and that the embodiments described herein are illustrative and not restrictive. From the description of the example embodiments, equivalents of the elements shown therein will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art, and ways of constructing other embodiments using the present disclosure will suggest themselves to practitioners of the art. Therefore, the scope of the example embodiments is not limited herein.
Claims
1. A packable cooler bag, comprising:
- a cooler bag having a first sidewall and a second sidewall defining an outer shell of said cooler bag, the outer shell having an opening to access an interior of the cooler bag;
- a pocket disposed on an exterior of said cooler bag;
- said cooler bag and said pocket having a packed configuration wherein said cooler bag is inside said pocket and an unpacked configuration wherein said cooler bag is unpacked from within the pocket; and,
- a reversible panel disposed on said outer shell and defining a portion of said pocket;
- wherein said cooler bag is packable from the unpacked configuration by reversibly pulling said cooler bag into the pocket so that the cooler bag is retained inside the pocket in the packed configuration.
2. The packable cooler bag of claim 1, wherein said reversible panel is a portion of the pocket in said unpacked configuration.
3. The packable cooler bag of claim 2, wherein said pocket is disposed on said exterior of said cooler bag in said unpacked configuration.
4. The packable cooler bag of claim 2, wherein said reversible panel is reversed in said packed configuration from said unpacked configuration and forms a portion of said pocket.
5. The packable cooler bag of claim 4, wherein said pocket contains said cooler bag in said packed configuration.
6. The packable cooler bag of claim 1, wherein said reversible panel is connected to said cooler bag along three sides of said reversible panel.
7. The packable cooler bag of claim 6, wherein a bottom side of said three sides of said reversible panel is disposed adjacent to a bottom of said outer shell.
8. The packable cooler bag of claim 6 further comprising a reversible zipper to open and close said pocket.
9. The packable cooler bag of claim 1 further comprising an insulating material disposed within said outer shell.
10. The packable cooler bag of claim 9, wherein said reversible panel is uninsulated.
11. The packable cooler bag of claim 9, wherein said reversible panel is insulated.
12. The packable cooler bag of claim 1, wherein said cooler bag further comprises at least one strap.
13. The packable cooler bag of claim 1, wherein said pocket is sized to contain the cooler bag when said cooler bag is compressed.
14. A method for unpacking a packable cooler bag, comprising the steps of:
- providing a pocket with cooler bag in a packed configuration within said pocket;
- unfastening a reversible zipper assembly of the pocket in the packed configuration;
- reversing a reversible panel defining a portion of said pocket;
- removing said cooler bag from within said pocket; and,
- obtaining a top closure for the cooler bag in an unpacked configuration.
15. The method of claim 14 further comprising obtaining one or more carrying straps of the cooler bag.
16. The method of claim 14 further comprising fastening the reversible zipper assembly to close the pocket.
17. A method for packing a packable cooler, comprising the steps of:
- providing a cooler bag in an unpacked configuration with a reversible panel on an outer shell of said cooler bag an defining a portion of a pocket;
- unfastening a reversible zipper of the pocket;
- grasping an internal area of the pocket and pulling the cooler bag into the internal area of the pocket as the pocket reverses from inside to outside;
- packing any remaining portion of the cooler bag into the pocket which is reversed.
18. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of fastening a reversible zipper assembly when said cooler bag is in a packed configuration within said pocket.
19. The method of claim 17, further comprising compressing the cooler bag while said pulling the cooler bag into the internal area of said pocket occurs.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 13, 2022
Publication Date: Oct 27, 2022
Inventors: Grace Anne Gamboa (Katy, TX), Lindsey Hardy (Katy, TX), Haley Bodziak (Katy, TX), Stacey Urbano (Katy, TX)
Application Number: 17/720,019