INSERT FOR AN INSULATING CONTAINER

Abstract

Disclosed is an insert configured to cover and provide access to the internal storage compartment of an insulating container, such as a cooler. The insert effectively minimizes thermal exchange between the internal storage compartment and the surrounding environment, while still providing for ready access to items stored in the insulating container. An example insert comprises an insulating panel and a frame configured to support and position the insulating panel over an internal storage compartment of an insulting container. The insulating panel includes one or more self-sealing openings through which items stored within the internal storage compartment of the insulating container can be extracted. Each of the one or more self-sealing openings is configured to stretch for access during use and to contract when not in use.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/459,159, filed on Apr. 13, 2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to an insert for an insulating container, and specifically to an insert configured to act as a lid and to provide access to an internal storage compartment of the insulating container.

BACKGROUND

Portable insulating containers, often referred to as “coolers,” are commonly used to hold ice and to keep food and beverages cold. It would be useful if an insulating container were equipped with a cover for its internal storage compartment that minimized thermal exchange between the internal storage compartment and the surrounding environment, while still providing access to items stored in the insulating container.

Accordingly, needs exist for the insert for an insulating container disclosed herein. It is to the provision of an insert for an insulating container configured to address these needs, and others, that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended neither to identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.

Disclosed is an insert configured to cover and provide access to the internal storage compartment of an insulating container, such as a cooler. The insert effectively minimizes thermal exchange between the internal storage compartment and the surrounding environment, while still providing access to items stored in the insulating container.

An example insert comprises an insulating panel and a frame configured to support and position the insulating panel over an internal storage compartment of an insulting container. The insulating panel includes one or more self-sealing openings through which items stored within the internal storage compartment of the insulating container can be extracted. Each of the one or more self-sealing openings is configured to stretch for access during use and to contract when not in use.

Another example insert comprises an insulating panel and a frame configured to support and position the insulating panel over an internal storage compartment of an insulting container. The insulating panel includes one or more self-sealing openings through which items stored within the internal storage compartment of the insulating container can be extracted. Each of the one or more self-sealing openings is configured to stretch for access during use and to contract when not in use. The frame includes a hinge that is affixed to the insulating container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of an insulating container equipped with an example insert according to the principles of the present disclosure; the insert is shown in the closed position.

FIG. 2 is an isometric view of the insulating container and the insert shown in FIG. 1; the insert is shown in the open position.

FIG. 3 is an isometric view of the insulating container and the insert shown in FIG. 1; the insert is shown exploded from the insulating container.

FIG. 4 is another isometric view of the insulating container and the insert shown in FIG. 3; the insert is shown exploded from the insulating container.

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of the insert shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is an isometric view of the insert shown in FIG. 5; the hinge is shown exploded from the frame of the insert.

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an insulating container equipped with another example insert according to the principles of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8 is an isometric view of the insulating container and the insert shown in FIG. 7; the insert is shown exploded from the insulating container.

Like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIGS. 1-6 illustrate an example insert 100 for an insulating container 110 according to the principles of the present disclosure. The insulating container 110 is configured for receiving and storing items, such as food and drinks, within an internal storage compartment 116.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, the insulating container 110, which may be described as a “cooler”, includes a lid insulating structure 112 and a base insulating structure 114 configured to be hingedly coupled to one another. The lid insulating structure 112, when closed, together with the base insulating structure 114 enclose the internal storage compartment 116. The internal storage compartment 116 includes an interior shoulder 118 positioned below the collar structure 120, which extends around the top perimeter of the internal storage compartment 116. The interior shoulder 118 includes both a front shoulder portion and a rear shoulder portion, as shown in FIGS. 3 and 4. The insulating container 110 is configured to reduce the rate of heat transfer to/from the internal storage compartment 116. The insulating container 110 may generally take the shape of a box, but is not limited thereby.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the insert 100 is configured to cover and provide access to the internal storage compartment 116 of the insulating container 110. The insert 110 comprises an insulating panel 130 that includes one or more self-sealing openings 132 through which items stored within the internal storage compartment 116 of the insulating container 110 can be extracted. The insulating panel 130 is supported by a frame 134 that is hingedly attached to the base insulation structure 114 of the insulating container 110.

The insulating panel 130 of the insert 100 is a sheet of silicone rubber that is ⅛″ thick, though the insulating panel 130 could be thicker. While the example insulating panel 130 is made of silicone rubber, alternate implementations of the insulating panel 130 could be made of another elastomeric insulating material without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Each self-sealing opening 132 of the insulating panel 130 is a slit that extends through the insulating panel 130. Each self-sealing opening 132, or slit, is configured (i.e., sized) to provide access to the internal storage compartment 116 of the insulating container 110. In this context, “access” is defined as the ability to allow an adult hand to pass through a self-sealing opening 132, enabling the user to grasp an item within the internal storage compartment 116, such as a bottle or beverage can, and withdraw the item back through the self-sealing opening 132. Due to the elastomeric properties of the insulating panel 130, each self-sealing opening 132 stretches during use and closes, or contracts, after use. In this way, thermal exchange between the internal storage compartment 116 and the exterior environment is minimized. Each slit is 8″ long; however, in other implementations, each slit may be more than or less than 8″ long.

The frame 134 of the insert 100 is preferably made of strong, but lightweight materials such as, but not limited to, metals, plastics or other suitable materials known in the art. The frame 134 comprises a top frame body 136 and a bottom frame body 138 secured together by a plurality of fasteners 140. Each fastener 140 extends through an opening in the top frame body 136, through an opening in the underlying insulating panel 130, and is threadedly received within an opening in the bottom frame body 138. The top frame body 136 and the bottom frame body 138 are each configured to overlay the perimeter of one side of the insulating panel 130, thereby framing the insulating panel 130 (see, e.g., FIG. 5). Both the top frame body 136 and the bottom frame body 138 have a generally rectangular shape.

The frame 134 further comprises a hinge 142. The hinge 142 is configured to be positioned within the internal storage compartment 116 of the base insulating structure 114, and to rest on the inner shoulder 118. The hinge 142 can be secured in position using an adhesive, double sided tape, or another suitable fastener. In some implementations, the hinge 142 may be sized and shaped for friction fit engagement with the interior of the internal storage compartment 116. The hinge 142 includes a connecting member 144, 146 on each end. Each connecting member 144, 146 is a pivot pin captured within a complementary opening 148 in the frame 134 of the insert 100. The two pivot pins 144, 146 are axially aligned and spaced apart. Although the hinge 142 is configured in the manner described herein, any suitable hinge mechanism may be used.

In some implementations, the frame 134 of the insert 100 may be equipped with a latching mechanism 154 used to secure the insert 100 in the closed position. The latching mechanism 154 is configured to prevent the insert 100 from rotating about the hinge 142 when a user is accessing the internal storage compartment 116 using any of the one or more seal-sealing openings 132.

Demonstration of Insert Efficacy

When the insulating container 100, or “cooler”, is used to store ice, preliminary testing shows that, with the lid insulating structure 112 in the open position, the insert 100 decreases ice mass loss by ˜73.7% as compared to an insulating container 100 without an insert 100.

The preliminary testing was performed using two identical insulating containers 110. Each insulating container 110 was filled with an equal mass of ice and left open for seven hours in a 72° Fahrenheit room. The insulating container 110 equipped with the insert 100 lost 12% of the stored ice mass; the insulating container 110 without an insert 100 lost 26% of the stored ice mass.

FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate another example insert 200 according to the principles of the present disclosure. The insert 200 is similar to the insert 100 discussed above, but the insert 200 includes a circumferential gasket 250 and truncated cone-shaped openings 232 instead of slits. Also, the insert 200 omits the hinge 142.

The frame 234 of the insert 200 includes a circumferential gasket 250 configured to minimize thermal exchange between the internal storage compartment 116 and the exterior environment. The circumferential gasket 250 may also removably retain the insert 200 within the internal storage compartment 116 of the insulating container 110. In particular, the circumferential gasket 250 is made of a flexible and deformable material, such as rubber, and is capable of creating a static seal. The circumferential gasket has a cylindrical cross-section, but is not limited thereby. The circumferential gasket 250 is partially nested within a groove 252 located in the outer edge of the frame 234. Although the example circumferential gasket 250 is a single unitary piece, in other implementations, the circumferential gasket 250 may comprise two of more individual segments positioned end-to-end.

The top frame body 236 and the bottom frame body 238 of the frame 234 are each secured to the insulating panel 230 of the insert 200 using an adhesive. However, in other implementations, fasteners such as those described above could be used to secure the top frame body 236 and the bottom frame body 238 to the insulating panel 230.

The insulating panel 230 of the insert 200 may include one or more truncated cone-shaped openings 232 that extend through the insulating panel 230. Each truncated cone-shaped opening 232 includes an inlet 237, with a contoured edge, that is larger in diameter than the outlet 239. Each truncated cone-shaped opening 232 is configured (i.e., sized) to provide access to the internal storage compartment 116 of the insulating container 110. Due to the elastomeric properties of the insulating panel 230, each truncated cone-shaped opening 232 returns to its original size after use. In this way, thermal exchange between the internal storage compartment 116 and the exterior environment is minimized. Although the insulating panel 200 is shown with truncated cone-shaped openings 232, other implementations of the insulating panel 230 could include one or more openings that have a different shape, such as a cylindrical opening or a slit, for example.

While the insert 200 shown in FIGS. 7 and 8 does not include a hinge 142, other implementations of the insert 200 may be configured to include a hinge mechanism such as the hinge 142 described above.

The foregoing description of the invention is intended to be illustrative; it is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the claims to the precise forms disclosed. Those skilled in the relevant art can appreciate that many modifications and variations are possible in light of the foregoing description and associated drawings.

Reference throughout this specification to an “embodiment” or “implementation” or words of similar import means that a particular described feature, structure, or characteristic is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the phrase “in some implementations” or a phrase of similar import in various places throughout this specification does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment.

The described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. In the above description, numerous specific details are provided for a thorough understanding of embodiments of the invention. One skilled in the relevant art will recognize, however, that embodiments of the invention can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, or with other methods, components, materials, etc. In other instances, well-known structures, materials, or operations may not be shown or described in detail.

Claims

1. An insert for an insulating container having an internal storage compartment, the insert comprising:

an insulating panel that includes one or more self-sealing openings through which items stored within the internal storage compartment of the insulating container can be extracted, each of the one or more self-sealing openings is configured to stretch for access during use and to contract when not in use; and

a frame configured to support and position the insulating panel over the internal storage compartment.

2. The insert of claim 1, wherein the insulating panel is composed of an elastomeric insulating material, characterized by its thermal resistance and flexibility.

3. The insert of claim 2, wherein the elastomeric insulating material is silicone rubber.

4. The insert of claim 3, wherein each of the one or more self-sealing openings is a slit that extends through the insulating panel.

5. The insert of claim 1, wherein the frame surrounds the perimeter of the insulating panel and is configured to rest on an inner shoulder of the insulating container.

6. The insert of claim 5, wherein the frame includes a circumferential gasket configured to removably retain the insert within the insulating container.

7. The insert of claim 6, wherein the circumferential gasket is composed of an elastomeric material capable of creating a static seal between the frame of the insert and the insulating container.

8. The insert of claim 6, wherein the circumferential gasket is nested within a groove located on an outer edge of the frame.

9. An insert for an insulating container having an internal storage compartment, the insert comprising:

an insulating panel that includes one or more self-sealing openings through which items stored within the internal storage compartment of the insulating container can be extracted, each of the one or more self-sealing openings is configured to stretch for access during use and to contract when not in use; and

a frame configured to support and position the insulating panel over the internal storage compartment, wherein the frame includes a hinge that is affixed to the insulating container.

10. The insert of claim 9, wherein the insulating panel is composed of an elastomeric insulating material, characterized by its thermal resistance and flexibility.

11. The insert of claim 10, wherein the elastomeric insulating material is silicone rubber.

12. The insert of claim 11, wherein each of the one or more self-sealing openings is a slit that extends through the insulating panel.

13. The insert of claim 9, wherein the frame surrounds the perimeter of the insulating panel and is configured to rest on an inner shoulder of the insulating container.

14. The insert of claim 13, wherein the frame includes a circumferential gasket composed of an elastomeric material capable of creating a static seal between the frame of the insert and the insulating container.

15. The insert of claim 13, wherein the circumferential gasket is nested within a groove located on an outer edge of the frame.