Package and article carriers – Carried by animate bearer – For liquid or liquid-holding container
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-08-21
Pascua, Jes F. (Department: 3727)
Package and article carriers
Carried by animate bearer
For liquid or liquid-holding container
C224S148500, C220S592240, C222S158000, C222S175000, C383S016000, C383S110000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06276579
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a beverage cooler structure and, in particular to an insulating cover for a beverage container that has a bottom strap to facilitate cover removal from the container. The present invention also relates to an insulating cover having an improved top closure structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
A variety of rigid insulated containers are known and used for transporting hot or cold beverages and/or other food stuffs. Typically, because of their size, and insulative characteristics, such coolers and totes are filled with beverages and the like just before departure. The insulative structure of the rigid container thereafter generally maintains the temperature of the food and drink during transport.
Recently, softsided coolers, in particular softsided beverage coolers, have been gaining popularity. Such softsided beverage coolers include a relatively rigid beverage container, sometimes referred to as a liner, which has a screw top closure. An insulative cover receives the beverage container and generally maintains the temperature of the container contents during transport, until consumption. The lightweight structure of the insulative cover, the comfort afforded by the soft exterior, the provision of a shoulder strap, and the like, have all been desirable attributes of such coolers from the consumer's point of view. Moreover, while, as noted above, conventional rigid insulating containers must be filled immediately before departure, softsided beverage cooler liners can be filled in advance, stored with other beverage containers in the refrigerator, and then simply placed in the insulative cover at the time of departure.
Softsided beverage coolers have not, however, been without deficiencies. Indeed, attachment and removal of the top panel of some prior art insulating jackets has been problematic. More specifically, some such closure structures provide a top panel that has a hole for receiving the neck of the beverage container liner. However, it can be difficult to fit such an apertured cover over the container neck, particularly when the cap is attached to it. The same is true when the top panel is to be opened for liner removal and the cover must be removed from the neck and cap. If the hole in the cover provides a relatively snug fit, the consumer must tug and wrestle with the cover to remove it for liner disengagement.
Furthermore, because of the softsided characteristics of the container cover, and its relatively snug fit to the container liner, in practice removing the liner from the cover can require a great deal of pulling and tugging on the container, as well as crushing and distortion of the side walls of the cover, to free the liner from the insulative cover.
Thus, it is clear that modifications to the conventional soft cover structure would be desirable to make softsided beverage coolers more consumer friendly and, in particular, to provide easier access to and removal of the container liner.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an insulated container assembly comprising a relatively rigid container and an insulating cover for receiving the container wherein a top panel of the insulating cover can be easily disposed to substantially completely overlie the top wall of the container liner.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an insulative cover structure including a grip structure which allows the consumer to hold the insulative cover from at or adjacent the base, to facilitate liner removal.
The foregoing objects are realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a container assembly that comprises a relatively rigid container liner having a bottom wall, side walls, a top wall, a neck protruding upwardly relative to the top wall and a cap attached to the neck, the neck being laterally offset whereby substantially an entirety of the top wall is disposed to one side of the neck; and an insulating cover having a bottom wall, front and rear wall portions, and first and second side wall portions, the bottom wall and the wall portions together defining a container liner receiving cavity in which the container liner is selectively disposed, the insulating cover further comprising a top panel for overlying the top wall of the container liner, the top panel having a first end secured to the first side wall portion adjacent an upper peripheral edge thereof so that the top panel can be selectively pivoted relative to the first side wall portion to selectively overlie the top wall of the container liner disposed in the cavity, the top panel including a first portion for overlying the top wall of the container and a second, tab portion for overlying a portion of the second side wall portion, the tab portion having a first closure structure provided on an undersurface thereof, the second side wall portion having a connector structure complimentary to the first connector structure for detachably engaging the tab portion of panel to secure the top panel in overlying relation to the container liner.
The foregoing objects are also realized in accordance with the present invention by providing a container assembly that comprises a relatively rigid container liner and an insulating cover having a bottom wall and at least one side wall terminating at an upper edge generally opposite of the bottom wall, the bottom wall and at least one side wall together defining a container liner receiving cavity for receiving the container liner, at least one carrying strap secured to the insulating cover; and a grip structure secured to the insulating cover on or adjacent the bottom wall thereof for holding the insulating cover when the container liner is removed from the cavity.
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1999 Igloo Product Catalog; Igloo Inquisitor, copyright 1998; p. 48.
Igloo Products Corporation
Nixon & Vanderhye PC
Pascua Jes F.
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