Expandable Cooler Bag

Abstract

An expandable cooler bag is disclosed. In a particular embodiment, the expandable cooler bag includes a front panel, a rear panel, a plurality of pockets disposed on the front and rear panels, a pair of foldable side panels disposed on opposing sides of the front panel, where the pair of foldable side panels each having a longitudinal crease line to allow each side panel to collapse and expand thereupon. The cooler bag also includes a bottom panel, where the bottom panel is adapted to collapse and expand about a bottom crease line. The plurality of pockets contain a fluid coolant and are sealed. Each pocket of the plurality of pockets are configured to flex about sealed edges of its periphery in at least three different directions to conform to vertical curved surfaces of contents of the bag.

Description

I. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/292,114 filed Jan. 4, 2010. The disclosure of the provisional application is incorporated herein by reference.

II. FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure is generally related to an expandable cooler bag.

III. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART

[0003] There are many different types of bags that may be used to carry bottles, such as wine bottles. Typically, a slender paper or fabric bag is used to accommodate the bottle for carrying. However, a shortcoming of using a bag is that the bag is not well insulated to maintain the cool temperature of the bottle and its contents. There have been attempts to address this shortcoming by slipping a separately frozen pouch into the bag with the bottle. The frozen pouch may be easily separated from the bag and lost. In addition, the frozen pouch does not evenly cool the entire bottle. Accordingly, what is needed in the art is a cooler bag that evenly maintains the temperature of the entire bottle and its contents. Further, there is a need in the art for a cooler that is expandable to accommodate many different sizes of bottles. There is yet another need for a cooler bag that is easily shaped around the bottle and aesthetically pleasing.

[0004] However, in view of the prior art at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.

IV. SUMMARY

[0005] In a particular embodiment, an expandable cooler bag is disclosed. The expandable cooler bag includes a front panel, a rear panel, a plurality of pockets disposed on the front and rear panels, and a pair of foldable side panels disposed on opposing sides of the front panel, where the pair of foldable side panels each having a longitudinal crease line to allow each side panel to collapse and expand thereupon. The expandable bag also includes a bottom panel secured to a lower edge of each of the pair of side panels, front and rear panels, to form a bag, where the bottom panel is adapted to collapse and expand about a bottom crease line.

[0006] The plurality of pockets contain a fluid coolant and are sealed and each pocket of the plurality of pockets are configured to flex about sealed edged of its periphery in at least three different directions to conform to vertical curved surfaces of contents of the bag. The plurality of pockets may be transparent or translucent so that the contents of the bag to be visible. The fluid coolant may be a composition of water and ethylene glycol and the fluid coolant may further include a color powder to color the fluid coolant to a desired color to be visible within the plurality of pockets.

[0007] In addition, the bag may include a loop handle secured to the front and rear panels and the bag may be comprised of a flexible material. Each pocket of the plurality of pockets may be a hexagon shape of six edges about its periphery or an oval shape, or any other shape that may flex in at least three directions about its periphery. A fastening means may be included at a top portion of the bag to secure the bag in a closed position. The bag may be comprised of polyvinyl chloride material. The front and rear panels each have a perimeter of materials to define each of four longitudinal corners of the bag. The bottom panel may also have fluid coolant sealed therein and the pair of side panels may each include fluid coolant.

[0008] Other aspects, advantages, and features of the present disclosure will become apparent after review of the entire application, including the following sections: Brief Description of the Drawings and Detailed Description.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of a particular embodiment of an expandable cooler bag;

[0010] FIG. 2 is a side view of the expandable cooler bag of FIG. 1; and

[0011] FIG. 3 is a top view of the expandable cooler bag shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0012] A first particular illustrative embodiment of an expandable cooler bag is disclosed in FIG. 1, and generally designated 100. The cooler bag 100 includes a flexible but durable material that may be transparent or translucent, such as polyvinyl chloride ("PVC") or similar material. The cooler bag 100 includes a front panel 102, where the front panel 102 includes a plurality of pockets 104. The entire bag 100 may be comprised of the same material (e.g., PVC) or be a combination of PVC for the pockets 104 and cotton, synthetic, blend, or a natural material (e.g., leather) for other portions of the bag 100. In the preferred embodiment, each pocket 105 of the plurality of pockets 104, each has six sides in shape and is adapted to flex about each side in at least three directions. In alternative embodiments, the shape of pockets 105 may have any number of sides or may be oval (e.g., circular) in shape and also adaptable to flex in several (or infinite) directions. The plurality of pockets 104 may not extend to the edges of the bag 100. Instead, the bag 100 may include a perimeter of material around the plurality of pockets 104. Each pocket 105 may be filled with a coolant fluid such as a composition of water and ethylene glycol. In addition, the coolant fluid may include a color powder so that the coolant fluid takes on a desired color and is visible from the outside and/or inside of the coolant bag 100.

[0013] Referring now to FIG. 2, the front panel 102 and the rear panel 103 are joined together using a foldable side panel 202. The opposing pair of side panels (see FIG. 3) are identical in form and function. The side panels 202 may each include a coolant panel. The foldable side panel 202 includes a longitudinal crease line that allows the side panel 202 to be easily collapsed and expanded as needed. Additional crease lines 106 are provided that are configured to allow the bottom panel 208 (see FIG. 3) to collapse and expand as well. A loop handle 106 may be secured to the front panel 102 and rear panel 103, respectively, so that the bag 100 may be easily carried. The plurality of pockets 104 may be provided for both the front panel 102 and rear panel of the bag 100.

[0014] Referring now to FIG. 3, a top view of the cooler bag 100 is illustrated. The front panel 102 and rear panel 103 of the cooler bag each include a plurality of pockets 104. As described above, the plurality of pockets 104 includes several pockets that allow the front panel and rear panel to flex easily around the curved vertical surfaces of a bottle (not shown), for example, stored inside the bag 100. In addition, the plurality of pockets 104 is translucent or transparent so that the color of the fluid inside each pocket 105 is visible from inside or outside of the cooler bag 100.

[0015] In use, the cooler bag 100 may be stored in a refrigerator or freezer to allow the coolant fluid to reach a desired low temperature. Alternatively, the bag 100 may be heated so that the fluid within the pockets 105 has an elevated temperature to keep an item warm. A bottle is placed through the top of the cooler bag 100 so that the bottle rests on the bottom panel 208. The cooler bag 100 may be formed around the bottle by pushing the sides of the bag 100 inwards where the edges about the periphery of the plurality of pockets 104 is elastic to form around the bottle and maintain the desired position in contact with the bottle. The top of the cooler bag 100 may include a fastening means, such as snaps, buttons, zippers, hook and loop material, for example, used to close the top of the bag 100. The sides of the bag 100 are configured to expand or collapse as needed to secure a bottle within the bag 100 snugly. The bag 100 is easily carried using the handles 106.

[0016] An advantage of the expandable cooler bag 100 is that the cooler bag is easily identifiable by the color of the coolant in the plurality of pockets 104. For example, the coolant fluid may be blue, red, yellow, or any color and combination. Further, the different colors used with the plurality of pockets 104 changes the aesthetics of the cooler bag easily.

[0017] The illustrations of the embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of the various embodiments. The illustrations are not intended to serve as a complete description of all of the elements and features of apparatus and systems that utilize the structures or methods described herein. Many other embodiments may be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the disclosure. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived from the disclosure, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of the disclosure. Accordingly, the disclosure and the figures are to be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive.

[0018] One or more embodiments of the disclosure may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term "invention" merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any particular invention or inventive concept. Moreover, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any subsequent arrangement designed to achieve the same or similar purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all subsequent adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the description.

Claims

1. An expandable cooler bag, the bag comprising: a front panel; a rear panel; a plurality of pockets disposed on the front and rear panels; a pair of foldable side panels disposed on opposing sides of the front panel, wherein the pair of foldable side panels each having a longitudinal crease line to allow each side panel to collapse and expand thereupon; and a bottom panel secured to a lower edge of each of the pair of side panels, front and rear panels, to form a bag, wherein the bottom panel is adapted to collapse and expand about a bottom crease line.

2. The bag of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pockets contain a fluid coolant and are sealed.

3. The bag of claim 2, wherein each pocket of the plurality of pockets are configured to flex about sealed edged of its periphery in at least three different directions to conform to vertical curved surfaces of contents of the bag.

4. The bag of claim 3, wherein the plurality of pockets are transparent or translucent to so that contents of the bag are visible.

5. The bag of claim 4, wherein the fluid coolant is a composition of water and ethylene glycol.

6. The bag of claim 5, wherein the fluid coolant further comprises a color powder to color the fluid coolant to a desired color and is visible within the plurality of pockets.

7. The bag of claim 6, further comprising a loop handle secured to the front and rear panels.

8. The bag of claim 7, wherein the bag is comprised of a flexible material.

9. The bag of claim 8, wherein each pocket of the plurality of pockets is a hexagon shape of six edges about its periphery.

10. The bag of claim 8, wherein each pocket of the plurality of pockets is an oval shape.

11. The bag of claim 8, further comprising a fastening means at a top portion of the bag to secure the bag in a closed position.

12. The bag of claim 11, wherein the bag is comprised of polyvinyl chloride material.

13. The bag of claim 12, wherein the front and rear panels each comprising a perimeter of materials to define each of four longitudinal corners of the bag.

14. The bag of claim 13, wherein the bottom panel having fluid coolant sealed therein.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the pair of side panels each having fluid coolant sealed therein.

16. An expandable cooler bag, the bag comprising: a plurality of pockets; a pair of foldable side panels disposed on opposing sides, wherein the pair of foldable side panels each having a longitudinal crease line to allow each side panel to collapse and expand thereupon; and a bottom panel, wherein the bottom panel is adapted to collapse and expand about a bottom crease line.

17. The bag of claim 16, wherein the plurality of pockets contain a fluid coolant and are sealed.

18. The bag of claim 17, wherein each pocket of the plurality of pockets is an oval shape.

19. The bag of claim 17, wherein each pocket of the plurality of pockets is an octagon shape of eight edges about its periphery.

20. The bag of claim 17, wherein the bottom panel having fluid coolant sealed therein.

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