IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0940951
(2010-11-05)
|
등록번호 |
US-8317047
(2012-11-27)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Vanderberg, Matthew Alexander
- Bizzell, Daniel Lee
|
출원인 / 주소 |
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
6 인용 특허 :
3 |
초록
▼
An expandable and collapsible cooler includes: a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler; an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; a collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the c
An expandable and collapsible cooler includes: a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler; an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler; a collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the cooler wall comprising a flexible elastomeric membrane that includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and a drain conduit comprising a passageway providing fluid communication between an exterior of the cooler and the interior storage space or the intermediate space. The cooler is transitional between an expanded configuration for use of the cooler, and a collapsed configuration during nonuse of the cooler, by bending along the hinge lines, each configuration corresponding to a stable configuration of the cooler.
대표청구항
▼
1. An expandable and collapsible cooler, comprising: (a) a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler;(b) an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler;(c) a collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of t
1. An expandable and collapsible cooler, comprising: (a) a base defining a bottom portion of the cooler;(b) an upper rim defining an upper portion of the cooler;(c) a collapsible cooler wall extending between and attached to said base and said upper rim and surrounding an interior storage space of the cooler, the cooler wall comprising an inner collapsible wall and an outer collapsible wall that together define an intermediate space therebetween, each of the inner and outer collapsible walls comprising a flexible elastomeric membrane that includes a plurality of hinge lines at which the membrane is configured to bend such that the membrane is transitional between a collapsed configuration and an expanded configuration; and(d) a drain conduit comprising a passageway providing fluid communication between an exterior of the cooler and the intermediate space;(e) wherein the cooler is transitionable between an expanded configuration for use of the cooler, and a collapsed configuration during nonuse of the cooler, by bending along the hinge lines, each of the configurations corresponding to a stable configuration of the cooler;(f) wherein the cooler further comprises one or more openings in the upper rim through which access is provided to the intermediate space defined between the inner and outer collapsible walls; and a lid that extends over both a top of the interior space defined by the inner collapsible wall and each of the one or more upper rim openings;(g) wherein each of the flexible elastomeric membranes is self supporting such that the cooler can remain in the expanded configuration even when the one or more openings in the upper rim are uncovered. 2. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the cooler further comprises a second drain conduit comprising a passageway providing fluid communication between an exterior of the cooler and the interior storage space of the cooler. 3. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the inner collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the inner collapsible wall is fully collapsed, and wherein the outer collapsible wall comprises peripheral portions that nest within each other when the outer collapsible wall is fully collapsed. 4. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 3, wherein the nested peripheral portions of the outer collapsible wall collectively surround the nested peripheral portions of the inner collapsible wall. 5. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 4, wherein the nested peripheral portions of the outer collapsible wall and the nested peripheral portions of the inner collapsible wall are generally arranged in a common plane. 6. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the flexible elastomeric membrane of each of the inner and outer collapsible walls is formed of silicone rubber, and wherein each hinge line of the plurality of hinge lines of each membrane is generally less thick than other portions of the membrane. 7. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 1, wherein the cooler is further transitional to a first partially expanded configuration that is stable for use of the cooler. 8. The expandable and collapsible cooler of claim 7, wherein the cooler is further transitional to a second partially expanded configuration that is stable for use of the cooler. 9. A collapsible container, comprising: (a) a base;(b) collapsible sidewalls; and(c) a rigid rim for receiving a lid of the container, the rim being attached to the collapsible sidewalls;(d) wherein the collapsible container is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the collapsible sidewalls extend upwardly from the base and support the rim above the base, thereby defining an interior containment space of the collapsible container for containing items, and a second configuration, in which the collapsible sidewalls are collapsed, do not extend upwardly from the base but, instead, are located substantially proximate the base, whereby the interior containment space of the collapsible container is substantially reduced in volume; and(e) wherein the collapsible sidewalls comprise inner and outer collapsible walls extending between the base and the rim, each of the inner and outer collapsible walls comprising a tapered, flexible membrane configured to be collapsible;(f) wherein each inner collapsible wall and outer collapsible wall of a membrane is attached to the base;(g) wherein each of the inner and outer collapsible walls of the membrane further is attached to the rim wherein the rim comprises inner and outer rim walls;(h) wherein a peripheral opening is defined between the inner and outer rim walls;(i) wherein a plurality of connectors secure the inner rim wall to the outer rim wall in a spaced apart relation. 10. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein the collapsible container further comprises a drain conduit defining a passageway in fluid communication with a lower portion of the interior containment space for draining liquid from the interior containment space to an exterior of the collapsible container. 11. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein each said membrane includes a plurality of hinge lines, each membrane being configured to bend at each hinge line. 12. The collapsible container of claim 11, wherein each hinge line of the plurality of hinge lines of each membrane is generally less thick than another portion of the membrane. 13. The collapsible container of claim 11, wherein each hinge line has upper and lower hinge faces associated therewith. 14. The collapsible container of claim 13, wherein upper and lower hinge faces associated with a particular hinge line are configured to generally abut one another when the membrane is folded about the particular hinge line. 15. The collapsible container of claim 14, wherein (i) each membrane includes inner and outer surfaces, each surface including upper and lower hinge faces, and(ii) each hinge line has a complementary hinge line, such that when its membrane is folded at a first hinge line associated with upper and lower hinge faces of one of the inner and outer surfaces, its membrane is also folded at a second, complementary hinge line associated with upper and lower hinge faces of the other of the inner and outer surfaces. 16. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein each membrane includes a stiffening portion. 17. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein each membrane is formed of silicone rubber. 18. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein the connectors comprise spokes. 19. The collapsible container of claim 9, wherein each of the inner and outer collapsible walls is configured to transition between a fully expanded configuration, a fully collapsed configuration, and a plurality of partially collapsed configurations.
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