FOR STORING INSULATED BEVERAGE SLEEVES CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application No. 16/362,106 filed March 22, 2019, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

[0002] Insulated chests or coolers are used to store a variety of items, such as food and drink products, in a temperature-controlled environment. Known coolers can accommodate beverages coming in a variety of forms, including cans and bottles. However, beyond providing the temperature-controlled environment, at least some known coolers have generally limited capabilities, particularly for items other than food and drink products.

SUMMARY

[0003] In one aspect, a system is provided for storing one or more insulated beverage sleeves. The system includes a cooler including one or more cooler walls, and an attachment including a pair of sidewalls extending from a first cooler wall of the cooler walls, a body extending laterally between the sidewalls and spaced from the first cooler wall to define a cavity sized to house the insulated beverage sleeves, and a support extending laterally between the sidewalls and disposed at or adjacent to a lower portion of the body opposite the upper portion. The body has an upper portion that defines a mouth in fluid communication with the cavity.

[0004] In another aspect, an attachment is provided for use with a cooler for storing one or more insulated beverage sleeves. The attachment includes a body, a pair of sidewalls, and a support. The body includes a first side, a second side opposite the first side, a lower portion extending between the first side and the second side, and an upper portion opposite the lower portion and extending between the first side and the second side. The sidewalls include a first sidewall coupled to the first side and a second sidewall coupled to the second side. Each sidewall includes a flange coupleable to the cooler such that a cavity sized to house the one or more insulated beverage sleeves is defined between the body and the cooler. The support extends laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The support is disposed at or adjacent to the lower portion of the body.

[0005] In yet another aspect, a method is provided for providing storage for one or more insulated beverage sleeves. The method includes providing a cooler including one or more cooler walls, extending a pair of sidewalls from a first cooler wall of the one or more cooler walls, extending a body laterally between the pair of sidewalls such that the body is spaced from the first cooler wall to define a cavity sized to house the one or more insulated beverage sleeves, and extending a support laterally between the pair of sidewalls. The body has an upper portion that defines a mouth in fluid communication with the cavity. The support is at or adjacent to a lower portion of the body opposite the upper portion.

[0006] Various refinements exist of the features noted in relation to the above- mentioned aspects. Further features may also be incorporated in the above-mentioned aspects as well. These refinements and additional features may exist individually or in any combination. For instance, various features discussed below in relation to any of the illustrated examples may be incorporated into any of the above-described aspects, alone or in any combination.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] Features, aspects, and advantages of the present disclosure will become better understood when the following Detailed Description is read with reference to the accompanying drawings in which like reference characters represent like elements throughout, wherein:

[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an example insulated beverage sleeve.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an example cooler including an attachment that may be used to store one or more objects, such as the insulated beverage sleeve shown in FIG. 1.

[0010] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an example attachment that may be used with a cooler, such as the cooler shown in FIG. 2.

[0011] FIG. 4 is a front view of the attachment shown in FIG. 3.

[0012] FIG. 5 is a rear view of the attachment shown in FIG. 3. [0013] FIG. 6 is a side view of the attachment shown in FIG. 3.

[0014] FIG. 7 is a top view of the attachment shown in FIG. 3.

[0015] FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the attachment shown in FIG. 3.

[0016] FIG. 9 is a top view of another example attachment that may be used with a cooler, such as the cooler shown in FIG. 2.

[0017] FIG. 10 is a bottom view of the attachment shown in FIG. 9.

[0018] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method that may be used to provide storage for one or more objects, such as the insulated beverage sleeve shown in FIG. 1.

[0019] Although specific features of various examples may be shown in some drawings and not in others, this is for convenience only. Any feature of any drawing may be referenced and/or claimed in combination with any feature of any other drawing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] The present disclosure relates to portable containers and, more particularly, to a cooler attachment that may be used to store one or more insulated beverage sleeves. Attachments described herein are coupled to a cooler wall to provide a space in which one or more insulated beverage sleeves may be stored. Example attachments include a pair of sidewalls extending from the cooler wall and a body extending laterally between the pair of sidewalls to define a cavity sized to house the insulated beverage sleeves. An upper portion of the body defines a mouth that provides access to the cavity, and a lower portion of the body includes a support extending laterally between the sidewalls. Accordingly, examples described herein provide cooler users with a convenient, user-friendly place to store insulated beverage sleeves.

[0021] FIG. 1 shows an example insulated beverage sleeve 100 that is configured to keep a beverage (e.g., in a can or bottle) cold. The insulated beverage sleeve 100 may be fabricated, for example, from a fabric or foam material having insulating capabilities. Example materials include, but are not limited to, leather, neoprene, ethylene- vinyl acetate (EVA), polyester, vinyl, open-cell foam, and closed-cell foam. In some examples, the insulated beverage sleeve 100 includes a pah of panels 110 and a bottom 120 extending therebetween. The panels 110 may be coupled to each other along two opposing seams 130 (e.g., at the left and right sides).

[0022] The insulated beverage sleeve 100 is moveable between a closed configuration (shown) and an open configuration (not shown). As shown in FIG. 1, the insulated beverage sleeve 100 is generally flat when in the closed configuration. In some examples, the seams 130 may be compressed or moved towards each other to move the insulated beverage sleeve 100 toward the open configuration, in which the panels 110 are spaced from each other for a can or bottle to be positioned therebetween. The panels 110 may be sized and/or shaped to accommodate a wide range of cans or bottles.

[0023] FIG. 2 shows an example portable, insulated food and beverage chest or cooler 200. The cooler 200 may be used to store various food and drink products. The cooler 200 includes a lower cooler wall or base 210 (not shown in detail) and a plurality of side cooler walls 220 extending upward from the base 210 to define an insulated enclosure volume therein and an opening that provides access to the insulated enclosure volume at an upper portion 222 of the side cooler walls 220. Food and/or drink products, for example, may be stored in the insulated enclosure volume at a controlled temperature.

[0024] The cooler 200 includes an upper cooler wall or lid 230 at or adjacent to the upper portion 222 of the side cooler walls 220. The lid 230 is moveable to selectively restrict or allow access to the opening and/or insulated enclosure volume defined in the cooler 200. For example, the cooler 200 may include one or more hinges that pivotably attach the lid 230 to one or more side cooler walls 220, such as a front cooler wall 232, a rear cooler wall 234, a right cooler wall 236, and/or a left cooler wall 238. In some examples, the lid 230 is detachable or removeable from the rest of the cooler 200. Although the cooler 200 is shown as a hard-sided chest, any combination of the base 210, lid 230, front cooler wall 232, rear cooler wall 234, right cooler wall 236, and/or left cooler wall 238 may be fabricated from a soft or flexible material. As will be understood, terms such as lower, upper, side, front, rear, right, and/or left are used herein for convenience of description only and are not to be considered limiting of the orientation of the cooler 200 and/or any other feature described herein.

[0025] In some examples, the cooler 200 includes one or more attachments 240 that may be used to store one or more objects (e.g., insulated beverage sleeve 100). As shown in FIG. 2, an attachment 240 may be coupled to a surface 242 of the cooler 200 to define a cavity 244 sized to house the insulated beverage sleeve 100. In some examples, the attachment 240 is at a depressed area 246 of the surface 242 such that an elevation 248 of the attachment 240 is less than or substantially similar to the utmost elevation 250 of the surface 242 (i.e., the attachment 240 does not extend beyond, or does not extend much more beyond, other areas of the surface 242). Although the attachment 240 is shown as being attached to an outer surface of the front cooler wall 232, as will be understood, attachments 240 may be attached to any surface 242 of any side cooler wall 220 and/or lid 230. Additionally, the lid 230 may include one or more depressions 252 sized and/or shaped to receive a bottom of a can or bottle at an upper surface 254 of the cooler 200. In this manner, a user may conveniently place or position a beverage on top of the cooler 200 in a secure manner.

[0026] FIGS. 3-8 show an example attachment 300 (e.g., attachment 240) that may be used with the cooler 200 (shown in FIG. 2). The attachment 300 includes a body 310 including a first side 312 (shown, e.g., in FIG. 3), a second side 314 (shown e.g., in FIG. 3) opposite the first side 312, a lower portion 316 (shown e.g., in FIG. 3) extending between the first side 312 and second side 314, and an upper portion 318 (shown, e.g., in FIG. 3) opposite the lower portion 316 and extending between the first side 312 and second side 314.

[0027] The attachment 300 farther includes a pair of sidewalls 320. The sidewalls 320 may include, for example, a first sidewall 322 coupled to the first side 312 of the body 310 and a second sidewall 324 coupled to the second side 314 of the body 310 such that the body 310 extends laterally between the sidewalls 320. In some examples, the first sidewall 322 and/or second sidewall 324 extends a first distance 326 (shown, e.g., in FIG. 3) from the body 310 that allows the attachment 300 to have a desired elevation (e.g., elevation 248).

[0028] Each sidewall 320 includes a flange 328 for use in coupling the attachment 300 to the cooler 200. The flanges 328 may be coupled, for example, to a first cooler wall (e.g., lid 230, front cooler wall 232, rear cooler wall 234, right cooler wall 236, left cooler wall 238) such that the sidewalls 320 extend from the first cooler wall and a cavity (e.g., cavity 244) sized to house the insulated beverage sleeve 100 is defined between the body 310 and the first cooler wall. As shown in FIG. 2, the attachment 300 may be integrally coupled to the first cooler wall. Alternatively, the attachment 300 may be removably coupled to the first cooler wall. In some examples, an upper portion of the attachment 300 (e.g., upper portion 318) includes a lip 332 extending between the flanges 328. The upper portion of the attachment 300 defines a mouth in fluid communication with and/or providing access to the cavity 244. [0029] Opposite the lip 332 and/or mouth at or adjacent to a lower portion of the attachment 300 (e.g., lower portion 316), a support 340 extends laterally between the sidewalls 320. The support 340 may extend from the body 310, for example, a second distance 342 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) that is less than the first distance 326 the sidewalls 320 extend from the body 310. In this manner, the support 340 may be spaced from the first cooler wall to define one or more passages 344 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) when the attachment 300 is coupled to the first cooler wall. The support 340 may be spaced from the first cooler wall, for example, along a width 346 (shown in FIGS. 7 and 8) of the support 340 to define a generally linear passage 344 between the support 340 and the first cooler wall.

[0030] FIGS. 9 and 10 show another example attachment 400 (e.g., attachment 240) that may be used with the cooler 200 (shown in FIG. 2). The attachments 300 and 400 have some differences, but are otherwise substantially similar to each other. For example, rather than including a support 340 that may be spaced from a first cooler wall (e.g., lid 230, front cooler wall 232, rear cooler wall 234, right cooler wall 236, left cooler wall 238) along a width 346 of the support 340, the attachment 400 includes a support 440 including a plurality of portions 442 spaced from the first cooler wall to define a plurality of passages 444 between the support 440 and the first cooler wall.

[0031 ] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example method 500 that may be used to provide storage for one or more insulated beverage sleeves 100. The method 500 may be used to manufacture, for example, a cooler 200 including an attachment 240 (e.g., attachment 300, attachment 400). The method 500 may be initiated, for example, by providing a cooler 200 including one or more cooler walls (e.g., base 210, side cooler wall 220, lid 230) at operation 510.

[0032] A pair of sidewalls 320 are extended from a first cooler wall of the cooler walls at operation 520. The sidewalls 320 may be extended, for example, from the lid 230, front cooler wall 232, rear cooler wall 234, right cooler wall 236, and/or left cooler wall 238. In some examples, the sidewalls 320 are coupled to the first cooler wall such that the sidewalls 320 are moveable. For example, the sidewalls 320 may be moved to translate the attachment 240 about a surface of the first cooler wall (e.g., upwardly, downwardly, leftwardly, and/or rightwardly) and/or across the surface of the first cooler wall (e.g., inwardly and/or outwardly). In this manner, the attachment 240 may be moveable between an extended position and a retracted position. [0033] A body 310 is extended laterally between the sidewalls 320 at operation 530. The body 310 may be extended, for example, such that the body 310 is spaced from the first cooler wall to define a cavity 244 sized to house one or more insulated beverage sleeves 100.

The body 310 has an upper portion 318 that defines a mouth in fluid communication with and/or providing access to the cavity 244. In some examples, the upper portion 318 of the body 310 is formed such that a lip 332 extends radially outward from the cavity 244.

[0034] A support 340 or 440 is extended laterally between the sidewalls 320 at operation 540. The support 340 or 440 may be extended, for example, at or adjacent to a lower portion 316 of the body 310 opposite the upper portion 318. In some examples, the support 340 or 440 is positioned such that one or more passages 344 or 444 are defined between the support 340 or 440 and the first cooler wall. As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the support 340 may be spaced from the first cooler wall along a width 346 of the support 340 such that a generally linear passage 344 is defined between the support 340 and the first cooler wall. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the support 440 may be positioned such that a plurality of portions 442 of the support 440 are spaced from the first cooler wall to define a plurality of passages 444.

[0035] During use, one or more insulated beverage sleeves 100 may be stored in the cavity 244. In this manner, a user may conveniently access or store one or more insulated beverage sleeves 100 at the cooler 200 in an effective and efficient manner. The passages 444 allow fluid to be channeled therethrough (e.g., for cleaning or draining the cavity 244).

[0036] The order of execution or performance of the operations in examples of the disclosure illustrated and described herein is not essential, unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed in any order, unless otherwise specified, and examples of the disclosure may include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein. For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing a particular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after another operation is within the scope of aspects of the disclosure.

[0037] When introducing elements of aspects of the disclosure or the examples thereof, the articles“a,”“an,”“the,” and“said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. Furthermore, references to an“embodiment” or“example” of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional

embodiments or examples that also incorporate the recited features. The terms“comprising,” “including,” and“having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. The phrase“one or more of the following: A, B, and C” means“at least one of A and/or at least one of B and/or at least one of C.”

[0038] Having described aspects of the disclosure in detail, it will be apparent that modifications and variations are possible without departing from the scope of aspects of the disclosure as defined in the appended claims. As various changes could be made in the above constructions, products, and methods without departing from the scope of aspects of the disclosure, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description and shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

[0039] While aspects of the disclosure have been described in terms of various examples with their associated operations, a person skilled in the art would appreciate that a combination of operations from any number of different examples is also within the scope of the aspects of the disclosure.