Abstract:
A device includes first straps configured to be secured around a container in a first direction, second straps configured to be secured around the container in a second direction, and third straps configured to be placed partially around the container in a third direction. The device also includes first handles coupled to the third straps, where the first handles are configured to be raised above the container during lifting of the container. The device further includes second handles coupled to one of the first straps, where the second handles are configured to remain secured to the first straps during lifting of the container. The device may also include multiple grommets configured to receive multiple connectors for securing the second straps to a body of the container and to a lid of the container. Lengths of at least the first and second straps may be adjustable.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. §119(e) to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/739,288 filed on Dec. 19, 2012. This provisional patent application is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0002]    This disclosure relates generally to coolers. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a device for securing and carrying a cooler and for optionally repairing a lid of the cooler. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Coolers are insulated containers used in a wide variety of circumstances by a wide variety of people. Coolers are typically used to keep food, drinks, and other items cool during transport. There are numerous varieties of coolers manufactured today, including coolers of different shapes and sizes. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    This disclosure provides a device for securing and carrying a cooler and for optionally repairing a lid of the cooler. 
         [0005]    In a first embodiment, a device includes first straps configured to be secured around a container in a first direction, second straps configured to be secured around the container in a second direction, and third straps configured to be placed partially around the container in a third direction. The device also includes first handles coupled to the third straps, where the first handles are configured to be raised above the container during lifting of the container. The device further includes second handles coupled to one of the first straps, where the second handles are configured to remain secured to the first straps during lifting of the container. 
         [0006]    In a second embodiment, a system includes a container having a body and a lid. The system also includes a device having first straps configured to be secured around the container in a first direction, second straps configured to be secured around the container in a second direction, and third straps configured to be placed partially around the container in a third direction. The device also includes first handles coupled to the third straps, where the first handles are configured to be raised above the container during lifting of the container. The device further includes second handles coupled to one of the first straps, where the second handles are configured to remain secured to the first straps during lifting of the container. 
         [0007]    In a third embodiment, a method includes placing a device around a container having a body and a lid and transporting the container using the device. The device includes first straps configured to be secured around the container in a first direction, second straps configured to be secured around the container in a second direction, and third straps configured to be placed partially around the container in a third direction. The device also includes first handles coupled to the third straps, where the first handles are configured to be raised above the container during lifting of the container. The device further includes second handles coupled to one of the first straps, where the second handles are configured to remain secured to the first straps during lifting of the container. 
         [0008]    Other technical features may be readily apparent to one skilled in the art from the following figures, descriptions, and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    For a more complete understanding of this disclosure, reference is now made to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0010]      FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate an example device for securing and carrying a cooler according to this disclosure; and 
           [0011]      FIGS. 5 through 8  illustrate an example device for securing and carrying a cooler and repairing a lid of the cooler according to this disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0012]      FIGS. 1 through 8 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present invention in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the invention. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the invention may be implemented in any type of suitably arranged device or system. 
         [0013]      FIGS. 1 through 4  illustrate an example device  100  for securing and carrying a cooler according to this disclosure. The cooler here is shown in dashed outline form and includes a body  102  and a lid  104 . The cooler includes any suitable insulated container configured to carry one or more items. The cooler could be formed from any suitable material(s), such as plastic. The cooler could also have any suitable size, shape, and dimensions. The lid  104  may be secured to the body  102  using one or more latches, hinges, or other structures (not shown here), or the lid  104  could be completely removable from the body  102 . 
         [0014]    Common coolers typically lack handles that can sustain prolonged stresses from maximum loads in the coolers. As a result, the handles tend to break over time. Moreover, the lifting point of a common cooler is often not the most ergonomical for lifting or carrying the cooler to a sufficient height. The device  100  represents a strapping device configured to aid in the lifting and carrying of coolers. The device  100  is also configured to ergonomically allow leveraged lifting and carrying of coolers at multiple heights. 
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a front plain view of the device  100 ,  FIG. 2  shows a side plain view of the device  100 ,  FIG. 3  shows a top plain view of the device  100 , and  FIG. 4  shows a bottom plain view of the device  100 . The device  100  is formed using an adjustable strapping system that encases the cooler at strategic locations. In this way, the cooler can be fully supported when lifted. As shown in these figures, the device  100  includes two straps  106 - 108  extending horizontally around the cooler. The device  100  also includes two straps  110 - 112  extending around the cooler from the top, down the back, under the bottom, and up the front of the cooler. Two additional straps  114 - 116  extend partially around the cooler from one side under the bottom to the other side (but not over the top) of the cooler. 
         [0016]    Each of the straps  106 - 116  could be formed from any suitable material(s), such as a webbing having a suitable width and overall strength to carry the cooler and its contents during transport. Each strap  106 - 116  could also represent a single integrated strap or multiple straps arranged in series (and the multiple straps may or may not be connected to one another). In addition, multiple straps could be formed from the same piece of material. For example, the straps  114 - 116  could be a continuous piece of webbing that threads through upper handles (described below) or two or more individual pieces of webbing that are connected to the upper handles. 
         [0017]    The straps  106 - 108  are connected to the straps  110 - 112  and to the straps  114 - 116  at various connection points  118 . Any suitable mechanism can be used to connect two straps at a connection point  118 . For example, two straps can be sewn together at a connection point  118 , or hook-and-loop fasteners could be used at a connection point  118 . Any suitable technique or combination of techniques for temporarily or permanently attaching straps can be used at the connection points  118  of the device  100 . 
         [0018]    The straps  106 - 108  are equipped with adjustment binders  120 - 122 . The adjustment binders  120 - 122  can be used to control the lengths of the straps  106 - 108 . For example, one end of the strap  106  could be fixed to the adjustment binder  120 . The other end of the strap  106  could be fed through the adjustment binder  120  and held in place through friction, teeth, or other mechanism. This helps to prevent the strap  106  from slipping through the adjustment binder  120 . A similar arrangement can occur with the strap  108  and the adjustment binder  122 . 
         [0019]    Each strap  110 - 112  is configured so that its ends overlap one another (such as on top or on bottom of the cooler) and are secured to one another via a fastener  124 - 126 , respectively. The fasteners  124 - 126  can be of sufficient strength so that the straps  110 - 112  remain secure when the cooler is raised using the device  100 . Any suitable fasteners  124 - 126  can be used to secure ends of a strap together, such as a binder, buckle, or hook-and-loop system. Note that other mechanisms could be used to provide fastening and adjustment capabilities to any of these straps  106 - 112 . Also note that while not shown, various mechanisms could be used to provide the straps  114 - 116  with an adjustable length. 
         [0020]    In this way, the device  100  can be modified so that it fits a particular cooler. This allows the device  100  to be used with a wide variety of coolers having different shapes, sizes, and configurations. Of course, if the device  100  is customized for a particular cooler, adjustment capabilities may be omitted from the straps  106 - 116 . 
         [0021]    The device  100  also includes two handle assemblies along opposite sides of the device  100 . Namely, the device  100  includes upper handles  128 - 130  and lower handles  132 - 134 . Each upper handle  128 - 130  is connected to the straps  114 - 116  and can extend along all or a substantial portion of the depth of the cooler. Each lower handle  132 - 134  is positioned along the lower horizontal strap  108 . In some embodiments, each lower handle  132 - 134  could extend between the connection points  118  where the strap  108  connects to the straps  114 - 116 , although the lower handles  132 - 134  could have a different size. 
         [0022]    Each handle  128 - 134  could be formed from any suitable material(s) and in any suitable manner. Each handle  128 - 134  could, for example, be formed using a material having the strength to sustain the load of the cooler and its contents, and padding can be added to the handle for comfort. Example types of padding could include foam, leather, or rubber. 
         [0023]    In this example, the two sets of handles  128 - 130  and  132 - 134  represent different types of handles. In particular, the handles  128 - 130  are connected to the flexible straps  114 - 116 , which allows those handles  128 - 130  to be raised above the cooler when the cooler is being lifted or carried. In contrast, the handles  132 - 134  are fixed along the strap  108 , meaning those handles  132 - 134  remain along the strap  108  when the cooler is being lifted or carried. These handles are provided in addition to handles that may already be present on the cooler, which could be located above the strap  106  (although the cooler could also lack any handles itself). 
         [0024]    In this manner, the different handles  128 - 134  can be strategically fastened to or otherwise located on the device  100  to provide a user with a more ergonomically and leveraged way of lifting and carrying the cooler. Moreover, adding additional lifting points at different heights provides multiple leveraging positions for lifting the cooler. 
         [0025]    In addition, the device  100  can secure the straps  110 - 112  over the lid  104  of the cooler during transport or at other times. This helps to keep the lid  104  secure instead of or in addition to using latches on the cooler. This can be beneficial in various circumstances, such as when one or more hinges or latches of the cooler break. 
         [0026]    The latches, hinges, and handles on common coolers tend to fail with continued use and exposure to the elements. The device  100  therefore offers additional security, helping to prevent the lid  104  from flying off the cooler body  102  or popping open during transport of the cooler in the back of a vehicle. This also provides an alternative way to restore use of a cooler that has broken hinges, latches, and handles. Instead of requiring an owner to try and locate and purchase replacement parts that match a particular cooler, the device  100  can be used to secure the lid  104  of the body  102  while providing various handles for lifting the cooler. As a result, use of the cooler can continue without requiring purchase and replacement of hinges, latches, and handles. 
         [0027]      FIGS. 5 through 8  illustrate an example device  500  for securing and carrying a cooler and repairing a lid of the cooler according to this disclosure. The device  500  can be used with a cooler having a body  502  and a lid  504 . The device  500  shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8  can share many common features as the device  100  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4 . As a result, components  506 - 534  shown in  FIGS. 5 through 8  may be the same as or similar to corresponding components  106 - 134  shown in  FIGS. 1 through 4  and described above. 
         [0028]    In this example, each strap  510 - 512  includes multiple grommets  550 - 552 , respectively. Each grommet  550 - 552  forms an opening through its respective strap  510 - 512 . Each grommet  550 - 552  is configured to receive a screw  554  or other connecting mechanism. As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , the grommets  552  can be positioned so that one or multiple screws  554  can be inserted into the lid  504  of the cooler and one or multiple screws  554  can be inserted into the body of the cooler. This secures the strap  512  to the cooler, possibly as a replacement for a broken hinge  556  of the cooler or for reinforcement of the hinge  556 . A similar operation could be used to secure the strap  510  to the cooler using the grommets  550 . 
         [0029]    Each grommet  550 - 552  includes any suitable structure forming an opening through a strap. Note, however, that the grommets  550 - 552  could alternatively form openings in a structure connected to the straps  510 - 512 , in which case the openings are through other structures that can be secured to the cooler and which thereby secure the straps  510 - 512  to the cooler. 
         [0030]    Although  FIGS. 1 through 8  illustrate examples of devices for securing, carrying, and optionally repairing a cooler, various changes may be made to these figures. For example, this disclosure is not limited to the exact construction and operation shown and described here. The devices  100  and  500  can vary in size and shape to adapt to different coolers, materials, shapes, forms, functions, manners of operation, assemblies, and uses. For instance, the devices  100  and  500  could be used with other types of containers, such as other types of containers having lids. 
         [0031]    It may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document. The terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation. The term “or” is inclusive, meaning and/or. The phrase “at least one of,” when used with a list of items, means that different combinations of one or more of the listed items may be used, and only one item in the list may be needed. For example, “at least one of A, B, and C” includes any of the following combinations: A, B, C, A and B, A and C, B and C, and A and B and C. 
         [0032]    While this disclosure has described certain embodiments and generally associated methods, alterations and permutations of these embodiments and methods will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, the above description of example embodiments does not define or constrain this disclosure. Other changes, substitutions, and alterations are also possible without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure, as defined by the following claims.