Abstract:
A wearable cooler device for the transport of consumables having multiple access ports near the bottom thereof and containing pathways that direct the consumables to areas proximate the access ports, thereby allowing easy removal while preventing the unintended egress of the consumables from the wearable cooler.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present disclosure relates generally to portable dispensers for substantially cylindrical containers and more particularly to backpacks for dispensing beverages. 
     BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY 
     Many of the previously known insulated packs for dispensing beverages have been designed primarily for use by vendors and are not sufficiently compact for personal use. Previously known compact packs sized for personal use have a capacity for relatively few canned or bottled beverages or are designed only for top loading items such as baby food. Further, prior packs that include two or more vertical stacks of canned beverages leading to a single dispensing path have no mechanism for avoiding a gridlock or jamming of the cans within the pack. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a portable cooler is provided. The cooler including a housing defining an interior volume and having at least one access point proximate a lower end of the housing; and a removable guide sized and shaped to be removably positioned within the interior volume, wherein the guide directs containers within the interior volume to a location proximate the at least one access point of the housing, the guide retaining containers within the housing when the at least one access point is open. 
     According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, a cooler element is provided. The cooler element includes a guide sized and shaped to be removably positioned within an interior volume of a cooler having two access points located on opposite sides of the cooler and proximate a lower end of the cooler, wherein the guide directs containers within the interior volume to a location proximate one of the two access points. 
     According to yet another embodiment of the present disclosure, a method of using a cooler is provided. The method including the steps of providing a housing; providing a removable guide sized and shaped to be received within the housing; and providing a removable liner sized and shaped to be selectively coupled to the housing. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a pack according to the present disclosure partially loaded with beverages; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a cover of the pack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of an assembled framework of the pack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a front view of a framework piece used to construct the framework unit of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of connectors of the framework unit of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of the framework of  FIG. 3  with a plurality of beverage cans ready for extraction therefrom; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of thermal packs used with the pack of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a hanger of the thermal packs of  FIG. 7 ; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a liner for use with the cover of  FIG. 2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of container  10  is provided in the form of a backpack for the retention, conveyance, and thermal control of a plurality of beverages or other perishables. Container  10  includes cover  12 , framework  14 , and thermal packs  15 . Optionally, liner  16  may be employed in place of framework  14 . 
       FIGS. 1 and 2  show an embodiment of cover  12  of container  10  suitable for receiving framework  14  or liner  16 . Cover  12  includes insulated walls  17   a - d,  shoulder straps  18 ,  18   a , hanging strap  20 , top cover  22 , front pockets  24 ,  26 , side pockets  28 , dispensing flaps  30 , and liner retainers (not shown). 
     Shoulder straps  18 ,  18   a  are provided for carrying container  10  as a backpack. Shoulder straps  18 ,  18   a  are adjustable and include padded upper portions  19  and straps  21 . Padded upper portions  19  are sewn or otherwise affixed to upper edge  43   c  of back wall  17   c . Straps  21  are sewn or otherwise affixed to lower portions near the interface of back wall  17   c  and respective side walls  17   b,d.  Hanging strap  20  is provided by which container  10  may be hung such that the weight of container  10  is approximately evenly distributed on each side thereof (assuming substantially even payload distribution). Top cover  22  includes fixed end  34 , access end  36 , and a pair of sides  38  extending between fixed end  34  and access end  36 . Fixed end  34  is sewn to insulated wall  17   d . Access end  36  includes a strip of hook and loop fastener  40  that corresponds to a similarly sized strip of hook and loop fastener  42  coupled proximate upper edge  43   b  of insulated wall  17   b . Each of sides  38  have one half of zipper  23  coupled thereto that mate with halves of zippers  23  on upper edges  43   a,c  of respective insulated walls  17   a,c . Accordingly, top cover  22  can be lifted by access end  36  to open container  10  or top cover  22  can be secured by hook and loop fastener  42  and zippers  23  for closure. Strap  25  extends between zippers  23  such that pulling on strap  25  pulls both zippers  23 . 
     Front pockets  24 ,  26  are positioned on the exterior of front insulated wall  17   a . Pocket  24  includes outer wall  44  that is insulated. Outer wall  44  includes an area where signage may be stitched therein or otherwise affixed. Upper edge  46  and portions of side walls  48   a,b  have one half of zipper  47  coupled thereto that mate with a half of a zipper  47  on front insulated wall  17   a  to selectively close pocket  24 . The interior of front pocket  24  forms a waterproof pouch. Pocket  26  is positioned on the exterior of outer wall  44 . Pocket  26  is not waterproof and includes outer wall  50 . Pocket  26  is selectively opened and closed via zipper  52 . 
     Side pockets  28  each include mesh portions  54  and elastic portions  56 . Mesh portions  54  are sewn to respective side walls  17   b,d  at lower ends  58  and sides  60 . Upper ends  62  of mesh portions  54  are coupled to elastic portions  56 . Elastic portions  56  expand when under load allowing mesh portions  54  to extend outward so that side pockets  28  may receive and retain items therein. 
     Dispensing flaps  30  are provided at the lower ends of side walls  17   b,d  and provide a portion of bottom  66  of cover  12 . Dispensing flaps  30  are formed from an insulated wall. Dispensing flaps  30  are sewn or otherwise fixed to bottom  66 . Sides  68  of dispensing flaps  30  have one half of zippers  70  thereon, with complementary sides of zippers  70  coupled to respective walls  17   a,c.  Strap  72   a,b  extends between zippers  70  such that pulling on strap  72   a,b  pulls both zippers  70  on respective flap  30 . Inner side of upper ends  74  of flaps  30  include a strip of hook and loop fastener  76  thereon. Complementary strips of hook and loop fastener  76  are mounted on walls  17   b,d . Accordingly, flaps  30  can be pulled by upper ends  74  after zippers  70  are pulled down to open flaps  30  or flaps  30  can be secured by hook and loop fasteners  76  and zippers  70  for closure. 
     Liner retainers (not shown) are strips of hook and loop fastener coupled to the interior of walls  17   a-d . Liner retainers (not shown) are sized and positioned to couple to complementary hook and loop strips  78  on liner  16 . Liner  16  is a waterproof pouch having dimensions substantially similar to the interior dimensions of container  10 . Liner  16  is formed from a single sheet of waterproof material  82  that is sonically welded or otherwise coupled to form a watertight pouch having open upper edge  84 . Hook and loop strips  78  are affixed to surround the outside of open upper edge  84 . 
     Framework  14 , as shown in  FIGS. 3-6 , includes two container guides  86  and six (6) spacing connectors  88 . Container guides  86  and connectors  88  can be made from any material that is strong enough to hold many, such as twenty, typical filled beverage containers without significantly bending or breaking and is sufficiently light weight so as not to add a great weight when worn as a part of a backpack. Such suitable materials include aluminum or molded plastic such as polycarbonate, polypropylene, high density polyethylene or polystyrene. As shown, container guides  86  and connectors  88  are formed from injection molded plastic. 
       FIG. 4  shows container guide  86  that can be either a front or back framework component. Front and back container guides  86  are identical and can be produced in the same injection mold. Front and back container guides  86  are also symmetrical about central axis  90 . Accordingly, only one side will be discussed with the understanding that identical structure is present on the opposite side. 
     The front and back container guides  86  each include substantially flat back wall  92 . Ridges  94  and  96  extend substantially perpendicularly from back wall  92  to form first pathway  98 , which extends downwardly from container receiving upper end  100  and ends at first shaped rigid member  104 . Rigid member  104  is shaped to block the movement of containers in the absence of manipulation by an operator. 
     Ridges  96  and  108  form second pathway  110  that begins at container receiving upper end  100  and extends to merging location  112  at which second pathway  110  merges with first pathway  98 . Ridge  108  ends at second rigid shaped member  114 . Second rigid shaped member  114  is shaped and positioned so as to allow containers in second pathway  110  to merge into first pathway  98  when containers are in first pathway  98  only by moving laterally so that containers in second pathway  110  merge into first pathway  98  only when a highest container  33  in first pathway  98  is below merging location  112 . 
     It should be appreciated that ridges  94  of the respective sides define a vertical gap  132  therebetween. Similarly, ridge  108  and side ridge  89  define a vertical gap  134  of a width similar to gap  132 . Notches  136  are defined in back wall  92  near upper end  100  of each gap  132 ,  134 . Gaps  132 ,  134  are sized to receive thermal packs  15  therein. 
     Each container guide  86  includes six spacing connector voids  87  therein. Spacing connector voids  87  are located on each side ridge  89  with one near upper end  100  and one near dispensing point  124 , and on bottom  126 . Spacing connector voids  87  are sized to receive spacing connectors  88  therein. Container guides  86  further include shoulders  128  (see  FIG. 6 ) proximate connector voids  87  that engage lock shoulders  130  of spacing connectors  88  thereon. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , assembled container guides  86  are spaced apart by spacing connectors  88  that connect to form framework  14  for holding and dispensing cylindrical containers, such as cans  33  or bottles containing beverages. Spacing connectors  88  include body  138  and tabs  140 . Body  138  is substantially flat and of any useful length, depending on the typical height of beverage cans  33  or bottles expected to be used in the resulting container  10 . Tabs  140  include lock shoulders  130  sized and shaped to engage shoulders  128  of container guides  86 . Alternatively, container guides  86  and spacing connectors  88  may be connected by any of a variety of well known fastening mechanisms and techniques, including riveting and ultrasonic welding. It should also be appreciated that the entire framework  14  could be injection molded as one piece. 
     Spacing connectors  88  hold container guides  86  sufficiently far apart to enable free movement of beverage containers down pathways  98 ,  110  while at the same time maintaining container guides  86  sufficiently close that movement of beverage containers down pathways  98 ,  110  is controlled by ridges  94 ,  96 ,  108 . Spacing connectors  88  are between four and six inches in length. Each ridge  94 ,  96 ,  108  within each set of ridges is sufficiently far apart from the other to accommodate the diameter of a beverage can or bottle. 
     Thermal packs  15 , as shown in  FIG. 7 , include hangers  118 , pouches  120 , and thermal gel  122 . Hangers  118  are of a length to span between opposing back walls  92  and are sized to snugly fit in notches  136 . Each pouch  120  is formed from flexible plastic and includes gel compartment  142  and hanger receiving portion  144 . Gel compartment  142  is sealed to minimize escape of thermal gel  122  contained therein. Hanger receiving portion  144  is a doubled over portion that provides an opening through which hanger  118  may extend. Hanger receiving portion  144  and thermal packs  15  in general is of a width less than hangers  118  and framework  14 . Ends  146  of hangers  118  are sized and shaped to engage notches  136 . When hangers  118  are within hanger receiving portion  144  and ends  146  engage notches  136 , thermal packs  15  hang within gaps  132 ,  134 . This placement allows thermal packs  15  to be proximate any beverages stored in framework  14 . Thermal packs  15  are placed in a freezer or otherwise extensively cooled prior to insertion into gaps  132 ,  134 . Accordingly, thermal packs  15  cool stored beverages within framework  14 . 
     Beverage containers are removed from the assembled framework  14 , after opening dispensing flaps  30 , by an operator by moving the selected container  33  upwardly over edge  104   a  of the first shaped rigid member  104 . 
       FIG. 6  shows assembled framework  14  holding beverage cans  33  in first pathway  98 , which descends from container receiving upper end  100  of framework  14  and curves into a downward sloping path  98   a , ending at first rigid shaped member  104 . Member  104  is formed by the upturned terminal portions of ridges  94  on both front and back container guides  86  and is shaped and positioned to stop progress of a beverage container, such as can  33 , either when alone in framework  14  or when it is under pressure from the weight of additional cans  33  above it in first pathway  98 - 98   a . The upturned and centrally opened shape of member  104  also allows easy removal of cans  33  from framework  14  by an upward pressure on can  33  in the area  148  between the upturned terminal portions of the ridges that form member  104 . 
     A second line of beverage cans  33  is shown in  FIG. 6  descending second pathway  110  defined by ridges  96 ,  108  on both the front and back container guides  86 . Ridge  108  ends in second rigid shaped member  114  at location  112  where pathway  110  merges with pathway  98 - 98   a.    
     Member  114  is positioned to hold cylindrical containers  33  so that they will be blocked from feeding into pathway  98 - 98   a  when a container  33  occupies pathway  98 - 98   a  at location  112 , but will feed easily into pathway  98 - 98   a  when no can or container  33  blocks lateral movement into that pathway  98 - 98   a . The lateral movement of containers from pathway  110  into pathway  98 - 98   a  avoids the downward weight of the containers in pathway  110  against member  104  and facilitates removal of the containers from pathway  98   a.    
       FIG. 1  shows pack  10  with top cover  22  opened to show pathways  98 ,  110  defined by ridges  94 ,  96 ,  108 . Dispensing flaps  30  are also opened to expose first shaped rigid member  104  and cans  33 . 
     Framework  14  is removable from the interior of container  10 . Removal of framework  14  and addition of liner  16  allows container  10  to function more like a traditional cooler. Waterproof liner  16  allows items and ice to be placed therein such that melting ice will not escape through dispensing flaps  30 . 
     The present invention has been illustrated in terms of a backpack for carrying beverages in cans  33  or bottles. It will be understood, however, by those skilled in the art that the device disclosed here for controlling the movement of generally cylindrical shapes in merging, descending pathways to avoid gridlock or jamming of the shapes at the point of merging and to avoid excessive weight on the lowermost such shape will have wide application and is intended to be within the scope of the appended claims. Likewise, a device for holding generally cylindrical shapes in single or multiple descending pathways such that the final such shape can be removed with a relatively small upward pressure will have many applications, each of which are intended to be within the scope of the appended claims.