Abstract:
A strap device for manually transporting a standard substantially rectangular cooler. The device includes a first elongated strap assembly connected to a second elongated strap assembly, wherein the first and second strap assemblies are oriented substantially perpendicular to each other and are both adapted to releasably lockingly engage the cooler. A shoulder strap assembly extends from the strap device and is adapted to releasably lockingly couple the strap device to a wearer. The shoulder strap assembly preferably extends from the second strap assembly to releasably lockingly connect to the first strap assembly.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to thermally insulated containers and, more particularly, to a strap system for converting a thermally insulated container into a wearable backpack for ease of transport. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Conventional thermally insulating boxes (i.e., coolers or ice chests) are typically rectangular boxes having thermally insulating sides into which items desired to be maintained at a given temperature are placed. The interior of a conventional cooler is usually a single rectangular space into which the items desired to be maintained at temperature and the temperature maintenance media are placed together. Usually, the desired maintenance temperature inside the cooler is colder than that of the cooler&#39;s outside environment, and the preferred temperature maintenance media are ice packs and/or loose ice cubes. Coolers are most often used to maintain quantities of beverage containers, usually 12-ounce bottles and/or cans, at low temperatures. 
     Conventional coolers have a pair of handles positioned at either long end by which the cooler is gripped for lifting and carrying. This carrying arrangement suffers from the disadvantages of being unwieldy for lifting the cooler as well as for setting the cooler back down. A single person must carry the cooler before him as he walks, which forces him to support the weight of the cooler with his lower back. Moreover, a typical cooler fully laden with ice and beverages can be quite heavy (about 22 pounds), quickly tiring both the carrying and the gripping muscle groups of the person carrying the cooler. Further, conventional single-cavity coolers have no structures for keeping their contents evenly distributed, further complicating the carrying process. Finally, the above factors conspire to make carrying a loaded cooler an increasingly rigorous task with increasing transport distance. 
     There is therefore a need for a system for adapting a conventional cooler to be carried easily and efficiently by a single person. The present invention is directed towards meeting this need. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a strap device for manually transporting a cooler. The strap device includes a first elongated strap assembly adapted to releasably lockingly engage the cooler, a second elongated strap assembly likewise adapted to releasably lockingly engage the cooler, and a shoulder strap assembly adapted to releasably lockingly couple the strap device to a wearer. The first and second strap assemblies preferably connectedly intersect at substantially right angles. The shoulder strap assembly preferably extends from the second strap assembly to releasably lockingly connect to the first strap assembly. 
     The first and second strap assemblies may each include a plurality of substantially parallel straps. The first and second strap assemblies may be interconnected with orientations substantially parallel to each other, such that they form a web. 
     One object of the present invention is to provide an improved method and apparatus for manually lifting and carrying a cooler. Related objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a schematic view of a first embodiment strap device of the present invention. 
     FIG. 2A is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 partially engaging a cooler. 
     FIG. 2B is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 further engaging a cooler. 
     FIG. 2C is a perspective view of the embodiment of FIG. 1 engaged to a cooler. 
     FIG. 3A is a perspective view of FIG. 2C, illustrating the preferred orientation of the cooler relative the shoulder straps in detail. 
     FIG. 3B is bottom plan view of FIG.  3 A. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial perspective view of FIG. 3A engaged to a wearer. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
     FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a first embodiment of the present invention, a strap assembly  100  for enveloping a rectangular beverage cooler or the like for carrying as a backpack. The strap assembly  100  includes a first pair of elongated straps  102  and a second pair of elongated straps  104  positioned to intersect the first pair of straps  102  at a substantially right angle. Preferably, the two pairs of straps  102 ,  104  are fixedly attached at their overlapping intersection areas  105 . 
     The first pair of elongated straps  102  includes a first strap  106 A and a second strap  106 B. The straps  106 A and  106  B are positioned to extend substantially parallel to each other  106 A,  106 B. More preferably, the straps  106 A,  106 B are spaced about six inches apart, although the straps  106 A,  106   b  may be spaced any convenient distance apart. Each strap  106 A,  106 B has a proximal end  106 A′,  106 B′ and a distal end  106 A″,  106 B″. Interlocking connectors  108 ,  110  are attached to the respective proximal and distal ends  106 ′,  106 ″. Preferably, the connectors  108 ,  110  are adjustably connected at or near the ends of a respective straps  106 , such that the connected straps may be tightened around a cooler placed therein. The connectors  108 ,  110  are preferably interlocking plastic male-and-female connectors  108 ,  110 , although any convenient connector design (such as hook and loop, interlocking snaps, buckles, or the like) may be chosen. Connectors  108 ,  110  are adapted to releasably lockingly engage each other to engagingly loop strap  110  around a cooler. 
     The straps  106 A,  106 B are interconnected by one, and more preferably by two, reinforcement straps  112  extending therebetween and permanently affixed to each respective elongated strap  106 A,  106 B. Spaced near the interconnecting reinforcement strap(s)  112  are two short wide shoulder straps  114 A,  114 B, each fastened to and extending a short length from a respective elongated strap  106 A,  106 B. The short wide shoulder straps  114 A,  114 B preferably extend from the respective elongated straps  106 A,  106 B at about 45° angles, although the intersection of the shoulder straps  114 A,  114 B with the elongated straps  106 A,  106 B may be at any convenient angle. A wide female connector  116 A,  116 B is connected to each respective elongated strap  106 A,  106 B by a respective short wide shoulder strap  114 A,  114 B. 
     The second pair of elongated straps  104  preferably includes a first and second cross strap  120 A,  120 B, although design options are possible including greater than two straps  120 A, B or a single strap  120 . Each strap  120 A, B has a proximal end  1020 A′,  120 B′ and a distal end  120 A″,  120 B″. Each strap  120  further includes a male and a female connector  122 ,  124 , attached at or near either end  120 ′,  120 ″ of the strap  120 . Preferably, the connectors  122 ,  124  are of the interlocking plastic male-and female design, although any convenient connectors may be chosen. More preferably, at least one of the connectors  122 ,  124  is adapted to allow its position at or near the end of the strap to be adjusted, such that the effective distance between the connectors  122 ,  124  is a variable. In other words, it is preferably that the strap length(s) be adjustable to accommodate different cooler dimensions. 
     Strap  120 B also preferably includes a first and a second wide shoulder strap  126 ,  128  extending therefrom. Connectors  130 A,  130 B are coupled to wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128 , respectively. Preferably, connectors  130 A,  130 B are adjustably attached near the ends of the respective wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128  opposite strap  120 B. More preferably, connectors  130 A,  130 B are adapted to be moved along respective wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128 , such that the lengths of the wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128  are effectively independently adjustable. Connectors  130 A,  130 B are adapted to be releasably lockingly engaged to connectors  116 A,  116 B. Wide shoulder strap  126  is preferably positioned outside the interval defined between straps  106 A and  106 B, between strap  106 A and male connector  122 . Wide shoulder strap  126  is more preferably spaced about two inches from strap  106 A. Wide shoulder strap  128  is preferably positioned outside the interval defined between straps  106 A and  106 B, between strap  106 B and female connector  124 . Wide shoulder strap  128  is more preferably spaced about two inches from strap  106 B. Wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128  are preferably securely affixed to strap  120 B, although embodiments of the present invention are contemplated in which wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128  are slidingly connected to strap  120 B. Connectors  122 ,  124  are adapted to releasably lockingly engage one another to engagingly loop strap  122  around a cooler. 
     Wide shoulder strap  126  includes a first chest strap  132  attached thereto and extending therefrom. First chest strap  132  is preferably fixedly attached to wide shoulder strap  126 , although it may be slidingly attached. First chest strap  132  includes a first chest strap connector  134  coupled thereto. Likewise, wide shoulder strap  128  includes a second chest strap  136  attached thereto and extending therefrom. Second chest strap  136  includes a second connector chest strap  138  coupled thereto and adapted to releasably lockingly engage first chest strap connector  134 . Second chest strap  136  is likewise preferably fixedly attached to wide shoulder strap  128  and positioned such that first and second chest straps  132 ,  136  lockingly engage to form a chest strap extending across and substantially perpendicular to wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128 . Alternately, second chest strap  136  may be slidingly attached to wide shoulder strap  128 , if desired. 
     FIGS. 2A-2C,  3 A- 3 B, and  4  illustrate in detail the process of connecting the strap system  100  to a typical box cooler. In operation, a cooler is positioned bottom-down on the strap assembly  100  as generally indicated by ghost lines  140  in FIG.  1 . The first pair of elongated straps  102  is wrapped around the cooler and connectors  108 A,  108 B are lockingly engaged to connectors  110 A,  110 B, respectively (see FIGS.  2 A and  2 B). The elongated straps  102  may optionally be crossed, such that connectors  108 A and  108 B lockingly engage connectors  110 B and  110 A, respectively. The straps  106 A,  106   b  preferably encircle the cooler, engaging the top and bottom and one pair of opposite sides of the cooler. In the case of a rectangular cooler, the straps  106 A,  106 B preferably engage the two longer sides, although the cooler may have any desired orientation in the strap system  100 . Once the connectors  108 ,  110  are engaged, the straps  106 A,  106 B are preferably tightened around the cooler to ensure a snug fit. 
     The second pair of elongated straps  104  is then wrapped around the four sides of the cooler and connectors  122 A,  122 B are lockingly engaged to connectors  124 A,  124 B, respectively (see FIGS.  2 B and  2 C). Preferably, straps  120 A and  120 B are then tightened to ensure that the cooler is snugly held in the strap system  100 . 
     After the strap system  100  is engaged around the cooler, the straps  106 A,  106 B,  120 A,  120 B are preferably adjusted such that the straps  106 A,  106 B,  120 A,  120 B are centered around the cooler. In other words, the straps  106 A,  106 B,  120 A,  120 B are repositioned, if necessary, such that no strap is immediately adjacent and parallel an edge of the cooler. 
     The cooler may now be carried by a single individual by engaging wide shoulder strap  126  over the individual&#39;s right shoulder and wide shoulder strap  128  over the individual&#39;s left shoulder. The wide shoulder straps  126 ,  128  are engaged by first looping a strap  126 ,  128  over the appropriate shoulder, down across the torso, and lockingly engaging a connector  130 A,  130 B into the appropriate mating connector  116 A,  116 B located underneath the cooler (see FIGS. 3A,  3 B and  4 ). Once connected, wide shoulder straps  126  and  128  are preferably tightened to produce a desired fit of the cooler backpack onto the wearer&#39;s back. The fit may be tighter if the wearer desires to carry the cooler higher on his back, or looser if the wearer desires to carry the cooler lower. 
     The first and second chest strap portions  132 ,  136  may be utilized by lockingly engaging connectors  134  and  138 . One or both of the chest strap portions  132 ,  136  may be tightened to produce a desired weight distribution of the cooler across the back and torso of the wearer. 
     The strap system  100  is preferably made of nylon straps, although the straps may be made of any convenient material strong and light enough to carry an ice and drink laden cooler as a backpack, such as leather or plastic. In the preferred embodiment, the straps system  100  is sewn or otherwise permanently connected together. In other embodiments, the strap system  100  may include sliding connections in which one set of straps is loopingly connected around another set. 
     While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are to be desired to be protected.