Multipurpose insulated cooler/heater bag and associated method

A cooler and heater bag includes a dry storage compartment, a cold storage compartment inside the dry storage compartment, a bottle warming compartment inside the dry storage compartment, a flexible shoulder strap having a first end anchored to the dry storage compartment, and a fastener attached to the dry storage compartment as well as anchored to a second end of the shoulder strap respectively. The fastener and the second end of the shoulder strap contemporaneously move along a bidirectional linear path defined along a top surface of the dry storage compartment. The dry storage compartment is in fluid communication with one of the cold storage compartment and the bottle warming compartment. The first side wall is oppositely spaced from the second side wall wherein each of the first side wall and the second side wall are located inside the dry storage compartment.

Not Applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not Applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE

Technical Field

This disclosure relates to infant care products and, more particularly, to a multipurpose insulated cooler/heater bag for providing users with a practical means of storing items needed on the go, as well as enabling them to easily keep warm baby bottles and other perishables chilled while travelling.

Prior Art

For most parents of babies or toddlers, a baby bottle is “must have” item, never to be without. Baby bottles not only provide nourishing milk to an infant, but also help to soothe and comfort a baby, especially in times of colic and fussiness. Not limited to bottle fed babies, a baby bottle is also used by most nourishing mothers a means of feeding their child when traveling or when in public. From the time of birth, when a bottle provides the sole means of nourishment, until the toddler years, when a bottle is offered as a nutritional accompaniment to solid foods or as a nighttime snack, a bottle of warm milk is essential for a healthy, happy child.

When giving an infant a baby bottle, perhaps the most important thing to keep in mind is the temperature of the milk contained within. Giving an infant a baby bottle that contains cold milk can upset the baby's tummy. On the other hand, milk that is too warm can scald the baby, leaving painful and dangerous burns to the mouth, throat and stomach. Parents warm their infant's bottles through a variety of methods. Placing a bottle in a bath of boiling water, warming it in the microwave or placing it under a running faucet are all popular ways that people warm a baby bottle. While all of these methods can be easily achieved in the home, providing a child a warm and satisfying bottle when away from home can be extremely difficult.

In particular, many consumers are faced with the dilemma of satisfying their child's hunger, when traveling. While most diaper bags are designed with integrated storage compartments created expressly for baby bottles, these units offer no means of keeping a bottle chilled prior to warming, as well as warming the bottle upon demand. While a tepid bottle can be unpleasant for the child, giving an infant a cold bottle often results in the child suffering painful stomach aches.

Unfortunately, a child is often hungry at inopportune moments, such as when Mom and Dad are driving down long stretches of highway and a rest stop is nowhere in sight. As many caregivers may attest, failing to provide a hungry infant a bottle on demand, often results in a cranky and irritable child. Extremely frustrating, searching in vain for a truck stop or restaurant, simply in order to warm a baby bottle to an appropriate drinking temperature, all while a child cries angrily to be fed, can be a very unnerving experience.

Accordingly, a need remains for an apparatus in order to overcome the above-noted shortcomings. The present disclosure satisfies such a need by providing a multipurpose insulated cooler/heater bag that is convenient and easy to use, lightweight yet durable in design, versatile in its applications, and designed for providing a user with a practical means of storing the many items needed on the go, as well as enable them to easily keep bottles and other perishables chilled during transport, while also enabling them to warm the child's bottle prior to feedings.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In view of the foregoing background, it is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag for providing users with a practical means of storing items needed on the go, as well as enabling them to easily keep warm baby bottles and other perishables chilled and/or warmed while travelling. These and other objects, features, and advantages of the disclosure are provided by a multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag including a dry storage compartment having an outer perimeter wall, a cold storage compartment removably disposed inside the dry storage compartment wherein the cold storage compartment has a first side wall abutted against the outer perimeter wall, and a bottle warming compartment removably disposed inside the dry storage compartment wherein the bottle warming compartment having a second side wall abutted against the outer perimeter wall. A shoulder strap has a first end anchored to an exterior surface of the dry storage compartment, and a fastener is attached to the dry storage compartment as well as anchored to a second end of the shoulder strap respectively. Notably, the fastener and the second end of the shoulder strap contemporaneously move along a bidirectional linear path defined along a top surface of the dry storage compartment. Furthermore, the dry storage compartment is in fluid communication with one of the cold storage compartment and the bottle warming compartment. Advantageously, the first side wall is oppositely spaced from the second side wall wherein each of the first side wall and the second side wall are located inside the dry storage compartment.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bag further includes a plurality of first passageways passing through the outer perimeter wall and the first side wall such that the dry storage compartment is in fluid communication with the cold storage compartment.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first passageways include a plurality of first horizontally-oriented linear passageways each having a longitudinal length extending through an entire thickness of the outer perimeter wall and the first side wall, and a plurality of first crisscrossed linear passageways each having axially opposed ends in direct fluid communication with the first horizontally-oriented linear passageways, respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the dry storage compartment is in fluid communication with both of the cold storage compartment and the bottle warming compartment.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bag further includes a plurality of second passageways passing through the outer perimeter wall and the second side wall such that the dry storage compartment is in fluid communication with the bottle warming compartment.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the second passageways include a plurality of second horizontally-oriented linear passageways each having a longitudinal length extending through a combined thickness of the outer perimeter wall and the second side wall, and a plurality of second crisscrossed linear passageways each having axially opposed ends in direct fluid communication with the second horizontally-oriented linear passageways, respectively.

The present disclosure further includes a method of utilizing multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag. Such a method includes the steps of: providing a dry storage compartment having an outer perimeter wall; providing and removably disposing a cold storage compartment inside the dry storage compartment wherein the cold storage compartment has a first side wall abutted against the outer perimeter wall; providing and removably disposing a bottle warming compartment inside the dry storage compartment wherein the bottle warming compartment has a second side wall abutted against the outer perimeter wall; oppositely spacing the first side wall from the second side wall; locating each the first side wall and the second side wall inside the dry storage compartment; fluidly communicating the dry storage compartment with one of the cold storage compartment and the bottle warming compartment; providing and anchoring a first end of a shoulder strap to an exterior surface of the dry storage compartment; providing and attaching a fastener to the dry storage compartment; anchoring the fastener to a second end of the shoulder strap; and contemporaneously moving the fastener and the second end of the shoulder strap along a bidirectional linear path defined along a top surface of the dry storage compartment.

Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the figures are not intended to be drawn to any particular scale; nor are the figures intended to illustrate every embodiment of the disclosure. The disclosure is not limited to the exemplary embodiments depicted in the figures or the shapes, relative sizes or proportions shown in the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE

The present disclosure will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which a preferred embodiment of the disclosure is shown. This disclosure may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiment set forth herein. Rather, this embodiment is provided so that this application will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the true scope of the disclosure to those skilled in the art. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the figures.

The apparatus of this disclosure is referred to inFIGS. 1-7and is intended to provide a multipurpose insulated cooler/heater bag10. It should be understood that the present disclosure may be used to store, cooler, and warm many different types of infant necessities and the like, and should not be limited to the uses described herein.

Referring toFIGS. 1-7in general, a multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag10is disclosed for providing users a practical means of storing items needed on the go, as well as enabling them to easily keep cold/warm baby bottles and other perishables chilled/warmed foodstuff while travelling. Such a multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag10preferably includes a dry storage compartment20, a cold storage compartment30removably disposed entirely inside the dry storage compartment20, a bottle warmer40removably disposed entirely inside the dry storage compartment20, a flexible shoulder strap50having a first end51anchored to an exterior surface of the dry storage compartment20, and a fastener54attached to the dry storage compartment20as well as anchored to a second end52of the shoulder strap50, respectively. In this manner, the fastener54and the second end52of the shoulder strap50contemporaneously move along a bidirectional linear path55defined along a top surface57of the dry storage compartment20. Such a structural configuration provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of preventing strap50from bunching up or becoming disposed within the dry storage compartment20when the fastener54is opened. By displacing the strap50to one end of the dry storage compartment20, the strap50is effectively maintained clear of the opening to access the interior of the dry storage compartment20.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a diaper change compartment60may be attached to the exterior surface of the dry storage compartment20. Such a diaper change compartment60may be isolated from an interior of the dry storage compartment20as well as cold storage compartment30and bottle warmer40, respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, a plurality of auxiliary compartments70may be attached to the exterior surface of the dry storage compartment20and thereby situated subjacent to the fastener54as well as the first and second ends51,52of strap50, respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, as perhaps best shown inFIG. 4, the bottle warmer40preferably includes a pouch41isolated from the dry storage compartment20and the cold storage compartment30, a heating element42located within the pouch41, and a power source43communicatively coupled to the heating element42. Such a structural configuration provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of permitting a user to selectively heat bottles, diapers, wipes, etc. without affecting the contents in the cold storage compartment30. Such a structural configuration provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of separating solid/liquid foodstuff as well as cold/hot foodstuff. The bottle warmer40may run on conventional electricity, power supplied by a universal car adapter to be easily plugged into any vehicle lighter, or an internally contained battery or any other portable suitable power well known in the art.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, fastener54may be a zipper extending along a top surface57of the dry storage compartment20. Such a dry storage compartment20may be bifurcated into first and second halves21a,21bas fastener54is linearly displaced towards the first end51of the strap50and thereby opened. In this manner, a user may easily access both cold storage compartment30and bottle warmer40while the strap is gathered at one end of the bag10.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first end51of the strap50preferably remains statically fixed to a proximal end22of the dry storage compartment20while the second end52of the strap50is dynamically displaced along the bidirectional linear path55. Such a structural configuration provides the unexpected and unpredictable advantage of ensuring the strap50is carried over to an exterior end of the dry storage compartment20and thereby remains out of the way when accessing the interior of the dry storage compartment20.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the diaper change protector compartment60may preferably store a removable changing pad (not shown) thereby providing a soft and sanitary surface on which to change the child's diaper. The dry storage compartment20may preferably be double stitched and reinforced and may be manufactured from nylon, canvas, quilted cotton, leather or other material well known in the art.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the interior of the insulated cold compartment30may be kept cold via removable ice packs (not shown).

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the present disclosure may further include a method of utilizing a multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag10. Such a method preferably includes the chronological steps of: providing a dry storage compartment20; providing a cold storage compartment30; removably disposing the cold storage compartment30entirely inside the dry storage compartment20; providing a bottle warmer40; and removably disposing the bottle warmer40entirely inside the dry storage compartment20.

The method further includes the chronological steps of: providing a flexible shoulder strap50; anchoring a first end51of the shoulder strap50to an exterior surface of the dry storage compartment20; providing and attaching a fastener54to the dry storage compartment20; anchoring the fastener54to a second end52of the shoulder strap50respectively; contemporaneously moving the fastener54and the second end52of the shoulder strap50along a bidirectional linear path55defined along a top surface57of the dry storage compartment20; providing and positioning a bottle (not shown) into the cold storage compartment30; removing the bottle from the cold storage compartment30and placing the bottle into the bottle warmer40until contents within the bottle are warmed to a desired temperature; and feeding the warmed contents of the bottle to an infant.

Referring toFIGS. 1-7in general, a multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag10including a dry storage compartment20having an outer perimeter wall85, a cold storage compartment30removably disposed inside the dry storage compartment20wherein the cold storage compartment30has a first side wall86abutted against the outer perimeter wall85, and a bottle warming compartment40removably disposed inside the dry storage compartment20wherein the bottle warming compartment40having a second side wall87abutted against the outer perimeter wall85. A shoulder strap50has a first end51anchored to an exterior surface of the dry storage compartment20, and a fastener54is attached to the dry storage compartment20as well as removably anchored to a second end52of the shoulder strap50respectively (e.g., via snap button, hook and loop fastener, clip, etc.) Notably, the fastener54and the second end52of the shoulder strap50contemporaneously move along a bidirectional linear path defined along a top surface of the dry storage compartment20. Furthermore, the dry storage compartment20is in fluid communication with one of the cold storage compartment30and the bottle warming compartment40. Advantageously, the first side wall86is oppositely spaced from the second side wall87wherein each of the first side wall86and the second side wall87are located inside the dry storage compartment20.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bag10further includes a plurality of first passageways39passing through the outer perimeter wall85and the first side wall86such that the dry storage compartment20is in fluid communication with the cold storage compartment30.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the first passageways39include a plurality of first horizontally-oriented linear passageways35each having a longitudinal length extending through an entire combined thickness of the outer perimeter wall85and the first side wall86, and a plurality of first crisscrossed linear passageways38each having axially opposed ends in direct fluid communication with the first horizontally-oriented linear passageways35, respectively.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the dry storage compartment20is in fluid communication with both of the cold storage compartment30and the bottle warming compartment40.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the bag10further includes a plurality of second passageways49passing through the outer perimeter wall85and the second side wall87such that the dry storage compartment20is in fluid communication with the bottle warming compartment40.

In a non-limiting exemplary embodiment, the second passageways49include a plurality of second horizontally-oriented linear passageways45each having a longitudinal length extending through an entire combined thickness of the outer perimeter wall85and the second side wall87, and a plurality of second crisscrossed linear passageways48each having axially opposed ends in direct fluid communication with the second horizontally-oriented linear passageways45, respectively.

The present disclosure further includes a method of utilizing multipurpose insulated cooler and heater bag10. Such a method includes the steps of: providing a dry storage compartment20having an outer perimeter wall85; providing and removably disposing a cold storage compartment30inside the dry storage compartment20wherein the cold storage compartment30has a first side wall86abutted against the outer perimeter wall85; providing and removably disposing a bottle warming compartment40inside the dry storage compartment20wherein the bottle warming compartment40has a second side wall87abutted against the outer perimeter wall85; oppositely spacing the first side wall86from the second side wall87; locating each the first side wall86and the second side wall87inside the dry storage compartment20; fluidly communicating the dry storage compartment20with one of the cold storage compartment30and the bottle warming compartment40; providing and anchoring a first end51of a shoulder strap50to an exterior surface of the dry storage compartment20; providing and attaching a fastener to the dry storage compartment20; anchoring the fastener to a second end52of the shoulder strap50; and contemporaneously moving the fastener and the second end52of the shoulder strap50along a bidirectional linear path defined along a top surface of the dry storage compartment20.

While the disclosure has been described with respect to a certain specific embodiment, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the disclosure. In particular, with respect to the above description, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the present disclosure may include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation.