Patent Publication Number: US-6336577-B1

Title: Backpack cooler

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention is broadly concerned with a backpack cooler of a type which may be worn on the back of a person. More particularly, the invention pertains to such a backpack cooler which is thermally insulated and water-impervious, thereby allowing canned or bottled drinks or the like to be efficiently cooled by a coolant source while the weight of such drinks is easily carried owing to the backpack design. 
     2. Description of the Prior Art 
     Portable coolers of various shapes and sizes have long been available. These coolers can be formed of polyurethane foam materials, or hard synthetic resin materials which are thermally insulated. As any experienced picnicker or hiker will attest, the weight of a filled medium to large size cooler can be considerable. Thus, these coolers are not only unwieldy but the weight thereof precludes easy transport. 
     It has also been known in the past to provide coolers of flexible design which are typically of relatively small size and adapted to be hand carried. While these coolers ameliorate the weight problem, the small size thereof detracts from their usefulness. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention overcomes the problems outlined above, and provides a backpack cooler which is designed to be worn on the back of a user. At the same time, the cooler is of sufficient size to accommodate a large supply of drinks or food to be cooled. Broadly speaking, the cooler of the invention comprises a flexible enclosure including front and rear walls, sidewalls, a bottom wall, and an openable top panel in order to afford access to the enclosure interior. The walls of the enclosure include an outer layer of fabric, an inner facing of heat reflective foil, and a thermal insulation layer between the outer fabric layer and foil facing. 
     In addition, a continuous, water-impervious liner is located within the enclosure and is secured to at least certain of the enclosure walls. The liner preferably is flexible and generally conforms with the inner surfaces of the enclosure walls, and serves to prevent leakage of moisture from the enclosure. If desired, a drain plug may be fashioned in the bottom wall of the enclosure, which opens into the interior of the enclosure through the liner. In this fashion, collected water may be drained from the enclosure as desired. 
     A pair of adjustable shoulder back straps are also secured to the exterior of the enclosure, allowing the entire cooler to be worn on a person&#39;s back. 
     In preferred embodiments, the cooler is provided with exterior pockets which are adapted to hold various objects. Such pockets can be located anywhere in the cooler and closed by any conventional closure devices including buttons, snaps, buckles, hook and loop fasteners, zippers. Other preferred embodiments will also include a pocket wherein elastic mesh netting or cargo netting is used to secure items between the exterior of the cooler and such netting. In these embodiments, the flexibility and elasticity of the netting provides sufficient bias against items in the pocket so as to secure the items in the pocket without the need for a pocket closing flap. 
     In use, beverages or food together with a coolant source such as ice may be placed within the enclosure, and the top panel closed. In this condition, the loaded cooler can be worn on a person&#39;s back, thereby distributing the load and making it easier to carry the otherwise heavy and burdensome load. As the cooler is worn, access may be had to the interior thereof by opening the top panel. Similarly, when the backpack is removed from the person carrying it, it serves as a regular cooler. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the preferred backpack cooler, showing the top panel open and with parts broken away to illustrate the construction of the cooler; and 
     FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the backpack cooler, illustrating the backpack shoulder straps and external side pockets. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Turning now to the drawing, a backpack cooler  10  in accordance with the invention includes a flexible enclosure  12  with a pair of spaced, parallel backpack shoulder straps  14  secured thereto. The cooler of the invention is designed to hold and cool food and/or canned or bottled beverages and can be worn on a person&#39;s back in the manner of a conventional backpack to aid in the transportation of such beverages. 
     In more detail, the enclosure  12  is flexible in nature and includes opposed front and rear walls  16 ,  18  respectively, sidewalls  20 ,  22 , bottom wall  24  and a top panel  26 . Each of the walls  16 - 24  are of layered construction and in preferred forms are identically constructed. Taking for example front wall  16 , the wall includes an outermost layer of flexible fabric  28  (preferably a nylon canvas-like material or cordura-like material which may be of any color scheme or decorated with camouflage or other markings) with an inner facing of reflective foil  30 . A layer of thermal insulation material  32  is sandwiched between the fabric layer  28  and foil facing  30 . Preferred insulation materials include synthetic resins such as vinyl plastic or PVC. Of course, any conventional insulation material could be used. The remaining walls  18 - 24  and top panel  26  are of the same construction. The respective walls are interconnected by stitching along lines  34 - 48  as shown, in order to present the upright enclosure  12 . Additionally, the top panel  26  is hingedly secured to rear wall  18  along stitch line  50 . A zipper  52  is provided about the upper periphery of the walls  16 ,  20  and  22  for closure of panel  26 . 
     The enclosure  12  is also equipped with a continuous, water impervious liner  54  which is secured by stitching to the upper periphery of the walls  16 - 22 , but is free of connection with bottom wall  24 . The liner  54  serves to prevent leakage of moisture from the enclosure  12 , and is preferably formed of light-transmitting flexible synthetic resin material, most preferably transparent vinyl plastic. As shown, the liner  52  is of length to extend from the upper margin of the enclosure downwardly into a generally conforming relationship with the interior surfaces of the enclosure  12 . In like manner, the inner face of top panel  26  has the same liner material secured thereto, forming a top panel liner  56 . 
     In order to enhance the utility of the cooler  10 , a series of external pockets is provided. First, a pair of elongated pockets  58  and  60  are secured to the sidewalls  20  and  22 . The pockets are formed of the same fabric material as used for the fabric layer  28 , and have a closable top cover  62 ,  64  with mating Velcro strips  66  used to releasably secure the covers in their closed positions. In addition, a larger pocket  67  is formed by the addition of an extra panel  68  of the fabric  28 , stitched to the bottom portion of front wall  16 . A zipper  70  is provided to permit closure of this pocket. Finally, a secondary pocket  72  is formed by the addition of a stretch of mesh material  74  stitched to the panel  68 . As an alternate carrying means, the top panel  26  has a hand strap  76  sewn to the outer fabric layer thereof. 
     The straps  14  are sewn to the rear wall  18 , along stitch line  50 . Each strap includes a padded uppermost segment  78  with a lower web  80  which is stitched to the lines  34  and  38 , respectively. An adjustment buckle  82  is provided near the bottom of each strap, in order to allow length adjustment thereof.