Soft-sided cooler with quick access opening

Abstract

Quick access to the interior of a soft-sided cooler is provided by means of a quick access flap ( 26 ) hinged to the top panel ( 18 ) of a cooler body ( 10 ) and overlying an access opening ( 30 ). A tab ( 36 ) is made of material of significantly greater flexibility than that of which the flap ( 26 ) or the top panel ( 18 ) are formed and extends beyond the envelope of the top panel ( 18 ) so as to be readily graspable by the user of the cooler without forming a snag point on the cooler.

1 . In a soft-sided, portable cooler having a cooler body including an insulated pliable bottom wall, an insulated pliable side wall joined to and extending in upstanding-fashion about the periphery of the bottom wall, the side wall including an upper loading/unloading access opening to the interior of the cooler body, an insulated pliable top panel sized to close the loading/unloading access opening and hinged to said side wall at or near said upper loading/unloading access opening, a zipper-like closing device extending about the upper loading/unloading access opening and the periphery of the top panel for selectively securing the top panel in a position closing said loading/unloading access opening, and a quick access structure including a quick access opening in the top panel, a flap on the top panel and within the envelope thereof and hinged to the top panel within the envelope to be movable between positions opening and closing the quick access opening, a body of insulating material carried by the flap in alignment with the quick access opening, and a quick release fastener at a first location at the interface of the flap and the top panel generally opposite a second location whereat the flap is hinged to the top panel, the improvement including an opening tab secured to said flap at or adjacent said first location and directed away from said second location, said tab being formed of a material of greater flexibility than said flap or said top panel to be easily gripped by a user of the cooler without forming a snag point on the cooler.  
     
     
         2 . In a soft-sided, portable cooler having a cooler body including an insulated pliable bottom wall, an insulated pliable side wall joined to and extending in upstanding-fashion about the periphery of the bottom wall, the side wall including an upper loading/unloading access opening to the interior of the cooler body, an insulated pliable top panel sized to close the loading/unloading access opening and hinged to said side wall at or near said upper loading/unloading access opening, a zipper-like closing device extending about the upper loading/unloading access opening and the periphery of the top panel for selectively securing the top panel in a position closing said loading/unloading access opening, and a quick access structure including a quick access opening in the top panel, a flap on the top panel and within the envelope thereof and hinged to the top panel within the envelope to be movable between positions opening and closing the quick access opening, a body of insulating material carried by the flap in alignment with the quick access opening, and a quick release fastener at a first location at the interface of the flap and the top panel generally opposite a second location whereat the flap is hinged to the top panel, the improvement including an opening tab secured to said flap at or adjacent said first location and directed away from said second location, said tab extending outside the envelope of the top panel to be readily grippable by a user of the cooler.  
     
     
         3 . In a soft-sided, portable cooler having a cooler body including an insulated pliable bottom wall, an insulated pliable side wall joined to and extending in upstanding-fashion about the periphery of the bottom wall, the side wall including an upper loading/unloading access opening to the interior of the cooler body, an insulated pliable top panel sized to close the loading/unloading access opening and hinged to said side wall at or near said upper loading/unloading access opening, a zipper-like closing device extending about the upper loading/unloading access opening and the periphery of the top panel for selectively securing the top panel in a position closing said loading/unloading access opening, and a quick access structure including a quick access opening in the top panel, a flap on the top panel and within the envelope thereof and hinged to the top panel within the envelope to be movable between positions opening and closing the quick access opening, a body of insulating material carried by the flap in alignment with the quick access opening, and a quick release fastener at a first location at the interface of the flap and the top panel generally opposite a second location whereat the flap is hinged to the top panel, the improvement including an opening tab secured to said flap at or adjacent said first location and directed away from said second location, said tab being formed of a material of greater flexibility than said top panel and extending outside the envelope of the top panel.  
     
     
         4 . The soft-sided, portable cooler of  claim 3  wherein said side wall includes a relatively short skirt secured to and depending from said top panel and aligned with said upper loading/unloading access opening and said zipper-like closing device is operable to secure said side wall skirt to said side wall at said upper loading/unloading access opening.  
     
     
         5 . The soft-sided, portable cooler of  claim 4  wherein said tab further extends somewhat past the side wall of upper section of the cooler body.