Multi-pocket carrier adapted for use with a cooler and the like and method therefor

Abstract

A portable cooler assembly is provided for transporting food and accessory items. The cooler assembly generally includes a container body, a lid, and a carrier. The container body includes a bottom wall and an interior that defines a food storage chamber. The carrier is adapted to straddle the container body and has first and second pouches joined together by an interconnecting member. The interconnecting member may be adjustable and may further span the container body, suspending the first and second pouches therefrom. The pouches may include an array of compartments, including juxtaposed elongated pockets and auxiliary pockets. A method of transporting food and picnic related items with a picnic cooler is also provided and includes the step of suspending a pouch from a picnic cooler.

1 . A portable cooler assembly for transporting food and accessory items therefore, comprising: 
 (A) a container body including 
 (1) a bottom wall;  
 (2) a surrounding sidewall extending upwardly from said bottom wall having an outer surface and an inner surface wherein the inner surface and said bottom wall together form an interior defining a food storage chamber adapted to receive selected food items;  
   (B) a lid adapted to be supported by said container body and movable between an open position to permit access to the food storage chamber and a closed position to enclose the food storage chamber;    (C) a carrier adapted to straddle said container body when in a mounted state, including 
 (1) first and second pouches adapted to receive selected food accessory items; and  
 (2) an interconnecting member sized and adapted to join said first and second pouches and span said container body when in the mounted state wherein said first and second pouches are suspended thereby in confronting relationship with the outer surface of said surrounding sidewall.  
   
   
   
       2 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each said first and second pouches includes a backing adapted to confront the outer surface of said surrounding sidewall.  
   
   
       3 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said backing is formed of a material selected from a group consisting cardboard, wood, metal, nylon, polypropylene, polyethylene, and polyvinyl chloride.  
   
   
       4 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 2  wherein said backing is formed of a stiff material.  
   
   
       5 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 4  wherein said stiff material is flexible.  
   
   
       6 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 2  including a shield associated with said backing.  
   
   
       7 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 6  wherein said shield is a foam panel.  
   
   
       8 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said interconnecting member is a strap.  
   
   
       9 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 8  wherein said strap has an adjustable length.  
   
   
       10 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 1  including a plurality of interconnecting members.  
   
   
       11 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 1  wherein said surrounding sidewall terminates in a top rim and said interconnecting member is interposed between said top rim and said lid when said lid is in the closed position  
   
   
       12 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 1  wherein each of said first and second pouches includes an array of compartments for receiving selected food items.  
   
   
       13 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 12  wherein said array of compartments includes a plurality of juxtaposed elongated pockets and a plurality of juxtaposed auxiliary pockets.  
   
   
       14 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 13  wherein at least one of said elongated pockets and auxiliary pockets includes a closure selected from the group consisting of cooperating hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, buttons, and ties.  
   
   
       15 . A portable cooler assembly for transporting food and accessory items therefor, comprising: 
 (A) a rectangular container body including 
 (1) a bottom wall;  
 (2) a front wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall;  
 (3) a back wall spaced apart from said front wall and extending upwardly from said bottom wall;  
 (4) a pair of spaced apart opposing end walls extending between said front and back walls to define a food storage chamber adapted to receive selected food items;  
   (B) a lid adapted to be supported by said container body and movable between an open position to permit access to the food storage chamber and a closed position to enclose the food storage chamber;    (C) a carrier adapted to span the food storage chamber when in a mounted state, including 
 (1) first and second pouches adapted to receive selected food accessory items; and  
 (2) an interconnecting member sized and adapted to join said first and second pouches and span the food storage chamber when in the mounted state wherein 
 (a) said first pouch is suspended thereby in confronting relationship with one of said front and back walls; and  
 (b) said second pouch is suspended thereby in confronting relationship with the other one of said front and back walls.  
 
   
   
   
       16 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 15  wherein each said first and second pouches includes a backing adapted to confront a respective one of said front and back walls.  
   
   
       17 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 16  wherein said backing has a generally rectangular configuration.  
   
   
       19 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 15  including a plurality of interconnecting members.  
   
   
       20 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said interconnecting member includes a first free end and a second free end.  
   
   
       21 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 20  including a first connector disposed proximate to said first free end and a second connector disposed proximate to said second free end wherein said first and second connectors are adapted to releasably engage one another.  
   
   
       22 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said first and second pouches include a plurality of juxtaposed elongated pockets and a plurality of juxtaposed auxiliary pockets.  
   
   
       23 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 22  wherein at least one of said elongated pockets and auxiliary pockets includes a closure selected from the group consisting of cooperating hook and loop fasteners, zippers, snaps, buttons, and ties.  
   
   
       24 . A portable cooler assembly according to  claim 15  wherein said lid has an outer surface and an opposing inner surface and wherein said interconnecting member is adapted to be disposed in a confronting relationship to the outer surface of said lid when in the mounted state.  
   
   
       25 . A carrier apparatus adapted for use with a picnic cooler to transport selected picnic related items wherein said picnic cooler includes an insulated container body having a bottom wall and a surrounding sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define an insulated food storage chamber, and a lid sized and adapted to enclose the food storage chamber, said carrier apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a first pouch, including 
 (1) a first backing of a selected size and configuration; and  
 (2) a first set of a plurality of juxtaposed pockets supported by said first backing and sized and adapted to receive selected picnic related items; and  
   (B) a second pouch, including 
 (1) a second backing of a selected size and configuration; and  
 (2) a second set of a plurality of juxtaposed pockets supported by said second backing and sized and adapted to receive selected picnic related items; and  
   (C) a bridge member having a first end portion adapted to attach to said first backing and a second end portion adapted to attach to said second backing wherein said bridge member is sized and adapted to span the food storage chamber in a mounted state and suspend said first and second pouches therefrom whereby each of said first and second pouches is in a confronting relationship with said surrounding sidewall.    
   
   
       26 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said first backing and said second backing are of substantially the same size and shape.  
   
   
       27 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 25  wherein said bridge member is a strap.  
   
   
       28 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 27  wherein said strap includes 
 (A) a first free end;    (B) a second free end;    (C) a first fastener disposed proximate to said first free end; and    (D) a second fastener disposed proximate to said second free end and adapted to engage said first fastener.    
   
   
       29 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 28  wherein said first and second fasteners are selected from the group consisting of hook and loop fasteners, buckles, snaps, buttons, and hook and eye fasteners.  
   
   
       30 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 25  including a shield associated with a respective said first and second backing.  
   
   
       31 . A carrier apparatus adapted for use with a picnic cooler to transport selected picnic related items wherein said picnic cooler includes a rectangular container body having a bottom wall and a surrounding sidewall extending upwardly therefrom to define a food storage chamber, and a lid sized and adapted to enclose the food storage chamber, said carrier apparatus comprising: 
 (A) a first pouch having a plurality of juxtaposed pockets sized and adapted to receive selected picnic related items; and    (B) a first suspension member adapted to interconnect said first pouch to said container body and suspend said first pouch therefrom in a confronting relationship with said surrounding sidewall.    
   
   
       32 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 31 , including 
 (A) a second pouch having a plurality of juxtaposed pockets sized and adapted to receive selected picnic related items; and    (B) a second suspension member adapted to interconnect said second pouch with said container body and suspend said second pouch therefrom in a confronting relationship with said surrounding sidewall.    
   
   
       33 . A carrier apparatus according to  claim 32  wherein said first suspension member and said second suspension member are adapted to engage one another to define a bridge piece adapted to span the food storage chamber.  
   
   
       34 . A method of transporting food and picnic related items with a picnic cooler wherein said picnic cooler includes an insulated container body having a bottom wall and a perimeter wall to define an insulated food storage chamber, a mouth region adapted to provide access to the food storage chamber, and a lid sized and adapted to enclose the food storage chamber, comprising the steps of: 
 (A) packing selected food items to be transported into the insulated food storage chamber at a first location;    (B) suspending a pouch from said picnic cooler;    (C) packing selected food and picnic related items into said pouch; and    (D) moving said picnic cooler to a second location.    
   
   
       35 . A method of transporting food and picnic related items according to  claim 34  including the step of suspending a second pouch from said picnic cooler.  
   
   
       36 . A method of transporting food and picnic related items according to  claim 35  including the step of interconnecting said pouch and said second pouch by means of a bridge piece that is placed in a spanning relationship across a top portion of said picnic cooler.  
   
   
       37 . A method of transporting food and picnic related items according to  claim 34  including the step of enclosing the food storage chamber.