Nestable coolers

Abstract

Various examples are provided for a nestable cooler and a nestable cooler system. In one embodiment, the nestable cooler includes a hard-shelled body. A lid is coupled to the hard-shelled body and movable between an open position and a closed position. The hard-shelled body includes a first and a second longitudinal sides formed with a shelf on an interior surface of each of the first and second longitudinal sides, each shelf protruding inwardly into a cavity. The nestable cooler system can include the nestable cooler and a second nestable cooler. A base of the second nestable cooler can rest on the shelf when the second nestable cooler is disposed within the cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A nestable cooler, comprising:
 a hard-shelled body comprising:
 a base having a first longitudinal edge that is opposite a second longitudinal edge and a first latitudinal edge opposite a second latitudinal edge; 
 a first longitudinal side extending vertically from the first longitudinal edge of the base and a second longitudinal side extending vertically from the second longitudinal edge; and 
 a first latitudinal side extending vertically from the first latitudinal edge of the base and a second latitudinal side extending vertically from the second latitudinal edge, and 
   a lid coupled to the hard-shelled body and movable between an open position and a closed position,   wherein the base, the first and second longitudinal sides, and the first and second latitudinal sides are coupled together to form a cavity therein and an opening is formed at distal ends of each of the first and second longitudinal sides and the first and second latitudinal sides,   wherein each of the first and second longitudinal sides and the first and second latitudinal sides extend vertically away from the base at an obtuse angle, the opening being larger than the base, and   wherein when the lid is in the open position, the lid provides access to the opening and the cavity.   
     
     
         2 . The nestable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the hard-shelled body comprises an inner liner and an outer shell, the inner liner disposed within and coupled to the outer shell forming a gap therebetween. 
     
     
         3 . The nestable cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the gap is filled with at least one of: an insulating material, or air. 
     
     
         4 . The nestable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second longitudinal sides are formed with a shelf on an interior surface of each of the first and second longitudinal sides, each shelf protruding inwardly into the cavity. 
     
     
         5 . The nestable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second latitudinal sides are formed with a shelf on an interior surface of each of the first and second latitudinal sides, each shelf protruding inwardly into the cavity. 
     
     
         6 . The nestable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the lid comprises a ring and a cover coupled to and disposed over the ring, the cover being movable between the open position and the closed position. 
     
     
         7 . The nestable cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the cover comprises a hatch that can be rotatably pivoted between a second open position and a second closed position. 
     
     
         8 . The nestable cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the cover is fabricated using a soft material. 
     
     
         9 . The nestable cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the cover comprises an upper portion, a lower portion and a transitional portion, the lower portion being coupled to and positioned around the ring, the upper portion being moveable from the open position to the closed position, the transitional portion coupling the lower portion to the upper portion, the cover further comprising a zipper coupled to the upper portion and the lower portion from one end of the transitional portion around the cover to an opposing end of the transitional portion, the zipper able to zip and unzip the upper portion from the lower portion along at least three ends of the cover that are coupled to the ring. 
     
     
         10 . The nestable cooler of  claim 9 , wherein the lower portion of the cover are coupled to the ring comprises directly stitching a thread between the lower portion of the cover and the ring. 
     
     
         11 . The nestable cooler of  claim 9 , wherein the cover extends beyond the base when in a fully open position, the fully open position being when the upper portion of the cover is pivoted up and around the transitional portion of the cover that is permanently affixed to the lower portion of the cover that is coupled to the ring when the lid is coupled to the hard-shelled body. 
     
     
         12 . The nestable cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the ring is coupled to upper ends of the hard-shelled body using at least one of heat staking, snap fit and welding. 
     
     
         13 . The nestable cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a first handle comprising:
 a first arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the first longitudinal side and a distal end; 
 a second arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the second longitudinal side opposite the first arm and a distal end; and 
 a transverse arm extending from the distal end of the first arm to the distal end of the second arm; and 
   a second handle comprising:
 a first arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the first longitudinal side and a distal end; 
 a second arm comprising a proximal end coupled to the second longitudinal side opposite the first arm of the second handle and a distal end; and 
 a transverse arm extending from the distal end of the first arm of the second handle to the distal end of the second arm of the second handle, the transverse arm forming a cavity therein, 
   wherein the first handle is rotatable from adjacent the first latitudinal side to over the lid and the second handle is rotatable from adjacent the second latitudinal side to over the lid, and   wherein the transverse arm of the first handle interlocks with the transverse arm of the second handle when a portion of the transverse arm of the first handle is received within the cavity formed in the transverse arm of the second handle.   
     
     
         14 . The nestable cooler of  claim 13 , wherein the cavity of the transverse arm of the second handle extends a length of the transverse arm of the second handle. 
     
     
         15 . A nestable cooler system, comprising:
 a first nestable cooler, comprising:
 a hard-shelled body comprising:
 a base having a first longitudinal edge that is opposite a second longitudinal edge and a first latitudinal edge opposite a second latitudinal edge; 
 a first longitudinal side extending vertically from the first longitudinal edge of the base and a second longitudinal side extending vertically from the second longitudinal edge; and 
 a first latitudinal side extending vertically from the first latitudinal edge of the base and a second latitudinal side extending vertically from the second latitudinal edge, and 
 
 a lid coupled to the hard-shelled body and movable between an open position and a closed position, 
 wherein the base, the first and second longitudinal sides, and the first and second latitudinal sides are coupled together to form a cavity therein and an opening is formed at distal ends of each of the first and second longitudinal sides and the first and second latitudinal sides, 
 wherein each of the first and second longitudinal sides and the first and second latitudinal sides extend vertically away from the base at an obtuse angle, the opening being larger than the base, 
 wherein when the lid is in the open position, the lid provides access to the opening and the cavity, 
 wherein a shelf is formed on at least one of an interior surface of each of the first and second longitudinal sides and an interior surface of each of the first and second latitudinal sides, the shelf protruding inwardly into the cavity; and 
   a second nestable cooler having a base and formed the same as the first nestable cooler,   wherein the second nestable cooler is insertable into the cavity through the opening of the first nestable cooler when the lid of the first nestable cooler is in the open position, the base of the second nestable cooler resting on the shelf.   
     
     
         16 . The nestable cooler system of  claim 15 , wherein a space is formed between an outer surface of the hard-shelled body of the second nestable cooler and an inner surface of the hard-shelled body of the first nestable cooler when the second nestable cooler is disposed within the cavity of the first nestable cooler. 
     
     
         17 . The nestable cooler system of  claim 15 , wherein the shelf is formed within an inner surface of the hard-shelled body of the first nestable cooler so that 20% to 60% of the second nestable cooler is disposed within the first nestable cooler when the second nestable cooler is inserted into the cavity through the opening of the first nestable cooler and the shelf of the first nestable cooler provides support to the second nestable cooler. 
     
     
         18 . The nestable cooler system of  claim 15 , wherein the shelf is formed within an inner surface of the hard-shelled body of the first nestable cooler so that 30% to 55% of the second nestable cooler is disposed within the first nestable cooler when the second nestable cooler is inserted into the cavity through the opening of the first nestable cooler and the shelf of the first nestable cooler provides support to the second nestable cooler. 
     
     
         19 . The nestable cooler system of  claim 15 , wherein the shelf is formed within an inner surface of the hard-shelled body of the first nestable cooler so that 45% to 55% of the second nestable cooler is disposed within the first nestable cooler when the second nestable cooler is inserted into the cavity through the opening of the first nestable cooler and the shelf of the first nestable cooler provides support to the second nestable cooler. 
     
     
         20 . The nestable cooler system of  claim 15 , wherein the shelf is formed within an inner surface of the hard-shelled body of the first nestable cooler so that 47% to 53% of the second nestable cooler is disposed within the first nestable cooler when the second nestable cooler is inserted into the cavity through the opening of the first nestable cooler and the shelf of the first nestable cooler provides support to the second nestable cooler.