Insulating device

Abstract

An insulating device can include an opening having a waterproof closure which allows access to a storage compartment within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure may also prevent any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An insulating device comprising:
 a body assembly comprising an outer shell defining a sidewall;   an inner liner forming a storage compartment;   an insulating layer positioned in between the outer shell and the inner liner, the insulating layer providing insulation for the storage compartment;   a lid assembly;   an opening formed between the body assembly and the lid assembly, the opening configured to allow access to the storage compartment; and   a closure comprising:
 a lid collar structure extending around a perimeter of the lid assembly, comprising a first lateral compression surface and a first longitudinal compression surface; and 
 a body collar structure extending around a perimeter of the body assembly at the opening, comprising a second lateral compression surface and a second longitudinal compression surface, 
   wherein when the closure is closed, the first lateral compression surface of the lid collar structure is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure and the first longitudinal compression surface of the lid collar structure is configured to compress against the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure to seal the opening.   
     
     
         2 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein the closure further comprises:
 a zipper comprising:
 an upper portion extending along a lid collar zipper flange surface; and 
 a lower portion extending along a body collar zipper flange surface, 
   wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are configured to be removably coupled to one another to seal the opening.   
     
     
         3 . The insulating device of  claim 2 , wherein when the closure is closed, the zipper urges the first longitudinal compression surface of the lid collar structure to compress against the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure. 
     
     
         4 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , wherein when the closure is closed, an interference fit compresses the first lateral compression surface of the lid collar structure against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure. 
     
     
         5 . The insulating device of  claim 4 , wherein the lid collar structure comprises a lid rib and the body collar structure comprises a body rib, wherein the lid rib and the body rib are configured to brace the lid collar structure and the body collar structure during compression to form the interference fit. 
     
     
         6 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a V-shaped gasket extending around at least a portion of the lid collar structure, the V-shaped gasket further comprising:
 a seal body; 
 a primary seal arm extending from a first end of the seal body; and 
 a secondary seal arm extending from a second end opposite the first end of the body seal, 
   wherein when the closure is closed, the primary seal arm is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure and the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure.   
     
     
         7 . The insulating device of  claim 6 , wherein the V-shaped gasket further comprises a wiper structure. 
     
     
         8 . The insulating device of  claim 6 , wherein the seal body and the secondary seal arm are configured to compress against an inner wall of a gasket channel to position the V-shaped gasket correctly within the gasket channel. 
     
     
         9 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a dual-seal gasket extending around at least a portion of the lid collar structure, the dual-seal gasket further comprising:
 a primary seal arm; and 
 a secondary seal arm, 
   wherein when the closure is closed, the primary seal arm is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure and the secondary seal arm is configured to compress against the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure.   
     
     
         10 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal gasket extending around at least a portion of the first longitudinal compression surface of the lid collar structure; and   a lateral gasket extending around at least a portion of the first lateral compression surface of the lid collar structure,   wherein when the closure is closed, the longitudinal gasket is configured to compress against the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure and the lateral gasket is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure.   
     
     
         11 . The insulating device of  claim 10 , wherein the lateral gasket further comprises a wiper structure. 
     
     
         12 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plunger, extending from the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure;   a longitudinal gasket channel extending around at least a portion of the first longitudinal compression surface of the lid collar structure; and   a longitudinal gasket, at least a portion of which is configured to be received into the longitudinal gasket channel,   wherein when the closure is closed, the plunger is configured to compress the longitudinal gasket to seal the opening.   
     
     
         13 . The insulating device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lateral gasket channel extending around at least a portion of the first lateral compression surface of the lid collar structure; and   a lateral gasket, at least a portion of which is configured to be received into the lateral gasket channel,   wherein when the closure is closed, the lateral gasket is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface to seal the opening.   
     
     
         14 . An insulating device comprising:
 a body assembly comprising a storage compartment;   a lid assembly;   an opening formed between the body assembly and the lid assembly, the opening configured to allow access to the storage compartment; and   a closure adapted to substantially seal the opening, the closure comprising:
 a lid collar structure extending around a perimeter of the lid assembly; and 
 a body collar structure extending around a perimeter of the body assembly at the opening, 
   wherein when the closure is closed, at least a portion of the lid collar structure is configured to compress against at least a portion of the body collar structure to seal the opening.   
     
     
         15 . The insulating device of  claim 14 , wherein the lid collar structure further comprises a first longitudinal compression element and a first lateral compression element, and wherein the body collar structure further comprises a second longitudinal compression element and a second lateral compression element. 
     
     
         16 . The insulating device of  claim 15 , wherein the closure further comprises:
 a zipper, comprising:
 an upper portion extending along a lid collar zipper flange surface; and 
 a lower portion extending along a body collar zipper flange surface, 
   wherein the upper portion and the lower portion are configured to be removably coupled to one another to seal the opening.   
     
     
         17 . The insulating device of  claim 16 , wherein when the closure is closed, the zipper urges the first longitudinal compression element of the lid collar structure to compress against the second longitudinal compression element of the body collar structure. 
     
     
         18 . The insulating device of  claim 17 , wherein when the closure is closed, an interference fit compresses the first lateral compression element of the lid collar structure against the first lateral compression element of the body collar structure. 
     
     
         19 . The insulating device of  claim 18 , wherein the lid collar structure comprises a lid rib and the body collar structure comprises a body rib, wherein the lid rib and the body rib are configured to brace the lid collar structure and the body collar structure during compression to form the interference fit. 
     
     
         20 . The insulating device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a V-shaped gasket extending around at least a portion of the lid collar structure, the V-shaped gasket further comprising:
 a seal body; 
 a primary seal arm extending from a first end of the seal body; and 
 a secondary seal arm extending from a second end opposite the first end of the body seal, 
   wherein when the closure is closed, the primary seal arm is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure and the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure.   
     
     
         21 . The insulating device of  claim 20 , wherein the V-shaped gasket further comprises a wiper structure. 
     
     
         22 . The insulating device of  claim 20 , wherein the seal body and the secondary seal arm are configured to compress against an inner wall of a gasket channel to position the V-shaped gasket correctly within the gasket channel. 
     
     
         23 . The insulating device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a dual-seal gasket extending around at least a portion of the lid collar structure, the dual-seal gasket further comprising:
 a primary seal arm; and 
 a secondary seal arm, 
   wherein when the closure is closed, the primary seal arm is configured to compress against the second lateral compression surface of the body collar structure and the secondary seal arm is configured to compress against the second longitudinal compression surface of the body collar structure.   
     
     
         24 . The insulating device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a longitudinal gasket extending around at least a portion of the first longitudinal compression element of the lid collar structure; and   a lateral gasket extending around at least a portion of the first lateral compression element of the lid collar structure,   wherein when the closure is closed, the longitudinal gasket is configured to compress against the second longitudinal compression element of the body collar structure and the lateral gasket is configured to compress against the second lateral compression element of the body collar structure.   
     
     
         25 . The insulating device of  claim 24 , wherein the lateral gasket further comprises a wiper structure. 
     
     
         26 . The insulating device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a plunger, extending from the body collar structure;   a longitudinal gasket channel extending around at least a portion of the lid collar structure; and   a longitudinal gasket, at least a portion of which is configured to be received into the longitudinal gasket channel,   wherein when the closure is closed, the plunger is configured to compress the longitudinal gasket to seal the opening.   
     
     
         27 . The insulating device of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a lateral gasket channel extending around at least a portion of the lid collar structure; and   a lateral gasket, at least a portion of which is configured to be received into the lateral gasket channel,   wherein when the closure is closed, the lateral gasket is configured to compress against the body collar structure to seal the opening.   
     
     
         28 . A method of forming an insulating device comprising:
 forming an inner liner first portion and an outer shell first portion;   securing the inner liner first portion to the outer shell first portion to form a lid assembly;   forming an inner liner second portion and an outer shell second portion;   securing the inner liner second portion to the outer shell second portion to form a body assembly, wherein the body assembly comprises an opening into a storage compartment;   forming a sealable closure of the opening into the storage compartment, comprising:
 forming a lid collar structure extending around a perimeter of the lid assembly; and 
 forming a body collar structure extending around a perimeter of the body assembly, 
   wherein the lid collar structure is configured to compress against the body collar structure to resealably seal the sealable closure.