US 12,246,905 B2
Soft-sided cooler
Ronald D. Nelson, Sidney, NE (US); David P. Leif, Springfield, MO (US); and Lucas C. Humphreys, Sidney, NE (US)
Assigned to Bass Pro Intellectual Property, L.L.C., Springfield, MO (US)
Filed by Bass Pro Intellectual Property, L.L.C., Springfield, MO (US)
Filed on Apr. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/309,509.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/337,098, filed on Apr. 30, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0348171 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
Int. Cl. B65D 81/38 (2006.01); B65D 43/16 (2006.01); B65D 43/22 (2006.01)
CPC B65D 81/3823 (2013.01) [B65D 43/163 (2013.01); B65D 43/22 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A soft-sided cooler comprising:
a flexible exterior shell having a bottom and a sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom to an upper edge;
a lower frame member secured to the upper edge of the sidewall of the exterior shell;
a flexible interior liner having a bottom and a sidewall projecting upwardly from the bottom to an upper edge;
an upper frame member secured to the upper edge of the sidewall of the flexible interior liner and comprising a seat surface;
a seal member between the upper and lower frame members;
a lid pivotally mounted on the lower frame member with at least one hinge, and pivotable between a closed position, and an open position in which the interior of the cooler is accessible, the lid comprising a lid sealing member surface facing toward the seat surface of the upper frame member; and
a latch mounted on the lower frame member opposite from the at least one hinge, the latch releasably securing the lid against the upper frame member;
wherein at least one of the seat surface and the lid sealing member surface smoothly slope outwardly toward the other then inwardly away from the other forming a peak on opposite sides of the latch, the peak on each opposite side of the latch located at a point intermediate the latch and the at least one hinge, thereby increasing a sealing force between the lid and the upper frame member on each side of the soft-sided cooler, between the latch and the at least one hinge.