Backpack cooler with gable style closure

Abstract

A backpack cooler comprised of a flexible exterior defined by flexible opposing front and back panels, a pair of side panels, a bottom panel and a top gable style closure to provide access to the interior is disclosed. The back panel includes a pair of straps secured to the top and bottom portion thereto for permitting the cooler to be worn on a person's back. The bottom panel is provided with molded feet in order to provide stability and prevent tipping of the cooler when placed on a flat surface. The gable style closure includes magnets at the opening to close the opening, forming a fin that is foldable to be parallel with the top of the cooler to provide a low profile, and to further prevent air from being exchanged with the air inside of the cooler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A backpack cooler comprising:
 a flexible front panel, a flexible back panel, a flexible left side panel, a flexible right side panel and a partially flexible bottom panel, said front panel, said back panel, said left side panel, said right side panel and said bottom panel secured together along their respective edges to construct a parallelepiped shape that includes a hollow interior, a top portion of said front panel, said back panel, said left side panel, and said right side panel including permanent crease lines arranged to cause said top portion of said front panel, said back panel, said left side panel, and said right side panel to fold as a gable style closure to close and provide access to said hollow interior, said back panel further including a pair of shoulder straps, a first end of said shoulder straps affixed to said back panel just below said top portion of said back panel, a second end of said shoulder straps affixed to said back panel at a bottom portion thereof in a manner that allows the assembly to worn as said backpack cooler.   
     
     
         2 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein said front panel includes a first crease positioned between said front panel and said top portion of said front panel and a first fin crease, said first crease and said first fin crease extending substantially parallel with respect to each other and horizontally across said front panel;
 said back panel including a second crease positioned between said back panel and said top portion of said back panel, said back panel also including a second fin crease, said second crease and said second fin crease extending substantially parallel with respect to each other and horizontally across said back panel; 
 said left side panel including a first vertical crease positioned at the center portion of said upper portion of said left side panel, said left side panel including a third crease positioned between said left side panel and said upper portion of said left side panel, said left side panel including a third fin crease, said third crease and said third fin crease extending substantially parallel with respect to each other and horizontally across said left side panel, said left side panel also including a pair of converging triangle creases extending from said third crease to said first vertical crease; 
 said right side panel including a second vertical crease positioned at the center portion of said upper portion of said right side panel, said right side panel including a fourth crease positioned between said right side panel and said upper portion of said right side panel, said right side panel including a fourth fin crease, said fourth crease and said fourth fin crease extending substantially parallel with respect to each other and horizontally across said right side panel, said right side panel also including a pair of converging second triangle creases extending from said fourth crease to said second vertical crease; 
 said creases providing bend lines for forming said gable style closure. 
 
     
     
         3 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein said front panel, said back panel, said left side panel and said right side panel each include an outer layer of flexible material, a middle layer of insulation and an inner layer of heat reflective material. 
     
     
         4 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein said outer layer of flexible material is fabric. 
     
     
         5 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein said fabric is waterproof. 
     
     
         6 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein said bottom panel is constructed to be rigid. 
     
     
         7 . The backpack cooler of  claim 6  wherein said bottom panel is formed from a formed polyvinyl sheet. 
     
     
         8 . The backpack cooler of  claim 6  wherein said bottom panel includes rubber feet. 
     
     
         9 . The backpack cooler of  claim 8  wherein said rubber feet are integrally molded to said bottom panel. 
     
     
         10 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein a first fin portion of said front panel, above said first fin crease includes a magnet, a second fin portion of said back panel including a magnetic material, whereby said first fin portion and said second fin portion are attracted to each other to close said backpack cooler. 
     
     
         11 . The backpack cooler of  claim 10  wherein said first fin portion and said second fin portion have sufficient length to be folded flat against a top surface of said backpack cooler. 
     
     
         12 . The backpack cooler of  claim 11  including a fastener to retain said fin in said folded flat position. 
     
     
         13 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  wherein said back panel includes a hand grip for carrying said backpack cooler by hand. 
     
     
         14 . The backpack cooler of  claim 1  including a removable and replaceable bag liner for covering the inside surface of said hollow interior of said backpack cooler.