Patio Cooler

Abstract

A patio cooler includes a cooler basin defining a liner receptacle. A flexible liner is disposed in the liner receptacle and defines a cooler receptacle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A patio cooler comprising:
 a cooler basin defining a liner receptacle;   a subframe coupled with the cooler basin and surrounding the liner receptacle;   a lid comprising:
 a cover panel that defines an interior receptacle; and 
 a substructure disposed within interior receptacle and coupled to the cover panel; and 
   a slide assembly comprising:
 an inner slide member coupled to the subframe; and 
 an outer slide member coupled to the substructure, wherein the outer slide member and the inner slide member are slidably coupled together to facilitate sliding of the lid with respect to the cooler basin along a centerline between an opened position and a closed position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The patio cooler of  claim 1  wherein:
 the inner slide member is formed of aluminum; and 
 the outer slide member is formed of a thermoplastic. 
 
     
     
         3 . The patio cooler of  claim 2  wherein:
 the inner slide member is formed of anodized aluminum; and 
 the outer slide member is formed of Ultra High Molecular Weight Polyethylene. 
 
     
     
         4 . The patio cooler of  claim 1  wherein:
 the substructure is attached to the cover panel with a plurality of first fasteners; and 
 the outer slide member is attached to the substructure with a plurality of second fasteners that do not extend into the cover panel. 
 
     
     
         5 . The patio cooler of  claim 1  wherein:
 the outer slide member comprises a base portion and a head portion that extends from the base portion; 
 the base portion has a first width; and 
 the head portion has a second width that is less than the first width. 
 
     
     
         6 . The patio cooler of  claim 5  wherein a ratio of the first width to the second width is about 5:4. 
     
     
         7 . The patio cooler of  claim 5  wherein:
 the inner slide member comprises a base portion and a pair of outer rail portions that extend from the base portion and are spaced from each other; 
 each outer rail portion has a first height; 
 at least one rib portion that extends from the base portion and is interposed between the outer rail portions; and 
 the at least one rib portion has a second height that is shorter than the first height. 
 
     
     
         8 . The patio cooler of  claim 7  wherein the head portion is disposed between the outer rail portions and the outer rail portions are slidably coupled with the head portion. 
     
     
         9 . The patio cooler of  claim 1  further comprising a flexible liner that is at least partially disposed in the liner receptacle and is formed of a thermally insulating material. 
     
     
         10 . The patio cooler of  claim 9  wherein:
 the flexible liner comprises a floor and a plurality of walls that extend from the floor and cooperate with each other and the floor to define a cooler receptacle; 
 the flexible liner comprises a plurality of tab portions; 
 each tab portion of the plurality of tab portions extends from respective ones of the walls; and 
 each of the tab portions extend over one of the walls and are releasably coupled thereto. 
 
     
     
         11 . The patio cooler of  claim 10  wherein the floor defines a drain port. 
     
     
         12 . The patio cooler of  claim 10  wherein:
 each wall is coupled with adjacent ones of the walls and the floor along a plurality of seams; and 
 each seam of the plurality of seams comprises a thermally bonded seam. 
 
     
     
         13 . A patio cooler comprising:
 a cooler basin comprising:
 a first floor; and 
 a plurality of first walls that extend from the first floor and cooperate with the first floor to define a liner receptacle; and 
   a flexible liner formed of a thermally insulating material and selectively installable in the liner receptacle, the flexible liner comprising:
 a second floor; 
 a plurality of second walls that extend from the second floor and cooperate with each other and the second floor to define a cooler receptacle; and 
 a plurality of tab portions, each tab portion of the plurality of tab portions extending from respective ones of the second walls, wherein:
 the flexible liner is selectively collapsible into a substantially flat shape by folding the walls inwardly towards the floor; and 
 when the flexible liner is installed in the liner receptacle, each of the tab portions extends over one of the walls and is releasably coupled thereto. 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The patio cooler of  claim 13  wherein:
 the first floor comprises a plurality of slats that define a plurality of spaces therebetween; 
 the second floor defines a drain port; and 
 when the flexible liner is installed in the liner receptacle, the drain port extends into one of the spaces between the slats. 
 
     
     
         15 . The patio cooler of  claim 14  wherein the flexible liner is formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane material. 
     
     
         16 . The patio cooler of  claim 15  wherein:
 each second wall is coupled with adjacent ones of the second walls and the second floor along a plurality of seams; and 
 each seam of the plurality of seams comprises a thermally bonded seam. 
 
     
     
         17 . A flexible liner for a patio cooler, the flexible liner formed of a thermally insulating material and consisting of:
 a floor;   a plurality of walls that extend from the floor and cooperate with each other and the floor to define a cooler receptacle; and   a plurality of tab portions, each tab portion of the plurality of tab portions extending from respective ones of the walls, wherein the flexible liner is selectively collapsible into a substantially flat shape by folding each wall of the plurality of walls inwardly towards the floor.   
     
     
         18 . The flexible liner of  claim 17  wherein the floor defines a drain port. 
     
     
         19 . The flexible liner of  claim 18  wherein the flexible liner is formed of a thermoplastic polyurethane material. 
     
     
         20 . The flexible liner of  claim 19  wherein:
 each wall is coupled with adjacent ones of the walls and the floor along a plurality of seams; and 
 each seam of the plurality of seams comprises a thermally bonded seam.