Wrap for hard-sided insulated container and method

Abstract

A hard-sided insulated container that has a rigid molded body. It has a latching and seal mechanism. The container assembly has an external wrap that extends around a portion of the girth of the container assembly. The external wrap is insulated. The external wrap provides a mounting datum for auxiliary features. The wrap is mounted to the molded container by non-invasive means. That is, the mounting of the wrap is done without puncturing or creating a penetration through the molded plastic body of the container. In one version the latch anchor posts provide mounting points. In another version there are molded corner posts, with a diagonal mounting passageway at the corners to receive suspender loops of the wrap. The wrap may have a deviated form to accommodate such a feature as a drain.

We claim: 
     
         1 . An insulated container assembly comprising:
 a hard-sided insulated container and a wrap that mounts to said hard-sided insulated container;   said hard-sided insulated container having a first portion and a second portion;   said first portion defining a chamber therewithin;   said chamber having an opening through which to introduce objects for storage within said chamber;   said second portion being movable relative to said first portion between a first position and a second position to govern access to said chamber;   said first position defining a closed position of said chamber;   said second position defining an open position of said chamber;   at least said first portion being a molded body, said molded body having a closed volume defined between an inside wall bounding said chamber and an outside wall spaced away from said inside wall;   said wrap is an insulated wrap;   said wrap defining a band extending peripherally about said first portion of said hard-sided cooler;   said band having an upper margin and a lower margin;   said band having at least a first suspender;   said first suspender having a fixed mounting to said first portion of said cooler; and   said molded body of said first portion being free of any puncture at said fixed mounting.   
     
     
         2 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said hard-sided insulated container has at least a first latch; said first latch includes a first latch retainer, said first latch retainer defining a first stationary anchor mounted to said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container; and said first suspender being secured to said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container at said stationary anchor. 
     
     
         3 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container has a second latch and a second latch retainer, said second latch retainer defining a second stationary anchor; said wrap has a plurality of said suspenders spaced along said upper margin of said wrap; said plurality including said first suspender and at least a second suspender; and at least said first and second of said suspenders are secured to said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container at said first and second stationary anchors. 
     
     
         4 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wrap includes at least a first peripheral tightening strap operable to establish a hoop stress in said wrap. 
     
     
         5 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said wrap includes an outer fabric skin, an inner fabric skin, and a layer of insulation captured between said inner and outer skins of said wrap. 
     
     
         6 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container has an upstanding body that is surmounted by a flange that stands outwardly proud of said upstanding body; and said flange has at least first and second accommodations formed therein; and there are at least first and second strap anchor hard points mounted in corresponding ones of said at least first and second accommodations. 
     
     
         7 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said second portion of said hard-sided insulated container is hingedly mounted to said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container; said hinge being mounted along a rear side of said hard-sided insulated container; said hard sided-insulated container having a front side opposite said rear side; and said wrap is free of suspenders along said rear side of said hard sided insulated container. 
     
     
         8 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said second portion of said hard-sided insulated container is hingedly mounted to said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container; said hinge being mounted along a rear side of said hard-sided insulated container; said hard sided-insulated container having a front side opposite said rear side; and said upper margin of said wrap has a downward deviation that extends along at least a portion of said front side relative to at least one other side of said hard-sided insulated container; and said downward deviation clears at least said first latch. 
     
     
         9 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container has a drain, and said lower margin of said wrap has a deviation that clears said drain. 
     
     
         10 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said container has said first latch and a second latch; said first latch is spaced from said second latch, there being an accommodation defined between said first and second latches; and said wrap includes an auxiliary container that locates in said accommodation between said first and second latches. 
     
     
         11 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said container assembly had a carrying handle having a rigid handle and bail; said handle has first and second ends; said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container has first and second handle seats formed therein; and said wrap has corresponding suspenders that anchor to said first and second ends of said rigid handle at said first and second handle seats. 
     
     
         12 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 1  wherein said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container has an upstanding body that is surmounted by a flange that stands outwardly proud of said upstanding body; and said flange has at least first and second handholds formed therein, said handholds defining a respective strap opening through said flange; and there are at least first and second strap ends wrapped through said respective strap openings. 
     
     
         13 . An insulated container assembly comprising:
 a hard-sided insulated container and a wrap that mounts to said hard-sided insulated container;   said hard-sided insulated container having a first portion and a second portion;   said first portion defining a chamber therewithin;   said second portion being movable relative to said first portion between a first position and a second position to govern access to said chamber;   at least said first portion being a molded body, said molded body having a closed volume defined between an inside wall bounding said chamber and an outside wall spaced away from said inside wall;   said wrap is an insulated wrap;   said wrap defining a band extending peripherally about said first portion of said hard-sided cooler;   said band having an upper margin and a lower margin;   said band having at least a first suspender;   said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container having at least a first mounting accommodation; and   said first suspender engaging said first mounting accommodation; and   said first mounting accommodation being free of any wall penetration of said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container.   
     
     
         14 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first mounting accommodation includes a corner aperture formed in said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container. 
     
     
         15 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first suspender includes a loop, and, as installed, said loop passes through said first mounting accommodation. 
     
     
         16 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container has a bottom wall and first, second, third and fourth walls standing upwardly from said bottom wall; said first wall and said second wall meeting at a corner; said first mounting accommodation defining a passageway having a first opening in said first wall and a second opening in said second wall; and said first suspender defining a loop that seats in said first passageway. 
     
     
         17 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 16  wherein said wrap includes said first suspender, a second suspender, a third suspender and a fourth suspender, and said first, second, third and fourth suspenders define loops that seat in respective first, second, third and fourth passageways that extend diagonally at the respective corners of said first portion of said hard-sided insulated container. 
     
     
         18 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said cooler has single large central release latch. 
     
     
         19 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said wrap has external auxiliary compartment. 
     
     
         20 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said wrap is removable. 
     
     
         21 . The insulated container assembly of  claim 13  wherein said container assembly has a lifting strap anchor and a lifting handle, said wrap has an upper margin, and said upper margin of said wrap is clear of and below said lifting strap anchor and said lifting handle.