Bag attachment for cooler

Abstract

The bag attachment for a cooler includes a pouch defining a bag having a frame disposed about the mouth of the bag. The frame is releasably attached to an external wall of a cooler and maintains the mouth of the pouch in an open state, allowing for the storage of waste, such as empty cans and bottles, in the receptacle. When the pouch is full, the frame may be detached from the cooler and closed to seal the mouth of the bag for transport to a waste depository.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60 / 713,358, filed Sep. 2, 2005.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates to a bag attachment for a cooler for storing and transporting empty cans, bottles and other waste. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Coolers and ice chests for transporting, storing and chilling beverages are common accessories for picnics, outdoors parties and other activities where cold beverages and food are desired. Food wrappers and empty bottles and cans are often returned to the cooler for later transport and disposal. Placing waste back into the cooler, however, is unsanitary, raises the temperature inside the cooler, both through thermal conduction and the introduction of warm air each time the cooler lid is opened, and also requires the user to carry a heavy cooler full of ice and waste to a waste repos...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] The bag attachment for a cooler includes a sack or pouch defining a bag having a reclosable frame disposed around the mouth of the bag for supporting the bag and selectively closing the bag. The frame is releasably attached to an external wall of a cooler through use of a suitable fastener, such as a hook-and-loop type fastener, and maintains the mouth of the pouch in an open state, allowing for the storage of waste, such as empty cans and bottles, in the pouch. The bag may be formed from any flexible material, particularly cloth or fabric, and preferably of mesh or netting, which allows for the free passage of air, preventing the build-up of unpleasant odors from waste material deposited in the bag.

[0009] When the bag is full, the frame may be detached from the cooler, and the frame may be folded and clasped shut to close the mouth of the receptacle for transport to a waste depository. A pair of handles are fixed to the frame, allowing the user to easily carry the bag when it is in the folded state.

Problems solved by technology

Placing waste back into the cooler, however, is unsanitary, raises the temperature inside the cooler, both through thermal conduction and the introduction of warm air each time the cooler lid is opened, and also requires the user to carry a heavy cooler full of ice and waste to a waste repository.

Garbage cans often are not conveniently located for the disposal of waste at a picnic or party, and are not easily transported.

Although garbage bags may be transported along with the cooler, loose bags are difficult to hold open without a garbage can, and may easily rupture or spill their contents.

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