Inflatable Flexible Cooler Valve for Waterproof Insulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional coolers are bulky, heavy, and rigid, making them unsuitable for outdoor activities, and soft coolers lack durability and waterproofing, while existing solutions for compact storage expose insulation to moisture, leading to inefficiencies in temperature maintenance and portability.
Innovation Solution
A flexible, collapsible, and inflatable cooler with a waterproof valve that allows for air flow control, enabling compact storage without exposing insulation to moisture, and featuring reinforced carrying straps for enhanced portability and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional hard coolers are used, then temperature maintenance is effective, but portability and ease of carrying deteriorate due to heavy weight and bulky size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible waterproof liners and shells instead of rigid hard plastic containers. The cooler uses a flexible exterior shell with waterproof lining that can be folded or rolled when not in use, dramatically reducing weight and bulk while maintaining insulation effectiveness through the flexible barrier layers.
2Weight of moving object
If soft coolers are used to improve portability, then weight and bulk are reduced, but waterproofing and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes flexible waterproof liners made of materials such as PVC, vinyl, or nylon with waterproof coatings. These flexible barriers provide both the portability of soft coolers and the waterproofing reliability needed to carry ice, creating a seamless waterproof interior that prevents leakage while maintaining flexibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooler employs composite construction combining flexible exterior shell material with waterproof lining materials and insulated layers. This multi-layer composite structure integrates the benefits of flexibility, waterproofing, and insulation into a single reliable system that maintains durability while remaining portable.
3Ease of operation
If soft coolers are made pliable for portability, then ease of carrying improves, but structural strength and durability deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs flexible yet durable shell materials that can be folded or rolled for transport but maintain structural integrity during use. The flexible exterior shell is designed to withstand repeated folding and handling while maintaining its protective function, providing both portability and durability.
4Reliability
If coolers are designed with sealed construction for waterproofing, then waterproofing improves, but ease of cleaning deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the cooler into separable components including a removable flexible liner and an exterior shell. The liner can be detached for thorough cleaning and drying, allowing complete access to all interior surfaces while maintaining waterproof sealing when assembled. This segmentation enables both waterproofing and ease of cleaning.
5Strength
If coolers are made rigid for structural stability, then durability improves, but compact storage capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a dynamic flexible structure that transitions between expanded and collapsed states. The flexible shell and liner assembly can be folded or rolled into a compact form for storage, then expanded to full size for use, providing both structural durability when deployed and compact storage capability when not in use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The cooler maintains temperature effectively, is lightweight and durable, can carry ice without leakage, and can be easily stored or transported, offering the portability of a backpack with the insulation performance of a hard cooler.
Implementation Method 1
flexible insulative material disposed within the interior insulative space and being sealed therein
Implementation Method 2
at least one valve disposed within the exterior shell by way of a fluid impervious seal and configured to control air flow into and out of the insulative, interior space between the interior liner and the exterior shell
Data Source
AI summary
The present disclosure relates to a high-performance, portable, flexible, collapsible, inflatable, insulative container with increased carrying capacity and the portability of a backpack. The container of the present disclosure is both collapsible as well as inflatable via the use of a non-leaking, substantially waterproof valve that facilitates air flow into and out of an insulative space of the container.