CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application makes reference to U.S. Prov. App. No. 63/031642 filed May 29, 2020 and incorporates that application, in its entirety, by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The present disclosure deals with various configurations of storage containers with handles or straps that comprise additional storage areas. These additional storage areas may be used to hold cell telephones, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical heating packet, and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Can and bottle coolers are well known in the prior art. Usually they are comprised of at least one cylindrical layer of insulating material that is removably applied over the outside of the can, bottle, drinking glass or cup to keep the contents of the can, bottle, drinking glass or cup chilled or warmed while drinking. Variants are known in the prior art that feature pockets and the like formed on the outer aspect of the insulating material. Variants are also known in the prior art that include flexible and inflexible straps and handles attached to the outer aspect of the insulating material.

[0004] Also, purses, totes, and small hand-held containers are well known in the prior art. These containers also have flexible straps and handles, but separate, pre-formed storage areas in the flexible straps and handles are unknown. [0005] Therefore, what is needed is a can or bottle cooler that comprises a flexibly attached handle that can accommodate a rectilinear object such as a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical heating packet, and the like.

[0006] Also, what is needed is a can or bottle cooler that comprises an attached flexible strap that includes at least one pre-formed storage area that can accommodate a rectilinear object such as a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical heating packet, and the like.

[0007] Also, what is needed is a variant wherein the cylindrical layer of insulating material is removably applied over the outside of the can, bottle, drinking glass or cup and may be user formed over the item to be insulated and may be removed and flattened afterwards. This embodiment is equipped with a connecting system that is Y-shaped when viewed in cross section on one end and planar on the other end. The Y-shaped end has equivalently deployed hook-and-loop fastening strips on the inside surfaces of the Y-shaped end and opposing hook-and-loop fastening strips equivalently deployed on the planar end. This variant also includes a flexibly attached handle that can accommodate a rectilinear object such as a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical heating packet, and the like, or, an attached flexible strap that includes at least one pre-formed storage area that can accommodate a rectilinear object such as a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical heating packet, and the like.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] Generally, the present invention provides a first cylinder of flexible material closed at both ends with an opening cut through the flexible material wherein the opening may be closed and secured by a zipper, buttons, sliding fasteners, or hook-and-loop material. This embodiment of the invention also comprises a second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container, open on at least one end, capable of accommodating a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electronic heating packet, and the like. The first cylinder is used to store and carry articles such as a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, and so on. The first cylinder may be constructed of cloth, fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. The first cylinder may be constructed using sewing, gluing, sonic welding, or molding as a unitary structure. The first embodiment of the present invention has the first cylinder affixed to the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container by means of at least one flexible strap.

[0009] The first embodiment of the invention is used as follows: First, the user places materials to be stored or carried inside the first cylinder. Such items may be a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, and the like. Next, the user closes the first cylinder using the provided zipper, buttons, sliding fasteners, or hook-and-loop material. Next, the user places at least one item in the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container. Such items may be a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electronic heating packet, and the like. Next, the user inserts one or more fingers or the thumb between the first cylinder and the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container and picks up and carries the entire device with the first cylinder or the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container in the hand.

[0010] The second embodiment of the present invention provides a first cylinder of flexible material open at both ends. The first cylinder is ordinarily provided as a relatively flat sheet of material with a planar end and a Y-shaped end, when viewed in cross section, wherein the planar end of the sheet is inserted between the panels of the Y-shaped end and all three are tamped together. The inside aspect of the Y-shaped end and the outside aspect of the planar end are equipped with hook and loop fasteners such that the flat sheet may be formed into the first cylinder with a can, bottle, drinking glass, drinking glass, cup, or the like inside. This embodiment of the invention also comprises a second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container, open on at least one end, capable of accommodating a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electrical heating packet, and the like. The first cylinder is used to insulate a can, drinking glass, cup, or other container of a beverage. The first cylinder may be constructed of cloth or fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. The first cylinder may be constructed using sewing, gluing, sonic welding, or molding as a unitary structure. In the second embodiment of the present invention the flat sheet is affixed to the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container by means of at least one flexible strap.

[0011] The second embodiment of the invention is used as follows: The device is wrapped around a can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like containing a chilled or warmed beverage. The device is secured around the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like by inserting the planar end of the device between the panels of the Y-shaped end of the device and tamping the panels of the Y-shaped end of the device together, locking the Y-shaped end panels around the planar end panels, securing the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like inside. Next, the user places at least one item in the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container. Such items may be a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electronic heating packet, and the like. Next, the user inserts one or more fingers or the thumb between the device wrapped around a can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like and the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container and picks up and carries them by the device wrapped around a can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like or by the second cylindrical or rectilinear storage container. Next, the user drinks the beverage from the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating a purse or tote with an affixed handle capable of storing a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, or a chemical heating packet.

[0013] Fig. 2 is a diagram illustrating a wrap-around insulating cooler with an affixed handle capable of storing a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, or a chemical heating packet.

[0014] Fig. 3a is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the planar end of the insulating cooler with an affixed handle.

[0015] Fig. 3b is a diagram illustrating a cross-section of the Y-shaped end of the insulating cooler with an affixed handle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0016] Referring now to Fig. 1, the present invention provides a first cylinder 101 of flexible material such as foam, neoprene, cloth, or leather closed at both ends 102a and 102b with an opening 103 cut through the flexible material wherein the opening 103 may be closed and secured by a zipper 104, buttons, sliding fasteners, or hook-and-loop material. This embodiment of the invention also comprises a second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container, closed at least one end 112, capable of accommodating a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electrical heating packet, and the like by inserting the cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, or a chemical or electrical heating packet along axis A. The first cylinder 101 is used to store and carry articles such as a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, and so on. The first cylinder 101 may be constructed of cloth, fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. The first cylinder 101 may be constructed using sewing, gluing, sonic welding, or molding as a unitary structure.

[0017] Both ends 102a and 102b are closed. Both ends 102a and 102b may be constructed of cloth, fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. Both ends 102a and 102b may also be solid material such as plastic. Both ends 102a and 102b may be constructed using sewing, gluing, sonic welding, or molding as a unitary structure.

[0018] The first cylinder 101 may be constructed of cloth, fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. The first cylinder 101 may also be solid material such as plastic. The first cylinder 101 may be constructed using sewing, gluing, sonic welding, or molding as a unitary structure.

[0019] Generally parallel to first cylinder 101, and affixed to it, is a smaller second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container, closed or unclosed at one end 112 and open at the other, capable of accommodating a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electrical heating packet, and the like, by inserting the cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, or a chemical or electrical heating packet along axis A. Second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container may be constructed of cloth, fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. Second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container is affixed to first cylinder 101 by means of affixing straps 110. In an alternative embodiment second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container is affixed to first cylinder 101 by means of a one or more flexible affixing straps 110. It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that flexible affixing straps 110 may be of any length. It will also be obvious to one having skill in the art that a multiplicity of second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage containers may be affixed to one flexible affixing strap 110. It will also be obvious to one having skill in the art that a multiplicity of second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage containers may be affixed to a multiplicity of flexible affixing straps 110.

[0020] The first embodiment of the invention is used as follows: First, the user places materials to be stored or carried inside the first cylinder 101. Next, the user closes the first cylinder 101 using the provided zipper 104, buttons, sliding fasteners, or hook-and-loop material. Next, the user places at least one item in the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container by sliding it in along axis A. Such items may be a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electrical heating packet, and the like. Next, the user picks up and carries the entire device by the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container or by the first cylinder 101.

[0021] Referring now to Figs. 2, 3a, and 3b, in an alternative embodiment the bottom 102a and top 102b of first cylinder 101 is not closed. The first cylinder 101 is ordinarily provided as a relatively flat sheet 101 with a planar end 105 and a Y-shaped end consisting of panels 106a and 106b, when viewed in cross section, wherein the planar end 105 is inserted between the panels 106a and 106b of the Y-shaped end and all three are tamped together to lock them together. The inside aspect of the Y-shaped end is equipped with uniformly deployed hook-and-loop fastener panels 108a and 108b and the outside aspect of the planar end 105 are equipped with uniformly deployed opposing hook-and-loop fastener panels 107a and 107b such that the flat sheet 101 may be formed and locked into the first cylinder 101 with the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like inside. This embodiment of the invention also comprises a second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container, closed on one end 112, capable of accommodating a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electrical heating packet, and the like. The first cylinder 101 is used to insulate a can, drinking glass, cup, or other container of a beverage. The first cylinder 101 and second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container may be constructed of cloth, or fabric, leather, rigid or flexible insulating foam, neoprene, or cloth, or a fabric shell filled with insulating material such as foam or neoprene. The first cylinder 101 and second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container may be constructed using sewing, gluing, sonic welding, or molding as a unitary structure. In the second embodiment of the present invention the flat sheet 101 or first cylinder 101 is affixed to the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container by means of at least one flexible strap 110. It will be obvious to those having skill in the art that flexible affixing straps 110 may be of any length. It will also be obvious to one having skill in the art that a multiplicity of second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage containers may be affixed to one flexible affixing strap 110. It will also be obvious to one having skill in the art that a multiplicity of second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage containers may be affixed to a multiplicity of flexible affixing straps 110. [0022] The alternative embodiment may be used as follows: The flat sheet 101 is wrapped around a can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like containing a chilled or warmed beverage. The flat sheet 101 is formed into the first cylinder 101 and secured around the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like by inserting the planar end 105 of the flat sheet 101 between the panels 106a and 106b of the Y-shaped end of the flat sheet 101 and tamping the panels 106a and 106b of the Y-shaped end of the device together, locking the Y-shaped end panels 106a and 106b around the planar end 105 panel, securing the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like inside. Next, the user places at least one item in the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container. Such items may be a cell telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, a chemical or electrical heating packet, and the like. Next, the user inserts one or more fingers or the thumb between the first cylinder 101 wrapped around a can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like and the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container and picks up and carries the entire device by the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container or by the first cylinder 101 surrounding the enclosed can, bottle, drinking glass or cup. Next, the user drinks the beverage from the can, bottle, drinking glass, cup, or the like.

[0023] All obvious variants are included within the scope of the present invention particularly the breadth of items that may be stored in the second cylindrical 111 or rectilinear storage container. Such items are implicitly included in the scope of the present invention. Such items are exemplified by, but not limited to a chemical or electrical heating packet, a cellular telephone, a cigarette lighter, a flashlight, or a penlight, and the like.