Granted Patent B2

US 12,503,294 · App. 17/868,471 · Granted Dec 23, 2025

Inventors: Dustin R. Bullock (Austin, TX); Steven M. Scott (Austin, TX); Colby Brunet (Austin, TX)

Assignee: YETI Coolers, LLC

B65D81/3806B65D25/24B65D25/32B65D81/3811

Abstract

Claims (38)

1 . An insulated container comprising:

a metallic outer shell comprising an external sidewall and an outer bottom wall, wherein the outer bottom wall has a lower ring-shaped cavity spaced inward from the external sidewall, the lower ring-shaped cavity including a continuous inner cavity wall and a continuous outer cavity wall;

a metallic inner shell comprising an inner sidewall and an inner bottom wall;

the outer shell connected to the inner shell forming an insulated double wall structure with a sealed vacuum cavity between the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein an upper edge of the inner shell is integrally joined to an upper edge of the outer shell;

the insulated container having a top opening at a top of the inner sidewall that leads into a storage cavity formed by the inner sidewall and the inner bottom wall; and

a support member located between the outer bottom wall and the inner bottom wall, wherein the support member contacts the inner shell and the outer shell and wherein a height of the support member is reduced at least 30 percent from a height of the support member in an uncompressed state, and wherein the support member is free of contact with the external sidewall; and

wherein the storage cavity has a volume greater than 1800 cubic centimeters.

2 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein a width of the top opening is within a range of 240 mm and 250 mm, and wherein the width of the top opening is greater than a height of the storage cavity.

3 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein the support member is secured between the outer bottom wall and the inner bottom wall with a friction fit.

4 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein the support member comprises a ceramic fiber insulation.

5 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein the support member has a thermal conductivity within a range of 0.013 W/(m*K) and 0.040 W/(m*K).

6 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein a central region of the inner bottom wall is substantially planar.

7 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein the inner cavity wall of the lower ring-shaped cavity is adjacent the support member.

8 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein the support member has a porosity of greater than 60 percent.

9 . The insulated container of claim 1 , wherein the support member is positioned inboard of the inner cavity wall.

10 . A method of forming an insulated container comprising:

forming a metallic outer shell with a first opening at a top end of the outer shell, wherein the outer shell comprises an outer sidewall, an outer bottom wall, and a lower cavity on the outer bottom wall, wherein the lower cavity is spaced inward from the outer sidewall;

forming a metallic inner shell with a second opening at a top end of the inner shell, wherein the inner shell has an inner sidewall and an inner bottom wall;

placing a support member onto the outer bottom wall of the outer shell, wherein the support member comprises a ceramic material, wherein the support member is free of contact with the outer sidewall;

placing the inner shell into the first opening of the outer shell, wherein the inner bottom wall of the inner shell contacts an upper surface of the support member;

positioning an upper edge of the inner shell to align with an upper edge of the outer shell to compress the support member, wherein the support member is compressed to reduce a height of the support member at least 30 percent from a height of the support member in an uncompressed state;

integrally joining the upper edge of the inner shell to the upper edge of the outer shell; and

evacuating a mass of gas from a cavity between the outer shell and the inner shell to form a vacuum sealed cavity between the outer shell and the inner shell.

11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the lower cavity comprises an inner cavity wall, an outer cavity wall, and a bottom cavity wall, wherein the inner cavity wall forms a continuous loop.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the bottom cavity wall comprises three holes by which the mass of gas is evacuated.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the support member is placed within the continuous loop formed by the inner cavity wall such that the support member is inboard of the inner cavity wall.

14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the outer shell and the inner shell are formed from stainless steel.

15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the support member has a thermal conductivity within a range of 0.013 W/(m*K) and 0.040 W/(m*K).

16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the insulated container has a diameter at a top opening within a range of 230 mm and 260 mm, and a storage cavity has a height within a range of 180 mm and 220 mm.

17 . An insulated container comprising:

a metallic outer shell comprising an outer sidewall and an outer bottom wall, wherein the outer bottom wall has a lower ring-shaped cavity spaced inward from the outer sidewall, the lower ring-shaped cavity including an inner cavity wall, an outer cavity wall, and a bottom cavity wall;

a metallic inner shell defining an inward facing surface comprising an inner sidewall and an inner bottom wall, wherein the inner bottom wall includes a planar central region;

the outer shell being integrally joined to the inner shell forming an insulated double wall structure with a sealed vacuum cavity between the outer shell and the inner shell, wherein an upper edge of the outer shell is integrally joined to an upper edge of the inner shell;

the insulated container having a top opening extending into a storage cavity, wherein the storage cavity has a volume within a range of 1800 cubic centimeters and 4000 cubic centimeters; and

a support member located between the outer bottom wall and the inner bottom wall, wherein the support member is located adjacent to the inner cavity wall and contacts the inner shell and the outer shell, wherein the support member is free of contact with the outer sidewall, and wherein a height of the support member is compressed greater than 30 percent from an uncompressed state.

18 . The insulated container of claim 17 , further comprising a foot bracket connected to the lower ring-shaped cavity, wherein the foot bracket includes a pair of engaging members, and

wherein an elastomeric foot member is connected to the foot bracket.

19 . The insulated container of claim 17 , wherein a width of the top opening is greater than a height of the storage cavity.

Assignments (2)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (400)