An apparatus may include a shell defining a first side and a second side, a storage compartment, an opening configured to provide access to the storage compartment, the opening including a closure device, a first carry strap and a second carry strap, a plurality of reinforcement patches in which the first carry strap and the second carry strap are connected to a portion of the plurality of reinforcement patches, a base, and a strip along a bottom of the apparatus configured to provide reinforcement.

A container assembly has a soft-sided insulated wall structure. It has one or more internal chambers in which to place objects to be kept cool or warm. A first closure member governs access to the container assembly. The wall structure includes one or more accommodations in which to place a warming or cooling element, such as an ice pack. The accommodations in the outside walls are externally accessible without opening the main chamber, and have their own closure, and may be insulated. The inside is a thin web through which to transfer heat. An internal partition divides the container assembly into two chambers. The partition may have a thermal storage element. The container may be a collapsible foldable bag; a tote bag; back pack or a non-collapsible lunch box. The thermal storage elements may have a flat disk shape. The disks slide sideways into place in the respective accommodations.

An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure may also prevent any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. The insulating device may include a back panel support structure and shoulder straps allowing the device to be worn as a backpack. This construction results in an insulating chamber that is substantially impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.

A connection system includes a feature module that supplies various functionalities, a portable countertop stand having an upright section that selectively receives the feature module and an umbilical connecting the portable stand to an external appliance to deliver utilities to the portable countertop stand. A utility port selectively delivers at least one utility to the feature module when engaged with the upright section. A utility receiver removably engages the utility port by hand without the use of tools and selectively receives a predetermined set of utilities when the feature module engages the upright surface. A connection interface detects when the feature module is engaged with the upright section and the predetermined utility set required by the engaged feature module. After the feature module is engaged, the connection interface prompts the utility port to release the predetermined utility set to the feature module.

A merchandiser for storing at least one product for purchase by a customer is provided. The merchandiser includes: a housing defining a cavity configured to receive the at least one product; a door coupled to the housing and movable between a first position and a second position; a lock configured to lock the door in the first position; a door position sensor coupled to at least one of the door or the housing, and configured to monitor a contact area where the door selectively contacts the housing; and a control system coupled to the lock. The control system is configured to actuate the lock to an unlocked position when the door position sensor indicates that an object is present in the contact area and to selectively actuate the lock to a locked position based on the door position sensor indicating that no object is present in the contact area.

A collapsible insulated container has a base wall and a peripheral wall with an open end defining an enclosure. The peripheral wall has at least two layers and is divided into elongate pockets between the layers, with foldable crease lines between adjacent pockets. Each pocket contains a flexible-walled, insulating gel pack which substantially fills the pocket. The crease lines may be defined by stitching securing the outer and inner layers of the container together. The gel packs may be surrounded by matting, foam or mesh material which is sewn into the lines of stitching, or may have integral peripheral rims sewn into the lines of stitching. The container is foldable between an erect, open condition and a storage condition in which it is folded along the crease lines into a substantially flattened package.

A method and system for transporting and/or storing temperature-sensitive materials. In one embodiment, the system may be a hybrid system that includes an active temperature-control system and a passive temperature-control system. The active temperature-control system may be, for example, a portable refrigerator that includes an internal chamber for maintaining contents within a desired temperature range. The passive temperature-control system, which includes at least one phase-change material (PCM) member and space for receiving one or more temperature-sensitive materials, may be removably positioned entirely within the internal chamber of the active temperature-control system. When temperature-sensitive materials are loaded into the passive temperature-control system and the passive temperature-control system is loaded into the active temperature-control system, the active temperature-control system keeps the temperature-sensitive materials within a desired temperature range and charges the PCM members for when the passive temperature-control system is thereafter removed from the active temperature-control system.

Described in detail herein is cooler apparatus. The cooler can include an outer shell and an inner shell. The outer shell can include a top face, a bottom face, a front surface, back surface a first side and a second side. The top face can be secured to the cooler using a zipper. The top face can provide access the inner shell. One or more bottle openers can be affixed to the front surface of the outer shell. The front surface can further include an enclosure accessible using a zipper. The bottom side can be compressible in response to receiving pressure. One or more straps can be affixed to either the first side, second side or back surface of the cooler. The inner shell can form a volume to store physical objects. The cooler can be a backpack, tote or a 24-pack cooler.

An ice bagging assembly is described that includes a support frame and an ice cube hopper coupled to the support frame. The ice cube hopper stores a plurality of ice cubes. The ice cube hopper is intended to convey the plurality of ice cubes from a low end of the ice cube hopper to a high end of the ice cube hopper. An ice chute is in mechanical cooperation with the high end of the ice cube hopper, the ice chute configured to drop the plurality of ice cubes into an open ice bag. The ice bagging assembly also includes a first level sensor configured to sense a height level of ice in the ice cube hopper to ensure an adequate quantity of ice to fill the open ice bag to a predetermined weight.

An insulating device can include an aperture having a waterproof closure which allows access to the chamber within the insulating device. The closure can help prevent any fluid leakage into and out of the insulating device if the insulating device is overturned or in any configuration other than upright. The closure also prevents any fluid from permeating into the chamber if the insulating device is exposed to precipitation, other fluid, or submersed under water. This construction results in an insulating chamber impervious to water and other liquids when the closure is sealed.