Product Spotlight: Portable Coolers

Summer’s here, and that means beach adventures, mountain getaways, picnics, backyard barbecues and road trips. And if there’s one thing all those experiences need, it’s a portable cooler.

Really, what’s an outdoor party this time of year without a handy way to keep drinks cold and food safe? Very short, that’s what.

Coolers have been an essential part of summer for decades. Iconic brands such as Coleman, Igloo and Yeti are as much a part of the season as sunscreen and soda.  It’s hard to imagine summer life today without them. But how much do you really know about how coolers began? Let’s take a look.

Carrying Butter From Maryland to D.C

You probably think the term “refrigerator” is relatively new, within the past hundred years or so, right? Chill out and think again. Would you believe Thomas Jefferson owned one?

It’s true, although not quite the way you might think. It all goes back to a Maryland farmer seeking a better way to get his butter to market.

Thomas Moore, the farmer, also happened to be an engineer and inventor. He needed to transport butter from his dairy farm in Montgomery County, Maryland about 20 miles to the Washington, D.C. neighborhood of Georgetown, to sell at the markets there.

As you might expect, this task was problematic in warmer months. The butter would soften or even melt before Moore reached the market if he traveled in daylight. He decided to do something about it.

Wood, Tin and Rabbit Fur Insulation

Moore built an oval cedar box, then placed a tin box inside it. He placed ice between the boxes, and the whole contraption was insulated with rabbit fur. He called it a “refrigeratory,” later shortened to refrigerator. It was really the beginning of the portable cooler as we know it today.

Moore quickly noted that buyers would pass up other vendors’ softer butter for his, which was packed in cold, solid blocks. That enabled him to charge a premium.

He patented his invention in 1802. Two years later, President Jefferson bought one for $13. Reports indicate he used it for years at his Poplar Forest plantation.

At least one member of his family was not impressed. According to Monticello.org, Jefferson’s granddaughter Ellen Randolph wrote to her mother in 1819 that “Grand papa insisted on our using that filthy cooler (refrigerator, I believe hhttps://www.monticello.org/research-education/thomas-jefferson-encyclopedia/thomas-moore/e calls it), which wasted our small stock of ice, and gave us butter that run about the plate so that we could scarcely catch it, and wine above blood-heat.”

Coolers have come a long way since Moore’s time. They’re lighter, more durable and far better insulated than that original “refrigerator.” And yes, the refrigerator is a far different appliance than Moore’s simple box. But the basic design of modern coolers is similar to Moore’s – an outer shell, insulation and an inner shell, plus a lid.

New Designs, New Materials

Moore’s concept stayed pretty much the same for quite some time. In the 1940s, change arrived.

Specifically, what we know today as Styrofoam® polystyrene insulation arrived, courtesy of scientists at Dow Chemical. It was a lightweight, versatile insulator that worked well for keeping things cool. More on that later.

In 1951, Illinois resident Richard C. Laramy sought a U.S. patent for a portable ice chest. He received the patent two years later. His employer, Queen Stove Works added snap-lock handles and a bottle opener and marketed the Laramy’s design as the “Kampkold.”

A bit earlier, Malley’s, an Australian refrigeration company marketed what it called an “Auto Box.” The device was made of galvanized iron with cork insulation between the layers. It became the first mass produced cooler.

By 1954, The Coleman Company acquired Queen Stove Works and created a galvanized steel cooler, adding a plastic liner a few years later. As you might imagine, those weren’t exactly the easiest coolers to haul around, thanks to their weight.

Within a few years, Coleman saw the light and converted to plastic for their cooler designs.

Insulation took a turn for the better too. Styrofoam became the go-to material for insulating coolers and for inexpensive, disposable coolers.

Of course, Coleman wasn’t the only player in the game. Igloo started making galvanized steel buckets in 1947 to keep water cool longer for Texas oil workers. By the early ‘60s, the company switched to making plastic coolers. Items such as the Playmate®, a small cooler that could be carried with one hand became an instant success. Soon, the popped up at beaches, parks and just about everywhere.

Another innovator arrived in the early 2000s – Yeti. The company introduced rotationally-molded (rotomolded) coolers, a more expensive process that yields a stronger, more durable product. The company also used polyurethane insulation instead of Styrofoam. The company was a near-immediate success globally.

Other Modifications

Coolers have added features over the years to make life easier and more convenient. New features such as drains, wheels, pull handles and more have helped even more people enjoy them.

Insulated soft-side coolers are a relatively new addition. They’re popular for day trips, or even to stash in the car to keep groceries cold on the way home from the supermarket.

For the ultimate in cooler cool, there’s the ride-on cooler. Multiple companies offer custom motorized frames with mounted coolers for the maximum beach party experience. Not to mention an outstanding marketing device when custom printed with a company logo, equipped with a sound system and parked outside a restaurant or bar.

What’s in a Name?

You’ve probably noticed a certain consistency in the product names the cooler companies use – Igloo, Yeti, and the like. Remember that “Auto Box” that was a hit in Australia? It was marketed as an “Esky.” It proved so successful that the brand evolved into a generic Aussie term for the product.

Other names for what we’re calling a cooler are ice box, ice chest, portable ice chest, and  “chilly bin.”

No matter what you call it, portable coolers have revolutionized the way we enjoy parks, beaches, backyard barbecues and family reunions. The ability to keep drinks cold and potato salad safe opened up new vistas in outdoor enjoyment.