Insulated cooler

An insulated cooler, comprising:

• an insulated bottom;
• an insulated peripheral wall extending up from the bottom such that the bottom and the peripheral wall define an interior space of the cooler;
• an insulated lid pivotally attached to the peripheral wall and pivotable to a closed position engaging the peripheral wall to close the interior space;
• a vent passage extending through the lid, the vent passage communicating the interior space with an exterior of the cooler to prevent formation of a vacuum in the cooler;
• an air permeable-water impermeable material layer blocking the vent passage to allow air flow through the vent passage while preventing water from leaking out of the vent passage;
• and
• a retaining frame attached to the lid to hold the material layer in place relative to the vent passage;
• wherein the retaining frame comprises a plate attached to the lid to hold the material layer in place relative to the vent passage, and
• wherein the plate covers and conceals the vent passage and the material layer.

An insulated container, comprising:

• a bottom;
• a peripheral wall extending up from the bottom such that the bottom and the peripheral wall define an interior space of the container;
• a lid pivotally attached to the peripheral wall and pivotable to a closed position engaging the peripheral wall to close the interior space such that a difference of temperature is generally maintained between the interior space of the container and an exterior of the container;
• a vent passage extending through the lid, the vent passage communicating the interior space with the exterior of the container to prevent formation of a suction seal between the lid and the peripheral wall when the lid is engaging the peripheral wall in the closed position;
• a retaining frame attached to the lid at a location on the lid corresponding to a location of the vent passage;
• and
• an air permeable-water impermeable material layer blocking the vent passage to allow air flow through the vent passage while preventing water from leaking out of the vent passage, the material layer positioned between the retaining frame and the interior space of the container;
• wherein the retaining frame comprises a plate attached to the lid at a location corresponding to the location of the vent passage;
• and
• wherein the plate covers and conceals the vent passage and the material layer.

An insulated container, comprising:

• a bottom;
• a peripheral wall extending up from the bottom such that the bottom and the peripheral wall define an interior space of the container;
• a lid pivotally attached to the peripheral wall and pivotable to a closed position engaging the peripheral wall to close the interior space such that a difference of temperature is generally maintained between the interior space of the container and an exterior of the container;
• a vent passage extending through the peripheral wall, the vent passage communicating the interior space with the exterior of the container to prevent formation of a suction seal between the lid and the peripheral wall when the lid is engaging the peripheral wall in the closed position;
• a retaining frame attached to the peripheral wall at a location on the peripheral wall corresponding to a location of the vent passage;
• an air permeable-water impermeable material layer blocking the vent passage to allow air flow through the vent passage while preventing water from leaking out of the vent passage, the material layer positioned between the retaining frame and the interior space of the container;
• a latch arm pivotably attached to the lid;
• and
• the retaining frame including a latch seat configured to be engaged by the latch arm when the lid is in the closed position.

An insulated container, comprising:

• a bottom;
• a peripheral wall extending up from the bottom such that the bottom and the peripheral wall define an interior space of the container;
• a lid pivotally attached to the peripheral wall and pivotable to a closed position engaging the peripheral wall to close the interior space such that a difference of temperature is generally maintained between the interior space of the container and an exterior of the container;
• a vent passage extending through the peripheral wall or the lid, the vent passage communicating the interior space with the exterior of the container to prevent formation of a suction seal between the lid and the peripheral wall when the lid is engaging the peripheral wall in the closed position;
• a retaining frame attached to the peripheral wall or the lid at a location on the peripheral wall or the lid corresponding to a location of the vent passage;
• and
• an air permeable-water impermeable material layer blocking the vent passage to allow air flow through the vent passage while preventing water from leaking out of the vent passage, the material layer positioned between the retaining frame and the interior space of the container;
• wherein the vent passage extending through the peripheral wall or the lid defines a length beginning from an exterior surface of the peripheral wall or the lid and ending at an interior surface of the peripheral wall or the lid;
• and
• wherein the material layer is disposed within the vent passage length.

A method of preventing a vacuum in a cooler and maintaining a temperature differential in the cooler, the method comprising the steps of:

• providing a vent passage through an insulated peripheral wall of the cooler, the peripheral wall extending up from a bottom of the cooler such that the bottom and the peripheral wall define an interior space of the cooler;
• concealing the vent passage behind a latch mounted on the peripheral wall such that when the latch is closed the vent passage is concealed from a user of the cooler;
• and
• blocking the vent passage with an air permeable-water impermeable material layer thereby allowing air flow through the vent passage while preventing water from leaking out of the vent passage.