Foldable portable cooler with enhanced over-center locking handle

A sheet-like blank to be folded into a container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said blank comprising:

• a generally rectangular center panel having ends and sides;
• a pair of integral, foldable end panels adjacent ends of said center panel;
• a pair of integral, foldable side panels adjacent sides of said center panel;
• an integral handle panel formed on each side panel, and each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment with a fold line therebetween, each handle segment comprising corners with locking tabs and hand grip holes enabling carrying;
• and,
• an integral locking panel formed on each end panel for engaging the handle panels when the blank is folded, each locking panel when unfolded comprising an hourglass shape, each locking panel comprising a pair of trapezoidal halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising an elongated, receptive slot that is penetrated by said tabs when the container is folded.

A container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said container foldably erected from a sheet-like blank and comprising:

• a generally rectangular bottom formed from a center panel of the blank, the center panel having ends and sides;
• a pair of parallel, spaced apart ends formed from blank end panels located adjacent ends of said blank center panel;
• a pair of parallel, spaced apart sides formed from blank side panels located adjacent sides of said blank center panel;
• an integral handle formed from abutting handle panels on each side panel of said blank, each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment, the roof segments forming the container top and the handle segments comprising corners with locking tabs and hand grip holes enabling carrying;
• and,
• integral locks formed from locking panels formed on each blank end panel for engaging the handle when the blank is folded, each locking panel comprising a pair of mirror image halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising a receptive slot adapted to be penetrated by said locking tabs when the container is foldably erected from said blank.

A container for storing and transporting ice and food or beverages, said container foldably erected from a sheet-like blank and comprising:

• a generally rectangular bottom formed from a center panel of the blank, the center panel having ends and sides;
• a pair of parallel, spaced apart ends formed from blank end panels located adjacent ends of said blank center panel;
• a pair of parallel, spaced apart sides formed from blank side panels located adjacent sides of said blank center panel;
• an integral handle formed from abutting handle panels formed on each side panel of said blank, each handle panel comprising a generally rectangular roof segment and an adjoining handle segment with a fold line therebetween, the roof segments forming the container top and the handle segments comprising corners with locking tabs and hand grip holes enabling carrying;
• and,
• integral locks formed from locking panels formed on each blank end panel for engaging the handle when the blank is folded, each locking panel comprising a pair of trapezoid-shaped halves adapted to be folded together, and each half comprising an elongated tab-receptive slot adapted to be penetrated by said locking tabs when the container is foldably erected from said blank.