Esky was an Australian brand of portable coolers. The term "esky" is also commonly used in Australia to generically refer to portable coolers or ice boxes and is part of the Australian vernacular, in place of words like "cooler" or "cooler box" and the New Zealand "chilly bin". The term derives from the word "Eskimo". Esky brand was purchased by United States firm Coleman Company, (a subsidiary of Newell Brands) in 2009. History Some historians have credited Malley's with the invention of the portable ice cooler. According to the company, the Esky was "recognised as the first official portable cooler in the world." The company's own figures claim that, by 1960, 500,000 Australian households owned one (in a country of approximately 3 million households at the time). The brand "Esky" was used from around 1945, for an Australian-made ice chest, a free-standing insulated chest with two compartments: the upper to carry a standard () block of ice, and the lower for food and drinks. The "Esky" ice chest was made by Malleys but did not carry their name until around 1949. The first (metal-cased) portable Esky appeared in 1952, sized to accommodate six bottles of beer or soft drink, as seen here. Nylex started making the plastic-cased Esky in 1984. In 1993 Nylex Corporation was still defending their ownership of the "Esky" trademark, but by 2002 they had allowed it to lapse. Outdoor recreation company Coleman Australia bought the Esky brands from Nylex Ltd after the company went into administration in February 2009. Coleman still produces most of the Esky line in Melbourne. The sale was seen as symptomatic of the decline of Australian-made goods due to cheaper imports being available. Construction The current models are constructed with two layers: polypropylene on the outer shell, with a polyurethane inner layer. This makes it lightweight and portable with excellent insulation. The Esky originally had a steel outside shell, and used cork for insulation. In the 1960s, a single layer of thick polystyrene was often used, but they were easily damaged or destroyed. The lightweight construction makes most eskies float in water, and they have been recommended by safety specialists to be used as an improvised lifebuoy, if more specialised equipment is not available. Numerous people have been saved after using either the whole esky or the esky lid as flotation devices after boating accidents. Generic use In Australia, the 'esky' name