FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates generally to containers for holding materials for storage, and more particularly to a cork-insulated cooler used for holding perishable food products having a transparent interior shell and reversible skid plates to assist with transportation thereof.
A cooler, portable ice chest, ice box, or cool box is most commonly an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Ice cubes are most commonly placed in it to help maintain a cool temperature within the cooler. As an alternative, ice packs with gel contained therein are sometimes used because the gel absorbs heat as it changes phase, causing the ice packs to stay colder longer than just plain ice. Coolers are frequently taken on picnics, vacations, and holiday trips. When summer temperatures rise, coolers may also be used for maintaining cooler temperatures while transporting cold groceries home from the store; for example, keeping ice cream from melting in a hot automobile. Even without adding ice, the transportable transparent cork-insulated cooler of the present invention can be used just to maintain the cooler temperature of food products or beverages purchased at the supermarket.
Moreover, coolers are used in various settings where they either need to be transported from one area to another or they need to remain in place. Thus, versatility in allowing one to easily transport a cooler from one place to another while still being able to keep the cooler in place on a boat deck, truck bed, or in a vehicle trunk is of utmost importance to many cooler owners.
Coolers for holding beverages and storing ice are well known in the art. Typically, coolers are fabricated from four opaque plastic walls, an opaque bottom wall, and an opaque hinged lid. Collectively, the walls and lid define the storage chamber for storing ice, beverages, food, etc. Coolers are usually made with interior and exterior shells of opaque plastic with a hard foam liner in between. They come in sizes from small, personal ones to large, family ones that have wheels for ease of transportation. Most reusable coolers have molded-in-place handles; although a few have shoulder straps, and most also include wheels for easier transportation thereof. Unfortunately, over time the hard foam located between the interior and exterior shells either deteriorates or develops mold because of a leak in the exterior or interior shell. The foam is porous, and thus allows water from melted ice in the cooler to flow through the insulation and back into the cooler where it mixes with the ice stored in the cooler. People then use the ice out of the cooler for cooling drinks and the like. The opaque plastic construction makes it impossible for the user to determine if the insulation is contaminating the products or ice contained within the cooler. Thus, food poisoning is a definite risk with the current cooler construction.
Thus, what is lacking in the art is a transparent inner shell and a naturally nonabsorbent insulation that allows a cooler owner to spot and inspect a leak between the shells before deterioration or contamination takes place. The transparent inner shell should allow a cooler owner to inspect for leaks frequently as a maintenance and preventative measure, while the natural insulation should prevent contamination from water flowing through the insulation, and should reduce the possibility of mold growth and contamination therefrom. When wheels are provided on the underside of the bottom wall of the proposed cooler, they should prevent the cooler sliding, shifting, tilting, or rolling when it is not intended to do so.
The present invention provides a cork-insulated cooler having reversible skid plates and a transparent inner liner. The cooler is comprised of an outer basin having an open top, a plurality of cork panels lining the inner surface of the outer basin, a transparent inner basin having an open top constructed and arranged to hold and maintain the plurality of cork panels against the outer basin, a lid assembly hingedly connected to the inner and outer basin such that the inner basin and lid cooperate to define a compartment, and at least one pair of reversible skid plates removably fastened to the bottom surface of the outer basin; the reversible skid plates including a skid side for easy sliding of the cooler and a non-skid side to keep the cooler in place.
Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an insulated cooler having a transparent inner basin and reversible skid plates.
It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cooler having a natural cork insulation in place of foam.
It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a cooler having a transparent inner basin to allow for inspection and leak detection.
Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a cooler having a compartmentalized insulation area between the outer and inner basins.
An even further objective of the present invention is to provide a cooler wherein the compartmentalized insulation area prevents contamination from moving between the compartment areas.
Still yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a cooler having a compartmentalized insulation area that prevents crushing of the insulation when subjected to heavy loads.
It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a cooler including reversible skid plates removably fastened to the bottom surface of the outer basin whereby the skid plates may be securely maintained beneath the bottom surface of the cooler.
It is still yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a cooler that is sturdy and lasting in construction, economical to assemble, i.e. cost effective to manufacture, and efficient in operation and use while possessing improved insulating characteristics.
Still yet a further objective of the instant invention is to provide a cooler including reversible skid plates having one side that facilitates the sliding of the cooler over a wide variety of supporting surfaces and an opposite non-skid side that prevents sliding and movement when the cooler owner desires non-movement and stability.
It is yet a further objective of the instant invention is to provide a cooler having a lid assembly hingedly connected to the basin top using constant torque friction hinges. The constant torque friction hinge provides continuous resistance against motion through the entire range of motion of the lid assembly (closed position to open position), thereby holding the position of the lid assembly anywhere along the range of motion thereof.
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 2 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 3 is a back view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 4 is an exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view of the sidewall of the present invention;
- Figure 6A is a top view of the skid plate of the present invention;
- Figure 6B is a bottom view of the skid plate of the present invention;
- Figure 7 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention;
- Figure 8 is a cross-sectional view of the latch assembly of the present invention;
- Figure 9 is a bottom perspective view of the lid assembly of the present invention;
- Figure 10 is a perspective view of the handle assembly of the present invention;
- Figure 11 is a perspective view of the wheel assembly of the present invention;
- Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the drain hole of the present invention;
- Figure 13 is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cork panels of the present invention; and
- Figure 14 is an exploded view of the constant torque friction hinge of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTIONWhile the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated.
Referring generally toFigures 1-14, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout several views, a cork-insulated cooler 1 havingreversible skid plates 110 and a transparentinner basin 50 of the present invention is illustrated. Referring toFigure 1, the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a cooler 1 comprised of anouter basin 10 having anopen top 30, a plurality of cork panels 40 (Fig. 4 and5) lining the inside of theouter basin 10, a transparentinner basin 50 having anopen top 58 which is constructed and arranged to hold and maintain the plurality ofcork panels 40 between the outer surface of the inner basin and the inner surface of theouter basin 10, alid assembly 80 hingedly connected to the outer and/or inner basin, 10 and 50, such that the transparentinner basin 50 andlid assembly 80 cooperate to define acompartment 70, and at least one pair of reversible skid plates 110 (Fig. 3,4,6A and 6B) removably fastened to abottom surface 16 on thebottom panel 12 of theouter basin 10. Theinner basin 50 is slightly smaller than theouter basin 10 in order to be positioned within theouter basin 10 and abut the plurality ofcork panels 40. Theouter basin 10 is comprised of abottom wall 12,open top 30, and four sidewalls, 18 and 20, whereby one pair ofsidewalls 18 are of a substantially longer length than the other pair ofsidewalls 20 to form a rectangular compartment. Thebottom panel 12 includes a top surface 14 (Fig. 5) andbottom surface 16. Thebottom surface 16 includes apertures 28 (not shown) for receiving fasteners 120 (Fig. 4) for attaching thereversible skid plates 110 thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the apertures 28 are positioned along the corners of thebottom surface 16. Thereversible skid plates 110 include askid side 122 constructed from a low friction polymeric plastic material for easy sliding of the cooler and anon-skid side 124 constructed from a rubber type material to keep the cooler 1 in place, more aptly shown inFigures 6A and 6B. Eachskid plate 110 is comprised of two intersecting legs, 112 and 114, that form an L-shape 116 with approximately a 90 degree angle between the legs, 112 and 114. Each leg, 112 and 114, also includesapertures 118 thereon that correspond to apertures 28 on thebottom surface 16 of thebottom wall 12 on theouter basin 10.
As shown inFigure 1, the transparentinner basin 50 is similarly comprised of abottom wall 52 and four sidewalls, 54 and 56, whereby one pair ofsidewalls 54 are of a substantially longer length than the other pair ofsidewalls 56 to form a rectangular compartment when assembled; however, as discussed above, the transparentinner basin 50 rectangular construction is slightly smaller than theouter basin 10 rectangular construction. The inner basin includes an offsetcollar 53 that extends around the perimeter of the bottom wall for separating the cork panels from one another. This construction prevents contamination from cooler water from being transferred between the cork insulation panels. In its preferred embodiment, the offsetcollar 53 is constructed as a continuous wall that extends between the bottom surface of thebottom wall 52 of theinner basin 50 to thetop surface 14 of thebottom wall 12 of theouter basin 10, more aptly shown inFigure 5. This construction also prevents heavy loads in the cooler from compressing the cork insulation. The plurality ofcork panels 40 includes a bottomwall cork panel 46 and a plurality of sidewall cork panels, 42 and 44, equal to the number of sidewalls on theouter basin 10. In the preferred embodiment, the outer basin includes four sidewalls and sidewall cork panels, 42 and 44. Thecork panels 40 provide a natural insulator for maintaining ideal temperatures within thecompartment 70.Cork 40 is also a "green" alternative to the hard open and closed cell insulation foam used in the prior art. The transparentinner basin 50 allows a cooler owner to inspect and detect leaks within thecompartment 70 and in the basins, 10 and 50. Water, mold and other forms of contamination are thereby visibly apparent against thecork 40. As shown inFigure 5, theinner basin sidewall 54 abuts thesidewall cork panel 42 against theouter basin sidewall 18. Additionally, the cork panels can be adorned with personalized indicia. Because theinner basin 50 is transparent, thecork panels 40 are viewable by the user when thelid assembly 80 is opened. Thus, it is contemplated that indicia maybe be printed on thecork panels 40 to provide a personalized cooler 1 for the user.
As shown inFigure 13, it is also contemplated that thecork panels 40 have a secondary layer 48 attached thereto and adjacent to theinner basin 50, shown inFigure 13. The secondary layer 48 can be a second layer of cork (which can include personalized indicia thereon) or aradiant barrier 49. The secondary layer 48 is positioned adjacent to theinner basin 40 and viewable through the transparentinner basin 40. Alternatively, theradiant barrier 49 can be positioned between the secondary layer and the cork panel to provide a radiant insulation that inhibits heat transfer by thermal radiation. Theradiant barrier 49 may also be adorned with indicia thereon for customization purposes. Theradiant barrier 49 can be constructed of metalized polyester, laminate polyester film, or the like. Alternatively, the cork panels could be secured to aninsulation layer 51, such as expanded foam backing, adjacent to the outer basin, which gives the appearance that the entire cooler is formed from cork. This construction reduces the overall weight of the assembly. Theinsulation layer 51 of expanded foam backing provides better insulation in instances where the temperature of stored items is above 65 degrees C. Cork is an excellent thermal insulation material, and it is effective and resistant to compression; however, it provides its best performance in temperatures below 65 degrees C. The expanded foam backing ensures that the cooler assembly can be used in any temperature range without risk of losing insulation within the inner basin. The thickness of the cork panels, secondary layer, and insulation layer is limited by the spacing between the inner basin and outer basin. By way of example, the cooler could be lined with 1 inch of insulation layer, such as expanded foam, 1 inch of cork panel, and a thin secondary layer of either cork or radiant barrier.
Shown inFigure 5, the inner basinbottom wall 52 abuts the bottomwall cork panel 46 against the outerbasin bottom wall 12. As shown inFigure 4, the outer basin sidewalls, 18 and 20, include aninner surface 22 andouter surface 24. Theinner surface 22 of the sidewall may be provided with a plurality of vertically extendingribs 26 to provide structural integrity and strength to the cooler 1. Of note, cork's low thermal conductivity plus reasonable compressive strength make it an excellent material for thermal insulation where compression loads are present. Thebottom cork panel 46 is under the most compressive load when the cooler is in use.Grooves 55 or the like may be conjugately formed into the outer surfaces of thecork insulation 40 to accept the ribs. Additionally, a removableinner basin divider 62 is contemplated to create compartments within the cooler 1, shown inFigure 7. Theinner basin 50 is lined with at least one pair of opposingchannels 64 constructed and arranged to allow for theremovable basin divider 62 to fit within thechannels 64.
As shown inFigures 1,2, and4, thelid assembly 80 is comprised of anouter lid 86, atop cork panel 88, alid glass 90, and aninner lid 92. Theinner lid 92 has awindow framework 94 and is adapted to abut theclear lid glass 90. Thelid assembly 80 is secured together, whereby theouter lid 86 provides thetop surface 96 and theinner lid 92 provides aperimeter bottom surface 98, with theclear lid glass 90 making up the remainder of the inner lid. Abasin top 130 is also provided. Thebasin top 130 has four elongatedmembers 132 attached together to form a substantiallyrectangular frame 134 being adapted to abut aperipheral edge 32 on theopen top 30 of theouter basin 10, and to abut aperipheral edge 60 on theopen top 58 of theinner basin 50. Thebasin top 130 provides a smooth aesthetic appearance to the cooler and prevents liquids and moisture from infiltrating into the insulation. Thebasin top 130 andlid assembly 80 are hingedly connected together with at least one hinge 140 (Fig. 14) to allow the lid to pivot between an open position (Fig. 1) and a closed position (Fig. 3).
Now referring toFigs. 2-4 and 14, one embodiment of the constant friction hinge is illustrated. In general, theconstant friction hinge 140 holds any position through the entire range of rotary motion of thelid assembly 80. Theconstant friction hinge 140 holds position by providing continuous resistance against motion through the entire range of rotary motion of thelid assembly 80 between the closed position and the open position. The constant friction hinges may be adjustable, allowing the resistance to be adjusted by the user. In this manner, a user of the device upon a ship in rough seas may set his hinges to provide increased resistance to movement. Whereas a cooler user on a picnic may want much less resistance to movement of the lid. As shown inFigure 14, the constantfriction hinge assembly 140 is comprised of anupper lid hinge 202 fastened to thelid assembly 80 and alower lid hinge 204 fastened to thebasin top 130 rotatably coupled together at abarrel 206. Thebarrel 206 includes acenter barrel portion 208 on thelower lid hinge 204 and a first and second barrel portion, 210 and 212 on theupper lid hinge 202. Thecenter barrel portion 208 is positioned between the first and second barrel portions, 210 and 212, to form thehinge barrel 206. The barrel portions, 208, 210, and 212, are aligned and coupled together by afriction bolt assembly 215. Thefriction bolt assembly 215 is comprised of a pair ofwedge tubes 216, abarrel bolt 220, atubular dowel 224, and anut 228. Thehinge barrel 206 is sized to accept the outer diameter of thetubular dowel 224 and each half of thewedge tubes 216 fit in an overlapping arrangement within the bore of the tubular dowel. Thetubular dowel 224 includes a key 225 that is constructed and arranged to be inserted into avalley 230 along theinterior surface 207 of thecenter barrel portion 208. Thetubular dowel 224 has a length that is less than the total length of thehinge barrel 206. Thebarrel bolt 220 is generally a standard fastener having a headed end and a threaded end, the threads matching those of thenut member 228 for interlocking engagement between the two. Thewedge tubes 216 are constructed so that they overlap each other within thetubular dowel 224 with the barrel bolt extending through an opening which extends through each wedge tube. Eachwedge tube 216 is provided with anenlarged head portion 219 which include ahexagonal cavity 232 sized to cooperate with thenut member 228. The outer diameter of eachenlarged head portion 219 includes akey member 215 that is sized to be inserted into thekeyway 230 along theinterior surface 207 of the first and second barrel portions, 210 and 212. The torque provided on thenut 228 andbarrel bolt 220 draw the wedge tubes into engagement with each other to create friction within the tubular dowel which restricts movement between thecenter barrel portion 208 and the first and second barrel portions, 210 and 212, and thereby creates a friction hinge that holds any position through the entire range of motion of thelid assembly 80. It should also be noted that this construction allows the user to change the friction resistance of the hinge by tightening or loosening thebarrel bolt 220.
Alatch assembly 170 is provided to keep thelid assembly 80 in aclosed position 102. Thelatch assembly 170 is preferably positioned on the front end of the lid; however, any position around the perimeter of the lid suitable for holding the lid closed may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, thelatch assembly 170 is constructed of aluminum; however, other materials are contemplated. As shown inFigures 8 and 9, thelatch assembly 170 includes anintegrated latch 172 that catches on the rim of thebasin top 130 to close thelid assembly 80. When a user pushes up on thelid handle 174, thelatch 172 releases from theperipheral edge 32 of theouter basin 10 and allows thelid assembly 80 to open. In another embodiment, thelid assembly 80 includes at least one, and more preferably a plurality of concealedlid retention magnets 100 disposed on the bottom surface of thebasin top 130, shown inFigure 9. Theconcealed magnets 100 are magnetically attracted to the metal framework of theinner lid panel 92. It is contemplated that theinner lid 92 is constructed of steel or other suitable magnetically attracted materials.
In an alternative embodiment, the cooler 1 is further provided withwheels 150 and aretractable handle 160 as shown inFigures 3 and4. Along onesidewall 18 on theouter basin 10 at thebottom end 36 is positioned a pair ofwheels 150; and between the pair ofwheels 150 along thetop end 34 on thesame sidewall 18 on theouter basin 10 is positioned aretractable handle 160. Theretractable handle 160 is movable between a retractedposition 166, which is flush with thelid assembly 80 and an open position 168 (Fig. 4). In the open position, the handle extends a predetermined length vertically with respect to thelid assembly 80. Theretractable handle 160 includes ahandle 162 and atelescoping track 164. Thetrack 164 is disposed between the outer and inner basin, 10 and 50, for slidable engagement of thehandle 162. As shown inFigures 10 and 11, it is contemplated that theretractable handle 160 and thecaster wheels 150 are removably fastened along one of the longer sidewalls 18 on theouter basin 10. It is contemplated that thecaster wheel assembly 150 andretractable handle assembly 160 are fastened to theouter basin 10 using snap fasteners, rivets, snap-lock, or the like. By fastening theretractable handle assembly 160 andwheel assembly 150 to theouter basin 10, and not through thecork panels 40 orinner basin 50, theinterior compartment 70 of the cooler 1 remains free from the outside elements. Thecaster wheel assembly 150 includes a snapfit fastener 152 attachable to theouter basin 10, and theretractable handle assembly 160 similarly includes a snap fit fastener 161 (Fig. 3) attached to theouter basin 10.
Furthermore, between thecaster wheels 150 and along thebottom end 36 of theouter basin sidewall 18 is adrain hole 106 with an attachablyremovable drain plug 104; seeFigures 3,10 and12. Thedrain hole 106 is in fluid communication with thecompartment 70. Thedrain hole 106 extends from theouter basin 10 to thecompartment 70. Thedrain plug 104 is positioned on thesame sidewall 18 as thecaster wheels 150 andretractable handle 160 so that, when thehandle 162 is retracted and tilted, thedrain plug 104 can be removed to allow for all the water within thecompartment 70 of the cooler 1 to be drained. Additionally, thedrain hole 106 further includes a threading 108 constructed and arranged to accept a garden hose fitting, shown inFigure 12. Thegarden hose thread 108 allows a user to either drain water from the cooler 1 through a garden hose to another location or pump fluid into the cooler 1. For instance, thegarden hose thread 108 allows a user to connect a garden hose thereto and divert drainage water away from the cooler 1 to an area more sanitary or suitable. On each of the opposite shorter sidewalls 20 on theouter basin 10 along thetop end 34 is aside handle 190, shown inFigures 2,3 and4. Each handle 190 is fixed in position, but it is contemplated that each handle 190 can pivot about its ends, not shown.
All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference.
It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein.
One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.
