US20120091147A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20120091147A1
Application number: US13/087,977
Authority: US
Inventors: Kenneth W. LaMere; Stephen M. Pescitelli
Original assignee: Kool Innovations Inc
Current assignee: Kool Innovations Inc
Priority date: 2008-06-19
Filing date: 2011-04-15
Publication date: 2012-04-19
Also published as: US20090314029A1; US8176749B2

Abstract

A cooler includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell defines a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end. The box portion defines a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end. The inner shell and the outer shell define a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor. The cavity, into which a tray fits, opens to a hole defined by the outer shell. The outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet that are molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed. A door is configured to cover the hole. The outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position. A lid portion is configured to fit against the inner shell top.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is a continuation of and claims the benefit of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/488,511, filed Jun. 19, 2009, which is a non-provisional claiming the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/074,014, filed Jun. 19, 2008, the entirety of each of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to food storage equipment and, more specifically, to a cooler adapted for use in a marine environment.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Coolers have long been used to maintain the temperature of objects inside of the coolers. Typical coolers include box and a lid made of a plastic shell filled with either air or an insulator. A user often puts ice into the cooler to keep the temperature inside cool.

Many conventional coolers do not work well in the marine environment. This is for several reasons. One problem with conventional coolers is that they are unitary devices in which everything is placed into the cooler. Placing certain things, such as bait and sandwiches, into a cooler may not work well. Sandwiches can become wet from melting ice and bait can contaminate the food contents of the cooler.

In the marine environment, a cooler is often packed tightly with respect to other objects. This may be necessary because of space limitations on boats. Most coolers have many things (such as locking mechanisms, drains spouts and handles) protruding from the outer surfaces of the coolers. These things can catch on the other objects, thereby making packing difficult. Also, when coolers are slid against other objects, the things that protrude from the coolers can be damaged by the other objects or they can damage the other objects.

The lids of conventional coolers are often sealed to the boxes by a single downwardly-extending seal. In the marine environment, if water is sprayed at the cooler (for example, as a result of a fresh water hosing down of a boat), the water will can migrate downwardly along the seal into the cooler.

Also, many coolers have flat bottoms. When the cooler is set down on a hot surface, such as the asphalt surface of a pier on a sunny day, a substantial amount of heat can be transferred to the cooler from the hot surface. This can greatly decrease the cooling capacity of the cooler.

Sometimes a user needs to lift the cooler, such as while lifting the cooler onto a boat. At other times, a pair of users will need to carry the cooler for a long distance, such as along the length of a pier. Most coolers are designed to facilitate either lifting of the cooler or carrying of the cooler, but not both.

Many coolers use a chord or a slideable arm to prevent the lid from overextending when being opened. Such chords and arm often bread with use and they can obstruct side access to the cooler.

Some coolers define circular drink holders in their lids. However, such drink holders do not provide a very good place to put such things a bait and objects larger than drinks However, those engaged in fishing often need to place such things in holders so they do not roll away with the pitching and rolling of the boat.

Therefore, there is a need for a cooler especially adapted for the marine environment.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention which, in one aspect, is a cooler that includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell defines a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end. The box portion defines a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end. The inner shell and the outer shell define a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor. The inner shell forms a first upright wall of the cavity, a second upright wall of the cavity and a horizontal wall of the cavity. The cavity opens to a hole defined by the outer shell. The outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet that are molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed. A removable tray fits into the cavity. A door is configured to cover selectively the hole defined by the outer shell. The door is hingedly attached to the outer shell with an attachment member. The outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position. A lid portion is configured to fit against the inner shell top.

A hinge includes a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion. The first hinge part is coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween. A seal is configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion. The seal includes a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion; a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion; a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to engage the protrusion.

A locking device is configured to hold the lid portion against the box portion. The outer shell and the lid portion define a second recess into which the locking device fits so that the locking device does not extend beyond the outer shell when the locking device is in a closed state.

The outer shell has two opposite sides, wherein each opposite side defines a rigid gripping surface recess to facilitate lifting of the cooler. An elongated handle also extends from each opposite side to facilitate carrying of the cooler by two people. A drain spout extends from the drain hole to facilitate draining of liquids from the cooler. The outer shell defines a recessed area adjacent to the drain spout and the drain spout has a length so as not to extend beyond the recessed area.

In another aspect, the invention is a cooler that includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end, the box portion defining a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end, the inner shell and the outer shell defining a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor, the inner shell forming a first upright wall of the cavity, a second upright wall of the cavity, and a horizontal wall of the cavity, the cavity opening to a hole defined by the outer shell, the first upright wall of the cavity, the second upright wall of the cavity, and the horizontal wall of the cavity each made of a material that is both impervious to water and substantially non-insulating so that objects placed inside of the cavity are isolated from fluids in the chamber while being maintained at a temperature corresponding a temperature inside the chamber. A tray fits into the cavity configured to hold objects therein. A door is configured to selectively cover the hole defined by the outer shell. The door is hingedly attached to the outer shell with an attachment member. A lid portion is configured to fit against the inner shell top.

A hinge includes a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion. The first hinge part is coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween. A seal is configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion. The seal includes: a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion; a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion; a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to engage the protrusion.

In yet another aspect, the invention is a cooler that includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end, the box portion defining a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end, the inner shell and the outer shell defining a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor, the inner shell forming a first upright wall of the cavity, a second upright wall of the cavity and a horizontal wall of the cavity, the cavity opening to a hole defined by the outer shell. A door is configured to cover selectively the hole defined by the outer shell, the door hingedly attached to the outer shell with an attachment member. The outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position. A lid portion is configured to fit against the inner shell to.

A hinge includes a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion. The first hinge part is coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween. A seal is configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion. A locking device is configured to hold the lid portion against the box portion. The outer shell and the lid portion define a second recess into which the locking device fits so that the locking device does not extend beyond the outer shell when the locking device is in a closed state. A drain spout extends from the drain hole to facilitate draining of liquids from the cooler. The outer shell defines a recessed area adjacent to the drain spout and the drain spout having a length so as not to extend beyond the recessed area.

These and other aspects of the invention will become apparent from the following description of the preferred embodiments taken in conjunction with the following drawings. As would be obvious to one skilled in the art, many variations and modifications of the invention may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concepts of the disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front view schematic diagram of one representative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of one representative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of a second representative embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom plan view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a right elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 7 is a left elevational view of the embodiment shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a top plan view of a representative embodiment of an inner shell of a type that may be employed in the embodiment shown inFIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a front elevational view of the inner shell shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a rear elevational view of the inner shell shown inFIG. 8.

FIG. 11 is a right elevational view of the inner shell shown inFIG. 8.

FIGS. 12A-12B are schematic diagram details of a lid hinge mechanism.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. Unless otherwise specifically indicated in the disclosure that follows, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.”

As shown inFIGS. 1 through 7, one embodiment of a cooler100 includes abox portion110 and alid portion160 that fits against thebox portion110 so as to cover achamber118 inside thebox portion110. Thelid portion160 is held to thebox portion110 via ahinge162. Thebox portion110 includes anouter shell112 and aninner shell114, both of which are made of a rigid material, such as a rigid plastic or metal. Theouter shell112 and theinner shell114 are separated by aninsulative material116, such as a foam or other insulating material (which, in one embodiment, could include air).

Theinner shell114 and theouter shell112 can be made using well known methods used in cooler manufacturing, such as injection molding and vacuum forming. Insulative foam may be injected into the space formed by theinner shell114 and theouter shell112.

Theinner shell114 and theouter shell112 define acavity130 therebetween and thecavity130 opens to ahole138 defined by theouter shell114. The cavity is separated from thechamber118 by a firstvertical wall132, a secondvertical wall134 and ahorizontal wall136 defined by theinner shell114. One ormore trays140, such as a rectangular plastic tray, fit through thehole138 and into thecavity130. If thetray140 is fully removable, then it can be washed independently from the cooler100. Theinner shell114 is made of a material that that is impervious to liquids and that readily transmits heat, so that thecavity130 is maintained a temperature that is close to the temperature of thechamber118 and so that thecontents12 of thecavity130 are kept dry. For example, ifice10 is placed in thechamber118, then the ice will keep thecontents12 cool and the contents12 (which could include, for example, a sandwich) will also remain dry. Adoor142 is attached to theouter shell112 with one ormore hinges144 and is used to cover thehole138 when thetray140 is in thecavity130. Theouter shell112 can define arecess146 into which thehinges144 and thedoor142 fit when the door is closed. Thisrecess146 prevents thedoor142 from protruding from theouter shell112 and interfering with the horizontal sliding of the cooler100 past vertical surfaces of other objects when the cooler100 is being packed closely with such objects.

When closed, thelid portion160 is sealed to thebody portion110 with aseal170, which runs substantially along the entire upperperipheral edge172 of thebox portion110. Theseal170 includes aprotrusion176 extending upwardly from upperperipheral edge172 near the top122 of thebox portion110. Anindentation178 extends upwardly into substantially the entire lowerperipheral edge174 of the lid portion and is configured to mate and engage theprotrusion176. In this way, if water is sprayed at the cooler100, it will not be able to violate theseal170 unless it passes through at least three mated surfaces and travels upwardly past theprotrusion176. This reduces the likelihood that water sprayed at the cooler100 will leak into thechamber118.

Thelid portion160 can definecircular recesses166 to act as drink holders. It can also definerecesses168 of other shapes (e.g., rectangles) to hold things like sandwiches and bait, which can make it particularly useful in a marine environment. Typically recess168 would be of an area that is larger than the area of thecircular recesses166.

Theouter shell112 includes abottom surface150 from which fourfeet152 are molded so as to extend downwardly from thebottom surface150. Thesefeet152 form anair gap154 between most of thebottom surface150 and any surface upon which the cooler100 is placed. For example, if the cooler100 is placed on an asphalt surface on a hot sunny day, thisair gap154 can greatly reduce the rate at which heat is transferred from the asphalt surface to the cooler100, thereby greatly extending the cooling capacity of the cooler.

Alocking mechanism180 may be used to secure thelid portion160 to thebox portion110. Thelid portion160 and thebox portion110 define arecess182 into which thelocking mechanism180 fits so as not to extend beyond the outer surface of theouter shell112. This prevents thelocking mechanism180 from being damaged when the cooler100 is slid laterally against other vertical surfaces and it prevents thelocking mechanism180 from scratching such vertical surfaces.

The cooler100 includes twoopposite sides190 that each defines arecess198. Eachrecess198 has molded therein a rigidgripping surface192 to facilitate lifting of the cooler100. Adjacent to eachgripping surface192 is a pair of attachment points194 to which is attached anelongated handle196. The elongated handles196 facilitate carrying of the cooler100 by two individuals.

One of thesides190 defines a recessed area from which adrain spout200 extends. The drain spout does not extend beyond the outer surface of theouter shell112. This feature prevents damage to thedrain spout200 when the cooler100 is slid against vertical surfaces of other objects.

As mentioned above, thelid portion160 is hingedly attached to thebox portion110 with ahinge162. The hinge includes afirst hinge part124 molded into theouter shell112 andsecond hinge part164 molded into thelid portion160. As shown inFIGS. 12A-B, thefirst hinge part124 is coupled to thesecond hinge part164 with acommon hinge rod214 to allow hinged movement therebetween. Thefirst hinge part124 defines a first stopping surface running laterally along the length of thefirst hinge part124. Thesecond hinge part164 defines a second stoppingsurface212 running laterally along the length of thesecond hinge part164. When thelid portion160 is fully opened with respect to thebox portion110, the first stoppingsurface210 and the second stoppingsurface212 engage each other, thereby preventing thelid portion160 from extending beyond a preselected angle (such as 90°) from thebox portion110.

One embodiment of theinner shell114 is shown in greater detail inFIGS. 8-11. One end of theinner shell114 defines adrain hole139 that is in fluid communication with the drain spout200 (shown inFIGS. 3 and 6). Theinner shell114 includes afloor surface120 that slopes at an angle (for example, an angle as low as 1° angle) relative to horizontal204. The slope of thefloor surface120 is in the direction of thedrain hole139 to facilitate the complete draining of liquids (e.g., melted ice) from the chamber without requiring the user to tip thecooler100. Asump206 may be defined from thefloor surface120 adjacent thedrain hole139 to facilitate more complete draining of the cooler100.

The above described embodiments, while including the preferred embodiment and the best mode of the invention known to the inventor at the time of filing, are given as illustrative examples only. It will be readily appreciated that many deviations may be made from the specific embodiments disclosed in this specification without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be determined by the claims below rather than being limited to the specifically described embodiments above.

Claims

1. A cooler configured to be placed on a surface, comprising:

a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the outer shell including a bottom

b. at least two spaced apart feet formed from the bottom of the outer shell and extending downwardly from the bottom of the outer shell so as to form an air gap that separates the bottom of the outer shell from the surface upon which the cooler is placed; and

c. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top.

2. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein the air gap covers at least 60% in area of the bottom of the outer shell.

3. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein the feet are molded into the outer shell.

4. The cooler ofclaim 1, further comprising a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween.

5. The cooler ofclaim 1, further comprising a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including:

a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;

b. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;

c. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and

d. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion.

6. The cooler ofclaim 5, wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90° from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened.

7. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:

a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and

b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.

8. A cooler configured to be placed on a surface, comprising:

b. four spaced apart feet formed from the bottom of the outer shell and extending downwardly from a different corner of the bottom of the outer shell so as to form an air gap that separates the bottom of the outer shell from the surface upon which the cooler is placed; and

c. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top.

9. The cooler ofclaim 8, wherein the feet are molded into the outer shell.

10. The cooler ofclaim 8, wherein the air gap covers at least 60% in area of the bottom of the outer shell.

11. The cooler ofclaim 8, further comprising a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween;

12. The cooler ofclaim 8, further comprising a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including:

a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;

13. The cooler ofclaim 12, wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90° from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened.

14. The cooler ofclaim 8, wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:

a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and

b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.

15. A cooler configured to be placed on a surface, comprising:

b. at least two spaced apart feet formed from and extending downwardly from the bottom of the outer shell and molded into the outer shell so as to form an air gap between the bottom of the outer shell and the surface upon which the cooler is placed, the air gap covering at least 60% in area of the bottom of the outer shell; and

c. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top.

16. The cooler ofclaim 15, further comprising a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween;

17. The cooler ofclaim 15, further comprising a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including:

a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;

18. The cooler ofclaim 17, wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90° from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened.

19. The cooler ofclaim 15, wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:

a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and

b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.