US20230010125A1

Movatterモバイル変換

Info

Publication number: US20230010125A1
Application number: US17/862,811
Authority: US
Inventors: Jeffrey Nanus
Original assignee: Rainmen Usa Inc
Current assignee: Sign-Zone LLC; Rainmen Usa Inc
Priority date: 2021-07-12
Filing date: 2022-07-12
Publication date: 2023-01-12

Abstract

Description

BACKGROUND1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a cooler for storing items including food and beverages and the top of the container has a height adjustable table surface.

2. Background of the Art

A cooler or cooling container for storing food and beverage items in a cool condition for use on picnics, comping trips, and outdoor excursions. The food and beverages can be kept in the container at a cool temperature insulated from outside with ice and other cooling materials therewith. However, a user of a cooling container often encounters is a lack of usable storage surface such as a table for food. While using a cooling container, people often use the top of the cooling's lid as a table by placing objects, such as open drinks, food, condiments, etc., on top of the lid. This presents a problem because every time a person needs to retrieve something from inside the container, the open drinks, food, condiments and so forth need to be removed from the top of the lid. The lid is lifted to access inside of container or completely removed from the container.

Another problem with conventional cooling container is the lack of storage space for dry goods, such as paper plates, utensils, cups, etc., and for other objects, such as beach toys, towels, etc.

Therefore, a need exists for a table that may be attached to a cooling in an elevated position, thereby providing a storage surface while still allowing the lid of the cooler to be opened, and an enclosure for storing objects between the cooling and the elevated table, thereby allowing for easy transportation of said objects.

There exists a need in an art for an insulated container having a removable top and which further provides convenient storage surface such as table which many be used independently of the lid of the container. The vertically adjustable table on the container as a lid itself is required.

SUMMARY

A table top cooler provides a storage surface while still allowing the lid of the cooler to be opened, and an enclosure for storing objects within the cooling container, the enclosure being accessible between the elevated table and the top of the open container, thereby allowing for easy transportation of said objects. A table-top cooling container has a vertically adjustable top table with a plurality of wheels attachable to the body, which provides mobility. The adjustable top on the container is used as a lid itself and lifts off vertically and discloses inside items of the cooling container. A table top is associated with the cooling container which in the stored position rests on top of the container and is secured by table rods thereof each of which are insertable into an aperture located in each wall of the container. The table rods can be stowed inside of the container by inserting the rods into start of the container. The table top seals the container as it also acts as the cover to the cooler.

When the table top is elevated off the container, a spring-loaded button located in each rod engages with a hole in the aperture located in the wall of the container. When a user elevates the table top from the container, the table rods moves vertically and at a certain height locks in place so that the table top can provide a horizontal table top or storage surface elevated above the top surface of the open container permitting the lid of the container to be opened. The table rods extend upward to a predetermined distance from the container to support the table in an elevated position. The table rods are vertically extendable from the container so that the storage surface may be elevated from the closed position to an open position above the upper surface of the open container and locked in at a predetermined position.

The table top may be further provided with trays or compartments for storage of items such as eating utensils. The table is providing the extra space for the food trays or some other useful purposes at the outdoor at the same time the user can freely take out items from the container. The top lid is opened as the table is lifted off vertically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Various embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings wherein:

FIG.1 is a perspective view of a table top cooler in a closed position with a top table according to the present disclosure;

FIG.2 is a perspective view of a table top cooler in an open position with an elevated top table according to the present disclosure;

FIG.3 is a perspective view of a table top cooler and a top table detached from the table top cooler according to the present disclosure;

FIG.4 is a perspective view of a top table assembled with rods and the spring therein according to the present disclosure;

FIGS.4A-4B are a perspective partial view of a button with a rod attached to top table according to the present disclosure;

FIG.5A-5D are a perspective partial view of a locking system with a button with a rod according to the present disclosure;

FIG.6 is a perspective view of apertures in a cooler according to the present disclosure according to the present disclosure;

FIG.7A is a perspective view of an opened container with the table top rods in an elevated position according to the present disclosure;

FIG.7B is a perspective view of a closed container with the table in a closed position according to the present disclosure;

FIG.8 is a perspective view of a hollow hole connected to the side of an aperture according to the present disclosure;

FIG.9 is a perspective view of a table locked in the container at the open position of an elevated container by the button attached with spring according to the present disclosure;

FIG.10 is an illustrating an elongated cap pushing a button into a rod according to the present disclosure;

FIG.11A is a perspective partial view of a protruded elongated cap from out layer of the container by the button;

FIG.11B is a perspective partial view of pushed an elongated cap into the container;

FIG.11C is a perspective partial view of an elongated cap with the button at a default position.

FIG.12 is an illustrating a top table with rods lifting off from a cooling container according to the present disclosure;

FIG.13 is a perspective side view of two layers in a closed container according to the present disclosure;

FIG.14 is a perspective side view of a table supported by rods on the top of the container according to the present disclosure;

FIG.15 is a perspective side view of a handle attached with a container according to the present disclosure;

FIG.16 is a perspective side view of a drain hole in a container according to the present disclosure;

FIG.17 is a perspective side view of legs attached to a container according to the present disclosure; and

FIG.18 is a perspective side view of a basket assembled to a container according to the present disclosure.

Like reference numerals indicate similar parts throughout the figures.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present disclosure may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the disclosure taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed disclosure.

Also, as used in the specification and including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment. It is also understood that all spatial references, such as, for example, horizontal, vertical, top, upper, lower, bottom, left and right, are for illustrative purposes only and can be varied within the scope of the disclosure.

As shown inFIGS.1-18, a tabletop cooling container200 for storing food and beverage items in a cool condition for used on picnics, comping trips, and outdoor excursions. The food and beverages can be kept in the container at a cool temperature insulated from outside with ice chest and other cooling materials therewith. Thecontainer200 has a plurality of wheels15 attachable to the body, which provides mobility and conversion.

FIG.1 is a perspective view of a moveable table top cooler200 in a closed position with a top table20 in accordance with the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. The moveable table top cooler200 includes a table20, a coolingcontainer box40, ahandle61, asemicircular basket61,wheels63, acavity45, and abutton17. Thebutton17 is used with embodiment illustrated inFIGS.4B-5D.FIG.2 is a perspective view of the movable table top cooler200 in an open position with an elevated top table20. The table20 which is opened includes at least two table rails orrods30.FIG.3 is a perspective view of the movable table top cooler200 and the top table20 detached from the moveable table top cooler200. Thecontainer40 includes at least two rail-receiving channels orapertures50. The top table20 can be easily detached from the moveable table top cooler200 by a user lifting off from the coolingcontainer40.

A coolingcontainer200 is integrated with a table surface on its top20. The table20 has at least twotable rods30 extending from the lower surface of the table inFIG.4. Thetable rods30 can have a rounded or square cross-sectional shape; other shapes are contemplated. Thetable rods30 are fixed on the lower surface of the table20. Thetable rods30 can be tightly fastened to the table20 and support the table20 vertically. It is appreciated that different types of table rods may be provided, fixed, collapsible or detachable to a lower part of the table. Thetable rods30 can be composed of any material including wooden or metallic materials. The inside of thetable rods30 can be hollow for a first embodiment. Eachtable rod30 includes ahole95 positioned at some vertical point between the top edge and the bottom edge of thetable rod30. Thehole95 penetrates therod30 at a right angle. Positioned within thehole95 is aspring96 and a button-shapedprotrusion11 that extends out of thetable rod30. The button-shapedprotrusion11 can enter or exit from thehole95 to connect to thespring96 inside of the hole95 (seeFIG.4). The button-shapedprotrusion11 can be normally protruded from thetable rod30 due to theresilience130 of thespring96. Thespring96 can be connected to the button shapedprotrusion11. Thespring96 release is located in the tube of therod30. A user can give a pressure on the protrusion and push it into the tube. Thespring96 in the tube are resilient so it can be restored if there is no pressure on it. Thespring96 can be any material including steel but its resilience can be enough for the protrusion to restore at the initial position. In some embodiment, the protrusion in the tube can be pushed in and out by any pressure from the outside. The table rods are fixated on the table with bolts inFIG.4. The inside of the table rod shows the button-shapedprotrusion11 inFIG.4.

For another embodiment, the top table20 can include abutton17 inFIG.4A, which can be used to facilitate actions relating to the rod and a handle system. More particularly, activation ofbutton17 can facilitate actions such as extending and retracting the rod and releasing or engaging the table top to facilitate lifting motion and/or lowering motion about the rod inFIG.4A. The rod is fixed to the top table as a leg of the top table and has a shape like a plunger inFIG.4A.

Therod30 can define anaxis18 that is generally aligned with the rod. The top table inFIG.4A can include at least onegripping side extension19 on the side surface of the top table inFIG.4B. Theside gripping extension19 can be provided along thebutton17 such that it is substantially perpendicular to the plane on thebutton17 of the top table20. The axis also18 is substantially perpendicular to the top table20, and when taken together with the axis, forms the plane that is about parallel with therod30. The top table20 can be secured to therod30 assembly that facilitates vertical movement of the top table relative to therod30. The vertical movement can include up and down movement of the top table20 about theaxis18.

Although the mechanism to lock the lid in the open position has been described with respect to the illustrations described above, other latch and release mechanisms are contemplated.

The coolingcontainer box40 can have at least two layers such as aninner layer47 and anouter layer48, which insulate the box from outside variable temperatures (seeFIG.6). The items inside of the container can be maintained in a desired temperature range. There is oneaperture50 or hollow inside the wall associated with eachtable rod30 and configured to stow atable rod30. Theaperture50 is located between theouter layer48 andinner layer47 of the container. The aperture is located at longitudinal section between layers of the box. The coolingcontainer200 shows theaperture50 inFIG.6. The hollow length of theaperture50 can be extended vertically from top of the container to bottom of thecontainer140 and be longer than the length of the table rod150 (seeFIG.7A). The shape of theaperture50 can be formed to mate with thetable rod30 shape to stow thetable rods30. Theaperture50 of the container can contain thetable rods30 inside thereof. The shape of theaperture50 can be any shape such as rectangular or rounded shape depending on the shape of thetable rods30 to secure the table (seeFIG.7A).

When the table is at the closed position, the table top20 seals the top of the container thus improving thermal insulation to thereby retain items stored therein at a desired temperature range (seeFIG.7B). The table20 tightly lays on top of the container at the closed position. The table top20 seals the container and acts as the lid of the container in theclosed position160 inFIG.7B.

The side of the container containing thehollow aperture50 is connected to ahorizontal hole94 at a right angle70 (seeFIG.8). Thehorizontal hole94 of the container is located at some vertical point between the top and bottom of the container. Thehorizontal hole94 of the container is tunneled from a side of aperture to outside of the container horizontally. A cap can be integrated into the hole from outside of the container, and can be shaped as a tack and elongated. The elongated cap is pushed into the small hollow hole to reach the side of the aperture of the container. When the cap is pushed into the aperture's side by a user, the small hollow hole can be filled with the part of the elongated cap. The elongated cap can be any material including metal or plastic. The elongated cap can be long enough to reach the side of aperture and a user can insert it into the small hollow.

A user can lift off the top-table from a closed container (seeFIG.9). The horizontal table withrods30 is inserted into theaperture50 of the container vertically. The table can be vertically extendable from the container. The table is supported onrods30 that are vertically extendable from the container to a use-position abovecontainer170. The table top may be further provided with trays or compartments for storage of items such as eating utensils. The button-shapedprotrusion11 of thetable rods30 can be used for locking in the table20 at the certain open position. The button-shapedprotrusion11 is integrated with aspring96 while therods30 go up, theprotrusion11 can be stowed inside of the hollow table rods because the contact side aperture of the container pushes the protrusion into thetable rod30 until the rod with button-shaped protrusion reaches thehole80 of theaperture50 of thecontainer40. There is a small hollow hole instead of the contact surface of the container and nothing can push into the protrusion into the table rods. The button-shaped protrusion of the table rods can be protruded toward the small hole of the container due to a connected spring's resilience (seeFIG.9). The smallhollowed hole80 can catch the protrusion of table rods. The hole can be operated as a boathook and hook up into the protrusion of the table rods, which locks in the table at a use-position above container and stops lowering the table vertically. Because the protruded part of the rod is hooked into the hole of the container, the table can be locked in the open position and the container is open for use. A user can access into the cooling container's items. The table is secured at the open position. The table is lifted off from the container and table rods are extendable from a stored position to a position of use and engageable in the container to position the table at the elevation above and parallel to the container top to allow access to the container. The table may also be lifted off for use independent of the container. In other embodiments, the rods are extendible from apertures in the cooling side or end of walls to allow the table unit to be elevated to the desired position and then secured in place.

A rounded button90 (seeFIG.10) as a cap can be connected to the smallhollow hole80 of container at the outer of the wall. Therounded button90 can be elongated and inserted the hole of the container from the outside and the hole can be stuffed with the part of the elongated cap. The shape of the cap can be of various shapes. The elongated cap can fill the hole from the outside wall of the container and the elongated cap can reach the inside of the aperture of the container from the outside wall of the container. The elongated cap is attached outside the wall of the container and the length of the cap can be extended to the end of the hole inside. The user can push the part of the button into the hole and pull it out from thehole100.

In some embodiments,FIGS.11A-11C are perspective partial side view of the rod and cooling container laid at 90-degree angle.FIGS.11A-11C are the just embodiment associate withFIGS.9-10. Thebutton90 is attached to the wall of the cooling container (seeFIG.11A). The rod with the top table is locked to the cooling container and secured when therod button11 pushes thebutton90 with the spring tension from the rod. However, when a user pushes thebutton90, thebutton11 is pulled into the rod and the rod can be unlocked to the cooling container and move freely inFIGS.11B-11C.

In some embodiments, the button can have a spring at the bottom of the button so the user can push part of the button into the hole and easily pull it out from the hole when no force is on the cap. A user can fill the hole of the container's wall by pushing a rounded cap. In one non-limiting embodiment, the cap can be screwed into the hole thus, filling the hole. The cap's shape can be of various shapes depending on the hole's size and shape provided the button may be able to operate to push or pull into the hole. The small hole of the container is filled with the elongated button and it can push the protrusion of the table rod into the rod. A user can pull up the table from the container by pushing into each side of the elongated buttons110 (seeFIG.12). Otherwise, the table can cover up the container as a lid.

The table20 can seal the top surface of thecontainer40 like an ice box (seeFIG.7B). The sealed container can preserve the items inside and a user can store items with cooling materials. However, a user can seal thecontainer40 with the top table20 and can be lift the top-table off from the container (seeFIG.12). In some embodiments, there are two layers inside of the container. Two layers in the container have slightly different size in light of the vertical height. Theinner layer47 can emerge from the top of the container. The top-table20 has a cushion material at the boundary thereof, which touches theinner layer47 of the container. The touching area of theinner layer47 can emerge from the top of the container a minor amount but enough for the user to notice it. Theinner layer47 of thecontainer40 can be a little raised from the surface of the container and can touch on the cushion material of the table. Accordingly, the container can be sealed, but theouter layer48 is lower than theinner layer47 and cannot be touched on the top table (seeFIG.13). Accordingly, there is anopen gap85 between the top table and the container because of theouter layer48. The open gap between theouter layer48 of thecontainer40 and thetable top20 is slight, and the open gap can be used for the user to lift off the table from the container.

The top table20 withrods30 touches thecontainer40 and therods30 insert into theaperture50 of thecontainer40 vertically. The button-shapedprotrusion11 can be protruded from therods30 and the protrusion lays on the top of container's wall (seeFIG.13). Unless a user pushes into theprotrusion11 into the rods of the table, the table can be higher than the top surface of thecontainer40 and higher than thetable rods30 locked inside of the container40 (seeFIG.14). Eachrod30 has aprotrusion11 and can secure the position of the table20 at the heightened position from the surface of thecontainer40. The table can be at an elevation above190 and parallel to the container top to allow access to the cooling chamber (seeFIG.14). Theprotrusion11 can support the table20 withrods30 on the top of the surface of thecontainer40.

The assembly may also containhandles61 to assist in mobility and conversion. At least onehandle61 can be attached to adjacent the end walls of the container40 (seeFIG.15). Thehandle61 is located against the end wall and in a towing position that allows a user to pull or move thecontainer40 usingwheels63. Ahandle61 can be fastened using screw holes on the container's wall. Each of the ends of thehandle61 can be fixed to the wall ofcontainer40 through the holes on thecontainer40. Screws for ahandle61 can be separately provided for the assembly process. In some embodiments, when thehandles61 are grasped by the user, they may be pivoted to convenient position for lifting or carrying the container.

The container can have acavity45 near bottom of the container tunneled from inside to outside of thecontainer40 in order drain liquid therein. Ascrew46 can plug in the cavity when it is not used (seeFIG.16). The location of thecavity45 can be located against any wall of thecontainer40 provided it can drain the liquid from the container. The use of thecavity45 is not limited to draining liquid, but may include any purpose such as pouring beverages using a spigot.

Eachwheel63 can be provided with a leg65 (seeFIG.17). Theleg65 and thewheels63 can be assembled separately. Thewheels63 withlegs65 can be mounted to the container for mobility. At least onewheel63 with at least oneleg65 can be assembled to the bottom of thecontainer40. At least onewheel63 can be assembled with at least one wheel'sleg65. Thelegs65 withwheels63 thereon can adjust the vertical length of thecontainer40. Each leg can be assembled to the wheel using a screw hole and screw. The leg of the wheel is directly attached to the container through screw holes and screws. The wheels can rotate 360 degrees. A user can move the container using the wheels in at any direction. Thewheels63 have ascrew66 attached and are assembled into athread groove67 of the container secured with nuts or end caps thereof.

Asemicircular basket62 having at least oneu-shaped aperture81 at the plane side ofbasket62 can be assembled or attached to a protruding rack located at the side of the container40 (seeFIG.18.) The protruding rack can hook the semicircular basket82 to the container throughu-shaped apertures81. The u-shaped apertures can help thebasket62 to cling to thecontainer40.FIG.18 shows a side view of the semicircular basket. There are two U-shaped apertures on the side of thebasket62, but this number is not limiting. At least oneu-shaped aperture81 is located on the plane side of thebasket62, whose side can face the rack of container. The semicircular basket can provide extra storage in addition to the inside storage of the container.

While the above description contains many specifics, these specifics should not be construed as limitations of the invention, but merely as exemplifications of preferred embodiments thereof. Those skilled in the art will envision many other embodiments within the scope and spirit of the invention as defined by the claims appended hereto.

Where this application has listed the steps of a method or procedure in a specific order, it may be possible, or even expedient in certain circumstances, to change the order in which some steps are performed, and it is intended that the particular steps of the method or procedure claim set forth herein below not be construed as being order-specific unless such order specificity is expressly stated in the claim.

While the preferred embodiments of the devices and methods have been described in reference to the environment in which they were developed, they are merely illustrative of the principles of the inventions. Modification or combinations of the above-described assemblies, other embodiments, configurations, and methods for carrying out the invention, and variations of aspects of the invention that are obvious to those of skill in the art are intended to be within the scope of the claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A cooler having an extendable top, comprising:

a container, having an open top, comprising at least two rail-receiving channels;

a lid, matable with the open top of the container, comprising at least two rails extending downward from an underside of the lid and mateable with the rail-receiving channels,

wherein in a closed position, the lid is mated with the top of the container, and

wherein in an open position, the lid is extended upward from the container with the rails engaged with the rail-receiving channels to secure the lid in the open configuration.

2. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein each rail inserts into a respective rail-receiving channel vertically when the lid seals the container on the top of the container.

3. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein a spring-loaded button located in the at least two rails engage with a hole in a rail-receiving channels located in the wall of the container.

4. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein the least wo rails are vertically extendable from the container.

5. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein the extendable top is elevated from the closed position to an open position above an upper surface of the container.

6. The lid ofclaim 1, further comprising the at least two rails extending upward to a predetermined distance from the container to support the top in an elevated position.

7. The cooler ofclaim 1, wherein a height of the top from the container is adjustable with attached the at least two rails and the at least two rails have at least one spring-loaded button to adjust the height of the top.

8. The cooler ofclaim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels attachable to the body for mobility.

9. The cooler ofclaim 1, further comprising least one handle attached to adjacent the end walls of the cooler.

10. The cooler ofclaim 1, further comprising a basket having at least one u-shaped aperture at the plane side of the basket and is assembled to a protruding rack located at the side of the cooler.

11. A cooler storing food and beverage items in a cool condition and having an extendable top comprising:

a container, having an open top, comprising at least two rail-receiving channels; and

a lid, matable with the open top of the container, comprising at least two rails extending downward from an underside of the lid and mateable with the rail-receiving channels, the lid configured to:

seal the container at an upper surface of the container and having at least two rails;

elevate a top from the container and the at least two rails are extended from a stored position;

lock the top at a certain height using the at least two rails when the top is elevated off from the container; and

allow a user to access to the inside of the container and the open top of the container.

12. The cooler ofclaim 11, further comprising a button on the lid being pushed down along with a hook.

13. The lid ofclaim 12, further comprising a hook unlocking the rails which is secured to the container by pulling a button into the container.

14. The containerclaim 11, further comprising more than two holes on the wall of the container to the button pulled out from the inside to the outside of the rails through the holes.

15. The cooler ofclaim 11, wherein the least two rails insert into the at least two rail receiving channels vertically when the lid seals the container.

16. The container ofclaim 11, further comprising an elongated cap pushed a hole of a rail-receiving channel from the outside side wall of the container.

17. The elongated cap ofclaim 16, wherein the elongated cap is pushed into the hole to reach the side of the rail-receiving channel of the container.

18. The cooler ofclaim 11, wherein a spring-loaded button located in the at least two rails engage with a hole in a rail-receiving channels located in the wall of the container.

19. The cooler ofclaim 11, wherein the extendable top is elevated from the closed position to an open position above an upper surface of the container.

20. The cooler ofclaim 11, wherein a height of the top from the container is adjustable with attached the at least two rails and the at least two rails have at least one spring-loaded button to adjust the height of the top.