Modular cooler apparatus

Abstract

A modular cooler apparatus has a thermally insulated main container body having at least two nestable interior components. A primary interior component has at least two separate compartments in a non fluid transfer relation. A first one of the compartments has a drain opening to allow for dispensing of a cooled drinking liquid such as spring water, the walls of this compartment being thermally conductive to allow for coolant contained in the container main body to effect cooling of the drinking liquid. A second one of the compartments is designed to receive the secondary interior component, and may alternatively be used without the component to increase storage capacity. The secondary interior component is fabricated from thermally insulating material and includes apertures for beverage containers, a carrying handle, and additional space for containment of coolant.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates in general to portable storage apparatuses. More particularly, it relates to a modular cooler apparatus having removable inner sections which allow for selective compartmentalization.

[0002] 1. Statement of the Prior Art

[0003] There are numerous shapes and sizes of coolers and other devices for storing and maintaining the temperature of food and other perishables. These coolers typically have a lid with a single interior compartment. Some coolers are compartmentalized, containing one or more separate spaces within which food items can be stored. The individual compartments are most often static, that is, not capable of reconfiguration in order to accommodate different sizes and shapes of perishable items to be stored.

[0004] U.S. Pat. No. 5,890,613 issued to Williams discloses a modular cooler arrangement having a plurality of static compartments, some of which are in the form of sliding drawers which can be pulled out to allow for selective access to the contents contained therein.

[0005] U.S. Pat. No. issued to Perianes et al. discloses a portable cooler comprising a container body of insulating material and provided with a top cover consisting of two areas, top and bottom, the bottom one having a lesser-profile defining a resting edge for an intermediate drilled plate. The top area has a plurality of removable compartments for the maintaining the temperature of perishables, resting on the intermediate drilled plate. At the lower area a liquid tank receives liquid defrosting from ice used in the top area for attaining a desired temperature, the liquefaction passing through the drilled bottom and the intermediate drilled plate, this liquid tank being provided with a draining hole with the relevant sealing plug. .

[0006] U.S. Pat. No. 4,704,875 issued to Kieler discloses a beverage cooler comprises a housing member of generally rectangular configuration. The housing includes a bottom horizontal wall and a plurality of generally vertical side and end walls which are integrally formed with the bottom horizontal wall to define an enclosure having a top opening. Coolant and consumable items normally are inserted in the cooler through the top opening and a cover member is positioned over the vertical walls to form an enclosed container. Sleeve members extend through at least one on the vertical wall members and are integral therewith. The sleeve members form an integral outer surface with the wall members for preventing cool air from leaking from the interior of the cooler. The sleeve members enable beverage containers to be inserted therein so that the containers can be cooled by being adjacent the cool air in the interior of the beverage cooler.

[0007] Thus, while the prior art does show compartmentalized cooler configurations, coolers having interchangeable interior components allowing for compartments to be selectively and interchangeable reconfigured are not shown in the prior art. None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0008] The present invention provides a modular cooler apparatus that has a thermally insulated main container body having at least two nestable interior components. A primary interior component has at least two separate compartments in a non fluid transfer relation to prevent the flow of coolant liquefaction therein. A first one of the compartments has a drain opening formed therein to allow for dispensing of a cooled drinking liquid such as spring water, the walls of this compartment being thermally conductive to allow for coolant contained in the container main body to effect cooling of the drinking liquid. A second one of the compartments is designed to receive the secondary interior component, and may alternatively be used without the component to increase storage capacity. The secondary interior component is fabricated from thermally insulating material and includes apertures for beverage containers, a carrying handle, and additional space for containment of coolant.

[0009] Accordingly, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved compartmentalized cooler apparatus.

[0010] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved compartmentalized cooler apparatus having removable components to allow for selective compartmentalization.

[0011] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved compartmentalized cooler apparatus having nestable inner components of varying configuration which may be used singly or in combination.

[0012] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved compartmentalized cooler apparatus having at least one compartment for storing uncontained cooled liquid, the compartment including a spigot for dispensing the liquid.

[0013] It is another object of the invention to provide an improved compartmentalized cooler apparatus having at least one inner storage component which is self contained and having a handle to allow for portability.

[0014] Finally, it is a general object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.

[0015] These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Various other objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

[0017] FIG. 1 shows a sectional perspective view of the modular cooler apparatus of the invention.

[0018] FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of the modular cooler apparatus of the invention detailing the interrelation of the interior components.

[0019] FIG. 3 shows a side view of the modular cooler apparatus, partly in section.

[0020] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the primary interior component of the modular cooler apparatus.

[0021] FIGS. 5A-5C show plan, front, and side views, respectively, of a secondary interior component of the modular cooler apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Referring now to FIGS. 1-5C, the apparatus of the present invention, generally indicated by the numeral 10, is shown. The apparatus 10 includes a thermoinsulating main body or container 20, molded with a plastic material, which may optionally include a thermoinsulating layer 22 or an intermediate thermoinsulating filler such as an expanded polyurethane or similar material disposed interiorly of the molded plastic facing material 24. The main body 20 has a generally rectangular profile as shown, however other shapes may be utilized as is well known in the art. The container includes a drain hole 25, which may provide an opening for dispensing liquids as will be explained in more detail later. A cover 26 is sized for sliding engagement within horizontally extending channels 28, the cover formed from the same insulating material as the main body 20. The cover 26 has opposing handles 30 to allow for lifting of the container 20, the weight bearing capacity of the cover 26 when seated within channels 28 being sufficient to allow for lifting of the container 20 even when full with coolant and, e.g., foodstuffs or other items to be refrigerated.

[0023] As can be seen most clearly in FIG. 2, a pair of nestable inner components are configured for containment within container 20. A primary inner component 36 is formed from a thermally conductive material such as metal or a thin plastic material and has two separate compartments. A first compartment 38 is designed for use as a container for drinking fluid and therefor does not contain any coolant. The drinking fluid, which may be water, punch, wine, etc. may be dispensed through a spigot 40, which may be threadably engaged within aperture 42. The aperture 42 is axially alignable with drain hole 25 of container body 20 through which spigot 40 must also extend. An additional drain hole (not shown) may be provided in container body 20. It can be appreciated that in order to avoid contamination with coolant fluid or other materials contained within container 20, aperture 40 must be sealed before the compartment is filled with liquid. Accordingly, inner component 36 must first be seated within the container 20 so that apertures 42 and 25 may be aligned and spigot 40 threadedly engaged within aperture 42 so as to be in fluid tight relation therewith. Any coolant leaking into the compartment 38 during the installation process may then be cleaned out and the compartment 38 may be filled with the desired liquid. A second compartment 44 immediately adjacent to but fluidly separated from compartment 38 is designed as either a stand alone cooler section, or to provide support for the containment of a secondary inner component 48 depending on how it is configured. If used as a stand alone cooler section, the compartment 44 may be filled with coolant as desired. As the walls 50 of the primary inner component are thermally conductive, the compartment 44 will maintain temperature adequately with no coolant therein, provided there is some coolant in container 20 and the top 26 is not opened frequently. For most applications however, some coolant should be used in compartment 44.

[0024] The compartment 44 may alternatively be used to contain the secondary inner component 48 which includes apertures 54 for holding beverage containers and the like in an upright position. At least some coolant is preferably contained within component 48. The component may include rectangular recesses for holding sandwich meats, and may even include recesses having individual fluid tight coverings (not shown) for containing condiments. Thus, the inner component 48 is not limited to a particular configuration, but rather serves the purpose of providing a portable, self contained, nestable subcomponent for a cooler which may be passed around as desired without removing any of the individual items stored therein from the coolant medium. It is well known that mayonnaise, for example, can quickly warm to the ambient temperature and spoil, posing a health hazard. With the present invention, a mayonnaise jar (not shown) may be contained within apertures 54 and passed among several users simply by grasping handle 56 and lifting the inner component 48 out. The walls 60 of the inner component 48 are thermally insulating and therefore allow the temperature of the coolant to be maintained for brief periods of time. Slots 62 provided in the sidewalls 64 of the inner component 48 allow for coolant liquefaction from compartment 44 to seep into and mix with coolant stored in the inner component 48, allowing rapid compensation for any warming occurring when the component 48 is removed. Stabilization of inner component 48 within compartment 44 is facilitated by rectangular protuberances 70 which are sized for frictional engagement within notches 72 formed in recess 74 which extends about the perimeter of inner component 36.

[0025] In use, the main container 20 may be filled with a relatively small amount of liquified coolant before inserting primary inner component 36. After aligning apertures 25 and 42, a suitable spigot assembly may be threaded through and engaged within apertures 25 and 42 to allow for fluid flow from compartment 38 into and through the spigot for dispensing. It can be appreciated that use of a spigot assembly effectively locks component 36 within the container 20, limiting relative movement therebetween. A beverage for dispensing may then be poured into compartment 38, the beverage preferably being previously cooled. A coolant such as ice may then be liberally placed into the void 75 in the bottom of compartment 44. The coolant level should be sufficient to fill at least the entire void 75 to ensure adequate cooling of all compartments. Component 48 may then be placed within compartment 44, with coolant added thereto as desired. Of course, if component 48 is not used, coolant may be used in any quantity desired provided sufficient room is left to place articles to be cooled (if any) within compartment 44.

[0026] From the foregoing description, one skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications of the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.

[0027] It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the sole embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims:

Claims

1. A modular cooler apparatus comprising:

a thermally insulating main body having an interior void for containing coolant, said main body including a cover sealingly engageable with a top edge of said main body to form a thermally insulating container;

at least two nestable inner components containable within said main body, a first inner component having two compartments, a first one of said compartments adapted for containing drinking fluid, and including dispensing means allowing for selective dispensing of said drinking fluid, a second one of said compartments adapted for containing said second inner component, said first inner component having thermally conductive sidewalls;

said second inner component having thermally insulating walls and a plurality of individual support structures for supporting, in segregated fashion, a plurality of individual items, said second inner component having space for containing coolant and a carrying handle, whereby said second inner component can be selectively removed from said second compartment and maintain a desired thermal environment for said individual items.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second inner component contains coolant medium.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said second inner component includes an integrally formed carrying handle.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said individual support structures includes a support structure for supporting a bottled condiment.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said individual support structures includes a cup holder.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said individual support structures includes a cover member which may be selectively sealingly engaged and disengaged.