Recreational Cooler
A recreational cooler with a hollow accessory shaft is disclosed. The hollow shaft extends completely through the cooler from top to bottom. The hollowed area of the shaft is completely independent from the product receiving area of the cooler allowing for insertion of recreational cooler accessories. Recreational cooler accessories may include: umbrellas, fishing poles, radios, tables, cooking stands, seats, chairs, beverage bottles, cans, cups, basketball standards, and/or racks for drying beach towels. Two coolers may also be used to support each side of a volleyball net, badminton net, or tennis net.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable container, more particularly an ice chest or cooler for food and beverages.
2. Related Art
Many coolers have been proposed with various accessories and attachments. Examples of such coolers are discussed below, namely:
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- U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,507 Nov. 28, 2006 (Maldonado) describes a cooler with various external attachments including an umbrella and fishing rod holder. Maldonado describes the problem of having permanently molded accessories on the side of the cooler and proposes the solution of external cooler attachments. U.S. Pat. No. 7,140,507 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
- U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,733 Mar. 25, 2003 (Sharp) teaches a cooler with an integrated umbrella stand. This cooler also has the umbrella attached to the side of the cooler. U.S. Pat. No. 6,536,733 is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a cooler with at least one molded accessory shaft, molded completely through the cooler from the top of the cooler to the bottom of the cooler.
It has been recognized that it would be advantageous to develop a cooler with a compliant table top that folds out from at least one side of the cooler.
There are accessories which may from time to time be used by the consumer in conjunction with a cooler. For example, coolers are often taken along when fishing. Therefore, it would be advantageous to associate a fishing rod receptacle (molded accessory shaft) with the cooler to hold the fishing rod while the fisherman waits for the fish to bite. Insulated coolers are also taken to the beach where the customer may wish to use a beach umbrella. An umbrella is another accessory capable of using a molded cooler accessory shaft.
As will be appreciated, a variety of accessories may be used in conjunction with molded accessory shafts. By way of example, accessories may include: umbrellas, fishing poles, radios, tables, cooking stands, seats, chairs, beverage bottles, cans, cups, basketball standards, and/or racks for drying beach towels. Two coolers may also be used to support each side of a volleyball net, badminton net, or tennis net.
Additional features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the detailed description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which together illustrate, by way of example, features of the invention; and, wherein:
Description
As illustrated in
While the forgoing examples are illustrative of the principles of the present invention in one or more particular applications, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that numerous modifications in form, usage and details of implementation can be made without the exercise of inventive faculty, and without departing from the principles and concepts of the invention. Accordingly, it is not intended that the invention be limited, except as by the claims set forth below.
Claims
1. A container comprising:
- a main body having a base wall and four side walls extending from said base wall so as to define a product receiving compartment, each of said walls comprising an insulating material, each of said side walls having a generally flat outer surface and a generally flat inner surface with respect to said product receiving compartment and each of said side walls having an upper edge, said upper edges together defining a top opening of said main body, respectively adjacent said side walls being generally perpendicular to one another;
- one or more lids for providing access to said product receiving compartment; and
- at least one hollow shaft extending from said base wall thorough said product receiving compartment, said hollow shaft providing sealed passage through said container.
2. A container as in claim 1, wherein each of said side walls is of generally equal width such that said main body is of generally square cross-section substantially throughout a height thereof.
3. A container as in claim 1, wherein said one or more lids are not hingedly attached to one of said side walls.
4. A container as in claim 1, further comprising a storage compartment defined within said one or more lids and a pivotal cover pivotally attached to the lid so as to selectively close said storage compartment.
5. A container as in claim 1, further comprising a chiller insert removably seated within said main body.
6. A container as in claim 1, wherein said hollow shaft is circular.
7. A container as in claim 1, wherein a cup holder extends through said hollow shaft.
8. A container as in claim 1, wherein an umbrella pole extends through said hollow shaft.
9. A container as in claim 1, wherein an umbrella is attached to said outer surface of said container.
10. A container as in claim 1, wherein a horizontal surface is hingedly attached to said outer surface of said container.
11. An ice chest comprising:
- a top;
- a bottom;
- a product receiving area between said top and bottom;
- a hollow shaft connecting said top to said bottom, wherein said hollow shaft defines a sealed communication area through said ice chest, and wherein said sealed communication area is independent of said product receiving area.
12. An ice chest as in claim 11, further comprising a chiller insert removably seated within said product receiving area.
13. An ice chest as in claim 11, wherein said hollow shaft is circular.
14. An ice chest as in claim 11, wherein an umbrella pole extends through said hollow shaft.
15. An ice chest as in claim 11, wherein said ice chest has wheels.
16. A game comprising:
- a net supported by a first pole and a second pole;
- a first ice chest and a second ice chest, wherein said first ice chest and said second ice chest are configured to receive said first pole or said second pole as a means of supporting said net.
17. A game as in claim 16, wherein said ice chest has wheels.
18. A game as in claim 16, wherein said net is a volleyball net or a tennis net.
19. A game as in claim 16, wherein said net is a badminton net.
20. A game as in claim 16, wherein said first ice chest and said second ice chest are weighted with ice.
Type: Application
Filed: Sep 9, 2009
Publication Date: Mar 10, 2011
Inventors: Christopher S. Flaker (Springville, UT), Jennifer Colleen Larsen (Payson, UT), Nicole Marie Ramirez (Payson, UT)
Application Number: 12/555,934
International Classification: F25D 3/08 (20060101); B65D 81/38 (20060101); B65D 25/04 (20060101); B65D 25/00 (20060101); A63B 67/00 (20060101);