FRONT OPENING PORTABLE COOLER WITH TOP UTILITY SURFACE

Abstract

A portable cooler for comestible content comprises an insulated box-like body having a bottom wall and front, back and opposite end walls which extend up from said bottom wall, and a sealed, non-openable top, said box-like body providing a comestible storage.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of portable coolers for storing, transporting and maintaining cool, comestibles (foods and beverages).

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Coolers (also known as ice-boxes or esky's) are well known and used in many parts of the world wherein it is desired to store, transport and maintain cool, various food and beverage products. Often, this is for travelling, camping, outings and picnics.

In the most conventional and popular form, the cooler comprises an open-topped insulated box body with a closable lid. The walls of the box and the lid are formed from insulating material. The insulated body presents an open interior space in which ice and one or more articles to be cooled are stored. Typically, a hinged top cover, also formed of insulated material, is provided on the cooler for closing the interior space in order to maintain the temperature of the articles in the cooler. Handles are often secured to or formed in the cooler for facilitating transportation thereof, and a drain may be fitted in the body for draining water and other liquids from the cooler without opening the cover

Known and currently used coolers are generally deep, at least with respect to some of the items stored within. This can cause difficulty when trying to access items that have been placed at the bottom of the cooler or that have worked their way to the bottom through movement. It is also difficult to organize items within existing known coolers.

Additionally, several other problems arise in the use of this conventional cooler construction. For example, because the cooler is portable, it is also easily upended, causing the ice, water and other articles such as food and beverages stored in the interior space to be spilled and possibly ruined prior to serving their usefulness. Also, because ice and food articles are all commonly resident in the same space, the food articles tend to get soggy and saturated as the ice melts and begins to be replaced by water. Although trays can be used to support food articles above the ice and water in the cooler, the air space adjacent the cover is inappropriate for the storage of many types of perishables since the temperature of the air space is substantially higher than that of the ice and water in the bottom of the cooler. As such, articles stored in these types of trays spoil rapidly.

Furthermore, once such a cooler is being used in situ by a user, the top surface (lid), (when closed) tends to be used as a functional surface or table. Every time access is required to the cooler contents, the table and arranged items thereon need to be dismantled which is impractical and frustrating.

It is an object of the present invention to obviate or mitigate the above disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides a portable cooler for comestible content comprising an insulated box-like body having a bottom wall and front, back and opposite end walls which extend up from said bottom wall, and a sealed, non-openable top, said box-like body providing a comestible storage compartment; and at least one hinged door extending across the front of the body providing access to the comestible storage compartment, when in an open position, a top surface of the at least one door tapers downwardly and away from the top of the housing; wherein a lower portion of the box-like body, below the at least one hinged door, provides a containment base, holding comestible content inside cooler when at least one hinged door is in an open position.

The present invention further provides portable cooler comprising an insulated housing having a top surface, a bottom, a front, a back wall, a left side and a right side; and at least one insulated door engaged with the front of the housing and hinged at a point of attachment to the housing such that the door moves from an open position to a closed position and when in an open position, exposes an interior cavity of the housing; the at least one door having an top surface, a lower end, a front surface, a right side and a left side; the top surface of the door tapering downwardly and away from the top of the housing; wherein the front of the housing further comprises a content containment wall below the lower end of the door, such that the door, in a closed position, abuts the content containment wall and wherein the top surface of the housing provides a utility surface which is unimpeded by a user opening and closing of the door to access the cavity of the housing.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler apparatus which has all of the advantages of known coolers mentioned heretofore and in addition with many novel features that result in a new portable cooler which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by any of the known coolers, either alone or in any combination thereof.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler which may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler which is of a durable and reliable construction.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler having a top which cannot be opened but forms a utility or functional surface.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler, the interior cavity/compartment to which is accessed by one or more “front doors” on the cooler and not via a top surface opening.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler which comprises, in one or more front doors on the cooler holders or cages for a removable cooling means.

Lastly, it is a further object of the present invention to provide a new portable cooler wherein a lower portion of the box-like body, below the at least one hinged door, provides a containment base, holding comestible content inside cooler when at least one hinged door is in an open position. In this way, i) content of the cooler will not spill out when the front doors are open; and ii) melting ice or other liquids or spills are contained within the base and will not spill over when the door is open.

What is provided herein is a highly usable, functional cooler wherein top surface can be used as a table or work surface to prepare meals without impeding access to the content of the cooler. In other words, a user can prepare food and intermittently access the contents of the cooler via the front doors, while enjoying the utility surface on the top of the cooler. A user is discouraged from using the top surface of the doors as an extension to the top surface of the cooler, by way of deliberately tapered door tops, extending away from the top surface of the cooler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front and top perspective view of a cooler with two doors in the closed position;

FIG. 2 is a rear and bottom perspective view of a cooler with two doors in the closed position;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of a cooler with two doors in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a cooler with two doors in a closed position;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a cooler with two doors in the open position, exposing a lower containment base; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cooler with doors open and shelf protracted (pulled out).

The figures depict an embodiment of the present invention for purposes of illustration only. One skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the structures and methods illustrated herein may be employed without departing from the principles of the invention described herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A detailed description of one or more embodiments of the invention is provided below along with accompanying figures that illustrate the principles of the invention. The invention is described in connection with such embodiments, but the invention is not limited to any embodiment. The scope of the invention is limited only by the claims and the invention encompasses numerous alternatives, modifications and equivalents. Numerous specific details are set forth in the following description in order to provide a thorough understanding of the invention. These details are provided for the purpose of example and the invention may be practiced according to the claims without some or all of these specific details. For the purpose of clarity, technical material that is known in the technical fields related to the invention has not been described in detail so that the invention is not unnecessarily obscured.

Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientists, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way.

I. Terms

This description of preferred embodiments is to be read in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are part of the entire written description of this invention. In the description, corresponding reference numbers are used throughout to identify the same or functionally similar elements. If and when used herein relative terms such as “horizontal,” “vertical,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivatives thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing figure under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description and are not intended to require a particular orientation unless specifically stated as such. Terms including “inwardly” versus “outwardly,” “longitudinal” versus “lateral”, “adjacent” and the like are to be interpreted relative to one another or relative to an axis of elongation, or an axis or center of rotation, as appropriate. Terms concerning attachments, coupling and the like, such as “connected” and “interconnected,” refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise.

Each process (whether called a method or otherwise) inherently includes one or more steps, and therefore all references to a “step” or “steps” of a process have an inherent antecedent basis in the mere recitation of the term ‘process’ or a like term. Accordingly, any reference in a claim to a ‘step’ or ‘steps’ of a process has sufficient antecedent basis.

The term “invention” and the like mean “the one or more inventions disclosed in this application”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “an aspect”, “an embodiment”, “embodiment”, “embodiments”, “the embodiment”, “the embodiments”, “one or more embodiments”, “some embodiments”, “certain embodiments”, “one embodiment”, “another embodiment” and the like mean “one or more (but not all) embodiments of the disclosed invention(s)”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “variation” of an invention means an embodiment of the invention, unless expressly specified otherwise.

A reference to “another embodiment” or “another aspect” in describing an embodiment does not imply that the referenced embodiment is mutually exclusive with another embodiment (e.g., an embodiment described before the referenced embodiment), unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “including”, “comprising” and variations thereof mean “including but not limited to”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The terms “a”, “an” and “the” mean “one or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “plurality” means “two or more”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The term “herein” means “in the present application, including anything which may be incorporated by reference”, unless expressly specified otherwise.

The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things (such as an enumerated list of things) means any combination of one or more of those things, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the phrase “at least one of a widget, a car and a wheel” means either (i) a widget, (ii) a car, (iii) a wheel, (iv) a widget and a car, (v) a widget and a wheel, (vi) a car and a wheel, or (vii) a widget, a car and a wheel. The phrase “at least one of”, when such phrase modifies a plurality of things does not mean “one of” each of the plurality of things.

Numerical terms such as “one”, “two”, etc. when used as cardinal numbers to indicate quantity of something (e.g., one widget, two widgets), mean the quantity indicated by that numerical term, but do not mean at least the quantity indicated by that numerical term. For example, the phrase “one widget” does not mean “at least one widget”, and therefore the phrase “one widget” does not cover, e.g., two widgets.

The phrase “based on” does not mean “based only on”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “based on” describes both “based only on” and “based at least on”. The phrase “based at least on” is equivalent to the phrase “based at least in part on”.

The term “represent” and like terms are not exclusive, unless expressly specified otherwise. For example, the term “represents” do not mean “represents only”, unless expressly specified otherwise. In other words, the phrase “the data represents a credit card number” describes both “the data represents only a credit card number” and “the data represents a credit card number and the data also represents something else”.

The term “whereby” is used herein only to precede a clause or other set of words that express only the intended result, objective or consequence of something that is previously and explicitly recited. Thus, when the term “whereby” is used in a claim, the clause or other words that the term “whereby” modifies do not establish specific further limitations of the claim or otherwise restricts the meaning or scope of the claim.

The term “e.g.” and like terms mean “for example”, and thus does not limit the term or phrase it explains. For example, in a sentence “the computer sends data (e.g., instructions, a data structure) over the Internet”, the term “e.g.” explains that “instructions” are an example of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet, and also explains that “a data structure” is an example of “data” that the computer may send over the Internet. However, both “instructions” and “a data structure” are merely examples of “data”, and other things besides “instructions” and “a data structure” can be “data”.

The term “respective” and like terms mean “taken individually”. Thus if two or more things have “respective” characteristics, then each such thing has its own characteristic, and these characteristics can be different from each other but need not be. For example, the phrase “each of two machines has a respective function” means that the first such machine has a function and the second such machine has a function as well. The function of the first machine may or may not be the same as the function of the second machine.

The term “i.e.” and like terms mean “that is”, and thus limits the term or phrase it explains. For example, in the sentence “the computer sends data (i.e., instructions) over the Internet”, the term “i.e.” explains that “instructions” are the “data” that the computer sends over the Internet.

Any given numerical range shall include whole and fractions of numbers within the range. For example, the range “1 to 10” shall be interpreted to specifically include whole numbers between 1 and 10 (e.g., 1, 2, 3, 4, . . . 9) and non-whole numbers (e.g. 1.1, 1.2, . . . 1.9).

Where two or more terms or phrases are synonymous (e.g., because of an explicit statement that the terms or phrases are synonymous), instances of one such term/phrase does not mean instances of another such term/phrase must have a different meaning. For example, where a statement renders the meaning of “including” to be synonymous with “including but not limited to”, the mere usage of the phrase “including but not limited to” does not mean that the term “including” means something other than “including but not limited to”.

Neither the Title (set forth at the beginning of the first page of the present application) nor the Abstract (set forth at the end of the present application) is to be taken as limiting in any way as the scope of the disclosed invention(s). An Abstract has been included in this application merely because an Abstract of not more than 150 words is required under 37 C.F.R. .sctn.1.72(b). The title of the present application and headings of sections provided in the present application are for convenience only, and are not to be taken as limiting the disclosure in any way.

Numerous embodiments are described in the present application, and are presented for illustrative purposes only. The described embodiments are not, and are not intended to be, limiting in any sense. The presently disclosed invention(s) are widely applicable to numerous embodiments, as is readily apparent from the disclosure. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the disclosed invention(s) may be practiced with various modifications and alterations, such as structural and logical modifications. Although particular features of the disclosed invention(s) may be described with reference to one or more particular embodiments and/or drawings, it should be understood that such features are not limited to usage in the one or more particular embodiments or drawings with reference to which they are described, unless expressly specified otherwise.

No embodiment of method steps or product elements described in the present application constitutes the invention claimed herein, or is essential to the invention claimed herein, or is coextensive with the invention claimed herein, except where it is either expressly stated to be so in this specification or expressly recited in a claim.

II Overview

The present invention relates generally to storage containers, and more particularly to a portable cooler having one or more externally (front door) accessible compartments and comprising at least one door holding a cooling means which is isolated from, but in thermal contact with, the interior of the cooler.

The invention comprises a provides a portable cooler for comestible content comprising an insulated box-like body having a bottom wall and front, back and opposite end walls which extend up from said bottom wall, and a sealed, non-openable top, said box-like body providing a comestible storage compartment; and at least one hinged door extending across the front of the body providing access to the comestible storage compartment, when in an open position, a top surface of the at least one door tapering downwardly and away from the top of the housing; wherein a lower portion of the box-like body, below the at least one hinged door, provides a containment base, holding comestible content inside cooler when at least one hinged door is in an open position.

More specifically, the present invention provides portable cooler comprising an insulated housing having a top surface, a bottom, a front, a back wall, a left side and a right side; and at least one insulated door engaged with the front of the housing and hinged at a point of attachment to the housing such that the door moves from an open position to a closed position and when in an open position, exposes an interior cavity of the housing; the at least one door having an top surface, a lower end, a front surface, a right side and a left side; the top surface of the door tapering downwardly and away from the top of the housing; wherein the front of the housing further comprises a content containment wall below the lower end of the door, such that the door, in a closed position, abuts the content containment wall and wherein the top surface of the housing provides a utility surface which is unimpeded by a user opening and closing of the door to access the cavity of the housing.

Conventional coolers have at least four main problems:

a) Lids or tops are used as table top space which impedes access to the cooler contents;
b) Just one surface opening means only the items next to that surface are readily available.
c) As items are removed from a cooler, ice drops until it is all settled at the bottom of the cooler.
d) All items in a cooler are stacked on top of one another which impedes access to lower items.

In a preferred aspect, the present invention provides a solution for each of the above-noted problems. The cooler of the present invention comprises front doors (at least one and most preferably two). Preferably each door comprises a holder for a cooling material. A cooling material may be ice or other type of dry pack material (for example, within a canister). In this way, the cooling material is separated from the content of the cooler. If cooling material is ice, in one preferred aspect of the invention, it may be contained as it melts within the holder and as such content of the cooler will not be messy and soggy. So, in one aspect, the doors provide non-permanent containment of the cooling material. It is to be understood that cooling material may be removed from the holder and replaced as needed.

In a further aspect, the holder may simply comprise the removable attachment of cooler packs to the door by two-way Velcro or other such means. Holder does not need to be a physical “cage” as long as cooling material is removably engaged with the door. In some aspects, the cooler packs may be cylindrical canisters and within the inside of each door, there is provisioned a holder for said canister. The holder may comprise threaded rings into which the canister is secured.

Furthermore, the doors at the front replace the need for a top opening cooler, which frees the top surface for a utility or work or serving space. This is a significant advantage. Every user of a conventional cooler has been caught creating a meal or snack using the top opening surface of the cooler as a workspace only to require an item from the cooler mid-preparation. All items are then hurriedly removed (whether onto dirt or sand or other outdoor environment) while required item is retrieved. In a preferred form, the cooler of the invention even provides a built-in deterrent to the user using the top surface of the door as an extension of the utility surface. This is simply achieved by either: 1) tapering the door downwardly and away from the top surface; or 2) creating a step such that top surface of body and top surface of door(s) are at varying levels (preferably, door tops below top surface of body), such that user is disinclined to use the top surface of the door (when closed) as part of the work surface. In other words, such tapering or stepping signals to a user not to place items in the space which allows the front access door(s) to always be accessible for opening.

The insulated box-like body of the housing defines a comestible storage compartment. In one aspect, the housing comprises one or more shelves disposed therein. Such shelves allow for the orderly arrangement of content in the cooler. Preferably, smaller items may be placed on higher shelves and larger items may be placed on lower shelves. The height between shelves is adjustable depending on preferences and each shelf is removable for cleaning. In a most preferred aspect, shelves are slidable along a track (said track being engaged with a side interior wall of the housing). In this way, items at the back of the cooler can be accessed (when the cooler door is open) by pulling the shelf outwardly on its track. The combination of front opening door(s) and organized sliding shelves optimizes the capacity of the housing and avoids piling and jumbling of items. Such shelving would not be possible with conventional top lid coolers.

A lower portion of the box-like body of the cooler, below the at least one hinged door, provides a containment base for holding comestible content inside the cooler when the hinged door is in an open position. In a preferred aspect, a lower front edge of the containment base is from 3-6″ high (most preferably 4″) and this way will keep debris out of the cooler and will secure contents in, even when the door is open.

In one aspect, the interior of the cooler may be fitted with racks, shelves, bins or other comestible or beverages organizational structures. Such a structure, for example, may include can-holding and dispensing shelves

In a preferred form, each door comprises a handle. Most preferably, wherein there are two doors, each handle is disposed at a join of each door in a centre of the front. Most preferably, on a standard sized cooler, handles are attached 2-5″ from the top (more preferably 3″ from top) and with a 2-5″ tab (more preferably 3″ tab) at 90 degrees to the handle at point of handle attachment. Each tab is vertical when the handle is in a downward position and may be rotated horizontally along the side walls of doors when raised. By this means and closure, doors are securely closed for moving and transport.

Further detail relating to the invention is provided with reference to the attached figures in which like numerals refer to like components throughout. In FIGS. 1-6, there is provided a cooler generally at 10 for comestible content comprising an insulated box-like body 12 having a bottom 14 and front generally at 16, a back wall 18 and opposite end walls 20 and 22 which extend up from said bottom wall, and a sealed, non-openable top surface 24. The box-like body 12 provides a hollow comestible storage compartment 26; and at least one hinged door 28 extending across the front 16 of the body providing access to the comestible storage compartment.

Each door 28 comprises a tapered or “stepped” top surface 30, front panel 32 and side panel 34. Each of top surface 30, front panel 32 and side panel 34 has an interior surface exposed to the hollow comestible storage compartment 26 and an exterior surface exposed to the environment of the cooler. Top surface 30 is either tapered or stepped down at second, lower level from top surface 24 so as to distinguish the working surface (upon which items can be placed) and the door tops (upon which it is not desired that items be placed, due to impedance of door opening).

FIG. 1 additionally depicts a closing mechanism of the doors comprising locking tab 36, pin 38 and tab set 40. As best seen in FIG. 5, locking tab 36 engages with tab set 40, and may be turned to secure locking connection of the doors. Other closing and locking means may be used (magnets, slides, pins, and other mating means). Handles on each door are shown at 42. Varying styles and shapes of handles may be used. Each door 28 is attached to body 12 via two hinges 44 at hinge points 46. Doors may be indented, beveled, rounded or have other decorative features, as desired.

Body 12 comprises a lower portion (generally indicated at 48) said lower portion of the body being below door 28 and defining an interior hollow containment base 50, holding comestible content inside cooler when at least one hinged door is in an open position. Hollow containment base 50 comprises lower containment wall 52 which abuts front panel 32 of door 28 when the door is in a closed position (see FIGS. 1, 2,3 and 4). When door 28 is an open position, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, hollow comestible storage compartment 26 and hollow containment base 50 are exposed and accessible. In this open position, shelf 54 within hollow comestible storage compartment 26 can be accessed and lower containment wall 52 serves to hold items in the cooler and serves as a barrier to prevent the ingress of dirt. Essentially it is a “short wall” which defines an outer boundary of the lower portion of the front 16.

Shelf 54 is shown in FIG. 5 and. In FIG. 5, shelf 54 is in a retracted position within hollow comestible storage compartment 26. In FIG. 6, shelf 54 has been pulled forward, away from the hollow comestible storage compartment 26 thereby to readily expose contents of the shelf. Shelf 54 is slidable along a track 56, said track being engaged with side interior walls 58 of end walls 20 and 22. Shelf 54 is moveable in forward direction and backward direction by user. Although one shelf is shown in the figures, a plurality of shelves may be used within a cooler. It is anticipated that tracks may be adjustable to alter spacing between the shelves.

In one aspect, the hinge 44 is a conventional projection and socket arrangement. Other hinge arrangements, such as the butt hinge may also suffice. The present invention is not limited to the type or form of hinge. At least one hinge attaches each door, preferably two.

Body 12, bottom 14, front 16, back wall 18, opposite end walls 20 and 22 and sealed, non-openable top surface 24 are in one aspect either formed of an insulated material such as foamed polystyrene or the like, or includes a double-walled construction that insulates the interior space of the body from thermal gradients existing across the bottom and side walls thereof. A double-walled construction is preferably formed of a suitable synthetic resin material such as polypropylene using a rotation molding technique. As such, body 12, bottom 14, front 16, back wall 18, opposite end walls 20 and 22 and sealed, non-openable top surface 24 may all include one or more dead air spaces therein that insulate the interior space of the body from thermal conditions ambient to the cooler. FIG. 1 additionally illustrates a mechanism for tab set. Specifically, there are indentations of ¼ circle in each door 28 and ½ circle in lower containment wall 52 for tab 36 to rotate to and from a locking position. Pin 38 runs through tab 36 into lower containment wall 52. The ¼ circle indentation in each door 28 is slightly smaller than the one on the lower containment wall 52 thereby creating a friction fit when locked.

FIGS. 5 and 6 additionally illustrates door 28 in an open position exposing detachable ice packs 60 on the front panel 32 of door 28. These figures also fully illustrate the brackets 68 into which ice packs 60 are removably connected. As shown, brackets are threaded rings attached to or integral with interior wall 70 of each door. Brackets threadably engage with rings 61, on each ice pack 60, when in place. Ice pack 60 comprises removable lid 59

Body may additionally comprise handle 62 for ease in carrying. Preferably such handle is generally U-shaped and is hinged at or near top surface 24 and side walls 20 and 22 such that, in an upright position, handle 62 sits above cooler and above top surface 24. In a closed position, when it is desired to use top surface 24, handle 62 folds down onto handle-engaging step 64 which extends from the top of side wall 20, to the top of back wall 18 to the top of side wall 22. In this way, handle 62 becomes “flush” with top surface 24.

In a preferred embodiment, top surface 24, containment base 50 and shelf 54 may be made of non-skid or non-slip, grooved or contoured material which assists in holding items in place, whether in situ within cooler or on top of cooler as functional work surface).

FIGS. 2 and 5 best illustrate drain 70 and drainage plug 72. The interior of body of cooler 48 shown in FIG. 5 illustrates that drain 70 may be indented inwardly.

As will be apparent to those skilled in the art, the various embodiments described above can be combined to provide further embodiments. Aspects of the present systems, methods and components can be modified, if necessary, to employ systems, methods, components and concepts to provide yet further embodiments of the invention. For example, the various devices and methods described above may omit some parts or acts, include other parts or acts, and/or execute acts in a different order than set out in the illustrated embodiments.

Further, in the methods taught herein, the various acts may be performed in a different order than that illustrated and described. Additionally, the methods can omit some acts, and/or employ additional acts.

These and other changes can be made to the present systems, methods and articles in light of the above description. In general, in the following claims, the terms used should not be construed to limit the invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification and the claims, but should be construed to include all possible embodiments along with the full scope of equivalents to which such claims are entitled. Accordingly, the invention is not limited by the disclosure, but instead its scope is to be determined entirely by the following claims.

Claims

1. A portable cooler for comestible content comprising:

a) an insulated box-like body having a bottom wall and front, back and opposite end walls which extend up from said bottom wall, and a sealed, non-openable top, said box-like body providing a comestible storage compartment;

b) at least one hinged door extending across the front of the body providing access to the comestible storage compartment, when in an open position, a top surface of the at least one door tapering downwardly away or stepped down from the top of the housing; and

c) wherein a lower portion of the box-like body, below the at least one hinged door, provides a containment base, holding comestible content inside cooler when at least one hinged door is in an open position.

2. The portable cooler of claim 1 comprising two doors, each having at least two points of attachment to the body such that the doors may open outwardly to expose an interior of the comestible storage compartment, the doors each having an top surface, a lower end, a front surface, a right side and a left side; the top surface of each door tapering downwardly away or stepped down from the top surface of the body.

3. The portable cooler of claim 2 wherein the doors are of equal size and shape.

4. The portable cooler of claim 1 wherein an interior surface of the door, exposed to the comestible storage compartment when door is in closed position comprises a holder for removable placement of a cooling material.

5. The portable cooler of claim 4 wherein the cooling material is ice.

6. The portable cooler of claim 4 wherein the cooling material is a dry cooler pack.

7. The portable cooler of claim 4 comprising the cooling material in the holder.

8. A portable cooler comprising:

a) an insulated housing having a top surface, a bottom, a front, a back wall, a left side and a right side; and

b) at least one insulated door engaged with the front of the housing and hinged at least two points of attachment to the housing such that the door moves from an open position to a closed position and when in an open position, exposes an interior cavity of the housing; the at least one door having an top surface, a lower end, a front surface, a right side and a left side; the top surface of the door tapering downwardly away or stepped down from the top of the housing;

wherein the front of the housing further comprises a content containment wall below the lower end of the door, such that the door, in a closed position, abuts the content containment wall and wherein the top surface of the housing provides a utility surface which is unimpeded by a user opening and closing of the door to access the cavity of the housing.

9. The portable cooler of claim 1 comprising two doors, each having at least two points of attachment to the housing such that the doors may open outwardly to expose an interior cavity of the housing; the doors each having an top surface, a lower end, a front surface, a right side and a left side; the top surface of each door tapering downwardly away or stepped down from the top of the housing.

10. The portable cooler of claim 2 wherein the doors are of equal size and shape.

11. The portable cooler of claim 1 wherein an interior surface of the door, exposed to the cavity of the housing when door is in closed position comprises a holder for removable placement of a cooling material.

12. The portable cooler of claim 4 wherein the cooling material is ice.

13. The portable cooler of claim 4 wherein the cooling material is a dry cooler pack.

14. The portable cooler of claim 4 comprising the cooling material in the holder.

15. The portable cooler of claim 1 wherein the comestible storage compartment comprises at least one shelf.

16. The portable cooler of claim 1 wherein the comestible storage compartment comprises a plurality of dividers.

17. The portable cooler of claim 1 wherein the body and door are hard-shelled.