Device for suspending or supporting items in an ice chest
A device for suspending and supporting various items including ice cubes or the like in common ice chests. The disclosed embodiments are comprised of an assembly of components including flexible fabric that is supported at its borders by a rigid frame or elastic frame, which is then attached to the ice chest with mounting components that are installed by the consumer or molded to the ice chest body during manufacturing. Items are placed on top of the fabric located at or near the top of the ice chest preventing the items from falling to the bottom of the ice chest where they may be damaged.
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to the field of suspending or supporting mechanisms and specifically to suspending and supporting items in ice chests.
2. Description of Related Art
Ice chests have been developed to provide portable cold storage for food and beverage items wherein ice cubes are commonly used to keep the ice chest and its contents cold. These coolers are very common and widely used in the camping, hunting, fishing, medical, research, catering, etc., industry. Ice chests can be semi-flexible or rigid in construction and are generally water or leak proof thus creating considerable amounts of water at the bottom of the cooler as the ice melts. What is needed is a device that allows a user to keep food items and other contents out of or away from this accumulated water without compromising space within the ice chest. What is needed is a device that can be adjusted to fit many different sizes and makes of ice chests.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe systems and methods described herein have several features, no single one of which is solely responsible for the desirable attributes of such systems and methods. Without limiting the scope as expressed by the claims that follow, its more prominent features will now be discussed briefly. After considering this discussion, and particularly after reading the section entitled “Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments” one will understand how the features of the system and methods provide several advantages over traditional systems and methods.
Rigid trays developed in the prior art of containing and suspending cooler contents are not flexible, non adjustable and are designed to fit the ice chest that it was intentionally designed for. The trays are too bulky and take up more room in the ice chest than is necessary. Due to the unique design of the present invention, space is optimized above and below said device regardless of the size or volume of the contents. In addition, the present invention will fit a wide variety of ice chests for added versatility, convenience and economy.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying figures, wherein like numerals refer to the like elements throughout. The terminology used in the description presented herein is not intended to be interpreted in any limited or restrictive manner simply because it is being utilized in conjunction with a detailed description of certain specific embodiments of the invention. In addition, embodiments of the invention may include several novel features, no single one of which is solely responsible for its desirable attributes or which is essential to practicing the invention herein described.
Referring to
Claims
1. A suspension device for ice chest contents including ice cubes or the like against or in close proximity to the underside of a ice chest lid, comprising:
- (a) Flexible fabric that is relatively visually transparent to view contents, sieve-like properties which would enable water droplets within the device to drop to the bottom of the ice chest, thin enough to maximize space and strong enough to support common items typically stored in a portable cooler or ice chest and has an area large enough to support the maximum volume of items; said fabric can be made of polyester, nylon, wool, cotton, plastic, or any compound or material that is capable of producing a thin, flexible, transparent and relatively strong material; said fabric may span the entire area of the underside of the ice chest lid, but may be any size less than that area.
- (b) Four outer edges or sides bordered with a cord-type material to help support the outer edges of the fabric thus preventing the contents from falling out over the edges. This cord-type material can be woven or weaved into the fabric thus providing a way to disassemble the device and make alterations to the dimensions of the fabric so as to accommodate several different size ice chests. Alternatively, a channel or hem may be permanently sewn into the edges utilizing traditional sewing methods and techniques that are characteristic to the fabric used; finishing off the edges with a hem provides a permanent channel wherein said cord can be inserted.
- (c) Loop-type fasteners or the like to attach said cord and said fabric to the ice chest; said fasteners can be mounted to or molded to the underside of an ice chest lid or at or near the top of the inner walls of the ice chest; said fasteners can be made of various material such as metal, steel, aluminum, plastic or the like or any compound or material that is capable of producing a rigid, semi-rigid or flexible body.
- (d) A cord locking device that allows the cord tension to be adjusted allowing the outer dimensions of the fabric to expand or contract to fit various sizes of ice chests and to accommodate different sizes or numbers of various items that can be suspended from the device. Once the proper tension is established the cord lock secures the cord in place; said cord can be made of any type material that is stretchable such as shock cord/bungee cord that is typically made with a fabric sheath that encases a rubber band-like or elastic core, or alternatively no-stretch cordage material such as rope, webbing, straps, bands, wire, string, etc, or the like.
2. Any and said device as defined in claim 1 mounted on top or near the top of rigid ice chests wherein said fasteners are attached or molded to the inner surface or top surface of the ice chest walls.
3. A device for suspending food items and other contents typically stored in a rigid bodied ice chest wherein a ridge is present inside said ice chest, just below or several inches below the top lip of the said ice chest comprising:
- (a) A four-sided frame wherein at least two members are adjustable to enable the frame to expand or contract to snugly fit on top of said ridge at or near the top of the ice chest. Said frame is rigid in construction and can be made of plastic, aluminum, steel or steel alloy or metal wire, rod, tubular components or the like.
- (b) Flexible fabric that spans the area within said frame is relatively visually transparent to view contents under the fabric, sieve-like properties which would enable water to pass through, thin and flexible enough to maximize space underneath and strong enough to support heavy items therein. Said fabric described herein can be made of polyester, nylon, wool, cotton, plastic, or any compound or material that is capable of producing a thin, flexible, transparent and relatively strong material.
4. In another aspect an improvement in accordance with the device as defined in claim 3 is disclosed comprising: a non-adjustable, one-piece frame that is rigid in construction to support said fabric and its contents. It is noted that said device is size specific and its use will be limited to ice chests that have corresponding ridge dimensions.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 15, 2004
Publication Date: Jul 6, 2006
Inventor: Gregory Morris (San Diego, CA)
Application Number: 10/800,278
International Classification: F25D 3/08 (20060101); F25D 3/02 (20060101);