ILLUMINATED COOLER
An electrically illuminated cooler having a temperature insulated general storage chamber and at least one illumination source. The illumination source may comprise a single lighting element such as for example a light emitting diode, which may flash, or a plurality of lighting elements which may be directed to different areas, which may be of different colors, and which may be independently controlled. The cooler may comprise circuitry including switches, flasher, and power storage such as battery cells. The cooler may comprise a fold out tray which itself may be illuminated by the illumination source, or may alternatively or in addition may be internally illuminated. The cover of the cooler may have a compartment which communicates with the general storage chamber but which stores articles out of contact with contents of the general storage chamber.
This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/164,311 filed Mar. 27, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENTNot Applicable.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention relates to insulated containers of the type popularly known as coolers, and more particularly to a cooler featuring built-in illumination.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONCoolers have become popular devices for storing and carrying foods, beverages, and other substances which must be maintained at temperatures which may be below ambient temperatures. One widespread use for coolers is to contain foods and beverages for outdoor activities such as picnics and camping. Such activities may last into the night. When daylight fades, visibility becomes a problem which affects both retrieval of objects from coolers and also performing tasks which may be either related or unrelated to objects retrieved from coolers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention addresses the above stated problems by providing illumination within portable coolers. Illumination may be provided for revealing contents of the cooler, which may include contents supported on trays and the like which may be part of a cooler, and also for illuminating the immediate vicinity of the cooler. At night, it may become difficult to identify contents of a cooler, such as discriminating among different types of beverage cans. As regards the immediate vicinity of the cooler, illumination in dark conditions, such as at night, may solve a problem which may exist in darkened surroundings such as the interiors of wheeled vehicles, buildings, and tunnels, among others, which may not be provided with sufficient illumination to discern contents of a cooler.
Also, tasks which may or may not be related to a cooler may be aided by supplementary light sources provided by the cooler. For example, bait stored for fishing activities may require preparation and mounting on fishing hooks. It would be highly convenient to have illumination for a cooler used for fishing purposes, so that selection, cutting, mounting of bait and related tasks may be conducted under conditions of ambient darkness in close proximity to the stored bait.
Further uses for illumination of coolers include identification and location of the user. Lighting may be used to identify a particular cooler or the location of the cooler and the person using that cooler.
In still another use, lighting may pertain to personal expression. Illumination may express personal sentiments such as affiliations with organizations. For example, a cooler brought to the scene of a sports event may be caused to emit light of colors associated with one of the teams performing in the event.
The present invention provides implementation of at least one purpose for illumination capability in a portable cooler.
Various 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:
The receptacle 120 is substantially insulated in any suitable way. As employed herein, the term “insulated” will be understood to mean that any component of the cooler 100 which is described as insulated comprises a constituent material known to retard transmission of heat therethrough, or alternatively, comprises an arrangement of materials known to retard transmission of heat. For example, closed cell polymeric materials used conventionally to insulate coolers, refrigerators, freezers, and the like may serve as insulation material. Examples of materials which themselves may not be insulating in nature but which may be formed or arranged to be insulating include glass, which as a solid may be heat transmissive, but when formed for example as fiberglass becomes insulating in nature. Other substances in fiber form may be regarded as insulating. Another example is polymeric materials which are formed to enclose voids, such as so-called bubble wrap, which comprises sheets of plastic arranged to contain voids or to contain pockets of air or other gasses. Void containing assemblies may be partially evacuated to produce vacuum or partial vacuum. Both insulated and non-insulated portions of the receptacle 120 may comprise a non-pourous, liquid impermeable resin capable of being injection molded for example.
The cooler 100 may comprise a tray 260 which is movable between a stowed position (
The cooler 100 may comprise a plurality of wheels 280 which are rotatably fixed thereto and one or more handles 300. The handles 300 may be hinged to swing to an exposed position, as shown in
Referring to
The cooler 100 comprises an illumination source which further comprise one or more individual lighting elements. For purposes of description of the present invention, a lighting element is any element having sufficient structure to emit light on its own. Lighting elements may comprise incandescent lamps, neon lamps, fluorescent lamps, light emitting diodes, electric arc electrodes, electroluminescent substances, and others. In any and all of its forms, the illumination source is supportably engaged with the receptacle 120 and is disposed to project light from the receptacle 120. The illumination source may comprise, in addition to at least one lighting element, circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each lighting element where the latter is of the type using electrical power, and a switch disposed to control electrical power supplied to at least one lighting element.
An exemplary circuit arrangement for powering and controlling individual lighting elements 360, 380, 400 is described with reference to
An electrical storage device such as a battery 420 may provide electrical power which is distributed by circuitry 440. As employed herein, the term “circuitry” will be understood to encompass all individual conductors, electrical insulation, connections, and auxiliary devices required to accomplish the described functions regardless of whether such items are explicitly shown or described. Also, the term “battery” is used only in a representative sense and will be understood to encompass single electrochemical cells, plural electrochemical cells, capacitors, supercapacitors, and other electrical storage devices in any combination. It would also be possible to omit an electrical storage device for example by providing a cooler such as the cooler 100 with a plug and cord assembly (not shown) or with a receptacle for receiving an extension cord or the like. The battery 420 and the circuitry 440 may be carried aboard the receptacle 120, for example being supported within the lateral wall 200, the closure 240, and other structure of the receptacle 120 where necessary.
The circuitry 440 may comprise a manual master switch 460 disposed to control all of the lighting elements 360, 380, 400, as well as individual switches 480, 500, 520 arranged to control only one lighting element, such as the lighting elements 360, 380, 400. Switches such as the switches 460, 480, 500, 520 may be located at any convenient exterior location on the receptacle 120. Switches may utilize exposed operators such as toggles, axially moved knobs, rotary dials, or operators which are covered by a liquid resistant switch cover such as an elastomeric sheet and which may be actuated for example by pressing on the liquid resistant sheet. These are known switch control arrangements and need not be further detailed herein.
Referring now to
Referring also to
The circuitry 440 (see
The circuitry 440 (see
The circuitry 440 (see
The flasher 820 may comprise a manual controller 900 which initiates and terminates flashing of the lighting elements 860. The manual controller 900 may comprise a switch for manually switching power to the flasher 820, or may be an indirect controller such as a keypad where for example the flasher 820 comprises a programmable or programmed controller. A programmable controller will be understood to comprise a controller wherein the output or control sequence produced thereby may be arranged for subsequent implementation by a person using the programmable controller. A programmed controller will be understood to comprise a predetermined output or control sequence which may be initiated but not modified by a person using the programmed controller.
As employed herein, terms such as “flasher” and “flashing” do not necessarily imply a regular sequence. Both the time interval during which any light or lamp such as the lighting elements 860 may be illuminated and the time interval during which any light or lamp may be extinguished may be varied according to a regular sequence or an irregular sequence. For example, where many lamps are provided, certain lamps may be selectively illuminated to form letters, symbols and words. Words and other illuminated entities may be subjected to selective illumination and extinguishing such that, for example, the word or other illuminated entities appear to travel along the matrix of lamps. This may be referred to as a scrolling message (not shown). Programmed and programmable controllers for producing scrolling messages are known. The lighting elements 860 may be illuminated in tandem or may be staggered.
The circuitry 840 may be integrated with circuitry such as the circuitry 440 of
The circuitry 840 may be modified to include a master switch 920 arranged to control power to the flasher 820 and lighting elements 860 flashably controlled thereby.
A lighting actuator 1020 may be disposed to illuminate the lighting elements selectively according to color. The lighting actuator 1020 may be a programmable controller or a programmed controller of the type described with regard to the flasher 820 of
The circuitry 1060 may be integrated with circuitry such as the circuitry 440 of
The circuitry 1060 may be modified to include a master switch 1080 arranged to control power to the lighting actuator 1020 and lighting elements 940, 960, 980, 1000.
The illuminated cooler 1100 may comprise a receptacle 1140 having a lateral wall 1160 and a closure 1180. The closure 1180 may have a cavity which establishes the dry storage compartment 1120 which is separate from yet in communication with the general storage chamber 1200 of the receptacle 1140. Articles (not shown) contained within the cover storage compartment 1120 may be subjected to temperatures prevailing within the general storage chamber 1200 yet isolated from contact with contents thereof. A cooling influence prevailing within the general storage chamber 1200 may be communicated to the dry storage compartment 1120 through slots 1220, 1240 which may be formed in a door 1260. The door 1260 may be pivotally mounted to a wall 1280 formed in the closure 1180 to define the dry storage compartment 1120. Pivotal mounting may be provided by a hinge 1300 for example such that the door 1260 may pivot or swing as indicated by the arrow 1320. The door 1260 may engage the closure 1180 by frictional engagement of a bump or projection 1340.
The door 1260 may if desired be fully removable from the closure 1180, or may alternatively be mounted to the closure 1180 or open relative to the closure 1180 in ways other than that shown and described herein. It will be appreciated that the dry storage compartment 1120 may be incorporated into the closure such as the closure 1180 of an illuminated cooler according to any aspect of the present invention.
Although discussion herein is generally directed to maintaining foods and other substances at temperatures below ambient temperatures, it will be appreciated that a cooler according to the present invention may be thought of as an insulated receptacle which may be employed if desired to maintain foods and other substances at temperatures above ambient temperatures.
Claims
1. An illuminated cooler comprising:
- a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;
- a tray which is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the tray is held compactly to the receptacle in the stowed position and wherein the tray engages and projects from the receptacle so as to present a horizontal support surface in the deployed position; and
- an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light from the receptacle, further comprising at least one lighting element and circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each said lighting element and comprising a switch disposed to control electrical power supplied to at least one said lighting element.
2. The illuminated cooler according to claim 1, wherein the lighting elements comprise light emitting diodes.
3. The illuminated cooler according to claim 1, wherein the circuitry comprises an electrical storage device carried aboard the receptacle.
4. The illuminated cooler according to claim 1, wherein the illumination source comprises a tray illuminator which is disposed to project light directly onto the tray so as to illuminate objects placed on the tray.
5. The illuminated cooler according to claim 1, wherein the tray is at least partially translucent in a direction extending away from the receptacle when the tray is in the deployed position, and wherein the illumination source further comprises a tray accent illuminator disposed to project light through the tray in a direction away from the receptacle.
6. The illuminated cooler according to claim 1, wherein the tray bears at least one opening which is dimensioned and configured to receive a container, and a generally U-shaped member which is pivotally mounted within the tray and is disposed to pivot within the opening to form a floor which prevents the container from falling through the opening when the tray is in the deployed position.
7. An illuminated cooler comprising:
- a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;
- an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light from the receptacle, further comprising at least one first lighting element, at least one second lighting element, and circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each said lighting element and comprising at least one switch disposed to control electrical power supplied to at least one said lighting element, wherein
- the first lighting element is disposed to project light into the general storage chamber, and the second lighting element is disposed to project light outside the general storage chamber.
8. The illuminated cooler according to claim 7, further comprising a cover storage compartment for storing articles, wherein the cover storage compartment is separate from yet in communication with the general storage chamber, whereby articles contained within the cover storage compartment may be subjected to temperatures prevailing within the general storage chamber yet isolated from contact with contents of the general storage chamber.
9. The illuminated cooler according to claim 7, wherein the switch comprises a manual master switch disposed to control all of the lighting elements.
10. The illuminated cooler according to claim 7, wherein the illumination source further comprises a receptacle illuminator disposed to project light against the interior surface of the receptacle.
11. The illuminated cooler according to claim 7, wherein the switch comprises a liquid resistant switch cover.
12. An illuminated cooler comprising:
- a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;
- an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light from the receptacle, further comprising at least one lighting element, and circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each said lighting element and comprising a flasher disposed to illuminate the at least one lighting element automatically and intermittently.
13. The illuminated cooler according to claim 12, wherein the circuitry further comprises a manual controller which initiates and terminates flashing of the lighting elements.
14. An illuminated cooler comprising:
- a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;
- an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light selectively of different colors from the receptacle.
15. The illuminated cooler according to claim 14, further comprising a lighting actuator disposed to illuminate the lighting elements selectively according to color.
16. An illuminated cooler comprising:
- a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;
- an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which comprises an illuminator stand which is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the illuminator stand has a proximal end movably mounted to the receptacle and a distal end bearing at least one lighting element.
17. The illuminated cooler according to claim 16, wherein the circuitry comprises an illuminator stand switch disposed to control only the environmental illuminator.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 26, 2010
Publication Date: Sep 30, 2010
Inventor: Christopher A. Weir (Brandon, FL)
Application Number: 12/748,079
International Classification: F25D 27/00 (20060101); F25D 3/08 (20060101);