Invertible cooler with ice trap

Abstract

An invertible portable cooler having a lid, an insulated interior to receive and retain ice and ice water, a can receptacle member to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans, and an ice trap to receive and retain ice drained of excess water, wherein the beverage cans and ice retained by the ice trap are accessible by opening the lid of the cooler. The cooler may be provided with one or two spigots for dispensing the ice water without removing the cooler lid. The cooler may have a second lid opposite from the first lid. A cooler stand may be provided that accommodates inversion of the cooler.

Description

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/276,165, filed Sep. 9, 2009.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the field of portable coolers used to cool foods and beverages or to hold iced liquids, and more particularly to portable coolers that have separate compartments for iced liquids and beverage cans.

Portable insulated coolers for cooling and transporting food and/or beverages are well known. One common type of cooler is a generally rectangular chest having a hinged lid. Another common type of cooler is a cylindrical, barrel-shaped body with a removable lid. The coolers may have an externally mounted spigot that communicates with the interior of the chest or body such that liquid can be dispensed into a cup, glass or other container without opening the lid. To chill canned beverages such as soda or beer, the cans are typically placed into the cooler and a large quantity of ice is poured on top of the cans.

A problem encountered with these coolers is that over time the ice will melt and removal of a can requires the uncomfortable immersion of one's hand into the frigid ice water. Likewise, removal of any ice also requires immersion of a person's hand, a cup, a ladle, etc., and obtaining ice without any accompanying water is difficult. This immersion is very unsanitary where it is also desirable that the ice water be available for drinking, since any dirt, germs, etc. on the person's hand or scooping device will be rinsed into the drinking water.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved cooler that allows the beverage cans to be cooled by the ice and ice water, and which provides a means to separate the cans from the ice and ice water such that one does not need to reach into the ice water to retrieve a can. It is a further object to provide such a cooler having an ice trap such that ice drained of excess water is also readily accessible. It is a further object to provide such a cooler optionally having a pair of spigots mounted toward opposing ends such that liquid may be dispensed from the cooler no matter which end of the cooler is disposed downward.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention in its main embodiment is an invertible portable cooler comprising a lid, an insulated interior to receive and retain ice and ice water, a can receptacle body member to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans, and an ice trap to receive and retain ice drained of excess water, wherein the beverage cans and ice retained by the ice trap are accessible by opening the lid of the cooler. The cooler may be provided with one or two spigots for dispensing the ice water without removing the cooler lid. The cooler may have a second lid opposite from the first lid. A cooler stand having pivoting means may be provided to accommodate easy inversion of the cooler. The can receptacle body may be incorporated into a segment of the cooler wall or suspended within the cooler.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the cooler shown in an initial upright position with ice and beverage cans loaded prior to cooling.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 1 wherein the cooler has been inverted into the can cooling position such that the ice and ice water has entered the ice trap mechanism and the beverage cans are immersed within the ice and ice water.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIGS. 1 and 2 wherein the cooler has been reverted to the initial upright position such that a portion of the ice has been trapped within the ice trap mechanism but the majority of ice and ice water is again disposed in the bottom of the cooler.

FIG. 4 is an external view of an alternative embodiment of the cooler, herein shown with two lids and with two spigots for dispensing ice water, such that ice water may be dispensed from the cooler in either the upright or the inverted position.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view similar to FIG. 1, but showing an alternative embodiment of the cooler, wherein the can receptacle body is suspended within the cooler body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

With reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in detail with regard for the best mode and preferred embodiment. In general, the invention is an invertible insulated cooler for beverage containers, such as for example beer or soda cans or bottles, the cooler adapted to receive ice and/ice water such that the ice and/or ice water contacts and cools the beverage cans. The embodiment shown in the drawings consists of a cylindrical or barrel-shaped cooler, but it is to be understood that it is contemplated that a chest cooler configuration would also be suitable. It is also to be understood that in this disclosure the term “can” shall be used and taken as a general term to include cans, bottles, juice boxes or other individual drink containers.

A first embodiment is shown in FIGS. 1 through 3. The cooler comprises a cooler side wall 11 and a cooler bottom 12, which in combination define a cooler interior 13 adapted in known manner to receive and retain ice, ice melt water or other liquid to be chilled. With the cooler positioned in the first or upright position, as seen in FIG. 1, a quantity of ice 99, which over time melts to create a combination of ice and melt water, is placed into and retained within the cooler interior 13. Once the ice 99 has been loaded, the can receptacle body member 30 is joined onto the cooler wall 11 using can receptacle attachment means 34 for removably attaching the can receptacle body member 30 to the cooler wall 11, which as shown in this embodiment comprises cooperating threading 35 disposed adjacent the top of cooler wall 11 and adjacent the bottom of can receptacle body member 30. Other types of known attachment means 34 may be utilized, such as a press, fit seal, locking clamps or the like, so long as the can receptacle attachment means 34 provides a liquid impermeable seal.

The can receptacle body member 30 comprises an insulated tubular wall 31 and an internal base member 32 that extends generally perpendicularly to the longitudinal central axis of the tubular wall 31. The internal base member 32 is provided with a plurality of apertures 33, such as holes, slots, gaps in a screen or the like, preferably of relatively small size such that water may pass through the apertures 33 but any piece of ice 99 of significant size will be precluded from passing through.

A lid member 21 is removably joined to the top of the tubular can receptacle body member 30 using lid attachment means 22, which as shown in this embodiment comprises cooperating threading 23 disposed adjacent the top of the can receptacle wall 31 and beneath lid 21. Other types of known lid attachment means 22 may be utilized, such as a press-fit seal, locking clamps or the like, so long as a liquid impermeable seal is created. Preferably the lid attachment means 22 and the can receptacle attachment means 34 are equivalent such that the lid 21 may be directly joined to the cooler side wall 11 if the cooler is to be used without the can receptacle body member 30 comprising the can receptacle wall 31.

The can receptacle body member 30 further comprises an ice trap member or mechanism 41, preferably centrally and axially disposed as shown, although this location is not required. The ice trap member 41 comprises a separation wall 42, preferably tubular, that is provided with apertures 44, such as holes, slots, gaps in a screen or the like, preferably of relatively small size such that water may pass through the apertures 44 but any piece of ice 99 of significant size will be precluded from passing through. The ice trap member 41 further comprises a uni-directional hinged gate member 43 that is positioned toward or at the bottom of the tubular separation wall 42 and near or at the internal base member 32. The gate member 43 is structured such that it can only open in one direction, i.e., into the interior of the ice trap member 41. Gate member 43 may comprise a single member (FIG. 5) or plural members (FIGS. 1-3).

With the cooler in the first upright position of FIG. 1, ice 99 loaded into the cooler interior 13, and the can receptacle body member 30 joined to the cooler wall 11, beverage cans 92 are now placed into the can receptacle body member 30, the cans 92 being supported by the apertured internal base member 32 and surrounding the ice trap member 41. The lid 21 is then joined to the upper end of the can receptacle wall 31.

To chill the beverage cans 92 and to load ice into the ice trap member 41, the cooler is inverted into the second or inverted position, as shown in FIG. 2, such that the lid 21 is now lowermost. The ice 99 now rests above the beverage cans 92, held in place by the internal base member 32. With the cooler inverted, a portion of the ice 99 pushes down onto the hinged gate member 43, forcing open the gate member 43 such that a quantity of ice enters the ice trap member 41. The beverage cans 92 are now cooled due to the proximity of the ice 99, and as the ice 99 melts the melt water passes through the apertures 33 and 44 to even more quickly cool the cans 92.

After a sufficient period of time has passed to chill the cans 92, the cooler is reverted back into the upright position, as shown in FIG. 3. Ice water that had been in contact with the cans 92 now drains through the apertures 33 and 44 back into the cooler interior 13. The hinged gate members 43 are now pushed backed into the closed position by the weight of the ice 99 which is now trapped in the ice trap member 41. Melt water will also drain from the trapped ice 99. In this manner, the lid 21 may now be removed for easy removal of the beverage cans 92 without the need to reach into the ice 99 and melt water retained in the cooler interior 13. Likewise, ice 99 now retained in the ice trap member 41 may be easily removed without having to reach into the main body of ice 99 and melt water retained in the cooler interior 13. After the cans 92 and ice 99 have been removed, new cans 92 may be placed into the can receptacle body member 30 and the cooler again inverted to chill the cans 92 and trap more ice 99.

In an alternative embodiment of the cooler shown in FIG. 4, shown in the upright position, the cooler comprises a main tubular body 51 that is open on both ends. A sealing first lid 52 and a sealing second lid 53 are removably joined to each end in known manner, such as described above. An apertured can receptacle separation wall and an ice trap member (both not shown) structured as set forth above is positioned within the interior of the cooler body 51. In this embodiment, the ice 99 is loaded by inverting the cooler and removing the second lid 53, which is replaced prior to inversion of the cooler into the upright position. The first lid 52 is then removed for placement of the beverage cans 92. With the first lid 52 replaced, the cooler is then inverted as described above to cool the cans 92 and to trap ice 99 in the ice trap member 41.

It is preferred that the cooler in all embodiments be provided with a mechanism for dispensing iced liquid from the cooler, and such spigot devices are well known. It is most preferred that the cooler be provided with a first spigot 61 and a second spigot 62, as shown in FIG. 4, with the first spigot 61 located adjacent one end of the cooler and the second spigot 62 located adjacent the other end. In this manner, ice water may be removed from the cooler in both the upright and the inverted positions.

The cooler may be provided with a cooler pivot stand 71, which as shown may comprise leg members 72 provided with feet members 73. Pivot mounts 74 are attached to the leg members 72 and to the exterior of the cooler, whereby the cooler may more easily be inverted and reverted.

In still another alternative embodiment, as shown in FIG. 5, the can receptacle body 30 is suspended within or on the cooler side wall 11. The can receptacle attachment means 34 here comprises suspension means 36 for suspending the can receptacle body 30 within the cooler. The suspension means 36 may comprise a plurality of individual members or may be formed as an annular member, the suspension means 36 as shown in the drawing having an annular flange or lip that rests on the shoulder defined by threading 35. With this construction, the can receptacle body 30 may be utilized with coolers of standard construction. Alternative means to support the can receptacle body 30 within the cooler, such as through the use of leg members, are also possible.

It is understood that equivalents and substitutions for elements described above may be obvious to one of ordinary skill in the art, and therefore the true scope and definition of the invention is to be as set forth in the claims below.

Claims

1. An invertible portable cooler comprising:

an insulated side wall and bottom defining an interior adapted to receive and retain ice and ice water;

a can receptacle body connected to said cooler and adapted to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans above and separated from said ice and ice water retained within said interior;

said can receptacle body comprising an ice trap adapted to receive ice therein upon inversion of said cooler from a first position to a second position, and further comprising apertures to release ice water from said can receptacle body and said ice trap upon reversion of said cooler to said first position;

wherein ice received within said ice trap is retained by said ice trap when said cooler is reverted from said second position to said first position.

2. The cooler of claim 1, wherein said ice trap comprises a uni-directional hinged gate.

3. The cooler of claim 1, wherein said can receptacle body further comprises an insulated wall removably mounted onto said insulated cooler side wall.

4. The cooler of claim 3, further comprising a lid, wherein said lid is adapted to removably mount onto said cooler insulated side wall or onto said can receptacle body insulated wall.

5. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a spigot disposed on said cooler insulated side wall.

6. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a pair of spigots disposed on said cooler insulated side wall.

7. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising pivot stand, wherein said cooler insulated side wall is pivotally mounted on said pivot stand such that said cooler is pivotable from said first position to said second position.

8. The cooler of claim 1, wherein said can receptacle body further comprises suspension means for suspending said can receptacle body within said cooler.

9. An invertible portable cooler comprising:

an insulated side wall and bottom defining an interior adapted to receive and retain ice and ice water;

a can receptacle body connected to said cooler and adapted to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans above and separated from said ice and ice water retained within said interior;

said can receptacle body comprising an ice trap adapted to receive ice therein upon inversion of said cooler from a first position to a second position, said ice trap comprising a uni-directional hinged gate member;

said can receptacle body further comprising apertures to release ice water from said can receptacle body and said ice trap upon reversion of said cooler from said second position to said first position; and

a lid member;

wherein ice received within said ice trap is retained by said ice trap when said cooler is reverted from said second position to said first position;

wherein the beverage cans retained within said can receptacle body and ice retained by said ice trap are accessible by opening said lid when said cooler is in said first position.

10. The cooler of claim 9, wherein said can receptacle body further comprises an insulated wall removably mounted onto said insulated cooler side wall.

11. The cooler of claim 10, further comprising a lid adapted to removably mount onto said cooler insulated side wall or onto said can receptacle body insulated wall.

12. The cooler of claim 9, further comprising a spigot disposed on said cooler insulated side wall.

13. The cooler of claim 9, further comprising a pair of spigots disposed on said cooler insulated side wall.

14. The cooler of claim 9, further comprising pivot stand, wherein said cooler insulated side wall is pivotally mounted on said pivot stand such that said cooler is pivotable from said first position to said second position.

15. The cooler of claim 9, wherein said can receptacle body further comprises suspension means for suspending said can receptacle body within said cooler.

16. An invertible portable cooler comprising:

an insulated side wall and bottom defining an interior adapted to receive and retain ice and ice water;

a removable lid member sealing said cooler;

a can receptacle body connected to said cooler and adapted to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans above and separated from said ice and ice water retained within said interior;

said can receptacle body comprising a base member and an ice trap adapted to receive ice therein upon inversion of said cooler from a first position to a second position, said ice trap comprising a tubular separation wall and a uni-directional hinged gate member, said ice trap being centrally disposed within said cooler;

wherein ice passes through said uni-directional hinged gate member and into said tubular separation wall when said cooler is inverted from said first position to said second position, and wherein ice received within said ice trap is retained by said ice trap when said cooler is reverted from said second position to said first position;

said can receptacle body further comprising apertures disposed in said base member and said tubular separation wall, wherein ice water is released from said can receptacle body and said ice trap upon reversion of said cooler from said second position to said first position; and

wherein beverage cans retained within said can receptacle body and ice retained by said ice trap are accessible by opening said lid when said cooler is in said first position.

17. The cooler of claim 16, wherein said can receptacle body further comprises an insulated wall removably mounted onto said insulated cooler side wall.

18. The cooler of claim 17, further comprising a lid adapted to removably mount onto said cooler insulated side wall or onto said can receptacle body insulated wall.

19. The cooler of claim 16, further comprising a spigot disposed on said cooler insulated side wall.

20. The cooler of claim 16, wherein said can receptacle body further comprises suspension means for suspending said can receptacle body within said cooler.