COOLER WITH TRAY

Abstract

A cooler with tray product consisting of a rotatably attached tray element located on the exterior body portion of said cooler for providing a flat table surface adjacent to said cooler. A tray cavity for nesting said tray element within the exterior body portion of said cooler. Rotatably mounted leg elements located on the lower tray surface of said tray element for supporting said tray element. Leg cavities for nesting said leg elements located within the lower tray surface said tray element.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The inventions described below relate to the field of a portable cooler, and, more particularly, to such a cooler having a rotatably mounted tray attached onto the cooler's side portion.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Portable coolers (also known as ice chests, coolers, etc.) are a common consumer product. Portable, insulated containers are commonly used when electrical or gas powered refrigeration, or warming means, are not convenient or available, for example, in remote locations such as the beach, parks, boating, and the like. They are used to maintain food and beverages at a desired temperature, usually, but not always, colder than room temperature.

It is often desirable to have a table or other work surface upon which to position food or utensils. Many coolers have flat upper surfaces on their lids or covers that may be used as a table surface. However, when the lid or cover is being used as a table surface, it is impossible to achieve access to the interior of the cooler without first taking all objects off of the lid of the cooler.

While there are numerous coolers with table assemblies designed for transport and accessibility of items within the container, many of these designs found in prior art make no attempt to provide an insulated storage container with an attached, deployable table that is engineered to work with both small and large sized coolers, leaves a small footprint, is quickly and easily deployable, is simple to manufacture, adds relatively little weight to the container, contributes no additional bulk to the container's exterior profile, and, while in a position of use, allows the user to fully access the interior of the container.

Various coolers contain a tray element that is used as a table surface. Kaplan, Combination portable cooler and retractable tray, U.S. Pat. No. 7,334,802 (Jun. 29, 2005) describes a portable cooler with a double “pop top” lid component that allows the user to raise and lock into an adjustably deployed position an upper lid to be used as a table surface directly above the cooler while a lower lid remains in the stowed position keeping the cooler closed. This invention succeeds in providing a table surface while allowing access to the container, but is not engineered for optimum use with smaller-sized coolers due to the top-heavy nature of the upward extending upper tray portion; fails to be simply and quickly deployable; fails to be simple to manufacture; its various embodiments each add significant weight to the container; each of the various embodiments include support components affixed to the container's exterior composition, adding bulk to the exterior of the container; and, finally, none of the embodiments allow the lid to fully open while the tray is in its deployed position.

Another such cooler with a table surface is described in Conrado, et al., Wheeled cooler, U.S. Pat. No. 6,328,179 (Jul. 14, 2000), whereby a tray element containing a leg support component therein is attached to the cooler's lid with a hinge element that allows said tray to swing 180 degrees into a deployed position, creating a flat table surface adjacent to the cooler body. This invention succeeds in providing a table surface while allowing access to the container, and allows the lid to be fully open while the tray is in its deployed position. However, the embodiment described in this invention adds extra bulk to the lid portion of the cooler, resulting in significant additional weight; a work space proportionate to the horizontal length of the cooler is needed in order for the fold-over lid to be deployed, requiring a large work space, resulting in an overall large footprint; when the tray is in its deployed position and the user opens the cooler cover, said cover rotates over on top of the deployed tray due to the common pivot axis of the first and second hinges of the respective cover and tray, resulting in the contents resting atop the table surface to get displaced or damaged; and, finally, the embodiment described in this invention is not engineered for optimum use with smaller-sized coolers due to the increased weight of the lid and table assembly.

Furthermore, as seen in Meier, Portable cooler having a removable table, U.S. Pat. No. 5,947,032 (Sep. 14, 1998), a cooler invention is described as containing a removable tray embedded within a hollow cavity within the cooler lid. Said tray is provided with folding legs at one end, and the other tray end is configured to be matingly received and supported by either one of two handles of the cooler. This invention succeeds in providing a table surface while allowing access to the container, and allows the lid to be fully open while the tray is in its deployed position, and adds no additional bulk to the exterior profile of the cooler by way of embedding the tray within a hollow cavity of the cooler lid, but problems often arise with the stability of the table, and a detached tray/lid may become misplaced or lost, potentially rendering the assembly inoperable; and, finally, the embodiment described in this invention clearly fails to provide the user a quickly deployable, attached table assembly.

The invention described below comprises an insulated storage container with a rotatably mounted, deployable table that is embedded within the side portion of the container. Said table is quickly and easily deployable, engineered to work with both small and large size containers, leaves a small footprint, is simple to manufacture, adds relatively little weight to the container, contributes no additional bulk to the container's exterior composition, and, while in a position of use, allows the user to fully access the interior of the container.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is the principal object of the invention to provide a new and improved portable cooler.

According to one facet of the invention, a cooler is provided that includes a typical double-walled cooler body consisting of an interior cavity and exterior shell comprised of insulating material. Said double-walled cooler body consists of forward and rear walls, end walls, and a bottom panel. An upper access opening is provided for receipt of items whose temperature is to be maintained at a predetermined level. A cover member is provided for the access. A tray cavity portion that includes a thumb notch and female sockets along its upper edge is provided on the shell portion of the forward wall. A tray element that includes a lower tray surface and male rotatable joint mechanisms along its upper edge is provided. A pair of leg cavity portions that include female sockets and leg thumb notches are contained on said lower tray surface. Two tray legs that include male rotatable joint mechanisms are provided. The legs have a length generally the same as the height of the body.

Consequently, the tray element nests within the tray cavity during transportation of the cooler and yet may be opened with the legs deployed to provide a table surface adjacent to the cooler body. The use of the separate tray surface enables one to use the tray surface and yet achieve access to the interior of the cooler body by opening the cover without first clearing the tray surface.

In a preferred embodiment, the leg cavities are positioned on the lower tray surface at an angle to gain additional leg length, making up for the lost distance between the lower edge of the forward wall and lower edge of the tray cavity.

A preferred embodiment includes stops on the tray cavity socket elements for engaging the tray joint elements to limit movement of the tray from a stowed position nested within the tray cavity to a deployed position approximately 90 degrees therefrom.

A preferred embodiment includes stops on the leg cavity socket elements for engaging the leg joint elements to limit movement of the legs from a stowed position nested within the leg cavities to a deployed position approximately 90 degrees therefrom.

A preferred embodiment includes an impeding element on the leg cavity portion for the purpose of engaging the legs while in the deployed position approximately 90 degrees from the tray element in order to keep the legs upright while the tray element is deployed, but is conveniently overcome by forcing the legs over the impeding element and releasing said legs from their deployed position.

A preferred embodiment includes an impeding element on the tray cavity portion for the purpose of engaging the tray in order to keep the tray nested within the tray cavity while in a stowed position during transport, but is conveniently overcome by forcibly lifting the tray over the impeding element and deploying said tray from its stowed position.

A preferred embodiment includes a thumb notch on the forward wall portion adjacent to the tray cavity for the purpose of conveniently grasping hold of the tray element and releasing it from a stowed position.

A preferred embodiment includes a thumb notch on the lower surface area of the tray element adjacent to each leg cavity for the purpose of conveniently grasping hold of the leg element and releasing it from a stowed position.

In one embodiment, a tray element is provided on the end wall portion.

In yet another embodiment, a tray element is provided on both exterior shell forward wall and rear wall portions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a portable cooler made according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the cooler with its tray member extended and leg elements in a stowed position;

FIG. 3 is a is a perspective view of the cooler with its tray member extended and leg elements in a deployed position;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cooler with the cover member removed and tray member and leg elements in a deployed position;

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the cooler with its tray member extended and leg elements in a deployed position;

FIG. 6 is a front view of the forward facing wall portion with the tray member in its stowed position nested within the tray cavity;

FIG. 7 is a front view of the forward facing wall portion with the tray member removed and tray cavity exposed;

FIG. 8 is a birds-eye view of the lower tray surface with the leg elements in their stowed position nested within the leg cavity portions;

FIG. 9 is a birds-eye view of the lower tray surface with the leg elements removed and leg cavity portions exposed;

FIG. 10 is a vertical view illustrating an alternative configuration of tray members contained on each side of the cooler; and

FIG. 11 is a perspective view illustrating an alternative configuration of a cooler with the tray member residing on an end wall.

The invention and its various embodiments can now be better understood by turning to the following description of the preferred embodiments which are presented as illustrated examples of the invention in any subsequent claims in any application claiming priority to this application. It is expressly understood that the invention as defined by such claims may be broader than the illustrated embodiments described below.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Turning now to the figures wherein like references define like elements among the several views, FIG. 1 shows the exemplary embodiment of the Portable Cooler 1. Said cooler includes a typical double-walled cooler body consisting of an interior cavity and exterior shell comprised of insulating material. Said embodiment includes four principal components including a Body 24, a Cover Member 5, a Tray 8 which is embedded in and pivoted to the Body 24 by means to be seen, and Legs 10 which are embedded in and pivoted to the Tray 8 by means to be seen.

Addressing the Body 24, and as seen in FIG. 1, the same includes a Forward Wall 2, opposed End Walls 25, 26, a Rear Wall 3, and a Bottom Panel 4. A Tray Cavity 9 is embedded on the shell of Forward Wall 2 by means to be seen for the purpose of nesting a Tray 8. Body 24 is generally rectangular in shape. Briefly referring to FIG. 4, Upper Access Opening 6 gives way to Internal Container Cavity 7.

Again referring to FIG. 1 and addressing the Cover Member 5, the same, for example, is a removable lid for the purpose of achieving accesses to the container's interior while in its deployed position, and, keeping the contents therein at a desirable temperature while in its stowed position. It is common in the field of coolers for the lid to attach to the body by way of a rotatably mounted hinge mechanism whereby the lid can be opened and closed while remaining permanently attached to the body. For descriptive purposes of the present invention, the cooler is described as having a removable lid.

Briefly referring to FIG. 5, the Body 24 and Cover Member 5 are made up of Insulating Material 27 as is well known. Conventionally, Body 24 will include an inner shell (not shown), an outer shell, and foam forming the Insulating Material 27.

Again referring to FIG. 1 and addressing the Tray 8, which is located on Forward Wall 2 of Body 24. Tray 8 nests inside Tray Cavity 9 of Forward Wall 2. Said Tray Cavity 9 is formed in the same configuration as the Tray 8 to substantially fully receive the Tray 8 in the retracted or stowed position, as illustrated in FIG. 1. If desired, suitable detents (not shown) may be employed to releasably retain the Tray 8 within the Tray Cavity 9. When Tray 8 is in its stowed position, it is in abutment with Tray Cavity 9, resulting in a flat surface area along Forward Wall 2 of Body 24.

Now referring to FIG. 6, located at either end of the Tray Upper Edge 18 of Tray 8 is a pair of Tray Joints 13. Tray Joint End Points 35 are located at opposing ends of said Tray Joints 13. Furthermore, a pair of Tray Flex Notches 29 are located between Tray Joint End points 35 along the upper edge of said Tray Joints 13.

Turning to FIG. 7, the Tray Cavity Sockets 14 of Tray Cavity 9, located along Upper Tray Cavity Edge 19, are provided for the purpose of receiving Tray Joints 13. Located at opposing ends of the Tray Cavity Sockets 14 are Tray Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 33 for the purpose of retaining Tray Joint End Points 31.

Tray Joint End Points 31 are forcibly constrained toward each other by way of the Tray Flex Notches 29, allowing said Tray Joint End Points 31 to be fitted into their stowed position underneath Tray Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 33 of Tray Cavity Sockets 14, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 6.

Referring again to FIG. 6, once Tray Joints 13 are stowed within Tray Cavity Sockets 14, Tray Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 33 retain Tray Joint End Points 31 keeping Tray Joints 13 contained within Tray Cavity Sockets 14, thereby attaching Tray 8 to Tray Cavity 9 of Forward Wall 2 of Body 24.

Tray Joints 13 pivot within Tray Cavity Sockets 14 approximately 90 degrees, resulting in Tray 8 extending outward from Forward Wall 2 into a deployed position, as illustrated in FIGS. 2, 3, 4 and 5, providing a Flat Table Surface 28 adjacent to said Forward Wall 2.

Again referring to FIG. 7, a Tray Cavity Thumb Notch 21 is provided on Forward Wall 2 adjacent to Tray Cavity 9 for the purpose of conveniently grasping hold of Tray 8 and releasing it from a stowed position.

Turning now to FIG. 8 and addressing the pair of Legs 10, which are located on Lower Tray Surface 12 of Tray 8. Legs 10 nest inside Leg Cavity 11 of Tray 8. Said Leg Cavity 11 is formed in the same configuration as the Legs 10 to substantially fully receive the Legs 10 in the retracted or stowed position as illustrated in FIG. 8. If desired, suitable detents (not shown) may be employed to releasably retain the Legs 10 within the Leg Cavity 11. When Legs 10 are in their stowed position, they are in abutment with Leg Cavity 11, resulting in a flat surface area along Lower Tray Surface 12 of Tray 8.

Again referring to FIG. 8, a pair of Leg Joints 15 are located on Legs 10. Leg Joint End Points 32 are located at opposing ends of said Leg Joints 15. Furthermore, a pair of Leg Flex Notches 30 are located between Leg Joint End Points 32 of Legs 10.

Briefly turning to FIG. 9, located on Leg Cavity 11 of Lower Tray Surface 12 of Tray 8 is a pair of Leg Cavity Sockets 16 for the purpose of receiving Leg Joints 15. Located at opposing ends of Leg Cavity Sockets 16 are Leg Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 34 for the purpose of retaining Leg Joint End Points 32.

Leg Joint End Points 32 are forcibly constrained toward each other by way of the Leg Flex Notches 30, allowing said Leg Joint End Points 32 to be fitted into their stowed position underneath Leg Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 34 of Leg Cavity Sockets 16, as shown in FIG. 8.

Again referring to FIG. 8, once Leg Joints 15 are stowed within Leg Cavity Sockets 16, Leg Cavity Socket Overlapping Portions 34 retain Leg Joint End Points 32 keeping Leg Joints 15 contained within Leg Cavity Sockets 16, thereby attaching Legs 10 to Leg Cavity 11 of Lower Tray Surface 12 of Tray 8.

Leg Joints 15 pivot within Leg Cavity Sockets 16 approximately 90 degrees, resulting in Legs 10 extending outward from Tray 8 into a deployed position, and serve as vertical braces for said Tray 8, as illustrated in FIGS. 3, 4, and 5.

Referring to FIG. 3, it is to be noted that the vertical length of the Legs 10 are substantially the same as the vertical distance between the Forward Wall Lower Edge 17 of the Body 24 and the Tray Cavity Upper Edge 19 so that when the Legs 10 are deployed, Tray Surface 28 will be flat and said Tray Surface 28 will be perpendicular to Forward Wall 2 at a generally 90-degree angle thereto.

Again referring to FIG. 3, Lost Distance 23 is the surface area between Forward Wall Lower Edge 17 of the Body 24 and Tray Cavity Lower Edge 20. Briefly referring to FIG. 8, it is noted that Legs 10 and Leg Cavities 11 are set at an angle. The purpose of the angularly positioned Legs 10 and Leg Cavities 11 is to gain additional leg length to compensate for Lost Distance 23, thereby enabling Tray Surface 28 to rest in its deployed position perpendicular to Forward Wall 2.

Referring once again to FIG. 9, a pair of Leg Cavity Thumb Notches 22 is provided on Lower Tray Surface 12 adjacent to Leg Cavity 11 for the purpose of conveniently grasping hold of Legs 10 and releasing them from a stowed position.

Many alterations and modifications may be made by those having ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Therefore, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiment has been set forth only for the purposes of example and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by any claims in any subsequent application claiming priority to this application.

For example, notwithstanding the fact that the elements of such a claim may be set forth in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different elements, which are disclosed in above even when not initially claimed in such combinations.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification structure, material or acts beyond the scope of the commonly defined meanings. Thus, if an element can be understood in the context of this specification as including more than one meaning, then its use in a subsequent claim must be understood as being generic to all possible meanings supported by the specification and by the word itself.

The definitions of the words or elements of any claims in any subsequent application claiming priority to this application should be, therefore, defined to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth, but all equivalent structure, material or acts for performing substantially the same function in substantially the same way to obtain substantially the same result. In this sense, it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in such claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in such a claim.

Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even subsequently claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that such claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from any subsequently claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of such claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

Any claims in any subsequent application claiming priority to this application are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what essentially incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

1. A cooler comprising:

a cooler body of insulating material and including an internal cavity having an upper access opening for receipt of items whose temperature is to be maintained at a predetermined level;

a cover for said access opening;

a tray element rotatably connected to the exterior body portion of said cooler;

a tray cavity element for nesting said tray element within the exterior body portion of said cooler.

2. The cooler of claim 1 wherein the tray element contains rotatably connected leg elements located on the lower tray surface of said tray element.

2. The cooler of claim 1 further comprising leg cavity elements for nesting said leg elements within the lower tray surface of said tray element.