WATER EXCHANGE COOLER

Abstract

A water exchange cooler having an inner cavity formed of a wall extending vertically from a base forming the bottom portion of the cooler and having a covering thereon. At least two wall assemblies between two of the side walls forming compartments within the cooler. A water pump in one compartment with a pump tube extending therefrom to another compartment containing ice. Cooling of the contents of the cooler is achieved by flowing water over ice and circulating the cold water around the contents of the cooler by means of the pump.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC OR AS A TEXT FILE VIA THE OFFICE ELECTRONIC FILING SYSTEM (EFS-WEB)

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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR A JOINT INVENTOR

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BACKGROUND

The present art relates generally to coolers. More particularly, the present art relates to compartmentalized water exchange coolers.

BRIEF SUMMARY

The overall design of the water exchange cooler facilitates quick and efficient cooling of the contents of the cooler. Cooling of the contents of the cooler is achieved by flowing water over ice and circulating the cold water around the contents of the cooler by means of a pump. The temperature of the cold water and cooler contents will equalize, thereby cooling the contents of the cooler.

This Summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to limit the scope of the claimed subject matter. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in any part of this disclosure.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of the cooler.

FIG. 2 illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the cooler.

FIG. 3 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the cooler.

FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-sectional view of an embodiment of the cooler.

FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the ice wall assembly's primary panel.

FIG. 6 illustrates a side view of the ice wall assembly's secondary panel.

FIG. 7 illustrates a side view of the ice wall assembly in an expanded position.

FIG. 8 illustrates a side view of the ice wall assembly in a contracted position.

FIG. 9 illustrates a side view of the water wall assembly's primary panel.

FIG. 10 illustrates a side view of the water wall assembly.

FIG. 11 illustrates views of the ice wall assembly.

FIG. 12 illustrates views of the water wall assembly.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments discussed herein are merely illustrative of specific manners in which to make and use the claimed subject matter and are not to be interpreted as limiting the scope thereof.

Referring to the drawings in detail, FIG. 1 to FIG. 4 illustrate views of the preferred embodiment of the cooler. The water exchange cooler is formed of a cooler 001 having a primary inner cavity where cooler contents are stored, a water wall assembly 002 affixed to opposing surfaces of the primary inner cavity of the cooler and thereby establishing a first inner cavity partition 003, an ice wall assembly 004 affixed to opposing surfaces of the primary inner cavity of the cooler and thereby establishing a second inner cavity partition 005, a pump 006, a pump power supply 007, a water conduit 008 for water to flow from the pump located within the first inner cavity partition to the spray outlet 009 located within the second inner cavity partition. It should be noted that the cooler may be any shape or size, but for the preferred embodiment described herein, a standard portable cooler is used.

The panels of the water wall assembly 002 and ice wall assembly 004 are preferably formed of plastic, metal or any other material suitable for containing water and ice. The assembly panels may be static—formed of a single panel—or adjustable by being formed of multiple panels. By way of example, the water wall assembly 002 described herein is formed of a single static panel and the ice wall assembly 004 is formed of two adjustable panels. In practice, both panels may also be static or both panels may also be adjustable. The pump 006 and pump power supply 007 are known items readily available to those skilled in the art. The water conduit 008 is preferably formed of plastic tube or any other duct or hose material suitable for flowing water from the pump located in first inner cavity partition to the spray outlet 009 located in second inner cavity partition. Like the water conduit, the spray outlet 009 is preferably formed of plastic tube or any other duct or hose material suitable for flowing and containing water. The water conduit may require use of various joints, couplings, and adapters as shown in the drawings. Use of joints, couplings, and adapters in combination with plastic tube or any other duct or hose material is a method known to those skilled in the art and does not require further explanation.

The water wall and ice wall assemblies may be affixed to the primary inner cavity of the cooler by any suitable means. In the preferred embodiment, the assemblies are affixed by to the primary inner cavity of the cooler by sliding the assemblies into pre-formed partition slots 010 found in the primary inner cavity of the cooler. Depending on the size of the pre-formed partition slots 010, partition slot brackets 011 may be used to ensure that the assembly is securely affixed. A screw and bracket assemblage may also be used when pre-formed partition slots are not available. Elongated brackets 012 are affixed to the primary inner cavity of the cooler by screws or any other suitable means, thereby creating a structure similar to the pre-formed partition slots found in the primary inner cavity of many coolers. The water wall and/or ice wall assemblies are then slotted into place between the brackets 012.

FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 illustrate side views of the ice wall assembly's primary panel 013 and the ice wall assembly's secondary panel 014. The ice wall assembly's primary and secondary panels may be formed of any material suitable for containing ice such as plastic or metal. The ice wall assembly's primary panel includes water outlet apertures 015 near the bottom of the primary panel. Ice wall primary panel adjustment apertures 016 permit the connection of the primary and secondary panels via star knobs. Ice wall secondary panel elongated adjustment apertures 017 permit the connection of the primary and secondary panels via star knobs and permit resizing of the wall. A spray outlet support screw aperture 018 and water conduit aperture 019 are located near the top of the primary panel. As stated above, the ice wall assembly may also be formed of a single static panel.

FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 illustrate a side view of the ice wall assembly in expanded and contracted positions. The spray outlet 009 with spray apertures 020 is mounted along the upper portion of the primary panel and supported in place by a spray outlet support screw 021. In the preferred embodiment star knobs 022 securely link the primary and secondary panels of the assembly.

FIG. 9 and FIG. 10 illustrate a side view of the water wall assembly's primary panel 023 and the water wall assembly. The water wall assembly's primary panel may be formed of any material suitable for containing water such as plastic or metal. The water wall assembly's primary panel includes a water conduit aperture 024, a series of water level adjustment apertures 025, and plug storing apertures 026 located above the water level adjustment apertures. Plugs 027 are placed in the water level adjustment apertures 025 to adjust the water level in the cooler's primary inner cavity. As stated above, the water wall assembly may also be formed of a multiple adjustable panels.

While the claimed subject matter has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be noted that modifications may be made in the details of the claimed subject matter's construction and the arrangement of its components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the claimed subject matter is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for the purposes of exemplification.

Claims

1. A water exchange cooler comprising:

a. A container having a primary inner cavity formed of a side wall extending vertically from a base forming a bottom portion of the container;

b. A first wall assembly panel detachably attached vertically to the side wall of the container forming a first inner cavity partition within the primary inner cavity;

c. Water level adjustment apertures formed at increasingly higher positions within the first wall assembly panel;

d. A second wall assembly panel detachably attached vertically to the side wall of the container forming a second inner cavity partition within said primary inner cavity;

e. Water outlet apertures located near the bottom of the second wall assembly panel;

f. A spray outlet with spray holes located above the second inner cavity partition;

g. A pump located within the first inner cavity partition contiguous to the container base;

h. A pump power supply; and

i. Means for water to flow from the pump located within the first inner cavity partition to the spray outlet.

2. A water exchange cooler comprising:

a. A container having a primary inner cavity formed of four side walls extending vertically from a base forming a bottom portion of the container and having a covering thereon;

b. A first wall assembly panel detachably attached vertically between two side walls of the container forming a first inner cavity partition within the primary inner cavity;

c. Water level adjustment apertures formed at increasingly higher positions within the first wall assembly panel that may be selectively opened or closed by water level adjustment plugs;

d. Water level adjustment plug storing apertures located generally at the top of the first wall assembly panel;

e. A second wall assembly panel detachably attached vertically between two side walls of the container forming a second inner cavity partition within said primary inner cavity;

f. Water outlet apertures located near the bottom of said second wall assembly panel;

g. A spray outlet with spray holes located above the second inner cavity partition;

h. A spray outlet support screw mounted on the second wall assembly panel;

i. A pump located within the first inner cavity partition contiguous to the container base;

j. A pump power supply; and

k. A conduit connecting the pump to the spray outlet.

3. The water exchange cooler of claim 2 wherein the second wall assembly panel is formed of multiple adjustable panels.