Cooler with Slidable Storage Area

Abstract

An insulated cooler for storing beverages or other items. An embodiment of a cooler may include an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items. The storage drawer is slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume. In some embodiments, the storage drawer may include a stop member configured to engage the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

I hereby claim benefit under Title 35, United States Code, Section 119(e) of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 63/294,308 filed Dec. 28, 2021. The 63/294,308 application is currently pending. The 63/294,308 application is hereby incorporated by reference into this application.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable to this application.

BACKGROUND

The described example embodiments in general relate to an insulated cooler for storing beverages, food, or other suitable items in a cool, insulated environment. Prior art coolers generally include an insulated container in which a user may place ice (or cold packs) along with various items that the user desires to keep cold. Such coolers typically have a moveable lid that may be raised or opened to access the items stored within the cooler.

Although coolers are primarily used for storage of food and beverages, such coolers may also serve other useful purposes, such as serving as a seat for people at a social gathering, or as a table surface for serving food and drinks to guests. In such situations, it may not always be easy or desirable to raise the lid to access items stored within the cooler. Although some prior art coolers have been equipped with a movable drawer that enables a user to access items within the cooler without opening the lid, such prior art coolers may suffer from various performance problems wherein the movable drawer does not perform optimally. Therefore, although desirable results have been achieved using prior art coolers, there is room for improvement.

SUMMARY

Some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cooler that includes a slidable storage area for improved access to one or more items stored within the cooler. At least some of the various embodiments of coolers disclosed herein include an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items. The storage drawer is slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume. The storage drawer includes a stop member configured to engage the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second (or fully withdrawn) position.

In addition, in some other embodiments, a cooler in accordance with the present disclosure includes an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and a storage drawer that includes a tray defining a storage area for storing one or more items, and a door attached to a first end of the tray. The storage drawer is slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area is withdrawn from the interior volume. The door of the storage drawer is configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position. In some embodiments, the storage drawer includes a stop member extending away from the tray at a location spaced apart the door, the stop member being configured to: engage an abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position; and disengage from the abutment portion of the insulated container when the first end is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be disengaged from the insulated container.

In some other embodiments, a method in accordance with the present disclosure includes providing an insulated container having an interior volume, and a storage drawer defining a storage area, the storage drawer being slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through an opening disposed in a sidewall of the insulated container between a first position in which a storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume. In some embodiments, a method includes slidably moving the storage drawer from the first position to the second position such that a stop member of the storage drawer engages with an abutment portion of the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position. There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, some of the embodiments of the present disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional embodiments that will be described hereinafter and that will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment in detail, it is to be understood that the various embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction or to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of the description and should not be regarded as limiting.

To better understand the nature and advantages of the present disclosure, reference should be made to the following description and the accompanying figures. It is to be understood, however, that each of the figures is provided for the purpose of illustration only and is not intended as a definition of the limits of the scope of the present disclosure. Also, as a general rule, and unless it is evidence to the contrary from the description, where elements in different FIGS. use identical reference numbers, the elements are generally either identical or at least similar in function or purpose.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooler with a slidable storage area in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of an insulated container of the cooler of FIG. 1 with a lid in an open position in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a storage drawer of the cooler of FIG. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a side cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 1 taken along line 5A-5A of FIG. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 6 is an end cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 1 taken along line 6B-6B of FIG. 1 in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 7 is a side cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 1 with the storage drawer in a partially open position in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 8 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the insulated container and the storage drawer (indicated as portion 8C in FIG. 6) in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 9 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the insulated container and the storage drawer (indicated as portion 8C in FIG. 6) in accordance with another example embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a cooler with a slidable storage area in accordance with another example embodiment.

FIG. 11 is an end cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 10 taken along line 11D-11D of FIG. 10 in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 12 is a side cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 10 taken along line 12E-12E of FIG. 10 with a storage drawer in a partially open position in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 13 is a side cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 10 taken along line 12E-12E of FIG. 10 with the storage drawer in a fully extended position in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 14 is a side cross-sectional view of the cooler of FIG. 10 taken along line 12E-12E of FIG. 10 with the storage drawer in a disengagement position in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 15 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the insulated container and the storage drawer (indicated as portion 15F in FIG. 11) in accordance with an example embodiment.

FIG. 16 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the insulated container and the storage drawer (indicated as portion 15F in FIG. 11) in accordance with another example embodiment.

FIG. 17 is an enlarged partial cross-sectional view of a portion of the insulated container and the storage drawer (indicated as portion 15F in FIG. 11) in accordance with yet another example embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A. Overview.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a cooler that includes a slidable storage area for improved access to items stored within the cooler. At least some of the various embodiments of the present disclosure include a cooler 10 comprising an insulated container 12 having an opening 28 disposed through a sidewall 16 thereof to provide access to an interior volume 22, and a storage drawer 30 defining a storage area 38 for storing one or more items, the storage drawer 30 being slidably coupled to the insulated container 12 and slidably moveable through the opening 28 between a first position 44 and a second position 46. In at least some embodiments, in the first position 44, the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30 is disposed within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12, and a door 40 of the storage drawer 30 covers the opening 28 of the insulated container 12 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 5). In the second position 46, the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30 is at least partially withdrawn from the interior volume 22, allowing a user to access the storage area 38 (e.g. to retrieve food or beverages, add ice or cold packs, etc.) (e.g. as shown in FIG. 7).

In at least some embodiments, the storage drawer 30 includes a stop member 150 configured to engage the insulated container 12 to prevent the storage drawer 30 from sliding out of the opening 28 when the storage drawer 30 is slid into a fully extended position. In further embodiments, the stop member 150 of the storage drawer 30 is further configured to disengage from the insulated container 12 when a distal end of the storage drawer 30 is rotated upwardly into a disengagement position to enable the storage drawer 30 to be removed from the opening 28 and separated from the insulated container 12.

B. Insulated Container.

The figures illustrate exemplary embodiments of insulated containers that may be utilized in accordance with the present disclosure. It will be appreciated that the structural details of the insulated container may vary depending upon how the insulated container slidably engages with and supports a storage drawer that provides a slidable storage area. For example, FIGS. 1-9 illustrate an insulated container 12 having tracks 25 disposed on side surfaces of the interior volume 22 that slidably engage slide members 35 of the storage drawer 30. FIGS. 10-17 show alternate embodiments of an insulated container 112 having rails 125 disposed along interior corners 118 proximate to a bottom 14 of the interior volume 22 that slidably engage slide channels 135 of the storage drawer 130, as described more fully below. It will be appreciated that these exemplary embodiments are merely for illustrative purposes, and thus the scope should not be construed as being limited to any particular insulated container configuration shown in the figures.

With reference to FIGS. 1-9, an embodiment of the insulated container 12 generally comprises a box-shaped container having a bottom 14, one or more sidewalls 16, and a lid 18. The insulated container 12 generally encompasses an interior volume 22 in which beverages, food, or other suitable items may be stored in a cool, insulated environment. More specifically, in at least some embodiments, the insulated container 12 comprises a box-shaped container 12 (FIGS. 1-3) having a bottom surface 14 and a pair of side surfaces 19 (FIGS. 8-9) at least partially defining the interior volume 22. The insulated container 22 may further include a pair of wheels 50 that engage a floor surface to facilitate movement of the cooler 10 by a user.

It should be appreciated that the insulated container 12 may be fabricated of a variety of suitable materials, including plastics, metals, polymers, foams or other suitable insulative materials, or any combination thereof. The insulated container 12 may preferably be waterproof and relatively airtight when closed to maintain a cool, insulated environment in the interior volume 22.

In some embodiments, the lid 18 of the insulated container 12 may be pivotably coupled to the sidewall 16 by one or more hinges 20 (two shown in FIG. 2). The lid 18 may be moveable between a closed position to enclose the interior volume 22, and an open position to enable the user to access to the interior volume 22. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the lid 18 may include a handle 24 to enable a user to easily pivot the lid 18 into the open position (FIG. 3). A rack (or basket) 26 may be positioned within an upper portion of the interior volume 22, and may be accessed by the user by opening the lid 18. In some embodiments, the lid 18 includes a pair of latch members 52 that extend downwardly to engage with latch anchors 54 disposed on the sidewall 16 of the insulated container 12 to secure the lid 18 in the closed position (FIGS. 1-2). Similarly, in some embodiments, two additional latch members 52 may extend from the sidewall 16 to engage with corresponding latch anchors 54 disposed on the storage drawer 30 to secure the storage drawer 30 within the insulated container 12. In some embodiments, the latch members 52 may be approximately T-shaped members made of a resilient, flexible (or stretchable) polymeric material, and the latch anchors 54 may include hook-like members that receive and secure a top portion of the T-shaped members to securely engage the latch members 52 into engagement with the latch anchors 54.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIG. 6, the sidewall 16 of the insulated container 12 may include a raised ridge (or lip) 23 along an upper edge that fittingly engages into a corresponding groove 27 disposed within the lid 18, to provide an improved seal between the lid 18 and the sidewall 16 of the insulated container 12. In at least some embodiments, the ridge 23 and the groove 27 may be disposed about the entire periphery of the lid 18.

As best shown in FIGS. 3,5, and 7, the insulated container 12 may further include an opening 28 disposed within a sidewall (or end wall) 16 thereof. The opening 28 is sized to slidably receive the storage drawer 30, and to allow the storage drawer 30 to slidably move into (arrow 32) and out of (arrow 34) the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12 (see FIG. 5).

In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-9, the insulated container 12 further includes a pair of elongated tracks 25 disposed within the interior volume 22 on opposing sidewalls 16 proximate to outer sides 48 of the storage drawer 30. More specifically, as best shown in FIG. 8, each track 25 of the insulated container 12 may be mounted approximately horizontally on an interior surface 19 of the sidewall 16, and slidably engages with a slide member 35 disposed on an outer side 48 of the tray 36 of the storage drawer 30 to slidably support the storage drawer 30 within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12.

As shown in the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 8, each track 25 may be a solid member that is attached to, or integrally formed with, an interior surface 19 of the sidewall 16 of the insulated container 12. Similarly, each slide member 35 may be a solid member that is attached to, or integrally formed with, an outer side 48 of the tray 36 of the storage drawer 30. In some embodiments, the tracks 25 and slide members 35 may comprise resilient members (e.g. plastic, metal, etc.) having relatively smooth flat surfaces that slide against each other with relatively low friction as the storage drawer 30 is moved through the opening 28.

It will be appreciated that a variety of suitable configurations of tracks 25 and slide members 35 may be conceived that enable the storage drawer 30 to slidably move into and out of the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12. For example, in other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 9, each track 25 may be a hollow member, and similarly, each slide member 35 may be a hollow member. Again, the tracks 35 and slide members 35 may slide against each other with relatively low friction as the storage drawer 30 is moved through the opening 28. Alternately, in further embodiments, the tracks 25 and slide members 35 may comprise more complex structures, such as rollers (or bearings) that engage rails (or races) that enables the slide members 35 to move transversely over the tracks 25 as the storage drawer 30 is moved through the opening 28. Therefore, it will be understood that a variety of suitable configurations may be conceived, and that the tracks 25 and the slide members 35 should not be limited to any particular embodiments shown in the accompanying exemplary figures.

In addition, it will be appreciated that various configurations of insulated containers may be readily conceived, and that the claims should not be construed to be limited to the particular embodiments shown in the figures. For example, in an alternate embodiment shown in FIGS. 10-17, the insulated container 112 includes some of the same components as the previously described embodiment, however, instead of elongated tracks 25, the insulated container 112 includes a pair of elongated rails 125 disposed along the intersection of the bottom 14 and the sidewall 16 of the insulated container 112 (along the interior corners 118 proximate the bottom 14 of the interior volume 22).

In some exemplary embodiments, as best shown in FIG. 15, the rails 125 may be solid members, and may be attached to, or integrally formed with, an interior surface 119 of the insulated container 112 within the interior volume 22. The elongated rails 125 may extend at least partially along the interior corners 118 of the insulated container 112 (at the intersection of the bottom 14 and the sidewall 16), and may slidably engage with corresponding slide channels 135 formed in lower corners 145 of the tray 136 of the storage drawer 130.

In at least some embodiments, the rails 125 and the slide channels 135 may be configured to provide a space 146 between the storage drawer 130 and the bottom 14 of the insulated container 112. In this way, the slide channels 135 are positioned on top of the rails 125 to slidably support the storage drawer 130 within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 112, and to enable a user to slidably move the storage drawer 30 into (arrow 32) and out of (arrow 34) the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12 (see FIG. 5) by applying force on the door 40 of the storage drawer 130. The space 146 between the storage drawer 130 and the bottom 14 of the insulated container 112 may prevent small objects from getting stuck or from scratching the surfaces of the insulated container 112 and the storage drawer 130.

Alternately, as best shown in FIG. 16, the rails 125 may be hollow members that are disposed along the interior corners 118 of the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 112. In further embodiments, the rails 125 may have a substantially curved or rounded cross-sectional shape. In some embodiments, the rails 125 may have a partial-circular cross-sectional shape (e.g. quarter-circular). Similarly, the slide channels 135 of the storage drawer 130 may have a partial-circular cross-sectional shape that slidably engages with the rails 125 to slidably support the storage drawer 130 within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 112, as described more fully below.

C. Storage Drawer.

As shown in FIGS. 1-9, in some embodiments, the storage drawer 30 generally includes a tray 36 that defines a storage area 38 for storing items (not shown) that the user desires to maintain at a cool temperature within the cooler 10. A door 40 is attached to the tray 36 and may be sized to fully cover the opening 28 of the insulated container 12 when the storage area 38 is fully disposed within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12 (e.g. FIG. 5). In some embodiments, a handle 42 may be attached to the door 40 to facilitate a user sliding the storage drawer 30 into (arrow 32) or out (arrow 34) of the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12. Similarly, in some embodiments, another handle 42 may be attached to the insulated container 12 at the end opposite from the door 40 of the storage drawer 30 to facilitate carrying of the cooler 10. As best shown in FIGS. 1-2, a drain plug 56 may be removably disposed in a drain opening in the door 40 of the storage drawer 30. The drain plug 56 may be opened or removed by a user to drain melted ice or other liquids out of the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30.

As noted above, the storage drawer 30 is slidably moveable through the opening 28 of the insulated container 12 between a first position 44 and a second position 46. In the first position 44, the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30 is disposed within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12, and the door 40 of the storage drawer 30 covers the opening 28 of the insulated container 12 (e.g. as shown in FIG. 5). In the second position 46, the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30 is at least partially withdrawn from the interior volume 22, allowing a user to access the storage area 38 (e.g. to retrieve food or beverages, to add or replenish ice or cold packs, etc.) (e.g. as shown in FIG. 7). It will be appreciated that the second position 46 of the storage drawer 30 may be an approximately or nearly fully withdrawn position in which the storage area 38 is substantially fully withdrawn from the interior volume 22 of the insulated container (e.g. FIG. 13).

As best shown in FIGS. 6, 8 and 9, in at least some embodiments, the storage drawer 30 includes a pair of slide members 35 disposed on outer sides 48 of the storage drawer 30 that slidably engage with the tracks 25 of the insulated container 12. More specifically, the slide members 35 of the storage drawer 30 rest on top of the tracks 25 of the insulated container 12 to suspend the storage drawer 30 within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12. Because the slide members 35 may slide along the tracks 25, the engagement of the slide members 35 with the tracks 25 enable the storage drawer 30 to be slidably moved into (arrow 32) and out of (arrow 34) the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 12 (see FIG. 5) by the user pushing or pulling on the handle 42 of the door 40 without opening the lid 18 of the insulated container 12.

Various configurations of storage drawers may be conceived, and accordingly, the claims should not be construed to be limited to the particular embodiments shown in the figures. In alternate embodiments shown in FIGS. 10-17, the storage drawer 130 includes some of the same components as the previously described embodiments, but also with some substantial differences.

For example, as best shown in FIGS. 11 and 15-17, in some embodiments, the slide members 35 may be eliminated, and the storage drawer 130 may be configured with slide channels 135 formed in lower corners 145 of the tray 136 that slidably engage with the corresponding rails 125 disposed at interior corners 118 of the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 112.

In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 15 and 16, each rail 125 of the insulated container 112 may have a substantially rectangular (or square) cross-sectional shape, and similarly, the corresponding slide channels 135 of the storage drawer 130 may have an angular cross-sectional shape that engages with a portion of each rail 125. In other embodiments, however, each rail 125 of the insulated container 112 may have a substantially curved or rounded cross-sectional shape, and similarly, the corresponding slide channels 135 of the storage drawer 130 may have a curved or rounded cross-sectional shape that engages with a portion of each rail 125. In some embodiments, the rails 125 may have a quarter-circular cross-sectional shape, and the slide channels 135 may have a partial-circular cross-sectional shape. In general, the slide channels 135 of the storage drawer 130 may have any suitable shape that enables the slide channels 135 to slidably engage with the rails 125 to slidably support the storage drawer 130 within the interior volume 22 of the insulated container 112.

As further shown in FIGS. 10-17, in some embodiments, the storage drawer 130 may also include a stop member 150. More specifically, the storage drawer 130 may include a tray 136 that defines the storage area 38, and a door 40 attached to a first end 137 of the tray 136, wherein the door 40 is configured to cover the opening 28 of the insulated container 112 when the storage drawer 130 is in the first position 44 (e.g. see FIG. 5). The stop member 150 extends upwardly from the tray 136 at a location spaced apart from the door 40. In some embodiments, the stop member 150 extends upwardly from a second end 138 of the tray 136 opposite from the door 140.

As best shown in FIG. 13, the stop member 150 is configured to engage an abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 112 (e.g. a portion of sidewall 16) when the storage drawer 130 is in a fully extended position 154 to prevent the storage drawer 130 from unintentionally sliding completely out of the opening 28 of the insulated container 112. More specifically, the stop member 150 includes at least one upwardly projecting member that is configured to engage a downwardly depending abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 112 when the storage drawer 130 is in the fully extended position 154. Thus, the stop member 150 may advantageously prevent unintentional withdrawal and disengagement of the storage drawer 130 from the insulated container 112 when the user moves the storage drawer 130 to the fully extended position 154 (e.g. FIG. 13).

As shown in FIG. 14, in at least some embodiments, the stop member 150 of the storage drawer 130 may be further configured to disengage from abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 112 when the first end 137 of the storage drawer 130 (FIG. 12) is rotated upwardly (arrow 156), placing the storage drawer 130 in a disengagement position 158. In the disengagement position 158, the storage drawer 130 may be disengaged from the insulated container 112, removed from the opening 28, and separated from the insulated container 112.

D. Operation of Preferred Embodiment.

In operation, embodiments of insulated coolers in accordance with the present disclosure may advantageously permit a user to access items stored within the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30, 130 without opening the lid 18. In addition, exemplary embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure may prevent unintentional disengagement of the storage drawer 130 by including a stop member 150 on the storage drawer 130 that engages an abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 112.

More specifically, in at least some embodiments, a method of using a cooler 10, 110 in accordance with the present disclosure may include providing an insulated container 12, 112 having an interior volume 22, and a storage drawer 30, 130 defining a storage area 38, the storage drawer 30, 130 being slidably coupled to the insulated container 12, 112 and slidably moveable through an opening 28 disposed in a sidewall 16 of the insulated container 12, 112 between a first position 44 in which a storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30, 130 is disposed within the interior volume 22, and a second position 46, 154 in which the storage area 38 of the storage drawer 30, 130 is withdrawn from the interior volume 22. In some embodiments, a method includes slidably moving the storage drawer 30, from the first position 44 to the second position 46, 154 such that a stop member 150 of the storage drawer 30, 130 engages with an abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 12, 112 to prevent the storage drawer 30, 130 from disengaging from the insulated container 12, 130 when the storage drawer 30, 130 is slid into the second position 46, 154.

In some embodiments, slidably moving the storage drawer 30, 130 from the first position 44 to the second position 46, 154 may include slidably moving the storage drawer 30, 130 such that slide members 35 disposed on side surfaces 48 of the storage drawer 30, 130 slide over elongated tracks 25 disposed on an interior surface 19 of the insulated container 12, 112 proximate the side surfaces 48 of the storage drawer 30, 130. In further embodiments, slidably moving the storage drawer 30, 130 from the first position 44 to the second position 46, 154 may include slidably moving the storage drawer 30, 130 such that slide channels 135 formed within lower corners 145 of the storage drawer 30, 130 slide over elongated rails 125, each rail 125 being disposed along interior corners 118 formed at an intersection of the bottom 14 and sidewall 16 of the insulated container 12, 112.

In additional embodiments, a method in accordance with the present disclosure may also include rotating a first end 137 of the storage drawer 30, 130 upwardly to disengage the stop member 150 of the storage drawer 30, 130 from the abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 12, 112. Similarly, in still other embodiments, a method includes moving the storage drawer 30, 130 into a disengaged position 158, including rotating the first end 137 of the storage drawer 30, 130 upwardly to disengage the stop member 150 of the storage drawer 30, 130 from the abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 12, 112. And in still further embodiments, a method may include disengaging the storage drawer 30, 130 from the insulated container 12, 112, including rotating the first end 137 of the storage drawer 30, 130 upwardly to disengage the stop member 150 of the storage drawer 30, 130 from the abutment portion 152 of the insulated container 12, 112, and separating the storage drawer 30, 130 from the insulated container 12, 112.

Embodiments of coolers in accordance with the present disclosure may provide considerable advantages over prior art coolers. For example, because the storage drawer is slidably moveable through the opening of the insulated container, the storage area is easily accessible, allowing items within the storage area to be readily accessed even in situations where it is not possible or desirable to open the lid of the cooler. In addition, embodiments of coolers having a storage drawer that includes a stop member may provide further advantages by preventing the storage drawer from becoming unintentionally disengaged from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into a fully extended position. Also, because the storage drawer may be slidably coupled to the insulated container using an arrangement of relatively simple components, embodiments of coolers in accordance with the present disclosure may be more durable, reliable, longer-lasting, and less costly to manufacture in comparison with some prior art coolers.

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the various embodiments of the present disclosure, suitable methods and materials are described above. All patent applications, patents, and printed publications cited herein are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties, except for any definitions, subject matter disclaimers or disavowals, and except to the extent that the incorporated material is inconsistent with the express disclosure herein, in which case the language in this disclosure controls. The various embodiments of the present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the various embodiments in the present disclosure be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Any headings utilized within the description are for convenience only and have no legal or limiting effect.

Claims

1. A cooler, comprising:

an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and

a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items, the storage drawer being slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume, the storage drawer including a stop member configured to engage the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position.

2. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the stop member of the storage drawer is configured to disengage from the insulated container when a first end of the storage drawer is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be removed from the opening and separated from the insulated container.

3. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the storage drawer includes a tray that defines the storage area, and a door attached to a first end of the tray, the door being configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position, and wherein the stop member extends upwardly from the tray at a location spaced apart from the first end of the tray.

4. The cooler of claim 3, wherein the stop member includes at least one upwardly projecting member that is configured to engage a downwardly depending abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position.

5. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the insulated container includes at least two tracks, each track being elongated and disposed on an interior surface within the interior volume proximate to an outer side of the storage drawer, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide members, each slide member being disposed on the outer side of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two tracks of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container.

6. The cooler of claim 5, wherein each track is integrally formed with the interior surface of the insulated container.

7. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the insulated container includes at least two rails, each of the at least two rails being elongated and disposed along an interior corner within the interior volume proximate a bottom of the insulated container, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide channels, wherein each of the at least two slide channels being formed in a lower corner of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two rails of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container.

8. The cooler of claim 7, wherein each rail is integrally formed with an interior surface of the insulated container.

9. The cooler of claim 7, wherein the interior corner is formed by an intersection of a sidewall and the bottom of the insulated container.

10. The cooler of claim 7, wherein the at least two rails of the insulated container and the at least two slide channels of the storage drawer are configured to provide a space between the storage drawer and the bottom of the insulated container.

11. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the insulated container includes a lid pivotably coupled to a sidewall and moveable between a closed position to enclose the interior volume, and an open position to enable access to the interior volume.

12. A cooler, comprising:

an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and

a storage drawer that includes a tray defining a storage area for storing one or more items and a door attached to a first end of the tray, the storage drawer being slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area is withdrawn from the interior volume, the door being configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position, the storage drawer further including a stop member extending away from the tray at a location spaced apart from the first end, the stop member being configured to: engage an abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position; and disengage from the abutment portion of the insulated container when the first end is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be disengaged from the insulated container.

13. The cooler of claim 12, wherein the stop member includes at least one upwardly projecting member that is configured to engage a downwardly depending abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position.

14. The cooler of claim 12, wherein the insulated container includes at least two tracks, each track being elongated and horizontally disposed on an interior surface within the interior volume proximate to an outer side of the storage drawer, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide members, each slide member being disposed on the outer side of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two tracks of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container.

15. The cooler of claim 12, wherein the insulated container includes at least two rails, each rail being elongated and disposed along an interior corner within the interior volume proximate a bottom of the insulated container, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide channels, each slide channel being formed in a lower corner of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two rails of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container.

16. A cooler, comprising:

an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume, the insulated container including at least two rails, each rail being elongated and disposed along an interior corner within the interior volume proximate a bottom of the insulated container; and

a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items, the storage drawer including at least two slide channels, each slide channel being formed in a lower corner of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two rails of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container, the storage drawer being slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume.

17. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the storage drawer comprises a tray defining the storage area, and a door attached to a first end of the tray, the door being configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position.

18. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the at least two rails of the insulated container and the at least two slide channels of the storage drawer are configured to provide a space between the storage drawer and the bottom of the insulated container.

19. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the storage drawer further includes a stop member configured to engage an abutment portion of the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position.

20. The cooler of claim 19, wherein the stop member of the storage drawer is further configured to disengage from the abutment portion of the insulated container when a first end of the storage drawer is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be removed from the opening and separated from the insulated container.