Multi-terrain multi-purpose insulated container

• US 10,272,934 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ice Rover, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ice Rover, Inc.
• Inventors: DeFrancia, Tomas A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Meyer, Jacob B
• Application Number:
  US15/625,092
• Publication Number:
  US 20180015938A1
• Time in Patent Office: 683 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 13/02 Interior fittings; Means, e.g. inserts, for holding and packing articles
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 2013/026 Inserts
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/12 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/20 involving parts being collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/22 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2202/52 Beach or picnic trolleys
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/06 comprising insulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/0079 Towing by connecting to another vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/066 Handle bars rotatable about their longitudinal axis
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/067 Stowable or retractable handle bars
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/04 Partitions
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/20 External fittings of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/44
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/28 Handles of containers made by folding or erecting blanks made of paper B65D5/46; of bottles or jars B65D23/10 ; holders for glasses, bottles, cartons, plastic bags, cans A47G23/02
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/2852 provided on a local area near to or at the upper edge or rim
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/163 the container and the lid being made separately B65D43/161 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/22 Devices for holding in closed position, e.g. clips
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 51/28 with auxiliary containers for additional articles or materials B65D51/247 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3813 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

Embodiments relate to a multi-purpose insulated container. The container is comprised of a plurality of walls forming an enclosure. A lid is in communication with the body and is operable so as to enclose the container. A first wall is oppositely disposed from a second wall and the height of the first wall is greater than the height of the second wall. A base is provided and a third wall extends from the base to the second wall; the third wall having a gradient with respect to the base due to the height differential between the first wall and the second wall. A first wheel is positioned adjacent to the first side wall and a second wheel is positioned adjacent to the second side wall; the two wheels sharing an axis of rotation.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a body comprised of a plurality of walls and forming an enclosure;

a lid in communication with the body and operable to provide access to the enclosure;

a first wall and an oppositely disposed second wall, the first wall having a first height and the second wall having a second height, the first height being greater than the second height;

a base and a third wall extending from the base to the second wall, the third wall having a first gradient with respect to the base;

a junction affixed to a first side wall, the first side wall position between the first wall and the second wall, the junction having a second gradient with respect to the base, wherein the first and second gradients are relatively parallel; and

a first wheel positioned adjacent to a first side wall and a second wheel positioned adjacent to a second side wall.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first wall is relatively perpendicular to the first side and second side walls, a recess formed in the first wall, the recess sized to receive a handle in a rest position relatively flush with the first wall.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the junction is configured to receive a tow bar bracket.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, further comprising an aperture positioned in the bracket, the aperture sized to secure a tow bar to the body.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least two attachment pins positioned in one of the walls configured to receive a removable accessory.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, further comprising the accessory having a receiver configured to receive one of the attachment pins.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, further comprising the two attachment pins position having a uniform spacing on at least one wall, and the accessory having two receivers separated by the uniform spacing and positioned to receive the attachment pins.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bin integrated with the lid, the bin having a first position and a second position, the first position forming a secondary enclosure and the second position being an absence of the secondary enclosure.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a recess in the lid, wherein when bin is in the second position, the bin rests within the recess.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising at least one attachment pin positioned along a perimeter of the lid, and the bin having an attachment element configured to be received by the pin.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising at least one latch with a proximal end attached to the lid and a distal end oppositely disposed, the latch to secure the lid to the first side wall, including an aperture in the latch to receive a holding element positioned in the first side wall.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, further comprising an aperture integrated into the latch and manipulation of the latch releasing of the latch from the first side wall.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the axis of rotation of the first and second wheel is substantially proximal to the third wall and the radii of the first and second wheels are at least two inches.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a first floor positioned within the enclosure and substantially parallel to the base;

a second floor positioned within the enclosure and substantially parallel to the base and in a different plane than the first floor; and

a removable separation wall intermediately disposed between the first floor and the second floor.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the separation wall is substantially parallel to the first wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an impermeable bin adapted to be received within the enclosure.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising a first attachment element secured to an exterior surface of the impermeable bin, and a corresponding second attachment element secured to an interior wall of the enclosure, wherein attachment of the first and second attachment elements secures a position of the bin within the enclosure.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lid includes an interior surface with a channel and the enclosure includes a perimeter sized to receive the channel, and further comprising a gasket positioned in the channel to seal the lid to the container.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a handle in communication with the body, the handle including two relatively parallel bars and an exterior transverse bar having a first grip element and a second grip element extending exterior to the two relatively parallel bars.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the handle further comprising an interior transverse bar parallel to the exterior transverse bar, the interior transverse bar to support a position of the two relatively parallel bars.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a first grip surface in communication with the first grip element and a second grip surface in communication with the second grip element.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the position of the first and second grip elements distributes weight of the cooler across two points of contact.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a raised position of the handle distal from the first wall, and the position of the first and second grip elements with respect to the first wall to mitigate an obstruction with the body.

24. A method of creating an apparatus, the method comprising:

providing a body formed of a plurality of walls, the walls forming an enclosure, the plurality of walls comprising;

a first wall with a first height and an oppositely disposed second wall with a second height, the first height being greater than the second height; and

a base and a third wall extending from the base to the second wall, the third wall having a first gradient with respect to the base;

affixing a junction to a first side wall, the first side wall positioned between the first wall and the second wall, wherein the junction has a second gradient with respect to the base, the first and second gradients being relatively parallel;

installing a lid in communication with the body, the lid being operable to provide access to the enclosure; and

affixing a first wheel in rotatable communication to a first side wall and a second wheel in rotatable communication to a second side wall, wherein the first wheel and the second wheel share an axis of rotation.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the junction is configured to receive a tow bar.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising providing a bin integrated with the lid, the bin having a first position and a second position, the first position forming a secondary enclosure and the second position being an absence of the secondary enclosure.