Expandable cooler

• US 20050268622A1
• Filed: 06/08/2005
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vector Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Vector Products Incorporated (Stanley Black & Decker, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krieger, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 7,481,065 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.600
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 5/14 with built-in rolling means
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 7/0031 telescopic
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 11/02 with cooling compartments at different temperatures
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/062 defining a cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2323/061 Collapsible walls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/12 Portable refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels

Abstract

An expandable cooler is provided. The cooler includes an insulating portion defining a storage cavity and an expandable portion defining a second storage cavity. The expandable portion is adapted to move between an open and a closed position. The expandable portion may be fixedly attached to the insulated portion. In a further embodiment, a telescoping handle is attached to the cooler. A hook is provided on the telescoping handle and is adapted to be received in a corresponding slot in the expandable portion. The expandable portion may be moved between the open and closed position via the handle.

Claims

1. An expandable storage device, comprising:

a housing defining a first storage compartment being at least partially insulated;

an expandable housing adjacent to the housing and having an end wall, the expandable housing defining a second storage compartment when in an expanded position;

a common wall separating the first storage compartment from the second storage compartment, the expandable housing being movable between a closed position in which the end wall of the expandable housing is adjacent the common wall and the expanded position in which the end wall of the expandable housing is positioned away from the common wall with respect to the closed position.

2. The expandable storage device of claim 1, wherein the expandable housing comprises:

an end wall; and

at least two side walls arranged opposite each other and having first second ends and, the first ends end connected to the common wall and the second ends connected to the end wall to partially define the second storage compartment.

3. The expandable storage device of claim 1, further comprising dividers dividing the second storage compartment into a plurality of compartments.

4. The expandable storage device of claim 2, wherein in the closed position the side walls are compressed towards the common wall with respect to the expanded position.

5. The expandable storage device of claim 4, wherein the side walls are comprised of a pliable material.

6. The expandable storage device of claim 5, wherein the side walls are adapted to fold accordion style when the expandable housing is moved to the closed position.

7. The expandable storage device of claim 1, further comprising a thermoelectric device in communication with the first storage compartment to heat or cool air in the first storage compartment.

8. The expandable storage device of claim 1, further comprising a lid to selectively cover the first storage compartment.

9. The expandable storage device of claim 2, further comprising a bottom connected to the side walls of the expandable housing;

and

an extendible handle arranged adjacent to the bottom, the handle being moveable between an extendible and a closed position

10. The expandable storage device of claim 9, wherein the handle extends along the bottom when the expandable portion is in the expanded position and the handle is in the extendible position.

11. The expandable storage device of claim 9, wherein the handle comprises:

a grip;

legs having first ends coupled to the housing and second ends coupled to the grip;

a protrusion disposed on at least one of the legs;

a recess defined in the end wall and adapted to receive the protrusion, the protrusion adapted to engage the recess to couple the end wall to the handle.

12. The expandable storage device of claim 11, whereby the expandable portion may be moved between the open and closed position via the handle.

13. The expandable storage device of claim 11, wherein the protrusion comprises tabs on the legs and the recess comprises a corresponding slot in the end wall, the tabs engaging the slot to hold the expandable portion in the expanded position.

14. The expandable storage device of claim 1, further comprising wheels disposed on a bottom of the housing.

15. An expandable storage device, comprising:

a housing having a hard shell defining an insulated compartment, the housing including first and second sections that are movable apart from each other;

side walls extending between the first and second sections of the housing;

a bottom connected to the side walls, the side walls and the bottom defining a second compartment disposed between the two sections of the housing, the side walls adapted to collapse when the first and section sections of the housing are moved towards each other.

16. The expandable storage device of claim 15, wherein the first section of the housing comprises a bottom and four walls extending from the bottom to define the insulated compartment.

17. The expandable storage device of claim 15, further comprising a lid to selectively cover the insulated compartment.

18. The expandable storage device of claim 16, wherein one of the walls is a common wall between the insulated compartment and the second compartment and the side walls extend from opposite ends of the common wall.

19. The expandable storage device of claim 15, further comprising a thermoelectric unit coupled to the housing, the thermoelectric unit adapted to heat or cool items in the insulated compartment.

20. The expandable storage device of claim 19, further comprising a battery coupled to the thermoelectric unit.

21. The expandable storage device of claim 20, further comprising a recharging circuit coupled to the battery to recharge the battery.

22. The expandable storage device of claim 20, further comprising a power inverter disposed in the housing, the power inverter coupled to the battery to recharge the battery.

23. An expandable storage device, comprising:

a bottom having a plurality of side edges;

insulated side walls extending in the same direction from the side edges of the bottom, the insulated side walls immediately adjacent to each other being connected together to define a first storage compartment with the bottom;

an end wall;

at least two expandable walls arranged opposite each other and extending from one of the side walls to the end wall;

a bottom connected to the expandable walls and the end wall to define a second storage compartment, the end wall being movable with respect to the side walls.

24. The expandable storage device of claim 23, wherein the end wall is comprised of an end section arranged substantially parallel to the one side wall.

25. The expandable storage device of claim 24, the end wall being disposed adjacent to the one side wall when the end wall is in a closed position.

26. An expandable storage device comprising:

a housing defining a first storage compartment being at least partially insulated;

at least one expandable housing attached to the housing and having an end wall, the expandable housing being movable between a closed position in which the end wall of the expandable housing is adjacent to the housing and an expanded position in which the end wall of the expandable housing is positioned away from the housing with respect to the closed position to define a second storage compartment.

27. The expandable storage device of claim 26, wherein the expandable housing comprises a bottom connected to a pair of side walls extending between the housing and the end wall to define the second storage compartment.

28. The expandable storage device of claim 27, further comprising a lid adapted to selectively cover the second storage compartment.

29. The expandable storage device of claim 28, wherein at least one fastener is provided on the end wall and a corresponding fastener is provided on the lid, the fastener adapted to mate with the corresponding fastener to hold the expandable portion in the closed position.

30. The expandable storage device of claim 26, wherein the sidewalls and the bottom are adapted to fold accordion style.

31. The expandable storage device of claim 28, wherein an end of the lid is secured to the housing and the lid is attachable to the side walls and end walls to cover the second storage compartment via a zipper.