Portable cooler and audio console

• US 20080025544A1
• Filed: 07/30/2007
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Igloo Products Corporation (Dometic Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Igloo Products Corporation (Dometic Group AB)
• Inventors: Maldonado, John
• Application Number:
  US11/881,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20080025544A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/334
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles

Abstract

A cooler and digital audio console combines the benefits of a digital audio player and a cooler in one container. The cooler and digital audio console includes a cooler body having an interior cooler body, insulation surrounding the cooler body, and an exterior layer surrounding the insulation. The cooler includes a lid that has a removable and adjustable audio console housing. The audio console housing includes one or more speakers and a control panel for providing power and control features for the audio feed being emitted by a digital audio player. The audio console housing also includes a integration device, such as a docking port or headphone jack for connecting a digital audio player to the audio console housing. The audio console housing can be adjusted to different angles to direct the speakers towards the listening audience, or being removed from the cooler and positioned closer to the audience.

Claims

1. A portable cooler and audio player for carrying food and/or beverages comprising:

an insulated container comprising;

at least one enclosure wall panel;

an enclosure base coupled to the enclosure wall panel; and

a lid; and

an audio player positioned along the insulated container and comprising;

an integration device, wherein the integration device integrates a portable audio/video device with the audio player; and

at least one speaker electronically coupled to the integration device.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a control panel electronically coupled to the integration device, wherein the control panel is positioned adjacent the integration device on the insulated container.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control panel comprises a touch pad.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the control panel comprises volume control.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integration device comprises a docking station.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the integration device comprises a docking connector.

7. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the integration device comprises a headphone jack.

8. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the insulated container comprises four enclosure wall panels.

9. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a portable power source electronically coupled to the audio player.

10. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising:

a recessed cavity in the insulated container; and

a housing encapsulating the audio player, wherein the housing comprises an outer peripheral rim for engaging and fitting within the recessed cavity.

11. The cooler of claim 10, wherein the housing further comprises an adjustable stand, wherein the stand rotates about an axis from a first position to a second position, wherein when the stand is in the first position the stand does not provide support for the housing and when the stand is in the second position the stand provides support for the housing to stand without assistance from the insulated container.

12. The cooler of claim 10, further comprising a pivot pin coupled the rim of the housing, wherein the pivot pin allows a portion of the housing to be rotatably adjusted out from the recessed cavity about an axis of the pivot pin.

13. The cooler of claim 10, wherein the recessed cavity is positioned within the lid.

14. The cooler of claim 10, wherein the recessed cavity is positioned within one of the enclosure wall panels.

15. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the audio player comprises a first speaker positioned adjacent one side of the integration device and a second speaker positioned adjacent an opposing side of the integration device.

16. A portable cooler and audio player comprising:

an insulated container comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein the inner shell is spaced inward from and coupled to the outer shell forming an intermediate void, wherein each shell comprises;

four adjoining walls; and

a base coupled to each of the adjoining walls;

a layer of insulating material positioned within the intermediate void;

a lid;

a recessed cavity in the insulated container;

a housing capable of being slidably positioned within the recessed cavity, said housing comprising;

an outer peripheral rim, wherein at least a portion of the rim engages the recessed cavity; and

an audio player comprising;

an integration device, wherein the integration device integrates a portable audio/video device with the audio player;

a control panel; and

a plurality of speakers electronically coupled to the integration device and the control panel.

17. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the integration device comprises a docking connector for electronically coupling to the audio/video device.

18. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the integration device comprises a headphone jack for electronically coupling to the audio/video device.

19. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the control panel comprises:

at least one device for controlling the volume output by the speakers; and

at least one device for turning the power to the speakers on and off.

20. The cooler of claim 16, further comprising:

a plurality of wheels coupled to the outer shell and positioned adjacent the base of the cooler; and

at least one handle coupled to the outer shell.

21. The cooler of claim 20, wherein the handle is positioned along one of the side walls of the outer shell and wherein the handle is telescopically adjustable from a first position to a second position.

22. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the recessed cavity is positioned within the lid.

23. The cooler of claim 16, wherein the recessed cavity is positioned within one of the walls of the insulated container.

24. A portable cooler and audio player comprising:

an insulated container comprising an outer shell and an inner shell, wherein the inner shell is spaced inward from and coupled to the outer shell forming an intermediate void, wherein each shell comprises;

four adjoining walls; and

a base coupled to each of the adjoining walls;

a layer of insulating material positioned within the intermediate void;

a lid;

an audio player coupled to one of the walls of the outer shell, said audio player comprising;

an integration device, wherein the integration device integrates a portable audio/video device with the audio player;

an amplifier electronically coupled to the integration device

a control panel electronically coupled to the amplifier; and

a plurality of speakers electronically coupled to the amplifier and the control panel.

25. The cooler of claim 24, wherein the outer shell comprises nylon fabric and the inner shell comprises a hard plastic.

26. The cooler of claim 25, further comprising a plurality of pockets coupled to the outer shell and positioned about the walls of the outer shell.

27. The cooler of claim 24, wherein both the outer and inner shells comprise hard plastic.

28. The cooler of claim 24, further comprising:

a plurality of wheels coupled to the outer shell and positioned adjacent the base of the cooler; and

at least one handle coupled to the cooler, wherein the handle comprises at least one telescoping arm for adjusting the handle from a first position adjacent at least one of the sides of the cooler to a second position wherein the telescoping arm is extended.

29. The cooler of claim 24, wherein the integration device comprises a docking connector for electronically coupling to the audio/video device to the integration device.

30. The cooler of claim 24, wherein the integration device comprises a headphone jack for electronically coupling to the audio/video device to the integration device.

31. The cooler of claim 24, wherein the control panel comprises:

at least one device for controlling the volume output by the speakers; and

at least one device for turning the power for the audio player on and off.

32. The cooler of claim 24, wherein the audio player further comprises a portable power source electronically coupled to the amplifier, the control panel and the speakers.