COOLER ADAPTED FOR USE IN MARINE ENVIRONMENT

• US 20090314029A1
• Filed: 06/19/2009
• Published: 12/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kool Innovations, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Kool Innovations, Inc.
• Inventors: LaMere, Kenneth W., Pescitelli, Stephen M.
• Granted Patent: US 8,176,749 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/457.500
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A cooler includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell defines a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end. The box portion defines a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end. The inner shell and the outer shell define a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor. The cavity, into which a tray fits, opens to a hole defined by the outer shell. The outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet that are molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed. A door is configured to cover the hole. The outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position. A lid portion is configured to fit against the inner shell top.

Claims

1. A cooler, comprising:

a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end, the box portion defining a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end, the inner shell and the outer shell defining a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor, the inner shell forming a first upright wall of the cavity, a second upright wall of the cavity and a horizontal wall of the cavity, the cavity opening to a hole defined by the outer shell, the outer shell including a bottom from which four feet molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed;

b. a removable tray that fits into the cavity;

c. a door configured to selectively cover the hole defined by the outer shell, the door hingedly attached to the outer shell with an attachment member;

d. the outer shell defining a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position;

e. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top;

f. a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween;

g. a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including;

i. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;

ii. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;

iii. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and

iv. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion;

h. a locking device configured to hold the lid portion against the box portion, the outer shell and the lid portion defining a second recess into which the locking device fits so that the locking device does not extend beyond the outer shell when the locking device is in a closed state;

i. the outer shell having two opposite sides, wherein each opposite side defines a rigid gripping surface recess to facilitate lifting of the cooler, an elongated handle also extending from each opposite side to facilitate carrying of the cooler by two people; and

j. a drain spout extending from the drain hole to facilitate draining of liquids from the cooler, the outer shell defining a recessed area adjacent to the drain spout and the drain spout having a length so as not to extend beyond the recessed area.

2. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the first upright wall of the cavity, the second upright wall of the cavity, and the horizontal wall of the cavity are each made of a material that is both impervious to water and substantially non-insulating so that objects placed inside of the cavity are isolated from fluids in the chamber while being maintained at a temperature corresponding a temperature inside the chamber.

3. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90°

from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened.

4. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:

a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and

b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.

5. A cooler, comprising:

a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end, the box portion defining a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end, the inner shell and the outer shell defining a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor, the inner shell forming a first upright wall of the cavity, a second upright wall of the cavity, and a horizontal wall of the cavity, the cavity opening to a hole defined by the outer shell, the first upright wall of the cavity, the second upright wall of the cavity, and the horizontal wall of the cavity each made of a material that is both impervious to water and substantially non-insulating so that objects placed inside of the cavity are isolated from fluids in the chamber while being maintained at a temperature corresponding a temperature inside the chamber;

b. a tray that fits into the cavity configured to hold objects therein;

c. a door configured to selectively cover the hole defined by the outer shell, the door hingedly attached to the outer shell with an attachment member;

d. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top;

e. a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween; and

f. a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including;

i. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;

ii. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;

iii. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and

iv. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion.

6. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the tray comprises removable a removable tray.

7. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position.

8. The cooler of claim 5, further comprising a locking device configured to hold the lid portion against the box portion, the outer shell and the lid portion defining a second recess into which the locking device fits so that the locking device does not extend beyond the outer shell when the locking device is in a closed state;

9. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the outer shell having two opposite sides, wherein each opposite side defines a rigid gripping surface recess to facilitate lifting of the cooler, an elongated handle also extending from each opposite side to facilitate carrying of the cooler by two people;

and

10. The cooler of claim 5, further comprising a drain spout extending from the drain hole to facilitate draining of liquids from the cooler, the outer shell defining a recessed area adjacent to the drain spout and the drain spout having a length so as not to extend beyond the recessed area.

11. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed.

12. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90°

from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened.

13. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:

a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and

b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.

14. A cooler, comprising:

a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end, the box portion defining a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end, the inner shell and the outer shell defining a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor, the inner shell forming a first upright wall of the cavity, a second upright wall of the cavity and a horizontal wall of the cavity, the cavity opening to a hole defined by the outer shell;

b. a door configured to selectively cover the hole defined by the outer shell, the door hingedly attached to the outer shell with an attachment member;

c. the outer shell defining a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position;

d. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top;

e. a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween;

f. a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion;

g. a locking device configured to hold the lid portion against the box portion, the outer shell and the lid portion defining a second recess into which the locking device fits so that the locking device does not extend beyond the outer shell when the locking device is in a closed state; and

h. a drain spout extending from the drain hole to facilitate draining of liquids from the cooler, the outer shell defining a recessed area adjacent to the drain spout and the drain spout having a length so as not to extend beyond the recessed area.

15. The cooler of claim 14, wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90°

from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened.

16. The cooler of claim 14, wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:

a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and

b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.

17. The cooler of claim 14, wherein the outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed

18. The cooler of claim 14, further comprising a removable tray that fits into the cavity.

19. The cooler of claim 14, wherein the outer shell has two opposite sides, wherein each opposite side defines a rigid gripping surface recess to facilitate lifting of the cooler, an elongated handle also extending from each opposite side to facilitate carrying of the cooler by two people;

20. The cooler of claim 14, wherein the seal comprises:

a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;

b. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;

c. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and

d. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion.