Multicompartment Cooler with Enhanced Features

• US 20110203297A1
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Published: 08/25/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Oberweis Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Oberweis Dairy Incorporated (The Oberweis Group, Inc.)
• Inventors: Oberweis, Joseph S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,863,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/56
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/082 disposed in a cold storage element not forming part of a container for products to be cooled, e.g. ice pack or gel accumulator
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0844 above the product
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/14 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices

Abstract

This disclosure presents a stackable, multicompartment portable cooler with enhanced climate control and delivery features. The cooler may include adjustable vents for precisely controlling the temperature differential between adjacent compartments, a brochure receptor for including information about the delivery, and/or an automatic delivery flag for notification purposes. In addition, the cooler is modular and may be assembled/disassembled through the use of removable compartment dividers that subdivide the stacked main compartments into many subcompartments.

Claims

1. A cooler comprising:

a base compartment;

a first intermediate compartment fitted to the base compartment; and

a lid securely attached to a top of the cooler,

wherein a common surface of the base compartment and the first intermediate compartment includes a plurality of adjustable vents with slideable panels for controlling temperatures within each of the compartments.

2. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a base component affixed to the base compartment for raising the cooler from ground.

3. The cooler of claim 2, wherein the base component is fitted to the base compartment by using a recess along the periphery of the base compartment, wherein the recess fits snugly into a ridge along the periphery of the base component.

4. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a second intermediate compartment fitted to the first intermediate compartment.

5. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising a third intermediate compartment fitted to the second intermediate compartment.

6. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a delivery flag attached to the lid.

7. The cooler of claim 6, wherein the delivery flag automatically flips down once the lid is opened.

8. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a temperature-effecting element in the base compartment and the first intermediate compartment.

9. The cooler of claim 8, wherein the temperature-effecting element comprises a container comprising dry ice.

10. The cooler of claim 8, wherein the temperature-effecting element comprises a chemical pad.

11. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising ribs attached to walls of the compartments, wherein the ribs are configured to prevent contents of the compartments from touching the walls.

12. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising handles attached to an outer surface of the compartments.

13. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the base compartment is fitted to the first intermediate compartment by using a recess along the periphery of the first intermediate compartment, wherein the recess fits snugly into a ridge along the periphery of the base compartment.

14. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a transparent brochure receptor attached to one of the compartments.

15. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a branding area on an outside wall of the cooler for including a brand associated with the cooler.

16. A cooler comprising:

a base compartment; and

a first intermediate compartment;

wherein at least one surface of the base compartment and the first intermediate compartment includes a plurality of adjustable vents with slideable panels for maintaining temperatures for the base compartment and the first intermediate compartment.

17. The cooler of claim 16, further comprising:

a base component for raising the cooler from ground, wherein the base compartment is fitted to the base component.

18. The cooler of claim 16, further comprising:

a second intermediate compartment fitted to the first intermediate compartment.

19. A method comprising:

providing a multicompartment cooler with an intermediate compartment stacked on top of a base compartment, wherein a surface common to both the base compartment and the intermediate compartment includes adjustable vents; and

adjusting an amount of opening of the adjustable vents to control a temperature differential between the intermediate compartment and the base compartment.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the opening of the adjustable vents is adjusted via slidable panels.