Cooler insert system

• US 6,039,202 A
• Filed: 12/03/1997
• Issued: 03/21/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Marvel Olstad, Todd Olstad
• Original Assignee: Marvel Olstad, Todd Olstad
• Inventors: Olstad, Marvel, Olstad, Todd
• Primary Examiner(s): CASTELLANO, STEPHEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/984,707
• Time in Patent Office: 839 Days
• Field of Search: 220/533, 220/532, 220/529, 220/501, 220/528, 220/23.83, 220/23.86, 220/23.87, 220/23.88, 220/23.9, 220/23.91, 220/592.01, 220/592.15, 220/4.34 , 220/4.29, 220/4.28, 220/7, 220/485, 220/486, 220/691, 206/514
• US Class Current: 220/533
• CPC Class Codes: A45C 11/20 Lunch or picnic boxes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/069 Cooling space dividing partitions
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 25/005 using containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers

Abstract

A cooler insert system that includes an open-sided, main frame structure including an end wall and two opposed side walls, the end wall and the two opposed side walls each having an opening formed therethrough, the two opposed side walls having three pairs of divider screen guide channels; a snap fit, hinged frame panel that is simultaneously snap fittable to an end of each of the two opposed sidewalls of the frame structure to form an open topped box with the main frame structure; three divider screens, each divider screen being insertable into one pair of the three pairs of divider screen guide channels of the main frame structure to divide the interior of the main frame structure into compartments; and a number of stackable trays that are positionable within a compartment formed by one of the divider screens, each stackable tray having a holding cavity defined therein that is accessible through an access opening and a lower registration protrusion extending from the bottom thereof; the registration protrusion being sized and shaped to sealing fit into the access opening of a holding cavity of another tray member and to seal the access opening into the holding cavity.

Claims

1. A cooler insert system comprising:

an open-sided, main frame structure including an end wall and two opposed side walls, said end wall and said two opposed side walls each having an opening formed therethrough, said two opposed side walls having three pairs of divider screen guide channels;

a snap fit, hinged frame panel that is simultaneously snap fittable to an end of each of said two opposed sidewalls of said frame structure to form an open topped box with said main frame structure; and

three divider screens, each divider screen being insertable into one pair of said three pairs of divider screen guide channels of said main frame structure to divide said interior of said main frame structure into insert compartments.

2. The cooler insert system of claim 1 wherein:

said main frame structure and said snap fit, hinged frame panel are of molded plastic construction.

3. The cooler insert system of claim 1 wherein:

each of said divider screens is of molded plastic construction.

4. The cooler insert system of claim 1, further including:

a number of stackable trays that are positionable within a compartment formed by one of said divider screens, each stackable tray having a holding cavity defined therein that is accessible through an access opening and a lower registration protrusion extending from said bottom thereof.

5. The cooler insert system of claim 4, wherein:

said registration protrusion is sized and shaped to sealing fit into said access opening of a said holding cavity of another said tray member and to seal said access opening into said holding cavity.

6. The cooler insert system of claim 2 wherein:

each of said divider screens is of molded plastic construction.

7. The cooler insert system of claim 2, further including:

a number of stackable trays that are positionable within a compartment formed by one of said divider screens, each stackable tray having a holding cavity defined therein that is accessible through an access opening and a lower registration protrusion extending from said bottom thereof.

8. The cooler insert system of claim 7, wherein:

said registration protrusion is sized and shaped to sealing fit into said access opening of a said holding cavity of another said tray member and to seal said access opening into said holding cavity.

9. The cooler insert system of claim 6, further including:

a number of stackable trays that are positionable within a compartment formed by one of said divider screens, each stackable tray having a holding cavity defined therein that is accessible through an access opening and a lower registration protrusion extending from said bottom thereof.

10. The cooler insert system of claim 9, wherein:

said registration protrusion is sized and shaped to sealing fit into said access opening of a said holding cavity of another said tray member and to seal said access opening into said holding cavity.

11. The cooler insert system of claim 3, further including:

a number of stackable trays that are positionable within a compartment formed by one of said divider screens, each stackable tray having a holding cavity defined therein that is accessible through an access opening and a lower registration protrusion extending from said bottom thereof.

12. The cooler insert system of claim 11, wherein:

said registration protrusion is sized and shaped to sealing fit into said access opening of a said holding cavity of another said tray member and to seal said access opening into said holding cavity.