Multicompartment cooler with enhanced features

• US 8,863,546 B2
• Filed: 02/25/2011
• Issued: 10/21/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Oberweis Group, Inc.
• Original Assignee: The Oberweis Group, Inc.
• Inventors: Oberweis, Joseph S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules, Frantz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mendoza-Wilkenfe, Erik
• Application Number:
  US13/035,814
• Publication Number:
  US 20110203297A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,334 Days
• Field of Search: 62441-443, 624/52, 624/56, 624/577, 624/59, 624/65, 220/238.7, 220/23.89, 220/23.88, 220/592.03, 220/592.1, 220/501, 220/528
• US Class Current: 62/384
• 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 base component affixed to the base compartment for raising the cooler from ground, wherein the base component is fitted to the base compartment by using a first recess along a first periphery of the base compartment, wherein the first recess fits snugly into a first ridge along a second periphery of the base component;

a first intermediate compartment fitted to the base compartment, wherein the base compartment is fitted to the first intermediate compartment by using a second recess along a third periphery of the first intermediate compartment, wherein the second recess fits snugly into a second ridge along a fourth periphery of the base compartment;

a temperature-effecting element in the base compartment and the first intermediate compartment, wherein the temperature-effecting element comprises one of a container comprising dry ice and a chemical pad;

a second intermediate compartment fitted to the first intermediate compartment;

a third intermediate compartment fitted to the second intermediate compartment;

ribs attached to inside walls of the base compartment, the first intermediate compartment, the second intermediate compartment, and the third intermediate compartment, wherein the ribs are configured to prevent contents of the base compartment, the first intermediate compartment, the second intermediate compartment, and the third intermediate compartment from touching the inside walls;

handles attached to an outer surface of one of the base compartment, the first intermediate compartment, the second intermediate compartment, and the third intermediate compartment;

a lid securely attached to a top of the cooler;

a transparent brochure receptor attached to at least one of the base compartment, the first intermediate compartment, the second intermediate compartment, and the third intermediate compartment; and

a branding area on an outside wall of the cooler for including a brand associated with the cooler,

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

2. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising:

a delivery flag attached to the lid.

3. The cooler of claim 2, wherein the delivery flag automatically flips down once the lid is opened.

4. A cooler comprising:

a base compartment;

a first intermediate compartment;

a lid securely attached to a top of the cooler; and

a delivery flag attached to the lid, wherein the delivery flag automatically flips down once the lid is opened,

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

5. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

a base component affixed to the base compartment for raising the cooler from ground.

6. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the base component is fitted to the base compartment by using a recess along a first periphery of the base compartment, wherein the recess fits snugly into a ridge along a second periphery of the base component.

7. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

a second intermediate compartment fitted to the first intermediate compartment.

8. The cooler of claim 7, further comprising:

a third intermediate compartment fitted to the second intermediate compartment.

9. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

a temperature-effecting element in the base compartment and the first intermediate compartment.

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

11. The cooler of claim 9, wherein the temperature-effecting element comprises a chemical pad.

12. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

ribs attached to walls of the base compartment, wherein the ribs are configured to prevent contents of the base compartment from touching the walls.

13. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

handles attached to an outer surface of the base compartment.

14. The cooler of claim 4, wherein the base compartment is fitted to the first intermediate compartment by using a recess along a first periphery of the first intermediate compartment, wherein the recess fits snugly into a ridge along a second periphery of the base compartment.

15. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

a transparent brochure receptor attached to the base compartment.

16. The cooler of claim 4, further comprising:

a branding area on an outside wall of the cooler for including a brand associated with the cooler.