Modular cooler system

• US 8,925,752 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Issued: 01/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apex Coolers, LLC
• Original Assignee: Gulf Coast Cooler Company, LLC
• Inventors: Smith, Craig A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hicks, Robert J
• Application Number:
  US13/940,847
• Publication Number:
  US 20140014669A1
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 220/23.89, 220/23.4, 220/23.2, 220/23.83, 220/915.2, 220/915.1, 220/592.03, 220/592.02, 220/4.27, 220/4.26, 624/577, 624/571, 190/18.A, 280/47.26, 280/47.24, 16/18.R
• US Class Current: 220/23.4
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 25/32 Bail handles, i.e. pivoted rigid handles of generally semi-circular shape with pivot points on two opposed sides or wall parts of the conainter
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 43/164 and connected by interfitting hinge elements integrally with the container and the lid formed respectively
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 81/3813 rigid container being in the form of a box, tray or like container
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/026 for open-top cabinets
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/028 Details
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/804 Boxes
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/14 Refrigerator multi units
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/16 Convertible refrigerators
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/00 Other cooling or freezing apparatus
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49359 Cooling apparatus making, e.g., air conditioner, refrigerator

Abstract

An exemplary modular cooler system is provided that includes couplings that may, in one embodiment, be implemented as integrated or interfaced receptacles and corresponding inserts that allow accessory items to couple with an insulated compartment, which may be referred to as a “wet box”, and used as an insulated cooler that holds ice. The accessories may include, for example, a second compartment or “dry box” for holding items that need to be kept dry, a fishing rod holder, a shelf, a cutting board, a cup holder, a chair or seating platform, one or more dollies, or virtually any needed accessory. In one embodiment the thermal properties of the insulated compartment are enhanced with the use of one or more radiant barrier members, such as one positioned adjacent the lid of the insulated compartment.

Claims

1. A modular cooler system comprising:

a first insulated compartment that includes;

a front portion,

a right side portion,

a back portion,

a left side portion,

a bottom portion, and

a top cover portion arranged to define an insulated internal volume that is accessible through the top cover portion, wherein the first insulated compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion of the first insulated compartment;

a second compartment that includes;

a front portion,

a right side portion,

a back portion,

a left side portion,

a bottom portion, and

a top cover portion arranged to define a second compartment internal volume, wherein the second compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion of the second compartment and operable to couple with the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment; and

a first dolly having at least one slidable coupling, a first dolly support member, and at least one wheel positioned at least partially below the first dolly support member, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first dolly is operable to couple with at least a second slidable coupling positioned adjacent the external portion of the first insulated compartment such that at least a portion of the at least one wheel of the first dolly is positioned on a surface and is operable to roll.

2. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first dolly is formed as at least a portion of the first dolly support member.

3. A modular cooler system comprising:

a first insulated compartment that includes;

a front portion,

a right side portion,

a back portion,

a left side portion,

a bottom portion, and

a top cover portion arranged to define an insulated internal volume that is accessible through the top cover portion, wherein the first insulated compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion of the first insulated compartment;

a second compartment that includes;

a front portion,

a right side portion,

a back portion,

a left side portion,

a bottom portion, and

a top cover portion arranged to define a second compartment internal volume, wherein the second compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion of the second compartment and operable to couple with the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment;

wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment includes at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent the external portion of the right side portion of the first insulated compartment that extends from the right side portion of the first insulated compartment to the bottom portion of the first insulated compartment, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment further includes at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent the external portion of the left side portion of the first insulated compartment that extends from the left side portion of the first insulated compartment to the bottom portion of the first insulated compartment, and further comprising;

a first dolly having at least one slidable insert, a first dolly support member, and at least one wheel positioned at least partially below the first dolly support member, and wherein the at least one slidable insert of the first dolly is operable to couple with the at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent the external portion of the right side portion of the first insulated compartment such that at least a portion of the at least one wheel of the first dolly is positioned on a surface and is operable to roll; and

a second dolly having at least one slidable insert, a second dolly support member, and at least one wheel positioned at least partially below the second dolly support member, and wherein the at least one slidable insert of the second dolly is operable to couple with the at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent the external portion of the left side portion of the first insulated compartment such that at least a portion of the at least one wheel of the second dolly is positioned on the surface, and wherein the first dolly and the second dolly are operable to support and roll the modular cooler system.

4. The modular cooler system according to claim 3, wherein the second compartment includes at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent an external portion of the second compartment that extends from the external portion to a location adjacent the top cover portion of the second compartment, and wherein the at least one external receptacle of the second compartment is operable to couple with at least one slidable insert of at least one from the group that includes the first dolly and the second dolly such that when coupled with a dolly the at least one wheel of the dolly is positioned adjacent the top surface portion of the second compartment and is not in contact with the surface.

5. A modular cooler system comprising:

a first insulated compartment that includes;

a front portion,

a right side portion,

a back portion,

a left side portion,

a bottom portion, and

a top cover portion arranged to define an insulated internal volume that is accessible through the top cover portion, wherein the first insulated compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion of the first insulated compartment;

a second compartment that includes;

a front portion,

a right side portion,

a back portion,

a left side portion,

a bottom portion, and

a top cover portion arranged to define a second compartment internal volume, wherein the second compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion of the second compartment and operable to couple with the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment; and

further comprising at least a second slidable coupling positioned adjacent the external portion of one or more of the group that includes the first insulated compartment and the second compartment, and further comprising one or more accessories that include one or more of the group that includes;

a rod holder having at least one slidable coupling, a rod holder support member, and at least one rod holder receptacle operable to hold at least a portion of a fishing rod and formed in or positioned adjacent the rod holder support member, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the rod holder is operable to couple with the second slidable coupling;

a dolly having at least one slidable coupling, a first dolly support member, and at least one wheel positioned at least partially away from the dolly support member when the at least one wheel is engaged to roll on a surface, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the dolly is operable to couple with the second slidable coupling;

a seat rest having at least one slidable coupling, a seat rest back support member, and a seat rest bottom support member and configured to support a person in use, and wherein the at least one slidable insert of the seat rest is operable to couple with the second slidable coupling;

a shelf having at least one slidable coupling and a shelf member operable to support an object, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the shelf is operable to couple with the second slidable coupling; and

a cup holder having at least one slidable coupling, a cup holder support member, and at least one cup holder receptacle operable to hold at least a portion of a cup and formed in or positioned adjacent the cup holder support member, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the cup holder is operable to couple with the second slidable coupling.

6. The modular cooler system according to claim 5, wherein the first insulated compartment couples with the second compartment through their back portions using at least one external receptacle and at least one slidable insert, and wherein the second compartment includes the second slidable coupling positioned adjacent the external portion of the front portion of the second compartment and that extends from the front portion to a location adjacent the top cover portion of the second compartment.

7. The modular cooler system according to claim 5, wherein the second slidable coupling is one from the group that includes an external receptacle and a slidable insert.

8. A modular cooler system, comprising:

a first insulated box having an open top end and at least one external projection;

a first cover hingedly coupled to the first insulated box;

a second insulated box having an open top end and at least one external receptacle;

a second cover hingedly coupled to the second insulated box; and

wherein the at least one external receptacle is configured to receive the at least one external projection in slidable engagement to couple the first insulated box to the second insulated box, and wherein either the first or the second insulated box or both include an accessory receptacle and further comprising a wheeled-dolly configured to be slidably received by the accessory receptacle.

9. The modular cooler system of claim 8, wherein the wheeled-dolly is configured to be received in slidable engagement with the at least one external receptacle when the wheeled-dolly is inverted.

10. The modular cooler system of claim 8, wherein the second insulated box includes the accessory receptacle, and further comprising:

a second wheeled-dolly configured to be slidably received by a second accessory receptacle disposed opposite the second insulated box from the accessory receptacle, the first and second wheeled-dollies enabling rolling of the modular cooler system.

11. A modular cooler system, comprising:

a first insulated box having an open top end and at least one external projection;

a first cover hingedly coupled to the first insulated box;

a second insulated box having an open top end and at least one external receptacle;

a second cover hingedly coupled to the second insulated box; and

wherein the at least one external receptacle is configured to receive the at least one external projection in slidable engagement to couple the first insulated box to the second insulated box, and wherein either the first or the second insulated box or both include an accessory projection and further comprising a wheeled-dolly configured to be slidably coupled at least partially through the accessory projection.