Cooler with embedded matrix of cleats and attachable accessories

• US 9,316,428 B2
• Filed: 02/21/2014
• Issued: 04/19/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John R. Mech
• Original Assignee: John R. Mech
• Inventors: Mech, John R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reynolds, Steven A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pagan, Javier A
• Application Number:
  US14/186,514
• Publication Number:
  US 20150241107A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 22059201-59205, 220/592.09, 220/592.1, 220/592.16, 220/592.2, 220/694, 220/729, 220735-743, 220751-759, 220/768, 220/767, 220770-772
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

A cooler having an embedded matrix of cleats which substantially covers the internal and external surfaces of the cooler is provided. The cleats of the cooler correspondingly connect to and allow for the attachment of various articles, such as beverage holders, lid hinges, wheels, towing bar, leg attachments, handles, paper towel holders or seats, to be secured to the exterior or interior surface of the cooler. Dividers may be secured to the interior of the cooler so as to allow the compartmentalization of the interior cooler space. The cooler also has adjustable securing devices which allow a user to build his/her own securing attachment device to secure virtually any object to the cleats of the cooler.

Claims

1. A cooler comprising:

a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and interior surface walls defining a generally hollow interior;

a plurality of elongated recessed openings wherein the plurality of elongated recessed openings have a first end and a second end and wherein the plurality of elongated recessed openings are located substantially within the walls of the housing;

wherein the plurality of elongated recessed openings are partially located in at least two of the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall or the interior surface walls of the generally hollow interior of the housing,

a plurality of removable objects temporarily secured to the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall and/or the interior surface walls of the cooler wherein the plurality of removable objects are temporarily secured to an elongated prong wherein the elongated prong has a diameter and wherein the elongated prong is partially received in the plurality of elongated recessed openings of the housing;

wherein the diameter of the elongated prong is slightly less than the diameter of the elongated recessed opening of the housing;

a bushing located at a first end and/or a second end of the plurality of elongated recessed openings of the housing wherein the bushing has a diameter;

a main body of the elongated prong; and

a first end and a second end of the elongated prongs wherein the elongated prongs are secured to a base support and wherein the first end and/or second end of the elongated prongs have a generally cylindrical ring having a diameter which is slightly greater than a diameter of the main body of the elongated prong and wherein the generally cylindrical ring is received by the bushing of the elongated recessed openings and wherein the bushing of the elongated recessed opening contacts the generally cylindrical ring of the elongated prongs and prevents the elongated prongs from accidentally moving with respect to the elongated recessed openings.

2. The cooler of claim 1 wherein the generally cylindrical rings are made of plastic, metal or rubber.

3. A cooler comprising:

a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and interior surface walls defining a generally hollow interior;

a plurality of elongated recessed openings wherein the plurality of elongated recessed openings have a first end and a second end and wherein the plurality of elongated recessed openings are located substantially within the walls of the housing;

wherein the plurality of elongated recessed openings are partially located in at least two of the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall the bottom wall or the interior surface walls of the generally hollow interior of the housing;

a plurality of removable objects temporarily secured to the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall and/or the interior surface walls of the cooler wherein the plurality of removable objects are temporarily secured to an elongated prong wherein the elongated prong has a diameter and wherein the elongated prong is partially received in the plurality of elongated recessed openings of the housing;

wherein the diameter of the elongated prong is slightly less than the diameter of the elongated recessed opening of the housing; and

a base support for the elongated prong wherein the base support has a top, a bottom, a front, a back, a first side and a second side wherein the base support for the elongated prongs have an adjustable securing strap connected to the first side and second side of the base support wherein the adjustable securing strap secures a removable object of variously shapes to the front of the base support for the removable objects and wherein the elongated prong of the base support for the removable objects secures the removable objects to the cooler.

4. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the various objects secured to the front of the base support for the elongated prong include at least a cup holder, a paper towel rack, a garbage bag holder, removable handle, removable latch, removable legs, removable pouch, a salt and pepper shaker, a lamp, a water-tight sealed container, or a removable tray.

5. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the adjustable securing strap is elastic.

6. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the adjustable securing strap wraps around a perimeter of the various object and substantially covers the perimeter of the object.

7. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the base support has a notch wherein the notch of the base support is received by an opening having similar dimensions wherein the opening having similar dimensions is located on the front wall, the back wall, the top wall, the bottom wall, the first side wall or the second side wall of the cooler and wherein the removable objects are prevented from moving when the notch of the base support is located within the opening having similar dimensions of the cooler.

8. The cooler of claim 3 further comprising:

a protrusion located on the back of the base support wherein the protrusion of the base support contacts a surface of the cooler and wherein the pressure of the protrusion wedged between the back of the base support and the surface of the cooler secures the base support and therein the removable objects to the cooler.

9. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the base of the removable object has an opening for receiving a screw having a tip and wherein the tip of the screw penetrates and deforms a portion of the prong and therein permanently secures the prong and the removable object to the cooler.

10. The cooler of claim 3 wherein the base support for the removable objects are identical in size.

11. A cooler comprising:

a housing having a front wall, a back wall, a first side wall, a second side wall, a top wall, a bottom wall, and interior surface walls defining a generally hollow interior;

a plurality of both vertically and horizontally elongated recessed openings forming a matrix wherein the plurality of vertically and horizontally elongated recessed openings have a first end and a second end and wherein the plurality of vertically and horizontally elongated recessed openings are located substantially within the walls of the housing;

wherein the plurality of vertically and horizontally elongated recessed openings are partially located in at least two of the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall or the interior surface walls of the generally hollow interior of the housing;

a plurality of removable objects temporarily secured to the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall, the second side wall, the top wall, the bottom wall and/or the interior surface walls of the cooler wherein the plurality of removable objects are temporarily secured to an elongated prong wherein the elongated prong has a diameter and wherein the elongated prong is partially received in the plurality of vertically and horizontally elongated recessed openings of the housing; and

wherein the diameter of the elongated prong is slightly less than the diameter the elongated vertically and horizontally recessed opening of the housing.

12. The cooler of claim 11 further comprising:

a movable divider partition forming a wall wherein the movable divider partition has a permanently secured prong and wherein the permanently secured prong of the movable divider partition is temporarily inserted into an elongated recessed opening on an interior surface of the interior of the cooler and wherein the movable divider partition allows a user to divide the interior of the cooler into various multiple sections.

13. The cooler of claim 12 wherein the movable divider partition has a permanently secured prong which is secured within the elongated recessed openings of the cooler wherein the movable divider partition may be secured in a non-perpendicular orientation with respect to the front wall, the back wall, the first side wall or the second side wall of the cooler.

14. The cooler of claim 12 wherein a removable tray having a prong is inserted into an elongated opening of the interior of the cooler.

15. The cooler of claim 11 further comprising:

a removable net having prongs wherein the removable net is selectively secured to the exterior surface of the cooler when a prong of the removable net is inserted into an elongated recessed opening of an exterior surface of the cooler.

16. The cooler of claim 11 further comprising:

a removable wheel attachment wherein the removable wheel attachment has a top and a bottom and wherein the top of the removable wheel attachment is secured to the bottom wall or the side wall of the cooler and wherein the removable wheel attachment allows the cooler to be pushed or pulled and wherein the removable wheel attachment has a prong which is temporarily secured within the elongated recessed opening of the cooler.