Travel cooler with transitionable U-shaped handle

• US 9,586,604 B2
• Filed: 06/20/2016
• Issued: 03/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Kovacevich, Ian D., HOY, Chris, Vanderberg, Matthew Alexander, Bizzell, Daniel Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): EBNER, KATY MEYER
• Application Number:
  US15/186,540
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362124A1
• Time in Patent Office: 260 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/006 being vertically stackable with each other
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/047 by telescopic movement of the handle
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/06 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/12 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable, or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/125 by means of telescoping elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 1/264 the objects being of cylindrical shape, e.g. barrels, buckets, dustbins
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/04 comprising a cooling unit
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2204/06 comprising insulating materials
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2206/02 adjustable in length or width
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/02 involving parts being adjustable, collapsible, attachable, detachable or convertible
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/025 Foldable roll containers
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/04 involving means for grappling or securing in place objects to be carried; Loading or unloading equipment
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/10 characterised by supports specially adapted to objects of definite shape
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/104 the object being of cylindrical shape, e.g. barrels, buckets, dustbins
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 3/16 vertically stackable
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/067 Stowable or retractable handle bars
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/06 Movable containers

Abstract

A travel cooler, includes a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items. A lengthwise dimension of the cooler extends between opposite ends of the cooler, and the body defines recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler. The cooler further includes a U-shaped handle having two legs connected by a handle portion. The cooler is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler, and a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler, the handle portion extending in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler.

Claims

1. A travel cooler, comprising:

a body having an interior, insulated containment space with a height in a heightwise direction, a width in a widthwise direction, and a length in a lengthwise direction, and comprising a bottom portion, a lid, sidewalls extending in the heightwise direction of the cooler between the bottom portion and the lid, and recessed exterior surface slots extending in a lengthwise direction between opposite ends of the body of the cooler;

wheels for rolling of the cooler; and

a handle for lifting of the cooler for rolling on the wheels, the handle comprising two legs connected by a handle portion;

wherein the cooler is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the legs of the handle serve as a lever in lifting of the cooler for rolling of the cooler on the wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and a second configuration, in which the legs of the handle extend within the recessed exterior surface slots with the handle portion extending in close proximity to a first of the opposite ends of the body of the cooler;

wherein the cooler further comprises a pair of vertically oriented tubular recesses at a first of the opposite ends of the body of the cooler, and a drain opening for the containment space located at the first of the opposite ends of the body of the cooler; and

wherein the lid further comprises a storage recess defined in a surface thereof that is configured to receive and retain an object of the cooler when stored, the shape of the recess being commensurate with a shape of the object such that the object fits within the recess without protruding beyond the surface of the lid.

2. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the recessed exterior surface slots comprise two parallel, elongate channels that extend generally horizontally through the body.

3. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the legs of the handle extend generally horizontally through the body when received within the recessed exterior surface slots.

4. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the recess of the lid is configured to receive and retain a hand pump.

5. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein each of the pair of vertically oriented tubular recesses is configured to receive therein a portion of an object having a tubular profile.

6. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the handle is detachable from and reattachable to the body of the cooler, and wherein the pair of vertically oriented tubular recesses receive therein the legs of the handle.

7. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the wheels are located at the first of the opposite ends of the body of the cooler.

8. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the wheels are a pair of coaxial wheels.

9. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the handle portion extends above a rim portion of the cooler when the cooler is in the second configuration.

10. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the handle is detached from and reattached to the body of the cooler when transitioning between the first and second configurations.

11. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the handle is U-shaped.

12. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the recessed exterior surface slots are located at a bottom surface of the cooler.

13. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the handle further comprises a spring-biased catch.

14. The travel cooler of claim 13, wherein the handle further is disposed by the catch in a locked disposition when the cooler is in the first configuration.