MODULAR COOLER SYSTEM

• US 20140014669A1
• Filed: 07/12/2013
• Published: 01/16/2014
• 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.
• Granted Patent: US 8,925,752 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 220/592.01
• 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; and

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.

2. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment includes a receptacle operable to receive a slidable insert, and the at least one slidable coupling of the second compartment includes the slidable insert operable to couple with the receptacle of the first insulated compartment.

3. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the second compartment includes a receptacle operable to receive a slidable insert, and the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment includes the slidable insert operable to couple with the receptacle of the second compartment.

4. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment is positioned adjacent or integrally coupled with the external portion of the back portion of the first insulated compartment, and wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the second compartment is positioned adjacent or integrally coupled with the external portion of the back portion of the second compartment.

5. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a second 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 of the second insulated compartment, wherein the second insulated compartment includes at least one slidable coupling positioned adjacent an external portion, and wherein the second insulated compartment is operable to couple with the second compartment through at least a second slidable coupling of the second compartment that is positioned adjacent the external portion of the second compartment with the at least one slidable coupling of the second insulated compartment.

6. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment includes at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent the external portion of at least one from the group that includes the left side portion, the front portion, the back portion, and the right side portion of the first insulated compartment, and the at least one slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment operable to couple with at least one slidable insert.

7. The modular cooler system according to claim 6, wherein the at least one external receptacle positioned adjacent the external portion of the first insulated compartment extends from one of the group that includes the bottom portion of the first insulated compartment, and a top portion of the first insulated compartment.

8. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, further comprising:

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.

9. The modular cooler system according to claim 8, wherein the at least one slidable coupling of the first dolly is formed as at least a portion of the first dolly support member.

10. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, 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.

11. The modular cooler system according to claim 10, 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.

12. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the top cover portion from at least one from the group that includes the first insulated compartment and the second compartment includes at least one or more indentations that serve as one or more drink holders.

13. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, 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.

14. The modular cooler system according to claim 13, 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.

15. The modular cooler system according to claim 13, wherein the second slidable coupling is one from the group that includes an external receptacle and a slidable insert.

16. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a strainer having a strainer volume, a first edge, a second edge, and operable to removably reside in the internal volume of the first insulated compartment using the first edge and the second edge of the strainer such that at least the majority of the strainer volume resides in the internal volume of the first insulated compartment.

17. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, wherein the internal volume of the first insulated compartment is at least partially defined by one or more internal walls, and wherein at least one internal receptacle operable to receive a slidable insert is positioned adjacent the one or more internal walls of the first insulated compartment.

18. The modular cooler system according to claim 1, further comprising one or more handles positioned on at least one of the side portions of the first insulated compartment and provided from the group that includes a handle formed into the side portion, a handle affixed to the side portion, a rope handle, and a rope handle that extends at least partially across a portion of the slidable coupling of the first insulated compartment that may be implemented as a slidable receptacle or a slidable insert.

19. 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.

20. The modular cooler system of claim 19, 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.

21. The modular cooler system of claim 20, 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.

22. The modular cooler system of claim 20, 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.

23. The modular cooler system of claim 19, 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.

24. The modular cooler system according to claim 19, wherein the at least one external receptacle includes at least one from the group that includes a first angled side and a first rounded side operable to couple with a corresponding first side portion of the at least one external projection.

25. A modular cooler system, comprising:

an insulated box having an open top end and an external receptacle;

a cover hingedly coupled to the insulated box; and

wherein the external receptacle is configured to slidably receive an external projection of a second insulated box to couple the insulated box to the second insulated box.

26. The modular cooler system of claim 25, further comprising at least two external receptacles of the insulated box each configured to slidably receive a corresponding one of at least two external projections of the second insulated box.

27. A wheeled dolly operable to couple with a portion of a modular cooler system, the wheeled dolly comprising:

a first dolly coupling operable to couple with a portion of the modular cooler system;

a dolly support member adjacent the first dolly coupling; and

at least one rolling member positioned at least partially below the dolly support member, and wherein the first dolly coupling is operable to interface with at least a first coupling of the modular cooler system positioned adjacent the portion of the modular cooler system such that at least a portion of the at least one rolling member is positioned on a surface and is operable to roll when in a rolling position.

28. The modular cooler system according to claim 27, wherein the first dolly coupling and the first coupling of the modular cooler system include at least one from the group that includes a slidable coupling, a projection, a receptacle, an extension, an insert, a friction fit coupling, a mechanical linkage, and a magnetic coupling.

29. The modular cooler system according to claim 28, wherein the first dolly coupling is provided adjacent a first side of the dolly support member, and further comprising a second dolly coupling provided adjacent a second side of the dolly support member, and wherein the second dolly support member is operable to interface with the first coupling of the modular cooler system.

30. The modular cooler system according to claim 29, wherein the first dolly coupling and the second dolly coupling are either attached to or formed in the dolly support member, and at least one of the first dolly coupling and the second dolly coupling are operable to interface with a second coupling of the modular cooler system in an inverted position when the at least one rolling member is not positioned to roll on the surface.