TRAVEL COOLER WITH TRANSITIONABLE U-SHAPED HANDLE

• US 20150321687A1
• Filed: 06/25/2015
• Published: 11/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/25/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
• Original Assignee: M & C Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: VANDERBERG, Matthew Alexander, BIZZELL, Daniel Lee, Hoy, Chris, KOVACEVICH, Ian D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,371,081 B2
• Time in Patent Office: 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) 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 extending between opposite ends of the cooler, the body further having recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler;

(b) a pair of coaxial wheels attached to the body for rolling of the cooler when the cooler is pivoted about an axis of the wheels; and

(c) a U-shaped handle for pivoting of the cooler about the axis of the wheels and rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the U-shaped handle comprising two parallel legs connected by a handle portion;

(d) wherein the cooler is transitionable between,

(1) a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend upwardly at an angle to a plane of the parallel legs and from the body of the cooler a sufficient extent to allow the U-shaped handle to serve as a lever in pivoting the cooler about the axis of the pair of coaxial wheels when tilting the cooler for rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and

(2) a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots and are secured from sliding out of the recessed exterior surface slots, and in which the handle portion of the U-shaped handle extends in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler while still defining a handle for gripping and manipulating the cooler by hand when in the second configuration.

5. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the handle is detachable from and reattachable to the body of the cooler.

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

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

27. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the sidewalls of the body of the cooler are collapsible.

28. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein an axle of the pair of coaxial wheels crosses the legs of the handle when the legs of the handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots.

29. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the legs of the U-shaped handle are secured from sliding out of the recessed exterior surface slots when the cooler is in the second configuration.

30. The travel cooler of claim 29, wherein the legs of the U-shaped handle are secured from sliding within recesses of the cooler body when the cooler is in the first configuration.

31. The travel cooler of claim 1, wherein the legs of the U-shaped handle are secured by spring-biased catches from sliding within recesses of the cooler body when the cooler is in the second configuration.

32. The travel cooler of claim 31, wherein the legs of the U-shaped handle are secured by the spring-biased catches when the cooler is in the first configuration.

2-4. -4. (canceled)

6. (canceled)

9-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A travel cooler, comprising:

(a) 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 extending between opposite ends of the cooler, the body further having recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler;

(b) a pair of coaxial wheels attached to the body for rolling of the cooler when the cooler is pivoted about an axis of the wheels; and

(c) a U-shaped handle for pivoting of the cooler about the axis of the wheels and rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the U-shaped handle comprising,

(1) two legs connected by a handle portion, and

(2) a spring-biased catch;

(d) wherein the cooler is transitionable between,

(1) a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend upwardly at an angle to a plane of the parallel legs and from the body of the cooler a sufficient extent to allow the U-shaped handle to serve as a lever in pivoting the cooler about the axis of the pair of coaxial wheels when tilting the cooler for rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and

(2) a second configuration,

(A) in which the handle portion of the U-shaped handle extends in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler while still defining a handle for gripping and manipulating the cooler by hand when in the second configuration, and

(B) in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots and are retained therein in a locked disposition by the spring-biased catch.

18. The travel cooler of claim 17, wherein the handle further is disposed by the catch in a locked disposition when the cooler is in the first configuration.

24. The travel cooler of claim 17, wherein an axle of the pair of coaxial wheels crosses the legs of the handle when the legs of the handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots.

25. The travel cooler of claim 17, wherein the sidewalls of the body of the cooler are collapsible.

26. The travel cooler of claim 17, wherein the handle is detachable from and reattachable to the body of the cooler.

19. A travel cooler, comprising:

(a) 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 extending between opposite ends of the cooler, the body further having recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler;

(b) a pair of coaxial wheels attached to the body for rolling of the cooler when the cooler is pivoted about an axis of the wheels;

(c) a U-shaped handle for pivoting of the cooler about the axis of the wheels and rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the U-shaped handle comprising two legs connected by a handle portion; and

(d) a second handle;

(e) wherein the cooler is transitionable between,

(1) a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend upwardly at an angle to a plane of the parallel legs and from the body of the cooler a sufficient extent to allow the U-shaped handle to serve as a lever in pivoting the cooler about the axis of the pair of coaxial wheels when tilting the cooler for rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and

(2) 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, and in which the handle portion extends in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler while still defining a handle for gripping and manipulating the cooler by hand when in the second configuration, the second handle being located on an end opposite to the end of the body of the cooler proximate to which the handle portion extends when the cooler is in the second configuration.

20. The travel cooler of claim 19, wherein the second handle is connected to the body of the cooler by a hinge and is pivotal to a first position, in which the handle extends at a spacing of the body, and to a second position, in which the handle extends adjacent the body of the cooler.

21. The travel cooler of claim 19, wherein an axle of the pair of coaxial wheels crosses the legs of the handle when the legs of the handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots.

22. The travel cooler of claim 19, wherein the sidewalls of the body of the cooler are collapsible.

23. The travel cooler of claim 19, wherein the handle is detachable from and reattachable to the body of the cooler.