U.S. patent application number 12/218864 was filed with the patent office on 2010-01-21 for cooler with automatic product height adjustment mechanism.
This patent application is currently assigned to Display Industries, LLC.. Invention is credited to James David Robertson.
Application Number | 20100011798 12/218864 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 41529065 |
Filed Date | 2010-01-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100011798 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Robertson; James David |
January 21, 2010 |
Cooler with automatic product height adjustment mechanism
Abstract
A cooler has a housing defining a product compartment having a
floor panel. A product platform is disposed in the product
compartment and is movable vertically relative to the floor panel.
A plurality of product containers are disposed on the product
platform within the product compartment. A constant force spring
disposed between the floor panel and the product platform exerts an
upward force on the product platform to maintain product containers
at a constant height as product containers are removed and as ice
melts.
Inventors: |
Robertson; James David;
(Atlanta, GA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
JOHN L. JAMES
P.O. BOX 9839
FLEMING ISLAND
FL
32006-0035
US
|
Assignee: |
Display Industries, LLC.
|
Family ID: |
41529065 |
Appl. No.: |
12/218864 |
Filed: |
July 18, 2008 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 3/06 20130101; F25D
31/007 20130101; F25D 2331/803 20130101; F25D 25/02 20130101; F25D
25/04 20130101; F25D 2400/38 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/371 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/08 20060101
F25D003/08 |
Claims
1. A cooler, comprising: an upright housing; a product compartment
mounted within said housing and having a floor; a product platform
disposed in said housing and movable vertically relative to said
floor, said product platform adapted to hold a plurality of product
containers disposed within said product compartment; and a constant
force spring disposed between said floor panel and said product
platform exerting an upward force on said product platform to
maintain said product platform at a constant height as product
containers are removed.
2. A cooler, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said product platform
has a plurality of openings.
3. A cooler, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said product
compartment has a sidewall attached to said floor forming water
tight compartment
4. A cooler, as set forth in claim 1, including a pole attached to
said floor.
5. A cooler, as set forth in claim 4, wherein said spring is a coil
spring and said spring is coiled about said pole.
6. A cooler, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said product platform
has a central opening and said pole protrudes through said
opening.
7. A cooler, as set forth in claim 1, including a floor platform
disposed on said floor.
8. A cooler, as set forth in claim 7, including a pole attached to
said floor platform.
9. A cooler, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said spring is a coil
spring and said spring is coiled about said pole.
10. A cooler, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said product
platform has a central opening and said pole protrudes through said
opening.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] This invention relates generally to coolers, and, more
particularly, to a product height adjustment mechanism for a cooler
for food and beverages containers and the like.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Fixed and movable coolers are widely used for cooling food
items and beverages. For cooling beverages, ice is often used
because it is readily available, cools effectively and allows the
cooler to be used at any location. A problem with ice is that ice
melts causing beverage containers to sink into the water. Consumers
often get a wet hand trying to retrieve a beverage container from
the icy mixture which is unpleasant. Also, in some cities, such
standing water is prohibited by health and safety codes. A solution
to the wet hands problem is a drain to remove water as the ice
melts. While a drain solves the wet hands problem, it creates a
problem with the product height in the cooler. As water is removed,
the height of the ice and beverage containers in the cooler drops
causing the consumer to work harder to retrieve a product
container. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that it would be
highly desirable to have an ice filled cooler wherein the height of
the containers does not drop as the ice melts.
[0003] Another problem with ice filled coolers is that as beverage
containers are removed, the fluid level drops causing remaining
containers to sit lower in the cooler. When the height of the
beverage containers in the cooler drops, a consumer has to reach
farther into the cooler to retrieve a product container. It is
desirable to have a cooler that keeps the product containers at the
same height in the cooler as product is removed from the cooler to
thereby minimize consumer effort to retrieve a container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more
of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to
the present invention, a cooler comprises an upright housing, a
product compartment mounted within the housing having a floor, and
a product platform disposed in the housing and movable vertically
relative to the floor. The product platform is adapted to hold a
plurality of product containers disposed within the product
compartment. A constant force spring disposed between the floor
panel and the product platform exerts an upward force on the
product platform to keep the product platform at a constant height
as product containers are removed.
[0005] The constant force spring maintains the height of the
product platform and thereby keeps the product containers at a
constant height as ice melts and as containers are removed.
Draining water as the ice melts keeps containers on the ice instead
of in an icy mixture of ice and water. Because the containers are
kept at a constant height, a consumer does not get a wet hand when
retrieving a container form the cooler.
[0006] These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of
the present invention will be more clearly understood and
appreciated from a review of the following description of the
preferred embodiments and by reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0007] FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a portable
cooler with an automatic product height adjustment mechanism
according to the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is perspective view similar to FIG. 1 but with
portions cut away to reveal the height adjustment mechanism.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the height adjustment
mechanism.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic perspective view of a portable
cooler with an automatic product height adjustment mechanism,
similar to FIG. 1 but illustrating another preferred
embodiment.
[0011] FIG. 5 is perspective view similar to FIG. 4 but with
contents removed to reveal the product platform of the height
adjustment mechanism.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a diagrammatic longitudinal sectional view of the
height adjustment mechanism.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a cooler 10 has an upright housing
12 defining a product compartment 14 mounted within the housing 12
for holding product, such as beverage containers 16 for example.
Product compartment 14 preferably has a floor panel 18 and
sidewalls 20 that form a chamber for holding product as well as
ice. A product plate or platform 22 is disposed on floor panel 18
and is movable vertically (up and down) relative to floor panel 18.
This up and down movement allows product platform 22 to move
downward when loaded with product or product and ice, and then move
upward when product is removed or the ice melts and water drains
from the product compartment 14. [0014] Product platform 22 is
preferably spaced from floor panel 18 and moves up and down about a
vertically extending pole member 26 that is preferably attached at
its bottom to a floor plate or platform 28. Alternatively, pole
member 26 may be attached to floor 18. As illustrated, product
platform 22 is a tray with upturned side and end edges and a
central opening for receiving pole 26. Platform 22 preferably has a
plurality of openings to facilitate draining water from melting
ice. Also, spaces existing between the perimeter of platform 22 and
sidewalls 20 may allow water to drain from platform 22 to the
bottom of product compartment 14.
[0014] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, the cooler may be equipped with
coasters or wheels 30 for mobility. As illustrated, the cooler
housing is a tall, boxy structure for rolling about on wheels. A
space or compartment exists inside the housing between the product
compartment and the bottom of the housing that can be used to store
product until needed.
[0015] Referring to FIGS. 2-3, as illustrated, a constant force
spring 24 is disposed between floor platform 28 and product
platform 22 and coiled about pole member 26 to move product
platform 22 up and down. Alternatively, constant force spring 24
may be disposed between floor panel 18 and product platform 22 to
move product up and down. Constant force spring 24 exerts an upward
force on product platform 22 to maintain platform 22, and therefore
product containers 16 placed thereon, at a constant height as
product containers are removed or as ice melts. Normally, beverage
containers 16 are juxtaposed in product compartment 14 with ice
which keeps them cold. When the ice melts, the level of ice and
containers in the compartment tends to decline, but constant force
spring 24 exerts pressure on product platform 22 which supports the
ice and containers to keep them at a desired height.
[0016] Referring now to FIGS. 4-6, a cooler 110 has an upright
housing 112 defining a product compartment 114 mounted within the
housing 112 for holding product, such as beverage containers 116
for example. Product compartment 114 preferably has a floor panel
118 and a sidewall 120 that form a chamber for holding product as
well as ice. A product plate or platform 122 is disposed in product
compartment 114. The platform 122 has a plurality of openings to
facilitate draining water from melting ice. Platform 122 is movable
vertically (up and down) relative to floor panel 118. This up and
down movement allows product platform 122 to move downward when
loaded with product or product and ice, and then move upward when
product is removed or the ice melts and water drains from the
product compartment 114.
[0017] Product platform 122 is preferably spaced from floor panel
118 and moves up and down about a vertically extending pole 126
that is preferably attached at its bottom to floor 118.
Alternatively, pole 126 may be attached to a floor plate or
platform that rests on floor 118. As illustrated, product platform
122 is a flat, circular tray with a central opening for receiving
pole 126 and with a plurality of openings for draining water as ice
in the cooler melts. A space between the perimeter of platform 122
and sidewall 120 allows water to drain from platform 122 to the
bottom of product compartment 114.
[0018] Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 6, the cooler may be equipped
with coasters or wheels 130 for mobility. As illustrated, the
cooler housing is a cylindrical structure for rolling about on
wheels. A space or compartment exists inside the housing between
the product compartment and the bottom of the housing that can be
used to store product until needed.
[0019] Referring now to FIG. 6, as illustrated, a constant force
spring 124 may be disposed between floor panel 118 and product
platform 122 and coiled about pole member 126 to move product up
and down. Alternatively, constant force spring 124 is disposed
between a floor platform and product platform 122 to move product
platform 122 up and down. Constant force spring 124 exerts an
upward force on product platform 122 to maintain product containers
116 at a constant height as product containers are removed or as
ice melts. Normally, beverage containers 116 are juxtaposed in
product compartment 114 with ice which keeps them cold. When the
ice melts, the level of ice and containers in the compartment tends
to decline, but constant force spring 124 exerts pressure on
product platform 122 which supports the ice and containers to keep
them at a desired height.
[0020] It can now be appreciated that a cooler with an automatic
product height adjustment mechanism has been presented. The cooler
has a housing defining a product compartment that has a floor
panel. The mechanism includes a product platform disposed in the
product compartment and movable vertically relative to the floor
panel. Product containers are disposed on the product platform
within the product compartment along with ice. A constant force
spring disposed between the floor panel and the product platform
exerts an upward force on the product platform to maintain product
containers and ice at a constant height as product containers are
removed and as ice melts. Water from melting ice drains away so
that a consumer never has to immerse a hand in water to retrieve a
beverage.
[0021] While the invention has been described with particular
reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by
those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and
equivalents may be substituted for elements of the preferred
embodiments without departing from invention. For example, except
for the constant force spring which is metal, the cooler may be
constructed of metal, plastic or composite materials.
[0022] As is evident from the foregoing description, certain
aspects of the invention are not limited to the particular details
of the examples illustrated, and it is therefore contemplated that
other modifications and applications will occur to those skilled in
the art. For example, while the compartment that exists inside the
housing between the product compartment and the bottom of the
housing that can be used to store product, it can be used to store
signage for the cooler or a drain tube. It is accordingly intended
that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications
as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the
invention.
Element List
[0023] 10 cooler [0024] 12 housing [0025] 14 product compartment
[0026] 16 beverage containers [0027] 18 floor panel [0028] 20
sidewalls [0029] 22 product platform [0030] 24 constant force
spring [0031] 26 pole [0032] 28 floor platform [0033] 30 wheels
[0034] 110 cooler [0035] 112 housing [0036] 114 product compartment
[0037] 116 beverage containers [0038] 118 floor panel [0039] 120
sidewall [0040] 122 platform [0041] 124 constant force spring
[0042] 126 pole [0043] 130 wheels
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