U.S. patent application number 12/387530 was filed with the patent office on 2010-11-04 for portable cooler with disguised valuables compartment.
Invention is credited to Angela Klettner.
Application Number | 20100275642 12/387530 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 43029372 |
Filed Date | 2010-11-04 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100275642 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Klettner; Angela |
November 4, 2010 |
Portable cooler with disguised valuables compartment
Abstract
A portable cooler of the kind used to store food and beverages
and used to keep ice has a hidden compartment for safekeeping
valuables. A disguised or camouflaged access door is provided in
the outer wall of the cooler which permits entry to the hidden
compartment. Thermal conductivity is provided between the hidden
compartment and main interior compartment to allow perishable items
such as medications to be kept cooler than the usual ambient
temperature outside the cooler. In a preferred embodiment, an
internal drawer is provided within the hidden compartment for
holding valuables such as keys, cell phones or medications.
Optional locking means and an additional barrier or flap is
provided to prevent unauthorized removal of items.
Inventors: |
Klettner; Angela; (Danbury,
CT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Joseph M Fowler
212 Broadfield Rd
New Rochelle
NY
10804
US
|
Family ID: |
43029372 |
Appl. No.: |
12/387530 |
Filed: |
May 4, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/457.7 ;
220/324 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A45C 11/20 20130101;
A45C 13/02 20130101; E05G 1/005 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/457.7 ;
220/324 |
International
Class: |
F25D 3/08 20060101
F25D003/08; B65D 45/16 20060101 B65D045/16 |
Claims
1. A portable cooler comprising: A container housing having at
least two separate compartments of which one is primary and larger
in volume, and the other secondary and smaller in volume, said
compartments sharing a common partition, a top lid member connected
to the container housing by hinge means permitting the lid member
to be opened or closed allowing selective access to the primary
compartment, And a door located in the wall, adjacent the primary
compartment of the container housing, said door allowing selective
access to the secondary compartment though not to the primary
compartment.
2. The portable cooler of claim 1. in which the common partition is
thermally conductive.
3. The portable cooler of claim 2. in which the door in closed
position is substantially perpendicular to the top lid member.
4. The portable cooler of claim 1. in which the outer surface of
the container housing is visually patterned to disguise the
presence of the door in closed position.
5. The portable cooler of claim 4. in which the secondary
compartment contains a slidable drawer capable of receiving objects
such as cell phones, keys and medications.
6. The portable cooler of claim 5. in which a lockable latch means
is mounted on the front of the slidable drawer.
7. The portable cooler of claim 5. in which a lockable latch means
is mounted on the interior side of the wall of the container
housing in a position to selectively inhibit access to the contents
of a slidable drawer located within the secondary compartment.
8. The portable cooler of claim 5. in which the container housing
contains an aperture for accepting a latch means within said wall
of the container housing in position to inhibit access to the
contents of a slidable drawer located therein.
9. The portable cooler of claim 6. in which the lockable latch
means incorporates a combination type lock.
10. The portable cooler of claim 7. in which the lockable latch
means incorporates a combination type lock.
11. The portable cooler of claim 4 in which a lockable flap is
located behind the access door to the secondary compartment capable
of restricting access to the compartment when the access door is
opened.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH AND
DEVELOPMENT
[0002] Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, A TABLE, OR A COMPUTER PROGRAM
LISTING COMPACT DISC APPENDIX
[0003] Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0004] The activities associated with beach going, swimming or
playing sports are often at odds with the safekeeping of valuables.
An obvious reason is that fewer clothes are worn by people
participating in athletic or recreational activity so there are
fewer places to store items like keys, cell phones or medications.
There are also instances when these items may be left unattended in
a vehicle. The fear that these items may be lost or stolen fosters
a need for a method of safely stowing them when they can't be
carried or watched. As such it is useful to have a safe place to
keep important items thereby allaying the owners' anxiety and
enhancing the value of their recreational experience.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention relates to portable safes and more
particularly to transportable coolers for food and beverages used
for picnicking or tailgating or for other recreational activities
in which the cooler is equipped with a provision for storing
valuables.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
[0006] Numerous devices have been invented to manage this problem.
For example, a beach locker described by Wood (U.S. Pat. No.
4,664,389 B1) (1987) comprises a container for valuables having an
anchoring screw extending downward from the underside of the
container. The screw is rotated into the sand making it difficult
for a thief to carry off the container.
[0007] A patent issued to Boyce, (U.S. Pat. No. 6,082,157) (2000),
comprises the combination of a round lockable container and a beach
umbrella. The container is attached to the vertical shaft of the
beach umbrella which is inserted into the sand anchoring the
combined assembly.
[0008] Another approach described by Shaw (U.S. Pat No. 7,401,482
B1) (2008) discloses a portable locker combined with a beverage
tray and a carrying bag. The locker may be used to carry food,
beverages or other items to job sites, work sites or "fun sites"
and features a hinged top with a combination dial for a door
lock.
[0009] The present invention is an improvement over the most
pertinent prior art because it uses disguise or unobtrusiveness to
safeguard the stored valuables. The idea of a disguised safe has
been the basis of many prior art inventions such as a patent issued
to Dyer (U.S. Pat. No. 2,086,018) (1937) for a refrigerator safe in
which a hidden compartment is located in an ordinary
refrigerator.
[0010] Clark (U.S. Pat. No. 6,135,034) (2000) teaches the use of a
trash can as a safe as it contains a hidden compartment in a false
bottom.
[0011] A more elaborate disguised safe is described in a patent
issued to Cline (U.S. Pat. No. 7,043,946) (2006) in which a device
which appears to be a water heater or water softener apparatus is
actually a safe.
[0012] Perhaps the most familiar example of this type of
concealment device is described by Cleveland (U.S. Pat. No.
4,531,635) (1985) in which a plastic article resembling a rock or
other natural object is used to store keys or similar items.
[0013] Most of the foregoing prior art devices are unsuitable for
use at a beach or swim club. Those devices that have been developed
specifically for use in those venues have disadvantages which are
readily overcome by the present invention.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The invention comprises a novel portable cooler of the kind
used to store food and beverages and used to keep ice. Conventional
coolers like these are frequently taken to a beach or swim club or
to some other site of recreational activity. A good example of this
type of cooler is Model no. 6200A748 manufactured by The Coleman
Company, Inc., of Wichita, Kans. At times the portable cooler may
remain in a vehicle and at other times it may be brought closer to
the recreational activity.
[0015] The present invention discloses a portable cooler having a
hidden compartment for safekeeping valuables contained within the
cooler. A disguised flap or access door is provided in the outer
shell of the cooler which permits entry to the hidden compartment.
In a preferred embodiment, an internal drawer is provided within
the hidden compartment for holding valuables such as keys, cell
phones or medications. When the flap door is opened, the internal
drawer can be slid out enabling access to the contents. Optional
locking means is provided to prevent unauthorized removal of
items.
[0016] Another aspect of the invention permits thermal conductivity
between the hidden secondary compartment and the interior primary
compartment of the cooler which allows items placed in the hidden
compartment, such as medications, to be kept cooler than the
outside ambient temperature in most situations.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING
[0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable cooler with the
top lid open exposing the primary compartment and an open access
door revealing a secondary compartment incorporating pertinent
aspects of the invention.
[0018] FIG. 2 is a side elevation of a portable cooler with one
side of the wall partially cut away to reveal a portion of the
invention.
[0019] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the inventive portable
cooler showing a drawer structure in its relation to the cooler and
a latch in an unlatched condition.
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the portable cooler showing
details of the drawer and latch arrangement in a latched condition
in its relation to the cooler.
[0021] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the portable cooler as it
would appear with the compartment doors closed. The internally
mounted latch and lock mechanism is shown in dotted lines to
indicate that it is not visible from the outside when the
compartment door is closed.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0022] Referring to the drawings in detail and in particular to
FIG. 1, a portable type cooler 10 is shown with an open top lid 12
and with an open access door 14 on one end revealing generally the
presence of a hidden compartment 16. The cooler structure itself is
of conventional design having a main or primary container housing
18 which, in this example, is rectangular in shape. As such, the
container housing 18 has four upright walls integral with a floor
25. The two longer walls 26,27 run lengthwise along opposite sides
of the container and two shorter walls 28,29 form opposite end
walls. The external housing of a conventionally designed cooler is
made from materials which together maintain low thermal
conductivity between the interior compartments and the ambient
temperature outside the cooler. In some ordinary coolers, there is
also low thermal conductivity between interior compartments.
However, for the inventive cooler described here, there is high
thermal conductivity through a common partition between the largest
interior compartment and at least one secondary, smaller interior
compartment 16 and this smaller compartment has an access door 14
separate from the top lid 12 which covers the main container
housing 18.
[0023] A rectangular top lid 12 is attached to the main container
housing 18 by a hinge 20 running lengthwise along the top edge 21
of the container housing 18. The cooler is also supplied with a
latch 36 and locking mechanism 37 (not shown in detail) at the
center of the top edge of the main or primary container housing 18
on the side opposite the hinge 20. Handles 32 are normally provided
at opposite ends on the outside of the container housing to make it
easier to carry. A drain port and stopper (not shown) are often
supplied with this type of cooler and are usually located near the
floor of an end wall.
[0024] As shown in the foreground of FIG. 1, a generally
rectangular access door 14 is shown in an open position in the
lower portion of end wall 28 of the container housing 18. The door
14 is cut completely across the outer shell of the end wall 28 in
an effort to disguise the presence of the door. Pattern lines 44
are designed to blend the outline of the door into the exterior
surface of the cooler. In this example, horizontal lines 44 are
shown that will cause the access door in closed position to blend
in with the pattern on the side of the cooler. However it will be
understood that any pattern or graphic design visible on the
surface of the container that de-emphasizes the outline of the door
may be appropriate if it camouflages the presence of the access
door 14. As such, the door may not be entirely rectangular but may
have vertical edges that are scalloped, stepped or irregular to
meet the disguise requirements of the pattern applied to the outer
surface of the container body.
[0025] With reference to FIG. 2, access door 14 is attached to the
main container housing 18 by hinge 40. Hinge 40 as shown is made
from material which has a surface appearance similar to access door
14 and the outer shell of the main container 18, however, it is
understood that other types of hinges and hinge material are
available to perform an equivalent function. Access door 14 is
located adjacent the internal compartments of cooler 10 and forms
part of the external wall of the cooler. When access door 14 is
closed it will remain closed because of frictional interference
between outer edges of the door 14 and the internal edges of the
opening in the side of the cooler shown generally by numeral 46 in
FIG. 1. In certain instances a bendable flange 81 may be added to
the top of door 14 to provide more secure closure as the flange can
be biased downwards by the top edge of the opening when the door is
in a closed position as it is shown in FIG. 5.
[0026] The outer wall of cooler 10 in FIG. 2 has been cut away to
reveal the location of hidden compartment 16, also referred to as a
secondary compartment, which would typically extend 12'' into the
interior of the main or primary cooler compartment 52. The
secondary compartment 16 would be smaller in spatial volume than
the primary compartment 52. The most important purpose of this
compartment 16 is to provide a place for storage of valuables such
as cell phones, keys or medications. The structure of compartment
16 is defined by the placement of a vertical separator wall 62
joined perpendicularly to horizontal floor extension 25A at the
point furthest from end wall 28 as shown in FIG. 2. In a preferred
embodiment, vertical wall 62 extends perpendicular to and integral
with opposing walls 26 and 27. It is important that the edges of
the separator be contiguous with the adjacent walls so that
compartment 16 will be impervious to water or other liquids which
may accumulate in the main cooler compartment 52. An important
feature of this invention is that separator wall 62 and floor
extension 25A are thermally conductive and thereby allow
compartment 16 to reach an internal temperature similar to primary
compartment 52 as they share a common partition. Therefore,
medications or other items which are apt to spoil in a too warm or
moist environment will be preserved in better condition if kept at
cooler temperatures.
[0027] A slidable, open top drawer 65 in FIG. 3 is shown as part of
a preferred embodiment of the invention. The drawer fits within
compartment 16 and is comprised of a floor with four integral
vertical sides. A combination lock and latch mechanism 70 is
centrally located on the front of the drawer. The drawer can be
moved along the surface of the floor 25 in compartment 16 on the
plane shown by the arrows in FIG. 4. When the latch 70 is locked in
a vertical position as shown in FIG. 4, it is inserted into an
aperture in end wall 28 preventing drawer 65 from being withdrawn
from compartment 16. When unlocked, the latch 70 can be moved to a
horizontal or non-interfering position, and the drawer 65 can be
slid out from compartment 16. A handle 83, visible in FIGS. 3 and
4, improves access to drawer 65. Alternatively, the latch mechanism
can be mounted on or in the end wall 28 so that the latch itself
can be rotated downward and locked in a vertical position to
prevent a drawer held within the compartment 16 from being
withdrawn. It is also within the scope of the invention in one
variation to include the use of a lockable flap (not shown) behind
door 14 when a drawer 65 is not used. The purpose of the flap is to
restrict access to the hidden or secondary compartment when door 14
is opened. Such a flap would be fastened to floor 25 or to interior
edge 46 in such a manner as to restrict access to compartment 16
and such a flap may also be equipped with a lock similar in effect
to that supplied with drawer 65.
[0028] While the invention has been described in conjunction with a
preferred embodiment in the form of a generally rectangular cooler,
it is understood that this is but one example of the invention and
should not be construed or viewed as limiting the scope of the
invention, which is defined by the following claims:
* * * * *