U.S. patent application number 13/451149 was filed with the patent office on 2012-11-08 for organizer basket for ice chests.
Invention is credited to DAVID P. SCIUCHETTI.
Application Number | 20120279937 13/451149 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 47089533 |
Filed Date | 2012-11-08 |
United States Patent
Application |
20120279937 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
SCIUCHETTI; DAVID P. |
November 8, 2012 |
ORGANIZER BASKET FOR ICE CHESTS
Abstract
The organizer basket for ice chest provides a receptacle or
basket for use in ice chests or coolers. The basket is provided
with handles to facilitate insertion and removal from the ice
chest. Feet are also provided for the basket to support the bottom
of the basket above the floor of the ice chest. The basket is
constructed of telescoping sections so that the length of the
basket can be linearly adjusted. This arrangement permits the
basket to adapt to different sizes of ice chests.
Inventors: |
SCIUCHETTI; DAVID P.;
(Fairbanks, AK) |
Family ID: |
47089533 |
Appl. No.: |
13/451149 |
Filed: |
April 19, 2012 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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61482507 |
May 4, 2011 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
211/86.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 25/022 20130101;
F25D 3/08 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
211/86.01 |
International
Class: |
F25D 25/00 20060101
F25D025/00 |
Claims
1. An organizer basket for ice chests, comprising: a first
component having two opposing elongated sidewalls, a bottom wall
joining the sidewalls, a single end wall attached to the bottom
wall and opposing sidewalls at one end of the sidewalls, and an
open end opposite the single end wall; a second component having
two opposing elongated sidewalls, a bottom wall joining the
opposing sidewalls, a single end wall attached to the bottom wall
and opposing sidewalls at one end of the sidewalls, and an open end
opposite the single end wall; a respective keyway positioned on
each of the two sidewalls of the first component, each of the
keyways telescopically and slidably receiving a respective one of
the sidewalls of the second component therein to define a
rectangular basket of user-selectable length; a plurality of feet
disposed on the first component adjacent both the first component
end wall and the open end of the first component; and a plurality
of feet disposed on the second component adjacent the second
component end wall.
2. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 1,
wherein said first component and said second component have open
tops.
3. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 1,
further including at least one partition member removably
insertable between the sidewalls of said basket, thereby forming
compartments in said basket.
4. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 1,
wherein said first component and said second component are of
open-work construction and are fabricated from a rust resistant
material.
5. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 1,
further including a first handle attached to the end wall of said
first component and a second handle attached to the end wall of
said second component.
6. An organizer basket for ice chests, comprising: a first
component of open-work construction, fabricated from a rust
resistant material, the first component having an open top, two
opposing elongated sidewalls, a bottom wall joining the sidewalls,
a single end wall attached to the bottom wall and opposing
sidewalls at one end of the sidewalls, and an open end opposite the
single end wall; a second component of open-work construction,
fabricated from a rust resistant material, the second component
having an open top, two opposing elongated sidewalls, a bottom wall
joining the opposing sidewalls, a single end wall attached to the
bottom wall and opposing sidewalls at one end of the sidewalls, and
an open end opposite the single end wall; a keyway positioned on
each of the two sidewalls of the first component, respectively,
each of the keyways telescopically and slidably receiving a top
edge of one of the sidewalls of the second component, respectively,
to define a rectangular basket of user-selectable length; a
plurality of feet disposed on the first component adjacent both the
first component end wall and the open end of the first component;
and a plurality of feet disposed on the second component adjacent
the second component end wall.
7. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 6,
further including at least one partition member of open-work
construction removably insertable between the sidewalls of said
basket, thereby forming compartments in said basket.
8. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 7,
further including a first foldable handle attached to the end wall
of said first component and a second foldable handle attached to
the end wall of said second component.
9. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 7,
wherein each of the two sidewalls of said first component has a
respective length and wherein each keyway is coextensive with the
length of the corresponding sidewall.
10. An organizer basket for ice chests, comprising: a first
component fabricated from rust-resistant wire rods, the first
component having an open top, two opposing elongated sidewalls, a
bottom wall joining the sidewalls, a single end wall attached to
the bottom wall and opposing sidewalls at one end of the sidewalls,
and an open end opposite the single end wall, each of the sidewalls
having a top edge; a first foldable handle attached to the single
end wall of the first component; a second component of open-work
construction, fabricated from rust resistant wire rods, the second
component having an open top, two opposing elongated sidewalls, a
bottom wall joining the opposing sidewalls, a single end wall
attached to the bottom wall and opposing sidewalls at one end of
the sidewalls, and an open end opposite the single end wall, each
of the sidewalls having a top edge; a second foldable handle
attached to the single end wall of the second component; a channel
disposed on the top edge of each of the two sidewalls of the first
component, respectively, each of the channels telescopically and
slidably receiving at least a portion of the top edge of one of the
sidewalls of the second component, respectively, to define a
rectangular basket of user-selectable length; a plurality of feet
disposed on the first component adjacent both the first component
end wall and the open end of the first component; and a plurality
of feet disposed on the second component adjacent the second
component end wall.
11. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 10,
further including at least one partition member fabricated from
rust resistant wire rods, the at least one partition member being
removably insertable between the sidewalls of said basket to form
compartments in said basket.
12. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 10,
wherein each of the two sidewalls of said first component has a
length, and wherein each of the channels is coextensive with the
length of the sidewalls of said first component.
13. The organizer basket for an ice chest according to claim 12,
where said first and second components frictionally engage each
other to selectively fix the user-selectable length of said
rectangular basket.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Patent Application Serial No. 61/482,507, filed May 4, 2011.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] 1. Field of the Invention
[0003] The present invention generally relates to accessories for
ice chests or coolers, and particularly to an organizer basket for
ice chests.
[0004] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0005] The ice chest or cooler is a ubiquitous adjunct at picnics,
cookouts, camping trips, fishing outings and many other
recreational (and non-recreational) endeavors. Conventionally, ice
is disposed in the ice chest to keep beverages cold and to prevent
foodstuffs from deteriorating in taste or outright spoiling.
Unfortunately, water from the melting ice can soak through and
essentially ruin foodstuffs, even if the foodstuffs are wrapped.
This scenario also creates an environment for potential
contamination because bacteria can more easily spread in the water
from one item to the next. At best, the situation is one of messy
inconvenience. Organizing the contents of the cooler in a way that
prevents melted ice water from directly contacting foodstuffs is
desirable. Thus, an organizer basket for ice chests solving the
aforementioned problems is desired.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The organizer basket for ice chests is a receptacle or
basket for use in ice chests or coolers. The basket is provided
with handles to facilitate insertion and removal from the ice
chest. Feet are also provided for the basket to support the bottom
of the basket above the floor of the ice chest. The space created
between the bottom of the basket and the floor of the chest is
utilized as a primary ice storage area outside the basket. This
helps to reduce the weight of the basket and enhances removal
thereof. The basket is constructed of telescoping sections so that
it can be linearly adjusted. This arrangement permits the basket to
adapt to different sizes of ice chests.
[0007] Accordingly, the invention provides an organizer basket of
open-work construction that can be adjusted to fit most
conventional ice chests. The basket is fabricated from durable,
rust-resistant material. The open-work structure of the basket will
allow melt water to pass through the basket to the floor of the ice
chest. Feet are disposed on the bottom of the basket to support the
bottom above the floor of the ice chest to create a primary storage
area for the ice (cubed, crushed, dry, etc.) and separate the
contents of the basket from the ice. A secondary ice storage area
can be in the basket itself, if desired.sub.-- The invention
provides for improved elements thereof in an arrangement for the
purposes described that are inexpensive, dependable and fully
effective in accomplishing their intended purposes.
[0008] These and other features of the present invention will
become readily apparent upon further review of the following
specification and drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] FIG. 1 is an environmental, perspective view of an organizer
basket for ice chests according to the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an organizer basket for ice
chests according to the present invention.
[0011] FIG. 3 is an exploded, perspective view of an organizer
basket for ice chests according to the present invention.
[0012] Similar reference characters denote corresponding features
consistently throughout the attached drawings.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0013] Referring to FIGS. 1-3, the organizer basket for ice chests
is generally indicated at 10. The basket 10 is adapted to be
removably housed in a conventional ice chest C. As best seen in
FIGS. 2 and 3, the basket is of open-work structure and is
constructed from two end sections or components 12 and 18. The two
components are assembled in telescopic fashion to form a
rectangular receptacle having an open top. As illustrated, the
components 12 and 18 are preferably constructed of rust-resistant
wire rods. It should be recognized, however, that other
conventional materials (perforated expanded metal, plastic, etc.)
may be employed, if suitable.
[0014] The first component 12 is a generally rectangular unit
having opposing sidewalls 12a, a bottom wall 12b, a single end wall
14a, and an open-end 14b opposite the end wall 14a. A respective
support foot 16 is positioned on the outer surface at each corner
of the bottom wall 12b adjacent to the end wall 14a. A foldable
handle 17 is disposed on the end wall 14a adjacent the top edge
thereof.
[0015] The second component 18 is also configured as a generally
rectangular unit having opposing sidewalls 18a, a bottom wall 18b,
a single end wall 20a, and an open-end 20b opposite the end wall
20a. A respective support foot 22 is positioned on the outer
surface of the bottom wall 18b adjacent each corner thereof, both
adjacent the end wall 20a and adjacent the open end 20b. A
respective track, channel, or keyway 24 is disposed on the top edge
of each sidewall 18a. Each keyway 24 is coextensive with the length
of each respective sidewall 18a. The keyways 24 are adapted to
telescopically and slidably receive the top edges or top rails of
sidewalls 12a therein when the components 12, 18 are assembled. The
components 12 and 18 may be joined together by friction fit to
define a rectangular basket 10 of user-selectable length, or,
optionally, releasable latches or a track and slider with detent
stops may be provided to lock the components 12 and 18 together at
the desired length. A foldable handle 26 is disposed on the end
wall 20a adjacent the top edge thereof. Removable partitions 30 may
be provided to compartmentalize the basket 10, if desired.
[0016] It is to be understood that the present invention is not
limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and
all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.
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