U.S. patent application number 14/530543 was filed with the patent office on 2015-04-30 for drag minimizing cooler.
The applicant listed for this patent is Ryan Grepper. Invention is credited to Ryan Grepper.
Application Number | 20150114977 14/530543 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52004046 |
Filed Date | 2015-04-30 |
United States Patent
Application |
20150114977 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Grepper; Ryan |
April 30, 2015 |
DRAG MINIMIZING COOLER
Abstract
A portable cooler includes a generally horizontal bottom surface
and a generally vertical rear surface, a handle coupled to the
cooler body, and a sliding surface that is neither horizontal nor
vertical coupled between the bottom surface and to the rear
surface. In some embodiments the sliding surface may be an angled
planer surface, or may be curved. A foot platform provides leverage
for tilting the portable cooler rearward when a foot of a user is
placed on the foot platform and rearward pressure is applied to the
handle. The portable cooler may include wheels that each have a
width of approximately 10% of a width of the cooler body. At least
one of the wheels may include a groove and a material within the
groove that is softer that the durable material of the at least one
wheel.
Inventors: |
Grepper; Ryan; (Portland,
OR) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Grepper; Ryan |
Portland |
OR |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
52004046 |
Appl. No.: |
14/530543 |
Filed: |
October 31, 2014 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
61898344 |
Oct 31, 2013 |
|
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|
Current U.S.
Class: |
220/592.01 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47J 43/0722 20130101;
F25D 23/00 20130101; A47J 43/085 20130101; F25D 3/08 20130101; B01F
15/00538 20130101; F25D 2400/38 20130101; B01F 7/162 20130101; A45C
11/20 20130101; B01F 15/00519 20130101; B01F 13/0018 20130101; B01F
7/0025 20130101; F25D 2303/081 20130101; H02J 7/0063 20130101; A45C
5/14 20130101; B65D 81/3816 20130101; H02J 2007/0067 20130101; B65D
51/24 20130101; F25D 23/12 20130101; A47J 43/046 20130101; B65D
81/3813 20130101; H02J 7/0047 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
220/592.01 |
International
Class: |
F25D 23/00 20060101
F25D023/00; F25D 3/08 20060101 F25D003/08 |
Claims
1. A portable cooler, comprising: a cooler body including a
generally horizontal bottom surface and a generally vertical rear
surface; a handle coupled to the cooler body; and a sliding surface
coupled between the bottom surface and to the rear surface, the
sliding surface having a surface that is neither generally
horizontal nor generally vertical with respect to the cooler
body.
2. The portable cooler of claim 1, in which the sliding surface is
an angled surface.
3. The portable cooler of claim 1, in which the sliding surface is
a curved surface.
4. The portable cooler of claim 3, in which the sliding surface is
coupled to the generally horizontal bottom surface approximately
one-third the distance of a depth of the portable cooler.
5. The portable cooler of claim 3, in which the sliding surface is
coupled to the generally vertical side surface approximately
one-third the height of a depth of the portable cooler.
6. The portable cooler of claim 1, further including at least one
rolling wheel attached to the cooler body.
7. The portable cooler of claim 6 in which the sliding surface is
coupled to the generally horizontal bottom surface at a distance
from the rear side surface of the portable cooler that is
approximately the same distance as a diameter of the at least one
rolling wheel.
8. A portable cooler, comprising: a cooler body including a
generally horizontal bottom surface and a generally vertical rear
surface; one or more wheels mounted to the cooler body a first
distance forward from the vertical rear surface and mounted to the
cooler body the first distance upward from the bottom surface; a
handle coupled to the vertical rear surface of the cooler body; and
a foot platform structured to provide leverage for tilting the
portable cooler rearward when a foot of a user is placed on the
foot platform and rearward pressure is applied to the handle.
9. The portable cooler of claim 8 in which the foot platform has a
generally horizontal surface for supporting the foot of the
user.
10. The portable cooler of claim 9 in which the foot platform is
approximately 5 inches wide by 4 inches deep.
11. The portable cooler of claim 8 in which the foot platform
further comprises a ridged surface.
12. The portable cooler of claim 8 in which the one or more wheels
have a diameter of approximately 6 inches, and in which the foot
platform is mounted to the handle approximately 5 inches upward
from the horizontal bottom surface.
13. The portable cooler of claim 8 in which the foot platform is
coupled to the handle.
14. A portable cooler, comprising: a cooler body formed of an
insulating shell defining an interior storage section; a handle
affixed to a rear surface of the cooler body; and two or more
wheels mounted to the cooler body in which each of the wheels has a
width of approximately 10% of a width of the cooler body.
15. The portable cooler of claim 14 in which the width of each of
the wheels is approximately 2.5 inches or greater.
16. The portable cooler of claim 14 in which the width of each of
the wheels is greater than approximately 3 inches.
17. A portable cooler, comprising: a cooler body formed of an
insulating shell defining an interior storage section; a handle
affixed to a rear surface of the cooler body; and two or more
wheels mounted to the cooler body, in which each of the wheels is
formed of a durable material and in which at least one of the
wheels includes: a groove, and a material disposed within the
groove that is softer that the durable material of the at least one
wheel.
18. The portable cooler of claim 17 in which the material disposed
within the groove is formed at least partially of rubber.
19. The portable cooler of claim 17 in which the material disposed
within the groove is formed at least partially of rubberized
plastic.
20. The portable cooler of claim 17 in which the at least one of
the wheels comprises a plurality lands that alternate a midline of
a tread of the at least one of the wheels.
21. The portable cooler of claim 20 in which the groove is formed
by an absence of material in a centermost portion of the plurality
of the lands.
22. The portable cooler of claim 17 in which the groove is in the
midline of a tread of the at least one of the wheels.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims benefit from and is a
non-provisional of U.S. Provisional Application 61/898,344, filed
Oct. 31, 2013, entitled ICE CHEST WITH INTEGRATED BLENDER, the
contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
[0002] This application is related to U.S. patent application Ser.
No. ______, titled "COOLER HAVING INTEGRATED BLENDER AND
ACCESSORIES" (Atty. Docket No. 2918-0005) and filed on Oct. 31,
2014, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, titled "LID
STRUCTURE FOR COOLER" (Atty. Docket No. 2918-0023) and filed on
Oct. 31, 2014, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______,
titled "COOLER HAVING INTEGRATED ACCESSORY STORAGE" (Atty. Docket
No. 2918-0024) and filed on Oct. 31, 2014, and to U.S. patent
application Ser. No. ______, titled "IMPROVED COOLER DRAIN" (Atty.
Docket No. 2918-0025) and filed on Oct. 31, 2014, and to U.S.
patent application Ser. No. ______, titled "COOLER WITH INTEGRATED
PLATE STORAGE" (Atty. Docket No. 2918-0026) and filed on Oct. 31,
2014, and to U.S. patent application Ser. No. ______, titled
"COOLER HAVING BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM" (Atty. Docket No.
2918-0027) and filed on Oct. 31, 2014, all of which are commonly
assigned with this application and are hereby fully incorporated by
reference herein.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0003] This disclosure is directed to a cooler with an integrated
blender and more specifically relates to a cooler or ice chest with
an integrated blender and other accessories to create a unified
product.
BACKGROUND
[0004] Present coolers or ice chests come in a variety of shapes
and sizes. Coolers, generally, are formed with an insulated shell
around a hollow cavity or storage section to store items desired to
be kept cool. Items to be kept cool are placed along with a cold
source, typically ice or cold packs, within the storage section.
Coolers are generally portable and include handles for lifting.
Some coolers include integrated wheels to facilitate transport.
[0005] A problem exists in that, once loaded, present coolers are
very hard to move. Coolers without wheels must be carried, and
items stored within the storage section add to the weight of the
cooler itself to become a large, heavy, bulky apparatus. For many
outings, a cooler is only one part of the gear carried to the
destination. For some destinations the cooler may simply be placed
in a car or truck and driven to the destination. Some destinations,
however, like a beach, park, remote campsite or boat, do not
typically provide an easy way to transport a cooler in a vehicle to
the final destination, so the cooler must be carried or dragged.
Coolers with wheels often suffer from poor design, construction, or
material choice and are a constant source of frustration. Wheels
that may properly operate on the flat, level floor of a store tend
to sink in soft ground, such as sand or a forest trail. Loading a
cooler with heavy items exacerbates the problem.
[0006] Further, a cooler may only be one of a number of items
desired at the destination. Many people enjoy comforts brought from
home when at a destination, such as chairs, blankets, and sporting
devices such as Frisbees and paddle-balls. Transporting such items
may be difficult, especially when traveling with small children who
cannot carry heavy, bulky, or a multitude of items.
[0007] Another limitation of present coolers is that they only
store pre-made drinks, and therefore limit the types of drinks that
may be enjoyed at the destination.
[0008] Embodiments of the invention address these and other issues
in the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0009] Aspects of the invention are directed to a portable cooler
including a generally horizontal bottom surface and a generally
vertical rear surface, a handle coupled to the cooler body, and a
sliding surface that is neither horizontal nor vertical coupled
between the bottom surface and to the rear surface. In some
embodiments the sliding surface may be an angled planer surface, or
may be curved. The curved portion may start about one-third to
one-half the distance from the rear of the cooler, toward the front
of the cooler and toward the top of the cooler.
[0010] Other aspects include a portable cooler having a cooler body
including a generally horizontal bottom surface and a generally
vertical rear surface, one or more wheels mounted to the cooler
body a first distance forward from the vertical rear surface and
mounted to the cooler body the first distance upward from the
bottom surface, a handle coupled to the vertical rear surface of
the cooler body, and a foot platform structured to provide leverage
for tilting the portable cooler rearward when a foot of a user is
placed on the foot platform and rearward pressure is applied to the
handle.
[0011] Yet other aspects include a portable cooler having a cooler
body formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage
section, a handle affixed to a rear surface of the cooler body, and
two or more wheels mounted to the cooler body in which each of the
wheels has a width of approximately 10% of a width of the cooler
body.
[0012] Yet other aspects include a portable cooler a cooler body
formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage section,
a handle affixed to a rear surface of the cooler body and two or
more wheels mounted to the cooler body. At least one of the wheels
includes a groove and a material within the groove that is softer
that the durable material of the at least one wheel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIGS. 1A and 1B are front and perspective views,
respectively, of a cooler including an integrated blender and other
accessories according to embodiments of the invention.
[0014] FIGS. 2A and 2B are front and perspective views,
respectively, of the cooler of FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating the
integrated blender mounted thereon.
[0015] FIGS. 3A, and 3B are front views illustrating operation of
lids of the cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0016] FIG. 3C is a perspective view illustrating operation of lids
of the cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0017] FIGS. 4A and 4B are front and perspective views illustrating
additional detail of the lids of the cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A
and 1B.
[0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a top lid for use with the
cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0019] FIGS. 6A and 6B are perspective views of a top surface and
bottom surface, respectively, of the second lid of the cooler
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0020] FIG. 6C is an end view of the second lid of the cooler
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B including additional features
according to embodiments of the invention.
[0021] FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C are cross-sectional views of the second
lid of the cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrating
various internal components and controls.
[0022] FIGS. 8A and 8B are a top view and perspective view
illustrating an interior space of the cooler illustrated in FIGS.
1A and 1B according to embodiments of the invention.
[0023] FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the interior space
illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B further including illustration of an
integrated cutting board according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0024] FIG. 8D is a perspective view of the interior space
illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B showing additional detail according
to embodiments of the invention.
[0025] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are perspective views of an accessory
storage unit built in or attached to the cooler illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0026] FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are perspective views illustrating a
handle 600 integrated into the cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A and
1B according to embodiments of the invention.
[0027] FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective diagrams illustrating an
external shape of a rear portion of the cooler illustrated in FIGS.
1A and 1B according to embodiments of the invention, and FIG. 11C
is a side view diagram illustrating the same.
[0028] FIGS. 12A and 12B are rear views of the cooler 100
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B according to embodiments of the
invention.
[0029] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate additional features of the
wheels that may be attached to the cooler of FIGS. 1A and 1B.
[0030] FIG. 14 is a side view of an example blender for use with
the cooler 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B according to
embodiments of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0031] Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar
reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several
views, FIG. 1A is a front view of a cooler 100 according to
embodiments of the invention. FIG. 1B is a perspective view of the
cooler 100. In general, in this embodiment, the cooler 100 includes
a cooler body 110, one or more wheels 120, a first and second lid
130, 140, an accessory housing unit 150, and a handle 160. Each of
these items is described in detail below.
[0032] The cooler 100 is an insulated storage area in which food or
beverage items may be stored and transported while remaining cold.
A cooler body 110 is preferably generally rectangular in shape,
although the cooler body may also be square, polyangular, circular,
or ovaloid depending on the implementation. The cooler body 110 is
preferably made of a durable plastic, such as High-Density
Polyethylene, PolyPropylene, Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS)
plastic or other plastic material, and includes an outer shell and
inner shell. The inner shell is formed from food-grad plastic.
Insulation material such as polyurethane or polystyrene foam fills
a void formed between the inner and outer shells, as described in
more detail below. In some embodiments the outer shell may be
formed of a pliable material, such as nylon fabric. In yet other
exemplary embodiments, the exterior shell can include a combination
of hard material, such as plastic, and a pliable material, such as
nylon fabric. Although described herein as being preferably made of
plastic, some embodiments may use metal or other materials for the
cooler body 110.
[0033] In some embodiments the outer shell of the cooler body 110
may be blow molded, but may also be injection molded, thermoformed,
roto-molded, or formed using other commercially known methods. In
some embodiments the cooler 100 is generally rectangular, with a
width that is between 10 and 40 inches wide, a depth between 10 and
20 inches, and a height between 5 and 30. Other embodiments may
include different dimensions. In one embodiment the outer shell of
the cooler body 110 is 0.008 inches thick. The outer shell of the
cooler body 110 may be colored, and may include UV inhibitors
integrated within the plastic or applied to the surface to maintain
the color.
[0034] FIGS. 2A and 2B illustrate the cooler 100 of FIGS. 1A and 1B
having a blender 170 mounted thereon. As described in more detail
below, in some embodiments the blender 170 is matingly received by
a blender recess 142 (FIG. 1B) formed within the second lid 140.
Although preferably a base of the jar of the blender 170 and the
blender recess 142 are formed to engage or mate with one another to
hold the blender 170 in a fixed relationship, other methods of
securing the blender to the cooler 100 are possible. In some
embodiments the recess 142 is a negative impression of the geometry
of the bottom of the jar of the blender 170 so that when the
blender jar is inserted into the blender recess, the shapes
interfere with one another to prevent rotation of the blender jar.
Integration of the blender 170 with the cooler 100 is described
below.
[0035] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C illustrate operation of the first and
second lids 130, 140 of the cooler 100. Either or both of the lids
130, 140 may attach to the cooler 100 through a hinge. For example,
the first lid 130 may be attached to the cooler 100 by a hinge 134,
and the second lid 140 may be attached to the cooler 100 by a hinge
144. Either or both of the hinges 134 may be formed of metal or
plastic, for example. Preferably the hinges 134, 144 are durable
and piano-style hinges formed of stainless steel. The hinges 134,
144 are preferably screwed to the cooler body 110, but may be
mounted using other means, such as glues or other adhesives, either
solely or in combination with other mounting methods, such as
screws, rivets, etc. The hinges may be partially or fully covered
in plastic or other material to prevent interference with sharp
edges of the hinge. In one embodiment plastic bumpers are mounted
to the lid or cooler body to cover the ends or edges of the hinges.
The hinges 134, 144 allow rotational or pivoting movement of their
respective lids 130, 140 to allow access to the interior portion of
the cooler body. In other embodiments, the lid or lids are not
permanently affixed to the cooler body 110, but instead, can be
slidably removed and applied onto or into the cooler body. In this
embodiment, the lid typically has an interference or snap-in fit
with the cooler body.
[0036] In other embodiments the lid or lids 130, 140 may not be
physically attached to the cooler body 110 at all, and may instead
include recesses either in the lid or the cooler body to
structurally receive the lid and maintain it in a relatively fixed
relationship to the cooler body, but can be separated when desired.
In yet other embodiments the lids are removably attached to the
cooler body, and include a catch or latch attached to either the
lid or to the cooler body. Operation of the catch or latch allows
the lid to separate from the cooler body or be selectively secured
to the body.
[0037] The lids 130, 140 can be made of a hard material, a soft
material, such as nylon fabric, or a combination thereof and can
have a number of shapes. For example the lids may be formed of
injection molded plastic, such as ABS plastic. The lid or lids 130,
140 may include a rubber or foam gasket for further insulating the
contents of the cooler 100, or may be formed from a combination of
materials. In the preferred embodiment, the first lid 130 functions
to open and close access to the contents of the cooler body 110, to
provide an insulated barrier to maintain a desired temperature
within the cooler body, and to retain or enclose one or more plates
136 and one or more knives 134, as described in more detail below.
Further, in the preferred embodiment, the second lid 140 functions
to open and close access to the contents of the cooler body 110, to
provide an insulated barrier to maintain a desired temperature
within the cooler body, and to retain or enclose the blender
elements, such as a motor, a transmission such as a gearbox or
pulleys, a drive spindle, a battery and an operation switch. Other
components may be stored or disposed within the second lid 140 as
well.
[0038] FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C each show the lids 130, 140 as fully
opened. When fully opened, the lids 130, 140 extend from the cooler
body 110 and form a horizontal surface. As illustrated in FIG. 3B,
the blender 170 may be stored within another blender recess 143 on
the inside surface of the second lid 140 that is structured to
accept the base of the jar of the blender 170. In other words, the
blender recesses 142 and 143 may have the same shape on opposing
sides of the second lid 140, so that the blender may be stored in a
working position when the second lid 140 is closed, and stored in a
storage position when the lid is opened. In other embodiments the
blender 170 may be temporarily stored on the inside of the second
lid 140 in a blender recess 143 that has a different shape than the
blender recess 142. For example, the blender recess 143 may merely
be circular in shape, and not formed to prevent the jar of the
blender 170 to rotate as would the blender recess 142. In other
embodiments, the blender recess 143 may not be a recess at all, and
may instead be a protuberance or projection sized and shaped to
engage the bottom of the jar of the blender to hold the blender in
place when the second lid 140 is open.
[0039] FIGS. 4A and 4B are front and front perspective views,
respectively, showing additional detail of how the first lid 130
may be mounted to the cooler 100 of FIG. 1A, as well as its
operation, according to embodiments of the invention.
[0040] A lid 230 may be an example of the first lid 130 illustrated
in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. In this embodiment the lid 230 is secured
to a body 210 of the cooler by a piano hinge 234 held in place by
an attachment mechanism, such as one or more screws 235. An
integrated handle 220 is also attached to the body 210 of the
cooler by an attachment mechanism, such as one or more screws 230.
This particular structure of the integrated handle 220 allows the
body 210 to be blow molded, or otherwise produced by a mold while
including an undercut, integrated handle 220 for the cooler. FIG.
4B shows the lid 230 in its fully opened position. Recall from
above that the lid 230, when fully opened, forms a horizontal
surface 260 with respect to the body of the cooler. In some
embodiments, a mating side surface 212 of the body 210 of the
cooler is angled to match a mating side surface 232 of the lid 230.
For example, the mating side surface 232 of the lid 230 may have an
angle 284 approximately 110.degree. to a top surface 280 of the
cooler, while the mating side surface 212 of the body 210 has an
angle of approximately 70.degree. to the top surface 280. The
actual angles chosen for implementation may vary depending on
implementation details, however preferred embodiments include
angles of the lid and cooler body that are supplementary angles,
i.e., the angles of the adjoining sides add to 180.degree., so that
the surface 260 of the lid 230 creates a generally horizontal
surface when the lid 230 is fully opened. The same may be true of
the second lid 140.
[0041] The structure of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 4A and
4B also allow the hinge 234 to be mounted within the outside
surface 210 of the cooler. In other words, if the lid 230 and
outside surface 210 of the cooler had straight (i.e., 90.degree.)
sides, then, to fully open the lid 230 would require the hinge 234
to be mounted at the absolute outside edge of the cooler, which
could expose the hinge 234 to being damaged through use. Because
the hinge 234 is recessed from the outside edge of the cooler in
embodiments of the invention, such damage is prevented in those
embodiments. For those embodiments that have 90.degree. sides, the
exposed hinge may include extra protection, such as a plastic
covering or a hardened surface covering the exposed hinge.
[0042] A support structure including one or more lateral supports
240 and one or more vertical supports 241 is included within the
body of the cooler, as illustrated in FIGS. 4A and 4B. The support
structure may be formed of high density plastic or other material
structured to provide mechanical support. Such supports prevent the
weight of the lid 230, or the weight of items stacked on the lid
230 or forces otherwise applied to the lid 230 from denting or
crushing the sides of the cooler. In other words, the lateral and
vertical supports 240, 241 prevent deformation of the outside
surface 210 of the cooler. This is especially important when the
lid 230 is relatively long, which provides mechanical advantage to
the crushing force. During production of the cooler, the lateral
and vertical supports 240, 241 may additionally be surrounded by or
integrated with foam insulation, which gives additional mechanical
structure to the lateral and vertical supports 240, 241, to
withstand the force of the lid as it is meets the side of the
cooler while being open. The lateral and vertical supports 240,
241, with or without the addition of further foam insulation, also
provide a surface to which the securing screws 230, 235 may be
mounted.
[0043] A top surface of the first lid 130 may include recesses for
holding drinks, as illustrated in FIG. 1B. Additionally, as
illustrated in FIG. 5, an inside surface 261 of the first lid 130,
230, may accommodate one or more accessories, such as one or more
plates 286 and one or more knives 296. The surface 261 may be
shaped to accommodate the plates 286, such as in an indentation
290. The indentation 290 is uniquely shaped having a partially
circular end and an opposite open end. The indentation 290 may be
for example, between approximately 0.25 and 1.25 inches deep, and
preferably approximately 0.75 inches deep, and may include an
inclined surface that is angled or beveled with respect to the top
surface 261. The depth of the indentation 290 created by the
inclined surface is sized and shaped to accommodate the plates 286.
Although four plates 286 are illustrated in FIG. 5, the depth of
the indentation 290 may be more deep or more shallow to accommodate
any number of plates 286. A groove 291 may be placed within the
indentation 290 and sized to mechanically hold edges of the plates
286 in place. In other embodiments the groove may further
incorporate a friction edge to increase the friction against the
plates 286 to hold them in place. For example the friction edge may
be made of rubber or silicone. In other embodiments the friction
edge or a portion of the groove 291 is removable to provide access
to the plates 286, and a user would remove the friction edge or top
portion of the groove to remove the plates vertically, one at a
time or in a group, and then re-install the friction edge or top
portion of the groove after the plates have been returned to the
indentation 290.
[0044] Further, the plates 286 may be shaped to nest in a group,
such as by including a series of projections on an individual plate
that mechanically sit within one or more mating recesses of another
plate. In such a way the plates 286 may be removed or inserted as a
group, but also could be removed or inserted individually.
Additionally, the indentation 290 may include a retaining member
292 to help retain the plates 286 within the indentation. For
example the retaining member 292 could be a molded projection
within the indentation 290. To remove one or any number of the
plates 286, the user would grab the desired number from the stack
of plates 286 and pull them past the retaining member 292, which
would deform slightly to allow the plates to become free. In other
embodiments the retaining member 292 is a movable assembly having
an attached edge and a free edge. The free edge could be urged
toward the center of the indentation 290 by a spring (not
illustrated). Then, moving the stack of plates 286 could be
extracted by pulling the plates toward the open end of the
indentation 290 and overcoming the spring force of the retaining
member 292 to remove the plates. The same action is made when
returning the plates 286 to the indentation 290.
[0045] The first lid 130, 230 may additionally include a recessed
knife store 298. The store may include a safety latch 295 that must
be slid or otherwise operated to gain access to the knife 296. A
pivoting sheath 297 could store the sharp edge of the knife 296 to
cover the exposed blade and prevent accidental injuries. Further,
the sheath 297 could include a retaining mechanism, such as a
two-sided pinch-lock (not illustrated) to retain the knife 296 in
place. In such an embodiment the knife 296 is extracted by first
sliding the safety latch 295 to gain access to the handle of the
knife 296. Then, the user removes the knife 296 by pressing the
pinch lock while simultaneously pulling the knife away from the
sheath 297. In other embodiments the retaining mechanism of the
sheath 297 could merely be a projection or indentation that
matingly snaps the knife 296 into place, to be stored, but allows
the knife to be withdrawn and re-inserted with a sufficient amount
of force.
[0046] Referring back to, for example, FIG. 3C, recall that the
first lid 130 included storage for plates and knives, while the
second lid 140 houses the blender and other accessories, as is now
described in detail.
[0047] FIG. 6A is a perspective view of a top surface of the second
lid, while FIG. 6B is a perspective view of a bottom surface of the
second lid. FIG. 6C is an end view of the second lid illustrating
an integrated charging port and a battery status indicator. A lid
300 illustrated in FIGS. 6A, 6B and 6C may be an example embodiment
of the second lid 140 illustrated in FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C. The lid
300 of the embodiment illustrated in these figures includes a top
surface 310, into which a blender receiver or recess 320 is formed.
As described above, the blender recess 320 is sized to matingly
receive the jar of the integrated blender and hold it in place
during operation. The blender is operated by a rotating spindle
322. One or more switches 330 control operation of the blender. In
some embodiments, as shown below, the blender is battery powered by
a battery stored within the lid 300. The battery may be accessed
through an access door 350, illustrated in FIG. 6B, which
illustrates the underside of the lid 300. The access door 350 is
preferably gasket sealed or otherwise water-tight.
[0048] A light, such as an LED light 360 is integrated into the lid
300 and controlled by a switch 370. In some embodiments the switch
370 controls a timed circuit, so that when the switch 370 is
pressed, the light 360 will remain illuminated for a set period of
time before turning off, such as 5 to 60 seconds, and preferably 30
seconds. In other embodiments the switch 370 may be a momentary
switch, so that the light 360 remains illuminated so long as the
switch 370 remains actuated, such as by pressing the momentary
switch. As illustrated in FIG. 3C, the lid 300 is attached to the
cooler body by a hinge so that the lid pivots or rotates about the
hinge. Since the light 360 is integrated to the lid 300, rotating
the lid 300 also controls the direction of where the light 360 is
pointing. In some embodiments, it may be necessary to rotate the
lid while controlling the operation of the light 360 so that the
light illuminates the interior of the cooler. In some embodiments
only a single LED bulb is necessary to be included in the light 360
for adequate illumination, especially when the inner shell of the
cooler is lightly colored, such as white, grey, or beige, for
example. In other embodiments the light 360 may include any number
of separate light sources. It is preferable that the light 360 and
switch 370 are water resistant or waterproof.
[0049] FIG. 6B also illustrates an inner blender recess 343 formed
within the underside 340 of the lid 300. As described above, the
inner blender recess 343 is sized and shaped to retain the jar of
the blender. Note the lack of a spindle in the blender recess 343
compared to the presence of the spindle 322 in the blender recess
320 illustrated in FIG. 6A. Therefore, in the illustrated
embodiment, the blender is operational only when the second lid 300
is place in a closed position, i.e., it is covering at least a
portion of the storage section of the cooler. In other embodiments,
however, the spindle 322 may be present within the blender recess
343 of the underside 340 of the second lid 300, and may not be
present in the blender recess 320 of the top surface 310 of the lid
300. In such an embodiment the blender is operational only when the
second lid 300 is placed in an opened position. In yet other
embodiments a spindle may be present in both of the blender
recesses 320 and 343 on both the upper and inside surfaces of the
second lid 300. This embodiment allows the user to operate the
blender regardless of the position of the second lid 300.
[0050] FIG. 6C is an end view of the second lid 300. An indicator
380 displays the charged state of the internal battery. The
charging state may be indicated by a number of indicator lights
illuminated, for example more lights illuminated indicate a greater
charge. In other embodiments one or more indicator lights may
change colors, for example, from green to red when the battery is
discharging or discharged. Many variants are possible. A charging
port 390 provides battery power for charging rechargeable devices
from the internal battery. In some embodiments the charging port
390 may be a Universal Serial Bus (USB) charging port, or other
popular charging port for electrical devices. In some embodiments
the charging port 390 may be a universal port that provides
charging access from the internal battery to any of a number of
types of charge ports. For example, the charging port 390 may
facilitate use of a number of particularized port attachments that
may individually electrically and/or electrically and mechanically
connect to the charging port 390. For instance, one particularized
port attachment may be a USB port attachment that attaches to and
makes electrical contact with the charging port 390. Another
particularized port attachment may be an LIGHTNING port. To charge
a USB device, the user inserts the USB port attachment into the
charging port 390, then connects the device to be charged to the
USB port attachment. To instead charge a LIGHTNING device, the user
removes the USB port attachment from the charging port 390 and
instead inserts the LIGHTNING port attachment into the charging
port 390. Then the user connects the LIGHTNING device to the
LIGHTNING port attachment. Different port attachments, in addition
to being physically different, may also be electrically different.
For example, various port attachments may include voltage matching
, such as a voltage limiter, to reduce the voltage of the internal
battery to the recommended charging voltage. Although the device to
be charged may be plugged directly into the charging port 390 or to
an accessory port coupled to the charging port, electrically access
may also be communicated through a cord that has the appropriate
ports on both ends. In such an example, the cooler 100 may include
a single charging port 390, and further include a number of
different electrical cords that are compatible with the charging
port 390 that connect to particular charging ports on various
devices. Such devices may include a music player, speaker, phone,
camera, GPS, gaming device, rechargeable flashlight, etc. Once the
device to be charge is electrically connected to the internal
battery, then charge from the internal battery is transferred from
the internal battery to the device to be charged.
[0051] In some embodiments the charging port 390 is not limited to
being a charging port, but could also include a power socket to
provide direct access to the battery within the cooler. In such an
embodiment the power socket could be used to provide access to the
battery within the cooler to run, for example, a plug-in electric
air pump for inflating beach balls or water flotation devices. The
charging port 390 could be fitted with or coupled to a
cigarette-lighter style plug for wide compatibility.
[0052] Both the indicator 380 and charging port 390 are water
resistant or even waterproof. In some embodiments the charging port
390 includes a waterproof cap, which may be secured to the charging
port. The waterproof cap keeps the charging port 390 waterproof so
long as the cap is in place.
[0053] FIG. 7A, 7B, and 7C are cross-sectional views of the second
lid 300 illustrating various internal components and controls.
[0054] The internal components of the second lid 300 of this
embodiment includes a battery 352, a motor 334, a motor control
switch 330, and various options to transfer power from the motor to
the spindle 322, such as through a transmission. The spindle 322 is
mounted to the underside of the blender recess 320 with a bushing,
such as a pre-impregnated bronze bushing. In other embodiments the
spindle 322 may include one or more bearing surfaces to reduce the
rotational drag, such as roller bearings. In general, in operation,
the user places a jar of a blender (not illustrated in FIGS. 7A,
7B, or 7C) within the blender recess 320 where the blender then
engages the spindle 322. The user operates the control switch 330,
which may be a two-part switch. A two-part switch reduces the
chances that the blender is unintentionally operated. In a two-part
switch, both parts of the switch are operated simultaneously. In
the illustrated two-part switch, a first portion is rotatably
raised with a first hand while the second portion is simultaneously
pressed with the second hand. This action completes the electrical
circuit between the battery 352 and the motor 334 and causes the
motor to spin. In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7A, the
spindle 322 is directly attached to a rotating portion of the motor
334. In other words, when the rotator of the motor 334 spins, the
spindle 322 is necessarily spinning because the spindle is part of
the motor. Such spinning engages blades within the blender to cause
the blender to operate, such as crushing ice or blending multiple
components of drinks together.
[0055] Some embodiments include a lock-out, such as a reed switch
or hall-effect sensor within the blender recess 320 to prevent the
motor 344 from energizing unless the base of the blender is
properly positioned within the blender recess. In these embodiments
the lock-out prevents operation of the motor 334, regardless of the
operation of the switch 330 if the blender jar is not seated within
the blender recess. In operation, a reed switch or hall-effect
sensor changes states based on the presence of a magnet mounted to
or within the jar of the blender. In the case of the reed switch, a
metal reed is attracted to the magnet and physically makes
electrical contact with another part of the switch to close the
lock-out circuit, which allows electrical current to flow. In the
case of the hall-effect sensor, the sensor is structured to detect
the presence of the magnetic field caused by the magnet, and change
states, such as an output voltage, based on the presence or absence
of the magnetic field. Detection of the changed state allows the
lock-out switch to determine whether the blender is properly
positioned in the blender recess 320.
[0056] Other embodiments the lock-out may prevent operation of the
motor 344 unless the blender jar is rotated after being positioned
within the blender recess 320. In yet other embodiments the
lock-out may prevent operation of the motor 344 unless the blender
jar is physically being pressed into the blender recess 320 while
the switch 330 is simultaneously depressed. In such an embodiment
the switch 330 need not be a two-part switch, because manipulation
of the blender jar has the effect of providing one of the two-parts
of the safety switch 330.
[0057] The motor 334 is preferably a DC motor operating between 12
and 24 volts and is preferably an 18-19.2 volt motor. In one
embodiment the motor 334 is an 18 volt DC motor having a no-load
speed of greater than 5000 RPM, with a no-load current draw of less
than 15 Amps. Of course the motor specifications may be based on
final implementation and may widely vary.
[0058] In some embodiments the motor 334 may be a brushless
direct-drive motor and include a motor controller (not illustrated)
coupled to the motor 334 and operable to control the rotational
speed and power draw of the motor. The motor controller may be a
programmed circuit, located on, for example, a programmed chip on a
printed circuit board, and electrically connected to the motor. In
other embodiments the motor controller may be an Application
Specific Integrated Circuit. The motor controller may be programmed
or implemented to include multiple timing stages. For instance the
motor controller may operate in a first stage to cause the motor
334 to operate at a first speed and power level to initially crush
ice contained within the blender. Next the motor controller may
operate in a second stage to increase the blade speed from the
first stage to a moderate stage for an initial blending stage.
Finally the motor controller may operate in a third stage to
further increase the blade speed for a final blending stage so that
the contents of the blender are blended to a desired level. The
motor controller may be pre-programmed or the stages may be
directly controlled by the user. In such an user-controlled
embodiment, the user would press the switch 330 once for stage one,
twice in succession for stage two, and three times in succession
for stage three, or some other combination. In another embodiment
the user could keep the switch 330 depressed and the motor
controller could automatically step through all three stages. In
some embodiments the motor controller could use Pulse Width
Modulation to limit the current drawn from the battery 352 to the
motor 334 during operation. For example the motor controller could
use pulses having a particular operational pulse width and power
cycle for each stage of motor operation. In other embodiments the
motor controller could drive the motor 334 through more than 3
stages.
[0059] In an exemplary embodiment a first, startup stage operates
for less than 1 second. The startup stage rotates the motor from 0
to an approximate first RPM. In the same exemplary embodiment, an
ice-crushing, second stage spins the motor between approximately
the first RPM and approximately a second RPM that is faster than
the first RPM. The second stage may last for between 1 and 20
seconds, for example. In the same embodiment, a blending, third
stage operates between approximately the second RPM and a third RPM
that is faster than the second RPM. The third stage may last for
between 5 and 20 seconds, for example.
[0060] FIGS. 7B and 7C illustrate other structures and methods to
transfer the rotational energy of the spinning motor 334 to the
rotating spindle 322, such as through various transmissions. For
example FIG. 7B illustrates a pulley and belt system where the
motor 334 includes a first pulley that is mechanically connected to
a second pulley 337 through a belt 338. The belt may be a toothed
belt, a solid belt, or another type of belt. In some embodiments a
chain may connect the pulleys 337, 339. The second pulley 337 is
directly coupled to the spindle 322. In operation, when the motor
334 spins, this causes the first pulley to spin, which in turn
causes the belt 338 to cause the second pulley 337 to spin and turn
the spindle 322. This, in turn, drives the blender. By adjusting
the relative sizes of the pulleys 337, 339, the power ratio and
speed ratio of the motor 334 to spindle 322 may likewise be
adjusted. In other words, a smaller second pulley 337 drives the
spindle 322 at a lower speed but has more power, while a larger
second pulley 337 sacrifices power for additional rotational speed
of the spindle 322.
[0061] The embodiment illustrated in FIG. 7C includes a gearbox 336
that likewise may be used to adjust a power and speed ratio of the
motor 334 to the spindle 322. The power and speed of the gearbox
336 may be adjusted by specifying the relatively number of gears
connected to the input and output shafts. The gearbox 336 of this
embodiment also changes the rotational direction of the internal
spinning shafts. In other words, the gearbox 336 accepts a motor
shaft having a horizontal orientation and has an output shaft in
the vertical orientation. The gearing of either the embodiments
illustrated in FIGS. 7B or 7C may be selected to provide suitable
torque and RPMs to sufficiently blend drinks, crush ice and puree
smoothies to their desired consistencies.
[0062] The motor 334 may be retained within the second lid 330 in a
number of ways. For instance, the motor 334 may be mechanically
attached by screws or adhesives. The motor 334 may instead be
clamped using a clamping unit (not illustrated), so that the motor
unit may be removed for repair or replacement.
[0063] The battery 352 provides power to the motor unit 334. In the
preferred embodiment the battery 352 is rechargeable. In some
embodiments the battery is removed from the second lid 300 by
opening the cover 350 and recharged in a separate recharging
device. Then the battery 352 is replaced in the lid 300 when the
battery is fully charged. In these embodiments the second lid
includes no charging capability. In other embodiments, the second
lid 300 may be connectable to a conventional electrical outlet, car
battery, solar panel, or other charging source to charge the
battery while the battery is within the lid 300. In such an
embodiment the lid 300 may include an internal charging port (not
illustrated), which, similar to the external charging port 390
illustrated above in FIG. 6C, may include a waterproof cover for
protection. Such an embodiment may not be desirable due to the
extra heat generated by charging the battery and the extra
complexity of including a battery charging circuit within the lid
300.
[0064] In some embodiments the battery 352 is a rechargeable
10-cell lithium-Ion battery pack including two-parallel sets of
five lithium-Ion cells in series. Since each Lithium-Ion cell
outputs approximately 3.6 volts, the five cells in series outputs
approximately 18 volts, which matches the operating voltage of the
motor. Including ten cells in the battery pack, i.e., two parallel
sets of five cells, gives a total capacity of approximately
1500-4000 mAh. Of course other combinations of cells in the battery
352, such as more or fewer cells, or having the cells connected in
a different configurations, is possible to match a desired output
voltage and storage capacity for the battery 352. In other
embodiments the battery 352 may be made of different materials
other than lithium-Ion, Ion, such as lead-acid, nickel cadmium,
nickel metal hydride, or lithium ion polymer, for example.
[0065] FIGS. 8A and 8B are a top view and perspective view
illustrating an interior space or storage space 400 of the cooler
100 illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B according to embodiments of the
invention. FIG. 8C is a perspective view of the interior space
illustrated in FIGS. 8A and 8B further including illustration of an
integrated cutting board according to embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 8D is a perspective view of the interior space illustrated in
FIGS. 8A and 8B showing additional detail according to embodiments
of the invention.
[0066] As described above, the storage space 400 is used to keep
items cool in the cooler 100. In some embodiments, retaining
grooves or slots 410 are formed into the interior shell of the
cooler 100. As illustrated in FIG. 8C., these slots 410 are
structured to accept a divider 440 to divide the storage space 400
of the cooler 100 into separate spaces. For example one section of
the storage space 400 could be used to hold clean ice for the
blender, while another section of the storage space could hold
drinks surrounded by additional ice. By including two slots 410 in
the cooler 100, the storage space 400 could be divided yet again to
provide three separate spaces within the storage space. The third
storage space could be used to store dry items, i.e., items that
are intended to be kept cool but that the user may not want to
directly contact ice.
[0067] Although illustrated in these figures as having two separate
slots 410, embodiments could include as many or as few slots 410 as
desired.
[0068] One or more removable dividers 440 could be inserted into
the respective slots. In some embodiments the dividers 440 may
serve additional functions. For example the divider 440 may be used
as a cutting board for slicing fruit.
[0069] The slots 410, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, include a front
and a rear vertical section formed in the sides of the cooler 100,
as well as a generally horizontal section formed in the bottom
surface of the cooler. Having slots on three sides provides
stability to the removable divider 440 to retain it in place.
[0070] The generally horizontal slots 410 are coupled to slot
extensions 412, which further extend to an internal drain cup 420.
The horizontal slots 410, in addition to providing mechanical
stability to retain the removable dividers 440, also provide a
channel to guide melting ice, i.e., water, or other fluids in the
bottom of the interior space 400 to the slot extensions 412, which
further allows the fluids to gather in the internal drain cup 420.
In some embodiments the horizontal slots 410 and slot extensions
412 are approximately 0.25 inches deep, and 0.25 inches wide, and
sloped toward the drain cup to facilitate flow toward the drain cup
420. In some embodiments the drain cup 420 is approximately 2-4
inches in diameter, and approximately 1-3 inches deep. Preferably
the drain cup 420 is approximately 3 inches in diameter and 2
inches deep. The drain cup 420 may be circular or polyangular as
illustrated. Additional detail is illustrated in FIG. 8D.
[0071] A drain hole 430 extends from the drain cup 420 through the
outer surface of the cooler 100. The drain hole 430 is relatively
large, such as 0.75-1.5 inches in diameter to facilitate rapid
discharge of water collected in the drain cup 420. The drain hole
430 may have a removable or retained cap or other mechanism to
allow selective opening. In other words, the user may close the cap
or otherwise close the opening to the drain hole 430 and allow
water to accumulate in the drain cup 420, or may open the cap or
otherwise open access to the drain hole to allow the water or other
fluids to drain from the drain cup. The drain hole 430 may further
include a screen, mesh or some other retaining structure to
simultaneously allow liquid to flow through while retaining any
solids, such as small ice cubes, to be retained within the storage
space 400 of the cooler 100.
[0072] FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C are perspective views of an accessory
storage unit 500 built in or attached to the cooler illustrated in
Figs lA and 1B. In some embodiments the storage unit 500 may be
attached to the front surface of the cooler 100, as illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B, although the storage unit 500 may be attached or
coupled to the sides or back of the cooler 100. In another
embodiment the storage unit 500 may be attached to one or
integrated into one or more of the lids 130, 140.
[0073] With reference to FIGS. 9A, 9B, and 9C, the storage unit 500
includes a bottle opener section 510 as well as a covered portion
520. The covered portion 520 is covered by a movable lid 522,
illustrated in FIG. 9B. The bottle opener section 510 includes a
bottle opener 512 as well as a cap collection area 514. The bottle
opener may be formed of bent or formed metal and sized and shaped
to facilitate opening standard crown-capped bottles. After opening,
the crown cap is retained within the cap collection area 514. The
cap collection area may include a magnet within or impregnated
within plastic to retain the crown caps after removal. A slot 516
allows any liquids collected in the cap collection area 514 to
drain. In other embodiments, the function of the slot 516 may be
performed by an integrated discharge tube that routes collected
liquid from the storage unit 500. In some embodiments the discharge
tube may discharge directly into the storage space 400 of the
cooler 100. In other embodiments the discharge tube may discharge
directly into the drain cup 420 illustrated in FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C,
and 8D. In yet other embodiments the discharge tube may discharge
liquids to the ground.
[0074] The covered portion 520 of the storage unit 500 may be used
to retain any item desired to be retained with the cooler 100, such
as keys, phones, sunglasses, wallets, etc. In a preferred
embodiment the covered portion stores a music player as well as a
music source, such as an MP3 player or a smartphone. In yet another
preferred embodiment the covered portion 520 is sized to exactly
retain an integrated, removable music player that is described in
more detail below. The covered portion 520 of the storage unit 500
may be approximately 5-15 inches wide and 5-15 inches tall.
Preferably the covered portion is approximately 10 inches wide and
approximately 8 inches tall.
[0075] An integrated music player is sized and shaped to be
removably stored within the covered portion 520. Preferably the
music player is a self-contained, self-powered, music player that
includes an audio input, an amplifier, and one or more speakers.
The audio input may be a wired or a wireless input, or the music
player may include both types of audio inputs. In a preferred
embodiment the music player may be an audio player, such as an MP3
player, that may wirelessly connect to the audio source using the
Bluetooth or DLNA audio standards. The audio source may be a phone,
MP3 player or other audio source, for example. The music player is
preferably self-powered and includes a rechargeable battery that is
charged using a separate charging device. In some embodiments the
music player may be powered from the battery 352 illustrated in
FIGS. 7A, 7B, and 7C. The music player may be retained within the
covered portion 520 using clips, latches, and/or straps. In other
embodiments the music player is covered in pliable foam and is
sized to press-fit within the covered portion 520 for easy
insertion and removal. In other embodiments, the music player may
not be stored within the covered portion 520, but may instead be
stored within either the first lid 130 or second lid 140, depending
on implementation.
[0076] The covered portion 520 is accessible by operation of a
cover lid 522. The cover lid 522 may be hinged, as illustrated, or
may be held into place using other methods, such as magnets, snaps,
or latches.
[0077] FIG. 9C. is a rear perspective view of the storage unit 500.
A rear support 550 is illustrated. The rear support 550 is used
during manufacturing of the cooler 100 to provide attachment points
for the storage unit 500. The storage unit 500 may be attached
through the outside body of the cooler 100 and into the rear
support by a retaining mechanism such as screws. In some
embodiments the storage unit may additionally be held in place with
adhesives or using other methods. As illustrated in FIG. 9C, the
storage unit has depth, approximately 1-3 inches, to provide
storage area within the covered portion 520. As described below,
this depth also creates an attachment point for a gear
tie-down.
[0078] FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C are perspective views illustrating a
handle 600 integrated into the cooler illustrated in FIGS. 1A and
1B according to embodiments of the invention. In the illustrated
embodiment, the handle 600 includes a lower attachment area 610, an
upper attachment area 620, and a top grip area 630.
[0079] The lower attachment area 610 is illustrated in detail in
FIG. 10B. The lower attachment area includes apertures 624 for
receiving one or more poles 626. The lower attachment area 610 is
held to the body of the cooler 100 by screws or adhesives, or by
both screws and adhesives as has been described above with
reference to other attachment methods. The lower attachment area
610 includes a platform 612 sized and shaped to accept a foot
placed thereon. In operation, a user can step on the platform 612
to provide leverage while pulling back on the handle 600 to tip the
cooler so that it is resting on the wheels and ready for travel.
The platform 612 may be integrated or affixed to the lower
attachment area. The platform 612 may additionally include treads
614 to increase friction and to hold the foot in place during the
tipping operation. The lower attachment area further includes slots
616 and an overhang 618 described with reference to the gear
storage system illustrated and described below.
[0080] Referring back to FIGS. 10A and 10C, the upper attachment
area 620 may be directly attached to a top lip of the cooler, as
illustrated in FIG. 10C. Such an attachment method provides a
strong attachment system to withstand the forces caused that using
the handle 600 may invoke. A top grip area 630 includes a release
button 630 to allow the handle 600 to be extended or retracted in a
telescoping manner. In other words, the poles making up the handle
600 may slide within one another to reduce area when the handle is
not needed.
[0081] FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective diagrams illustrating an
external shape of a rear portion of the cooler illustrated in FIGS.
1A and 1B, and FIG. 11C is a side view diagram illustrating the
same.
[0082] As described above, the cooler 100 is preferable rectangular
in shape. Conventional coolers have a problem, however, in that
they tend to drag across soft surfaces, such as sand, tall grass,
or the forest floor. Even conventional coolers including wheels
have this dragging action because of the outer shape of the
conventional cooler, which tends to dig into the soft surface.
Embodiments of the invention address this problem by including a
sliding portion 170 of a rear surface of the cooler 100 to
accommodate such operational conditions. More specifically, the
sliding portion 170 is shaped, formed, or otherwise implemented to
cause the cooler 100 to follow the contour of a soft surface over
which the cooler 100 is traveling. For example, if the cooler 100
as illustrated in FIG. 11A is being pulled through sand, even the
relatively large wheels of the cooler 100 may tend to sink in the
sand. Conventional coolers plow the sand with a rigid and sharply
shaped rear-bottom edge. The cooler 100 according to embodiments of
the invention, however, include a sliding portion 170 integrated
into the form factor of the rear and bottom surfaces of the cooler
100. With reference to FIGS. 11B and 11C, the illustrated
embodiment includes no sharp edges that tend to plow into soft
surfaces. Instead, the sliding portion 170 of the cooler 100 is
shaped to cause the cooler to more easily slide over the soft
surface. Although the sliding portion 170 is illustrated here as
having a curved surface having a radius that is smaller than a
radius of the wheels 120, the sliding portion 170 may take other
shapes. For instance the sliding portion 170 may be a relatively
flat angle. In some embodiments the curved portion of the rear of
the cooler may start approximately one-third to one-half from a
depth of the cooler, and continue to approximately one-third to
one-half of the height of the cooler. Such a structure is
illustrated particularly well by FIG. 11C. In other embodiments an
angled portion may start approximately one-third from a depth of
the cooler and continue to approximately one-third of the height of
the cooler. In one embodiment (not illustrated), the sliding
portion 170 is relatively planer and has an angle of approximately
45.degree. relative to the bottom surface and/or a rear surface of
the cooler 100. The sliding portion 170 is shaped to provide
additional clearance to the bottom edge of the cooler 100 when the
cooler 100 is tipped backwards. In some embodiments the sliding
portion 170 is shaped to provide maximum clearance between a rear
surface of the cooler 100 when the cooler is tipped backwards
between approximately 30-60 degrees, and preferably when the cooler
is tipped backwards at approximately 45 degrees.
[0083] FIG. 12A is a rear view of the cooler 100 illustrated in
FIGS. 1A and 1B. As described above, the cooler 100 includes one or
more wheels 120. The wheels may be formed of strong plastic or
rubber, for example. As illustrated in FIGS. 11A, 11B, 11C, and
FIG. 12A, the body of the cooler may be specifically shaped to
provide relief for the wheels. In other words, the body of the
cooler 100 is cut in to accept the wheel mounts so that the wheels
120 do not extend beyond the lateral edges of the cooler. In
addition, a width of the wheels is chosen to be quite wide relative
to standard wheels. Selection of wider wheels allows the wheels to
better support the cooler when traveling over soft surfaces, so
that the weight of the cooler does not drive the wheels into the
soft surface. In one embodiment, the overall cooler width is
approximately 25 inches wide, while each of the wheels 120 has a
width of approximately 2.5-4 inches, and preferably approximately 3
inches. The width of the wheels 120 may scale as the width of the
cooler changes so as to keep the same approximate wheel-width to
cooler-width ratio. In one embodiment each wheel has a diameter of
approximately 3-8 inches, and preferably 6 inches.
[0084] FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate additional features of the
wheels that may be attached to the cooler of FIGS. 1A and 1B
according to embodiments of the invention. In this embodiment the
wheels 120 include alternating lands 122, 123. A groove is formed
by forming recesses 124, 125, respectively in the alternating lands
122, 124. When multiple recesses 124, 125 are formed together, the
groove is formed. As illustrated in FIG. 13B, an O-ring 126 may be
disposed within the groove, and held in place by the alternating
recesses 124, 125. The O-ring may be formed of rubber or other
pliable material that is softer than the material forming the
wheels 120. The combination of the harder material for the wheels
120 with the softer material for the O-ring functions to absorb
noise caused when the cooler 100 is rolled on a hard, relatively
rough surface, such as concrete or asphalt. Additionally, the
O-ring 126 may be replaced without requiring replacement of the
entire wheels 120. In some embodiments the O-ring 126 has a
diameter of between 0.01 and 1.5 inches. In other embodiments the
O-ring may be an internal component of a much wider soft cover for
wheels. In other words, such a wheel cover may have a width of 1-2
inches wide on the exterior surface, with an internal O-ring to
keep the wheel cover in position on the wheel 120.
[0085] Another feature of the cooler according to embodiments of
the invention is an integrated tie-down system, illustrated best
with reference to FIGS. 12A, 12B, and FIG. 1B. Embodiments of the
invention include an integrated tie-down system, which incorporates
pieces of the handle 160 as well as the storage unit 500. The tie
down system includes a cord 168 illustrated in FIG. 12B. The cord
168 is preferably a dynamic, i.e., stretchable, cord, but could be
a static line as well. Examples of material for the cord 168
include elastic or nylon rubber.
[0086] The cooler 100 is structured to store the cord 168 when not
in use, but is also structured to allow the cord 168 to be extended
to secure gear placed on the cooler when convenient. Examples of
gear placed on the cooler may include, for example, folding chairs,
sporting equipment, blankets, etc. When a user wishes to use secure
such items on the cooler 100, the cord 168 may be extended over the
items and secured to an underlip 152 of the storage unit 500,
illustrated best in FIG. 1B. In other words, the end loop of the
cord 168 is looped over the gear to be stored and underneath the
underlip 152 of the storage unit 500, which retains that portion of
the cord 168. Other embodiments may include different attachment
mechanisms, such as hooks, loops, and underlips located on other
surfaces, such as on one or more of the lids or elsewhere on the
cooler body, for example. Then, the user can tighten the cord 168
by pulling excess cord 168 slack through one or both clam cleats
164 as illustrated in FIG. 12B. The clam cleats 164 frictionally
hold the cord 168 in place until released. Such release is
accomplished by pulling the cord 168 laterally away from the clam
cleats 164. In addition or instead of clam cleats, the cord 168 may
be tightened and/or retained in any of a number of ways, such as by
using clips, latches, knobs, clamps, other types of mechanical
interference or other methods to retain the tie-down cord 168.
[0087] In some embodiments excess cord 168 may be threaded through
slots 162, illustrated in FIGS. 12A and 12B, and retained by cord
lip 163 formed in the lower attachment area of the handle 160.
[0088] When not in use, the cord 168 may be wrapped around the
outside of both the lower attachment area 165 and upper attachment
area 166 of the handle 160, and may be retained by an undercut
underneath the lower attachment area 165 of the handle 160.
[0089] FIG. 14 is a side view of an example blender jar and
associated parts for use with the cooler 100 described with
reference to FIGS. 1A and 1B. An example blender jar 170 includes a
main blender jar 172, spout 173, and handle 174. The blender jar
172 may be made from food grade plastic or glass, or other suitable
material. A lid 175 covers the main blender jar 172 and functions
to keep items within the blender jar as they are being blended. In
some embodiments the lid 175 may be sized and shaped to cover the
blender recess 142 illustrated in FIG. 1B. In such an embodiment
the blender lid 175 may protect the blender spindle.
[0090] A collar 176 attaches to the blender jar 172 in a typical
manner, such as by engaging corresponding threads on the outside of
the blender jar and inside of the collar 176. Also, the collar 176
may be used to secure a set of blades 177 within the blender jar
172 in a known manner. The collar 176 may be shaped to insert
within the blender recess 142 of FIG. 1B, which engages with
protuberances of the collar to prevent rotation of the blender jar
172 during blending operation. Of course, the blender recess 142
may instead be shaped to form a negative geometry of the collar
176.
[0091] A receiver 178 in the bottom of the set of blades 177 is
structured to receive a blender spindle, such as the blender
spindle 322 illustrated in FIG. 6A.
[0092] In operation, the blender 170 is first assembled by
inserting the set of blades 177 from an open bottom of the blender
jar 172. The set of blades 177 are held in place by securing the
collar 176, such as by threading the collar onto the blender jar
172.
[0093] Then, to blend a drink, the contents to be blended are
placed in the assembled blender jar 172, either before or after the
blender jar 172 is mounted within the blender recess 142. To mount
the blender jar 172 in the blender recess 142, first the receiver
178 in the bottom of the set of blades is engaged with the blender
spindle, such as by rotating either the spindle or the blender jar
172 to cause the blender spindle to be inserted within the
receiver. Next the blender jar 172 is positioned so that it drops
into the blender recess 142. In some embodiments, positioning the
blender jar 172 within the blender recess 142 satisfies the
lock-out switch, thus enabling the blender 170 for use.
[0094] Next, the blender switch is actuated, which causes the motor
to spin the spindle, which in turn causes the blades 177 to spin
and blend the contents of the blender jar 172 into a blended
drink.
[0095] What has been described and illustrated herein are
embodiments of the invention along with some of their variations.
The terms, descriptions and figures used herein are set forth by
way of illustration only and are not meant as limitations. Those
skilled in the art will recognize that many variations are possible
within the spirit and scope of the invention in which all terms are
meant in their broadest, reasonable scope unless otherwise
indicated.
[0096] Although specific embodiments of the invention have been
illustrated and described for purposes if illustration, it will be
understood that various modifications may be made without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, the
invention should not be limited except as by the appended
claims.
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