Note : Les descriptions sont présentées dans la langue officielle dans laquelle elles ont été soumises.
CA 02625925 2008-03-17
This invention claims priority from US Patent Application 11/745,366, the
contents
of which are incorporated herein by reference.
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Cooler And Cooler Accessory With Integrated Liquid Dispenser
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[001] This invention relates generally to portable coolers and cooler
accessories of
the type that may be used to maintain the temperature of foods and beverages
and
other items, and in one specific embodiment a portable cooler or cooler
accessory
having an integrated liquid dispenser.
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] Portable coolers are typically used by individuals for a wide variety of
purposes in order to maintain the temperature of foods, beverages and other
items
when transporting them from location to location. Traditionally portable
coolers
have been comprised of a hard or rigid outer shell and an inner liner with an
insulating material therebetween. Such coolers are often fitted with a handle
or a
strap to allow them to be readily carried from place to place and may have a
single,
hinged, lid or a plurality of lid openings to allow access into the cooler
interior.
More recently the manner of construction of portable coolers has expanded and
many coolers are now formed with an outer and inner shell made from a flexible
or
woven material, such as nylon, that allows the coolers to be collapsed when
not in
use. Most often portable coolers are insulated using a relatively high density
foam
insulating material.
[003] When utilizing currently available portable coolers individuals will
typically fill
the coolers full of food, beverages or other items and place ice cubes, blocks
of ice,
frozen gel packs, chilled liquid, etc. within the cooler in order to help keep
the
contents cold for an extended length of time. In other cases heated items may
be
placed in a cooler to help maintain its contents at an elevated level.
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[004] Coolers are often fitted with a drain spout or sealable opening at or
near their
bottom edge to allow for water that accumulates from the melting of ice cubes
or
blocks of ice to be drained and, discarded. Unfortunately, water that results
from
the melting of ice used to keep the contents of the cooler cold is not always
fit for
human consumption as it will have been in full contact with the interior
surface of
the cooler and the outer surfaces items stored therein. Maintaining cold or
chilled
water within a cooler thus requires the use of a dedicated bottle or vessel to
keep
the water contained and to avoid contamination through contact with unsanitary
surfaces. Unfortunately, such dedicated containers are often in the form of
bottles
or similarly shaped vessels that do not always lend themselves to close or
efficient
packing within the interior of a cooler, where space is usually of a premium.
Further, in instances where vessels of water or fluid are first frozen before
placing
them into the cooler, they may help to assist in maintaining the contents of
the
cooler at a desired temperature but generally do not allow for close proximity
contact with individual beverages, food items, or other items stored in the
cooler.
As a result, frozen vessels of water or fluid within the cooler tend to create
localized
cold zones that may keep adjacent food or beverages cool but not necessarily
cold.
There therefore exists a need for a new and improved cooler or cooler
accessory
that helps to keep food, beverages and other items cold or at or near a
desired
temperature while also serving as a source and dispenser of water or other
liquid.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[005] The invention therefore provides a cooler or cooler accessory that may
be
used to help keep beverages, food or other items at or near a desired
temperature
while at the same time serving as both a reservoir and a dispensary for water
or
liquid.
[006] Accordingly, in one of its aspects the invention provides a cooler
comprising a
container body having an exterior surface and at least a partially hollow
interior,
said container body having one or more receptacles formed within said exterior
surface and extending into said hollow interior, said receptacles having
enclosed
bottom and side surfaces and open tops, said hollow interior of said container
body
sealed and providing a fluid-tight reservoir to hold a fluid or a frozen or
partially
frozen fluid or gel, said container further containing a dispenser to permit
the
controlled release of fluid stored in said interior of said container.
[007] In a further aspect the invention provides a cooler comprising a
container
body having an upper body portion and a lower body portion and at least a
partially
hollow interior, said upper body portion having one or more receptacles formed
within its exterior surface, said receptacles having enclosed bottom and side
surfaces and open tops, said hollow interior of said container body sealed and
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providing a fluid-tight reservoir to hold a fluid or a frozen or partially
frozen fluid or
gel, said container further including a dispenser to permit the controlled
release of
fluid stored in said interior of said container body such that when said
hollow
interior of said container body is filled or partially filed with water or
fluid and
thereafter frozen or chilled said frozen or chilled water or fluid helps
maintain items
positioned within said receptacles cool with said dispenser providing a source
of
cold or chilled water or fluid.
[008] The invention also provides a cooler comprising a container body formed
generally from an upper and a lower body portion, said container body having
at
least a partially hollow interior and having one or more receptacles, formed
in the
exterior surface of said upper body portion and extending into said hollow
interior,
said one or more receptacles having enclosed bottom and side surfaces and open
tops said hollow interior of said container providing a fluid-tight reservoir
to hold a
fluid or frozen or partially frozen fluid or gel, said container further
including a
dispenser to permit the controlled release of fluid from said interior of said
container, said container body having an expansion zone allowing for the
expansion
of said container body upon the freezing or expansion of water or liquid
stored in
said hollow interior.
[009] Further aspects and advantages of the invention will become apparent
from
the following description taken together with the accompanying drawings.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] For a better understanding of the present invention, and to show more
clearly how it may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way
of
example, to the accompanying drawings which show the preferred embodiments of
the present invention which:
[0011] Figure 1 is an upper front perspective view of a cooler or cooler
accessory constructed in accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of
the
present invention;
[0012] Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device shown in.Figure 1;
[0013] Figure 3 is a left end view of the device shown in Figure 1;
[0014] Figure 4 is a longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 4 - 4 of
Figure 1;
[0015] Figure 5 is an upper side perspective view of the bottom half of a
cooler or cooler accessory constructed in accordance with an alternate
embodiment
of the invention;
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[0016] Figure 6 is an upper side perspective view of the upper portion of the
cooler or cooler accessory shown in Figure 5;
[0017] Figure 7 is an upper side perspective view of an alternate embodiment
of the upper portion of the cooler or cooler accessory shown in Figure 6;
[0018] Figure 8 is an upper side perspective view of the lower portion of a
cooler or cooler accessory in accordance with yet a further embodiment of the
present invention; and,
[0019] Figure 9 is an upper side perspective view of the upper portion of the
cooler or cooler accessory shown in Figure 8.
[0020] Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the line 10 -10 in Figure 9.
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DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0021] The present invention may be embodied in a number of different
forms. However, the specification and drawings that follow describe and
disclose
only some of the specific forms of the invention and are not intended to limit
the
scope of the invention as defined in the claims that follow herein.
[0022] In the attached drawings the cooler or cooler accessory constructed in
accordance with one of the preferred embodiments of the present invention is
noted
generally by reference numeral 1. As will be appreciated after a thorough
understanding of the invention, device 1 could be referred to as either a
cooler or a
cooler accessory since it may be used by itself or it may be placed within a
larger
cooler.
[0023] With reference to Figures 1 through 4, cooler 1 is, comprised generally
of a container body 2 having an exterior surface 3 with one or more
receptacles 4
formed therein. Container body 2 has at least a partially hollow interior 5
such that
receptacles 4 within the exterior surface 3 of the container body extend into
the
partially hollow interior. Receptacles 4 preferably have enclosed bottom and
side
surfaces with open tops and may be dimensioned to accommodate the receipt of a
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wide variety of different items, which may include food or beverage
containers, or
for that matter any other item which is desired to be kept at a depressed or
elevated temperature. In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 4,
receptacles 4 are generally cylindrical in shape in order to accommodate
bottles or
other beverage containers. It will also be noted that the dimensions of
container
body 2 could be varied, and the number of individual receptacles adjusted, to
accommodate particular needs or desires.
[0024] In one preferred embodiment of the invention the hollow interior 5 of
container body 2 is sealed to provide a fluid-tight reservoir that is capable
of
holding a fluid or a frozen or a partially frozen fluid or gel. Container body
2 also
preferably includes a dispenser 6 within its exterior surface that in one
embodiment
of the invention permits both the introduction and the controlled release of
fluid
from the interior of the container body. In an alternate embodiment of the
invention body 2 may include a separate filler opening through which fluid may
be
introduced into the interior of the container body. Dispenser 6 will typically
be
located toward the bottom of one of the side surfaces of container body 2 to
allow
for liquid within hollow interior 5 to be readily drained therefrom. It is
expected
that in most instances dispenser 6 will be in the form of a spigot or a valve,
however, in alternate embodiments of the invention the dispenser may be
releasably sealed through the use of a threaded cap, a threaded or expansion
plug,
or other sealing device. In a further alternate embodiment of the invention
(not
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shown), liquid within hollow interior 5 may be held and retained in a
dedicated
flexible bladder connected to dispenser 6.
[0025] In order to help reduce heat. transfer between the ambient
environment and hollow interior 5 of container body 2, in one embodiment of
the
invention the interior surface 7 of the container body is lined with a layer
of
insulation 8, which may be comprised of a high density foam or variety of
other
commonly used insulating materials. In an alternate embodiment of the
invention
the container body may be comprised of an inner and an outer shell having an
insulating or foam layer therebetween, as is common with many portable
coolers.
In yet a further embodiment, the container body may be constructed without the
use of dedicated insulation material.
[0026] In the form of the invention shown in Figures 1 through 4 expansion
zone 9 is incorporated into container body 2 to allow for the expansion of
water or
liquid stored in hollow interior 5 when it is subjected to freezing
temperatures.
Expansion zone 9 permits the container body to expand and helps to prevent
cracking or breakage as its contents expand when frozen. Expansion zone 9 may
be comprised of a plurality of pleats extending around the container body
forming
an accordion-like structure that allows for the container body to expand in a
controlled manner at a pre-determined location. However, it will also be
appreciated that any one of a wide variety of other expansion mechanisms may
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used in the place of or in addition to the pleats of expansion zone 9 that
were
shown in the attached Figures.
[0027] In one version of the invention, container body 2 is formed from an
upper body portion 10 and a lower body portion 11, wherein the upper body
portion
contains receptacles 4 and the lower body portion contains dispenser 6. In the
embodiment shown in Figures 1 through 4, the upper and lower body portions are
generally separated by expansion zone 9, however the expansion zone may also
be
located at other points within the container body and not necessarily at the
juncture
of the upper and lower body portions. Depending upon the method of
manufacture,
the upper and lower body portions could be formed in one piece such that they
create a unitary structure. Alternatively, the upper and lower body portions
may be
manufactured separately and secured and sealed together by a wide variety of
different means, including through the use of mechanical seals, heat welding,
glues,
epoxies, etc. In Figure 4 the upper and lower body portions are formed as two
separate parts and made from a plastic or similar material that is sealed
together
along expansion zone 9 by means of heat welding to create a fluid tight and
sealed
hollow interior 5. Figures 5, 6 and 7 show alternate embodiments of upper body
10
and lower body 11 formed as distinct and separate units that are subsequently
sealed together to form container body 2. In the case of the embodiment of
upper
body portion 10 shown in Figure 7, receptacles 4 are depicted as being
generally
rectangular in shape to demonstrate that the physical configuration of the
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receptacles may be altered to permit the receipt of different types and shapes
of
items therein.
[0028] A further alternate embodiment of the invention is shown in Figures 8,
9 and 10. Here, upper and lower body portions 10 and 11 are manufactured
independently from one another, and lower body portion 11 includes a sealed
cover
12 that completely encloses the upper surface of the lower body portion such
that
the lower body portion forms a fluid tight reservoir. It is expected that in
most
instances cover 12 will be of unitary construction with the remainder of the
lower
body portion. In other instances the cover may be formed separately and
secured
to the lower body portion through a variety of different means which include
mechanical seals, heat welding, gluing, epoxying, etc.
[0029] It will also be noted from an examination of Figure 8 that in this
embodiment the upper and lower body portions 10 and 11 are releasably
securable
to one another to permit their independent use, and to also permit the
interchangeability of upper body portions having alternately sized or
alternately
configured receptacles for different end uses. For illustration purposes, the
receptacles in upper body portion 11 shown in Figure 12 are generally
cylindrical
and arranged in a 2 by 3 matrix. Once again, it will be appreciated by those
skilled
in the art that many different structures may be employed to releasably secure
the
upper and lower body portions together in this embodiment of the invention. In
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Figures 8 and 9 the securement, mechanism comprises a series of flexibly
resilient
tabs 13 having outwardly extending shoulders 14 that are received in
correspondingly shaped indentations 15 on the exterior surface of lower body
portion 11 to releasably secure the upper and lower body portions together.
[0030] Container body 2 may also include a handle 16 to aid in carrying it
from place to place. It is expected that in most instances handle 16 would be
secured to upper body portion 10. In the embodiment of the invention shown in
Figures 1 through 4 the handle is rigidly secured to the upper surface of
upper body
portion 10, whereas in Figures 9 and 10 the handle 16 is rotatably mounted to
the
upper body portion so that it may be stowed in a horizontal position.
[0031] Finally, in the embodiment of the invention shown in Figure 10, the
interior of upper body portion 10 is filled or partially filed with insulating
material 8.
Alternately, the interior of the upper body portion may be filled or partially
filled
with a gel or other thermal material having heat or cold retaining
characteristics
such that the thermal material assists in keeping items placed within
receptacles 4
either hot or cold, as the case may be. Where the intent is to keep items
placed in
the receptacles cold, the thermal material may be comprised of gel packs such
as
those that are commonly used in portable coolers.
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[0032] From a thorough understanding of the invention it will be appreciated
that cooler 1 provides the means to help maintain items that may be received
or
placed within receptacles 4 at or near a desired temperature. While cooler 1
could
be used to maintain items at an elevated temperature (for example by placing
hot
water within hollow interior 5), it is expected that in most instances the
cooler will
be used to help keep particular articles or items cold, or to chill items
placed within
the receptacles on its upper surface. Prior to use it is expected that the
hollow
interior of the container body will be at least partially filled with water or
other
liquid with the container body (or the lower body portion in the event that
the
container body is formed in two parts) then placed in a cold environment, a
refrigerator or a freezer in order to freeze or chill the liquid stored
therein.
Thereafter, the chilled or frozen liquid will provide a means to chill items
received
within receptacle 4 and/or to help maintain such items at a depressed
temperature.
Where the liquid received within container body 2 is water, the hollow
interior of
the container body will provide a reservoir for potable chilled water that may
be
used for drinking, cooking or washing purposes. Cooler 1 may be used by itself
and
transported from place to place by means of handle 16. Where desired the
cooler
may also be placed within the interior of a larger cooler or storage device
where the
chilled or frozen water or fluid within hollow interior 5 can be used to help
keep
other fluids, beverages or articles cold.
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[0033] It is to be understood that what has been described are the preferred
embodiments of the invention and that it may be possible to make variations to
these embodiments while staying within the broad scope of the invention. Some
of
these variations have been discussed while others will be readily apparent to
those
skilled in the art.
