Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6463756
-
Patent Number
6,463,756
-
Date Filed
Friday, April 19, 200222 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 15, 200222 years ago
-
Inventors
-
-
Examiners
- Doerrler; William
- Shulman; Mark S.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 062 4572
- 062 4577
- 062 4575
- 062 371
- 062 529
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus for keeping items cold and providing a user with a way by which to apply cool water onto themself. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus includes a housing that has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall attached to and that extends upward from the bottom wall. The housing has a first end and second end. The housing has a first compartment, a second compartment, and a bottom compartment. A first cover and a second cover selectively cover the first and second compartments respectively. A strap for allows the user to grasp the housing. A pair of wheels are rotatably coupled to the housing. A filter restricts debris from entering the bottom compartment. A pump pressurizes the bottom compartment. A check-valve extends into the bottom compartment. A flexible tube has a first end and a second end. A plurality of dispersing members for dispersing water from the bottom compartment is releasably attachable to the second end of the tube.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to coolers and more particularly pertains to a new combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus for keeping items cold and providing users with a way by which to apply cool water onto themselves.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of coolers is known in the prior art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,090,214 describes a spray mate cooler. Another type of cooler is U.S. Pat. No. 5,870,897 which is a refrigerated container.
While these devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the need remains for a device works as an ice chest yet utilizes melted water from the ice to be selectively applied to a person for the purpose of cooling off.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention meets the needs presented above by the construction of the housing in such a manner that if the user desires to allow the melted water from the ice to enter a compartment from which water to be used for personal cooling purposes, selectively is able to do so.
Still yet another object of the present invention is to provide a new combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus that provides a variety of ways in which to apply the cooling water.
Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a new combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus that provides a secondary embodiment by which the ice chest is completely separate from the compartment holding the cooling water, making for a more simplistic design.
To this end, the present invention generally comprises a housing that has a bottom wall and a peripheral wall attached to and that extends upward from the bottom wall. The housing has a first end and second end. The housing has a first compartment, a second compartment, and a bottom compartment. A first cover and a second cover selectively cover the first and second compartments respectively. A strap allows the user to grasp the housing. A pair of wheels are rotatably coupled to the housing. A filter restricts debris from entering the bottom compartment. A pump pressurizes the bottom compartment. A check-valve extends into the bottom compartment. A flexible tube has a first end and a second end. A plurality of dispersing members for dispersing water from the bottom compartment is releasably attachable to the second end of the tube.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
FIG. 1
is a schematic perspective view of a new combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus according to the present invention.
FIG. 2
is a schematic an end view of the present invention.
FIG. 3
is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the present invention.
FIG. 4
is a schematic side view of the spray device of the present invention.
FIG. 5
is a schematic side view of the tubular dispensing member of the present invention.
FIG. 6
is a schematic perspective view of the secondary embodiment of the present invention.
FIG. 7
is a schematic cross-sectional side view of the secondary embodiment of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
FIGS. 1 through 7
thereof, a new combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus embodying the principles and concepts of the present invention and generally designated by the reference numeral
10
will be described.
As best illustrated in
FIGS. 1 through 7
, the combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus
10
generally comprises a housing
12
that has a bottom wall
13
and a peripheral wall
14
that is attached to and extends upward from the bottom wall
13
. The housing
12
has a first end
15
and second end
16
. The housing
12
has a first compartment
17
, a second compartment
18
, and a bottom compartment
19
.
The housing
12
has a partition wall
20
that is attached to and extends between the peripheral wall
14
and is oriented substantially parallel to the bottom wall
13
and positioned generally above the bottom wall
13
such that the bottom compartment
19
is defined.
The housing
12
has a sectional wall
21
positioned therein. The sectional wall
21
is oriented substantially perpendicular to and extends upward from the partition wall
20
such that the first compartment
17
and the second compartment
18
are defined. The first compartment
17
and the second compartment
18
are positioned adjacent to the first and second ends
15
,
16
of the housing
12
respectively.
The partition wall
20
has an aperture
22
that extends therethrough and is positioned in the first compartment
17
such that the first compartment
17
and the bottom compartment
19
are in fluid communication. The housing
12
includes a bottom plug
23
for selectively plugging the aperture
22
in the partition wall
20
. The bottom plug
23
is selectively positionable in the aperture
22
. Water from melted ice placed in the first compartment
17
enters the bottom compartment
19
.
The first compartment
17
has a drain hole
24
that extends through the peripheral wall
14
and is positioned in the first end
15
. The bottom compartment
19
has a drain hole
24
that extends through the peripheral wall
14
and is positioned in the first end
15
. A pair of plugs
25
is included for selectively plugging the drain holes
24
in the first compartment
17
and the bottom compartment
19
. Each of the plugs
25
is selectively positionable in one of the drain holes
24
.
The housing
12
has a pair of arcuate indentations
26
positioned on opposing sides of a bottom portion
27
of the second end
16
.
A first cover
28
and a second cover
29
selectively covers the first and second compartments
17
,
18
respectively. Each of the covers
28
,
29
is hingably coupled to an upper rear portion
30
of the peripheral wall
14
. An end wall
31
of the second cover
29
has an arcuate cutout
32
therein.
A strap
33
for allowing the user to grasp the housing
12
is pivotally coupled to the first end
15
.
A pair of wheels
34
is rotatably coupled to the housing
12
. Each of the wheels
34
is positioned in one of the arcuate indentations
26
of the housing
12
. Each of the wheels
34
extends away from the housing
12
such that the wheels
34
support the second end
16
of the housing
12
.
A filter
35
for restricting debris from entering the bottom compartment
19
is fixedly coupled to a bottom surface
36
of the partition wall
20
. The filter
35
is positioned over the aperture
22
.
A pump
37
for pressurizing the bottom compartment
19
is integrally coupled to the housing
12
and positioned between the first compartment
17
and the second compartment
18
.
A check-valve
38
extends into the bottom compartment
19
. The check-valve
38
is fixedly coupled to and extends through the partition wall
20
. The check-valve
38
is positioned below the pump
37
such that air from the pump
37
is allowed to enter the bottom compartment
19
and restricted from exiting the bottom compartment
19
such that the bottom compartment
19
becomes pressurized.
A flexible tube
39
has a first end
15
and a second end
16
is fixedly coupled to and extends through the partition wall
20
in the second compartment
18
. The first end
15
of the tube
39
is positioned in the bottom compartment
19
. A middle section
40
of the tube
39
extends outward from the second compartment
18
such that the tube
39
passes through the arcuate cutout
32
in the second cover
29
when the second cover
29
fully encloses the second compartment
18
.
A plurality of dispersing members
41
for dispersing water from the bottom compartment
19
is releasably attachable to the second end
16
of the tube
39
. A first one of the plurality of dispersing members
42
comprises a hand-held spray device
43
for selectively applying water.
A second one of the plurality of dispersing members
44
comprises an elongate tubular member
45
that has a plurality of nozzles
46
. Each of the nozzles
46
is equally spaced apart such that the water may be widely dispersed. The tubular member
45
includes a valve section
47
for selectively turning the water on and off.
When water from the melted ice in the first compartment
17
enters the bottom compartment
19
and the pump
37
is actuated to pressurize the bottom compartment
19
, actuation of the dispersing member allows the water to pass through the tube
39
and be dispersed.
In an alternate embodiment, the housing
12
has only the first and second compartments
17
,
18
with the second compartment
18
having a top wall
50
that is integrally coupled to upper edges
51
of the peripheral wall
14
. The user fills the second compartment
18
with chilled water through an opening
52
in the top wall
50
, seals the opening
52
with a cap
53
, and utilizes the pump
37
, flexible tube
39
, and a dispersing member
41
to use the water to cool off as desired. The first compartment
17
functions simply as an ice chest. All other aspects of the invention remain the same.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.
Claims
- 1. A combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus for keeping items cold and providing a user with a way by which to apply cool water onto themselves, said apparatus comprising:a housing having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall attached to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said housing having a first end and second end, said housing having a first compartment, a second compartment, and a bottom compartment; a first cover and a second cover for selectively covering said first and second compartments respectively; a strap for allowing the user to grasp said housing; a pair of wheels being rotatably coupled to said housing; a filter for restricting debris from entering said bottom compartment; a pump for pressurizing said bottom compartment; a check-valve extending into said bottom compartment; a flexible tube having a first end and a second end; and a plurality of dispersing members for dispersing water from. said bottom compartment being releasably attachable to said second end of said tube.
- 2. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said housing having a partition wall being attached to and extending between said peripheral wall, said partition wall being oriented substantially parallel to said bottom wall and positioned generally above said bottom wall such that said bottom compartment is defined.
- 3. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising said housing having a sectional wall positioned therein, said sectional wall being oriented substantially perpendicular to and extending upwardly from said partition wall such that said first compartment and said second compartment are defined, wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are positioned adjacent to said first and second ends of said housing respectively.
- 4. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising said partition wall having an aperture extending therethrough and positioned in said first compartment such that said first compartment and said bottom compartment are in fluid communication, said housing including a bottom plug for selectively plugging said aperture in said partition wall, said bottom plug being selectively positionable in said aperture, wherein water from melting ice placed in said first compartment may enter said bottom compartment.
- 5. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said first compartment having a drain hole extending through said peripheral wall and positioned in said first end, said bottom compartment having a drain hole extending through said peripheral wall and positioned in said first end.
- 6. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 5, further comprising a pair of plugs for selectively plugging said drain holes in said first compartment and said bottom compartment, each of said plugs being selectively positionable in one of said drain holes.
- 7. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said housing having a pair of arcuate indentations positioned on opposing sides of a bottom portion of said second end.
- 8. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising each of said covers being hingably coupled to an upper rear portion of said peripheral wall.
- 9. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising an end wall of said second cover having an arcuate cutout therein.
- 10. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said straps being pivotally coupled to said first end of said housing.
- 11. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 7, further comprising each of said wheels being positioned in one of said arcuate indentations of said housing, each of said wheels extending away from said housing such that said second end of said housing is supported by said wheels.
- 12. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 4, further comprising said filter being fixedly coupled to a bottom surface of said partition wall, said filter being positioned over said aperture.
- 13. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising said pump being integrally coupled to said housing and positioned between said first compartment and said second compartment.
- 14. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 2, further comprising said check-valve being fixedly coupled to and extending through said partition wall, said check-valve being positioned below said pump such that air from said pump is allowed to enter said bottom compartment and restricted from exiting said bottom compartment such that said bottom compartment becomes pressurized.
- 15. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 9, further comprising said tube being fixedly coupled to and extending through said partition wall in said second compartment, said first end of said tube being positioned in said bottom compartment, a middle section of said tube extending outwardly from said second compartment such that said tube passes through said arcuate cutout in said second cover when said second cover fully encloses said second compartment.
- 16. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein a first of said plurality of dispersing members comprising a hand-held spray device for selectively applying water.
- 17. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, further comprising wherein a second one of said plurality of dispersing members comprising an elongate tubular member has a plurality of nozzles, each of said nozzles being equally spaced apart such that the water may be widely dispersed, said tubular member including a valve section for selectively turning the water on and off.
- 18. The combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus as set forth in claim 1, wherein when water from the melted ice in said first compartment may enter said bottom compartment and said pump may be actuated to pressurize said bottom compartment, actuation of said dispersing member allows the water to pass through said tube and be dispersed.
- 19. A combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus for keeping items cold and providing a user with a way by which to apply cool water onto themselves, said apparatus comprising:a housing having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall attached to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said bottom wall being generally rectangular, said housing having a first end and second end, said housing having a sectional wall positioned therein such that a first compartment and a second compartment are defined, wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are positioned adjacent to said first and second ends of said housing respectively, said second compartment having a top wall attached to and extending between upper edges of said peripheral wall, said top wall having an opening extending therethrough for filling said second compartment with water, said first compartment having a drain hole extending through said peripheral wall and positioned in said first end, said housing having a pair of arcuate indentations positioned on opposing sides of a bottom portion of said second end; a cap for selectively enclosing said second compartment being releasably positionable in said opening of said top wall of said second compartment; a first cover and a second cover for selectively covering said first and second compartments respectively, each of said covers being hingably coupled to an upper rear portion of said peripheral wall, an end wall of said second cover having an arcuate cutout therein; a strap for allowing the user to grasp said housing being pivotally coupled to said first end; a pair of wheels being rotatably coupled to said housing, each of said wheels being positioned in one of said arcuate indentations of said housing, each of said wheels extending away from said housing such that said second end of said housing is supported by said wheels; a plug for selectively plugging said drain hole in said first compartment being selectively positionable in said drain hole; a pump for pressurizing said second compartment being integrally coupled to said top wall and positioned in said second compartment; a flexible tube having a first end and a second end being fixedly coupled to and extending through said top wall of said second compartment, said first end of said tube being positioned adjacent to a top surface of bottom wall in said second compartment, a middle section of said tube extending outwardly from said second compartment such that said tube passes through said arcuate cutout in said second cover when said second cover fully encloses said second compartment; a plurality of dispersing members for dispersing water from said bottom compartment being releasably attachable to said second end of said tube, wherein a first of said plurality of dispersing members comprising a hand-held spray device for selectively applying water, wherein a second one of said plurality of dispersing members comprising an elongate tubular member has a plurality of nozzles, each of said nozzles being equally spaced apart such that the water may be widely dispersed, said tubular member including a valve section for selectively turning the water on and off; and wherein said pump may be actuated to pressurize said second compartment such that actuation of said dispersing member allows the water to pass through said tube and be dispersed.
- 20. A combined ice chest and personal cooling apparatus for keeping items cold and providing a user with a way by which to apply cool water onto themselves, said apparatus comprising:a housing having a bottom wall and a peripheral wall attached to and extending upwardly from said bottom wall, said housing having a first end and second end, said housing having a first compartment, a second compartment, and a bottom compartment, said housing having a partition wall being attached to and extending between said peripheral wall, said partition wall being oriented substantially parallel to said bottom wall and positioned generally above said bottom wall such that said bottom compartment is defined, said housing having a sectional wall positioned therein, said sectional wall being oriented substantially perpendicular to and extending upwardly from said partition wall such that said first compartment and said second. compartment are defined, wherein said first compartment and said second compartment are positioned adjacent to said first and second ends of said housing respectively, said partition wall having an aperture extending therethrough and positioned in said first compartment such that said first compartment and said bottom compartment are in fluid communication, said housing including a bottom plug for selectively plugging said aperture in said partition wall, said bottom plug being selectively positionable in said aperture, wherein water from melting ice placed in said first compartment may enter said bottom compartment, said first compartment having a drain hole extending through said peripheral wall and positioned in said first end, said bottom compartment having a drain hole extending through said peripheral wall and positioned in said first end, a pair of plugs for selectively plugging said drain holes in said first compartment and said bottom compartment, each of said plugs being selectively positionable in one of said drain holes, said housing having a pair of arcuate indentations positioned on opposing sides of a bottom portion of said second end; a first cover and a second cover for selectively covering said first and second compartments respectively, each of said covers being hingably coupled to an upper rear portion of said peripheral wall, an end wall of said second cover having an arcuate cutout therein; a strap for allowing the user to grasp said housing being pivotally coupled to said first end; a pair of wheels being rotatably coupled to said housing, each of said wheels being positioned in one of said arcuate indentations of said housing, each of said wheels extending away from said housing such that said second end of said housing is supported by said wheels; a filter for restricting debris from entering said bottom compartment being fixedly coupled to a bottom surface of said partition wall, said filter being positioned over said aperture; a pump for pressurizing said bottom compartment being integrally coupled to said housing and positioned between said first compartment and said second compartment; a check-valve extending into said bottom compartment, said check-valve being fixedly coupled to and extending through said partition wall, said check-valve being positioned below said pump such that air from said pump is allowed to enter said bottom compartment and restricted from exiting said bottom compartment such that said bottom compartment becomes pressurized; a flexible tube having a first end and a second end being fixedly coupled to and extending through said partition wall in said second compartment, said first end of said tube being positioned in said bottom compartment, a middle section of said tube extending outwardly from said second compartment such that said tube passes through said arcuate cutout in said second cover when said second cover fully encloses said second compartment; a plurality of dispersing members for dispersing water from said bottom compartment being releasably attachable to said second end of said tube, wherein a first of said plurality of dispersing members comprising a hand-held spray device for selectively applying water, wherein a second one of said plurality of dispersing members comprising an elongate tubular member has a plurality of nozzles, each of said nozzles being equally spaced apart such that the water may be widely dispersed, said tubular member including a valve section for selectively turning the water on and off; wherein when water from the melted ice in said first compartment may enter said bottom compartment and said pump may be actuated to pressurize said bottom compartment, actuation of said dispersing member allows the water to pass through said tube and be dispersed.
US Referenced Citations (15)