Cooler with Raised Rack

Abstract

A cooler with a raised rack. The cooler with raised rack is a cooler having a base, sidewalls and a pivotally attached lid, forming an interior volume. A raised ledge is placed on the base and around a perimeter of the interior volume, forming a reservoir. A rack rests on an upper surface of the ledge. The rack is designed to support items, such as packages of food and ice, while allowing liquid to pass through openings in the rack, toward the reservoir below. This allows for food and other items to be in contact with cubes of ice while separating them from the melted water, keeping the contents of the cooler both cold and dry.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to coolers. More specifically, the present invention relates to a cooler with a raised rack to separate food stored within the cooler from water formed by melted ice.

Coolers have long provided a convenient way of maintaining cold temperatures for food without refrigeration. Coolers can be used not only for food, but also for medications and other temperature sensitive items. A cooler is particularly convenient when spending time outdoors in a warm environment because the cooler provides a portable and long lasting cold storage space for food.

A common method of maintaining a low temperature within a cooler involves placing the desired contents within the cooler, such as food or drinks, and filling the remainder of the cooler with cubes of ice. However, this can lead to an accumulation of water within the cooler as a result of melting ice. The food items become submerged in the ice and water mixture. While this poses little concern and mild inconvenience for sealed and waterproof items that can be easily dried, it can ruin many other items. For example, sandwiches and baked goods disposed in a pool of water makes them soggy and unappetizing. This concern holds true even if such items are packaged because bags and alternate wrapping methods can leak. Accordingly, a device that keeps the contents of a cooler cold while separating the contents from the water produced from melting ice is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known types of coolers now present in the prior art, the present invention provides a cooler wherein the same can be utilized for providing convenience for the user when keeping contents of a cooler cold while separating the contents from water produced by melting ice. The present system comprises a housing having a base and sidewalls forming an interior volume with an open upper end. A lid is pivotally attached to the container and configured to rotate between a closed and open position. A raise ledge is disposed on the base and around an internal perimeter of the interior volume, allowing for a rack to rest thereon. The rack in designed to support solid items, such as packages of food and cubes of ice, creating a reservoir below for melted water to pool. This allows for food and other items to be supported along with the ice, while water passes through openings in the rack, keeping the contents of the cooler cold while still allowing for them to be dry.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Although the characteristic features of this invention will be particularly pointed out in the claims, the invention itself and manner in which it may be made and used may be better understood after a review of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like numeral annotations are provided throughout.

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the cooler with raised rack with the lid open.

FIG. 2 shows a side perspective view of the interior volume of the housing of the cooler with raised rack.

FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of one embodiment of the interior of the cooler with raised rack, showing the raised ledge.

FIG. 4 shows a cross sectional view of the interior of the cooler with raised rack in use.

FIG. 5 shows a cross sectional view of the interior of an alternative embodiment of the cooler with an integral ledge.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Reference is made herein to the attached drawings. Like reference numerals are used throughout the drawings to depict like or similar elements of the cooler with raised rack. The figures are intended for representative purposes only and should not be considered to be limiting in any respect.

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown perspective and side views of one embodiment of the cooler with raised rack with the lid open. The cooler with raised rack 10 comprises a housing 13 having a base 11 and one or more sidewalls 12 forming an interior volume 18 with an open upper end 19. In some embodiments of the cooler with raised rack 10, the housing 13 is substantially rectangular. A lid 14 is disposed adjacent to the open upper end 19 and is secured to a top end of a sidewall 12 via one or more hinges 16. The lid 14 is configured to pivot between an open position and a closed position, wherein the closed position seals the housing 13 shut. In the closed position, the lid is parallel to the base and rests flush against the upper end of the housing. In the open position, the lid is substantially perpendicular to the base so as to allow access into the interior volume 18. Additionally, a handle 22 is secured to the housing 13 to provide a means for easy carrying during transportation. In one embodiment, there are two handles 22 disposed on an exterior surface of the sidewalls 12 on opposing sides of the housing 13.

The housing 13 and lid 14 are made from material having high insulation properties and low heat conductance. In some embodiments, the housing 13 and lid 14 each comprise a shell with an outer layer and an inner layer, with air or a vacuum in between the two layers. Alternatively, foam, such as those made from hydrofluorocarbons, may be placed in between the outer layer and inner layer, insulating the interior volume 18 of the cooler with raised rack 10. This allows for maintaining an interior temperature of the housing 13 for extended periods of time, even if the temperature outside of the housing 13 is significantly higher or lower. An alternate embodiment comprises the housing 13 and lid 14 formed from a singular insulating material, such as a harden form of foam, wherein the housing 13 and lid are integral to one another.

In one embodiment of the cooler with raised rack 10, the lid 14 further comprises a protruding rim 42 running along an outer border of the lid 14. The protruding rim 42 is configured to fit within an upper edge 17 of the sidewalls 12 to a close tolerance. This ensures a tight seal allowing the cooler with raised rack 10 to maintain a desired temperature within the interior volume 18. Additionally, a latch mechanism 47 may be disposed on both a sidewall 12 and the lid 14 to secure the lid 14 in a closed position. This is safeguards against the lid 14 inadvertently opening during transportation.

An aperture 20 is disposed on a bottom end of a sidewall 12, the aperture 20 opening directly into the interior volume 18 of the cooler with raised rack 10. The aperture 20 acts as an outlet to drain water from the interior volume 18. A plug 23 is adapted to be placed within the aperture 20 to seal it shut, preventing any undesired spilling of liquid stored within the housing.

Referring now to FIG. 3, there is shown a perspective view of one embodiment of the interior of the cooler with raised rack, showing the raised ledge. A raised ledge 28 is disposed on the base 11 and runs along the perimeter of the bottom of the interior volume 18. In one embodiment of the cooler with raised rack 10, the ledge 28 is removable and comprises insulating material. For example, the ledge 28 may comprise a foam frame removably placed within the interior volume 18. In the shown embodiment, there is a notch 21 in the ledge 28 adjacent to the aperture 20, to allow water to drain easily when so desired. The ledge 28 is configured to receive a rack 24 along the upper surface thereof. In this way, the rack 24 is raised above the base 11 a distance equivalent to the vertical thickness 30 of the ledge 28. In embodiments having a removable ledge 28, ledges 28 having varying vertical thicknesses 30 may be provided, allowing a user choose how high the rack 24 is to be placed above of the base 11.

The rack 24 comprises a substantially flat frame with dimensions such that an outer perimeter of the rack 24 fits within an inner perimeter of the interior volume 18 to a close tolerance. A plurality of rods 26 are disposed within the frame 24, adapted to support solid items placed thereon while allowing liquid to pass through and drain out below. In one embodiment of the cooler with raised rack 10, the rods 26 run parallel to each other and are spaced apart at regular intervals. In an alternative embodiment, there are two sets of rods 26 disposed within the rack 24, a first set of rods running perpendicular to a second set of rods, wherein both sets of rods sit within one plane, creating a lattice.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, there are shown cross sectional views of the cooler. The rack 24 is placed on top of the ledge 28 and contents 36, such as food, beverages, or medications, can be placed on the rack 24. The contents 36 are elevated from the base via the ledge 28, creating a reservoir 38 underneath the rack 24. The contents can then be covered with ice 39. As the ice 39 melts, water drips down through the rack 24 into the reservoir below, while the ice 39 is supported together with the stored contents 36 by the rack 24. The contents remain in contact with the solid ice without having to sit in water that accumulates as the ice melts. For example, the thickness of the ledge 28 may be three inches, allowing for the pooling of melted water three inches deep while keeping the food cold and dry. Water can then be drained via the aperture 20 by releasing the plug 23 if so desired. In an alternative embodiment, the raised ledge 28 is molded from and integral to the interior of the sidewalls 12 of the housing and protrudes therefrom, wherein the ledge 28 and the sidewalls 12 comprise a singular piece. The rack 24 can be placed directly on the integral ledge 28.

It is therefore submitted that the instant invention has been shown and described in various embodiments. It is recognized, however, that departures may be made within the scope of the invention and that obvious modifications will occur to a person skilled in the art. 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 cooler with raised rack, comprising: a housing having a base and a sidewall forming an interior volume with an open upper end;a lid pivotally secured to a top end of a sidewall and configured rotate between an open position and closed position;a raised ledge disposed within the interior volume of the housing and along an interior perimeter thereof;a rack having a frame with an outer perimeter dimensioned to fit within the interior volume to a close tolerance and rest on the raised ledge.

2) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, wherein the housing is rectangular in shape.

3) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, wherein the housing and lid comprise an insulating material having low heat conductance.

4) The cooler with raised rack of claim 3, wherein the insulating material of the housing and the lid comprises a shell having an outer layer and an inner layer and insulating material disposed therebetween;

5) The cooler with raised rack of claim 4, wherein the insulting material comprises air.

6) The cooler with raised rack of claim 4, wherein the insulating material comprises foam.

7) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, the lid further comprising a protruding rim running along an outer border thereof, the protruding rim configured to fit within the upper end of the housing to a close tolerance when the lid is in the closed position.

8) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, further comprising handles disposed on an exterior surface of the housing.

9) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, further comprising a latch disposed on the sidewall and the lid configured secure the lid in the closed position.

10) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, further comprising an aperture disposed on a bottom end of a sidewall, wherein the aperture opens into the interior volume and is configured to drain liquids therefrom.

11) The cooler with raised rack of claim 10, further comprising a plug configured to fit within the aperture to a close tolerance, sealing the aperture shut.

12) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, wherein the rack further comprises a plurality of rods configured to support solid items while allowing liquid to drain therethrough.

13) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, wherein the raised ledge comprises a frame of insulating material.

14) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, wherein the raised ledge is removable.

15) The cooler with raised rack of claim 1, wherein the raised ledge is integral to the interior of the sidewall of the housing and protrudes therefrom.