Patent Application
20180238607
Existing conventional ice chest/coolers are a continuous insulated body with the access point being the lid(s) on top. This can cause difficulties when different products are stored in said ice chest. Difficulties include potential cold hands from searching through ice for a beverage, and more so, for a particular beverage. Food product, even when stored in containers, are disturbed through transportation and from sifting for beverages or other. Some containers become crushed or open and expose contents to mix with ice. If raw meat is stored in ice chest/cooler, it can discharge contaminated liquid onto ice and other items in ice chest. The ice itself is often deemed not suitable or preferred for use as drinking ice for a beverage.
Worst case is that the ice and other contents become contaminated with salmonella poisoning from raw meat stored in ice chest. Most raw meat packages tend to not be packaged in leakproof packages. Even when the package is additionally stored inside of a typical non-leakproof plastic supermarket bag, both have a tendency to mix with liquids in the ice chest, allowing the raw meat liquid to escape the packaging and typical supermarket bag. Once that liquid leaks out, it can easily contaminate all contents, including foods, beverage cans and bottles, as well as the ice.
Food is best stored away from ice and water, as long as refrigeration temperatures are maintained. It also helps tremendously in avoiding cross contamination and possible salmonella poisoning.
The object of the invention of this ice chest/cooler with door, is to provide a solution to the problems associated with existing conventional ice chests/coolers. When separating food and beverage from ice, the key is having a means for the ice to be able to chill the food and beverages to refrigerator temperatures. The wall door allows easy ‘paddle latch’ access to a chilled drawer compartment. The drawer system provides storage organization and separation in pull out, leakproof drawers and helps prevent cross contamination between foods and beverages and with the ice and possible salmonella poisoning when the potential exists. The other compartment is dedicated to ice storage and the two compartments are separated by a porous mesh divider wall. Because of the mesh divider and the air space between the drawers, chilled air is able to circulate and chill the drawer compartment to refrigerator temperatures. This is only accomplished with chilled air having direct access to the food. Even a drawer within an enclosed space in a cooler will not chill sufficiently because of no direct contact with the chilled air.
Ice is only in contact with itself which maintains clean ice for use with beverages in cups. Ice melt should accrue at a slow rate, with the separated compartments reducing open exposure of the ice while using the wall door for access to food and beverages. And when the ice lid is opened for access to the ice only, the drawer side's open exposure is reduced.
Ice melt that does occur is accumulated in a substantial reservoir at the bottom of the ice chest/cooler and when it is present, it contributes to the chilling of the drawer compartment air. It is also expected that melted ice would not come in contact with any stored product, and render it potable water, an additional benefit if desired. Alternate versions could consist of an upright version with ice storage above or below the drawer compartment. Other alternate versions could consist of direct access to individual drawers in the wall of the ice chest without the need of a wall door.
The drawings embody the ideas, characteristics and unique functions of the ice chest/cooler with door. A prototype was also developed for proof of concept. However, the application, as defined by the drawings, description and all appended claims, should be understood to not limit the invention to the particulars of the embodiment submitted. The intention is to cover modifications, equivalents and alternatives falling within spirit and scope of the present application.
To further illustrate and clarify the embodiments of this application, drawings will be referenced for better understanding of mode of use, objectives and advantages.
Drawings will be referenced with the prefix FIG.
FIG. ‘Front Page View’
This ice chest-cooler with door will separate food, beverages and ice and will chill the food and beverages to refrigerator-like temperatures because of the open air transfer design. Cross contamination of foods is greatly reduced. This present invention will operate much like a small mobile refrigerator, with a fridge side accessed by a door and an ice side, accessed through a top lid. It is to provide a solution for organization and ease of use in an ice chest/cooler.
FIG. ‘Front Page View’ depicts a front view for the overall view of the ice chest-cooler with door.
Alternate versions could consist of an upright version with ice storage above or below the door/drawer compartment. Other alternate versions could consist of direct access to individual drawers in the wall of the ice chest without the need of a wall door.
The particular embodiments of this ‘ice chest/cooler with door’ invention may be modified that one of ordinary skill would deem appropriate and be within the scope and spirit of the application. In that consideration, protection is sought herein as set forth in the description.
