Patent Application
20250189201
A portion of the disclosure of this patent contains material that is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.
The present invention relates to an ice chest with a device to remove ice cubes without opening up the ice chest and optionally dispense water from melted ice.
The ice chest has been around for decades. It is an insulated box designed to put ice cubes in it for local dispensing or transport to a location. People who need ice for their drink can just open the lid of the ice chest and take whatever amount of ice they wish. While this works well, the frequent opening and closing of an ice chest leads to the ice quickly melting and becoming contaminated by particulate matter in the air or handling the ice directly. Since normally the ice chest is used away from an immediate source of more ice cubes, once the ice melts, there is no replacement of the ice.
The present invention relates to use of an auger to remove ice without the need to open the ice chest while any melted ice remains potable. Ice cubes used this way leads to several extra hours before the ice is melted or unusable.
Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a device for delivering ice from an ice chest without opening a lid of the ice chest comprising:
While this invention is susceptible to embodiment in many different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and will herein be described in detail, specific embodiments with the understanding that the present disclosure of such embodiments is to be considered as an example of the principles and not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the same, similar, or corresponding parts in the several views of the drawings. This detailed description defines the meaning of the terms used herein and specifically describes embodiments in order for those skilled in the art to practice the invention.
The terms “about” and “essentially” mean±10 percent.
The terms “a” or “an”, as used herein, are defined as one or as more than one. The term “plurality”, as used herein, is defined as two or as more than two. The term “another”, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having”, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled”, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically.
The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.
Reference throughout this document to “one embodiment”, “certain embodiments”, “an embodiment”, or similar terms means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearances of such phrases in various places throughout this specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments without limitation.
The term “or”, as used herein, is to be interpreted as an inclusive or meaning any one or any combination. Therefore, “A, B, or C” means any of the following: “A; B; C; A and B; A and C; B and C; A, B, and C”. An exception to this definition will occur only when a combination of elements, functions, steps, or acts are in some way inherently mutually exclusive.
It is further noted that the claims may be drafted to exclude any element which may be optional. As such, this statement is intended to serve as antecedent basis for use of such exclusive terminology as “solely”, “only” and the like in connection with the recitation of claim elements, or the use of a “negative” limitation.
The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. To the extent such publication may set out definitions of a term that conflict with the explicit or implicit definition of the present disclosure, the definition of the present disclosure controls.
As will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reading this disclosure, each of the individual embodiments described and illustrated herein has discrete components and features which may be readily separated from or combined with the features of any of the other several embodiments without departing from the scope or spirit of the present invention. Any recited method can be carried out in the order of events recited or in any other order which is logically possible.
The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.
As used herein, the term “device for delivering ice” refers to an ice chest having an auger or mechanical lever at the bottom of the ice chest. When the ice chest is filled with ice, engaging the auger or mechanical lever delivers the ice out a side of the ice chest without the need to open the lid of the ice chest. In one embodiment, the portion of the auger or mechanical lever outside the ice chest (out the side) can be closed to keep the ice cold, this embodiment could be a drawer (as seen in
As used herein, the term “ice chest” refers to an insulated, boxlike container with an insulated lid that can be filled with ice and used to provide ice for addition to drinks, but also to cool beverages, preserve food, and the like. Normally in the prior art if one wanted to take ice out of an ice chest, they would open the lid, take out some ice by hand, allowing particulate matter to enter leading to an unsanitary condition, and hopefully remember to close the lid. The constant opening and closing of the lid causes the ice to melt rapidly. By utilizing an auger or mechanical lever to remove the ice, the ice will stay frozen much longer since the lid is only opened to reload the ice chest with ice. This is especially useful outdoors during the warm months and provides sanitary handling.
As used herein, the term “lid” refers to the top lid of an ice chest which normally allows access to the entire content of the ice chest. It is insulated and when closed the entire ice chest is insulated.
As used herein, the term “interior bottom” refers to the inside bottom of an ice chest.
As used herein, the term “auger” refers to refers to a screw like device that when an object is placed on the far end and the auger is engaged it transports the object to the other end. In this case, it delivers ice through a side of the ice chest and out of the ice chest and to another container for use.
As used herein, the term “a side of the ice chest” refers to the lower part of any side of an ice chest since the auger will be placed on the bottom of the ice chest. If the ice chest is rectangular, in one embodiment, the side utilized is a short side of the rectangle.
As used herein “battery powered pump” refers to a pump which can remove melted ice without contamination. The battery can be an additional battery or use the same batter as the auger.
Now referring to the drawings.
Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials, and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.
