PORTABLE BEVERAGE CHEST

Abstract

A portable beverage chest comprises a floor having one or more upstanding sidewalls depending from the floor. The floor and sidewalls defining a storage area between the floor and sidewalls. The exterior surface of one or more of the upstanding sidewalls mutually join the collar and form a recess. The recess may be used to apply a strap, cord, or bungee thereabouts to secure the chest to an object without obstructing the cover and access to the contents protected by the cover.

Description

II. FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This application discloses claims and embodiments generally related to a portable beverage chest, and more particularly, a portable beverage chest having a recess adjacent the cover.

III. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of beverage and food chests and/or cooler apparatuses have been conceived and attempted, with particular emphasis on maintaining temperature and accommodating a variety of storage volumes. Popular beverage and food chest apparatuses and/or systems are presently offered by a number of organizations, including IGLOO®, YETI®, COLEMAN®, RTIC®, and many others.

However, the aforementioned product offerings continue to suffer from several deficiencies. For example, many beverage chests are difficult to secure to another object, especially one utilized for transporting the items from one location to another. In particular, to secure one of the coolers presently offered on the market, a strap or straps has to be positioned over the top of the lid or through the little slits formed under the lid. While the position of the strap or straps are available options, such options are problematic for a number of reasons. Weaving a strap or straps through the slit(s) is/are time-consuming. Or, to place one or more straps requires an expensive option to have custom-fabricated metal latches to form the slits and provide a means for attaching the strap(s).

Another problem that results from the placement or attachment of strap(s) to coolers is the inaccessibility of the cooler and its contents. By placing a strap over the top of the cooler, the cooler lid is rendered immobile and the contents of the cooler inaccessible, even if for a temporary moment. To generate lid mobility and accessibility to the contents of the cooler, the strap(s) must be repositioned, usually from undoing the connection and/or tension placed on the strap(s) that maintain the cooler in its relative position to the object or article to which it is attached. For multiple users of a cooler, the persistent need to remove and reattach the strap(s) to enter and then re-secure the cooler and its content is a discouragement to even use the cooler to begin.

Accordingly, there remains a need for improvements to beverage and food chests.

IV. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A portable beverage chest comprise a floor having an upstanding sidewall depending therefrom, the floor and the upstanding sidewall defining a storage area on the interior and the floor and upstanding sidewall having curvilinear surfaces; a collar disposed at an upper margin of the upstanding sidewall, the collar having a perimeter extending beyond the upper margin of the upstanding sidewall, the collar and upstanding sidewall defining a recess therebetween; and a cover coupled to the collar along one side, the cover articulated between an open and closed position.

A portable beverage chest comprises a cell for storing contents, the cell comprising a floor and a plurality of upstanding sidewalls depending from the floor, the floor comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein the interior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration with curvilinear perimeter along the long-sides, short-sides, and corners of the exterior surface of the floor; the plurality of upstanding sidewalls comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein each one of the upstanding sidewalls comprises a lower margin that mutually couples or joins the floor and an opposing upper margin, and wherein the interior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls each comprise substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls comprise a curvilinear configuration, wherein the bases of each upstanding sidewall is wider than the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, and wherein the exterior surfaces between the base and the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall comprise a curvilinear configuration; a collar disposed at the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar having a perimeter extending beyond the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar and each upstanding sidewall defining a recess therebetween; and a cover coupled to the collar along one side, the cover articulated between an open and closed position.

In another embodiment, a portable beverage chest comprises a cell for storing contents, the cell comprising a floor and a plurality of upstanding sidewalls depending from the floor; the floor comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein the interior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration with curvilinear perimeter along the long-sides, short-sides, and corners of the exterior surface of the floor; the plurality of upstanding sidewalls comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein each one of the upstanding sidewalls comprises a lower margin that mutually couples or joins the floor and an opposing upper margin, and wherein the interior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls each comprise substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls comprise a curvilinear configuration, wherein the bases of each upstanding sidewall is wider than the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, and wherein the exterior surfaces between the base and the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall comprise a curvilinear configuration;. a collar disposed at the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar having a perimeter extending beyond the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar and each upstanding sidewall defining a recess therebetween; and a cover coupled to the collar along one side by a hinge, the cover articulated between an open and closed position, wherein the cover and collar are coupled by a fastener along an opposing side.

V. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)

The advantages and features of the invention and the respective embodiments will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective top-view of a portable beverage chest;

FIG. 2 is a perspective top-view of the chest of FIG. 1 with the cover opened;

FIG. 3 is a top-view of the chest of FIG. 1 with the cover opened;

FIG. 4 is a top-view of the chest of FIG. 1 with the cover closed;

FIG. 5 is a front-view of the chest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom-view of the chest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side-view of the chest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional side-view of the chest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional front-view of the chest of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 is an exploded view of the gasket; and

FIG. 11 is an exploded side-view of the drain.

VI. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT(S)

It will be readily understood that the components of the present invention, as generally described and illustrated in the figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following detailed description of the embodiments, as represented in the attached figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the invention as claimed, but is merely representative of selected embodiments of the invention.

The features, structures, or characteristics of the invention described throughout this specification may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments. For example, the usage of the phrases “example embodiments”, “some embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification refers to the fact that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, appearances of the phrases “example embodiments”, “in some embodiments”, “in other embodiments”, or other similar language, throughout this specification do not necessarily all refer to the same group of embodiments, and the described features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

Consistent with the illustrations FIG. 1 through FIG. 11, a portable beverage chest 10 comprises a cell 12 serving as a storage area, the cell 12 defined by a floor 12a and one or more upstanding sidewall(s) 12b. The cell 12 is enclosed by a cover, top, or lid 14. The cell 12 may be divided to form multiple compartments 13a, 13b via a removable dividing wall 13. The dividing wall 13 is secured by one or more troughs 28 formed in the floor 12a, or the sidewall(s) 12b-12e, and/or a combination of the floor 12a and one or more sidewalls 12b-12e.

In one embodiment, the cell 12 comprises a floor 12a and a plurality of upstanding sidewalls 12b-12e depending from the floor 12a. More particularly, the cell 12 comprises a floor 12a having an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween. The interior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration. The exterior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration with curvilinear perimeter along the long-sides, short-sides, and corners of the exterior surface of the floor 12a. The exterior surface of the floor 12a further includes a plurality of foot pads 18.

Similarly, the cell 12 comprises a plurality of upstanding sidewalls 12b-12e having an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween. Each one of the upstanding sidewalls 12b-12e comprises a lower margin that mutually couples or joins the floor 12a and an opposing upper margin. The interior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls 12b-12e each comprise substantially flat, planar configuration. The interior surface of the floor 12a and the interior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls 12b-12e are mutually coupled and form approximate orthogonal junctions. The exterior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls 12b-12e comprise a curvilinear configuration, wherein the bases of each upstanding sidewall 12b-12e is wider and thicker as measured from the interior surfaces of each upstanding sidewall 12b-12e as compared to the peak of each upstanding sidewall 12b-12e. The exterior surfaces between the base and the peak of each upstanding sidewall 12b-12e comprise a curvilinear configuration.

The cover 14 comprises an outer surface 14a and an inner surface 14b. When deployed in a closed position (so as to enclose the contents within cell 12), the cover 14 engages a collar 16. Along one of its sides, the cover 14 may be permanently, semi-permanently, or removably affixed/attached to the collar 16, providing means for articulation for opening and closing the cover 14 relative to the cell 12. The collar 16 may include a latch 26 having an opener for removing beverage bottle tops or otherwise manipulating closures of beverage containers. The cover 14 and collar 16 may be temporarily secured together via one or more straps or fasteners 30.

The collar 16 is diposed adjacent to and abuts the upper margin of each sidewall 12b-12e. The collar 16 comprises a substantially planar body forming a continuous band or halo having an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter. The substantially planar body arrangement and continuous band/halo configurations provides a means or manner by which the cover 14 may be securely received and supported in a closed position and forming a generally air-tight seal to protect the contents placed in the storage area of cell 12. The outer perimeter of the collar 16 exceeds the outer perimeter formed by the upper margins of the sidewalls 12b-12e. The convergence of collar 16 and the upper margin of each sidewall 12b-12e forms and defines a recess or alcove 15.

The recess or alcove 15 provides a way, manner, or means for securing the cooler 10 to another object without obstructing movement of the cover 14 and access to the beverage and/or food contents within the storage area of the cooler 10. Preferably, the recess or alcover 15 has a depth sufficient to accommodate the thickness of a cargo strap or the like (approximately 0.25 inches). More preferably, the recess or alcove 15 has a depth sufficient to accommodate the thickness or diameter of standard cord and/or bungee.

With the recess or alcove 15, and utilizing a cargo strap, cord, bungee, or the like, the cooler 16 may be secured or affixed to an object in a manner that inhibits the strap from slipping or shifting especially upward. Providing the recess or alcove 15 reduces the frequency by which the strap(s) are handled, improving the stability and security of the cooler 10 to the object it is attached, and maintaining unobstructed access to the storage area of the cooler 10 (and the contents thereof). By providing the recess or alcove 15, the need for placing straps or other securing means over the cover 14 is obviated.

Alternatively, and consistent with the embodiment depicted in FIG. 4 and FIG. 7, a channel 20 may be formed in the exterior surface of the cover 14. The channel 20 comprises a recess for accommodating and retaining a linearly elongated band such as a strap, cord, bungee, or other means for tying and/or securing the chest 10 to an object or article. In one embodiment, the channel 20 traverses the width of the exterior surface of the cover 14. In another embodiment, the channel 20 traverses the width of the exterior surface of the cover 14 and along at least one side or edge of the cover 14 adjacent the exterior surface. In another embodiment, the channel 20 traverses the width of the exterior surface of the cover 14 and along each one of the two opposing sides or edges of the cover 14 adjacent the exterior surface. In an alternate embodiment, the channel 20 may further include one or more cylindrical voids 20a, 20b that can house and retain a cylindrical vessel, such as a tumbler, cup, mug, or the like.

The chest 10 may also include one or more handles 22 for grasping, controlling, and/or manipulating the physical location of the chest 10. The handle(s) 22 may include a variety of configurations and materials, including a variety of plastics, metal, wood, nylon, natural fiber(s), and/or a blend or mix of these materials. Preferably, the handle(s) 22 depend from the underside of collar 14 and spaced apart from the coupling of the collar 14 and the upper margin of sidewalls 12b-12e. Providing handle(s) 22 spaced apart from the coupling of collar 14 and sidewalls 12b-12e maintains a space or gap that allows placement of any cargo strap, cord, bungee, or other similar means for securing the chest 10 along its lateral perimeter.

Consistent with FIG. 9 and FIG. 11, the chest 10 may also include a drain 24 for assisting in evacuation or removal of liquid contents from the cell 12 and storage area. The drain 24 is envisioned to comprise a threaded or rotable plug for opening and closing the conduit. The drain 24 is accessible from the outside of the chest 10.

Consistent with FIG. 9 and FIG. 10, the chest 10 may also include a gasket 26 that enhances the sealing of the cover 14 with the collar 16 and preserving and securing the contents of the cell 12. The gasket 26 may comprise a variety of materials. It is envisioned that the gasket 26 may comprise silicon, rubber, a variety of thermoplastics or polymers, or a combination thereof.

Accordingly, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception upon which the application and claims are based may be readily utilized as a basis for the design of other structures, methods, and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the embodiments and claims presented in this application. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions.

Furthermore, the purpose of the foregoing Abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially including the practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent and legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The Abstract is neither intended to define the claims of the application, nor is it intended to be limiting to the scope of the claims in any way. It is intended that the application is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A portable beverage chest comprises: a floor having an upstanding sidewall depending therefrom, the floor and the upstanding sidewall defining a storage area on the interior and the floor and upstanding sidewall having curvilinear surfaces;a collar disposed at an upper margin of the upstanding sidewall, the collar having a perimeter extending beyond the upper margin of the upstanding sidewall, the collar and upstanding sidewall defining a recess therebetween; anda cover coupled to the collar along one side, the cover articulated between an open and closed position.

2. A portable beverage chest comprises: a cell for storing contents, the cell comprising a floor and a plurality of upstanding sidewalls depending from the floor;the floor comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein the interior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration with curvilinear perimeter along the long-sides, short-sides, and corners of the exterior surface of the floor;the plurality of upstanding sidewalls comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein each one of the upstanding sidewalls comprises a lower margin that mutually couples or joins the floor and an opposing upper margin, and wherein the interior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls each comprise substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls comprise a curvilinear configuration, wherein the bases of each upstanding sidewall is wider than the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, and wherein the exterior surfaces between the base and the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall comprise a curvilinear configuration;.a collar disposed at the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar having a perimeter extending beyond the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar and each upstanding sidewall defining a recess therebetween; anda cover coupled to the collar along one side, the cover articulated between an open and closed position.

3. The portable beverage chest of claim 2, wherein the cover is coupled to the collar by at least one hinge.

4. The portable beverage chest of claim 2, wherein the cover further comprises a channel formed in the exterior surface.

5. The portable beverage chest of claim 4, wherein the channel comprises a recess accommodating a linearly elongated band for securing the chest to an object.

6. The portable beverage chest of claim 5, wherein the channel traverses the width of the exterior surface of the cover.

7. The portable beverage chest of claim 5, wherein the channel traverses the width of the exterior surface of the cover and one side of the cover adjacent the exterior surface.

8. The portable beverage chest of claim 5, wherein the channel traverses the width of the exterior surface of the cover and the opposing sides of the cover each adjacent to the exterior surface.

9. The portable beverage chest of claim 5, wherein the channel comprises at least one cylindrical chamber for housing and retaining a cylindrical vessel.

10. The portable beverage chest of claim 2, wherein the exterior surface of the floor comprises a plurality of feet.

11. The portable beverage chest of claim 2, wherein the collar comprises a latch having a bottle opener integrated therewith.

12. The portable beverage chest of claim 2 further comprising a plurality of handles.

13. The portable beverage chest of claim 12, wherein the plurality of handles depend from the underside of collar and spaced apart from the coupling of the collar and the upper margin of sidewalls.

14. The portable beverage chest of claim 2 further comprising a drain.

15. The portable beverage chest of claim 14, wherein the drain is in fluid communication with the storage area of the cell.

16. The portable beverage chest of claim 2 further comprising a gasket disposed between the cover and the collar to form a seal therebetween.

17. The portable beverage chest of claim 2 further comprising a dividing wall.

18. The portable beverage chest of claim 17, wherein the dividing wall is inserted into a trough formed in the cell.

19. A portable beverage chest comprising: a cell for storing contents, the cell comprising a floor and a plurality of upstanding sidewalls depending from the floor;the floor comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein the interior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surface comprises a substantially flat, planar configuration with curvilinear perimeter along the long-sides, short-sides, and corners of the exterior surface of the floor;the plurality of upstanding sidewalls comprises an interior surface and an exterior surface having a thickness therebetween, wherein each one of the upstanding sidewalls comprises a lower margin that mutually couples or joins the floor and an opposing upper margin, and wherein the interior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls each comprise substantially flat, planar configuration, and wherein the exterior surfaces of the upstanding sidewalls comprise a curvilinear configuration, wherein the bases of each upstanding sidewall is wider than the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, and wherein the exterior surfaces between the base and the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall comprise a curvilinear configuration;.a collar disposed at the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar having a perimeter extending beyond the upper margin of each upstanding sidewall, the collar and each upstanding sidewall defining a recess therebetween; anda cover coupled to the collar along one side by a hinge, the cover articulated between an open and closed position, wherein the cover and collar are coupled by a fastener along an opposing side.

20. The portable beverage chest of claim 19, wherein the exterior surface of the floor comprises a plurality of feet.