Patent Application
20250207840
The present invention generally relates to the field of portable cooling devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to a novel portable electric cooler that provides cooling. The cooler includes an insulated body with wheels for easy transport. The cooler also includes handles for carrying the cooler, an ice-free refrigeration compartment capable of maintaining items cold for up to 48 hours on a single charge of an internal battery, a temperature controller for setting the refrigeration temperature, an automatic cover lift for hands-free access to the refrigeration area, a child power lock mechanism to prevent unintended access, a plurality of LED illumination sources controlled by a light control button for visibility in low light conditions, a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging and overheating of the internal battery, and a temperature control module for maintaining a temperature within the refrigeration area. Accordingly, the present disclosure makes specific reference thereto. Nonetheless, it is to be appreciated that aspects of the present invention are also equally applicable to other like applications, devices, and methods of manufacture.
By way of background, individuals carry and enjoy beverages at campsites, picnics, road trips, and more. Generally, beverages are carried using a cooler, and ice is used for keeping the beverages cold. However, it is very difficult to store ice as the ice melts due to its natural tendency if not kept at an optimum temperature. Also, sometimes at remote places where ice is not available readily, the users may run out of ice and the beverages do not remain cold enough to consume instantly. More specifically, when transporting a cooler full of beverages and other items, especially when using the cooler while camping or in other outdoor settings, conventional coolers are not able to keep items cold without ice. Also, conventional coolers have several other challenges as well, such as limited cooling time, inconsistent temperature, and mess created by the melting of ice.
The melting of ice may cause bad smells in beverages due to sudden/gradual drop in temperature. In cases where food items are kept in a conventional cooler, the food items can sour or smell foul if left for longer periods of time. Consequently, the process of cooling the contents/beverages in conventional coolers may be tiring for a user, as the users need to add ice from time to time and the cooler becomes heavy due to the weight of ice along with the contents/beverages.
Many individuals resort to storing beverages in high quality insulated bottles designed with advanced insulation technology, to keep the beverages refreshingly cold for hours, even under the scorching sun. However, such bottles may not work for soda drinks as soda drinks need to be tightly canned in order to keep the carbonation intact while consuming. Furthermore, such bottles also work for a few hours typically, thereby restricting their usefulness to a portion or fraction of a single day. The insulated bottles are also bulky to handle as the weight of insulation is more in these bottles as compared to normal bottles.
Another conventional method of keeping the beverages cold is freezing beverages. For example, individuals often maximize the coolness of the beverages by freezing them before starting any trip. However, the frozen beverage volume can increase beyond the interior volume of the beverage container and compromise the integrity of the container.
Additionally, while camping or other outings, many other utilities are required as well such as a charging station, speaker, light, etc. However, the conventional coolers are restricted to function as a cooler only. There is a need for an electric device which can provide multiple functions that are operated with electricity.
Therefore, there exists a long-felt need in the art for a cooler device that can be used to keep the beverages cold while camping or other outdoor settings. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can keep the beverage cold as well as hold other utilities in it such as a charging station, temperature controlling, child locks, and speakers. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can be charged to keep things cold with refrigeration for longer periods in a single charge. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can keep beverages cold, as well as other contents fresh at the same time. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a portable cooler device that is easy to carry and provides cooling without requiring ice. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that is inexpensive to manufacture, safe, and easy to use.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a portable electric cooler for providing cooling of beverages without ice. The cooler further comprises an insulated and durable body which includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall. A plurality of rotating wheels are disposed at bottom corner ends of the body, each wheel is 360-degrees rotatable to enable maneuverability on various surfaces. At least one solar panel is disposed on the top surface of the body for absorbing solar energy and converting it into electric power. The cooler includes a refrigeration area adapted to provide ice-free refrigeration, wherein a hinged lid is pivotally attached to the cooler and is capable of transitioning between an open position for providing access to the refrigeration area and a closed position for sealing the refrigeration area. An internal battery provides electric power for providing refrigeration to the refrigeration area. The cooler includes a child power lock mechanism to prevent unintended access, a plurality of LED illumination sources controlled by a light control button for visibility in low light conditions, a Bluetooth speaker, and a plurality of charging accessory plugs.
In this manner, the portable electric cooler of the present invention accomplishes all of the foregoing objectives and provides users with a multipurpose portable electric cooler designed to keep drinks/contents cold without the need for ice. The multipurpose portable electric cooling system of the present invention is convenient and enables a user to effortlessly use the cooler by rolling it along with the help of a long handle and wheels. The cooler provides charging ports, Bluetooth speaker, lights, child locks, temperature setting, and voltage setting for multifunctional use.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some general concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one embodiment thereof, comprises a portable electric cooler for providing cooling. The cooler further comprises an insulated and durable body which includes a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall. A plurality of rotating wheels are disposed at bottom corner ends of the body, each wheel is 360-degrees rotatable to enable maneuverability on various surfaces. At least one solar panel is disposed on the top surface of the body for absorbing solar energy and converting it into electric power. The cooler includes a refrigeration area adapted to provide ice-free refrigeration, wherein a hinged lid is pivotally attached to the cooler and is capable of transitioning between an open position for providing access to the refrigeration area and a closed position for sealing the refrigeration area.
In another aspect, an easily maneuverable portable electric cooler designed to keep items cold without ice is disclosed. The electric cooler includes an insulated and durable body including a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, and a bottom wall. A long pivoting handle is attached to the rear wall using a hinge, the long handle is capable of being locked in an installed position for pushing or pulling the cooler. A small handle is disposed on the front wall for additional maneuverability of the cooler. A plurality of LEDs are disposed on at least one side wall for providing illumination and aesthetic appearance and a light control button is disposed for activating and deactivating the LEDs. A refrigeration area coupled with a refrigeration unit for providing cooling to the stored items.
In another embodiment, the electric cooler includes a plurality of accessory plugs disposed within the body for providing electric power to connected accessories, an internal rechargeable battery for powering the cooler and connected accessories, an automatic disablement feature for the accessory plugs when the battery charge falls below a predetermined level, and a charging plug for recharging the internal battery, including a plug holder for storing the charging plug when not in use.
In yet another embodiment, a portable electric cooler is disclosed. The cooler comprises an insulated housing body, a plurality of wheels disposed at corner ends of the body for maneuverability on various surfaces, a refrigeration area disposed within the housing body for ice-free refrigeration of items for up to 48 hours, a hinged lid adapted to transition between an open position for accessing the refrigeration area and a closed position sealing the refrigeration area, an internal rechargeable battery, a charging plug for recharging the battery, a temperature control module for adjusting the temperature of the refrigeration area, operable through a temperature controller on the housing body, a voltage regulator for managing the electric power supplied to the internal components, including the refrigeration unit providing cooling in the refrigeration area, and an integrated Bluetooth speaker for audio playback.
In a further embodiment, a portable and maneuverable electric cooler is disclosed. The cooler includes an insulated and durable body with integrated 360-degree rotatable wheels for enhanced maneuverability across different terrains, an ice-free refrigeration compartment capable of maintaining items cold for up to 48 hours on a single charge of an internal battery, a power button for activating the cooler, a temperature controller for setting the refrigeration temperature, and an automatic cover lift for hands-free access to the refrigeration area, a child power lock mechanism to prevent unintended access, a plurality of LED illumination sources controlled by a light control button for visibility in low light conditions, a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging and overheating of the internal battery, and a temperature control module for maintaining a temperature within the refrigeration area that is adjustable via the temperature controller to prevent freezing of beverages stored in the refrigeration area.
Numerous benefits and advantages of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art to which it pertains upon reading and understanding of the following detailed specification.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and are intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.
As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a cooler device that can be used to keep the beverages cold while camping or other outdoor settings. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can keep the beverage cold as well as hold other utilities in it such as a charging station, temperature controlling, child locks, and speakers. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can be charged to keep things cold with refrigeration for longer periods in a single charge. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can keep the beverage cold as well as fresh at the time. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a portable cooler device that is easy to carry and provides cooling without requiring ice. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that is inexpensive to manufacture, safe, and easy to use.
The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a portable and easily maneuverable electric cooler is disclosed. The cooler includes an insulated and durable body with integrated 360-degree rotatable wheels for enhanced maneuverability across different terrains, an ice-free refrigeration compartment capable of maintaining items cold for up to 48 hours on a single charge of an internal battery, a power button for activating the cooler, a temperature controller for setting the refrigeration temperature, and an automatic cover lift for hands-free access to the refrigeration area, a child power lock mechanism to prevent unintended access, a plurality of LED illumination sources controlled by a light control button for visibility in low light conditions, a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging and overheating of the internal battery, and a temperature control module for maintaining a temperature within the refrigeration area that is adjustable via the temperature controller to prevent freezing of beverages stored in the refrigeration area.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The body 102 has a first side wall 108, a second side wall 110, a front wall 112, a rear wall 114, and a bottom wall 116. The top surface 118 includes at least one solar panel 120 for absorbing solar energy and converting the absorbed solar energy into electric power for the functioning of the electric portable cooler 100. A refrigeration area 122 is disposed in the cooler 100 and is adapted to provide ice-free refrigeration to beverages and other items. A hinged lid 124 is pivotally attached to the top edge 125 of the second side wall 110 and provides protection and cover to the refrigeration area 122. The hinged lid 124 is adapted to transition from an open position (Arrow A) in which the refrigeration area 122 is accessible to store and access items to a closed position (
The hinged lid 124 is connected to an elongated and flexible cord 126 which extends between the front wall 112 and the inner surface 128 of the hinged lid 124. The cord 126 helps in holding the hinged lid 124 in the open position in which the hinged lid 124 departs away from the second side wall 110 an angle. The cord 126 prevents the hinged lid 124 from falling toward the second side wall 110 of the housing body 102. The inner surface 128 of the hinged lid 124 includes a sealing protrusion 130 in the form of a foam or any other similar material to completely seal the refrigeration area 122 when the hinged lid 124 is in a closed position.
Referring to
Referring to
A power button 142 is disposed on the first side wall 108 for activating and deactivating the refrigeration of the cooler device 100. The power button 142 is adapted to disconnect the electric supply to the refrigeration area 122. The multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 includes a built-in temperature regulation mechanism operated by a temperature controller 144. The temperature controller 144 is preferably in the form of a knob that can be rotated in one direction (such as clockwise; Arrow C) to increase the temperature of the refrigeration area 122 and rotated in the opposite direction (such as counterclockwise; Arrow D) to decrease the temperature of the refrigeration area 122.
The portable electric cooler 100 includes a child power lock mechanism that prevents opening of the hinged lid 124 for accessing the refrigeration area 122. A power lock button 146 disposed on the first side wall 108 can be activated to lock the hinged lid 124. An automatic cover lift button 148 enables a user to automatically (i.e., autonomously) lift the hinged lid 124 from the closed position to the open position for accessing the refrigeration area 122.
A plurality of accessory plugs 150 are disposed in the cooler body 102 for providing electric power to one or more connected accessories such as smartphones and external lights. Preferably, each accessory plug 150 is adapted to provide 110 V supply and electric charge can be updated based on the requirements of users. In some embodiments, when the internal battery 152 of the electric cooler device 100 is less than 10% charged, then, accessory plugs 150 are automatically (i.e., autonomously) disabled.
For recharging the internal rechargeable battery 152 of the cooler device 100, a charging plug 154 is included which can be plugged into any conventional electric supply. The charging plug 154 includes a cord 156 which is internally connected to the battery controller for recharging the internal battery 152. A plug holder 158 is disposed in the body 102 for receiving and accommodating the charging plug 154 when the charging plug 154 is not used for recharging the internal battery 152.
A voltage regulator 404 is adapted to regulate the voltage supplied to the internal battery 152. The voltage regulator 404 transfers supply from the received external power through the cord 156 to the internal battery 152. The electric power produced by the solar panel 120 is transferred to the LEDs 138 and speaker 160 using the voltage regulator 404. The voltage regulator 404 also prevents overcharging and overheating of the internal battery 152. The voltage regulator 404 also provides power to the refrigeration unit 406 which provides cooling in the refrigeration area 122.
Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein “portable electric cooler”, “portable electric cooler”, “portable cooler”, “all-in-one portable cooler”, “multifunctional portable electric cooler”, and “cooler” are interchangeable and refer to the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 of the present invention.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.
Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
The present application claims priority to, and the benefit of, U.S. Provisional Application No. 63/613,204, which was filed on Dec. 21, 2023, and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63613204 | Dec 2023 | US |
