The present disclosure relates to a portable insulated container, namely, a portable cooler, and more particularly to a system for stacking a plurality of portable coolers.
A portable cooler typically has an insulated body presenting an open interior space in which ice and one or more articles to be cooled are stored. A lid, which can be hinged, and is also formed of insulative material, is provided on the cooler for closing the interior space in order to maintain the temperature of the articles in the cooler. Handles are usually secured to or formed in the cooler for facilitating transportation thereof, and a drain may be fitted in the body for draining water and other liquids from the cooler without opening the cover. The lid is provided with a flat top surface.
During transport and storage portable coolers can be stacked on top of one another. However, as these coolers are available is a variety of shapes and sizes, it can be difficult to optimally stack different shape and size coolers in a stable arrangement. The height and physical structure of conventional coolers also makes it difficult to stack such coolers in a stable arrangement.
The present disclosure provides a portable cooler stacking system, where portable coolers of different shapes and sizes can be optimally and stably stacked. The cooler system can include a first cooler having a first size and a second cooler having a second size, where the first and second sizes are different.
Each of the coolers includes an insulated body with a lower portion extending from the bottom thereof. The lower portion has a length less then the length of the insulated body, and a width less then the width of the insulated body, such that the edge of the lower portion is indented in from the bottom edge of the insulated body. Preferably, at least one of the coolers has a low profile.
The top surface of the insulated lid includes a raised outer edge having a height and thickness, such that the top surface has an inner length and an inner width less then the length and width of the lid. A curved surface extends between the raised outer edge and the top surface of the lid.
The raised outer edge of the lid is configured such that the lower portion of the insulated body can be fitted within the raised portion. In this manner, the inner length of the top surface of the lid is slightly greater then the length of the lower portion of the insulated body. Similarly, the inner width of the top surface of the lid is slightly greater then the width of the lower portion of the insulated body.
In an embodiment a pair of second coolers can be stacked on the first cooler, where the second coolers are positioned widthwise along the length of the lid of the first cooler. In this manner, an inner length of the top surface of the lid of the first cooler is slightly greater then the width of a lower portion of the insulated body of the second coolers and the inner width of the top surface of the lid of the first cooler greater then two times the width of the lower portion of the insulated body second. As such, two second coolers can be positioned widthwise along the length of the lid of the first cooler.
The edge of the lower portion of the insulated body of the second cooler can have a curved shape, which is substantially opposite to the curved surface extending between the raised outer edge and the top surface of the lid of the first cooler. When the insulated body of a first second cooler is stacked, positioned, on top of the insulated lid of the first cooler, these surfaces mate, interlock, to substantially limit the widthwise horizontal movement of the second cooler on the lid of the first cooler. When a second insulated body of a second second cooler is stacked, positioned, on top of the insulated lid of the first cooler, adjacent to the first second cooler, the adjacent position of the second coolers and the interlocking surfaces substantially limit the lengthwise horizontal movement of the pair of second cooler on the lid of the first cooler.
A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:
The present disclosure provides a system for stacking a plurality of insulated coolers, where the coolers can be the same size, or different sizes. Referring now to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in
Referring to
The insulated body 30 further includes a lower portion 34 extending from a bottom 36 of the insulated body 30 a distance hh. The lower portion 34 has a length l1, which is less than the length lL of the insulated body 30, and a width w1, which is less then the width wL, of the insulated body 30, such that the edge 36 of the lower portion 34 is indented in from the bottom edge 40 of the insulated body 30.
The insulated lid 32 is removably positionable on an open top end 42 of the insulated body 30 to seal an interior cavity of the insulating body 30. Referring to
The top surface 48 of the insulated lid 32 includes a raised outer edge 50 having a height he, and a thickness t, such that the top surface 48 has an inner length l2 and an inner width w2. A curved surface 52 extends between the raised outer edge 50 and the top surface 48 of the lid 32.
The raised outer edge 50 of the lid 32 is configured such that the lower portion 34 of the insulated body 30 can be fitted within the raised outer edge 50. In this manner, the inner length l2 of the top surface 48 of the lid 32 is slightly greater then the length l1 of the lower portion 34 of the insulated body 30. Similarly, the inner width w2 of the top surface 48 of the lid 32 is slightly greater then the width w1 of the lower portion 34 of the insulated body 30.
The edge 38 of the lower portion 34 of the insulated body 30 can have a curved shape, which is substantially opposite to the curved surface 52 extending between the raised outer edge 50 and the top surface 48 of the lid 32. When the insulated body 30 is stacked, positioned, on top of the insulated lid 32, these surfaces mate, interlock, to substantially limit horizontal movement between the stacked insulated body 30 and insulated lid 32. While the curved shape of the edge 38 of the lower portion 34 of the insulated body 30 and the curved surface 52 extending between the raised outer edge 50 and the top surface 48 of the lid 32 are depicted and described as being curved, any shape and configuration can be utilized which would interlock the surfaces to resist horizontal movement there between.
The lower portion 34 of the insulated body can further include a plurality of feet 54. The feet 54 can be spaced on opposite sides of the lower portion 34, extending along the length l1 of the lower portion 34. The feet can be used to provide an increased stability to the cooler 14. While only two feet are depicted, it is envision that the cooler 14 can include two or more feet positioned about the lower portion 34, to provide and increase stability. For example, the cooler 14 can include: three feet evenly spaced on the lower portion 34, and extending along either the length l1 or width w1 of the lower portion 34; four feet, one each positioned at each corner of the lower portion 34; five feet, one each positioned at each corner and the center of the lower portion 34; etc.
The first cooler 14 is shown having a height hL, which can be selected depending on the proposed use of the first cooler 14. For example, the cooler 14 can be a low profile cooler, where the height hL is selected to fit a beverage can or two conventional-sized baking dishes horizontally positioned on top of each other within the interior cavity. Alternatively, the height hL can be selected such that a 2-liter beverage bottle, a wine bottle, or a bottled beverage can be vertically positioned within the interior cavity of the cooler 14. The examples are only exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the height hL.
Referring to
The insulated body 60 further includes a lower portion 64 extending from a bottom 66 of the insulated body 60 a distance hb. The lower portion 64 has a length l3, which is less then the length ls of the insulated body 60, and a width w3, which is less then the width ws of the insulated body 60, such that the edge 66 of the lower portion 64 is indented in from the bottom edge 70 of the insulated body 60. The insulated body 60 can further include a rotatable handle 71, which can be used to carry the second cooler 16.
The insulated lid 62 is removably positionable on an open top end 42 of the insulating body 60 to seal the interior cavity of the insulating body 60. Referring to
The top surface 78 of the insulated lid 62 includes a raised outer edge 80 having a height he and a thickness t, such that the top surface 78 has an inner length l4 and an inner width w4. A curved surface 82 extends between the raised outer edge 80 and the top surface 78 of the lid 62.
The raised outer edge 80 of the lid 62 is configured such that the lower portion 64 of the insulated body 60 can be fitted within the raised outer edge 80. In this manner, the inner length l4 of the top surface 78 of the lid 62 is slightly greater then the length l3 of the lower portion 64 of the insulated body 60. Similarly, the inner width w4 of the top surface 78 of the lid 62 is slightly greater then the width w3 of the lower portion 64 of the insulated body 60.
The edge 68 of the lower portion 64 of the insulated body can have a curved shape, which substantially opposite to the curved surface 82 extending between the raised outer edge 80 and the top surface 78 of the lid 72. When an insulated body 60 is stacked, positioned, on top of the insulated lid 62, these surfaces mate, interlock, to substantially limit the horizontal movement between the stacked insulated body 60 and insulated lid 62. While the curved shape of the edge 68 of the lower portion 64 of the insulated body 60 and the curved surface 82 extending between the raised outer edge 80 and the top surface 78 of the lid 62 are depicted and described as being curved, any shape and configuration can be utilized which would interlock the surfaces to resist horizontal movement there between.
The lower portion 64 of the insulated body can further include a plurality of feet 64. The feet 84 can be spaced on opposite sided of the lower portion 64, extending along the length l3 of the lower portion 64. The feet can be used to provide an increased stability to the cooler 16. While only two feet are depicted, it is envisioned that the cooler 16 can include two or more feet positioned about the lower portion, to provide an increased stability. For example, the cooler can include: three feet evenly spaced on the lower portion 64, and extending along either the length l3 or width w3 of the lower portion 64; four feet, one each positioned at each corner of the lower portion 64; five feet, one each positioned at each corner and the center of the lower portion 64; etc.
The second cooler 16 is shown having a height hs, which can be selected depending on the proposed use of the second cooler 16. For example, the cooler 16 can be a low profile cooler, where the height hs is selected to fit a beverage can or two conventional-sized baking dishes horizontally positioned on top of each other within the interior cavity. Alternatively, the height hs can be selected such that a 2-liter beverage bottle, a wine bottle, or a bottled beverage can be vertically positioned within the interior cavity of the cooler 16. The examples are only exemplary in nature and are not intended to limit the height hs.
Referring to
The edge 68 of the lower portion 64 of the insulated body 60 of the second cooler 16 or 18 can have a curved shape, which is substantially opposite to the curved surface 52 extending between the raised outer edge 50 and the top surface 48 of the lid 32 of the first cooler 14. When insulated body 60 of a first second cooler 16 is stacked, positioned, on top of the insulated lid 32 of the first cooler 14, these surfaces mate, interlock, to substantially limit the widthwise horizontal movement of the second cooler 16 on the lid 32 of the first cooler 14. When a second insulated body 60 of a second second cooler 18 is stacked, positioned, on top of the insulated lid 32 of the first cooler 14, adjacent to the first second cooler 16, the adjacent position of the second coolers 16 and 28 and the interlocking surfaces substantially limit the lengthwise horizontal movement of the pair of second cooler 16, 18 on the lid 32 of the first cooler 14.
In the alternative, the lids of any of the coolers could be hingedly attached to the body of the cooler, provided that such hinges are positioned in a manner so as not to interfere with the stacking aspect of the coolers. Coolers having different handle configurations other than those shown, for example molded-in handles having a different shape or side, sliding or folding handles tubular handles, as well as pivotable over-the-cooler handles and other conventionally-known handles, to fall within the scope of the present invention. It is similarly within the scope of the present invention for any of the coolers to comprise additional aspects and features such as wheels or additional storage compartments. It should also be understood that coolers of the present invention may be of different shapes and sizes than shown herein, but having a similar stacking lid structure to enable stacking of more than one cooler in a stable position.
In the stacking of the second coolers 16 and 18 on the first cooler 14, it is noted that the outside facing side surfaces and the front and back surfaces of the second coolers 16, 18 and the side surfaces, front, and back surfaces of the first cooler are substantially aligned.
Referring to
Another embodiment of the present invention comprises a folding card for use with one or more stackable coolers. As shown in
When in use, cart pieces 114, 116 are unfolded and placed in a linear relationship and the latch 120 is locked to stabilize cart 100. When not in use, as shown in
All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety.
It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/US09/56082 | 9/4/2009 | WO | 00 | 5/23/2011 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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61094772 | Sep 2008 | US |