Abstract:
A portable cooler apparatus that is used to cool liquids and perishable food items simultaneously while not contaminating the liquid is disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus includes a container, a lid, a telescoping member, and a tray. These items are coupled in such a way that the desired result of refrigeration and non-contaminated drinking liquid is simultaneously provided.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to a liquid dispensing portable cooler apparatus, and more particularly, to a liquid dispensing portable cooler apparatus that includes a telescoping member with a tray to hold food and beverage containers within the cooler. The tray of the portable cooler apparatus allows food and beverage containers to be separated from drinking liquid within the container while at the same time pressing ice into the drinking liquid in order to immediately cool the liquid. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Liquid dispensing portable coolers are well known. In general, these liquid dispensing coolers are used to keep liquids cold while away from refrigeration and allow users to dispense cold beverages from the cooler to consume. It is desirable to keep contaminants and debris out of the cold liquid in the dispensing cooler because the liquid is usually used as a beverage for people. However, it is sometimes desirable to use the liquid dispensing cooler to cool perishable food and keep bottled/canned beverages cold while at the same time having a clean beverage to dispense for consumption. 
         [0003]    The ice and/or cooled liquid in the liquid dispensing cooler can provide the cooling needed to keep food items, such as sandwiches or fruit, and bottled or canned beverages cool. In this type of situation it is desirable to keep the food items and bottled/canned beverage items separate from the liquid in the liquid dispensing cooler. If the food items and/or bottled/canned beverages are combined with the liquid in the cooler, the liquid can become contaminated, and the food items will get wet which may be undesirable. 
         [0004]    The prior art shows some of the solutions that have been created to aid in solving the problem of separating the food and bottled/canned beverage items separate from the liquid in the liquid dispensing cooler. However, none of these prior art designs solve the problem of using a standard sized portable liquid dispensing cooler that separates the solid items from the liquid. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    As such, the present invention is directed to a liquid dispensing portable cooler that provides a separation between the cooled liquid to be dispensed and food and/or bottled/canned beverage items. 
         [0006]    The current invention includes a container and a removable lid with an inside and an outside and a tray. The lid further comprises a telescoping member that is coupled to the inside of the lid. The tray further comprises an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the tray is coupled to the telescoping member such that the tray is vertically movable within the container The lid couples to the container such that the tray and telescoping member fit within the container. 
         [0007]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispensing portable cooler that also accommodates food items and bottled/canned beverages. 
         [0008]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispensing portable cooler that can accommodate food items and bottled/canned beverages without damaging the items or immersing them in liquid. 
         [0009]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispensing portable cooler that provides quick cooling of the internal liquid by pressing the ice into the internal liquid. 
         [0010]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a light weight liquid dispensing portable cooler that is easily transported and stored. 
         [0011]    It is a further object of the present invention to provide a liquid dispensing portable cooler that is multi-functional and allows sanitary storage of a liquid beverage and food and bottled/canned beverage items. 
         [0012]    The novel features that are considered characteristic of the invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its structure and its operation together with the additional object and advantages thereof will best be understood from the following description of the preferred embodiment of the portable liquid dispensing cooler. Unless specifically noted, it is intended that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meaning to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art or arts. If any other meaning is intended, the specification will specifically state that a special meaning is being applied to a word or phrase. Likewise, the use of the words “function” or “means” in the Description of Preferred Embodiments is not intended to indicate a desire to invoke the special provision of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 to define the invention. To the contrary, if the provisions o f 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are sought to be invoked to define the invention(s), the claims will specifically state the phrases “means for” or “step for” and a function, without also reciting in such phrases any structure, material, or act in support of the function. 
         [0013]    Moreover, even if the provisions of 35 U.S.C. §112, paragraph 6 are invoked to define the inventions, it is intended that the inventions not be limited only to the specific structure, material or acts that are described in the preferred embodiments, but in addition, include any and all structures, materials or acts that perform the claimed function, along with any and all known or later developed equivalent structures, materials, or acts for performing the claimed function. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0014]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention in a closed position. 
           [0015]      FIG. 2  is a front view of the invention with the lid completely removed. 
           [0016]      FIG. 3  is a front view of the invention with the lid in a partially closed position. 
           [0017]      FIG. 4  is a view of the lid of the invention showing a tray with food items. 
           [0018]      FIG. 5  is a view of the lid of the invention showing an alternative embodiment of the tray. 
           [0019]      FIG. 6  is a view of the lid of the invention showing a further alternative embodiment of the tray. 
           [0020]      FIG. 7  is a view of the lid of the invention showing a further alternative embodiment of the tray in a closed position with holes. 
           [0021]      FIG. 8  is a view of the lid of the invention showing the alternative embodiment of the tray in  FIG. 7  in a partially open position with holes. 
           [0022]      FIG. 9  is a view of the lid of the invention showing the alternative embodiment of the tray in  FIG. 7  in an open position with holes. 
           [0023]      FIG. 10  is a view of the lid of the invention showing a further alternative embodiment of the tray in a closed position. 
           [0024]      FIG. 11  is a view of the lid of the invention showing the alternative embodiment of the tray in  FIG. 10  in a partially open position. 
           [0025]      FIG. 12  is a view of the lid of the invention showing the alternative embodiment of the tray in  FIG. 10  in an open position. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0026]    The present invention relates to a portable cooling device  100  that allows simultaneous cooling of food items and drinking liquid. As can be seen in  FIG. 2 , the preferred embodiment of the portable cooling device  100  includes a container  110 , a lid  120 , a telescoping member  125  with a first end  126  and a second end  127 , and a tray  130  with an inner surface  132  and an outer surface  135 . The first end  126  of the telescoping member  125  is coupled to the inside  124  of the lid  120 , and the second end  127  of the telescoping member  125  is coupled to the inner surface  132  of the tray  130 . The telescoping member  125  is vertically movable within the container  110  depending on the depth of the drinking liquid inside the container  110 . The lid  120  is removably coupled to the container  110  such that the lid  120 , telescoping member  125 , and tray  130  can be easily removed from and attached to the container  110  as necessary. The removal and attachment of the lid  120  is depicted in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
         [0027]    As seen in  FIG. 4 , the tray  130  is filled with food items that the user wishes to be cooled, and the container  110  is filled with drinking liquid, preferably water, and ice that the user wishes to be cooled or remain cool for drinking The tray  130  filled with food items is placed into the container  110  via the telescoping member  125  attached to the lid  120  and allows the food items to be cooled using the drinking liquid and ice in the container  110 . The structure of the tray  130  provides a barrier between the liquid and ice mixture while still allowing the cooling of the food. When a user wishes to retrieve a cold food item, he or she removes the lid  120  and tray  130  via the telescoping member  125  from the container  110 . This prevents the user from placing his or her hand into the drinking liquid and ice mixture and possibly contaminating the drinking water with germs or other contaminants on the hand. 
         [0028]    As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2 , and  3 , the container  110  also includes a dispenser  140  where the cooled water and ice mixture can be dispensed into a cup or other receptacle. As the liquid level in the container  110  goes down with the amount of liquid dispensed, the telescoping member  125  allows the tray  130  to also descend in the container  110  and remain near the cold water and ice mixture to keep the food items at the coldest possible temperature. This configuration also allows for the ice to be pressed down into the liquid and quickly cooled. 
         [0029]    The shape of the tray  130  is such that it can fit into the container  110 .  FIGS. 4-9  show several different embodiments of the tray that can be used in the invention.  FIG. 4  shows a bowl shaped tray  130  with shallow, curved edges.  FIG. 5  shows a bowl shaped tray  130  with straight edges.  FIG. 6  shows a bowl shaped tray  130  with deep, curved edges. 
         [0030]    A further alternate embodiment shown in  FIGS. 7-9  includes a folding tray  130  with a plurality of holes  137 . The holes  137  allow liquid in the container  110  that may have gotten in to the try  130  to easily drain back in to the container  110  once the tray  130  has been lifted above the liquid level in the container  110 . This prevents liquid from being dripped or spilled out of the container  110  when the user is ready to use a food item. The folding nature of the tray  130  also allows the tray  130  to become more compact when it is storing less or no food items. 
         [0031]    A similar alternate embodiment is depicted in  FIGS. 10-12 . In particular, the tray  130  is of a folding nature, but does not have holes. A user may prefer this type of tray  130  in a situation where contact with liquid could damage the food items. The folding nature of this tray  130  also allows for the tray  130  to become more compact when it is storing less or no food items. 
         [0032]    The user may wish to use any one of these shown trays  130  in different situations. Therefore, the connection of the second end  127  of the telescoping member  125  to the inner side of the tray  130  is a screw type connection. Thus, the tray  130  can be interchanged by simply unscrewing one tray  130  configuration and screwing in the desired tray  130  configuration. 
         [0033]    It is preferred that the telescoping member  125  and tray  130  are made of non-corrosive metal, plastic, or other non-corrosive materials. Because the telescoping member  125  and tray  130  will be used in a liquid environment, it is important that they are not susceptible to corrosion. It would be undesirable for the telescoping member  125  and tray  130  to corrode and possibly contaminate the drinking liquid in the container  110 . 
         [0034]    The preferred embodiment of the invention is described in the Description of Preferred Embodiments. While these descriptions directly describe the one embodiment, it is understood that those skilled in the art may conceive modifications and/or variations to the specific embodiments shown and described herein. Any such modifications or variations that fall within the purview of this description are intended to be included therein as well. Unless specifically noted, it is the intention of the inventor that the words and phrases in the specification and claims be given the ordinary and accustomed meanings to those of ordinary skill in the applicable art(s). The foregoing description of a preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention known to the applicant at the time of filing the application has been presented and is intended for the purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed, and many modifications and variations are possible in the light of the above teachings. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention in various embodiments and with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.