Abstract:
A cooler has a contoured bottom to allow items placed within to aggregate to one side. The cooler is equipped with a spout to enable a controlled drainage of liquids from within the cooler, located at a bottom central portion of the contoured bottom at the perimeter edge thereof. The cooler is further provided with wheels and a retractable handle to facilitate the transportation thereof.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention is a continuation of, was first described in, and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/101,521, filed Jan. 9, 2015, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a cooler having a contoured bottom to allow items placed within to aggregate to one (1) side. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Nothing is more refreshing on a hot day than a drink of an ice-cold beverage. In many instances, such a drink is provided from a large dispenser styled jug in which the beverage with ice is contained in an insulated container, and then dispensed from the bottom of the container and into a cup. Such dispensers are also found during catered events, school or work functions, athletic activities, or at construction sites. These coolers, as they are often referred to, do a fantastic job of keeping the beverage stored within cold, and in an easy to dispense state. However, such coolers are not without their faults. 
     Perhaps the biggest drawback of the aforementioned cooler is their inability to release all the liquid contained inside without physically manipulating the cooler by tilting or lifting. Such lifting or tilting is almost guaranteed to result in a spill as well as wasted time and energy. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which all liquid contents within a large insulated cooler can be easily and thoroughly dispensed. The use of the cooler with contoured bottom provides for the complete dispensing of beverages in a manner which is quick, easy, and effective. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The inventor has recognized the aforementioned lack in the art and observed that there is a need for a portable cooler having a contoured bottom. 
     It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a cooler which fashioned as a container having a base, a vertically upstanding sidewall about a periphery of the base to define a container interior, and a neck located along a periphery of the sidewall opposite the base. The cooler also includes a lid removably attached to the neck, a spigot in fluid communication with the interior, extending outward from the sidewall adjacent the base, at least one (1) first handle located on an exterior of the sidewall, a handle housing located on an exterior of the sidewall opposite the spigot, a second handle slidably extendable within the handle housing, and a wheel assembly affixed to a bottom of the handle housing. The base and the sidewall are composed of a material which has thermally insulative properties. The base also has an interior surface that slopes downward towards the spigot. In some embodiments the cooler neck may be threaded and the wheel assembly may be detachable. 
     The inner surfaces of the base and the sidewall have a waterproof liner. The outer surfaces of the sidewall comprise an infrared protective coating. The cooler may also have at least one (1) channel disposed within the sidewall and disposed between the interior and the spigot for directing contents towards the spigot. A seal ring may be located between the lid and the neck and each side handle is pivotally attached to the sidewall. 
     The handle housing of the cooler includes a handle slideway located within the handle housing, a pair of handle apertures located at the top of the handle slideway, an aperture seal secured within each handle aperture, and a slideway plug located at the bottom of the handle slideway. The handle housing may be integrally molded with the container. Each vertical support passes through a respective aperture seal. 
     The second handle consists of a pair of vertical supports each having a first and a second end, a horizontal grip connected between each first end of the pair of vertical supports, and, a handle stop secured horizontally between each second end of the pair of vertical supports. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention 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 an isometric view of a cooler with a contoured bottom  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is an isometric view from another vantage point of the cooler  10  with the lid  90  removed and a breakaway view of a wheel  42  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a section view along a line A-A as shown on  FIG. 1  of the cooler  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 4  is a section view along a line B-B as shown on  FIG. 2  through an extendable handle assembly  70  of the cooler  10  in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  cooler with contoured bottom 
               20  container 
               22  shell 
               24  sidewall 
               25  liner 
               26  bottom 
               28  interior 
               32  exterior 
               36  interior bottom 
               38  bottom contour 
               42  wheel 
               44  axle 
               46  hub 
               52  neck 
               54  opening 
               56  lip 
               58  external thread 
               62  side handle 
               64  handle pivot 
               66  spigot 
               67  spigot actuator 
               68  channel 
               70  extendable handle assembly 
               72  handle housing 
               74  handle slideway 
               75  extendable handle 
               76  vertical support 
               78  horizontal grip 
               82  handle stop 
               84  handle aperture 
               86  aperture seal 
               88  slideway plug 
               90  lid 
               92  disk 
               94  lid lip 
               96  internal thread 
               98  seal ring 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 4 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment, and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a cooler (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , with a contoured interior bottom  36  which provides an insulated container  20  having a removable lid  90 , and a spigot  66  configured to selectively permit the controlled drainage of any liquid contained therein. The container  20  is equipped with at least two (2) wheels  42  and an extendable handle assembly  70 , as well as side handles  62 , to facilitate transportation of the device  10  from one (1) location to another. While the device  10  was originally conceived to facilitate the complete drainage of chilled, or heated, liquids contained within the interior  28  it is understood that other applications may exist without limiting the scope of the invention. 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , isometric views of the device  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The device  10  includes a container  20  and a lid  90 . The container  20  is configured to be a generally cylindrical shell  22  having a base  26  with a vertical encircling sidewall  24  joined along an abutting horizontal edge to form an interior  28 . The base  26  and the sidewall  24  are composed of a formed thermoplastic material with thermally insulating properties and as such may be presented in a wide variety of colors and surface textures to suit the taste of a user. The interior  28  may be provided with a liner  25  composed of an impermeable barrier material so as to obviate any leakage or the transference of any residue to any contents placed within the container  20 . The exterior  32  of the shell  22  may be provided with an infrared reflective coating to reduce the effects of radiant heat on the interior  28  of the device  10 . 
     A spigot  66 , configured to be a flow regulation and shut-off valve, is disposed at a location on the exterior  32  of the sidewall  24  corresponding to the lowest point of the interior  28  of the container  20 . The spigot  66  may be any of a variety of commercially available valves, preferably composed primarily of a thermoplastic material, adapted for use with potable fluids. The spigot  66  is provided with a spigot actuator  67  which can be manipulated by a user to dispense a volume of fluid from the interior  28  of the container  20 . A channel  68 , as illustrated in  FIG. 3 , is disposed between the interior  28  and the spigot  66 , through the sidewall  24 , and forms a viaduct for the transfer of any fluid to the exterior  32 . The location of the spigot  66  defines a nominal front of the device  10 . 
     An upper end of the sidewall  24  is adapted to a neck  52 , being slightly smaller in diameter than the sidewall  24 , having a formed external thread  58  for the installation of a lid  90 . The neck  52  terminates at a lip  56  surrounding an opening  54 . The opening  54  of the container  20  provides an access to the interior  28  and is the primary entrance for any material placed therein. The opening  54  can be covered by a removable lid  90  to limit access to the contents of the container  20 . The lid  90  is configured to be a planar thermoplastic disk  92  with an encircling lid lip  94 . The lid lip  94  is provided with an internal thread  96  having a complimentary profile to the external thread  58  formed around the lip  56  so that the lid  90  may be removably installed upon the container  20 . The lip  56  of the container  20  is configured to have a planar upper face capable of forming a liquid-tight seal with a seal ring  98  disposed as an annular ring around a lower face of the disk  92  in proximity to the lid lip  94 . The seal ring  98  is composed of a rubber, or rubber-like, material having a sufficient thickness to be compressed between the disk  92  and the lip  56  when properly assembled to form the liquid-tight seal. 
     At least one (1) side handle  62  is attached to a handle pivot  64  on the sidewall  24  in proximity to the neck  52  at a location approximately ninety degrees (90°) around the exterior  32  of the shell  22  from the location of the spigot  66 . The handle pivot  64  is configured to be a protrusion of the sidewall  24 , being of the same constituent material, formed onto the shell  22  at the time of fabrication. The side handle  62  is adapted to have extensions pivotally inserted into apertures (not specifically illustrated) in the handle pivot  64 . The side handle  62  may be pivoted away from the shell for use or turned inwardly when not in use to reduce the profile of the device  10 . The side handle  62  may be utilized to lift or carry the device  10 , with, or without, contents in the interior  28 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a section view along line A-A a shown in  FIG. 1  of the device  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. A pair of wheels  42  approximately two-and-one-half inches (2½ in.) in diameter preferably composed of a nylon material is attached to integrally formed axles  44  on opposing sides of the handle housing  72  for transporting the device  10  without lifting it. The wheels  42  are retained on the axles  44  preferably with an interference spring tab hub  46 . It is understood that alternate methods and means may be employed for affixing the axle  44  and the wheels  42  to the container  20  without limiting the scope of the device  10 . Alternately, the axle  44  is removably attached to the container  20 . 
     The interior  28  is configured to be essentially uniform in diameter from the lip  56  down to a bottom contour  38  defined by the sloped interior bottom  36 . The interior bottom  36  is preferably pitched at a six to nine degree (6°-9°) downward slope from that side of the container  20  upon which the wheels  42  are mounted to the nominal front. The purpose of this slope from the rear to the front of the container  20  is to permit the natural flow of any liquid in the interior  28  to accumulate at the channel  68  for the eventual dispersal through the spigot  66 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a section view along the line B-B, as seen on  FIG. 2 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  includes an extendable handle assembly  70  having a handle housing  72 , with a handle slideway  74 , and an extendable handle  75 . The extendable handle assembly  70  is attached to the rear of the sidewall  24  for providing the impetus for motion as well as controlling the direction and speed of travel of the device  10 . The handle housing  72  can be integrally molded with the shell  22 , to be of the same constituent material, during fabrication of the device  10 . The extendable handle  75  is preferably composed of a rigid thermoplastic formed in an injection-molding process and retracts downwardly within the handle housing  72  when not in use, as seen in  FIG. 2 . The extendable handle  75  includes a pair of vertical supports  76  and a horizontal grip  78  connected between upper ends of the vertical supports  76  and extends upwardly into the deployed position when in use. The vertical supports  76  move along the interior vertical handle slideway  74  formed into the handle housing  72 . A handle stop  82  is placed horizontally on the ends of the vertical supports  76  of the extendable handle  75  to limit the upward travel of the extendable handle  75 . The geometry of the handle slideway  74  in the handle housing  72  is configured to be sufficient to accommodate the handle stop  82  for the majority of the upward travel, but then terminate to limit the travel and keep the extendable handle  75  from becoming dislodged from the handle housing  72 . That distance between the terminus of the handle slideway  74  and the top of the handle housing  73  would be provided with two (2) handle apertures  84  to accommodate the vertical supports  76  of the extendable handle  75 . The top of the handle apertures  84  are preferably provided with aperture seals  86  which would seal around the vertical supports  76  of the extendable handle  75  to exclude debris and moisture from entering the handle slide way  74 . The aperture seals  86  will provide a sufficient interference fit around the vertical supports  76  of the extendable handle  75  to retain the extendable handle  75  in the up position while also allowing it to easily be pushed downward when not in use. A slide way plug  88  is inserted into the lower open end of the handle slideway  74  after the handle stop  82  is installed on the extendable handle  75  at the time of manufacturing to keep out debris or other foreign matter. The extendable handle assembly  70  may be utilized by deploying the extendable handle  75  and applying a sufficient force upon the horizontal grip  78  normal to the vertical supports  76  to rotate the container  20  about the axle  44  so as to raise the bottom  26  from a support surface. The device  10  may then be pushed, or pulled, to the desired destination by a continuously exerted force upon the horizontal grip  78 , transmitted through the vertical supports  76  and the handle housing  72  sufficient to cause the wheels  42  to rotate on the axle  44 . 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by an enabled individual in a simple and straightforward manner with little or no training. It can be appreciated that the operational steps can be performed in alternative order and as such any operational description of use should not be viewed as a limiting factor. After initial purchase or acquisition of the device  10 , it would be arranged as indicated in  FIG. 1 . The method of installing and utilizing the device  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: acquiring a model of the device  10  having a desired style to suit the taste of a user; removing the lid  90  from the container  20  by rotating the lid  90  in the correct direction; inserting the desired contents into the interior  28 ; reinstalling the lid  90 ; transporting the device  10  to the desired location either by means of the side handle(s)  62  or the extendable handle  75  and the wheels  42 ; placing the device  10  on an elevated horizontal support surface with the spigot  66  slightly overhanging that surface so as to have access to the spigot  66 ; placing a beverage serving container under the spigot  66 ; manipulating the spigot actuator  67  to drain the desired portion of liquid from the interior  28  into the beverage serving container; releasing the spigot actuator  67  and serving the liquid. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.