Abstract:
A cooler apparatus with drawers and twist or snap locks may be provided. The cooler may promote the efficient sorting of materials within an insulated membrane. The apparatus may consist of sliding drawers, color coded red-twist locks, and modular sub-compartments that may be used to store materials such as food and ice. The sliding compartments are insulated and the main body of the apparatus is insulated such that extreme insulation by multiple compartments ensures optimal thermal conditioning. Further, the apparatus may have a collapsible carry arm and adjustable handle. The apparatus may be insulated and may be heat resistant. The Apparatus may have a pair of team lift handles and a longer handle for individual mobility. There may be secure points to attach elastic chords such as bungee cords and external fasteners.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/167,575 filed May 28, 2015 and entitled PORTABLE COOLER WITH SLIDING DRAWERS AND CARRY HANDLE APPARATUS, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Over time, Ice buckets and Ice Coolers have been used to keep food perishable food items from spoiling. Ice Coolers are typically used to keep materials cold, but occasionally are used to keep materials warm. Typical coolers may feature a single large compartment in which ice and materials are stored in the same compartment. The traditional approach may be problematic for individuals that want to store multiple types of materials such as drinks and food that need to be sorted or stored separately at different temperatures. A single compartment makes it very difficult for an individual to find his or her materials at the bottom of the cooler when other materials are piled on top. Additionally, some medical conditions may require that specific food items be separated because of allergens and diabetic concerns. Furthermore, many materials or food types should not be in direct contact with ice and may spoil if submerged under the melted ice or water. 
     Presently, cooling units are not designed to provide for efficient sorting of materials and are often large and cumbersome. Furthermore, they are not easily transported by a single person. 
     SUMMARY 
     According to an exemplary embodiment, a portable cooler apparatus may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus may have an insulated body with an insulated frame disposed within the interior of the insulated body. The portable cooler apparatus may have a plurality of sliding drawers operably coupled to the insulated frame wherein the sliding drawers are sized according to the insulated frame. The sliding drawers may be further insulated and may be entirely removable from the portable cooler. The sliding drawers may have a plurality of locking elements disposed onto the sliding drawers such that each locking element can alternate between a closed and open position thereby retaining the drawer in a closed or open position as desired by an end user. The portable cooler apparatus may further have a pair of hinged carry handles that are coupled to opposite sides of the exterior of the insulated body and a pulling handle sized such that one of the carry handles may be wholly circumscribed within the interior perimeter of the pulling handle. In some embodiments the portable cooler apparatus to have a plurality of fasteners coupled to the outside of the insulated body such that bungee cords and other tie downs or netting may be used for various purposes such as additional beneficial cargo space. To assist with mobility of the portable cooler apparatus there may be two wheels coupled to the insulated body. The wheels may be sized and shaped to be disposed within a corresponding wheel cavity of the insulated body. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF TILE FIGURES 
       Advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments. The following detailed description should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying figures in which: 
       Exemplary  FIG. 1  may show an exemplary embodiment of a front perspective of a portable cooler with sliding drawers; 
       Exemplary  FIG. 2  may show an exemplary embodiment of a portable cooler with sliding drawers in which a drawer is shown in operation; 
       Exemplary  FIG. 3  may show an exemplary embodiment of a rear perspective of a portable cooler with sliding drawers. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Aspects of the invention are disclosed in the following description and related drawings directed to specific embodiments of the invention. Alternate embodiments may be devised without departing from the spirit or the scope of the invention. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention. Further, to facilitate an understanding of the description discussion of several terms used herein follows. 
     As used herein, the word “exemplary” means “serving as an example, instance or illustration.” The embodiments described herein are not limiting, but rather are exemplary only. It should be understood that the described embodiments are not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. Moreover, the terms “embodiments of the invention”, “embodiments” or “invention” do not require that all embodiments of the invention include the discussed feature, advantage or mode of operation. 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus  100  may have an insulated body  101 . Insulated body  101  may be insulated by styrofoam, plastic, double insulated walls, or any other suitable material as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The insulated body  101  may further be tailored such that an insulated frame  116  may couple to the insulated body  101 . The insulated frame  116  may be permanently fixed to the cooler or may by removable by sliding in and out of a cavity in the sidewall of the insulated body  101 . The removability of the insulated frame  116  may assist with cleaning of the interior spaces of the insulated body  101 . The removability may also assist with ease of manufacturing and customization. In at least one embodiment, the insulated frame  116  may be insulated at the front of the frame whereas there may not be any insulation at the rear and sidewalls. In a further embodiment insulated frame  116  may permanently coupled to the insulated body  101 . In other embodiments, the insulated frame  116  may be a rigid frame without insulation. The insulated frame may be sized to receive a plurality of sliding drawers  108 . 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus may have a plurality of sliding drawers  108  that may operably slide in and out of an insulated frame  116  as shown most clearly in  FIG. 2 . The insulated frame  116  may be sized according to varying thicknesses and types of insulated materials of sliding drawer  108  as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The sliding drawers  108  may operably slide in and out by a rail system, slider system, or any other system as may be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The sliding drawers  108  may be fully removable to facilitate cleaning for hygienic purposes. The sliding drawers  108  may also have a drain plug so that moisture, condensation, ice, etc. may be easily drained from individual drawers. Each sliding drawer  108  may have drain plugs that connect to a main drain line of the portable cooler apparatus such that a comprehensive drainage solution is provided. For example, the drainage area of the top drawer may align with the drainage area of the next lowest drawer and the drainage area of the next lowest drawer and so on. The portable cooler apparatus  100  may also have a master drain plug thereby providing the portable cooler apparatus (as a comprehensive unit) a master outlet for drainage purposes. 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the sliding drawers  108  may have a recessed handle  112 . In other embodiments, the sliding drawers  108  may have handles as an attached form of hardware. In other embodiments still, the sliding drawers  108  may not have a handle and may simply feature a smooth cavity that may operably serve as a handle. The sliding drawers  108  may be further enhanced with the inclusion of a locking element  106 . The locking element  106  may be a twisting knob with a twisting plate that retains the sliding drawers  108  in place by bracing against the interior of the insulated frame  116 . The locking element  106  may be color coded red such that a person of average intelligence would naturally understand by way of the color red that the locking element may be used to “stop” the drawers from opening. In other embodiments, the locking element  106  may be a push tab, a latch, or any other locking element  106  that would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The locking element  106  may operate from a first closed position to an open position by turning the knob, push tab, latch, etc. The knob, push tab, latch etc. may catch onto the insulated frame  116  at any feasible location such that the sliding drawers  108  are retained within the portable cooler apparatus  100 . 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus  100  may have a pair of carry handles  104  coupled to opposite sides of the exterior of the insulated body  101 . The carry handles  104  may be coupled by a hinge or pin. The carry handles  104  may be smooth plastic elements or they may be coated with a rubberized coating for shock absorption and further protection. In at least one embodiment, the carry handle  104  may be further ergonomically enhanced by featuring indentations and recessions such that the fingers of a human hand can comfortably grip the handles. Stated another way, the handles may have ridges at equal spacing to accommodate the size of an average human finger. The carry handle may also be sized to fit within a pulling handle  105 . Pulling handle  105  may be a long handle with a hinge or pin element. The long handle may be beneficial for pulling the portable cooler apparatus  100 . The pulling handle  105  may be a smooth plastic element or it may be coated with rubberized coating for shock absorption and further protection. In at least one embodiment, the pulling handle  105  may be further ergonomically enhanced by featuring indentations and recessions such that the fingers of a human hand can comfortably grip the handles. Stated another way, the handles may have ridges at equal spacing to accommodate the size of an average human finger. The pulling handle  105  may be a telescoping handle or retractable handle as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. The pulling handle  105  may be on an opposite side of the wheels  110 . The pulling handle  105  may be of a sufficient length such that a user may partially lift the adjoining side of the portable cooler apparatus  100  away from a surface such as the ground and conveniently pull the portable cooler apparatus  100  by way of the wheels  110  on the opposite side of the portable cooler apparatus  100 . 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus  100 , may have wheels  110  disposed within a wheel cavity  120 . The wheel cavity  120  may be sized according to the size of the wheels  110  with ample clearance space. The wheels  110  may be plastic, rubber, or any hybrid type of material as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. For example, hard plastic wheels may be advantageous for portable cooler apparatus  100  that are customized for usage on sand whereas rubber wheels may be advantageous for portable cooler apparatus  100  that are used on hard surfaces such as concrete. The wheels  110  and wheel cavity  120  may be disposed on an opposite side of the pulling handle  105 . 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus  100  may have a plurality of fasteners  102  coupled to the outside of the insulated body  101 . In at least one embodiment, fasteners  102  may be disposed to the insulated body  101  above the sliding drawers  108 . Fasteners  102  may correspond to an elastic net or netting which may be removable. In at least one embodiment, the portable cooler apparatus  100  may have four fasteners  102  coupled to a first front face and a second rear face substantially near the upper region of each corresponding face. The aforementioned arrangement may allow further enhancement by the addition of a bungee net, cargo-net, carry straps, or other rigging elements as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     Referring to the figures generally, a portable cooler apparatus  100  may be disclosed. The portable cooler apparatus  100  may also be designed to facilitate easy sliding and prevent abrasive contact by having a plurality of rounded chamfered corners  118 . Chamfered corners  118  may provide aesthetic utility, structural rigidity, and facilitate ease of use by preventing snagging points. In at least one embodiment, the portable cooler apparatus  100  may be coated by an ultraviolent resistant mat such as a UV Inhibitor that may increase the resiliency to wear and tear from direct exposure to the sun. The Ultra-Violent resistant material may be a clear coating applied to the portable cooler apparatus or it may be chemically bonded to the portable cooler apparatus  100  as would be understood by a person having ordinary skill in the art. 
     The foregoing description and accompanying figures illustrate the principles, preferred embodiments and modes of operation of the invention. However, the invention should not be construed as being limited to the particular embodiments discussed above. Additional variations of the embodiments discussed above will be appreciated by those skilled in the art. 
     Therefore, the above-described embodiments should be regarded as illustrative rather than restrictive. Accordingly, it should be appreciated that variations to those embodiments can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the following claims.