ICE DISPENSING ICE CHEST

An ice chest containing ice wherein instead of opening the lid to remove ice, there is an auger or mechanical lever in the ice chest, which delivers the ice out of a side of the ice chest.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an ice chest with a device to remove ice cubes without opening up the ice chest and optionally dispense water from melted ice.

Description of Related Art

The ice chest has been around for decades. It is an insulated box designed to put ice cubes in it for local dispensing or transport to a location. People who need ice for their drink can just open the lid of the ice chest and take whatever amount of ice they wish. While this works well, the frequent opening and closing of an ice chest leads to the ice quickly melting and becoming contaminated by particulate matter in the air or handling the ice directly. Since normally the ice chest is used away from an immediate source of more ice cubes, once the ice melts, there is no replacement of the ice.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to use of an auger to remove ice without the need to open the ice chest while any melted ice remains potable. Ice cubes used this way leads to several extra hours before the ice is melted or unusable.

Accordingly, in one embodiment, there is a device for delivering ice from an ice chest without opening a lid of the ice chest comprising:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Definitions

The term “comprising” is not intended to limit inventions to only claiming the present invention with such comprising language. Any invention using the term comprising could be separated into one or more claims using “consisting” or “consisting of” claim language and is so intended.

The publications discussed herein are provided solely for their disclosure prior to the filing date of the present application. Nothing herein is to be construed as an admission that the present invention is not entitled to antedate such publication by virtue of prior invention. Further, the dates of publication provided may be different from the actual publication dates which may need to be independently confirmed. To the extent such publication may set out definitions of a term that conflict with the explicit or implicit definition of the present disclosure, the definition of the present disclosure controls.

The drawings featured in the figures are for the purpose of illustrating certain convenient embodiments of the present invention and are not to be considered as limitation thereto. The term “means” preceding a present participle of an operation indicates a desired function for which there is one or more embodiments, i.e., one or more methods, devices, or apparatuses for achieving the desired function and that one skilled in the art could select from these or their equivalent in view of the disclosure herein, and use of the term “means” is not intended to be limiting.

As used herein, the term “device for delivering ice” refers to an ice chest having an auger or mechanical lever at the bottom of the ice chest. When the ice chest is filled with ice, engaging the auger or mechanical lever delivers the ice out a side of the ice chest without the need to open the lid of the ice chest. In one embodiment, the portion of the auger or mechanical lever outside the ice chest (out the side) can be closed to keep the ice cold, this embodiment could be a drawer (as seen in FIG. 1) or the like.

As used herein, the term “ice chest” refers to an insulated, boxlike container with an insulated lid that can be filled with ice and used to provide ice for addition to drinks, but also to cool beverages, preserve food, and the like. Normally in the prior art if one wanted to take ice out of an ice chest, they would open the lid, take out some ice by hand, allowing particulate matter to enter leading to an unsanitary condition, and hopefully remember to close the lid. The constant opening and closing of the lid causes the ice to melt rapidly. By utilizing an auger or mechanical lever to remove the ice, the ice will stay frozen much longer since the lid is only opened to reload the ice chest with ice. This is especially useful outdoors during the warm months and provides sanitary handling.

As used herein, the term “lid” refers to the top lid of an ice chest which normally allows access to the entire content of the ice chest. It is insulated and when closed the entire ice chest is insulated.

As used herein, the term “interior bottom” refers to the inside bottom of an ice chest.

As used herein, the term “auger” refers to refers to a screw like device that when an object is placed on the far end and the auger is engaged it transports the object to the other end. In this case, it delivers ice through a side of the ice chest and out of the ice chest and to another container for use.

As used herein, the term “a side of the ice chest” refers to the lower part of any side of an ice chest since the auger will be placed on the bottom of the ice chest. If the ice chest is rectangular, in one embodiment, the side utilized is a short side of the rectangle.

As used herein “battery powered pump” refers to a pump which can remove melted ice without contamination. The battery can be an additional battery or use the same batter as the auger.

DRAWINGS

Now referring to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the inside of an ice chest with an auger. Ice chest 1 with lid 2 is in an open position so the bottom 3 of the ice chest can be seen. On the bottom 3 is positioned an auger 5 which exits a side 6 of the ice chest. The ice 11 is carried by blades 9 of the auger and out of the ice chest 12.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the outside of ice chest 1. Ice from the auger 5 (or in one embodiment a lever) delivers ice to dispensing container 20. The container has a handle 21 which can be used to close the container like closing a drawer.

Those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains may make modifications resulting in other embodiments employing principles of the present invention without departing from its spirit or characteristics, particularly upon considering the foregoing teachings. Accordingly, the described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative, and not restrictive, and the scope of the present invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description or drawings. Consequently, while the present invention has been described with reference to particular embodiments, modifications of structure, sequence, materials, and the like apparent to those skilled in the art still fall within the scope of the invention as claimed by the applicant.