Abstract:
A remotely driven collapsible cooler apparatus that includes a top ring having at least one handle on its inner side, a latch on its outer side and a bottom plate that includes at least one handle on its inner side, a mating latch on its outer side and a plurality of rotatable and laterally movable wheels, a driven motor, and collapsible storage bag positioned between the proximal top ring and the distal bottom plate, which is expandable. The wheels and the motor being remotely controlled by a remote controller;

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/062,436, filed on Jan. 26, 2008. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention is in the technical field of food and beverage storage. Particularly, the present invention is in the field of coolers. In particular, the present invention relates to collapsible coolers that are controlled remotely. 
       DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Portable collapsible coolers with expandable storage are often used for cold-storing food and beverage. These coolers are not easy to use, carry and move, particularly for physically challenged users. A certain amount physical labor is always required to move these coolers laterally across a floor surface and a user has to lift such a coolec to do that. This activity can be difficult especially for users who are ailing from stiff back pain, severe arthritis. Although collapsible cooler storages are generally light in weight, even lifting and carrying this weight can be difficult for these users. In certain situations, certain users desire a cooler storage that is remotely movable without the user having to lift and move the cooler. 
         [0004]    There is a need for a collapsible cooler that doesn&#39;t require a user to exert any physical labor for laterally moving it from one place to another and that uses a remote control device for that purpose. 
         [0005]    There is also need for a collapsible cooler having a cooler storage that expands and collapses without being restricted by the housing. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    A remotely driven collapsible cooler apparatus includes an top ring having at least one handle on its inner side, a latch on its outer side and a bottom plate that includes at least one handle on its inner side, a mating latch on its outer side and a plurality of rotatable and laterally movable wheels driven by a motor where the wheels and the motor are enabled by a remote control unit or a remote controller. The cooler has a closed position wherein the latch is engaged with the mating latch and an open position, wherein the latch is not engaged with the mating latch. The collapsible cooler further has a flexible, heat insulative storage bag between the top ring and the bottom plate. The storage bag is expandable beyond the limits defined by the outer peripheries of the top and the bottom plates in an open position. The storage bag has a plurality of attachment straps for strapping the storage bag onto the ring and the bottom plate handle and a top ring for covering the storage bag in an open position. The cooler apparatus further includes a remote controller that controls the motor and the movement of wheels. 
         [0007]    A remotely driven collapsible cooler apparatus that includes a base plate having at least one handle on the inner side is provided. The handle provides attachment for a flexible, collapsible storage bag. The remotely driven collapsible cooler apparatus may also include a plurality of indentations on a top surface of the base plate. The plurality of indentations provide for housing for a storage container. The cooler apparatus further includes a motor, and a plurality of rotatable and laterally movable wheels driven by the motor that are placed on a bottom surface of the base plate. The wheels and the motor being enabled to be remotely controlled by a remote controller that controls the motor and the movement of wheels. 
         [0008]    The storage bag also has a lid for covering the storage. The cooler apparatus also includes a cover plate that is placed over the base plate and covers the base plate to form a closed storage. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    The above mentioned and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to following description, appended claims and accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views where: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1A  is a front perspective view of a cooler of the present invention in an expanded position; 
           [0011]      FIG. 1B  is a front perspective view of the cooler of the present invention in a collapsed position; 
           [0012]      FIG. 1C  is an enlarged top perspective view of a portion of the cooler of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 1D  is a top side perspective of the cooler; 
           [0014]      FIG. 1E  is a top perspective of the cooler; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2A  is a back perspective view of a bottom plate of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 2B  is a top perspective view of a storage bag attached to the bottom plate of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 3  is a frontal view of a remote control device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0018]    Although specific terms are used in the following description for sake of clarity, these terms are intended to refer only to particular structure of the invention selected for illustration in the drawings, and are not intended to define or limit the scope of the invention. 
         [0019]    Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 1B , there is shown a cooler  100  having a collapsible and expandable storage bag  102 , which is connected to a proximal top ring  104  with latches  106  attached at positions around the periphery and a distal bottom plate  108  with mating latches  110  around the periphery. The latches  106 ,  110  in the top ring  104  and bottom plate  108  are secured to each other to secure the cooler in the collapsed position as shown in  FIG. 1B . The top ring  104 , which may be hollow or solid, is covered with a top lid  112 . 
         [0020]    A handle strap  114  is also removably attached on either side of the cooler  100 . In a preferred embodiment, the handle strap  114  is comprised of two ends, attached at different positions of the surface of the bag  102 . The handle strap  114  is capable of being protruded through a notch in the upper plate when the proximal top ring  104  and distal lower plate  108  are in the collapsed position. The handle strap  114  can also be concealed inside the proximal top ring  104  and distal lower plate  108  when the two are in the collapsed position. The handle strap  114  can be attached or removed in either the collapsed or open position of the cooler  100 . These configurations provide for additional utility such as the ability to use the handle strap  114  to hand carry an empty and closed cooler  100  to a fill up location and than to drive it away by remote control when it is full and deployed in the expanded position. 
         [0021]    A fiber strap  116  is looped over the handle  122  on the top ring  104  and lower plate  108  housings. In another embodiment, a press-fit component  118  attaches the strap  116  to the storage bag  102 . In one embodiment, a combination of the strap  116  and the press-fit component  118  are used to attach the storage bag  102  to the top ring  104  and the bottom plate  108 . A remote controller  120  is provided for remotely driving the collapsible cooler  100 . 
         [0022]    The handle strap  114  is preferably made of strong nylon fabric and is preferably press-fitted into a plastic press-fit component of the storage bag  102 . In another embodiment, the handle strap does not have to be used. The storage bag  102  is preferably made of a flexible, expandable, inflatable, and highly insulative, heat material. In one embodiment, the storage bag  102  used is very light in weight. In this one preferred embodiment, the size of the bag is not reducible or enlargeable. However, in yet another embodiment, the size of the storage bags can be either reduced or enlarged by providing zips for this purpose. 
         [0023]    Referring now to  FIGS. 1C-1E , the attachment of the storage bag  102  to the ring  104  is shown. The storage bag  102  is removably strapped on the handle  122  provided on the ring  104  and the bottom plate  108 . The female press-fit component  118  that is preferably stitched with the strap on to the storage bag receives a male press-fit component  124 . In one embodiment, the strap material is, but not limited, to fiber. The end of the strap  116  that male component  124  is passed through is the cavity of the handle  122 . The male component is  124  is then press-fitted into the female component  116 . The use of male and female press fit components  124 ,  118  to lock the straps  116  and the storage on the plates  104  and  108  facilitates easy removal and replacement of the storage bag  102 . 
         [0024]    The top lid  112  that is used to cover the storage bag  102  is preferably made of highly insulative material. The top lid  112  may be press-fitted on the top of the storage bag  102 . It should be noted, however, that in yet another embodiment, the top lid  112  may be closed by a plastic zipper. In one preferred embodiment, the ring  104 , the bottom  108 , and the cooler  100  are approximately cylindrical in shape. As shown in  FIG. 1D , looking from top, the ring  104  and the top lid  112 , which covers the storage bag  102 , have an outline that is circular in shape. However, it is understood, that the shape of the outline of ring  104  as well as that of the top lid  112  may vary in other embodiments. Furthermore, the top lid  112  is made of soft, yet strong, stretchable and flexible material. 
         [0025]    The combination of the handle  122 , the fiber strap  116 , and the press-fit component is used to removably attach the storage bag  102  to the bottom plate in one preferred embodiment. However, it should be noted, that other different types of attachment means may be used to attach the storage bag  102  to the ring  104  and the bottom plate  108 . 
         [0026]    The advantage of using the combination of the strap  116  in conjunction with the press-fit component is that this type of attachment advantageously allows for the use of storage bags of different sizes. Moreover, the feature is especially useful when the user needs to carry large loads of beverages or other such articles. A person just has to keep with them an assortment of different sized storage bags which they can use according to their needs. The storage bag is made of such a material that makes storage bags easily foldable into folds that are very small in size. Therefore, the user can easily keep a good number of storage bags to be used with the cooler. Furthermore, removability of the bag allows for washing of the bag. 
         [0027]    The storage bag  102  used in the preferred embodiment is removable and replaceable. However, it should be noted that a storage bag that is neither removable nor replaceable can be used in other embodiments. Further, a storage bag  102  that is permanently attached to the top plate  104  and the bottom plate  108  may be used. For this purpose, the cooler  100  may have fiber straps  116  that are stitched in a permanent loop over the handles  122  on the top ring  104  and bottom plate  108 . The cooler may even use a plurality of screws to permanently attach storage bag  102  to the top ring  104  and the bottom plate  108 . Furthermore, the cooler  100  may have one standard bag size that only accommodates one fixed volume of beverages. It should also be noted that in yet another embodiment, the cooler  100  may also be used without the storage bag  102  and used merely as a container to carry small items, such as fruits, from one place to another. 
         [0028]    Further, the cooler  100  can be used without using the ring  104 . This is especially useful when storing large amounts in the storage bag  102 . In this case, the user removes the ring  104  and uses the cooler  100  to store objects, such as water packets. Furthermore, the cooler  100  can be used without using the ring  104  and the storage bag. In this case, the user simply removes the ring  104  and the storage bag  102  and replaces the storage bag  102  with any other storage bag or insulated food and beverage container that can be firmly placed on top of the bottom plate  108 . Also, in this embodiment, the cooler may be an inflated bag mounted onto a simplified lower distal plate  108 . Thus, the remotely driven cooler according to the present invention can be used as a carrier for other storage containers. 
         [0029]    In yet another embodiment, use-and-throw storage containers, such as Tetrapaks, can also be used as storage bags. In this preferred embodiment, the bottom plate  108  is cylindrical in shape. However, the bottom plate  108  may come in a variety of shapes. This is especially useful for accommodating storage containers other than storage bag provided with the cooler and the bottom plate  108  can be selected depending upon the shape of the external storage container to be used. Thus, a round bottom plate  108  can be used with an external storage container that is round in shape and a rectangular bottom plate  108  can be used with an external storage that is rectangular in shape. Similarly, the ring  104  can also come in a variety of shapes. 
         [0030]    Further, the bottom plates may have additional housing features. These features may be notches, indentations of appropriate shapes and sizes at appropriate places so that the container does not tumble to the ground while the cooler is being remotely driven. 
         [0031]    Referring to  FIGS. 2A ,  2 B and  3 , the bottom plate or ring  108  is elevated above the floor by four upright wheels, namely a first wheel  200 , second wheel  202 , third wheel  204 , and fourth wheel  206 . Each of the wheels  200 ,  202 ,  204 , and  206  is attached to the underside of the bottom plate  108 . A remote control radio frequency controller  120  is used for driving the cooler, which has an antenna  302 . The remote controller  120  using a remotely controllable motor (not shown) housed in the bottom plate  108  directs the wheels of the cooler  100 . The remote controller  120  in this preferred embodiment is a radio remote control. It should be noted, however, that an infrared remote control may be used in other embodiments. 
         [0032]    The cooler  100  may be driven in a horizontal, rotating, or any other axis motion by the wheels which are controlled by the motor (not shown). In one embodiment, the remote controller  120  has four buttons  304 ,  306 ,  308  and  310  for horizontally moving the cooler in four different directions. The user is able to move the cooler laterally in any direction by simply pressing these buttons  304 ,  306 ,  308 , and  310 . It is understood, however, that the remote controller  120  may have less or more than four buttons. 
         [0033]    In operation, when expanded from the collapsed position, the cooler  100  can be used to store and keep cold food or liquid items such as beer and soda. The cooler  100 , however, may also be used to store other items and goods. The flexible storage bag  102  allows the user to store food containers and beverage cans of any shape inside. The user simply pushes the buttons  304 ,  306 ,  308 ,  310  provided on the remote controller  120  to control the movement and the direction of the movement of the collapsible cooler  100  via wheels provided on the bottom plate  108 . The use of remote controller  120  to move the collapsible cooler  100  is particularly useful for bedridden persons suffering from ailments such as arthritis and severe backache. 
         [0034]    The use of the collapsible cooler is particularly suitable in places such as nursing homes, hospital wards where the users either do not often have the strength to move and lift heavy objects or have been medically advised against exerting any physical labor for lifting and moving heavy objects. The cooler can be used to store critical drugs and medicines that are required to be kept in controlled temperatures. In some cases, the user, such as an ailing patient or someone suffering from a severe stiff back, may not have enough strength to stand up, walk, and open a refrigerator to take medicines. In absence of such help, the cooler may be used to keep the medicines in a refrigerated condition. 
         [0035]    However, the cooler may be used for other purposes and by other users also. For example, people who want to watch sports games at home. Similarly, the remotely driven cooler can also be used by a family watching a TV show or having a leisurely conversation. These are just a few examples which highlight the use and utility of the remotely driven cooler. 
         [0036]    In one preferred embodiment, the flexibility of the storage bag  102  is not restricted by any solid metal housing. The storage bag  102  can be expanded beyond the limits defined by the periphery of the ring  104  as well as the bottom plate  108 . Therefore, the unrestricted flexibility of the storage bag  102  makes storing large and odd sized cans easier as the storage bag is able to take shape or inflate according to the size and the shape of food and beverage items to be stored. On one side, the storage bag provides flexibility in usage, whereas, on another side, the ring and bottom plate  104 ,  108  provide sturdiness and balance to the collapsible cooler  100  apparatus being moved, particularly when the collapsible cooler is moved laterally, across a floor surface using the remote controller. 
         [0037]    Since the collapsible cooler  100  is moved by a remote controller  120 , a person does not have to manually carry the cooler around. The handle strap  114 , however, allows the cooler to be manually moved around. For example, when the cooler  100  is collapsed, the ring  104  and bottom plate  108  can be attached together with the latches and the cooler carried by the handle strap  114 . 
         [0038]    While the foregoing written description of the invention enables one of ordinary skill to make and use what is considered presently to be the best mode thereof, those of ordinary skill will understand and appreciate the existence of variations, combinations, and equivalents of the specific embodiment, method, and examples herein. The invention should therefore not be limited by the above described embodiment, method, and examples, but by all embodiments and methods within the scope and spirit of the invention as claimed.