Abstract:
A cooler comprising a first compartment defining an interior region and a portion of the first compartment extending into an interior region of a second compartment. The interior region of the second compartment carries a cooling material that cools the interior region thereof. Heat flow from the interior region of the first compartment into the interior region of the second compartment cools the interior region of the first compartment.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of the provisional application filed on Jun. 22, 2004, assigned application No. 60/581,906 and entitled Cooler. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to an apparatus for cold storage of ice, drinks and food items.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     Portable enclosures for cold-temperature storage of ice, drinks and food items are well known. Referred to as “coolers”, they are available in various shapes and sizes, most commonly circular or rectangular in cross section with capacities ranging from one gallon to 75 gallons. Certain embodiments further comprise wheels and/or handles for portability and transportability. Ice (e.g., “dry” ice, ice packs) in the cooler maintains the food and drinks at a sufficiently low temperature to preserve freshness and retard spoilage.  
         [0004]     Certain coolers referred to as “water jugs” filled with a water and ice mixture maintain the drinking water at a refreshingly cool temperature. Generally cylindrical in shape, the water jug comprises insulated upstanding sidewalls and a base that cooperate to define an open interior region. An openable or removable lid provides access to the interior region. The ice and water within the open region are insulated from ambient temperature and thus maintained at a lower temperature. Drinking water is withdrawn from the water jug by opening a manually operated valve disposed proximate the base.  
         [0005]     The water jug also protects its ice and water contents from environmental contaminants, as access to the interior region is not required to dispense the water. The potable water remains clean and cold. Therefore it is generally not advisable to store containered drinks (cans and bottles) or food items in the water jug cooler, as contaminants on a container surface may contaminate the potable water. The act of placing an item in or removing an item from the water jug by reaching one&#39;s hand into the water jug may also contaminate the water. Water jugs are therefore best suited for a single function of storing only water.  
         [0006]     Ice chest type coolers also have a single function. Generally rectangular in cross section, the ice chest comprises insulated upstanding sidewalls and a base that cooperate to define an open interior region. Ice, food (e.g., packaged food items) and/or containered drink items to be maintained at a low temperature are stored within the interior region. The beverage containers and packaged food items are typically placed above and in contact with exposed ice. A hinged or removable cooler door permits access to the stored items. Because dirt and contaminants may be present on the beverage containers and food packages, the water formed by ice melting within the container is generally not considered potable. Although an ice chest may include a valved nozzle or a drain, such is intended for draining water from the ice chest, not for providing access to clean drinking water.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0007]     According to one embodiment, the invention comprises a cooler further comprising a first enclosed volume having a first controllable opening to provide access to an interior region thereof, a second enclosed volume surrounding a portion of the first enclosed volume, the second enclosed volume having a second controllable opening to provide access to an interior region thereof and wherein a material within the second enclosed volume cools the first enclosed volume. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]     The foregoing and other features of the invention will be apparent from the following more particular description of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters refer to the same parts throughout the different figures. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention.  
         [0009]      FIGS. 1 and 2  illustrate two configurations of a cooler of the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 3  illustrates a top view of the cooler of  FIGS. 1 and 2 .  
         [0011]      FIGS. 4 and 5  illustrate cross-sectional interior views of another embodiment of the present invention.  
         [0012]      FIGS. 6-8  illustrate additional embodiments of the present invention.  
         [0013]      FIG. 9  illustrates a door-open configuration for the cooler embodiment of  FIG. 6 . 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]     Before describing in detail the particular cooler in accordance with the present invention, it should be observed that the present invention resides primarily in a novel combination of elements. Accordingly, the elements have been represented by conventional elements in the drawings, showing only those specific details that are pertinent to the present invention, so as not to obscure the disclosure with structural details that will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art having the benefit of the description herein.  
         [0015]     A cooler constructed according to the teachings of the present invention offers advantages of both the water jug and ice chest type prior art coolers, but avoids their disadvantages. As illustrated in the various views of  FIGS. 1-3 , a cooler  10  comprises an enclosed volume  12  (e.g., a cold water or water jug type storage enclosure) having an interior region in which is disposed a portion of an enclosed volume  16  (e.g., an ice chest type storage enclosure).  
         [0016]     The enclosed volume  12  in one embodiment comprises a cooled vessel containing water and ice cubes (where “ice cubes” is intended to encompass any of the various known cooling elements, solids, or mechanisms, including ice rectangles, crescents, particles, chips, pieces, ice packs and “dry” ice and refrigerant-based mechanical cooling systems). The enclosed volume  16  in one embodiment stores packaged items, such as packaged food or drink containers that are desired to be kept in a relatively cool environment.  
         [0017]     The physical barrier between the interior region of the enclosed volume  12  and the interior region of the enclosed volume  16  prevents physical contact between the contents of each. But since the interior regions are in a heat-exchange relationship, heat flows from the warmer enclosed volume to the colder enclosed volume to cool the contents of the former. Thus the coolant material or mechanism of the enclosed volume  12  cools the contents of the enclosed volume  16  as well as the contents of the enclosed volume  12 . Specifically, the ice cubes and cold water within the enclosed volume  12  provide a cooling source for the packaged items stored within the enclosed volume  16 , permitting the packaged items to be maintained at a cold temperature without requiring the use of ice within the enclosed volume  16 . By avoiding the use of ice within the enclosed volume  16 , an external surface of the packaged and containered items remains in a relatively dry condition.  
         [0018]     A door  18  pivotally affixed to the enclosed volume  16  is illustrated in an opened position in  FIG. 1 . In  FIG. 2  the door  18  is illustrated in a closed position. The enclosed volume  12  comprises a removable lid  20 . Preferably one or both of the enclosed volumes  12  and  16  comprises one or more handles  21  for transporting the cooler  10  and/or for controlling a position of the door  18  and/or the lid  20 .  
         [0019]     Each of the enclosed volumes  12  and  16  comprises a plurality of insulated wall surfaces that provide a thermal barrier to the ambient atmosphere, which is generally warmer than the desired temperature of the interior region of the enclosed volumes  12  and  16 . As is known by those skilled in the art, the insulated wall surfaces can be constructed from various materials, including molded plastics. Typically each wall surface comprises an inner wall surface in parallel relationship with an outer wall surface, defining an interspace therebetween, wherein the interspace is preferably filled with an insulating material. The shape and size of the enclosed volumes  12  and  16  are not critical to the present invention.  
         [0020]     As can also be seen clearly in the top view of  FIG. 3  with the lid  20  removed, a portion  24  of the enclosed volume  16  extends into an interior region of the enclosed volume  12 . In one embodiment, the wall surfaces of the enclosed volume  16  disposed within the interior region of the enclosed volume  12  are not insulated, as are the other wall surfaces, to maximize heat flow from the interior region of the enclosed volume  16  to the interior region of enclosed volume  12 .  
         [0021]     Thus the ice and water within the enclosed volume  12  provide cooling for the interior of the enclosed volume  16  and the beneficial effects of each cooler type are achieved. There is no melting ice within the enclosed volume  16  to soak or damage the packaged items stored there, and the cold water in the enclosed volume  12  is isolated from any contamination sources, permitting potable water to be dispensed from a valve, not shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , affixed to the enclosed volume  12 .  
         [0022]      FIGS. 4 and 5  are cross-sectional interior views through a plane parallel to a front surface of a combination cooler  30  and through a plane parallel to a side surface of the combination cooler  30 , respectively. The cooler  30  comprises an insulating material  31  within enclosure defining external wall and base surfaces  32 . Food and beverage items are stored in an interior region  33  substantially surrounded by a water/ice storage region  36 . Clean water is dispensed from the water/ice storage region  36  via a valve  38 . The water/ice within the region  36  is physically separated from and therefore not contaminated by the food and beverage items stored within the interior region  33 .  
         [0023]     A lid  40  closes a top surface  41  of the combination cooler  30 , providing access to the water/ice region  36  when removed. In one embodiment, the lid  40  is received by an annular ring within the top surface  39 . In another embodiment a hinge  42  pivotally attaches the lid  40  to one of the wall surfaces  32 .  
         [0024]     Access to the interior region  33  is provided through a door  44  disposed in one of the wall surfaces  32 . The door  44  may be hinged or otherwise removable according to known techniques. The door  44  is held in the closed position with a latch  45 .  
         [0025]     In one embodiment, an insulating layer  50  between the interior region  33  and the water/ice storage region  36  is preferred to reduce condensation within the interior region  33 .  
         [0026]      FIGS. 6-8  illustrate additional embodiments of the present invention, including an embodiment with handles  60  disposed on opposing side wall surfaces of the cooler  30 , an embodiment  30 A comprising wheels  62  and a handle  66 , and an embodiment  30 B comprising straps  70 . These embodiments, which are merely illustrative, depict different structural features and transportation modes for the various cooler embodiments according to the present invention.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9  illustrates the cooler  30  with the door  44  in the open position. The door  44  is attached to the cooler  30  with hinges  76  for pivotal displacement to expose the interior region of the  33 .  
         [0028]     As can be seen in the various presented embodiments of the combination cooler  30 , the water/ice storage region surrounds the region  33 , creating a “refrigerator like” cooling function for the packaged or containered items stored within the region  33 .  
         [0029]     While the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalent elements may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the scope of the present invention. The scope of the present invention further includes any combination of the elements from the various embodiments set forth herein. In addition, modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation to the teachings of the present invention without departing from its essential scope thereof For example, different sized and shaped components can be employed to form a cooler according to the teachings of the present invention. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims.