Abstract:
A cooler is disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the cooler includes a thermally-insulated cooler receptacle having a receptacle interior and a thermally-insulated cooler lid carried by the cooler receptacle and positional between open and closed positions. A pressure switch is carried by the cooler receptacle. The pressure switch is closed when the cooler lid is in the open position and open when the cooler lid is in the closed position. A plurality of LEDs is provided in the receptacle interior and connected to the pressure switch. A power source is connected to the pressure switch.

Description:
FIELD 
     The present invention relates to coolers. More particularly, the present invention relates to a cooler having an illuminated interior. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Coolers are commonly used to transport food and/or beverages in a cold condition. A typical conventional cooler includes an insulated receptacle having a pivoting or removable insulated lid. Various food items and/or beverages can be contained in the receptacle with ice to keep the items or beverages cold during travel, for example. In a dark environment, however, it can be difficult to discern the contents of the cooler. 
     SUMMARY 
     The present invention is generally directed to a cooler. An illustrative embodiment of the cooler includes a thermally-insulated cooler receptacle having a receptacle interior and a thermally-insulated cooler lid carried by the cooler receptacle and positional between open and closed positions. A pressure switch is carried by the cooler receptacle. The pressure switch is closed when the cooler lid is in the open position and open when the cooler lid is in the closed position. A plurality of LEDs is provided in the receptacle interior and connected to the pressure switch. A power source is connected to the pressure switch. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of an illustrative embodiment of the cooler, shown in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 2  is a sectional view, taken along section lines  2 - 2  in  FIG. 1 , illustrating a typical mechanism for illuminating multiple LEDs (one of which is shown) in the cooler receptacle element of the cooler responsive to opening of a lid on the cooler receptacle; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of an illustrative embodiment of the cooler, shown in an open configuration; 
         FIG. 4  is a rear view of an illustrative embodiment of the cooler; 
         FIG. 5  is a front perspective view of an alternative illustrative embodiment of the cooler, with multiple solar panels provided in a lid element of the cooler; and 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram illustrating interconnection of various components of an illustrative embodiment of the cooler. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the drawings, an illustrative embodiment of the cooler is generally indicated by reference numeral  1 . The cooler  1  includes a thermally-insulated cooler receptacle  2  which may have a generally elongated, rectangular shape, as shown, or any suitable alternative shape. As shown in  FIG. 1 , the cooler receptacle  2  includes receptacle walls  3  which extend from a receptacle bottom  4 . The receptacle  2  has a receptacle interior  5  which, in typical use of the cooler  1 , is adapted to contain various items such as ice, food and/or beverages (not shown). Receptacle handles  6  may be provided on the receptacle walls  3  at respective ends of the cooler receptacle  2 . A receptacle lip  7  may be provided along the edge of the receptacle walls  3 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , each receptacle wall  3  of the cooler receptacle  2  typically includes a wall shell  3   a  and thermal insulation  3   b  provided in the wall shell  3   a.    
     A thermally-insulated cooler lid  10  is provided on the cooler receptacle  2 . The cooler lid  10  typically includes a lid panel  11 . As shown in  FIG. 2 , the lid panel  11  of the cooler lid  10  typically includes a panel shell  11   a  and thermal insulation  11   b  provided in the panel shell  11   a . As shown in  FIG. 1 , lid sides  12  extend from the lid panel  11 . A hinge  13  typically connects a portion of the lid sides  12  to a receptacle wall  3  of the cooler receptacle  2 . A latch  14  is typically provided on the cooler lid  10  to detachably engage the cooler receptacle  2 . A lid lip  15  typically extends from the lid sides  12  and mates with the receptacle lip  7  of the cooler receptacle  2  when the cooler lid  10  is closed on the cooler receptacle  2 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 , a microprocessor  34  is provided typically in one of the receptacle walls  3  of the cooler receptacle  2 . A manual power switch  35 , the purpose of which will be hereinafter described, is connected to the microprocessor  34 . A mode switch  36  is connected to the microprocessor  34 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the manual power switch  35  and the mode switch  36  may be provided, for example, on the exterior surface of one of the receptacle walls  3  of the cooler receptacle  2 . 
     In some embodiments of the cooler  1 , a light sensor  31  is connected to the microprocessor  34 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the light sensor  31  may be provided, for example, on the cooler lid  10 . A pressure switch  16  is connected to the microprocessor and is typically provided on the receptacle lip  7  of the cooler receptacle  2 , as shown in  FIG. 2 . Accordingly, when it is pivoted to the open position or detached from the cooler receptacle  2 , as indicated by the solid lines in  FIG. 2 , the cooler lid  10  releases and closes the pressure switch  16 . Conversely, when it is pivoted to the closed position on the cooler receptacle  2 , as indicated by the phantom lines in  FIG. 2 , the cooler lid  10  depresses and opens the pressure switch  16 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , a rechargeable battery pack  20 , a disposable battery  25  and/or solar cells  30  is/are typically connected to the microprocessor  34 . A recordable medium player, such as an MP3 player  26 , for example, is connected to the microprocessor  34  and the rechargeable battery pack  20 , the disposable battery  25  and/or the solar cells  30 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments of the cooler  1 , the disposable battery  25  and MP3 player  26  are located behind a detachable access panel  24  which is provided on one of the receptacle walls  3  of the cooler receptacle  2 . In alternative embodiments of the cooler  1   a , shown in  FIG. 5 , the MP3 player  26  is provided on one of the receptacle walls  3  of the cooler receptacle  2 . At least one speaker  27  is provided on the receptacle wall  3 , typically adjacent to the MP3 player  26 . As further shown in  FIG. 4 , in some embodiments of the cooler  1 , the rechargeable battery pack  20  is located behind a detachable access panel  21  which is provided on one of the receptacle walls  3 . As further shown in  FIG. 5 , the solar cells  30  are typically provided in the lid panel  11  of the cooler lid  10 . 
     As further shown in  FIG. 6 , multiple LEDs  17  are connected to the microprocessor  34  such as through the mode switch  36 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the LEDs  17  are provided in the receptacle interior  5  of the cooler receptacle  2 , such as on the interior surfaces of the receptacle walls  3 , for example, in spaced-apart relationship with respect to each other adjacent to the receptacle lip  7 . 
     The microprocessor  34  is adapted to operate the LEDs  17  in a standard mode  36   a  or both the LEDs  17  and the MP3 player in a “party” mode  36   b . Accordingly, upon positioning of the manual power switch  35  in the “on” position, electrical power from the rechargeable battery pack  20 , the battery  25  and/or the solar cells  30  is supplied to the microprocessor  34 . When the standard mode  36   a  is selected using the mode switch  36 , the pressure switch  16  is open, and therefore, the microprocessor  34  maintains the LEDs  17  in an “off” status when the cooler lid  10  is closed on the cooler receptacle  2 . The pressure switch  16  is closed, and therefore, the microprocessor  34  illuminates the LEDs  17  upon opening of the cooler lid  10  on the cooler receptacle  2 . Therefore, the LEDs  17  illuminate the receptacle interior  5  of the cooler receptacle  2  to render visible the contents of the receptacle interior  5 . In some embodiments of the cooler  1 , the light sensor  31  is connected to the microprocessor  34 , which maintains the pressure switch  16  in the open position when the cooler lid  10  is opened on the cooler receptacle  2  in the event that ambient light around the cooler  1  equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold brightness and is therefore sufficient to illuminate the receptacle interior  5  of the cooler receptacle  2  without illumination of the LEDs  17 . 
     When the “party” mode  36   b  is selected using the mode switch  30 , upon subsequent opening of the cooler lid  10  on the cooler receptacle  2 , the microprocessor  34  facilitates illumination of the LEDs  17  through the closed pressure switch  16 , as was heretofore described with respect to the standard mode  36   a . Additionally, the microprocessor  34  operates the MP3 player  26  through the closed pressure switch  31 . Accordingly, the MP3 player can be pre-loaded with selected music. Upon subsequent opening of the cooler lid  10  on the cooler receptacle  2 , the MP3 player plays the music as the LEDs  17  simultaneously illuminate the receptacle interior  5  of the cooler receptacle  2 . Upon closing of the cooler lid  10  on the cooler receptacle  2 , the pressure switch  16  is again opened, thereby turning off both the LEDs  17  and the MP3 player  26 . In some embodiments of the cooler  1 , the battery pack  20  ( FIG. 4 ) can be replaced by removing the access panel  21 , whereas the disposable battery  25  ( FIG. 4 ) can be replaced and/or the MP3 player  26  accessed by removing the access panel  24 . In other embodiments of the cooler  1   a , shown in  FIG. 5 , the MP3 player  26  can be accessed on the receptacle wall  3  of the cooler receptacle  2 . 
     While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been described above, it will be recognized and understood that various modifications can be made in the invention and the appended claims are intended to cover all such modifications which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention.