Abstract:
A cooler is disclosed that utilizes beverage compartments that are integral to the container holding the refrigerant. The beverage compartments are such that they are completely encircled by yet physically separated from the refrigerant. The design provides easy access to the beverage, close contact between the beverage and refrigerant, and the elimination beverages buried in melting ice.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to transportation and temperature regulation of consumables. In particular, the present invention pertains to the transportation and temperature regulation of packaged fluids, such as soft drinks.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Insulated coolers for transporting canned drinks and food are a fixture of American culture and are practically required equipment for picnics, sporting events and other outdoor activities. Insulated coolers are also utilized in industrial applications. For example, coolers are used to transport medical supplies and samples for scientific analysis, such as soil samples for environmental testing.  
           [0003]    The myriad of potential uses for coolers fueled an almost endless variation in their design. Coolers act as armrests in vehicles. Coolers are designed to wrap around the torso like a hiker&#39;s “fanny pack”. There are very large coolers and very small coolers. The majority of these coolers, however, all share one thing in common: they contain a cavity, usually rectangular, that holds both the material to be cooled (i.e., can drinks) and the refrigerant (i.e., ice or a frozen insert). These coolers also share the common design feature of some type of lid that completely encloses the material to be cooled and the refrigerant. The lid is intended to extend to life of the refrigerant by reducing heat transfer between the ambient temperature and the refrigerant.  
           [0004]    Unfortunately, the lid, along with the body of the cooler, hides the contents of the cooler. This limitation of known coolers is often bothersome when coolers are used at sporting events or other areas with entrance restrictions. For example, many sporting events will allow spectators to carry coolers with soft drinks but not alcoholic beverages. Enclosed coolers are therefore often the subject of a time consuming search by security personnel.  
           [0005]    Additionally, the ice that is usually the refrigerant of choice for most coolers eventually melts resulting in cold wet hands or wet food. If frozen inserts are used instead of ice, care must be taken to ensure that the contents of the cooler remain in contact with the inserts otherwise insufficient cooling will take place.  
           [0006]    Accordingly, a need exists for a cooler that does not possess the limitations stated above. In particular, a need exists for a cooler that allows its contents to be visible at all times, if desired. Additionally, this cooler should provide close contact between the material to be cooled and the refrigerant while avoiding the problems associated with close contact refrigerants such as crushed ice.  
         OBJECT AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0007]    Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a cooler that effectively maintains a desired temperature for articles transported therein while avoiding the problems associated with known coolers, namely the concealment of the articles.  
           [0008]    A further object of the invention is to provide a cooler that maintains close contact between the material to be cooled and the refrigerant.  
           [0009]    These and other objects and advantages of the present invention are provided by a unique cooler for carrying packaged beverages. In one embodiment, the cooler comprises a hollow polygon having at least six faces, an enclosed interior, and an opening in at least one face of the hollow polygon. The opening provides fluid communication with the interior of the hollow polygon. In other words, the opening (i.e., drain/fill cap) allows the hollow polygon to be filled with a liquid and subsequently drained. The cooler also comprises at least one cavity extending from one of the polygon&#39;s faces into the interior of the polygon. The cavity is not in fluid communication with the interior of the polygon or the above mentioned opening. For example, water poured into the cavity will not enter the interior of the polygon and flow out the opening and water entering the opening will not flow into the cavity. In many applications, the cavity will be of a size and shape to receive a standard drink can.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one embodiment of the cooler according to the invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a cross-section of the cooler of FIG. 1 taken along line  2 - 2  of FIG. 1;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-section of the cooler of FIG. 1 in conjunction with a mating receptacle; and  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4 is a schematic of a cooler according to the invention that holds twelve drink cans. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]    The invention provides a cooler for transporting articles while maintaining those articles at a desired temperature. In particular and referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the invention provides a cooler  10  for carrying packaged beverages, for example, soft drink cans. The embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 1 comprises a hollow polygon  12 , preferably having at least six faces. It will be understood that solid polygons can comprise as few as four faces (e.g., tetrahedral and pyramids) and coolers according to the invention can include such shapes. The invention also includes other hollow geometrical shapes such as hollow spheres, ovals (e.g., egg shaped) etc, that may not fit the precise definition of a polygon. Such shapes may possess one, two, or three surfaces or faces. Nevertheless, the term polygon as used herein should be interpreted to include such geometrical shapes. The rectangular polygon illustrated in the drawings, however, is presently preferred for a number of reasons.  
         [0015]    The hollow polygon  12  acts as a container for a temperature controlling substance  13 ; the easiest and most convenient of which is ice. In a preferred embodiment, the hollow polygon  12  is formed of a polymer or polymer composite, is generally rectangular and is of a length and width sufficient to encompass the space needed to enclose at least six beverage cans. As used herein, the term polymer includes composites comprising polymers. It is to be understood, however, that the size and shape of the hollow polygon  12  may vary depending upon the requirements of the user. For example, FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of the invention that holds twelve cans.  
         [0016]    Likewise, the polymer employed in the practice of the invention may be any polymer utilized in production of coolers or molded articles. Polymers such as polyethylene, polypropylene, and polyethylene terephthalate and composites thereof are representative candidates.  
         [0017]    The cooler according to the invention also comprises an opening  14  in at least one face of the hollow polygon  12  that provides fluid communication with the interior  15  of the hollow polygon  12 . The purpose of the opening  14  is to provide a means to fill and drain the hollow polygon  12  with a temperature controlling substance. The functional aspect of the opening  14  is illustrated in FIG. 1 where a common water faucet can be used to fill the interior  15  of the polygon with water. The opening  14  is closed by a simple screw cap  17  as shown in FIG. 2 or any other suitable means for controlling fluid flow. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the opening  14  is located on the upper or top face  18  of the hollow rectangular polygon  12 . Although this is a convenient location for the opening  14 , the opening or additional openings may be located at any point on the surface of the hollow polygon  12 . A fill level  16  along the outer perimeter of the hollow polygon  10  indicates an appropriate quantity of temperature controlling substance to use.  
         [0018]    In most instances the temperature controlling substance  13  will be a coolant such as cold water or ice or a liquid or gel refrigerant such as those currently used in reuseable cold packs. The invention, however, also contemplates the use of high temperature substances such as hot water or oil, provided that the hollow polygon  12  is made of a material resistant to high temperatures. Thus, it will be understood that the term “cooler” is used in an exemplary rather than limiting fashion.  
         [0019]    In an alternative embodiment, the cooler according to the invention need not possess an opening  14  that provides fluid communication with the interior  15  of the hollow polygon  12 . In this embodiment, the temperature controlling substance, most likely a non-water or gel refrigerant, is sealed inside the interior  15  of the hollow polygon, thus eliminating filling and emptying the interior  15  on a periodic basis.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIG. 2, the apparatus according to the invention is further defined by at least one cavity  20  that extends from one of the polygon faces  18  into the hollow polygon  12  but is not in fluid communication with the opening  14  (or the interior  15  of the hollow polygon  12 ). The cavity  20  is integral to the hollow polygon  12  (e.g., a molded article). In other words, the walls  19  of the cavity  20  also function as the outer surface of the hollow polygon  12 . In the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hollow polygon  12  possesses a plurality of cavities  20  that are cylindrical and have a circumference sufficient to receive a standard drink can. Preferably, the cavity  20  extends inwardly to a depth that is less than the height of a standard drink can. This depth allows a portion of the can to extend out of the cooler to facilitate a quick and easy inspection of the cooler&#39;s contents. Furthermore, the cavities are separate and apart from one another thereby allowing the temperature controlling substance to substantially surround the perimeter of the cavity  20 .  
         [0021]    It will be understood that the phrase “standard drink can” is used in an exemplary rather than limiting sense, and that the cooler  10  can be formed to accommodate cans of different sizes as may be desirable or necessary. If desired, the cavities  20  can differ in size from one another to allow differently sized containers to be carried at the same time.  
         [0022]    A handle  22  may be attached to the hollow polygon  12 . In the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the handle is attached to the top face  18  of the hollow polygon but may be attached to other faces (or to two faces) as well.  
         [0023]    Referring now to FIG. 3, another embodiment of the invention is a cooler insert that may be used in conjunction with a traditional cooler. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a hollow polygon  12  having an opening  14  and cavities  20  such as that previously described. As discussed in previous embodiments, the hollow polygon  12  need not possess an opening  14  if the refrigerant is sealed in the polygon  12 . This embodiment also comprises a receptacle  24  having an interior space  25  of substantially the same shape and area as the polygon  12  and sized to receive the polygon  12  in a close mating relationship as shown in FIG. 3. In certain circumstances the use of a receptacle  24  may be desired. For example, if the hollow polygon  12  is filled with water which is then frozen, the outer surface of the hollow polygon  12  may “sweat” on hot days causing anything placed against the hollow polygon  12  to become damp. Placing the hollow polygon  12  in a receptacle would help contain the sweat. Furthermore, insulating the receptacle  24  would extend the cooling capacity of the cooler.  
         [0024]    Finally, a handle  22  and a lid  26  may be incorporated into the design of the receptacle  24 . The lid  26 , when closed, substantially encloses the hollow polygon  12 . Thus, the apparatus according to the invention may operate as an insert to a traditional cooler (i.e., the receptacle  24  and lid  26 ).  
         [0025]    The invention has been described in detail, with reference to certain preferred embodiments, in order to enable the reader to practice the invention without undue experimentation. However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readily recognize that many of the components and parameters may be varied or modified to a certain extent without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. Furthermore, titles, headings, or the like are provided to enhance the reader&#39;s comprehension of this document, and should not be read as limiting the scope of the present invention. Accordingly, only the following claims and reasonable extensions and equivalents define the intellectual property rights to the invention.