Abstract:
An insulated cooler with an integral padlock system comprises a hinged lid and a padlock receiving loop located on the lid. A second, corresponding receiving loop is disposed on the cooler. When closed, a user can apply a padlock to the first and second receiving loop simultaneously to lock the lid in a closed position to enable a user to leave the cooler unattended while full of food or beverages in a public location and prevent unauthorized persons and animals from getting into the cooler.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in U.S. Patent Provisional No. 61/588,384 filed on Jan. 19, 2012 the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an insulated container and more specifically, to an insulated container including a compartmentalized interior and having means to secure a lid for the container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Several insulated picnic coolers are provided with a means to clasp a lid of a cooler to a body portion. Clasp mechanisms are designed to generate a closed position by either securing the entire lid to the body portion if the lid is detachable or securing a side of the lid if the lid is hingedly attached. It is often desirable to not only secure the lid to the body, but to also lock it in a closed position. Coolers are often employed in public places and in public settings. The contents of coolers are of a personal nature to impose a reasonable expectation of privacy and security about them. It is desirable to have a portable cooler with a locking mechanism comprising of two (2) hasps that align with each other when the lid of a cooler is in a closed position so that a padlock or similar securing device can be inserted and used to secure the lid for added privacy and security. Another desirable feature is to have coolers provided with a means to maintain a separation between the coolant and the items to be cooled. Often, if no separation exists, the coolant (typically ice water) melts, and the water intermingles with the foodstuff. Just as bothersome, if no separation exists, liquid and juices from the foodstuff tend to contaminate the coolant, forcing users to clean or even discard the coolant. A third desirable feature is to have coolers equipped with a means to drain unwanted, accumulated, fluid without having to over-turn the cooler or bale the fluid. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,697 shows a lockable latch for a container comprising of a hinged latch with a slot that is positioned to cover a lock receiving tab. A lock can then be placed through the lock receiving tab to secure the container. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 7,219,919 shows a security and storage enclosure for a portable cooler employing a locking cable inserted through an eye hook as the security device. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,395,550 shows a cooler that has compartments, where the compartments are designed for one to hold drinking and potable liquid with a dispensing spigot. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,724,681 shows a cooler with a retractable handle, but the handle does not pivot. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,841 shows a cooler with a pivoting handle and other carrying handles. It further shows a leveling base and incorporates a drainage system. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,671,611 shows a cooler with a center compartment to house the coolant material, and a surrounding compartment to house the foodstuff and beverages 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a storage cooler with locking capabilities. The cooler assembly comprises of a relatively light-weight, portable, container made from thermoplastic material exhibiting thermally insulating properties, a partition wall within an interior portion of the cooler, a drainage system, a set of attached wheels for ease of transport, a first handle that is attached and situated to provide a means to pull the cooler on the wheels, a second handle that is attached and situated to provide a means to lift and carry the cooler, a stand that is attached and situated to provide a means to substantially level the cooler on uneven surfaces, a hingegly attached lid, a set of latches to secure the lid, and an integral hasp system. 
     An important feature of the cooler assembly is that it comprises of an integral hasp system to facilitate the use of a padlock or similar locking device for added security and privacy. The hasp system comprises of a first loop attached to, and protruding from, a surface of the lid and a second loop attached to, and protruding from, a surface of an upper edge of the body of the cooler. When the lid is in a closed position, the two (2) loops abut each other to form an integrated lock receiving loop due to the alignment of the apertures of each loop. A padlock or similar securing device can then be employed to secure the lid by inserting the securing device through the lock receiving loop. 
     Another beneficial feature of the cooler assembly is the compartmentalization configuration of the interior portion of the cooler. A partition wall separates the two (2) compartments and comprises of a material composition to facilitate and drive any thermally gradient that may exist between the two (2) compartments. It is envisioned that a first compartment would be smaller in volume in relation to a second compartment. It is envisioned that ice or similar coolant materials would be placed in the first compartment and foodstuff or beverages would be placed in the second compartment. The thermal properties of the wall are such to facilitate the transfer of heat from the second compartment to the first compartment. The compartments are also adequately sealed so as to prevent liquids from either compartment infiltrating the other compartment. 
     Another beneficial feature of the cooler assembly is that each compartment is provided with a drainage system to allow the user to independently drain any unwanted, accumulated, fluid in either compartment. 
     An optional and preferred feature of the cooler assembly is an extendable handle that is pivotably attached to facilitate maneuverability of the cooler about the attached wheels. 
     There is a need to have a cooler provided with a partition within the interior cargo space of the cooler to serve as both a separation device and a thermal heat transfer facilitator. A drainage system should be incorporated to allow users to rid of accumulated fluids within the cooler without overturning or baling the cooler. The cooler should also be equipped with a means to secure and lock the cooler for added security and privacy. Being able to exploit all of these features in a single cooler is an appreciable need for cooler users. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following more detailed description and claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like elements are identified with like symbols, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front elevation view of a portable and lockable cooler  10  and an enlarged fragmented perspective view of a lock assembly  32  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of the portable and lockable cooler depicted with a lid  23  in an open position revealing an inner compartment of two (2) sections in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the portable and lockable cooler  10  depicted with an extendable handle  27  in an up position in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a section view of line A-A as shown on  FIG. 1  cut through the extendable handle  27  in accordance to the preferred embodiment of the present invention; and, 
         FIG. 5  is a plan view of the portable and lockable cooler depicted with a lid  23  in an open position revealing an inner compartment of two (2) sections in accordance with an alternate embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  portable and lockable cooler 
               11  upper perimeter edge 
               12  front wall upper portion 
               13  lid lip 
               20  cooler assembly 
               21  shell 
               22  interior 
               23  lid 
               24  bottom 
               25  sidewall 
               26  main compartment 
               27  ice compartment 
               28  dividing wall 
               29  hinge 
               31  axle 
               32  wheel 
               33  side handle 
               34  handle pivot 
               35  stand 
               36  ice compartment 
               37  dividing wall 
               38  drain 
               39  drain plug 
               41  latch assembly 
               42  latch strike 
               50  lock assembly 
               51  lock receiving loop 
               52  lock receiving aperture 
               60  extendable handle assembly 
               61  handle housing 
               62  extendable handle 
               63  extendable handle stop 
               65  handle slide way 
               67  slide way plug 
               70  groove 
               80  removable dividing wall 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     The best mode for carrying out the invention is presented in terms of its preferred embodiment, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the invention is not limited to the described embodiment and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments of the invention are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the invention, and that any such work around will also fall under scope of this invention. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations of the present invention can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present invention, and only one particular configuration shall be shown and described for purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     The terms “a” and “an” herein do not denote a limitation of quantity, but rather denote the presence of at least one of the referenced items. 
     The present invention describes a portable and lockable cooler (herein referred to as the “device”)  10 , which provides a means to conveniently transport chilled food and/or beverages, and ice from one (1) location to another and place the contents under lock and key to deter unauthorized access. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , a front elevation view of the device  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The device  10  includes a cooler assembly  20  comprised of an shell  21 , a compartment interior  22 , and a hinged  29 , attached lid  23  that is lockable in a close position. Reference in this embodiment to the front of the device  10  will indicated the sidewall  25  opposite of the hinges  29 . The cooler assembly  20  includes a bottom  24  and sidewalls  25  which define a hollow interior  22 . The bottom  24  and sidewalls  25  are made of a formed thermoplastic material with thermally insulating properties. A pair of wheels  32  is attached to integrally formed axles  31  on opposing sides of the device  10  at the rear bottom end of the shell  21  for transporting the device  10  without lifting it. An extendable handle assembly  60  is attached to a rear sidewall  25  for pivoting the device  10  on the axles  31  and providing the impetus for motion as well as controlling the direction and speed of travel. A side handle  33  is attached to supportive pivots  34  on each of the opposing narrow sidewalls  25  for lifting or carrying the device  10 . A stand  35  is disposed along at least a portion of a front edge of the bottom  24  for maintaining the device  10  at a generally level orientation when it is not pivoted on the axles  32 . 
     The lid  23  is attached to the shell  21  by at least one (1) hinge connection  30 . A pair of over-center latch assemblies  41  is deployed along the upper portion  12  of the front sidewall  25  of the shell  21  and can engage the corresponding latch strike  42  located on the lip  13  of the lid  23  to hold said lid closed. The latch assemblies  41  could be comprised of any other suitable cooler latching mechanism, such as hasp type latches, toggle latches, cam latches, or the like without violating the form of this embodiment. A lock assembly  50  extends outwardly from the upper edge of the front sidewall  25  and the lower edge of the front of the lid  23 . The lock assembly  50  includes pair of lock receiving loops  51 , each of the lock receiving loops  51  having a lock receiving aperture  52 . As best seen in the enlarged fragmented perspective view of a lock assembly  50  of  FIG. 1 , the apertures  52  align when the lid  23  is in the closed and latched position for receiving an external locking mechanism, such as a padlock (not shown). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a plan view of the device  10  with the lid  23  in an open disposition according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The hollow interior  22  is divided into two (2) unequal compartments, a larger main compartment  26  and a smaller ice compartment  27 . The compartments  26  and  27  are separated by a dividing wall  28  which could be formed into the shell  21  at the point of original fabrication. The present form of the preferred embodiment maintains that a thermally conductive material be incorporated into the dividing wall  37 . Illustrated in  FIG. 5  is an alternative method of compartment separation which could be to form a “groove”  70  in the bottom  24  and the front and rear sidewalls  25 , into which a dividing wall  80 , comprised of a material that would be a more efficient thermal transmitter, such as an aluminum plate, be installed. Such a dividing wall  80  could be suitably sealed around the bottom  24  and the sidewalls  25  to prevent leakage of any liquid from the shell  21  or between compartments  26  and  27  without violating the form of this invention. 
     Ice can be placed in the smaller compartment  27  while chilled foodstuffs or beverages are placed in the larger main compartment  27 . The presence of the ice will establish a thermal gradient which will prompt sensible heat to move out of the items in the main compartment  26  through the separating wall  37  and into the ice. This division of compartments  26  and  27  and the concurrent sealing around the dividing wall  37  will keep the foodstuffs or beverages from contaminating the ice. An alternative operation of the preferred embodiment would be to place ice in both compartments  26  and  27  while giving no regard to the contamination of the ice in the main compartment  26  and keeping the ice in the ice compartment  27  uncontaminated for any alternate use. 
     Each of the interior compartments  26  and  27  includes an individual drain  38  formed into the shell  21  and which can be plugged with a pivoting drain plug  39  on the exterior of the shell  21 . Each drain  38  is thus connected to its respective compartment  26  or  27  and provides an operable means to independently drain any liquid from the compartments  26  and  27  to the outside of the device  10 . 
     The latch strikes  42  are illustrated in  FIG. 2  attached to the lid  23  of the device  10 . When the lid  23  is closed, the latch assemblies  41  are able to engage the latch strikes  42  to hold the lid  23  closed and maintain the thermally depressed state of the device. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a side elevation view of the device  10  according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. Along with this consider  FIG. 4 , a section view of the line A-A, as seen on  FIG. 1 , of the device  10 . The device  10  includes an extendable handle assembly  60  comprised of a handle housing  61  with a pair of handle slide ways  65 . The handle housing  61  can be integrally molded with the shell  21  during fabrication of the device  10 . The extendable handle  62  retracts downwardly within the handle housing  61  when not in use, as seen in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , and extends upwardly into the up position when in use, as seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . In the illustrated embodiment, the extendable handle  62  includes a pair of vertical supports and a horizontal grip connected between upper ends of the vertical supports. The vertical supports move along the interior vertical handle slide ways  65  formed into the handle housing  61 . A pair of handle stops  63  is placed on the ends of the vertical supports of the extendable handle  62  to limit the upward travel of the extendable handle  62 . The diameter of the handle slide ways  65  in the handle housing  61  would be large enough to accommodate the handle stops  63  for the majority of the upward travel, but then decrease abruptly to limit the travel and keep the extendable handle from becoming dislodged from the handle housing  61 . If the manufacturing tolerances do not provide a sufficient interference fit between the extendable handle  62  and the handle slide ways  65  in the handle housing  61  to retain the extendable handle  62  in the up position while also allowing it to easily be pushed downward when not in use, then a friction locking mechanism can be provided in the handle slide ways  65 . A pair of slide way plugs  67  is inserted into the lower open ends of the handle slide ways  65  after the handle stops are installed on the extendable handle  62  at the time of manufacturing to keep out debris or other foreign matter. It is understood that the device  10  may be configured without the extendable handle assembly  60 , if desired, thereby providing lift and carry as the only means of transportation. 
     The preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple manner with little or no training by performing a series of steps. It can be appreciated that the operational steps can be performed in alternative order and as such any operational description of use should not be viewed as a limiting factor. The first step would, of course, be acquiring a model of the device  10  having the desired storage capacity. 
     The dual sealed-compartment configuration of the interior  22  and the thermally conductive dividing wall  28  allows the device  10  to perform multiple storage tasks. For example, the main compartment  26  can be used to store various foodstuffs in a dry-cold environment by placing ice or an ice water mixture within the ice compartment  27 . The thermally conductive dividing wall  28  transfers heat from the main compartment  26  to the ice compartment  27  to cool the main compartment  26  and foodstuffs held within. 
     Another example of use is for various foodstuffs to be stored within the main compartment  26  in a wet-cold environment by placing ice or an ice water mix within the main compartment  26  with the foodstuffs. The ice compartment  27  can be used to store clean ice for use with beverages. 
     The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention and method of use to the precise forms disclosed. Obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions or substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstance may suggest or render expedient, but is intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.