Abstract:
An apparatus for transporting a container includes a lower enclosure adapted to accept and retain the container, an insulating lining disposed on an inner surface of the lower enclosure, an upper enclosure hingedly affixed to the lower enclosure and adapted to close upon and seal the lower enclosure, a handle assembly attached to the lower enclosure, and at least one pair of wheels operatively attached to a bottom surface of said lower enclosure, wherein the handle assembly is selectively movable between a deployed position and stowed position.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present invention was first described in and claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/928,633, filed Jan. 17, 2014, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to a wheeled transportation device particularly suited for transporting a slow cooker type of food container. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Slow cookers or CROCK-POTS® as they are commonly called, are frequently used to make a wide variety of dishes such as stews, chilis, soups, pot roasts, and the like. While these foods are perfect for meals at home, they also find a high percentage of use at picnics, tail gate parties, office functions, and pot luck dinners. These occasions mean that the slow cooker must be transported to a remote location where the cooking process continues, or for keeping the food warm for long periods of time. However, these slow cookers can weigh up to twenty-five pounds (25 lbs.) when filled with food. While they can be easily lifted and carried for a few feet, transport through large parking lots, or carrying into a large building becomes very difficult for even those in the best of physical shape. Those who may be elderly, of a small physical stature, or those suffering from an injury or disability find moving heavy slow cookers impossible. Accordingly, there exists a need for a means by which slow cookers can be easily moved and transported, without the disadvantages as described above. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The disadvantages of the prior art are overcome by the present invention in providing a wheeled transport for a cooking container having a lower enclosure adapted to accept and retain the container and an upper enclosure hingedly affixed to the lower enclosure and adapted to close upon and seal the lower enclosure. The invention includes a handle assembly selectively movable between a deployed position and stowed position and a pair of wheels operatively attached to the bottom surface of the lower enclosure. The use of the present invention provides a means of moving and transporting heavy, filled, slow cookers, in a manner that is not only quick, easy, and effective, but unique, safe, and secure as well. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The advantages and features of the present disclosure 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 rear view of a wheeled transport for a slow cooker  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a side view of the wheeled transport  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a top view of the wheeled transport  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is a sectional view of the wheeled transport  10  taken along section line A-A (see  FIG. 2 ), according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a close-up view of a locking band portion  90  of the wheeled transport  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTIVE KEY 
     
         
         
           
               10  wheeled transport for a slow cooker 
               20  lower enclosure assembly 
               21  lower enclosure inner cavity 
               22   a  first side panel 
               22   b  second side panel 
               23  front panel 
               24  rear panel 
               25  bottom panel 
               26  caster 
               27  leg 
               28  insulation layer 
               30  pouch 
               32  document 
               33  indicia 
               35  vent 
               36  hinge 
               37  cord aperture 
               40  upper enclosure assembly 
               41  upper enclosure inner cavity 
               42  enclosure material 
               43  upper enclosure base 
               44  upper enclosure flap 
               45  utensil tray 
               46   a  first compartment 
               46   b  second compartment 
               47  divider wall 
               50  handle assembly 
               52   a  first upper section 
               52   b  second upper section 
               54   a  first lower section 
               54   b  second lower section 
               56  pull-handle 
               58  finger relief 
               60  spring button 
               62  pull handle case 
               64  skid plate 
               70   a  first side padding block 
               70   b  second side padding block 
               72   a  front padding block 
               72   b  rear padding block 
               80   a  first zipper 
               80   b  second zipper 
               80   c  third zipper 
               85  stationary handle 
               90  locking band 
               92  center aperture 
               94   a  first side aperture 
               94   b  second side aperture 
               100  slow cooker 
               101  slow cooker side handle 
               102  lid handle 
               200  user 
               210  ground/floor surface 
           
         
       
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     In accordance with the invention, the best mode is presented in terms of the described embodiments, herein depicted within  FIGS. 1 through 5 . However, the disclosure is not limited to the described embodiments and a person skilled in the art will appreciate that many other embodiments are possible without deviating from the basic concept of the disclosure and that any such work around will also fall under its scope. It is envisioned that other styles and configurations can be easily incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure, and only certain configurations have been shown and described for to purposes of clarity and disclosure and not by way of limitation of scope. 
     It can be appreciated that, although such terms as first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one (1) element from another element. Thus, a first element discussed below could be termed a second element without departing from the scope of the present invention. In addition, as used herein, the singular forms “a”, “an” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It also will be understood that, as used herein, the term “comprising” or “comprises” is open-ended, and includes one (1) or more stated elements, steps or functions without precluding one (1) or more unstated elements, steps or functions. Relative terms such as “front” or “rear” or “left” or “right” or “top” or “bottom” or “below” or “above” or “upper” or “lower” or “horizontal” or “vertical” may be used herein to describe a relationship of one (1) element, feature or region to another element, feature or region as illustrated in the figures. It should be understood that these terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. It should also be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected” to another element, it can be directly connected to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. It should also be understood that the sizes and relative orientations of the illustrated elements are not shown to scale, and in some instances they have been exaggerated for purposes of explanation. 
     The present invention describes a wheeled transport (herein described as the “apparatus”)  10 , which provides a rolling case for containing, securing, and transporting a slow cooker  100  such as a crock pot, or similar cooking device. The apparatus  10  resembles a rolling suitcase-like structure comprising of a rigid plastic or metal lower enclosure assembly  20  and a semi-rigid textile upper enclosure assembly  40  being hingedly attached to each other to form a lower enclosure inner cavity  21  capable of securely containing the slow cooker  100 . The apparatus  10  provides a retractable pull-handle assembly  50  and a pair of casters  26  for smooth transportation of the slow cooker  100 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , rear and side views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The aforementioned lower enclosure assembly  20  provides an open top box-like rigid structure having a first side panel  22   a , a second side panel  22   b , a front panel  23 , a rear panel  24 , and a bottom panel  25 . The panel portions  22   a ,  22   b ,  23 ,  24 ,  25  provide a single piece construction of flat plastic or metal panels arranged at right angles, and being covered along all interior surfaces by an insulation layer  28  such as polystyrene or equivalent durable lightweight insulating material envisioned to be adhesively bonded to the panes  22   a ,  22   b ,  23 ,  24 ,  25 . The lower enclosure assembly  20  further includes a pair of hinges  36  along a rear upper edge, and a first zipper  80   a  which extends along side and front edges which provide respective hinged attachment and closure with specs to the upper enclosure assembly  40 . The lower enclosure assembly  20  is envisioned to be introduced in several sizes having lower enclosure inner cavities  21  which facilitate correspondingly sized slow cookers  100 , and as such should not be interpreted as a limiting factor of the apparatus  10 . 
     The lower enclosure assembly  20  also includes a louver-type vent  35  and a pouch  30  both built into the rear panel  24 . The vent  35  enables escape of expanding gases, steam, and the like, emitted from the slow cooker  100 . The rectangular transparent pouch  30  provides a low profile envelope structure having a third zipper  80   c  along a top edge and is envisioned to be affixed along an outer surface portion of the rear panel  24  using methods such as radio frequency (RF) welding, heat sealing, adhesive bonding, and the like. The pouch  30  is to be suitable in size to contain and display a rectangular document  32  such as a recipe sheet, a menu, or an instruction sheet, as well as different advertisement displays providing various indicia  33 . 
     The lower enclosure assembly  20  provides equipment to enable easy transportation of the apparatus  10  in the slow cooker  100  along a ground/floor surface  210  including a pair of casters  26 , a pair of legs  27 , and a pull-handle assembly  50 . The casters  26  are affixed at front corner portions of the bottom panel  25 , and the legs  27  at rear corner portions of the bottom panel  25 . The casters  26  and legs  27  are envisioned to have similar vertical heights, thereby enabling the lower enclosure assembly  20  to assume a stable level position upon a ground/floor surface  210  when in an upright position. 
     The upper enclosure assembly  40  provides a rectangular semi-rigid textile enclosure material  42  affixed to a rigid upper enclosure base  43  that defines a inner cavity  41 . The preferred embodiment of the upper enclosure assembly  40  has a similar width and length as the subjacent lower enclosure assembly  20  and is approximately six inches (6 in.) in height. The upper enclosure assembly  40  also provides an upper enclosure flap  44  that is a portion of the enclosure material  42  and operatively opens by a second zipper  80   b . Stored beneath the upper enclosure flap  44  within the inner cavity  41  is a utensil tray  45 . The zipper  80   b  allows the flap  44  to be opened across the top of the upper enclosure assembly  40  and along its front face, thereby allowing convenient horizontal extraction of the utensil tray  45  (see  FIG. 4 ). The upper enclosure assembly  40  is hingedly attached to the lower enclosure assembly  20  by the hinges  36 . 
     The handle assembly  50  provides a top horizontal pull-handle portion  56  disposed between two (2) telescoping members each having an upper and lower member that collapse within a handle case  62 . More specifically, a first upper section  52   a  and a second upper section  52   b  member are insertingly joined to respective a first lower section  54   a  and a second lower section  54   b  member. The upper  52   a ,  52   b  and lower  54   a ,  54   b  members are preferably made using square metal tubing and are secured in an extended state via respective digit-operated spring button devices  60  or an equivalent length-locking mechanism. The pull-handle portion  56  further provides the user with a plurality of integral finger reliefs  58 . 
     The handle assembly  50  provides a means of compact storage via telescoping engagement of the upper  52   a ,  52   b  and lower  54   a ,  54   b  members. From the deployed position of the handle assembly  50 , the user disengaging the spring button devices  60  and providing a downward motion, will cause the desired collapsing and storage of the handle assembly  50  within the handle case  62 . With the handle in this stowed position, clearance is provided to open the upper enclosure assembly  40 . The upper enclosure assembly  40  is rotated in a forward direction against an exterior surface of the handle case  62 , which allows a slow cooker  100  to be loaded into the lower enclosure assembly  20 . 
     During transportation of the apparatus  10 , the handle assembly  50  is extracted and the apparatus is tilted forward, thereby lifting the legs  27  from a ground/floor surface  210  and allowing smooth motioning of the apparatus upon the casters  26 . The lower enclosure assembly  20  provides at least one (1) skid plate  64  along a bottom edge of the front panel  23  which protrudes in a forward direction and contacts a ground/floor surface  210  in an event that the apparatus is tilted too far forwardly during transportation, thereby protecting against possible spilling of the contents of the slow cooker  100  as seen in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 and 4 , top and sectional interior views of the apparatus  10 , according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention, are disclosed. The apparatus  10  provides a means to center and secure the slow cooker  100  within the lower enclosure assembly  20  via insertion of a first side padding block  70   a , a second side padding block  70   b , a front padding block  72   a , and a rear padding block  72   b , between the slow cooker  100  and respective first side panel  22   a , second side panel  22   b , rear panel  24 , and front panel 23 portions of the lower enclosure assembly  20 . Each padding block  70   a ,  70   b ,  72   a ,  72   b  provides a generally rectangular shape being approximately six inches (6 in.) in height and made of a dense foam material covered over with vinyl or an equivalent waterproof and easily washable material. The padding blocks  70   a ,  70   b ,  72   a ,  72   b  provide protective and compliant compressible members which fit snugly between interior surfaces of the lower enclosure assembly  20  and the slow cooker  100 , thereby securing the slow cooker  100  in an upright and flat position upon the bottom panel  25 . During installation, the compressible nature of each foam padding block  70   a ,  70   b ,  72   a ,  72   b  enables conformance to the curved outer shape of the slow cooker  100 . 
     The upper enclosure assembly  40  provides an inner space portion to store a plastic or metal utensil tray  45 . The utensil tray  45  is envisioned to include a plurality of compartments separated by at least one (1) divider wall  47 . In a preferred embodiment, the utensil tray  45  has a first compartment  46   a  and a second compartment  46   b  being appropriately sized so as to hold various types of utensils, additional recipe ingredients, or other related items. 
     The rear panel  24  also provides a half-cylinder-shaped recessed cord aperture  37  along a top edge which allows a user to provide electric power to the slow cooker  100  while being positioned within the apparatus  10 , as needed. Interior surfaces of the insulation layer portions  28  of the lower enclosure assembly  20  are envisioned to provide a dark coloring to help hide accidental stains or spills during use of the apparatus  10 . 
     The lower enclosure assembly  20  also provides a means for lifting the apparatus  10  from the ground/floor surface  210  via a pair of stationary “U”-shaped handles  85  envisioned to be integrally-molded into the side panels  22   a ,  22   b  at upper center locations. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a close-up view of a locking band portion  90  of the apparatus  10 , according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, is disclosed. The apparatus  10  also provides a means to secure a lid handle portion  102  of the slow cooker  100  via the locking band  90 . The locking band  90  provides an elastic rubber or plastic strap-like device having a center aperture  92 , a plurality of first side apertures  94   a , and a plurality of second side apertures  94   b . The round center aperture  92  acts to encompass an upper lid handle portion  102  of the slow cooker  100  while the elliptical side apertures  94   a ,  94   b , located at opposing end portions of the locking band  90 , encompass opposing slow cooker side handle portions  101 . The plurality of side apertures  94   a ,  94   b  enable use of the locking band  90  upon different sized slow cookers  100  having differently side handle portions  101 . Once installed, the locking band  90  securely retains the lid and vessel portions of the slow cooker  100  together. 
     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 preferred embodiment of the present invention can be utilized by the common user in a simple and effortless manner with little or no training. After initial purchase or acquisition of the apparatus  10 , it would be configured and utilized as indicated in  FIGS. 2 ,  3 , and  4 . 
     The method of preparing the apparatus  10  for use may be achieved by performing the following steps: procuring a model of the apparatus  10  having a lower enclosure inner cavity  21  which corresponds to an anticipated slow cooker  100  to be transported; transporting the apparatus  10  to a food-loading location by extending the pull handle assembly  50  by grasping the pull-handle portion  56  by integral finger reliefs  58 ; extending the upper  52   a ,  52   b  and lower  54   a ,  54   b  sections of the pull handle assembly  50  until the spring buttons  60  are engaged and locked; tilting the apparatus  10  forwardly to lift the legs  27  off of the ground/floor surface  210 ; rolling the apparatus  190  across the ground/floor surface  210  upon the casters  26  to the food-loading location; returning the apparatus  10  to an upright position upon the casters  26  and legs  27 ; collapsing the pull-handle assembly  50  by pressing inwardly upon the spring buttons  60 ; pressing downwardly upon the pull-handle  56  until the pull handle assembly  50  is collapsed into the pull handle case  62 ; releasing the upper enclosure assembly  40  from the lower enclosure assembly  20  by opening the first zipper  80   a ; pivoting the upper enclosure assembly  40  upward and rearward about the hinges  36  to expose the lower enclosure inner cavity  21  portion of the lower enclosure assembly  20 ; loading a slow cooker  100  such as a CrockPot® or other food preparation vessel with foodstuffs, as desired, in a conventional manner; securing lid and body portions of the slow cooker  100  together using the locking band  90  by placing the center aperture portion  92  of the locking band  90  over the lid handle  102 ; stretching the locking band  90  downwardly over side portions of the slow cooker  100 ; placing opposing first side aperture  94   a  and second side aperture  94   b  portions over corresponding slow cooker handles  101 ; placing the slow cooker  100  within the lower enclosure assembly  20 ; centering the slow cooker  100  upon the bottom panel portion  25 ; inserting and compressing the side padding blocks  70   a ,  70   b  between side services of the slow cooker  100  and the side panel portions  22   a ,  22   b  of the lower enclosure assembly  20 ; inserting and compressing the front padding block  72   a  and rear padding block  72   b  portions along front and rear surface portions of the slow cooker  100 ; replacing the upper enclosure assembly  40  upon the lower enclosure assembly  20  and fastening using the first zipper  80   a ; loading desired quantities and types of utensils into the utensil tray  45 ; installing the utensil tray  45  within the upper enclosure assembly  40  by unzipping the second zipper  80   b ; lifting a flap portion  44  of the upper enclosure assembly  40  upward; inserting the utensil tray  45 ; closing and securing the flat  44  by closing the second zipper  80   b ; and, extending and locking the pull handle assembly  50  as previously described. The apparatus  10  is now ready for use. 
     The method of utilizing the apparatus  10  may be achieved by performing the following steps: transporting the apparatus  10  to a delivery and/or serving area using the pull handle assembly  50  and caster  26  portions; returning the apparatus  10  to an upright position upon the caster  26  and leg  27  portions; unzipping the second zipper  80   b  and lifting a flap portion  44  of the upper enclosure assembly  40 ; removing the utensil tray  45 ; collapsing the pull-handle assembly  50  as previously described; releasing the upper enclosure assembly  40  from the lower enclosure assembly  20  by opening the first zipper  80   a  and pivoting the upper enclosure assembly  40  upwardly and rearwardly; removing the side padding blocks  70   a ,  70   b , front padding block  72   a , and rear padding block  72   b  portions; allowing the slow cooker  100  to remain within the apparatus  10 , as needed, by connecting electric power to the slow cooker  100  using the electrical cord aperture  37 ; or lifting the slow cooker  100  from the lower enclosure assembly  20  to perform normal serving; removing the locking band  90  from the slow cooker handles  101 ; and, benefiting from reduced effort during transport, and reduced risk of spillage while transporting a slow cooker  100 , afforded a user of the present invention  10 . 
     The foregoing embodiments of the disclosed chest cooler 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. It can be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other styles, configurations, and modifications of the invention can be incorporated into the teachings of the present disclosure upon reading the specification and that the embodiments shown and described are for the purposes of clarity and disclosure and to limit the scope. The embodiments have been chosen and described in order to best explain the principles and practical application in accordance with the invention to enable those skilled in the art to best utilize the various embodiments with expected modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. The present application includes such modifications and is limited only by the scope of the claims.