Abstract:
A portable beverage cooler contained in a box with tracks that accept rails attached to panels with decorative automobile designs. Panels with the design of one automobile mobile can readily be replaced by panels with the design of another model. Attached the box axles with wheels so that the beverage cooler can readily be moved from place to place.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   This invention pertains to a portable beverage cooler. More particularly, it pertains to a portable beverage cooler contained within a simulated automobile frame. 
   Most beverage coolers are comprised of an insulated box with a cover and handles for carrying attached to the box. However, there are occasional beverage coolers that are more decorative. An example is the combination bottled beverage container and miniature golf cart taught by Miller in U.S. Pat. No. 6,094,936. The instant invention has a box with an insulated compartment for the storing and/or cooling containers of beverages. The instant invention is a decorative beverage cooler wherein the cooler itself is contained with a miniature automobile. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The instant invention has a box with an insulated compartment and possibly other compartments where other things may be kept. The box has a lid with longitudinal tracks. Each lateral side of the box has two tracks extending from the front to the back of the box. Attachable to the lid&#39;s tracks is a panel representing the top of an automobile (or truck, or three-wheeled motorcycle) from the hood to the cabin and the trunk. This top panel has rails that can be slid into the tracks on the lid. There are also two side panels, representing the side fenders of the car, each with rails that can be slid into the tracks on the sides of the box. There is also a front panel representing the grille and headlights of an automobile and a rear panel represent the rear that attach to the tracks on the side panels. These panels are not permanently attached to the box, but rather can be readily removed so that the user replace them with panels representing a different model of car. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS 
       FIG. 1   a  is a view of the cooler box and a side panel. 
       FIG. 1   b  is a view of mating of a track on a side of the cooler box and a rail on a side panel. 
       FIG. 2   a  shows a disassembled view of the cooler box, lid, and top panel. 
       FIG. 2   b  shows mating between a track on the lid and a rail on the top panel. 
       FIG. 3  shows a view of the cooler box with the lid attached and a top panel attached to the lid. 
       FIG. 4   a  shows a front panel, a top panel, and a side panel. 
       FIG. 4   b  shows the mating between the front panel and a track on a side of the cooler box. 
       FIG. 5   a  shows a back panel, a top panel, and a side panel. 
       FIG. 5   b  shows the mating between the back panel and a track on a side of the cooler box. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1   a  shows a box  10  divided by interior walls  11  and  12  into three compartments. Although this figure shows three compartments, there can any small number of compartments so long at the walls abutting the beverage cooler compartment  14 , including the side walls of the box, are insulated. The side walls  13  of the box have horizontal tracks. It is preferred that there are two side tracks, upper track  15  and lower track  16 . These may have any shape that is compatible for mating with rails  22  and  24  permanently attached to a side panel  20  shown in  FIG. 1   a . In the embodiment shown, the tracks have a block-C-shaped cross section and the rails have T-shaped cross section as shown in  FIG. 1   b . It is preferred that track  15  extend the length of box. Because a side panel represents the side of an automobile, which has wheel holes, it is adequate for track  16  to extend only between the wheel holes. 
   As shown in  FIG. 2   a , box  10  also has a lid  30 , which should be insulated above the beverage cooler compartment. Tracks  32  and  34  extend the length of the top of the lid adjacent to the lateral edges. As shown in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , these tracks mate with rails  42  and  44  on top panel  40 , which represents the top of an automobile (or truck) from the hood to the cabin and the trunk. The lid may be attached to the box by means of hinges  36  and  38  as shown in  FIG. 3 . The invention also has a front panel  50  that represents the grille and headlights of an automobile. Attached to the front panel are stubbly rails  52  that mate with the front end of upper tracks  15  on the side walls as shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   b . Front panel rails  52  may be attached to an insert  54  that fits into upper track  15 . Similarly, the invention had a back panel  60  that represents the rear of an automobile. Attached to the back panel are stubbly rails  62  that mate with the back end of upper track  15  on the side walls as shown in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   b . Back panel rails  62  may be attached to an insert  64  that fits into upper track  15 . 
   In keeping with the invention being portable and having decorative exterior panels simulating automobiles, it should have wheels so that it can be transported from place to place without always being lifted. Two pairs of wheels  72  and  74  can be attached to axles that are attached to the box  10 . There may also be a means of pulling the invention. This could be a rope or chain  70  that is attached to an axle or the front of the box and is threaded through a grille in front panel  50 . 
   The invention is easy to assemble, and may have panels representing a variety of automobile models. Starting with the basic box  10  containing the beverage cooler  14 , with wheels and axles attached, rails  22  and  24 , are slid into tracks  15  and  16  on side walls  13 . Then insert  54  and  64  are plugged into the front and back of tracks  15 , respectively. Then stubby front rails  52  are placed in track  15  adjacent to insert  54  to attach front panel  50  to the box and stubby back rails  62  are placed in track  15  adjacent to insert  64  to attach back panel  60  to the box. After the front panel is attached, rope  70  could be threaded through a grille in it. Inserts  54  and  64  are not essential components. However, if present, and if rails  52  and  62  are screwed to them, the front panel and the back panel would be attached more firmly to the box. Then rails  42  and  44  on top panel  40  are slid into tracks  32  and  34  on lid  30 . Then the lid could be opened and beverage containers, as possibly ice or other cooling substances could be placed in beverage compartment  14 . The invention with panels for one model automobile could be dissembled by reversing this process. The invention should be sized so that it could be fit into the trunk of an automobile for use at a picnic, a beach, or another remote location.