Patent Publication Number: US-9890993-B1

Title: Cooler with secondary lid

Description:
CROSS REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The Present application is a continuation application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/686,780, filed on Apr. 15, 2015, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/988,255, filed on May 4, 2014, both of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. 
    
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Field of the Invention 
     The present invention generally relates to portable beverage coolers. 
     Description of the Related Art 
     The prior art discusses various coolers, including coolers with lighting. 
     Winslow, U.S. Pat. No. 4,754,376 for an Automatic Ice Chest Light discloses a lighting device (light bulb) attached to n interior surface of a lid of an ice chest that is automatically activated when the lid is raised and deactivates when the lid is closed by way of a mercury switch. 
     Bania, U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,462 for an Internally Illuminated Cooler Box, discloses an incandescent light bulb built into an internal wall of a lid of a cooler box and which is activated by an automatic spring loaded switching mechanism. 
     Pashley et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,726,341 for a LED Illumination For Cold Storage Compartments discloses the use of LED lighting for a cold storage compartment. 
     Blanchard et al., U.S. Pat. No. 6,519,965 for an Externally Illuminated Cooler Box, discloses an incandescent light bulb built into an external side wall of a cooler box and which is activated by a switching mechanism. 
     Wyatt, U.S. Pat. No. 6,997,007 for a Light Assembly And Cooler System discloses a light assembly positioned on a front wall of a cooler and having an interior illumination panel and an exterior illumination panel which is controlled by a switch that deactivates the lighting when the lid is closed. 
     Incandescent lights have heat-driven emissions which use an electric current through a filament and produce light along with heat. This light source is completely useless for application to a cooler since it directly takes away from the basic functionality of a cooler. Fluorescent lights use a gas-discharge lamp and electricity to excite mercury vapor, producing a short-wave ultraviolet light that causes a phosphor to fluoresce, in turn producing actual, visible light. This type of light source is cost efficient however requires a ballast to regulate current through a bulb or lamp. Ballasts take up volume and generate heat. Since volume maximization is a primary attribute to be contained, a fluorescent light with a ballast is an improbable solution. Also, fluorescent bulbs are extremely fragile, with the possibility of breakage upon closing of the lid which would expose the hazardous gas and mercury within the cooler. 
     The prior art, although providing various means for illuminating a cooler, has still not addressed all of the problems with illuminating a portable cooler. The entire interior of the cooler should be illuminated and should be illuminated for an extensive period without an external power source. Also, the illumination should only create a minimal amount of heat in order for the cooler to serve its primary function of cooling the contents of the cooler. The cooler should also have an “automatic” switch to activate the illumination, and the switch should be durable. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The cooler of the present invention resolves the problems associated with prior art coolers by providing a cooler a modular light bar that utilizes multiple light emitting diodes (“LED”) to illuminate the entire interior of the cooler by unique placement of the LEDs which allows for a minimal number of LEDs to minimize power consumption. The LEDs are preferably activated by a magnetic reed switch positioned between an inside liner and an outer liner of the cooler. A magnet of the magnetic reed switch is positioned in the lid. A magnetic field of the magnet is in an activating location when the lid is in an open state wherein the magnetic reed switch completes a circuit from a battery to the modular light bar thereby allowing the LEDs to illuminate the entire interior of the chamber of the cooler. The modular light bar is preferably positioned along an upper region of the main body in which the upper region extends from an upper edge of the main body to 2 inches below the upper edge. The interior chamber preferably has a volume ranging from 40 quarts to 50 quarts. The LEDs can preferably illuminate the interior chamber of the cooler for at least four hours of continuous use. 
     The present invention is an insulated cooler with a lid connected of the body that opens. The interior of the cooler has LEDs along the interior rim approximately 1.5 inches from the top. The LEDs are preferably activated by a magnetic reed switch when the lid is opened, the reed switch closes the circuit on the common or ground side which completes the circuit and activates/powers the LEDs. When the lid is closed, the reed switch opens the circuit and deactivates the LEDs. The magnet is preferably positioned inside of the lid to activate/deactivate the reed switch. When a lied with a smaller or secondary lid is incorporated into the lid, a second reed switch is used. When the smaller/top lid is opened, the LEDs are activated by the second reed switch connected in to the same circuit (ground/common). The LEDs are activated by opening either the main/large lid or the second/top/smaller lid. The second lid reed switch is connected with wires that run through the back bottom middle of the lid into the hinge, through the hinge and connect at the base to the main circuit, 
     The present invention is generally directed to a portable cooler with a modular light bar. An illustrative embodiment of the cooler includes a lid and an interior chamber. The cooler has a main body having a plurality of insulated walls that define an interior chamber and a lid attached to the main body wherein the lid is moveable from a closed state to an open state. A modular light bar is positioned along an upper region of the main body and has a plurality of LEDs, with each LED having a millicandela ranging from 4000 to 20000. Further included is a nine volt battery for providing power to each of the plurality of LEDs. There is also preferably at least one 1.5 watt 5% tolerance 220 ohm resistor positioned between the nine volt battery and the plurality of LEDs. A magnetic reed switch is positioned between an inside liner and an outer liner of the cooler. A magnet is positioned in the lid wherein the magnetic field of the magnet is in an activating location when the lid is in an open state and wherein the magnetic field is removed from the magnetic reed switch when the lid is in an open state which allows the magnetic reed switch to close and complete a circuit from the battery to the plurality of LEDs allowing the plurality of LEDs to automatically illuminate the interior of the chamber. The cooler also has a secondary lid with a second reed switch. The present invention is further directed to a circuit for a lighting system for the cooler having a lid and interior chamber. 
     In another embodiment of the present invention, the cooler is capable of illuminating an exterior and comprises a main body having a plurality insulated walls that define an interior chamber, each of the insulated walls having an interior surface and an exterior surface. A lid is attached to the main body, the lid moveable from a closed state to an open state. The cooler also has a secondary lid with a second reed switch. The cooler further comprises a modular light bar positioned along the outer surface of an insulated wall of the plurality of insulated walls of the main body. The modular light bar has a plurality of LEDs and each of the LEDs has a millicandela of at least 20000. The cooler comprises a nine volt battery for providing power to each of the plurality of LEDs and at least one 1.5 watt 5% tolerance 220 ohm resistor positioned between the nine volt battery and the plurality of LEDs. Further included is an on/off rocker switch positioned on the main body, the on/off rocker switch completing a circuit from the battery to the plurality of LEDs allowing the plurality of LEDs to an exterior area to the cooler. 
     Having briefly described the present invention, the above and further objects, features and advantages thereof will be recognized by those skilled in the pertinent art from the following detailed description of the invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 1A  is a top perspective view of an alternative embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 2  is a hinged side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 3  is a side elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom plan view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 5  is a top plan view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 6  is a front elevational view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 7  is a side elevational view of an alternative embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view along line  8 - 8  of  FIG. 7  illustrating a transparent portion of an outer liner of a main body of a cooler. 
         FIG. 9  is a top plan view of a main body of a preferred embodiment of a cooler illustrating an open interior of the main body of the cooler. 
         FIG. 10  is an isolated cross-sectional view of a portion of the cooler along lines  10 - 10  of  FIG. 9 . 
         FIG. 11  is a side elevational view of an inner liner of a main body of a preferred embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 12  is a top plan view of a lid of an alternative embodiment of a cooler. 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the lid of  FIG. 12  along line  13 - 13 . 
         FIG. 14  is an isolated view of portion  14  of  FIG. 13 . 
         FIG. 15  is a plan view of a main body of a cooler illustrating a magnetic reed switch positioned within an outer liner and inner liner of the main body. 
         FIG. 16  is a side view of a cooler in a closed lid state with a magnetic reed switch in dashed lines in a main body of the cooler and a magnet in dashed lines in a lid of the cooler with a magnetic field in dashed lines. 
         FIG. 17  is a side view of a cooler in an open lid state with a magnetic reed switch in dashed lines in a main body of the cooler and a magnet in dashed lines in a lid of the cooler with a magnetic field in dashed lines. 
         FIG. 18  is a top view of an isolated view of the interior of the cooler. 
         FIG. 19  is a block diagram of a circuit for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 19A  is a block diagram of a circuit for a cooler with modular lighting with a Hall Effect Sensor. 
         FIG. 20  an illustration of a cooler with modular lighting with a lid open to automatically activate the modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20A  is an illustration of a plunger switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20B  is an illustration of a rocker switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20C  is an illustration of a lever switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20D  is an illustration of a ball switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20E  is an illustration of a mercury switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20F  is an illustration of a light dependent resistor switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20G  is an illustration of a proximity switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 20H  is an illustration of a photo diode switch utilized with a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 21  is an isolated illustration of a battery of a cooler with modular lighting with a lid open to automatically activate the modular lighting. 
         FIG. 22  is an isolated front perspective view of a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 23  is an isolated front perspective view of a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 24  is an isolated exploded view of a preferred embodiment of a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 25  is an isolated exploded view of an alternative embodiment of a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 26  is an isolated cross-sectional side view of a LED of a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 26A  is an exploded isolated cross-sectional side view of a LED of a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 27  is an isolated cross-sectional side view a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting positioned within a slot of a wall of the cooler. 
         FIG. 27A  is an exploded isolated cross-sectional side view a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting prior to positioning within a slot of a wall of the cooler. 
         FIG. 27  B is an isolated cross-sectional side view a modular light bar for a cooler with modular lighting being positioned within a slot of a wall of the cooler. 
         FIG. 28  is an isolated cross-sectional view along lines  28 - 28  of  FIG. 20  of a switch docking bay for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 29  is an isolated cross-sectional view along lines  29 - 29  of  FIG. 20  of a lid switch docking bay for a cooler with modular lighting. 
         FIG. 30  is a top plan view of a cooler with a secondary lid. 
         FIG. 30A  is a side elevation view of a cooler with a secondary lid. 
         FIG. 31  is a view of a cooler with a secondary lid illustrating the internal components. 
         FIG. 31A  is a top perspective view of a cooler with a secondary lid with a primary lid in the open position. 
         FIG. 32  is a view of a cooler with a secondary lid illustrating the internal components. 
         FIG. 33  is a view of a cooler with a secondary lid illustrating the internal components. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 1A , a portable cooler  20  has a lid  24  and a main body  22  having an interior chamber  21 . The lid  24  is preferably made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). The main body  22  comprises an outer liner  26  and an inner liner  34  that defines an interior chamber  21 . The lid  24  is attached to the main body  22 , and the lid  24  movable from a closed state to an open state. Multiple LEDs  32  are positioned along an upper region of the main body  22 . Each of the plurality of LEDs  32  preferably has a millicandela ranging from 4000 to 20000. The cooler  20  also preferably has a pair of wheels  27  and a drain plug  31 . 
     The cooler  20  further preferably comprises at least one battery  41 , positioned within a battery compartment, for providing power to each of the plurality of LEDs  32 . The battery  41 , not shown, preferably has a battery cover with backing made of polypropylene (PP). The preferred thickness of the wall of the backing is approximately 0.100 inch and the preferred weight is approximately 0.010 pounds. Additionally, the battery  41 , not shown, preferably has at least a 0.025 inch thick adhesive backed foam on the bottom of the battery  41 . The battery  41  is preferably placed in the battery compartment, which is in the upper region of the main body  22  to allow for maximum cooler space. Further, the battery is in close proximity to plurality of LEDs  32  in order to reduce power loss through resistance of the wires and to prevent unnecessary heating of the cooler by having electrical wires conducting electricity positioned throughout the cooler  20 . 
     At least one 1.5 watt 5% tolerance 220 ohm resistor  40  is preferably positioned between a nine volt battery  41  and the plurality of LEDs  32 . 
     The foam of the main body  22  of the cooler  20  preferably weighs approximately 2.6 to 3.0 pounds. The foam of the lid  24  of the cooler roughly weighs between 0.2 to 0.8 pounds. The interior capacity of the cooler  20  is preferably approximately 48 quarts to 50 quarts. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 9-11 and 15-17 , the cooler  20  is further defined by an inner liner  34  and an outer liner  26  of the main body  22 . A switch  42  is positioned between the inner liner  34  and outer liner  26  of the main body  22  in a compartment  33 . 
     In this embodiment, the switch is a magnet reed switch  42 . The liner is preferably made of high density polyethylene (HDPE). Further, a magnet  45  is positioned in the lid  24 , wherein a magnetic field  46  of the magnet  45  is in an activating location when the lid  24  is in an open state, wherein the magnetic reed switch  42  completes a circuit  40  from the battery  41  to the plurality of LEDs  32  thereby allowing the plurality of LEDs  32  to illuminate the interior of the chamber  21  of the cooler  20 . As shown in  FIG. 11 , a distance L 1  is preferably approximately 16 inches. 
     In an alternative embodiment of the present invention illustrated in  FIGS. 12-14 , the cooler  20  is capable of illuminating an exterior area of the cooler  20  through an LED  32  in a lid illuminating area  35  of the lid  24 . The material of the lid illuminating area  35  is preferably transparent allowing for the LED  32  to illuminate an exterior area of the cooler  20 . 
     The cooler  20  comprises a main body  22  having a plurality of insulated walls that define an interior chamber  21 . Each of the plurality of insulated walls has an interior surface that is preferably white in color, which is standard in the cooler industry. The white interior surface serves multiple purposes for the cooler  20 , in addition to providing a reflecting amplifier for the LEDs  32 , allowing for fewer and lower power LEDs  32  to be used while still illuminating the entire interior chamber  21  of the cooler  20 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 2-8 , the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is attached to the main body  22  by a plurality of hinges  25 , wherein the lid  24  is movable from a closed state to an open state. The hinges  25  are placed on a hinge side of the cooler  20  while the magnetic reed switch  42 , not shown, is preferably positioned on an opposite of the hinge side as disclosed below. The cooler  20  preferably has a pair of gripping handles  30  and a pulley handle  29  opposite of the wheels  27 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the wheels  27  are preferably attached to each other by a rotating shaft  28 . As shown in  FIGS. 7 and 8 , an alternative embodiment has a transparent signage portion that may be illuminated by an LED. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 1A and 18 , a plurality of LEDs  32  are positioned along the interior surface of the main body  22  of the cooler, below a rim  23  of the main body  22 . The LEDs  32  are the preferred light source for application in the cooler  20  since LEDs are more energy-efficient than traditional light sources, emit low-intensity light, generate the absolute minimum amount of heat and do not take up any volume in the cooler  20 . Placement of the LEDs  32  is designed for maximum illumination from the minimal number of LEDS  32 , as well as utilizing reflection of the white interior liner. In one embodiment, the placement of the LEDs  32  is in the upper region of the cooler  20  where the lid  24  rests when in a closed position. The placement of the LEDs  32  in the upper lip of the cooler  20  allows for physical protection of the LEDs  32  when the lid  24  is in the closed position. Further, by placing the LEDs  32  as close as possible to the rim  23  of the cooler  20 , optimal cooler  20  space is maximized. Also, placement of the LEDs  32  in this location allows for the maximum reflection amplification from the interior liner, regardless of the contents inside the cooler  20 . 
     Each of the plurality of LEDs  32  preferably has a millicandela ranging from about 4,000 to roughly 20,000. The LEDs  32  are preferably 5 mm flat top 120 degree LEDs. The 5 mm flat top 120 degree LEDs do not have a focused beam and do not have a domed surface which reduces illumination of the chamber. The invention further comprises a nine-volt battery  41  for providing power to each of the plurality of LEDs  32 . To prevent power from the battery being drained quickly, at least one 1.5 watt 5% tolerance 220 ohm resistor  40  is positioned between the nine volt battery  36  and the plurality of LEDs  32 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 19 and 19A , the circuit  40  for a lighting system for a cooler  20  comprises a plurality of LEDs  32 , each of the plurality of LEDs  32  preferably has a millicandela ranging from 4000 to 20000. The circuit  40  further comprises a nine volt battery, a switch  42 , and at least one 1.5 watt 5% tolerance 220 ohm resistor  40  positioned between the switch  42  and the plurality of LEDs  32 . A microprocessor or circuit board  43  is also preferably utilized in the circuit  40 . 
     In this embodiment, the switch is a Hall Effect sensor  42  which is positioned between the nine volt battery  41  and the plurality of LEDs  32 . The Hall Effect sensor  42  includes a regulator, a Hall element, an amplifier and a Schmitt trigger. A Hall Effect sensor  42  is a transducer that varies its output voltage in response to changes in a magnetic field. The Hall effect sensor is similar to the magnetic reed switch disclosed above, albeit with no moving components. In response to the lack of a magnetic field, the Hall Effect sensor closes a circuit and activates the LEDs  32  of the cooler  20  thereby allowing power to flow from the battery  41  to each of the plurality of LEDs  32  for automatically illuminating the interior of the chamber  21  of the cooler  20  when the lid is open and the magnetic field is removed. 
     The switch  42  is preferably installed between the inside liner  34  and the outside liner  26  of the main body  22  of the cooler  20 . Also, the activation by the removal of the magnetic field  46  (as shown in  FIG. 17 ) generated by the magnet  45  in the lid  24  eliminates breakage from wires that must be placed in a lid of a cooler since the magnet  45  is positioned within the lid  24  without the need for wires or other connections. 
     An alternative embodiment of a cooler  20  with modular lighting is shown in  FIG. 20 . The modular light bar  70  is placed within an interior docking bay  76  of a wall  26  of the cooler  20 . A lid component  59  of the switch is placed within the lid  24  and a main body component  58  of the switch is placed within the main body  22 .  FIGS. 28 and 29  illustrate this aspect of the invention without the switch components  58  and  59 . The switches discussed below are utilized with the modular light bar  70 , and positioned within the switch docking bay  81  and the lid switch docking bay  82  in order to automatically activate (close the circuit) the LEDs  32  of the modular light bar  70  when the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is open, and t 0  automatically shut off (open the circuit) the LEDs  32  of the modular light bar  70  when the lid  24  is closed. 
     A plunger switch  50  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20A . The plunger switch  50  breaks (off) or completes (on) a circuit on the common side of the circuit. When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is in the closed position the plunger is pressed, breaking the circuit on the common side of the circuit, turning the LEDS  32  off (open circuit). When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is open the plunger is released, completing the circuit on the common side turning the LEDS  32  on (closed circuit). 
     A rocker switch  51  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20B . An on/off rocker switch  51  is positioned on the main body  22  and the on/off rocker switch completes a circuit  40  from the battery  41  to the plurality of LEDs  32  thereby allowing the plurality of LEDs  32  to illuminate an exterior area to the cooler  20 . The rocker switch  51  breaks (off) or completes (on) a circuit on the common side of the circuit. Activation of the rocker switch  51  requires the switch be manually or physically rocked into the on or off position. When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is open the switch would be switched to the on position, completing the circuit and activating the LEDS  32  (closed circuit). When the cooler lid  24  is shut the switch would then need to be turned into the off position, breaking the circuit and deactivating the LEDS  32  (open circuit). 
     A lever switch  52  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20C . The lever switch  52  breaks (off) or completes (on) a circuit on the common side of the circuit. When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is in the closed position the lever is pressed, breaking the circuit on the common side of the circuit, turning the LEDS  32  off (open circuit). When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is open the lever is released, completing the circuit on the common side turning the LEDS  32  on (closed circuit). 
     A ball switch  53  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20D . The ball switch  53  breaks (off) or completes (on) a circuit on the common side of the circuit. When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is in the closed position the ball rolls away from the common leads inside of the switch breaking the circuit, turning the LEDS  32  off (open circuit). When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is open, the ball rolls towards the common leads completing the circuit or turning the LEDS  32  on (closed circuit). 
     A mercury switch  54  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20E . The mercury switch  54  breaks (off) or completes (on) a circuit on the common side of the circuit. When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is in the closed position the mercury rolls away from the common leads inside of the switch breaking the circuit turning the LEDS  32  off (open circuit). When the lid  24  of the cooler  20  is open the mercury rolls into the common leads, completing the circuit on the common side turning the LEDS on (closed circuit). 
     A light dependent resistor switch  55  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20F . The light dependent resistor switch  55  is a small semiconductor. Similar to the photo diode switch discussed below, in low to no ambient light situations, the light dependent resistor switch  55  completes the circuit so the LEDS  32  will illuminate. 
     A proximity switch  56  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20G . A proximity switch  56  is a switch that is activated by either an infrared beam or magnetic field, to power the LEDs on or off. 
     A photo diode switch  57  utilized with a cooler with modular lighting is illustrated in  FIG. 20H . The photo diode switch  56  acts as a switch to break (off) or complete (on) a circuit depending on the amount of ambient light present. When the cooler  20  is being used in the day time the need for the interior of the cooler  20  to be illuminated is negated because of ambient light. The photo diode will have a high resistance in the presence of ambient light and break (off) the circuit. When the ambient light is low to none (adjusted with potentiometer) the resistance value drops through the photo diode, completing the circuit (on). 
     The LEDs  32  operate at very low temperatures preventing the plastic material of the cooler  20  from melting. Further, the use of LEDs  32  does not affect the inside temperature of the cooler  20 . Retaining the inside temperature of the cooler  20  is one of the main priorities of the cooler  20  of the present invention. In turn, this design characteristic does not take away the basic functionality of the cooler. 
     The use of LEDs  32  to illuminate the inside contents of the cooler  20  in low light situations provides the consumer with the capability to visually see inside the cooler  20  when other light sources are inconvenient or unavailable. 
     Preferably for an eight LED  32  configuration, only one battery  41  and magnetic reed switch  42  are necessary for the cooler  20 . For a sixteen LED  32  configuration, two batteries  41  and two magnetic reed switches  42  are necessary for the cooler  20 . Twenty-six gauge stranded wire is also preferably utilized for the electronics of the cooler  20 . Two to sixteen resistors  44  are preferably utilized for the cooler  20 . 
     In one embodiment, the placement of the LEDs  32  in the cooler  20  are illustrated in  FIG. 18 . In this embodiment, each LED  32  of the pairs of LEDs  32  is positioned 1.25 inches from its pair LED  32 . A distance D 1  is preferably 11.5 inches. A distance D 2  is preferably 4.125 inches. A distance D 3  is preferably 6.25 inches. A distance D 4  is preferably 1.25 inches. A distance D 5  is preferably 7.75 inches. Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that other coolers having different dimensions can have different dimensions for the above-mentioned distances without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
       FIG. 21  illustrates an isolated view of a cooler  20  with a modular light bar  70  and a battery  33  positioned in proximity to the modular light bar  70 . The battery  33  provides power to the modular light bar  70  to enable the LEDs  32  to illuminate the cooler  20 . The battery  33  may be a AA battery, a AAA battery, a C battery, a D battery, a nine-volt battery, a lithium battery, or the like. 
       FIGS. 22 and 23  illustrate an embodiment of a modular light bar  70  utilized with the cooler  20 . The modular light bar  70  preferably comprises a handle  71  in order to remove and install the modular light bar  70  within a docking bay  76  of a wall  26  of the cooler  20 . The modular light bar  70  also preferably comprises a plurality of LEDs  32  positioned within a front surface of the modular light bar  70 . The modular light bar  70  also preferably comprises a release latch  72  and positioning blocks  73  for installation and removal within a docking bay  76  of a wall  26  of the cooler  20 . The modular light bar  70  also preferably comprises electrical contacts  74  for electrical connection to a circuit of the cooler  20  for automatic activation (closing the circuit) and deactivation (opening the circuit) of the LEDs  32  when the lid opens and closes. The modular light bar  70  also alternatively comprises a battery compartment  80  for a placement of a battery within for powering the LEDs  32 . 
       FIG. 24  illustrates an isolated exploded view of an embodiment of a modular light bar  70  for a cooler  20  with modular lighting. The modular light bar  70  having a light cover  75  is placed within a light docking bay  76  recessed into a wall  26  of the cooler  20 . The light docking bay  76  has slots  78  for engagement with the blocks  73  of the modular light bar  70 . Electrical contacts  77  for the light docking bay  76  engage with the electrical contacts  74  of the modular light bar  70  in order to form part of a circuit for the cooler  20  thereby allowing for automatic activation (closing the circuit) and deactivation (opening the circuit) of the LEDs  32  when the lid opens and closes, which when activated illuminate an interior chamber  21  of the main body  22  of the cooler  20 . The light docking bay  76  is preferably positioned at a top section of a wall  26  of the main body  22  of the cooler  20 . Further, the cooler  20  may comprise multiple modular lights bars  70  positioned along a top section of the walls  26  of the main body  22  of the cooler  20 . The modular light bar  70  may vary in length based on the size of the cooler  20 , and preferably ranges from one foot to three feet, has a width preferably ranging from one inch to one foot, and preferably has a depth ranging from 0.5 inch to three inches. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates another embodiment of a modular light bar  70  for use with a cooler  20 . The modular light  70  is continuous and completely extends around a perimeter of a main body  22  of a cooler  20 . In this embodiment, the modular light bar  70  with a plurality of LEDs  32 , is placed within a light docking bay  76  of the main body  22  of the cooler  20  and a snap-on top cover  79  is placed over the modular light bar  70  within the light docking bay  76  in order to secure the modular light bar  70  within the light docking bay  76 . The snap-on top cover  79  is preferably transparent.  FIGS. 26 and 26A  illustrate the placement of the modular light bar  70  within the light docking bay  76  and the placement of the snap-on cover  79  over the light docking bay  76 . 
       FIGS. 27, 27A and 27B  illustrate another embodiment of a modular light bar  70  that snaps into a light docking bay  76  of a wall  26  of a main body  22  of a cooler  20  in order to illuminate an interior chamber  21  of the main body  22  of the cooler  20  with light from a plurality of LEDs  32  of the modular light bar  70 . 
     In another embodiment of the invention, the modular light bar  70  is not automatically activated with the opening of a lid  24  of the cooler  20 , and the modular light bar  70  has a switch to activate the LEDs  32  of the modular light bar  70 . 
       FIGS. 30, 30A, 31 and 31A  illustrate a cooler  20  with a secondary lid  24   a . The main purpose of the secondary lid  24   a  is to reduce the amount of cool air that escapes from the interior chamber  21  when accessing the interior chamber  21 . Instead of opening the primary lid  24  to access the interior chamber  21  for a beverage or food product, a user only needs to open the secondary lid  24   a  to gain access to the beverage or food product, thereby reducing the amount of cool air that escapes from the interior chamber  21 , since a smaller opening is available for cool air to escape, which maintains the cold of the cooler  20  for a longer period of time. The surface area of the secondary lid  24   a  is preferably 10% to 80% of the surface area of the primary lid  24 , more preferably 20% to 60% of the surface area of the primary lid  24 , and most preferably 30% to 50% of the surface area of the primary lid  24 . 
     The secondary lid  24   a  is preferably placed in the center of the primary lid  24 . Alternatively, the secondary lid  24   a  is placed in proximity to an edge of the primary lid  24 . Alternatively, the secondary lid  24   a  is placed to open perpendicular to an opening of the primary lid  24 . Those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize that the secondary lid  24   a  may be placed in any location on the cooler  20  without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
     The secondary lid  24   a  has a switch  42   a  and operates in a similar manner as the primary lid  24 . When the secondary lid  24   a  is in the open position, the interior  21  is illuminated. For example, in response to the lack of a magnetic field, the Hall Effect sensor closes a circuit and activates the LEDs  32  of the cooler  20  thereby allowing power to flow from the battery  41  to each of the plurality of LEDs  32  for automatically illuminating the interior of the chamber  21  of the cooler  20  when the secondary lid  24   a  is open and the magnetic field is removed. 
       FIGS. 32-33  illustrate a small molex connector A, male, built in the hinge and connected to small molex connector A 1 . A small molex connector A 1 , female, is built into the lid and connecting to the secondary lid reed switch. A small molex connector B, male, built into the hinge and connected to small molex connector A through wires in a small conduit to connector to small molex connector B 1 . A small molex connector B 1  is female, built into the base of the cooler, connecting small molex connector B to the ground side, along with the first reed switch, inside the base of the cooler. A secondary reed switch C is in the secondary lid. A channel D is built into the hinge for wire protection. 
     The light modular bar  70  may also be utilized with the invention of Sandberg, U.S. Pat. No. 7,722,204 for a Cooler, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The light modular bar  70  may also be utilized with the invention of Sandberg, U.S. Pat. No. 8,210,702 for a Cooler With LED Lighting, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The light modular bar  70  may also be utilized with the invention of Sandberg, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/794,830, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, for a Cooler With LED Lighting, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. The light modular bar  70  may also be utilized with the invention of Sandberg, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/794,838, filed on Mar. 12, 2013, for a Cooler With LED Lighting, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     From the foregoing it is believed that those skilled in the pertinent art will recognize the meritorious advancement of this invention and will readily understand that while the present invention has been described in association with a preferred embodiment thereof, and other embodiments illustrated in the accompanying drawings, numerous changes modification and substitutions of equivalents may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention which is intended to be unlimited by the foregoing except as may appear in the following appended claim. Therefore, the embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property or privilege is claimed are defined in the following appended claims.