Patent Publication Number: US-2011073600-A1

Title: Outer surface of a container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to an outer surface of a container suitable for transportation of a number of items. The invention relates to an outer surface of, particularly but not necessarily exclusively, a lid for an ice cooler particularly for use in outdoor events or activities. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Containers with insulated walls, generally referred to as ice boxes, ice coolers or Eskis™ (hereafter ‘ice coolers’), are commonly used to hold and/or transport cold beverages or food which are required to be kept in a cool condition for a prolonged period of time. They are particularly useful and popular for outdoor activities or gatherings such as picnics and barbeques. 
     During the course of the above outdoor activities or gatherings, children and others often play sports games involving a number of items. Carrying and transporting these items individually is generally recognised to be a cumbersome and burdensome exercise. 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a surface of a container which may overcome the above inconvenience or which will at least provide a useful alternative. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It should be noted that although a surface of the present invention is adapted to be provided on an ice cooler with insulation capability, it may also be adapted to be provided on other types of containers or carriers. 
     According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an outer surface of a container having a lid and a receptacle, the surface including one or more substantially non-deformable recesses adapted to accommodate at least a portion of one or more items of sporting, cooking or barbeque equipment. 
     According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a container having a lid and a receptacle, the container having an outer surface including one or more substantially non-deformable recesses adapted to accommodate at least a portion of one or more items of sporting, cooking or barbeque equipment. 
     Preferably, the surface includes an outer part of the lid. Alternatively, the surface includes an outer part of a first external wall of the receptacle. 
     In a preferred embodiment, each recess is adapted to receive at least a portion of one of the items. The received portion of each item is preferred to constitute substantially 60% to 70% of the overall volume of the item. It is preferred that each recess is adapted to conform to the shape of the received portion of the item. Preferably, each recess is associated with a cavity for facilitating retrieval of the item from the recess. 
     Preferably, one or more of the recesses include one or more lugs adapted to secure the items within the recesses, respectively. More preferably, each lug is made of a resilient material which facilitates retention of the items in the respective recesses. 
     In one preferred embodiment, the sporting equipment is for a game of cricket, in which case the items include one or more of the following: a cricket ball, three stumps, a bail, and a cricket bat. In another embodiment, the sporting equipment is for a game of baseball, in which case the items include one or more of the following: markers for first, second, third and home bases, a baseball and a baseball bat. In yet another embodiment, the sporting equipment is for a game of tennis, in which case the items include one or more of the following: a tennis ball and two racquets. The items may include other parts, components or equipment for other sports games and additional objects or playthings such as a flying disc. 
     The cooking or barbeque equipment may include cooking or barbecue utensils. The utensils may include one or more of the following: a pair of tongs, a food turner or flipper, a spatula, a basting brush and an ice-cream scoop. 
     Preferably, the lid is removably mounted to the receptacle. Alternatively, the lid is pivotally hinged to the receptacle. 
     The container may include a collapsible seat at one end, the seat being movable between an operable position and a collapsed position. When disposed in the collapsed position, the seat may be folded to abut a second wall of the receptacle. When disposed in the operable position, the seat may be disposed in a generally horizontal orientation and supported by a strut movably connected to one or more extendable legs. The legs may be telescopically retractable. Preferably, the container includes another seat at an opposite end. 
     In a preferred embodiment, the container includes one or more wheels. It is preferred that the container also includes a retractable handle. The receptacle may include a compartment for receiving the handle when it is in a retracted position. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be better understood from the following non-limiting description of preferred embodiments, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a side elevation of one embodiment of the invention showing a container having a lid mounted on a receptacle, the lid having a surface in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the surface of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is an end view of the container of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the invention, showing a lid mounted on a receptacle; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial perspective view of the lid of  FIG. 4  showing cooking utensils received in recesses provided in the lid; 
         FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the invention showing a lid; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of the lid of  FIG. 6  showing baseball equipment received in recesses provided in the lid; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a yet further embodiment of the invention, showing a lid; and 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of the lid of  FIG. 8  showing tennis equipment received in recesses provided in the lid. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     It should be noted that although an outer surface of the present invention is intended to be provided on an ice cooler, it may be customised so as to be applicable to any other types of portable containers or carriers. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a container  12  has a lid  14  and a receptacle  16 . The lid has an upper surface  10  with substantially non-deformable recesses  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  which are provided to accommodate various items. Each substantially non-deformable recess  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24 ,  26  is designed to be sufficient resilient to receive and hold an item of sporting equipment. The upper surface  10  is an outer part of the lid  14  which is detachable from the receptacle  16 . It is however contemplated that the lid  14  may be pivotally hinged to the receptacle  16 . 
     As best shown in  FIG. 2 , the recesses  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  are in different shapes and configurations. Each of the recesses  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  is configured to receive part of a portion of a piece of a set of cricket equipment, namely three stumps  28 ,  30  and  32 , a cricket ball  34  and a bat  36 . 
     As best shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the received portion of each of the pieces  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  34  and  36  constitutes substantially 60% to 70% of the volume of the relevant piece. Also, each recess  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  or  26  is configured to conform to the shape of the relevant received portion. As such, the pieces  28 ,  30 ,  32 ,  36  and  34  sit firmly within the respective recesses  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  without wobbling, which is particularly advantageous when the container  12  is in motion. 
     Additionally, as best shown in  FIG. 2 , each of the recesses  18 ,  20  and  22  include six lugs  84  spaced about its upper edge (only some of lugs  84  are labelled). The lugs  84  are made of a resilient material which facilitates placement of the stumps  28 ,  30  and  32  into the respective recesses  18 ,  20  and  22 . The lugs  84  flex back into their original position after placement of the stumps  28 ,  30  and  32  thereby retaining and securing the stumps  28 ,  30  and  32  within the respective recesses  18 ,  20  and  22 . 
     Each of the recesses  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  and  26  is associated with a small cavity  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  or  46 . Each cavity  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  or  46  provides space for insertion of a user&#39;s finger to retrieve the relevant piece from the associated recess  18 ,  20 ,  22 ,  24  or  26 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 and 2 , the container  12  shows two optional collapsible seats  48  and  50  located at front and rear ends, respectively. Each of the seats  48  and  50  is movable between an operable position (refer to  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 ) and a collapsed position (not shown). When disposed in the collapsed position, the seats  48  and  50  are folded onto the respective front and rear walls  52  and  54  of the receptacle  16  resulting in the undersides  56  and  58  of the seats  48  and  50  abutting the front and rear walls  52  and  54 , respectively. When disposed in the operable position, the seats  48  and  50  are generally horizontal. Each of the seats  48  and  50  is supported by a strut  60 ,  62 . Each of the struts  60  and  62  is slidably connected to a pair of extendable legs  66  and  70  (not visible), and  64  and  68 , respectively. Each of the legs  64 ,  66 ,  68  or  70  is telescopically retractable such that when not in use, it can be received within a hollow (not visible) provided in the underside  56 ,  58  of the seat  48 ,  50 . The struts  60  and  62  may each possess a locking mechanism which securely binds the seats  48  and  50  to the front and rear walls  52  and  54 , respectively, so as to prevent the seats  48  and  50  from flapping when the container  12  is in motion. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1 ,  2  and  3 , the container  12  has two front wheels  72  and  74  which enable the container  12  to be easily pushed or dragged in a desired direction when the rear end of the container  12  is lifted off the ground. Two legs  80  and  82  are provided towards the rear end of the receptacle  16  to bring the rear end of the container  12  to the same level as the front end which is elevated by the wheels  72  and  74 . 
     The container  12  also has a retractable handle  76  ( FIGS. 1 and 2 ) which may be grasped by the user for moving the container  12  around. The handle  76  is retractable such that, when not in use, it can be pushed down to be hidden in a compartment  78  ( FIG. 2 ) provided in the receptacle  16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4 and 5 , a container  12 A is covered by another embodiment of a lid  14 A having recesses  90  and  92 . The recesses  90  and  92  are designed to receive a pair of tongs  94  and a spatula  96 , respectively. The recesses  90  and  92  are shaped such that the tongs  94  and spatula  96  are received snugly. 
     It is contemplated that additional or replacement recesses of other shapes and/or forms may be provided in the lid to accommodate other cooking or barbecue equipment such a food turner or flipper, a basting brush and an ice-cream scoop. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a further embodiment of a lid  14 B has recesses  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104  and  106  configured to receive baseball game equipment having markers  108 ,  110 ,  112  and  114  for first, second, third and home bases, a baseball  116  and a baseball bat  118 , respectively. The recesses  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104  and  106  are configured such that they conform to the shape of the respective items such that a snug fit is achieved. This offers the advantage of preventing the items from wobbling within or accidentally falling out of the recesses without requiring the assistance of fastening means such as straps or clips. 
     Turning to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , a yet further embodiment of a lid  14 C has recesses  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  configured to receive tennis equipment including racquets  128  and  130 , a tennis ball  132  and a flying disc  134 . Similar to the embodiment depicted in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the recesses  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  conform to the shape of the respective items so as to achieve a snug fit. The depth of the recesses  120 ,  122 ,  124  and  126  are designed such that the items do not easily fall out during transportation. 
     Although not shown in  FIGS. 4 to 9 , each of the recesses  96 ,  98 ,  100 ,  102 ,  104  and  106  may include a small cavity like cavity  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44  or  46  described above in connection with  FIGS. 1 to 3 , to facilitate removal of relevant items. 
     Now that preferred embodiments of the present invention have been described in some detail, it will be apparent to a skilled person in the art that the surface of the present invention may offer at least the following advantages:
     1. it enables carrying and/or transporting of a number of items in a convenient way;   2. it is neat and aesthetically pleasing; and   3. it minimises the likelihood of one or more items of a set of equipment being inadvertently left behind in outings due to the items and/or the receptacle and/or their receptacles being readily visible.   

     Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. For instance, the surface may include an outer part of a side wall of the receptacle. The side wall may be slanted or include some reinforcing means to firmly secure the items within the recesses. Also, additional recesses may be provided to accommodate a bail and a spare stump. Furthermore, the items may include any other parts or equipment for other sports games. All such variations and modifications are to be considered within the scope and spirit of the present invention the nature of which is to be determined from the foregoing description.