Patent Publication Number: US-10322867-B2

Title: Transportable transparent cork-insulated cooler

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
     In accordance with 37 C.F.R. 1.76, a claim of priority is included in an Application Data Sheet filed concurrently herewith. Accordingly, the present invention claims priority as a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/788,030, filed Jun. 30, 2015, entitled “Transportable Transparent Cork-Insulated Cooler”, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/029,805, filed Jul. 28, 2014, entitled “Cork Insulated Container”. The contents of the above referenced applications are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
    
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to containers for holding materials for storage, and more particularly to a cork-insulated cooler used for holding perishable food products having a transparent interior shell and reversible skid plates to assist with transportation thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A cooler, portable ice chest, ice box, or cool box is most commonly an insulated box used to keep food or drink cool. Ice cubes are most commonly placed in it to help maintain a cool temperature within the cooler. As an alternative, ice packs with gel contained therein are sometimes used because the gel absorbs heat as it changes phase, causing the ice packs to stay colder longer than just plain ice. Coolers are frequently taken on picnics, vacations, and holiday trips. When summer temperatures rise, coolers may also be used for maintaining cooler temperatures while transporting cold groceries home from the store; for example, keeping ice cream from melting in a hot automobile. Even without adding ice, the transportable transparent cork-insulated cooler of the present invention can be used just to maintain the cooler temperature of food products or beverages purchased at the supermarket. 
     Moreover, coolers are used in various settings where they either need to be transported from one area to another or they need to remain in place. Thus, versatility in allowing one to easily transport a cooler from one place to another while still being able to keep the cooler in place on a boat deck, truck bed, or in a vehicle trunk is of utmost importance to many cooler owners. 
     Coolers for holding beverages and storing ice are well known in the art. Typically, coolers are fabricated from four opaque plastic walls, an opaque bottom wall, and an opaque hinged lid. Collectively, the walls and lid define the storage chamber for storing ice, beverages, food, etc. Coolers are usually made with interior and exterior shells of opaque plastic with a hard foam liner in between. They come in sizes from small, personal ones to large, family ones that have wheels for ease of transportation. Most reusable coolers have molded-in-place handles; although a few have shoulder straps, and most also include wheels for easier transportation thereof Unfortunately, over time the hard foam located between the interior and exterior shells either deteriorates or develops mold because of a leak in the exterior or interior shell. The foam is porous, and thus allows water from melted ice in the cooler to flow through the insulation and back into the cooler where it mixes with the ice stored in the cooler. People then use the ice out of the cooler for cooling drinks and the like. The opaque plastic construction makes it impossible for the user to determine if the insulation is contaminating the products or ice contained within the cooler. Thus, food poisoning is a definite risk with the current cooler construction. 
     Thus, what is lacking in the art is a transparent inner shell and a naturally nonabsorbent insulation that allows a cooler owner to spot and inspect a leak between the shells before deterioration or contamination takes place. The transparent inner shell should allow a cooler owner to inspect for leaks frequently as a maintenance and preventative measure, while the natural insulation should prevent contamination from water flowing through the insulation, and should reduce the possibility of mold growth and contamination therefrom. When wheels are provided on the underside of the bottom wall of the proposed cooler, they should prevent the cooler sliding, shifting, tilting, or rolling when it is not intended to do so. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a cork-insulated cooler having reversible skid plates and a transparent inner liner. The cooler is comprised of an outer basin having an open top, a plurality of cork panels lining the inner surface of the outer basin, a transparent inner basin having an open top constructed and arranged to hold and maintain the plurality of cork panels against the outer basin, a lid assembly hingedly connected to the inner and outer basin such that the inner basin and lid cooperate to define a compartment, and at least one pair of reversible skid plates removably fastened to the bottom surface of the outer basin; the reversible skid plates including a skid side for easy sliding of the cooler and a non-skid side to keep the cooler in place. 
     Accordingly, it is an objective of the present invention to provide an insulated cooler having a transparent inner basin and reversible skid plates. 
     It is another objective of the present invention to provide a cooler having a natural cork insulation in place of foam. 
     It is a further objective of the present invention to provide a cooler having a transparent inner basin to allow for inspection and leak detection. 
     Yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a cooler having a compartmentalized insulation area between the outer and inner basins. 
     An even further objective of the present invention is to provide a cooler wherein the compartmentalized insulation area prevents contamination from moving between the compartment areas. 
     Still yet a further objective of the present invention is to provide a cooler having a compartmentalized insulation area that prevents crushing of the insulation when subjected to heavy loads. 
     It is yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a cooler including reversible skid plates removably fastened to the bottom surface of the outer basin whereby the skid plates may be securely maintained beneath the bottom surface of the cooler. 
     It is still yet another objective of the instant invention to provide a cooler that is sturdy and lasting in construction, economical to assemble, i.e. cost effective to manufacture, and efficient in operation and use while possessing improved insulating characteristics. 
     Still yet a further objective of the instant invention is to provide a cooler including reversible skid plates having one side that facilitates the sliding of the cooler over a wide variety of supporting surfaces and an opposite non-skid side that prevents sliding and movement when the cooler owner desires non-movement and stability. 
     It is yet a further objective of the instant invention is to provide a cooler having a lid assembly hingedly connected to the basin top using constant torque friction hinges. The constant torque friction hinge provides continuous resistance against motion through the entire range of motion of the lid assembly (closed position to open position), thereby holding the position of the lid assembly anywhere along the range of motion thereof. 
     Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the preferred embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  is a back view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4  is an exploded view of the alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a cross-sectional view of the sidewall of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6A  is a top view of the skid plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 6B  is a bottom view of the skid plate of the present invention; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  is a cross-sectional view of the latch assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom perspective view of the lid assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the handle assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the wheel assembly of the present invention; 
         FIG. 12  is a cross-sectional view of the drain hole of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of an alternative embodiment of the cork panels of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 14  is an exploded view of the constant torque friction hinge of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     While the present invention is susceptible of embodiment in various forms, there is shown in the drawings and will hereinafter be described a presently preferred, albeit not limiting, embodiment with the un derstanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the present invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated. 
     Referring generally to  FIGS. 1-14 , in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout several views, a cork-insulated cooler  1  having reversible skid plates  110  and a transparent inner basin  50  of the present invention is illustrated. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the preferred embodiment of the present invention is a cooler  1  comprised of an outer basin  10  having an open top  30 , a plurality of cork panels  40  ( FIGS. 4 and 5 ) lining the inside of the outer basin  10 , a transparent inner basin  50  having an open top  58  which is constructed and arranged to hold and maintain the plurality of cork panels  40  between the outer surface of the inner basin and the inner surface of the outer basin  10 , a lid assembly  80  hingedly connected to the outer and/or inner basin,  10  and  50 , such that the transparent inner basin  50  and lid assembly  80  cooperate to define a compartment  70 , and at least one pair of reversible skid plates  110  ( FIG. 3, 4, 6A and 6B ) removably fastened to a bottom surface  16  on the bottom panel  12  of the outer basin  10 . The inner basin  50  is slightly smaller than the outer basin  10  in order to be positioned within the outer basin  10  and abut the plurality of cork panels  40 . The outer basin  10  is comprised of a bottom wall  12 , open top  30 , and four sidewalls,  18  and  20 , whereby one pair of sidewalls  18  are of a substantially longer length than the other pair of sidewalls  20  to form a rectangular compartment. The bottom panel  12  includes a top surface  14  ( FIG. 5 ) and bottom surface  16 . The bottom surface  16  includes apertures  28  (not shown) for receiving fasteners  120  ( FIG. 4 ) for attaching the reversible skid plates  110  thereon. In the preferred embodiment, the apertures  28  are positioned along the corners of the bottom surface  16 . The reversible skid plates  110  include a skid side  122  constructed from a low friction polymeric plastic material for easy sliding of the cooler and a non-skid side  124  constructed from a rubber type material to keep the cooler  1  in place, more aptly shown in  FIGS. 6A and 6B . Each skid plate  110  is comprised of two intersecting legs,  112  and  114 , that form an L-shape  116  with approximately a 90 degree angle between the legs,  112  and  114 . Each leg,  112  and  114 , also includes apertures  118  thereon that correspond to apertures  28  on the bottom surface  16  of the bottom wall  12  on the outer basin  10 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the transparent inner basin  50  is similarly comprised of a bottom wall  52  and four sidewalls,  54  and  56 , whereby one pair of sidewalls  54  are of a substantially longer length than the other pair of sidewalls  56  to form a rectangular compartment when assembled; however, as discussed above, the transparent inner basin  50  rectangular construction is slightly smaller than the outer basin  10  rectangular construction. The inner basin includes an offset collar  53  that extends around the perimeter of the bottom wall for separating the cork panels from one another. This construction prevents contamination from cooler water from being transferred between the cork insulation panels. In its preferred embodiment, the offset collar  53  is constructed as a continuous wall that extends between the bottom surface of the bottom wall  52  of the inner basin  50  to the top surface  14  of the bottom wall  12  of the outer basin  10 , more aptly shown in  FIG. 5 . This construction also prevents heavy loads in the cooler from compressing the cork insulation. The plurality of cork panels  40  includes a bottom wall cork panel  46  and a plurality of sidewall cork panels,  42  and  44 , equal to the number of sidewalls on the outer basin  10 . In the preferred embodiment, the outer basin includes four sidewalls and sidewall cork panels,  42  and  44 . The cork panels  40  provide a natural insulator for maintaining ideal temperatures within the compartment  70 . Cork  40  is also a “green” alternative to the hard open and closed cell insulation foam used in the prior art. The transparent inner basin  50  allows a cooler owner to inspect and detect leaks within the compartment  70  and in the basins,  10  and  50 . Water, mold and other forms of contamination are thereby visibly apparent against the cork  40 . As shown in  FIG. 5 , the inner basin sidewall  54  abuts the sidewall cork panel  42  against the outer basin sidewall  18 . Additionally, the cork panels can be adorned with personalized indicia. Because the inner basin  50  is transparent, the cork panels  40  are viewable by the user when the lid assembly  80  is opened. Thus, it is contemplated that indicia maybe be printed on the cork panels  40  to provide a personalized cooler  1  for the user. 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , it is also contemplated that the cork panels  40  have a secondary layer  48  attached thereto and adjacent to the inner basin  50 , shown in  FIG. 13 . The secondary layer  48  can be a second layer of cork (which can include personalized indicia thereon) or a radiant barrier  49 . The secondary layer  48  is positioned adjacent to the inner basin  40  and viewable through the transparent inner basin  40 . Alternatively, the radiant barrier  49  can be positioned between the secondary layer and the cork panel to provide a radiant insulation that inhibits heat transfer by thermal radiation. The radiant barrier  49  may also be adorned with indicia thereon for customization purposes. The radiant barrier  49  can be constructed of metalized polyester, laminate polyester film, or the like. Alternatively, the cork panels could be secured to an insulation layer  51 , such as expanded foam backing, adjacent to the outer basin, which gives the appearance that the entire cooler is formed from cork. This construction reduces the overall weight of the assembly. The insulation layer  51  of expanded foam backing provides better insulation in instances where the temperature of stored items is above 65 degrees C. Cork is an excellent thermal insulation material, and it is effective and resistant to compression; however, it provides its best performance in temperatures below 65 degrees C. The expanded foam backing ensures that the cooler assembly can be used in any temperature range without risk of losing insulation within the inner basin. The thickness of the cork panels, secondary layer, and insulation layer is limited by the spacing between the inner basin and outer basin. By way of example, the cooler could be lined with 1 inch of insulation layer, such as expanded foam, 1 inch of cork panel, and a thin secondary layer of either cork or radiant barrier. 
     Shown in  FIG. 5 , the inner basin bottom wall  52  abuts the bottom wall cork panel  46  against the outer basin bottom wall  12 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the outer basin sidewalls,  18  and  20 , include an inner surface  22  and outer surface  24 . The inner surface  22  of the sidewall may be provided with a plurality of vertically extending ribs  26  to provide structural integrity and strength to the cooler  1 . Of note, cork&#39;s low thermal conductivity plus reasonable compressive strength make it an excellent material for thermal insulation where compression loads are present. The bottom cork panel  46  is under the most compressive load when the cooler is in use. Grooves  55  or the like may be conjugately formed into the outer surfaces of the cork insulation  40  to accept the ribs. Additionally, a removable inner basin divider  62  is contemplated to create compartments within the cooler  1 , shown in  FIG. 7 . The inner basin  50  is lined with at least one pair of opposing channels  64  constructed and arranged to allow for the removable basin divider  62  to fit within the channels  64 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1, 2, and 4 , the lid assembly  80  is comprised of an outer lid  86 , a top cork panel  88 , a lid glass  90 , and an inner lid  92 . The inner lid  92  has a window framework  94  and is adapted to abut the clear lid glass  90 . The lid assembly  80  is secured together, whereby the outer lid  86  provides the top surface  96  and the inner lid  92  provides a perimeter bottom surface  98 , with the clear lid glass  90  making up the remainder of the inner lid. A basin top  130  is also provided. The basin top  130  has four elongated members  132  attached together to form a substantially rectangular frame  134  being adapted to abut a peripheral edge  32  on the open top  30  of the outer basin  10 , and to abut a peripheral edge  60  on the open top  58  of the inner basin  50 . The basin top  130  provides a smooth aesthetic appearance to the cooler and prevents liquids and moisture from infiltrating into the insulation. The basin top  130  and lid assembly  80  are hingedly connected together with at least one hinge  140  ( FIG. 14 ) to allow the lid to pivot between an open position ( FIG. 1 ) and a closed position ( FIG. 3 ). 
     Now referring to  FIGS. 2-4 and 14 , one embodiment of the constant friction hinge is illustrated. In general, the constant friction hinge  140  holds any position through the entire range of rotary motion of the lid assembly  80 . The constant friction hinge  140  holds position by providing continuous resistance against motion through the entire range of rotary motion of the lid assembly  80  between the closed position and the open position. The constant friction hinges may be adjustable, allowing the resistance to be adjusted by the user. In this manner, a user of the device upon a ship in rough seas may set his hinges to provide increased resistance to movement. Whereas a cooler user on a picnic may want much less resistance to movement of the lid. As shown in  FIG. 14 , the constant friction hinge assembly  140  is comprised of an upper lid hinge  202  fastened to the lid assembly  80  and a lower lid hinge  204  fastened to the basin top  130  rotatably coupled together at a barrel  206 . The barrel  206  includes a center barrel portion  208  on the lower lid hinge  204  and a first and second barrel portion,  210  and  212  on the upper lid hinge  202 . The center barrel portion  208  is positioned between the first and second barrel portions,  210  and  212 , to form the hinge barrel  206 . The barrel portions,  208 ,  210 , and  212 , are aligned and coupled together by a friction bolt assembly  215 . The friction bolt assembly  215  is comprised of a pair of wedge tubes  216 , a barrel bolt  220 , a tubular dowel  224 , and a nut  228 . The hinge barrel  206  is sized to accept the outer diameter of the tubular dowel  224  and each half of the wedge tubes  216  fit in an overlapping arrangement within the bore of the tubular dowel. The tubular dowel  224  includes a key  225  that is constructed and arranged to be inserted into a valley  230  along the interior surface  207  of the center barrel portion  208 . The tubular dowel  224  has a length that is less than the total length of the hinge barrel  206 . The barrel bolt  220  is generally a standard fastener having a headed end and a threaded end, the threads matching those of the nut member  228  for interlocking engagement between the two. The wedge tubes  216  are constructed so that they overlap each other within the tubular dowel  224  with the barrel bolt extending through an opening which extends through each wedge tube. Each wedge tube  216  is provided with an enlarged head portion  219  which include a hexagonal cavity  232  sized to cooperate with the nut member  228 . The outer diameter of each enlarged head portion  219  includes a key member  215  that is sized to be inserted into the keyway  230  along the interior surface  207  of the first and second barrel portions,  210  and  212 . The torque provided on the nut  228  and barrel bolt  220  draw the wedge tubes into engagement with each other to create friction within the tubular dowel which restricts movement between the center barrel portion  208  and the first and second barrel portions,  210  and  212 , and thereby creates a friction hinge that holds any position through the entire range of motion of the lid assembly  80 . It should also be noted that this construction allows the user to change the friction resistance of the hinge by tightening or loosening the barrel bolt  220 . 
     A latch assembly  170  is provided to keep the lid assembly  80  in a closed position  102 . The latch assembly  170  is preferably positioned on the front end of the lid; however, any position around the perimeter of the lid suitable for holding the lid closed may be utilized without departing from the scope of the invention. In one embodiment, the latch assembly  170  is constructed of aluminum; however, other materials are contemplated. As shown in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , the latch assembly  170  includes an integrated latch  172  that catches on the rim of the basin top  130  to close the lid assembly  80 . When a user pushes up on the lid handle  174 , the latch  172  releases from the peripheral edge  32  of the outer basin  10  and allows the lid assembly  80  to open. In another embodiment, the lid assembly  80  includes at least one, and more preferably a plurality of concealed lid retention magnets  100  disposed on the bottom surface of the basin top  130 , shown in  FIG. 9 . The concealed magnets  100  are magnetically attracted to the metal framework of the inner lid panel  92 . It is contemplated that the inner lid  92  is constructed of steel or other suitable magnetically attracted materials. 
     In an alternative embodiment, the cooler  1  is further provided with wheels  150  and a retractable handle  160  as shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . Along one sidewall  18  on the outer basin  10  at the bottom end  36  is positioned a pair of wheels  150 ; and between the pair of wheels  150  along the top end  34  on the same sidewall  18  on the outer basin  10  is positioned a retractable handle  160 . The retractable handle  160  is movable between a retracted position  166 , which is flush with the lid assembly  80  and an open position  168  ( FIG. 4 ). In the open position, the handle extends a predetermined length vertically with respect to the lid assembly  80 . The retractable handle  160  includes a handle  162  and a telescoping track  164 . The track  164  is disposed between the outer and inner basin,  10  and  50 , for slidable engagement of the handle  162 . As shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 , it is contemplated that the retractable handle  160  and the caster wheels  150  are removably fastened along one of the longer sidewalls  18  on the outer basin  10 . It is contemplated that the caster wheel assembly  150  and retractable handle assembly  160  are fastened to the outer basin  10  using snap fasteners, rivets, snap-lock, or the like. By fastening the retractable handle assembly  160  and wheel assembly  150  to the outer basin  10 , and not through the cork panels  40  or inner basin  50 , the interior compartment  70  of the cooler  1  remains free from the outside elements. The caster wheel assembly  150  includes a snap fit fastener  152  attachable to the outer basin  10 , and the retractable handle assembly  160  similarly includes a snap fit fastener  161  ( FIG. 3 ) attached to the outer basin  10 . 
     Furthermore, between the caster wheels  150  and along the bottom end  36  of the outer basin sidewall  18  is a drain hole  106  with an attachably removable drain plug  104 ; see  FIGS. 3, 10 and 12 . The drain hole  106  is in fluid communication with the compartment  70 . The drain hole  106  extends from the outer basin  10  to the compartment  70 . The drain plug  104  is positioned on the same sidewall  18  as the caster wheels  150  and retractable handle  160  so that, when the handle  162  is retracted and tilted, the drain plug  104  can be removed to allow for all the water within the compartment  70  of the cooler  1  to be drained. Additionally, the drain hole  106  further includes a threading  108  constructed and arranged to accept a garden hose fitting, shown in  FIG. 12 . The garden hose thread  108  allows a user to either drain water from the cooler  1  through a garden hose to another location or pump fluid into the cooler  1 . For instance, the garden hose thread  108  allows a user to connect a garden hose thereto and divert drainage water away from the cooler  1  to an area more sanitary or suitable. On each of the opposite shorter sidewalls  20  on the outer basin  10  along the top end  34  is a side handle  190 , shown in  FIGS. 2 ,  3  and  4 . Each handle  190  is fixed in position, but it is contemplated that each handle  190  can pivot about its ends, not shown. 
     All patents and publications mentioned in this specification are indicative of the levels of those skilled in the art to which the invention pertains. All patents and publications are herein incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each individual publication was specifically and individually indicated to be incorporated by reference. 
     It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention, and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
     One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described in connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.