Abstract:
A portable cooler for maintaining contents disposed therein at an internal temperature dissimilar to that of the temperature of its external surroundings configured in substantially rectangular shape. The cooler includes a storage compartment configure with an insulated lid, four insulated walls and an insulated bottom defining an interior volume of the storage compartment. Mounted onto the internally facing surface of the lid is a light unit for illuminating the interior volume of the storage compartment. The portable cooler further includes a switch electrically coupled to the light unit and four retaining rings superposed on the lid configured to releasably secure a conventional beverage can.

Description:
PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119(e) &amp; 37 C.F.R. §1.78  
       [0001]     This nonprovisional application claims priority based upon the following prior U.S. provisional patent application entitled: &#39;Lil fridge, Application No. 60/690,087, filed Jun. 11, 2005, in the names of Donals W. Henley JR. and Jennifer Henley, which is hereby incorporated by reference for all purposes. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The present invention relates to a portable thermally isolating storage unit, more specifically but not by way of limitation to a portable thermally isolated storage unit that utilizes an internal light source to facilitate the viewing and selecting of contents stored within the portable thermally isolated storage unit in low light and dark conditions.  
       BACKGROUND  
       [0003]     Millions of people engage in picnicking, camping trips, and other activities where transportation of a variety of food and beverages is desirable. Transportation of these foods and beverages is usually conducted via some type of portable cooler in order to maintain optimum freshness and taste. The food and beverages are usually maintained in a state of thermal isolation via a cooling mechanism such as ice, dry ice or other type of refrigeration.  
         [0004]     Many participants engage in these excursions during periods of time of which no natural light occurs. Many portable coolers have been manufactured and made available to the general consumer market. However, no current devices have been shown to address viewing the interior of the portable cooler and contents disposed therein when no external light source is available.  
         [0005]     Participants commonly camp overnight and store most of there equipment such as flashlights, first aid kits in a tent or vehicle. The participants attend activities during their excursions and usually transport portable coolers containing the food and beverages. Many of these activities occur during the nighttime, which precipitates a requirement for easy and timely access to items contained in the portable cooler. Accordingly, there is a need for a portable cooler that has disposed therein an internal light source that facilitates easier viewing of the contents stored within the portable cooler.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is the object of the present invention to provide a portable container designed to easily transport items such as but not limited to food and beverages that can internally maintain a temperature dissimilar to that of its surroundings.  
         [0007]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a portable container that can internally maintain a temperature dissimilar to that of its surroundings that has disposed substantially therein a light source to facilitate the viewing of the contents contained within the portable container.  
         [0008]     Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable container that has a light source that is operably connected to a switch.  
         [0009]     Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a portable container that can internally maintain a temperature dissimilar to that of its surroundings that is lightweight and inexpensive.  
         [0010]     To the accomplishment of the above and related objects the present invention may be embodied in the form illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Attention is called to the fact that the drawings are illustrative only. Variations are contemplated as being part of the present invention, limited only by the scope of the claims. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     A more complete understanding of the present invention may be had by reference to the following Detailed Description and appended claims when taken in conjunction with the accompanying Drawings wherein:  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with the lid in an open position; and  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an embodiment of the present invention with the lid in a closed position.  
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0014]     Referring now to the drawings submitted herewith wherein the various elements depicted therein are not necessarily drawn to scale and wherein like elements are identified with like reference numerals throughout the views and figures and in particular  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is illustrated a preferred embodiment of a portable storage unit  100 .  
         [0015]     The portable storage unit  100  comprises of a substantially hollow and rectangular insulated container  105 , having an interior volume. The rectangular insulated container  105 , has a storage compartment  107 , a lid  130 , that is hingedly attached to the storage compartment  107  by conventional mechanical methods and is of substantial size to adequately cover insulated container  105 . Although the lid  130  illustrated as being hingedly attached to storage compartment  107 , it is further contemplated within the scope of the present invention that there are many embodiments for securing the lid to the storage compartment  107  and further embodiments having a lid  130  independent from the storage compartment  107 .  
         [0016]     The storage compartment  107  is formed by four walls  110  and the bottom  120 . The four walls  104  are made of plastic or other suitable material and also contain therein a foam or polyurethane material to provide thermal insulation. The storage compartment  107  functions to thermally isolate the interior volume from its surroundings. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the storage compartment  107  could function to maintain a temperature that is either higher or lower than that of the surrounding environment. The four walls  110  and the bottom  120  are manufactured as a one-piece assembly through conventional injection molding process or other similar mode of manufacturing. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the storage compartment  107  could be formed by numerous different amounts of walls in order to form a storage compartment  107  with a variety of shapes. More specifically but not by way of limitation, the rectangular insulated container  105  could have alternate configurations such as an annular shape.  
         [0017]     The lid  130 , is generally rectangular in shape and is of sufficient size to substantially cover the opening  135 . The lid  130  is manufactured from a suitable durable material such as plastic. The lid  130 , also contains therein a suitable insulation material such as foam or polyurethane as is known in the art. The lid  130  is hingedly attached to one of the four walls  111  proximate the opening  135 . Although the lid  130  is primarily used to control access to the storage compartment  107  and the contents therein, it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that other embodiments and functions are possible. More specifically but not by way of limitation, alternate shapes and functions of the lid  130  could be manufactured. Many varieties of shapes manufactured in order to correspond to the shape of the opening  135 . It is also contemplated within the scope of this invention that there exist many possible methods of attachment or that no method of attachment exist for the lid  130 , to one of the four walls  110 .  
         [0018]     Still referring to  FIG. 1 , the handle  140  consists of one piece of plastic or other suitable material that is generally rectangular in shape containing an aperture for a user&#39;s hand. The handle  140  is pivotally attached to the externally oriented surface of one of the four walls  110  in close proximity to the lid  140 . An additional handle is pivotally attached to the opposing wall  110 . The handle  140  is secured to the portable storage unit  100  by way of a suitable mechanical device such as but not limited to a clevis. Although the handle  140  is shown to be generally rectangular in shape with an aperture it is within the scope of the present invention that numerous shapes could be used to produce the same function. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that numerous shapes and materials may be used in place of and/or in conjunction with the handle  140  in order to achieve the function described herein.  
         [0019]     Referring in particular  FIG. 1 , a light  150  is mounted to the internal facing surface of the lid  130  and is generally rectangular in shape. The light  150  is mounted to the lid  130  using a suitable mechanical or chemical method such as but not limited to screws and/or adhesives. The light  150  contains at least one bulb, which is covered by a translucent or transparent surface. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the light  150  could be manufactured from led lights, fluorescent lights or incandescent lighting. The translucent surface serves as protection for the bulb and the light  150  from moisture or impact. The light  150  is electrically coupled with a conventional power source to by a suitable method such as an insulated copper wire. It is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the conventional power source could be disposed within the lid  130 . Furthermore, the conventional power source could be manufactured from lithium or alkaline batteries or a rechargeable battery unit.  
         [0020]     It is contemplated to be within the scope of this invention that light  150  could be incorporated into portable storage unit  100  in various ways, including but not limited integrated into lid  130 , and connected to or integrated into one or more of the four walls  110 . It is further contemplated that more than one light  150  could also be utilized in the single portable storage unit  110  in the manners described herein.  
         [0021]     Operably connected to the light  150  is a switch  170 . The switch  170  is superposed to the lid  130  opposite the storage compartment  107 . The switch  170  is a conventional electric switch that controls the flow of electric current to the light  150 . The switch  170  has a first or off position in which no current is allowed to flow to the light  150  from the power source. In its second or on position, the switch closes the circuit between the power source and the light  150  allowing the light to operate. Although in the drawings submitted herewith, the switch  170  is illustrated as being mounted to the lid  130 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the switch  170  could be intermediate the lid  130  and one of the four walls  110  proximate the opening  135  so that when the lid  130  is moved to its open position that the light  150  would be operably engaged with a power source thereby substantially illuminating the storage compartment  107 .  
         [0022]     Superposed on the lid  130  opposite the opening  135  are a plurality of retaining rings  160 . The retaining rings  160  are generally annular in shape and have a sufficient depth in order to releasably secure an item such as but not limited to a beverage can. Although the portable storage unit  100  is illustrated in the drawings submitted herewith with four retaining rings  160 , it is contemplated within the scope of the present invention that the portable storage unit  100  could be manufactured with only one retaining ring  160  superposed on the lid  130 .  
         [0023]     In the preceding detailed description, reference has been made to the accompanying drawings that form a part hereof, and in which are shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. These embodiments, and certain variants thereof, have been described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention. It is to be understood that other suitable embodiments may be utilized and that logical changes may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. The description may omit certain information known to those skilled in the art. The preceding detailed description is, therefore, not intended to be limited to the specific forms set forth herein, but on the contrary, it is intended to cover such alternatives, modifications, and equivalents, as can be reasonably included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.