AU715117B2 - Cooler assembly - Google Patents

Description

P/00/011 28/5/91 Regulation 3.2

AUSTRALIA

Patents Act 1990

ORIGINAL

COMPLETE SPECIFICATION STANDARD PATENT 0* 00 0 0 .00.

00 0@ 0 0009 0 90 0 *0 0 0000 0000 0 00 Name of Applicant: Actual Inventor Address for service is: JOHN DELIU JOHN DELIU WRAY ASSOCIATES 239 Adelaide Terrace Perth, WA 6000 0 9 09 0000 0 00 00 0 00 0o oooo 0o 0 00 0 Attorney code: WR Invention Title: "Cooler Assembly" Details of Associated Provisional Application No(s): P00808 and PP1048 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including the best method of performing it known to me:- -2- FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a cooler assembly. In particular, the invention relates to a cooler assembly in the form of a portable ice chest.

BACKGROUND

A portable ice chest is commonly used to store and transport goods such as food, beverages and medical supplies. Being made from a material having insulating properties, or having such material within its walls, the ice chest keeps the goods contained within relatively cool. To assist in maintaining a cooler temperature, the ice chest may also be partially filled with ice, or may have a separate container filled with a frozen liquid.

While portable ice chests achieve the desired result of maintaining a relatively *0 .cooler temperature, they do have disadvantages. One disadvantage is that when using ice as a cooling source, the ice eventually melts and cannot escape :.from the chest. This may result in spoiling of the goods contained in the chest.

Another disadvantage is that liquid from the melted ice is also spoilt and cannot be consumed by itself or with other beverages.

0 0* Ice chests may also achieve and maintain a cooler temperature by placing 900:6.

"a containers in the chest holding a frozen liquid. A disadvantage of this is that the liquid used is not always a consumable substance. However when the liquid is 20 consumable, the constant removal of the container to drain the melted liquid results in constant loss of cool energy, as well as creating an inconvenience in 0 constantly opening the container.

The present invention seeks to provide a cooler assembly which can utilise a consumable liquid in chilled or frozen form as a cooling source and in which the consumable liquid can be dispensed from the cooler assembly without accessing the interior thereof.

-3- SUMMARY OF INVENTION The present invention provides a cooler assembly comprising a body defining a compartment, a reservoir receivable within the compartment for holding a cooling medium, a dispensing means for selectively dispensing the cooling medium in liquid form from the reservoir when received within the compartment, the dispensing means being operable from the exterior of the compartment.

The cooling medium typically comprises a beverage such as water introduced into the cooler assembly in a chilled or frozen state.

The dispensing means may comprise a flow path between the reservoir and a 10 dispensing outlet located exteriorly of the insulated compartment, the flow path incorporating a dispensing valve operable for controlling liquid flow from the :reservoir to the dispensing outlet. The dispensing valve may comprise a manually operable tap.

9 In one arrangement, the reservoir comprises a container adapted to be S 15 removably located within the compartment.

The dispensing valve may be mounted on the body and means may be provided for establishing a flow path between the interior of the reservoir and the dispensing valve. Alternatively, the dispensing means may comprise a dispensing valve mounted onto the reservoir and adapted to be positioned so as to extend through a wall of the compartment.

In another arrangement, reservoir may be defined within the body. For example, the reservoir may be defined by a section of the compartment which is partitioned or otherwise separated from the remainder of the compartment.

i, I'4 -4- Conveniently, the dispensing valve is mounted on the exterior of the body. For preference, the valve is located within a protective recess provided on the exterior of the body.

The compartment need not be an insulated compartment, although that would certainly be preferable.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The invention will be understood by reference to the following description of several specific embodiments thereof as shown in the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an ice chest according to a .egfirst embodiment; Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view showing an insulated compartment within the ice chest, with a reservoir received therein for containing a cooling medium in the form of water in chilled or frozen form; Figure 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectional fragmentary view showing the reservoir connected to a dispensing valve located on the exterior of the ice chest; Figure 5 is a view similar to Figure 4 with the exception that the reservoir is shown in a position prior to connection with the dispensing valve; Figure 6 is a schematic fragmentary view of an ice chest according to a second embodiment; Figure 7 is a fragmentary schematic view of an ice chest according to a third embodiment, showing the reservoir connected to the dispensing valve; Figure 8 is a view similar to Figure 7 with the exception that the reservoir is shown in a position prior to connection with the dispensing valve; Figure 9 is a schematic side view of an ice chest according to a fourth embodiment, showing the reservoir connected to the dispensing valve; Figure 10 is a sectional side view of an ice chest according to a fifth embodiment, showing the reservoir in position connected to the dispensing valve; Figure 11 is a view similar to Figure 10 with the exception that the reservoir is shown during installation in the position shown in Figure °•Figure 12 is a perspective view of the reservoir shown in Figure *000 Figure 13 is a fragmentary sectional side view of a ice chest according to a sixth embodiment; °-•"Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 13 but showing the reservoir being installed in position in the ice chest; ,0o, Figure 15 is a perspective view of the ice chest shown in Figure 13; and Figure 16 is a sectional side view of an ice chest according to a seventh embodiment.

-6- DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring now to Figures 1 to 5 of the accompanying drawings, the cooler assembly according to the first embodiment is in the form of an ice chest 11 comprising a body 13 defining an insulated compartment 15. The body 13 comprises a base 16 of generally box construction having two opposed side walls 17, two opposed end walls 19, a bottom wall 21 and an open top 23. The body 13 further comprises a lid 25 removably mountable on the base 16 for closing the open top 23.

A container 31 is removably receivable in an end section of the insulated compartment 15. The container 31 provides a reservoir for receiving and containing a cooling medium such as water. The container 31 has a lid 32 or other arrangement through which the cooling medium can be introduced.

0 6.

Typically, the cooling medium is frozen, or at least chilled, within the container 31 prior to the container being inserted into the compartment 15. Additionally, 15 the container 31 has a further opening closed by a flap 34 through which the oOO cooling medium, or additional cooling medium, in frozen form (such as ice blocks) can be introduced. The cooling medium provides a cooling source for cooling the interior of the insulated compartment 15. Goods (not shown) such as a supply of food and beverages can be introduced into the remaining section Sd 20 33 of the compartment 23, which is not occupied by the container 31, and can 5°.O be maintained in a cool state by the frozen or chilled cooling medium. With this arrangement, the cooling medium can replace, or at least supplement, ice which oo is normally introduced into an ice chest for cooling purposes.

The reservoir 31 is connected to a dispensing means 35 which includes a dispensing valve in the form of a tap 37 mounted onto the exterior of one end wall 19 of the body 13. With this arrangement, liquid formed from melting of the cooling medium can be dispensed for drinking purposes through the tap 37 from the exterior of the ice chest 11 without the need to remove the lid 25 and gain access to the insulated compartment -7- The tap 37 is accommodated within a recess 41 provided in the adjacent end wall 19 such that it is recessed with respect to that end wall and thereby not in an exposed position in which it would be prone to damage.

The dispensing means 35 further includes a dispensing line 43 having an outlet end to which the tap 37 is connected. The dispensing line 43 has an upstanding section 44 terminating at an inlet end which defines a spigot 47 which is adapted to be sealingly connected to the container 31. More particularly, the container 31 incorporates an outlet socket 49 which sealingly receives the spigot 47.

The socket 49 is incorporated in a horizontal wall section 53 of the container and is positioned such that the socket 49 registers with the spigot 47 upon downward movement of the container 31 into the compartment °o guide system 55 is provided for guiding the reservoir 31 downwardly into the 9* compartment 15 such that the socket 49 registers with the spigot 47. The guide system 55 comprises two opposed guide rails 59 formed on the container 31 15 adapted to be slidingly received in guide channels 61 provided on the inner face o of the side walls 17.

With the spigot 47 received in the socket 49, the dispensing line 43 provides a flow path between the interior of the container 31 and the tap 37. In this way, liquid formed as a result of melting of the cooling medium can be dispensed from the container 31 through the tap 37. As the cooling medium is in the form of *°°o*water or other beverage, it can be consumed for drinking purposes as required.

In this way, a supply of a cooled beverage is available, at least until such time as the cooling medium as totally melted and warmed to ambient temperature.

A particular advantage of the ice chest according to the embodiment is that the cooling medium contained within the container 31 serves a two-fold purpose. It provides cooling for the insulated compartment 15, and also provides a supply of a cooled beverage.

-8- The cooling medium within the container 31 may provide the sole cooling source, or it may provide one of several cooling sources which may, for example, include one or more freezer blocks placed in section 33 of the compartment The second embodiment, which is shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, is similar to the first embodiment with the exception that the container 31 is formed with two compartments, being a lower compartment 63 and an upper compartment formed integrally with the container. The upper compartment 65 is provided with a closable opening (not shown) through which a consumable cooling medium such as water or other beverage can be introduced. The lower compartment 63 is sealed and contains a second cooling medium which is not intended to be consumed. The consumable cooling medium in the upper compartment 63 and the second cooling medium in the lower compartment 63 are both frozen, or at 60 least chilled, prior to installation of the container 31 into the ice chest, as was Ce..

0 15 the case with the first embodiment. In this embodiment, however, only the ii I°consumable cooling medium in the upper compartment 65 is dispensed through the dispending system 0.

The second cooling medium contained within the lower compartment 63 is selected so as to have properties which allow it to stay in a chilled or frozen 20 state longer than would otherwise be available if water or other consumable Ce° beverage was employed. In this way, the duration for which the insulated compartment 15 can remain chilled is likely to be increased.

C. e'e:e The embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 of the drawings is also similar to the first embodiment with the exception that the spigot 47 extends horizontally rather than vertically at the inlet end of the dispensing line 43. With this arrangement, the outlet socket 49 in the container 31 is positioned on a vertical wall section 67 of the container, and the spigot is introduced into the socket by sliding the container 31 along the bottom wall 21 of the insulated compartment 15. A track -9system (not shown) may be provided appropriately positioning and guiding the container 31 so that the socket and spigot register for engagement.

The embodiment shown in Figure 9 is similar to the embodiment shown in Figures 7 and 8 with the exception that the container 31 is formed with two compartments 63, 65, as was the case with the embodiment shown in Figure 6.

The two compartments 63 and 65 have been described and illustrated as being of integral construction within the container. It should be appreciated that the second cooling medium may be contained within a section of the container 31 detachable from the remainder of the container, or indeed in a separate container independent of the container 31. Such an arrangement would allow the second cooling medium to be chilled or frozen separately, if and as required.

An attachment system may be provided for releasably coupling the two econtainers together.

In the previous embodiments, the dispensing means 35 incorporated a tap 37 15 which was permanently secured to the end wall 19 of the body 13 of the ice chest. In the embodiment shown in Figures 10, 11 and 12, the tap 37 is not permanently fixed to the end wall 19. More particularly, the tap 37 is removably connected to a socket 70 in a wall 71 of the container 31. The tap 37 can be connected to the socket in any suitable fashion, such as by screw threading •o o 20 engagement. The socket incorporates a sealing mechanism (not shown) which closes the socket against fluid flow therethrough upon removal of the tap from the socket.

The container, with the cooling medium contained therein in either a chilled or frozen state, is introduced into the compartment 15 with the socket registering with an aperture 73 formed in the end wall 19 of the body. The tap 37 is then inserted through the aperture 73 from the exterior side thereof and threaded into engagement with the socket 70 provided in the wall 71 of the container 31.

Referring now to Figures 13, 14 and 15, there is shown a further embodiment in which the tap 37 is permanently fixed to the container 31 and adapted to be located in an aperture 75 formed in the end wall 19 of the ice chest. The tap 37 incorporates a threaded shank 77 can extend through the aperture onto the exterior. A locking member 79 threadingly engages the shank 77 of the tap so as to secure the assembly in position.

In each of the previous embodiments which have been described, the reservoir for containing the cooling medium has been removable. In the embodiment shown in Figure 16, the reservoir is formed integrally with the body. More particularly, the reservoir 80 is formed as part of the insulated compartment and is separated from the remainder 81 of the compartment by way a partition wall 82. The dispensing means 35 incorporates the tap 37 which is mounted onto the end wall 19 and which is in fluid flow communication with the reservoir S- 15 With this arrangement, a cooling medium such as ice can be introduced into the °reservoir 80. As the ice melts, the resulting liquid can be dispensing through the tap 37 in a similar to fashion as with previous embodiments. While the ice within the reservoir 80 is separated from the remainder 81 of the insulated compartment 15, it nevertheless provides a cooling effect for the insulated compartment.

0 14 The partition 82 may be of removable construction which would then allow the o. ice chest according to the embodiment to be used simply as a conventional ice chest if desired.

d In each of the embodiments which has been described, the reservoir for receiving the cooling medium and the associated dispensing means have been incorporated in the base 16 of the ice chest. It should be appreciated that the reservoir and dispensing means may alternatively be incorporated in the lid -11- From the foregoing, it is evident that the various embodiments each provide an ice chest which can utilise a consumable liquid such as water or other beverage in a chilled or frozen form as a cooling source and in which the consumable liquid can be dispensed without accessing the insulated compartment. The consumable liquid is maintained separately of other goods in the insulated compartment and so it neither contaminates those goods nor is contaminated by those goods.

It should be appreciated that the scope of the invention is not limited to the scope of the various embodiments described. In particular, it should be appreciated that the invention may have application to a cooler assembly of any suitable construction or configuration.

Throughout the specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word S"comprise" or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood &40C 'e•g 6 to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or group of integers but not the Ol 15 exclusion of any other integer or group of integers.

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Claims (8)

1. A cooler assembly comprising a body defining a compartment, a reservoir receivable within the compartment for holding a cooling medium, a dispensing means for selectively dispensing the cooling medium in liquid form from the reservoir when received within the compartment, the dispensing means being operable from the exterior of the compartment.

2. A cooler assembly according to claim 1 wherein the dispensing means comprises a flow path between the reservoir and a dispensing outlet located exteriorly of the compartment, the flow path incorporating a dispensing valve 10 operable for controlling liquid flow from the reservoir to the dispensing outlet. o• A cooler assembly according to claim 2 wherein the dispensing valve comprises a manually operable tap.

4. A cooler assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the reservoir comprises a container adapted to be removably located within the 15 compartment.

5. A cooler assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the dispensing valve is mounted on the body and means are provided for establishing a flow path between the interior of the reservoir and the dispensing valve.

6. A cooler assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the dispensing means comprises a dispensing valve mounted onto the reservoir and adapted to be positioned so as to extend through a wall of the compartment. ,V \O\i -13-

7. A cooler assembly according to claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the reservoir is defined within the body.

8. A cooler assembly according to claim 7 wherein the dispensing valve is mounted on the exterior of the body.

9. A cooler assembly according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the compartment is an insulated compartment. A cooler assembly according to any one of claims 2 to 9 wherein the dispensing valve is accommodated in a recess in an exterior wall of the body. 10 11. A cooler assembly substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Dated this ninth day of December 1998. 9 JOHN DELIU Applicant SWray Associates Perth, Western Australia Patent Attorneys for the Applicant