CN217526325U

CN217526325U - Cooler with game cover

Info

Publication number: CN217526325U
Application number: CN202090000993.1U
Authority: CN
Inventors: 庄元伦; 谭思巧
Original assignee: Trinity International Industries LLC
Current assignee: Trinity International Industries LLC
Priority date: 2020-01-30
Filing date: 2020-01-30
Publication date: 2022-10-04
Anticipated expiration: 2030-01-30
Also published as: MX2022006247A; WO2021154264A1; AU2020426018A1; BR212022010480U2; CA3158183A1

Abstract

A cooler may include a gaming table formed in a top surface thereof. The gaming table may include a playing surface surrounded by a sidewall around its perimeter for storing the playing elements and preventing the playing elements, such as game balls, from escaping from the recessed playing surface. The playing surface may include elements for various games, including table soccer, hockey, soccer, billiards, dice, wheels, chess, checkers, bilobal, and the like. In some embodiments, the play elements may be interchangeable to provide a variety of different games that can be played in the recessed play surface. In some embodiments, players may be positioned on arms extending across the gaming table in a manner similar to conventional table soccer players. Such an arm may be made removable to allow switching between games based on a game player and games that can be played directly on the recessed surface.

Description

Cooler with game cover

Technical Field

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to entertainment devices. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to a cooler having a game cover that may be used to play various games.

Background

The following background information may provide examples of particular aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, methods, facts, or common sense), and although these examples are intended to further assist the reader in understanding other aspects of the prior art, these examples should not be construed as limiting the invention or any embodiments of the invention to anything stated or implied therein or inferred therefrom.

Chillers are used in many situations and in picnics, including picnics, holidays, beach tours, and the like. Furthermore, in such outings, people often can play with games on these occasions and in the outings, each game requiring separate elements, often carried separately.

In view of the foregoing, there is a need for a cooler that may include a play element that provides a single, integrated storage and entertainment solution.

SUMMERY OF THE UTILITY MODEL

An embodiment of the utility model provides a cooler, this cooler: comprises a cooler body; a cooler top at least partially removable from the cooler body, the cooler top covers the cooler body to form a space in the cooler body; a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the cooler top; and a playing surface formed on top of the cooler, the playing surface being recessed and surrounded by the side walls.

An embodiment of the utility model also provides a cooler, this cooler includes: a cooler body; a cooler top at least partially removable from the cooler body, the cooler top covering the cooler body to form a space in the cooler body; a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the top of the cooler; a playing surface formed on top of the cooler, the playing surface being recessed and surrounded by side walls; a plurality of tubes extending between the opposing pairs of sidewalls; and a plurality of game players, each top tube of the plurality of tubes being provided with at least one game player, the plurality of game players being configured to cause interaction with a game piece provided on the playing surface, wherein the plurality of tubes are movable to cause the plurality of game players to move in a first direction, and the plurality of tubes are also movable to cause the plurality of game players to move in a second direction, at least one of the first direction and the second direction causing interaction with the game piece.

The utility model discloses an embodiment still provides a cooler, and this cooler includes: a cooler body; a cooler top at least partially removable from the cooler body, the cooler top covering the cooler body to form a space therein; a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the top of the cooler; and a playing surface formed on top of the cooler top, the playing surface being recessed and surrounded by the side walls, wherein the playing surface is selected from the group consisting of a board playing surface and a billiard table top.

These and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with regard to the following drawings, description, and claims.

Drawings

Some embodiments of the invention are illustrated by way of example and not limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings, in which like references may indicate similar elements.

Fig. 1 shows a front view of a cooler according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 shows a rear view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows a left side view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 shows a right side view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 shows a top view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 shows a bottom view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 illustrates a front perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 illustrates a rear perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 shows a bottom perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 1;

FIG. 10 illustrates a front perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 1 showing the cooler top in an open configuration;

fig. 11 shows a top view of a cooler comprising a hockey game configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12 shows a perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 11;

figure 13 shows a top view of a cooler comprising a soccer game configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 14 shows a perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 13;

fig. 15 shows a top view of a cooler comprising a chess or checkers game configuration in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

figure 16A shows a perspective view of the cooler of figure 15 with an alternative playing piece storage area;

figure 16B shows a perspective view of the cooler of figure 15 without a playing piece storage area;

FIG. 17 illustrates a perspective view of a chess or checkers configuration of the cooler of FIG. 15 with an optional cover that may be used with any of the embodiments disclosed herein;

fig. 18 shows a top view of a cooler including a configuration of a dual-ground chess game, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 19 shows a perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 18;

FIG. 20 shows a top view of a chiller including a dice game configuration in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 21 shows a perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 20;

figure 22 shows a top view of a cooler comprising a roulette configuration according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 23 shows a perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 22;

figure 24 shows a top view of a cooler including a billiard table play configuration, according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and

fig. 25 shows a perspective view of the cooler of fig. 24.

The drawings in the drawings are not necessarily to scale unless otherwise indicated.

The invention and its various embodiments may now be better understood by turning to the following detailed description, which describes illustrative embodiments. It should be clearly understood that the illustrated embodiments are set forth only as examples and are not intended as limitations on the invention as ultimately defined in the claims.

Detailed Description

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the term "and/or" includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. As used herein, the singular forms "a", "an" and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well as the singular forms, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises" and/or "comprising," when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms (including technical and scientific terms) used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and the present disclosure, and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

In describing the present invention, it will be understood that a number of techniques and steps are disclosed. Each of these techniques and steps has separate benefits and each may also be used in combination with one or more, or in some cases all, of the other disclosed techniques. Thus, for the sake of clarity, this description will avoid repeating every possible combination of steps in an unnecessary fashion. However, it should be understood that such combinations are well within the scope of the present invention and the claims when read in light of the specification and claims.

In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced without these specific details.

The present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific embodiments illustrated by the accompanying drawings or the following description.

As is well known to those skilled in the art, many careful considerations and compromises must often be made in designing a commercial implementation of any device, particularly the best configuration of an embodiment of the invention. Commercial implementations in accordance with the spirit and teachings of the present invention may be configured as desired for particular applications, whereby any aspect, feature, function, result, component, method, or step of the teachings related to any described embodiment of the present invention may be suitably omitted, included, adjusted, mixed and matched, or improved and/or optimized by those skilled in the art using their average skill and known art to achieve a desired implementation that meets the needs of a particular application.

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide a cooler that may include a gaming table formed in a top surface thereof. The playing surface may include side walls for storing playing elements and preventing the playing elements, such as playing balls, from escaping from the recessed playing surface. The playing surface may include elements for various games including table soccer, hockey, soccer, billiards, dice, wheels, chess, checkers, double-land chess, and the like. In some embodiments, the play elements may be interchangeable to provide a variety of different games that may be played in the recessed play surface. In some embodiments, players may be arranged on arms extending across the gaming table in a manner similar to conventional table soccer players. Such an arm may be made removable to allow switching between games based on a game player and games that can be played directly on the recessed surface. A cover may be provided over the gaming table to prevent loss of the gaming elements during transport.

Referring now to fig. 1-10, a cooler and play set 10, also referred to as a play cooler 10, or simply cooler 10, may include a cooler body 12, the cooler body 12 having an interior space 12A defined by an insulated side wall 12B and an insulated base 12C. The cooler top 14 may fit over the open end of the cooler body 12 to enclose the interior space 12A. Typically, the cooler top 14 is at least partially insulated. As best shown in figure 10 of the drawings, the hinge region 24 may allow for a hinged coupling between the cooler body 12 and the cooler top 14. Although the hinge regions 24 are shown along the longitudinal edges of the cooler body 12 and the cooler top 14, the hinge regions 24 may be disposed along the lateral edges to create a similar function to provide access to the interior space 12A of the cooler body 12.

The cooler body 12 may be disposed on a cooler bracket 16. While the figures show one particular embodiment of a cooler bracket, it should be understood that the bracket may take various forms as would occur to those skilled in the art. For portability, wheels 18 may be provided on the cooler bracket 16. The wheel 18 shown in the figures may be used on smooth or hard surfaces. The wheels 14 may be larger and/or wider, for example for use on a sandy surface such as a beach. When the cooler body 12 is disposed on the cooler bracket 16, the cooler bracket 16 may include a lower shelf 20 positioned below the cooler body 12.

A plurality of bracket couplers 22 may be disposed between the cooler bracket 16 and the cooler body 12. The bracket coupling 22 may be used to attach the cooler body 12 to the cooler the holder 16 and the removal of the cooler body 12 from the cooler holder 16. In some embodiments, the bracket coupling 22 may form a fixed attachment between the cooler bracket 16 and the cooler body 12. In other embodiments, the attachment may be a removable attachment via various connections, such as twist locks, pins and recesses, threaded couplings, and the like.

The cooler top 14 may include a gaming table 34 formed therein. The cooler top 14 may include a plurality of sidewalls 30 extending upwardly from the cooler top 14. Typically, the side walls 30 are integrally formed with the cooler top 14. However, in some embodiments, the side wall 30 may be removably attached to the cooler top 14. The side walls 30 may extend upwardly around the entire periphery of the cooler top 14, thereby forming a recessed play area 36 in the cooler top 14. In some embodiments, at least two opposing ends of side walls 30, also referred to as end walls 32, may be cut away on interior portions thereof to form cut-away regions that may be used as goals, storage areas, and the like, as discussed in more detail below.

As discussed in more detail below, various games may be provided on the gaming table 34. These games may take advantage of the recessed playing surface 36 so that game balls, game pieces, etc. are not lost when the cooler 10 is moved or displaced.

In fig. 1 to 10, a table soccer game may be provided on the game table 34. The table soccer player 40 may be provided on a sliding tube 42, the sliding tube 42 having a handle 44 on the end. The goals 46 may be formed by cutouts in the interior of the opposite transverse end walls 32. As in a conventional table football game, the user may twist the handle 44 to rotate the table football player 40 about an axis defined by the axis of the slide tube 42.

In fig. 11 and 12, the gaming table 34 may be configured for a hockey game. In this embodiment, the table soccer player may be replaced by hockey players 50, each having a hockey stick 52. The hockey ball 56 may slide along the playing surface 36. In some embodiments, a space 54 may be formed at the end of the hockey player 50 and the playing surface 36, wherein the space 54 may be sized to allow the hockey ball 56 to slide under the space 54. In this embodiment, only the hockey stick 52 may be used to move the hockey ball 56 across the playing surface 36.

In some embodiments, the hockey player 50 may be attached to a moving tube 58, the moving tube 58 having a handle 59 on its end, similar in appearance to the table football configuration discussed above. However, in some embodiments, twisting the handle 59 may cause the hockey player 50 to rotate along the player's own longitudinal axis, rather than along the axis of the tube as is the case with the table football configuration. In other words, turning the handle may cause the hockey stick 52 to move adjacent to the playing surface 36 while the player 50 rotates along a player axis defined as extending from the player's head to the player's foot. Suitable gearing arrangements may be used to produce this rotational movement, as will be appreciated by those skilled in the art.

Referring to fig. 13 and 14, in an embodiment similar to the table football game, a soccer game may be provided in the gaming table 34. A soccer game may include soccer players 60 and soccer balls 62, wherein the players may move in a manner similar to that described above with respect to a table soccer table. In some embodiments, a goalkeeper may be provided. In some embodiments, the user may control the goalkeeper, while in other embodiments, the goalkeeper may automatically slide from one side of the goal to the other, for example, automatically from one side of the goal to the other powered by a mechanical or electronic mechanism, thereby increasing the difficulty of scoring.

In the various player/ball games discussed above, table soccer, hockey, etc. may be moved along the playing surface 36 via the actions of the player. A goal may be provided at the end as the desired destination for the game ball. In some embodiments, the goal may be recessed into the cooler top 14 to prevent game balls from escaping when a game ball is being dropped.

In some embodiments, a sliding tube 42 for a table football or soccer game, or a moving tube 58 for a hockey game, may be removably disposed through the side walls 30 so that, for example, the tubes may be stored for transport. Various mechanisms may allow for removal of the tube while avoiding inadvertent removal during game play. For example, the resiliently movable end may be depressed to shorten the tube for easy removal, but may be extended to prevent removal of the tube during play.

Referring to fig. 15-17, a chess or checkers board 64 may be provided in the gaming table 34. The chess or checkers board 64 may employ a standard 8 x 8 grid pattern, as shown. Of course, other designs may be used, depending on the type of game desired. As shown in fig. 16A, the goals used in the ball games discussed above may be used as a storage area 66 for storing chess or checkers pieces (not shown). In some embodiments, the storage area 66 may not be present, as shown in fig. 16B. In some embodiments, a cover (not shown) may be provided to cover the storage area 66 to prevent the pawn from leaking out of the storage area 66. In some embodiments, a chess or checkers board 64 may be formed in playing surface 36, integral with cooler top 14. In other embodiments, chess or checkers board 64 may be printed on a piece of sheet material that may be placed on play surface 36.

As shown in fig. 17, an optional cover 68 may be removable to cover the gaming table 34. Generally, a cover 68 may be placed on top of the ends of the side walls 30 to create a space above the recessed play surface 36. The cover 68 may have a hinge area 70 or may be completely removed from the cooler 10 via various mechanisms such as pins and holes, snaps, friction fits, and the like. The lid 68 may allow for storage of various playing pieces, such as tubes, balls, playing pieces, etc., during transport or storage of the cooler 10.

As shown in fig. 18-23, other games may be played on the play surface. The double chess surface 72 may be disposed on the playing surface 36 or may be disposed on top of a surface that may fit on the playing surface 26 as discussed above. A dice table design surface 74 may also be similarly disposed on the play surface 36. In another embodiment, a roulette game may be provided on the play surface 36, including the roulette wheel 48 and the area 80. Other games, including various board games, card games, etc., are also contemplated within the scope of the present invention. In each game, goals may be included as an optional storage area, or may be removed, as shown in the figures.

Referring now to fig. 24 and 25, the cooler top 14 may be configured to be located in a billiard table 82. The billiard table 82 may include a pocket 84 with a recess 86 to indicate when a billiard ball (not shown) is dropped into the pocket 84. Similar to other embodiments, the recessed playing surface 36 may be used as a pool table.

In some embodiments, multiple games may be played on a single device. For example, a pool table configuration may include elements that fill pockets in the pool table, and tubes with players may be inserted into holes in the side walls to form, for example, a table football game. Likewise, a billiards or table soccer game configuration may include board inserts to form a chess, checkers, two-player, or dice configuration.

All features disclosed in this specification, including any accompanying abstract and drawings, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose, unless expressly stated otherwise. Thus, unless expressly stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

The claim elements and steps herein may have been numbered and/or lettered merely as an aid to readability and understanding. Any such numbers and letters are not intended, and should not be taken as, indicating the order of the elements and/or steps in the claims.

Many changes and modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Accordingly, it must be understood that the illustrated embodiments have been set forth only for the purposes of example, and that it should not be taken as limiting the invention as defined by the following claims. For example, although the elements of a claim are set forth below in a certain combination, it must be expressly understood that the invention includes other combinations of fewer, more or different ones of the disclosed elements.

The words used in this specification to describe the invention and its various embodiments are to be understood not only in the sense of their commonly defined meanings, but to include by special definition in this specification the generic structure, material or acts of which they represent a single species.

The definitions of the words or elements of the following claims are, therefore, defined in this specification to include not only the combination of elements which are literally set forth. In this sense it is therefore contemplated that an equivalent substitution of two or more elements may be made for any one of the elements in the claims below or that a single element may be substituted for two or more elements in a claim. Although elements may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, it is to be expressly understood that one or more elements from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination and that the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

Insubstantial changes from the claimed subject matter as viewed by a person with ordinary skill in the art, now known or later devised, are expressly contemplated as being equivalently within the scope of the claims. Therefore, obvious substitutions now or later known to one with ordinary skill in the art are defined to be within the scope of the defined elements.

The claims are thus to be understood to include what is specifically illustrated and described above, what is conceptually equivalent, what can be obviously substituted and also what incorporates the essential idea of the invention.

Claims

1. A cooler, comprising:

a cooler body;

a cooler top at least partially removable from the cooler body, the cooler top covering the cooler body to form a space therein;

a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the cooler top; and

a playing surface formed on top of the cooler top, the playing surface being recessed and surrounded by the side walls.

2. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising:

a plurality of tubes extending between opposing pairs of sidewalls; and

a plurality of players, at least one player disposed on each tube of the plurality of tubes, the plurality of players configured to cause interaction with game pieces disposed on the playing surface, wherein,

the plurality of tubes are movable to move the plurality of players to cause interaction with the game pieces.

3. The cooler of claim 2, wherein the plurality of tubes are slidable along a longitudinal axis within bores formed in opposing pairs of side walls.

4. The cooler of claim 2, further comprising a handle on an end of the plurality of tubes, a first number of the handles on one side of a first portion of the plurality of tubes, and a second number of the handles on another side of a second portion of the plurality of tubes.

5. The cooler of claim 4, wherein rotation of the handle causes each respective one of the plurality of gamers to rotate about a longitudinal axis of a respective one of the plurality of tubes.

6. The cooler of claim 2, wherein the player is a table football player or a soccer player.

7. The cooler of claim 2, wherein the player is a hockey player.

8. The cooler of claim 7, wherein the hockey player comprises a hockey stick, and rotation of each respective tube of the plurality of tubes causes the hockey player to rotate about the hockey player's longitudinal axis.

9. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the playing surface is a board playing surface.

10. The cooler of claim 9, wherein the board game surface is selected from the group consisting of a chess game, a checkers game, and a two-land game.

11. The cooler as set forth in claim 1, wherein the content of the first and second substances, the playing surface is selected from a dice table surface and a roulette table surface.

12. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a billiard table pocket formed in at least a portion of the sidewall, wherein a recess is formed in the cooler top to define a base of the billiard table pocket, wherein the playing surface is a billiard table surface.

13. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a removable cover disposable over an end of the side wall forming a space above the playing surface.

14. A cooler, comprising:

a cooler body;

a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the cooler top;

a playing surface formed on top of the cooler top, the playing surface being recessed and surrounded by the side walls;

a plurality of tubes extending between opposing pairs of sidewalls; and

the plurality of tubes are movable to move the plurality of players in a first direction and the plurality of tubes are also movable to move the plurality of players in a second direction, at least one of the first and second directions causing interaction with the game piece.

15. The cooler of claim 14, further comprising a handle on an end of the plurality of tubes, a first number of the handles on one side of a first portion of the plurality of tubes, and a second number of the handles on another side of a second portion of the plurality of tubes.

16. The cooler of claim 14, further comprising at least one goal formed as an inset on an inner surface of at least one of the side walls.

17. A cooler, comprising:

a cooler body;

a sidewall extending upwardly from a periphery of the cooler top; and

a playing surface formed on top of the cooler top, the playing surface is recessed and surrounded by the side walls, wherein,

the playing surface is selected from a board playing surface billiard table surface.

18. The cooler of claim 17, wherein the board playing surface is selected from the group consisting of a chess game, a checkers game, and a two-land chess game, and the playing surface is selected from a dice table surface and a wheel table surface.

19. The cooler of claim 17, further comprising a billiard table pocket formed in at least a portion of the sidewall, wherein a recess is formed in the cooler top to define a base of the billiard table pocket, wherein the playing surface is a billiard table surface.