US20130036751A1

US20130036751A1 - Apparatus and method for minimizing or preventing leakage from an outer container into an inner container and from an inner container into an outer container

Info

Publication number: US20130036751A1
Application number: US13/136,705
Authority: US
Inventors: Forney Barry Lile
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2011-08-08
Filing date: 2011-08-08
Publication date: 2013-02-14

Abstract

Embodiments may include one or more containers which may be placed inside an ice chest (or other container which is intended to control contents temperature) to prevent leaking of the ice or water into the one or more containers. Embodiments may also include an outer container which is intended to control contents temperature which is capable of securely holding one or more inner containers disposed therein and effectively segregating contents of the outer container from the contents of the one or more inner containers. In some embodiments, the one or more inner containers are securely positionally supported with respect to the outer container by a base of the outer container.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to an ice chest or other container which is intended to control, maintain, or manipulate a temperature of its contents.
2. Description of the Related Art
In use of current ice chests, the contents of the ice chest and the ice for keeping the contents cold are merely placed together in the ice chest. The contents of the ice chest often include food items or drink items. Sometimes use of the ice chest involves placing the food in a container such as a Ziploc® bag or plastic or glass container to purportedly prevent ice and water from the melting ice from damaging or ruining the food. However, when the food or drink, even in a container, is placed in the ice chest with the ice, water or ice from outside the containers tends to leak into the container, undesirably causing the contents of the container (e.g., sandwiches, cheese, tomatoes, condiments, or other food) to become wet.
Current containers placed within the ice chest tend to tip over and float on the water/ice within the ice chest. The sloshing of the containers around the ice chest in the water/ice often knocks any lids on the containers loose. Bag containers often sink into the water/ice and leak and/or allow water/ice into the bag.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments generally include one or more containers which may be placed inside an ice chest (or other container which is intended to control contents temperature) to prevent leaking of the ice or water into the one or more containers and to prevent leaking of the contents of the one or more containers into the ice or water in the ice chest or into the other container(s) in the ice chest.
Embodiments also generally include an ice chest or another container which is intended to control contents temperature which is capable of securely holding one or more containers disposed therein and effectively segregating the ice or water from the contents of the one or more containers.
Some embodiments include an apparatus comprising an ice chest; and one or more containers disposed in the ice chest for storing one or more items therein, the one or more containers being supported in a stable position with respect to the ice chest by a bottom internal surface of the ice chest and capable of sealing contents of the one or more containers from contamination by the internal contents of a remainder of the ice chest. Other embodiments include a method, comprising providing one or more containers for storing one or more items therein within an ice chest; and sealing contents of the one or more containers from contamination by the internal contents of a remainder of the ice chest using the base of the ice chest to support a stable position of the one or more containers relative to the ice chest. Yet other embodiments include a container for placing within an ice chest to segregate its contents from a remainder of the ice chest, comprising a latch extending from a bottom external surface of the container capable of connecting with a peg having a corresponding latch hole therein located on a base of the ice chest upon correct placement of the container within the ice chest.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the above-recited features of embodiments of the present invention can be understood in detail, a more particular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however, that the appended drawings illustrate only typical embodiments of this invention and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the invention may admit to other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a top view of an embodiment of an ice chest with the lid detached.

FIG. 2 is a side view of a first embodiment of an ice chest having containers disposed therein.

FIG. 3 is a side view of a second embodiment of an ice chest having containers disposed therein.

FIG. 4 is a top view of embodiments of a latch mechanism and peg for attaching one or more containers to an internal surface of an ice chest.

FIG. 5 is a side view of an embodiment of a container having a lid thereon for placement in an ice chest.

FIG. 6 is a top perspective view of an embodiment of a container for placement in an ice chest and a portion of the ice chest bottom.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view of an embodiment of a container for placement in an ice chest and a portion of the ice chest bottom.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a container having a latch release mechanism.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a latch mechanism for connecting one or more inner containers to an outer container.

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of an embodiment of a peg of a latch mechanism for connecting one or more inner containers to an outer container.

FIG. 11 is a side perspective view of an alternate embodiment of a peg of a latch mechanism for connecting one or more inner containers to an outer container.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments generally include one or more inner containers attachable to and detachable from an outer container which is intended for use in manipulating or generally maintaining a temperature of its contents, for example an ice chest. More particularly, embodiments include one or more inner containers attachable to and detachable from an internal surface (e.g., the bottom) of an ice chest or other outer container which is intended for use in manipulating or generally maintaining a temperature of its contents. Embodiments generally include one or more inner containers supported in a stable position relative to an outer container by the base of the outer container.
In some embodiments, the one or more inner containers are attachable to and detachable from a bottom internal surface of an ice chest (or other temperature-controlling container) to prevent the one or more inner containers from turning over or floating in the ice chest and letting water/ice into the one or more inner containers to contaminate the contents of the one or more inner containers. Embodiments advantageously also prevent the ice and water (or other cooling medium or device) in the ice chest from being contaminated with the contents of the one or more attachable/detachable containers, which is especially advantageous and even increases safety when contaminating food such as meat is involved. Also advantageously, embodiments allow contents of the one or more containers to be easily removed and replaced without digging into the ice/water or other cooling medium of the ice chest.
FIG. 1 is a downward view of an outer container 10, which may be for example an ice chest or other container for storing and manipulating or maintaining the temperature of food, drink, or other items therein. A first inner container 20, a second inner container 25, and a third inner container 30 are shown disposed within the outer container 10 and removably but securely attached thereto. The first container 20 is securely attachable to the outer container 10 via one or more connecting mechanisms. As shown in FIG. 1, the first container 20 may be securely attached to the container 10 with a first connecting mechanism 35 and a second connecting mechanism 40. Spacing the first and second connecting mechanisms 35 and 40 apart from one another increases the stability of the first container 20 within the outer container 10.
The second inner container 25 may be securely attached to the outer container 10 via one or more connecting mechanisms. As shown in FIG. 1, the second inner container 25 may be secured to the container 10 using a third connecting mechanism 45. Likewise, the third container 30 may be securely attached to the container 10 via one or more connecting mechanisms. As shown in FIG. 1, the third inner container 30 may be securely attached to the container 10 using a fourth connecting mechanism 50.
Connecting mechanisms are ways to attach the detachable inner container to the bottom internal surface of the outer container/ice chest. The connecting mechanism may take many forms, including any type of connecting mechanism between containers known to those skilled in the art. Some exemplary connecting mechanisms include a threaded peg system, a latch system, and a suction cup.
In one embodiment, the suction cup connecting mechanism and its attachment method involve each inner container having one or more suction cups connected to its bottom external surface. The suction cup(s) would suction the bottom internal surface of the outer container to provide a suctioning connection between the inner and outer containers upon placement of the suctioning surface into contact with the bottom internal surface. (In an alternate embodiment, the suction cup(s) could be connected to the bottom internal surface of the outer container and the suctions could suction the bottom external surface of the inner detachable container to form the suctioning connection between the inner and outer containers.) Each suction cup may include one or more pull tabs to allow a user to release and break the suction between the suction cup and the suctioned surface by pulling the one or more pull tabs. The suction cup embodiment, including the inner container(s) together with the suction cup(s) (attached or detached to one another in the kit), may be used as a retrofit package to an existing ice chest or other outer container. If the inner container(s) and their lid(s) (see below for description of lid(s)) extend to the top of the outer container, the lid of the outer container (e.g., ice chest lid) would help keep the inside of the inner container(s) sealed from remainder of the ice chest/outer container by pushing down the inner container(s) and providing a friction fit between the bottom internal surface of the ice chest and the bottom external surface of the inner container as well as between the upper surface of the inner container(s) or its lid and the lower (internal to the ice chest) surface of the ice chest lid.
The connecting mechanisms 35, 40, 45, and 50 may include a first connecting portion attached to the bottom inside surface 5 of the outer container 10 and a second connecting portion attached to a portion of the bottom outside surface of the inner containers (e.g., the first, second, and third containers 20, 25, 30). The first connecting portion and second connecting portion connect to one another to form a connection between the outer container 10 and one or more additional container(s) (e.g., one of more of the inner containers 20, 25, 30) which may be inserted therein and connected thereto.
An embodiment illustrating the threaded peg system is shown in FIG. 2, where detachable inner container(s) are threaded to peg(s) located in the bottom of the outer container/ice chest. In this embodiment, the first connecting portion may be a generally cylindrical peg 65 which may be threaded extending upward from the bottom inside surface 5 of the outer container 10, the threads formed on the outside cylindrical surface of the peg 65. In this embodiment, a portion of each inner container may include a raised bottom surface 70 which is raised with respect to the remainder of the bottom surface 75 of that inner container. The raised bottom surface 70 may form a cylindrical bottom surface which may include threads therearound to form a female mating member for the male peg 65 upon rotation of the peg 65 and cylindrical bottom surface with respect to one another. The threaded cylindrical bottom surface therefore forms the second connecting portion in this embodiment. The threaded connecting portions as the connecting mechanism(s) allow inner containers, such as round or square inner containers, to connect to the outer container at a location.
The threaded peg system may be used for smaller ice chests, for example. Inner containers using the threaded peg system must be capable of rotating completely relative to the outer container.
In one exemplary embodiment, the distance d1 between outermost portions of the inner containers 25 and 30 is approximately 9 inches. This distance is merely exemplary and not limiting of embodiments.
FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an example of a latch system embodiment. In this embodiment, the detachable/inner container(s) can latch to peg(s) located at the bottom of the outer container similar to a door catch, the peg(s) being the strike plate(s) as the detachable container is being pushed down onto the peg. The pegs may optionally include latch points on all four sides to allow for different orientations of the detachable containers in the ice chest.
In the shown embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the connecting mechanism(s) include(s) latch mechanism(s) instead of threading so that the detachable inner container(s) may latch to peg(s) at the bottom of the outer container similar to a door catch. As shown in FIG. 4, a generally cylindrical peg 165 similar to the peg 65 (but is not threaded) may be the first connecting portion in this embodiment. Alternatively, the first connecting portion of this embodiment may be a peg 170 having a square shape or any other shape such as rectangular which is capable of forming a mating surface with the latching mechanism mating portion on the inner containers (described below). The peg 165 may include one or more latch holes 166 therein for housing latches (such as latch 167) therein upon placement of the latch(es) within the latch hole(s) 166, and the peg 170 may include one or more latch holes 171 therein for housing latches (such as latch 172) therein upon placement of the latch(es) within the latch hole(s).
In the latch system embodiment, inner containers 120 and 125 may be similar to the inner containers 20, 25, 30 described above with respect to the threaded peg embodiment. For example, similar to the threaded peg embodiment, the one or more portions of each of the inner containers 120 and 125 may include raised bottom surface(s) 121, 122, 123 which is/are raised with respect to the remainder of the bottom surface 131, 132 of that inner container. The raised bottom surface 131, 132 may form a cylindrical bottom surface 132, 133, 134 which may include one or more latches 167 extending therefrom to form male mating members for insertion into the female latch holes 166 upon placement of the latch(es) 167 into contact with the latch hole(s) 166 in the peg 165. When the square-shaped peg 170 is utilized, the raised bottom surface of the inner containers may form a square bottom surface 132, 133, 134 which may include one or more latches 172 extending therefrom to form male mating members for insertion into the female latch holes 171 upon placement of the latch(es) 172 into contact with the latch hole(s) 171 in the peg 170. The latch(es) 167, 172 and the peg(s) 165, 170 with latch hole(s) 166, 171 therefore form the second connecting portion in this embodiment.
In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the latching mechanism allows multiple attachment points to exist between one inner container and the outer container as shown in FIG. 3 and the container 120 having multiple attachment points at 122 and 123, as no rotation and threading attachment of the containers with respect to one another is required. This spaced-apart, multiple attachment point capability provides positional stability of the containers with respect to one another to further prevent the inner container from tipping over in the outer container to potentially allow ice or water from the outer container to enter the inner container and to potentially allow the contents of the inner container to exit from the inner container into the outer container or into other inner containers disposed within the outer container.
The latch mechanism may be spring loaded to force the latch 167, 172 into the peg 165, 170 much like a door latch and striker. Any number of latch holes 166, 171 may be included in each peg 165, 170 to allow different orientations of the detachable inner containers to connect in a stable manner to the outer container. In one example, latch holes 171 on all four sides of the square peg 170 may be included to allow the inner container 120, 125 to be turned in all four orientations with respect to the outer container 110. FIG. 10 illustrates a side perspective view of an embodiment of the peg 165 with a latch hole 166 through its side, while FIG. 11 depicts a side perspective view of an embodiment of the peg 165 with multiple latch holes 166A, 166B through its side. The latch holes may optionally extend all of the way through the peg (e.g., the hole 166 may extend all of the way from one side of the peg to the opposite side of the peg).
In an alternate embodiment, the peg(s) may be placed on the bottom of the inner container(s), and hole(s) for insertion of the peg(s) may be formed as indentions in the bottom of the outer container. An example of this embodiment is depicted in FIGS. 6 and 7. FIGS. 6 and 7 show a container 225 having one or more pegs, for example two spaced apart pegs 265, extending from its bottom external surface. The pegs 265 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are each generally in the shape of a plus sign with four prongs, but any shape for the pegs is possible in this configuration including the shape of the peg shown in other embodiments disclosed herein. The pegs 265 may each include one or more latches 276 extending therefrom. In the example shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, the pegs 265 each include two latches 276, the each of the two latches on each plus sign extending from opposite ends of the plus sign. FIGS. 6 and 7 also show an outer container 210, for example an ice chest, having one or more holes (two holes 280 are shown, but any number of holes in any number of orientations having any desired length and width or diameter are within the scope of embodiments) in its bottom internal surface or base. The holes 280 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 are generally each shaped generally like a plus sign with four prongs to correspond with the shape of the peg(s) 265, but any shape for the holes is possible in this configuration including the shape of the holes shown in other embodiments disclosed herein. Each hole 280 may include one or more latch holes 281 therein for housing the latch(es) 276 therein upon placement of the peg 265 of the inner container 225 into contact with the holes 280 of the outer container. Although the embodiment shown includes two latch holes 281 at the ends of the prongs of each hole 280 (one latch hole 281 at each end of the plus sign hole to correspond with the latches 276 at opposite ends of the plus sign of the peg 265), it is within the scope of embodiments to include a latch hole 281 at the end of each of the four prongs of the hole 280 and/or include a latch 276 at the end of each of the four prongs of the peg 265 to allow for maximum orientations of the inner container 225 relative to the outer container 210. Alternatively, any number of the prongs of the holes 280 and the pegs 265 may include holes 281 and latches 276. In some embodiments a plurality of holes such as the holes 280 are placed in various symmetric spaced-apart locations on the bottom internal surface or base of the outer container 210. The one or more pegs 265 and holes 280 may in some embodiments include a latch system or latch mechanism, including latch release mechanism 199 described herein (shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, along with the hole 198 for the latch release mechanism 199 through the container 225), similar to that described in relation to FIGS. 3, 4 and 8, but with the latch extending from the holes 280 and with the latch holes existing through the pegs 265. Any number of inner containers may be placed in various holes through the base of the outer container. In an alternate embodiment, one or more pegs such as the pegs 265 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 may extend upward from the bottom of the outer container 210, and one or more holes such as the holes 280 may extend outward from the bottom of the inner container(s) 225.
Exemplary dimensions for the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 include the following: an outer diameter d2 of the inner container 125 may be approximately 4 inches, a length d3 of the inner container 120 may be approximately 9 inches, a height d4 of the outer container 110 may be approximately 12 inches, and a length d5 of the base of the outer container 110 may be approximately 23 inches. These dimensions may also apply to the embodiments shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. These dimensions are merely exemplary and not limiting of the scope of embodiments.
FIG. 8 shows an exemplary latch release mechanism 199 which may be employed with embodiments to release the latch from the latch hole in the peg and thereby release the one or more containers (e.g., the container 120) from the outer container. The latch release mechanism 199 may extend up a side 197 of the container 120, for example through a hole 198 extending through the side 197 of the inner container 120. The hole 198 may connect to the “hole” in the container 120 formed in the raised bottom surface portion below the container 120 into which the peg 165 is ultimately insertable. The latch release mechanism 199 may include a pull 196 and a latch release extension 186, the latch release extension 186 ultimately connectable to an internal portion 167B of the latch 167 (also see FIG. 9). An end 167A of the internal portion 167B of the latch 167 may be generally triangular shaped when viewed from the side of the latch 167, as shown in FIG. 9, and the generally triangular shaped end of the latch 167 may be the portion captured in the peg 165. The internal portion 167B of the latch may be housed in an external portion 167C of the latch 167. The internal portion 167B of the latch is moveable through the external portion 167C of the latch 167 upon manipulation of the latch release mechanism pull 196 by a user or upon the peg's insertion into “hole” formed by the raised bottom surface 122 of the container 120. Manipulation of the latch release mechanism pull 196 by the user releases the end 167A from a hole 166 through the peg 165 to allow the user to move the container 120 away from the peg 165 and disconnect the inner container 120 from the outer container. The latch release mechanism 199 may operate and be constructed in a similar manner to a typical door latch release mechanism.
The potential attachment locations of the one or more inner containers to the ice chest may be designed with certain symmetry in the internal bottom surface of the ice chest so that the detachable inner containers may be placed in various locations and orientations suitable considering the other contents of the ice chest. To this end, the potential attachment locations on the ice chest may be spaced apart relative to one another to allow attachment of the one or more inner containers to multiple potential attachment locations with multiple possible orientations of the one or more containers relative to the ice chest internal bottom surface.
One embodiment of these spaced-apart potential attachment locations is shown in FIG. 1. Different sizes and orientations of inner containers are also depicted in FIG. 1 as an example of the versatility of the stable attachment of the inner containers to the outer container. The inner container 20 is rectangular in shape while the inner containers 25 and 30 are round in shape, yet they all attach to multiple potential attachment locations on the internal bottom surface of the outer container 10. Although the inner container 20 is attached at locations 35 and 40, it may be turned around in orientation and attached instead to locations 35 and 55, or to locations 60 and 40, or it may instead be moved over and attached only to locations 55 and 60 at the same orientation. Also, in this embodiment, the inner container 20 may be moved and attached instead to locations 45 and 50. Likewise, the inner containers 30 and 25 which are round in shape may be moved to any of the locations 55, 60, 35, or 40.
Regardless of the connecting mechanism used to connect the inner containers to the outer container, the tops of the inner containers extend to or above the approximately expected ice level 16 for the ice chest/ outer container 10, 110. Because the water level of the ice chest is or will become below the ice level, the inner containers are not required to extend to the very top of the outer container/ice chest. However, in some embodiments, the inner containers may extend from the bottom internal surface of the outer container to the uppermost internal surface of the outer container/ice chest (which may be the ice chest lid).
FIG. 5 shows a detachable inner container with a lid 190 located thereon. One or more lids 190 may be utilized in any of the embodiments described herein, but lid(s) 190 are particularly useful when the inner containers do not extend to the very top of the internal surface of the outer container/ice chest (which may be the ice chest lid). The lid(s) 190 keep ice and water out of the detachable inner containers as people dig through the outer container/ice chest (e.g., for cold drinks disposed in the ice chest) or as the outer container is jarred or moved.
In the embodiment of the lid 190 shown in FIG. 5, the lid 190 is shaped to generally correspond in diameter or length and width to the top of the inner container 125 having the opening therein. The lid 190 may include a lip 191 extending therefrom around its circumference or around its length and width, and the lip may extend over the outside edge of the inner container 125 upon connecting of the lid 190 to the inner container 125 to prevent ice which may be on top of the detachable container 125 from seeping into the detachable container 125 between the edge of the lid 190 and the detachable container 125. The lid 190 may either extend around the outside of the detachable container (e.g., using the lip 191) to seal the inner detachable container closed at outer sealing portion 193 or extend inside the detachable container to seal the inner detachable container closed by an extension 192 of the lid 190 extending into the inner container 125 itself in a sealed manner to seal at inner sealing portion 194, or the lid 190 may instead include both the lip 191 and the extension 192 to seal the lid 190 with the inner container 125 internally and externally at both sealing portions 193, 194. Each detachable inner container may include a lid 190.
The detachable inner containers may be round, square, rectangular, or any other container shape known to those skilled in the art. The inner containers may in some embodiments be designed to fit plastic bag dimensions. One or more plastic bags or one or more internal containers may be insertable into and removable from the detachable inner containers.
In an alternate embodiment, any of the inner containers described herein may include one or more holes through one or more side walls of that inner container. The one or more holes may be positioned at a height on the container wall which allows cool/cold water to enter the detachable inner container at a controlled rate. This embodiment may be useful, for example, when a drink bottle such as a wine bottle forms the contents of the inner container to cool a portion of the wine bottle with the cool/cold water. These hole(s) could prevent ice from entering the inner container from the ice chest but allow a portion of the water in the ice chest to enter the inner container through the hole(s), the allowed portion of the water depending upon the height of the hole(s) on the container wall. The water may enter through the hole(s) in a controlled fashion also due to the ice in the ice chest melting over time to form water over time.
In operation, one or more inner containers and an outer container are provided. The inner container(s) and outer container may have attached thereto their portions of the connecting mechanism described herein.
The one or more inner containers are disposed in the outer container. Items, such as food or drink items, may be placed within the one or more inner containers prior to or after the one or more inner containers are disposed in the outer container. The one or more inner containers are securely attached to the base or bottom internal surface of the outer container using the connecting mechanism(s). The position or orientation of the one or more inner containers on the base or bottom internal surface of the outer container may be changed if desired by releasing the connecting mechanism(s) to detach the inner container(s) from the outer container, moving the position of the inner container(s) so that the connecting mechanism portion of the inner container is aligned with the desired connecting mechanism portion of the outer container, and engaging the connecting mechanism(s) to attach the inner container(s) to the outer container at that second position.
In operation of the connecting mechanism when it is a threaded peg 65, to securely connect the inner container to the outer container 10 the inner container (e.g., inner container 25) is aligned with the threaded peg 65 so that a central axis of the threaded peg 65 is generally aligned with a central axis of the raised bottom surface 70 of the inner container 25. The inner container 25 and the threaded peg 65 are then rotated in a first direction with respect to one another so that female threads of the raised bottom surface 70 mate with male threads of the peg 65. To remove/release/detach the inner container 25 from the outer container 10, the inner container 25 and the threaded peg 65 are rotated in a second direction with respect to one another, the second direction opposite from the first direction, to unthread the male and female threads from one another.
In operation of the connecting mechanism when it is a latch system or latch mechanism, to securely connect the inner container (e.g., container 120) to the outer container 110 the inner container 120 is aligned with one or more pegs 165 or 170 and the inner container 120 generally vertically moved over the peg(s) 165 or 170 so that the peg(s) 165 or 170 are inserted through the raised bottom surface(s) 122, 123 of the inner container 120. When the inner container 120 is properly placed on the peg(s) 165, 170, at least a portion of the one or more latches 167, 172 moves into the one or more latch holes 166, 171 to securely lock the inner container 120 into position with respect to the outer container 110, e.g., via spring or other biasing member bias force of the latch 167. To remove/release/detach the inner container 125 from the outer container 110, the latch release mechanism 199 is manipulated (e.g., by user manipulation of the pull 196) to release the latches 167, 172 from the latch holes 166, 171, and then the inner container 120 is moved generally vertically away from the outer container 110.
For the embodiment shown in FIGS. 6 and 7, to securely connect the inner container 225 to the outer container 210, the peg(s) 265 are aligned with one or more of the hole(s) 280, and the inner container 225 is generally vertically moved towards and into the hole(s) 280. If a latch mechanism is utilized in this embodiment, the latch mechanism connects the peg(s) 265 into position in the holes generally as shown and described in the previous paragraph, but with latches 276 extending from opposite ends of the peg 265 plus sign latching into latch holes 281 at opposite ends of the hole 280 in the bottom internal surface of the outer container 210. To remove/release/detach the inner container 225 from the outer container 210, any latch release mechanism 199 is manipulated to release the latches from the latch holes (if a latch mechanism is used with this embodiment), and then the inner container 225 is moved generally vertically away from the outer container 210.
For the suction cup embodiment, one or more suction cups are used to securely attach one or more inner containers at one or more positions on the base or internal bottom surface of the outer container by attaching a first end of each suction cup to either the bottom external surface of the inner container(s) or to the bottom internal surface of the outer container and by then placing a second end of each suction cup (the suctioning end) into contact with the opposite surface. To remove/release/detach the inner container from the outer container, the inner container 225 is moved generally vertically away from the outer container 210 with a force sufficient to overcome the suctioning force exerted by the suction cup(s) on the suctioned surface. One or more pull tabs may also be used to release and break the suction between the suction cup and the suctioned surface.
Before or after placing the one or more inner containers in the outer container, the lid(s) 190 may be located on the top(s) of the one or more inner containers.
In some embodiments, the detachable containers are placed in the outer container or ice chest before the ice or other cooling medium is added to the outer container. The contents of the detachable containers will also keep the food colder because it is down in the ice. The contents of the detachable container may easily be removed and replaced without the user having to dig into the ice chest.
Although embodiments disclosed herein refer to an ice chest, any outer container capable of storing one or more inner containers therein is within the scope of embodiments. Additionally, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “bottom,” “top,” etc. merely indicate relative positions of the components of embodiments with respect to one another and are not limiting of embodiments disclosed herein.
While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention, other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised without departing from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof is determined by the claims that follow.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

an ice chest; and

one or more containers disposed in the ice chest for storing one or more items therein, the one or more containers being supported in a stable position with respect to the ice chest by a bottom internal surface of the ice chest and capable of sealing contents of the one or more containers from contamination by the internal contents of a remainder of the ice chest.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a bottom external surface of the one or more containers is in contact with a bottom internal surface of the ice chest.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein one or more connecting mechanisms releasably connect the bottom external surface of the one or more containers to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise a threaded peg extending from the bottom internal surface of the ice chest and complementary female threading on the bottom external surface of the one or more containers, wherein upon rotation of the threaded peg and complementary female threading in a direction with respect to one another the one or more containers are attached to the ice chest in a stable manner.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a remainder of the bottom external surface of the one or more containers which is not the complementary female threading is in contact with the bottom internal surface of the ice chest.

6. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise a peg having one or more latch holes therein extending from the bottom internal surface of the ice chest and a latch corresponding to the one or more latch holes extending from the one or more containers, wherein upon placement of the latch into the one or more latch holes the one or more containers are attached to the ice chest in a stable manner, wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms further comprise a latch release mechanism for removing the latch from the one or more latch holes upon activation of the latch release mechanism to detach the one or more containers from the ice chest.

7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise one or more suction cup members attached to the bottom external surface of the one or more containers or to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest.

8. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise a plurality of spaced-apart connecting members attached to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest in a symmetric manner to permit the one or more containers to be connected to the ice chest using the one or more of the connecting members in various locations in the ice chest and at various orientations of the one or more containers.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more holes through one or more sides of the one or more containers to allow a controlled amount of the internal contents of the ice chest to seep into the one or more holes.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more containers extend to or above an expected ice level for the ice chest.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the one or more containers extend to a top of the ice chest.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more lids for sealing a top of the one or more containers, the one or more lids comprising a lip extending over an outer edge of the top of the one or more containers to prevent contaminants from inside the ice chest from seeping into the one or more containers through the one or more lids.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the one or more containers are detachable from and attachable to the ice chest to stabilize a position of the one or more containers with respect to the ice chest.

14. A method, comprising:

providing one or more containers for storing one or more items therein within an ice chest; and

sealing contents of the one or more containers from contamination by the internal contents of a remainder of the ice chest using the base of the ice chest to support a stable position of the one or more containers relative to the ice chest.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adding ice to the ice chest, wherein the ice level of the ice within the ice chest is at or below the top of the one or more containers.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising removably attaching the one or more containers to a bottom internal surface of the ice chest to stabilize the containers in position relative to the ice chest.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising:

providing one or more first connecting members disposed on a bottom external surface of the one or more containers; and

providing a plurality of second connecting members disposed on a bottom internal surface of the ice chest to which the one or more first connecting members are connectible to one or more of the second connecting members to removably attach the one or more containers to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest, the second connecting members spaced apart from one another with symmetry so that the one or more containers may be connected to the ice chest in various locations at various container orientations.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising attaching the one or more containers to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest by connecting the one or more first connecting members to the one or more second connecting members.

19. A container for placing within an ice chest to segregate its contents from a remainder of the ice chest, comprising:

a latch extending from a bottom external surface of the container capable of connecting with a peg having a corresponding latch hole therein located on a base of the ice chest upon correct placement of the container within the ice chest.

20. The container of claim 19, wherein the bottom external surface of the container comprises at least two heights, a smaller of the at least two heights of the bottom external surface forming a housing for the latch and generally corresponding to the height of the peg to house the peg therein upon correct placement of the container within the ice chest.