WO2013073967A2

WO2013073967A2 - Cooler bin

Info

Publication number: WO2013073967A2
Application number: PCT/NZ2012/000159
Authority: WO
Inventors: Leonie Glynis LEAVER
Original assignee: Sinbin Limited
Priority date: 2011-09-07
Filing date: 2012-09-07
Publication date: 2013-05-23
Also published as: WO2013073967A3

Abstract

The present invention is a cooler bin with at least one foldable, stowable and rotractable support member. The support member may be a seat, table, umbrella stand or the like.

Description

COOLER BIN

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a cooler bin and in particular to a cooler or chilly bin that has at least one stowable support that can be used as a seat, table or stand for an umbrella or the like.

BACKGROUND

The well-known basic portable cooler includes an insulated chamber for containing ice and/or items to be kept cold, and has carrying handles and/or other known provisions for portability such as wheels, for example.

The prior art includes many varieties of storage compartment that also functions as a chair. For example, US3230006 discloses a foldable fisherman's chair that is provided with an integral refrigerated storage compartment and a tackle box. Similarly, US4474407 discloses a portable chair with an insulated seat cooler. The chair has a hollow seal base with a hinged front access door having a lock. The hollow portion is thermally insulated for keeping perishable foodstuffs, canned or bottled beverages, ice, fishing bait, or the like. The seat top is contoured and/or padded with insulation for seating comfort. Similarly, US7309106 and US7559602 disclose coolers with integrated seats.

In this specification where reference has been made to patent specifications, other external documents, or other sources of information, this is generally for the purpose of providing a context for discussing the features of the invention. Unless specifically stated otherwise, reference to such external documents is not to be construed as an admission that such documents, or such sources of information, in any jurisdiction, are prior art, or form part of the common general knowledge in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cooler bin that at least provides the public with a useful alternative.

In a first aspect the present invention consists in a cooler bin comprising :

an insulated container defining a storage compartment with an upper opening, a lid to close the upper opening,

at least one support member, carried by the container and moveable between; a stowed condition, and

an use condition, supported by the container at or near the upper opening, to allow said support member to support an item adjacent the container.

Preferably the at least one support member is a seat.

Preferably the at least one support member is a table.

Preferably the at least one support member is an umbrella stand.

Preferably the at least one support member is both a seat and an umbrella stand.

Preferably the at least one support member is hinged to the container. Preferably the at least one su pport member is engaged to the container for movement between the stowed condition and use condition, in a pivotal manner.

Preferably the at least one su pport member, in the stowed condition, extends vertically.

Preferably the at least one support member, in the stowed condition, is contiguous the container.

Preferably the at least one su pport member, in the use condition, extends away from the container.

Preferably the at least one support member, in the use condition, extends parallel to the plane of the u pper opening .

Preferably the at least one container is of a quadrilateral shape at the upper opening .

Preferably the lid is of a complementary shape to the upper opening .

Preferably the at least one support member includes an edge that is contiguous at least part of an edge of the container at the upper opening .

Preferably a container carry handle is presented at an edge of the container at or near the u pper openi ng .

Preferably the carry handle is presented adjacent the at least one su pport member.

Preferably the edge of the at least one support member, contiguous the edge of the container at the upper opening, includes a recess into which a person's hand can access the carry handle.

Preferably the edge of the container, at the upper opening edge contiguous the edge of the at least one support member, includes a recess via which a person's hand can access the carry handle.

Preferably the cooler bin includes at least one leg attached to the at least one support member.

Preferably the at least one leg can be stowed inside the at least one support member.

Preferably the at least one leg is moveably supported by the at least one su pport member.

Preferably the at least one leg is pivotally supported by the at least one support member.

Preferably the at least one leg is supported, by the at least one su pport member, at a location distal from the edge contiguous said container.

Preferably the at least one leg is moveable between a deployed condition and a stowed condition, wherein, in the deployed condition, the at least one leg engages with a su pport su rface to assist in providing support to said at least one su pport member in its deployed condition . Preferably the at least one leg is ground engageable when in the deployed condition.

Preferably the at least one leg is container engageable when in the deployed condition.

Preferably the at least one leg is concealed by the support member and the container when the support member is in the stowed condition.

Preferably the container has two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall.

Preferably said at least one support member is hinged to one of said two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall.

Preferably said at least one support member is hinged to a side wall of said container.

Preferably said lid includes a moulded surface that has a seat pan shape zone.

Preferably said lid includes a moulded surface with a depression to receive a user.

Preferably said lid is hinged to said rear wall of said container.

Preferably said at least one leg in use folds out from the at least one support member and supports the at least one support member in a position parallel to said lid, so as to form a bench-type seat with the container.

Preferably said at least one support member in its stowed condition sits flush with the container.

Preferably the at least one support member in its stowed condition sits flush with one of said two side walls.

Preferably the at least one support member is two seats, a first connected to a first of said two side walls and a second connected to a second of said two side walls.

Preferably said at least one support member has a moulded depression to receive a user.

Preferably said at least one support member includes an aperture capable of receiving a stand, for example, for an umbrella.

Preferably an extendable and retractable handle is attached to said container.

Preferably said handle is attached to said rear wall of said container.

Preferably said container is substantially trapezoidally shaped, such that said two side walls are tapered.

Preferably when each of said two seats are in their retracted forms against said two side walls, said container and said two seats form a rectangle.

Other aspects of the invention may become apparent from the following description which is given by way of example only and with reference to the

accompanying drawings.

As used herein the term "and/or" means "and" or "or", or both.

As used herein "(s)" following a noun means the plural and/or singular forms of the noun. The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of". When interpreting statements in this specification which include that term, the features, prefaced by that term in each statement, all need to be present but other features can also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprised" are to be interpreted in the same manner.

To those skilled in the art to which the invention relates, many changes in construction and widely differing embodiments and applications of the invention will suggest themselves without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims. The disclosures and the descriptions herein are purely illustrative and are not intended to be in any sense limiting.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example only and with reference to the following drawings.

Figure 1 is a front view of the cooler bin of the present invention with support members in a stowed condition.

Figure 2 is a front view of the cooler bin of Figure 1 with a handle extended. Figure 3 is a rear view of the cooler bin of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a front view of the cooler bin of the present invention with the support members in a use condition.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cooler bin of the present invention with the support members in a stowed position and where a lid of the cooler bin is open.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is a cooler bin with at least one foldable, stowable and protractable support member. The support member may be a seat, table, umbrella stand or the like. As used herein the terms "chilly bin", "cooler", "cooler bin" and "bin" are interchangeable and refer to a portable insulated container with provision for packing food and drink and in which food and drink may be cooled or kept cool.

The preferred form of the cooler bin of the present invention is shown in Figures 1 to 5. Figure 1 to 3 shows the cooler bin of the present invention with support members that are in their stowed condition. Figures 4 and 5 show the cooler bin of the present invention with the support members protracted in their "use" condition.

In the preferred form the cooler bin the support members are a right side seat and a left side seat. However, the cooler bin may simply be supplied with either a left or right side seat or a seat that folds out from the front or rear walls. In any event, the combination of the cooler bin with one or two seats forms a bench-like seat to which a person or persons may sit on.

The cooler bin comprises an insulated container 2 that defines a storage compartment, of the type well known for conventional chilly bins or cooler bins. The container has an upper opening 30. The container 2 has a lid 3 that encloses the container 2 at the upper opening 30. The container 2 is comprised of a base 4, rear wall 5, two side walls 6, 7 and a front wall 8. The walls form a substantially quadrilateral shape. However, in the preferred embodiment the container forms a substantially trapezoid shape, which will be described in more detail below.

The lid 3 is preferably pivotally connected to the rear wall 5 of the container.

However, in other forms the lid 3 may simply sit atop the container 2 and seal by way of a friction fit. Alternatively, other closure means or connections of the lid to the container as are well known in the art may be used.

There may be a lock to fasten the lid 3 to the container, for example, when the cooler bin is being moved or picked up, or to prevent the lid 3 from falling from the container if the bin is accidentally pushed over. Figure 5 shows a protrusion 9 extending from the front wall 8 of the container 2. The protrusion 9 is moulded with a lip 11 (see Figure 1). The lid 3 has a complementary shaped recess 10 formed through it. In use, when the lid 3 is closed on the container 2, the end of the protrusion 9 with lip 11, extends through the recess 10 of the lid 3. The interaction of the lip 11 with the recess 10 is a frictional type fit, such that the lip 11 extends above the recess 10 and prevents the lid 3 from opening. However, if a sufficient enough upward force is provided to the lid 3, for example by a user, the edges of the recess 10 can be pulled past the lip 11, and the protrusion 9 pulled from the recess 10. Other locking and closing mechanism as are known in the art may be utilised with the cooler bin of the present invention.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention the lid 3 has a moulded surface with an integral depression 27 that forms a seat pan shape zone that in use receives the seat of a user. The depression 27 provides additional comfort for a user when seated on the lid.

At the top of each side wall of the container 2 is a hinge 12, 13. The hinges 12,

13 pivotally attach a left and right side seat 14, 15. Preferably there are handles provided on each side of the cooler bin. The hinges are formed from the plastics moulding of the container 2 and a bar 16. The bar 16 also has the additional function, as a handle to pick up the cooler bin. The seats 14, 15 each have a recess 17, 18 formed in them and the lid 3 has recesses 19, 20 formed on each side near the bar 16 so as to provide access room for a user's hand and fingers to grasp the bar. However, each support member or seat may be attached by other appropriate mechanism that enables a pivoting of the support member or seat.

Each seat 14, 15 is a substantially planar member. Each seat 14, 15 may be substantially square or rectangular in shape. In the preferred form, as shown in the

Figures, the seats 14, 15 are rectangular in shape. Each seat 14, 15 has at least one leg 21, 22. Each of these legs in use folds out from beneath each seat 14, 15 and supports the seat in a position parallel to the lid 3 in a closed position, so as to form a bench-type seat with the container 2. Each leg 21, 22 is pivotably connected to each seat, preferably by way of hinges 23, 24 similar to that described above in relation to the container and seat connection(s). However, other known pivotable connections may be used. The hinges 23, 24 are preferably on the opposite side of the seat to where the seat is attached to the container. This enables each leg member 21, 22 to be stowed underneath each seat, and similarly protracted and placed in a position perpendicular with the seat to support the seat on the ground.

The seats 14, 15 have tapered side members 25, 26 on the front and rear sides of each seat (that correspond to the front and rear walls of the container 2). The side members 25, 26 are substantially triangularly shaped. When the legs 21, 22 are stowed under the seats 14, 15 in the space formed under the seat and the side members 25, 26 conceal the legs 21, 22. Therefore, when the legs and seats are in the fully stowed condition as shown in Figure 1, the side members 25, 26 form an overall substantially rectangular shape with the substantially trapezoidally shaped container 2. In this stowed condition, the stowed seats and legs sit flush with the side walls of the container 2.

It is preferred that a lock is included to keep the retracted seats in the stowed position against the wall of the container. However, gravity may be sufficient to keep the seats in their stowed position. Additionally, locking of the seats and legs is provided in the "use" position. These locks may be any appropriate fasteners or locking mechanism as is known in the art.

In the preferred form each of the seats has a moulded surface with an integral depression 28, 29 that forms a seat pan shape zone that in use receives the seat of a user. The depression 28, 29 provides additional comfort for a user when seated on the lid.

Furthermore, each of the seats 14, 15 may be provided with an aperture 31, 32.

The apertures are capable of receiving a pole, for example, an umbrella pole, or other such pole to hold items up above the cooler bin in use.

In use, if a user wished to stow a support member away, the user simply needs to lift up the support member 14 in the direction of arrow A in Figure 5. The user can then fold the leg 21 in the direction of arrow B 14 into the space under the seat. The support member 14 and now concealed leg 21 can then be folded against the side 6 of the container in the direction of arrow C and into a fully stowed position.

Figure 3 shows wheels 36, 37 attached to the rear of the container 2. In use, a user may grasp the handle 33 and pull the cooler bin along as can a trolley or suitcase be moved. Figures 2 and 3 show the container 2 with an extendable handle 33. The handle is shown in its retracted and stowable condition in Figure 1. This handle is preferably attached to the container 2 by conventional means, such as riveting, by bracket or screws. It has telescoping arms 34, 35 that extend and retract from one another. The handle 33 is used to pull the cooler bin along on its wheels 36, 37. In Figure 4 the lid 3 is shown partially lifted up. It is easy to envisage that if the lid was in the fully closed position the lid would be in line with the seats, thus providing a bench seat for user's to sit on.

In the preferred form the container, lid, seats and legs are injection moulded from a substantially hard plastics material, such as polyethylene, a polymer or polypropylene. However, other appropriate materials and methods of forming as known in the art may be used.

Claims

1. A cooler bin comprising:

2. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one support member is a seat.

3. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one support member is a table.

4. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one support member is an umbrella stand.

5. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one support member is both a seat and an umbrella stand.

6. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 1 wherein the at least one support member is hinged to the container.

7. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the at least one support member is engaged to the container for movement between the stowed condition and use condition in a pivotal manner.

8. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the at least one support member, in the stowed condition, extends vertically.

9. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 8 wherein the at least one support member, in the stowed condition, is contiguous the container.

10. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 9 wherein the at least one support member, in the use condition, extends away from the container.

11. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the at least one support member, in the use condition, extends parallel to the plane of the upper opening.

12. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 11 wherein the at least one container is of a quadrilateral shape at the upper opening.

13. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 12 wherein the lid is of a complementary shape to the upper opening.

14. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 13 wherein the at least one support member includes an edge that is contiguous at least part of an edge of the container at the upper opening.

15. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14 wherein a container carry handle is presented at an edge of the container at or near the upper opening.

16. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 15 wherein the carry handle is presented adjacent the at least one support member.

17. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 14 to 16 wherein the edge of the at least one support member, contiguous the edge of the container at the upper opening, includes a recess into which a person's hand can access the carry handle.

18. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 15 to 17 wherein the edge of the container, at the upper opening edge contiguous the edge of the at least one support member, includes a recess via which a person's hand can access the carry handle.

19. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 18 wherein the cooler bin includes at least one leg attached to the at least one support member.

20. A cooler bin as claimed in claims 19 wherein the at least one leg can be stowed inside the at least one support member.

21. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 or 20 wherein the at least one leg is moveably supported by the at least one support member.

22. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 21 wherein the at least one leg is pivotally supported by the at least one support member.

23. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 22 wherein the at least one leg is supported, by the at least one support member, at a location distal from the edge contiguous said container.

24. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 23 wherein the at least one leg is moveable between a deployed condition and a stowed condition, wherein, in the deployed condition, the at least one leg engages with a support surface to assist in providing support to said at least one support member in its deployed condition.

25. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one leg is ground engageable when in the deployed condition.

26. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 24 wherein the at least one leg is container engageable when in the deployed condition.

27. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 26 wherein the at least one leg is concealed by the support member and the container when the support member is in the stowed condition.

28. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 27 wherein the container has two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall.

29. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 28 wherein said at least one support member is hinged to one of said two side walls, a front wall and a rear wall.

30. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 27 or 28 wherein said at least one support member is hinged to a side wall of said container.

31. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein said lid includes a moulded surface that has a seat pan shape zone.

32. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 30 wherein said lid includes a moulded surface with a depression to receive a user.

33. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 28 to 32 wherein said lid is hinged to said rear wall of said container.

34. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 33 wherein said at least one leg in use folds out from the at least one support member and supports the at least one support member in a position parallel to said lid, so as to form a bench-type seat with the container.

35. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 34 wherein said at least one support member in its stowed condition sits flush with the container.

36. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 35 wherein the at least one support member in its stowed condition sits flush with one of said two side walls.

37. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 36 wherein the at least one support member is two seats, a first connected to a first of said two side walls and a second connected to a second of said two side walls.

38. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 37 wherein said at least one support member has a moulded depression to receive a user.

39. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 38 wherein said at least one support member includes an aperture capable of receiving a stand, for example, for an umbrella.

40. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 39 wherein an extendable and retractable handle is attached to said container.

41. A cooler bin as claimed in claim 40 wherein said handle is attached to said rear wall of said container.

42. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 19 to 41 wherein said container is substantially trapezoidally shaped, such that said two side walls are tapered.

43. A cooler bin as claimed in any one of claims 37 to 42 when each of said two seats are in their retracted forms against said two side walls, said container and said two seats form a rectangle.

44. A cooler bin as herein described with reference to any one of the figures.