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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention directs itself to a wheeled storage carrier and in
particular directs itself to a wheeled cooler which may be easily
transported across a base surface whether the base surface is planar or
non-planar. In particular, this invention directs itself to a wheeled
cooler having an open top housing within which there are releasably
received wheel members 12. More in particular, the wheel members 12 are
releasably captured within opposing sidewalls of the open top housing in a
tongue in groove coupling relation. Still further, this invention directs
itself to a wheeled cooler where the wheel members may easily be removed
and are held in constrainment in both a longitudinal, transverse and
vertical direction with respect to the open top housing. Still further,
this invention directs itself to a wheeled cooler which allows for storage
of articles external to the wheeled cooler and includes a strap member
which may be releasably secured to a frontal wall of the wheeled cooler
for ease of rotatable transport across a base surface. Still further, this
invention directs itself to a wheeled cooler including an open top housing
and a cover member which is releasably securable to the open top housing
to maintain confinement of articles stored within the wheeled cooler.
Still further, this invention directs itself to a wheeled cooler which
includes easily removable and insertable wheel members where the wheel
members have a particular contour and size relationship to allow the wheel
members to be easily and simply rotatably transported across a base
surface which may be planar, non-planar or formed of particulate material
such as sand.
2. Prior Art
Wheeled coolers and carriers in general are well known in the art. The best
prior art known to Applicant includes U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,034,472; 2,317,871;
2,883,73; 3,591,194; 4,164,853; 4,550,931; 4,724,681; 4,846,493;
4,873,841; 4,932,677; 4,976,448; 5,169,164; 5,184,477; and, 5,228,706.
Some prior art portable, wheeled coolers such as those shown in U.S. Pat.
No. 4,724,681 include a container member having a releasable enclosure lid
member mounted thereon. However, the wheel members are supported on
respective ends of a shaft which do not provide for the releasable
mechanism of the subject invention concept to allow both removability and
insertability in the manner described by the subject system.
Other prior art systems such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,550,931
direct themselves to wheeled containers. Such include an upwardly open
base receptacle having a cover lid with an axle extending transversely
across the receptacle. However, such does not provide for the individual
insertability and removability of the wheel members as provided in the
subject invention system.
Still other prior art such as that shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,873,841 are
directed to portable coolers where the cooler includes a cooler
compartment having an axle aperture formed in a lower portion of one end
of the receptacle with an axle disposed in the axle aperture. A pair of
wheels are rotatably mounted on the axle and secured thereto by wheel
nuts. However, such prior art once again does not provide for the
individual insertability and removability mechanisms for individual wheel
members as is provided in the subject invention concept.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides a wheeled cooler which includes an open top housing
having a pair of opposing transversely displaced sidewalls as well as
opposing longitudinally displaced frontal and rear walls. A cover member
is releasably engageable to the open top housing and in combination
provides for an internal cooling chamber. At least two wheel members are
rotatably secured to opposing transversely displaced sidewalls of the open
top housing. A mechanism for removably capturing each of the wheel members
individually within a respective one of the opposing transversely
displaced sidewalls is provided to allow simplicity of insertion and
removal of individual wheel members from the open top housing of the
wheeled cooler.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the wheeled cooler being rotatably
transported on a base surface;
FIG. 2 is a perspective view partially cut-away showing the mechanism for
removably capturing individual wheel members within the open top housing
of the subject wheeled cooler;
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view partially cut-away of the mounting of a
wheel member to the open top housing of the subject wheeled cooler;
FIG. 4 is a top view of the wheeled cooler; and,
FIG. 5 is a frontal elevational view of the wheeled cooler.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Referring now to FIGS. 1, 3, 4 and 5, there is shown wheeled cooler 10
having wheel members 12 for rolling displacement on base surface 14. In
overall concept, wheeled cooler 10 may be used for storage of items within
internal cooling chamber 16 as shown in FIG. 3. Although being referred to
as a wheeled cooler 10 in this description it is to be understood that
wheeled cooler 10 may apply to any storage container for either storing
items to be maintained in a cold condition or alternatively may be stored
for maintaining the items at an elevated temperature condition. As shown
in FIG. 3, wheeled cooler 10 may include internal walls 18 and insulating
compositional materials such as plastic foam 20 as a thermal insulating
layer construction however, such is not important to the inventive concept
as herein described with the exception that such provides thermal
insulation from the external environment.
In broad terms, wheeled cooler 10 is provided to allow the user to have a
portable container which may be wheeled on base surface 14 with the added
capability of simple removal of wheel members 12 to allow for a
stabilization of cooler 10 on any type of base surface 14. Additionally,
wheel members 12 are of a large diameter to provide the user with the
capability of rolling transportability over a sandy surface such as that
found on the beach. Wheeled cooler 10 as herein described allows the user
to remove wheel members 12, store such as will be detailed in following
paragraphs and position wheeled cooler 10 in a vehicle for
transportability to a remote location. Once the user arrives at the site
of interest, wheel members 12 may easily be mounted and secured to wheeled
cooler 10 and wheeled cooler 10 may then be rollingly transported at the
user's behest.
Wheeled cooler 10 includes open top housing 22 having cover member 24 as
shown in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5. Cover member 24 matingly engages an upper
section of open top housing 22 to provide overall closed internal cooling
chamber 16. As is evident, cover member 24 may be removed from open top
housing 22 to allow insert or removal of goods within internal chamber 16
of wheeled cooler 10.
Open top housing 22 includes opposing transversely displaced sidewalls 32,
32' which are displaced each from the other in transverse direction 28.
Additionally, open top housing 22 includes opposing longitudinally
displaced frontal and rear wall members 34, 34' displaced each from the
other in longitudinal direction 26 shown in FIG. 1. Opposing sidewalls 32,
32' and front and rear walls 34, 34' may be formed of an open or closed
cell type of plastic construction or some like material not important to
the inventive concept as herein described with the exception that such
have thermal insulative properties necessary to maintain goods within
internal chamber 16 for extended periods of time.
One of the important uses of wheeled cooler 10 is for use on a sandy beach.
In order to provide rolling capability where the beach surface is base
surface 14, a very wide wheel member 12 must be accommodated to provide a
large surface area in contact with base surface 14. Although it is
extremely difficult to quantify the relative relationships between the
length 36 of wheel member 12 to the diameter 38 of wheel member 12, the
ease of rolling transportability over a sandy beach is greatly optimized
when wheel length 36 is equal to or greater than wheel diameter 38.
Basically, the relationship of wheel diameter 38 to wheel length 36 as
shown in FIG. 3 provides for the cross-sectional area of wheel member 12
to be equal to the surface area of contact to base surface 14 when wheel
diameter 38 is four times the wheel length 36. Empirical data has found
that as the wheel length 36 increases with respect to wheel diameter 38,
that the ease of transportability over base surface 14 is generally
enhanced. Of course optimum dimensional parameters are based on numerous
independent parameters such as weight of load within internal chamber 16
as well as the type of base surface 14 upon which wheeled cooler 10 is
being rotatably transported.
Wheel members 12 may be formed of a closed cell plastic or metal or some
like composition not important to the inventive concept as herein
described with the exception that whatever composition is being used does
have sufficient structural integrity to support wheeled cooler 10 in
combination with the stored goods within internal chamber 16.
As can be seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, there are provided four wheel members
12 which are rotatively secured to opposing transversely displaced
sidewalls 32, 32' of open top housing 27 at a lower section thereof.
Additionally, there is provided removable capturing mechanism 40 to
capture each wheel member 12 individually within a respective one of
opposing transversely displaced sidewalls 32 and 32' as is more
particularly shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. Removable capturing mechanism 40
includes wheel base member 42 which is insertable in vertical direction 30
within a pair of longitudinally displaced grooves 44, 44' formed in
sidewalls 32, 32' as is clearly seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. Wheel base
member 42 is generally step like in contour having longitudinally extended
lugs 46, 46' for mating insert within respective grooves 44, 44'. As is
seen in FIGS. 2 and 3, this provides a tongue-in-groove securement
mechanism. Wheel base member 42 may include inclined vertically extending
lugs 46, 46' to provide a wedge shaped cross-sectional contour to allow
for sliding insert into respective grooves 46, 46' in a manner to maintain
a tightened fitting relation between wheel base member 42 and a respective
sidewall 32 or 32'. This wedge type contour allows a further securement of
wheel base member 42 to open top housing 16. Alternatively, it is to be
understood that wheel base member 42 may have a rectangular cross-section
with no inclination of lugs 46, 46' however, the tongue-in-groove coupling
is maintained in this contouring configuration.
Removable capturing mechanism 40 further includes wheel axle 48 as shown in
FIG. 2 which extends substantially perpendicular to wheel base member 42
and is rigidly secured thereto through bonding, bolting or some like
mechanism not important to the inventive concept as herein defined with
the exception that wheel axle 48 be firmly secured or alternatively formed
in one-piece formation with wheel base member 42. Additionally, wheel axle
48 may be formed of a metal, plastic, or some like material common to
wheel base member 42 with the only requirement being that the combined
wheel base member 42 and wheel axle 48 be structurally sufficient in
integrity to maintain the loads imposed thereon. As can be seen, wheel
members 12 are mounted on wheel axles 48 and are rotatable with respect to
wheel axles 48 and wheel base members 42. In this manner, with rigid
securement between wheel base members 42 and open top housing 22, wheel
members 12 are free to rotate and allow rotatable transportability on base
surface 14.
With the tongue-in-groove coupling concept between wheel base member 42 and
open top housing 22 there is provided displacement constrainability in
longitudinal direction 26. However, wheeled cooler 10 will be passing over
generally non-planar base surfaces 14 and wheel members 12 may be
displaced in vertical direction 30 during rolling transport. In order to
provide constrainment in vertical direction 30 for wheel members 12, there
is provided wheel base pin member 50 which is insertable through wheel
base member through opening 52 and extends therethrough into sidewall
recess 54 which is seen in FIG. 2 and in cross-section in FIG. 3. In this
manner, wheel base pin member 50 couples wheel base member 42 and open top
housing 22 in constrained relation with respect to vertical direction 30
and allows for this constrainment to be maintained even when base surface
14 is non-planar in contour. In general, wheel base pin member 50 includes
wheel base pin member head 56 and wheel base pin member stem 58 which is
insertable through opening 52 into recess 54. Head 56 extends slightly
above an upper surface of wheel base member 42 to allow ease of sliding
removal of wheel base pin member 50 when wheel members 12 are being
removed from wheeled cooler 10. Thus, wheel base pin member 50 may easily
be removed from recess 54 and opening 52 by grasping wheel base pin member
head 56 and sliding such out of contact with sidewall 32 and wheel base
member 42. Subsequent to this action, wheel base member 42 may be removed
in a downward vertical direction 30 from grooves 44, 44' and wheeled
cooler 10 may then be placed on a base surface 14 in a stable and
non-rolling condition.
During transportability over base surface 14, there is the possibility that
wheel base pin member 50 can become dislodged from opening 52 and recess
54. Spring biasing mechanism 60 is provided in the form of leaf spring
member 62 which is pinned at 64 to wheel base member 42. In this manner,
as shown in FIG. 3, leaf spring member 62 may be pivoted about pin 64 to
cover wheel base pin member head 56 and maintain such in contact with
opening 52 and recess 54. When it is desired to remove wheel members 12,
leaf spring member 62 may be rotated about pivot 64 and wheel base pin
member 50 removed from the recesses 54 and opening 52.
As seen in FIG. 3, wheel members 12 are mounted to wheel axle 48 through
threaded wheel bolt 68 being threadedly engaged with wheel axle 48 as
shown. Wheel axle 48 is insertable through wheel axis opening 66 extending
in transverse direction 28. Obviously, wheel member 12 having its
associated wheel axis opening 66 with a diameter slightly greater than
wheel axle 48 allows for rotation of wheel member 12 on axle 48. Threaded
wheel bolt 68 is threaded into wheel axle 48 and wheel washer 70 is
sandwiched between a head member of bolt 68 and wheel member 12 to provide
interfacing relationship.
In order to releasably secure cover member 24 to open top housing 22, there
is provided opposing sidewall hook members 74 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.
Resilient cord 72 includes opposing end loop contoured ends 76 which may
be looped around respective sidewall hook members 74. Resilient cord 72
may be either resilient and flexible such as being formed of a rubber
composition or may merely be a flexible rope like member formed of a
textile compositional structure. In this manner, cover 24 may be somewhat
firmly secured to open top housing 22 during transport over rough terrain
or other non-planar type base surfaces 14.
Still further, wheeled cooler 10 may include pocket member 78 releasably
mounted on sidewall 32 as is shown in FIG. 1. Pocket member 78 may be
formed of a mesh like construction and further formed of a textile
composition. The mesh like structure will allow for sand or other
particulates to be displaced external to pocket member 78 during the
normal course of transporting wheeled cooler 10. In this manner,
particulates such as sand or other like small particles will not be
maintained within pocket member 78. Pocket member 78 may be used for
transporting other articles not necessary to be inserted into internal
chamber 16 and further may be even used for storing wheel members 12 when
such are removed from wheeled cooler 10. Pocket member 78 may include
upper bar 80 which is releasably secured to sidewall 32 by a standard snap
hook coupling 82. Alternatively, pocket bar member 80 may be mounted in
fixed relation to sidewall 32 through any type of fixed securement
mechanism such as bolts, rivets, adhesive bonding or like technique.
Strap member 84 may be releasably mounted to frontal wall 34 as is seen in
FIGS. 1 and 4. Frontal wall 34 has frontal wall lugs or hooking members 86
formed therein for coupling to closed strap hooks 88 formed on opposing
ends of strap member 84. In this way, closed strap hooks 88 may be mounted
on frontal wall hooks 86 for ease of rotational transportability of
wheeled cooler 10 across base surface 14.
In the manner previously described there now has been provided an extremely
versatile wheeled cooler 10 which allows the user a wide variation of
usable environments for cooler 10. Wheeled cooler 10 may be used as a
standard cooler with the removal of wheel members 12 to allow cooler 10 to
be maintained in a stationary position within a vehicle during transport
or for storage purposes. When the user reaches a destination where cooler
10 is to be wheeled across a base surface 14, the unique construction of
wheel members 12 and the capturing insert mechanism into open top housing
22 allows the user to quickly and easily mount wheel members 12 to the
external surfaces of housing 22. Additionally, the unique geometrical
construction and contouring of wheel members 12 allows a large surface
area to be provided in contact with base surface 14 to allow rotational
transportability in an easy manner across non-planar surfaces. Still
further, the cover member 24 is maintained in mating engagement with open
top housing 22 through a securement resilient cord 72 mounted on opposing
sidewall surfaces 32, 32'. Additional storage space is provided by pocket
member 78 which may either be fixedly secured or releasably securable to
sidewalls 32 and 32' at the discretion of the user. Finally, for further
ease of rolling transportability across base surface 14, a flexible strap
member 84 having opposing hook members attachable to frontal wall 34 is
provided which allows the user to transport wheeled cooler 10 with the
least amount of effort.
Although this invention has been described in connection with specific
forms and embodiments thereof, it will be appreciated that various
modifications other than those discussed above may be resorted to without
departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. For example,
equivalent elements may be substituted for those specifically shown and
described, certain features may be used independently of other features,
and in certain cases, particular locations of elements may be reversed or
interposed, all without departing from the spirit or scope of the
invention as defined in the appended claims.
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