Portable cooler
A portable cooler comprises an insulated container formed by parallel opposing sides including front and back walls, first and second sides, and a lid and a floor, and handles attached to the front and rear walls. First and second wide-tread wheels disposed on an axle extending between the first and second sides of a wheel recess formed in the lower portion of the rear wall, wherein the wheels occupy substantially the entire space between the first and second sides. An alternate embodiment disposes a single, barrel-shaped wheel within the wheel recess. The cooler is especially adapted for rolling and maneuvering over uneven or very soft terrain.
1 . A portable cooler, comprising:
an insulated container formed by substantially parallel opposing first and second sides, front and back panels, a lid and a floor panel;
a wheel recess formed in a lower, rear portion of the insulated container between the first and second sides of the insulated container; and
first and second wheels disposed on an axle extending between the first and second sides of the insulated container; wherein
the first and second wheels are configured such that when disposed side-by-side on the axle the wheels occupy substantially the entire space between the first and second sides.
2 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second wheels are configured with a wide tread profile having a textured tread surface to enable rolling without skidding while being towed along a surface.
3 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
the axle is positioned within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the insulated container such that the treads of the first and second wheels extend slightly below the floor panel of the insulated container.
4 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second wheels rotate independently on the axle, such that one wheel freely rotates along an arc while the other wheel may pivot in place when the insulated container is being turned along its path.
5 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
the wide tread profile of the first and second wheels allow the first and second wheels to roll across a deep sand surface without sinking.
6 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
the wheel recess is fully separated from the interior of the insulated container by a partition formed in the floor panel between the wheel recess and the interior of the insulated container.
7 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
a first, U-shaped handle is pivotally attached to the front wall of the insulated container.
8 . The portable cooler of claim 7 , comprising:
a second handle formed into the rear surface of the portable cooler just below the lid and extending slightly from the rear surface to enable lifting the rear end of the insulated container and provide a foot when the portable cooler is stacked on its rear end.
9 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
The insulated container is constructed of a polyurethane foam body disposed between interior and exterior shells of molded polyethylene material.
10 . The portable cooler of claim 1 , wherein:
the first and second wheels are molded of polyethylene material.
11 . A portable cooler, comprising:
an insulated container formed by substantially parallel opposing first and second sides, front and back panels, and a lid and a floor panel;
a wheel recess formed in a lower, rear portion of the insulated container between the first and second sides of the insulated container; and
a wheel configured with a wide tread profile and disposed on an axle within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the insulated container.
12 . The portable cooler of claim 11 , wherein:
wherein the axle is positioned within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the insulated container such that the wheel extends slightly below the floor panel of the insulated container.
13 . The portable cooler of claim 11 , wherein:
a first, U-shaped handle is pivotally attached to the front wall of the insulated container.
14 . The portable cooler of claim 13 , comprising:
a second handle formed into the rear surface of the insulated container just below the lid and extending slightly from the rear surface to enable lifting the rear end of the portable cooler and provide a foot when the insulated container is stacked on its rear end.
15 . The portable cooler of claim 11 , wherein:
the insulated container is constructed of a polyurethane foam body disposed between interior and exterior shells of a molded polyethylene material.
16 . The portable cooler of claim 11 , wherein:
the wheel is molded of polyethylene material.
17 . A portable cooler, comprising:
an insulated container formed by parallel opposing sides including front and back panels, first and second sides, and a lid and a floor panel;
a wheel recess formed in a lower, rear portion of the insulated container between the first and second sides of the insulated container; and
a barrel-shaped wheel disposed on an axle within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the insulated container.
18 . The portable cooler of claim 17 , wherein:
the axle is positioned within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the container; and
the barrel-shaped wheel includes a textured tread surface to enable rolling without skidding while being towed along a surface.
19 . A portable cooler, comprising:
an insulated container formed by parallel opposing sides including front and back panels, first and second sides, and a lid and a floor panel;
a wheel recess formed in a lower, rear portion of the insulated container between the first and second sides of the insulated container; and
first and second wheels disposed on an axle extending between the first and second sides of the wheel recess; wherein the first and second wheels are configured with a wide tread profile such that when disposed side-by-side on the axle the wheels occupy substantially the entire space between the first and second sides, and
wherein the axle is positioned within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the container such that the treads of the first and second wheels extend slightly aft of the outer surface of the rear panel of the portable cooler.
20 . A portable cooler, comprising:
an insulated container formed by parallel opposing sides including front and back panels, first and second sides, and a lid and a floor panel;
a wheel recess formed in a lower, rear portion of the container between the first and second sides of the container; and
a wheel first and second wheels each configured with a wide tread profile and disposed on an axle within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the insulated container, wherein the axle is positioned within the wheel recess between the first and second sides of the container such that the tread of the barrel-shaped wheel extends slightly aft of the outer surface of the rear panel of the insulated container.