Rotatable wheel assembly for coolers
The rotatable wheel assembly includes an axle and wheels. Mounting arms with mounting pins or L-shaped rods are coupled to the axle and may include end caps covering portions of the mounting pin or rod. The mounting pin or end cap is inserted into a receptacle on opposing sides of a cooler. Alternatively, the mounting arms may have an eyelet that may be rotatably coupled to a mounting stud on each side of the cooler. The assembly may be placed in a resting or rolling position along the cooler body. In the resting position, the assembly rests or snaps into a groove along the side of the cooler and out of contact with the surface. The assembly can be rotated from the resting position to a rolling position with the axle positioned under the cooler and the wheels in contact with the surface to assist in transporting the cooler.
1 . A rotatable wheel assembly for use with a cooler comprising:
an axle having a first end and a second end;
a first wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a second wheel positioned adjacent to the second end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, each mounting arm comprising:
a first end and a second end, the first end of each mounting arm coupled to the axle, wherein the mounting arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the axle;
a mounting pin coupled to each mounting arm and extending orthogonal to the direction of the mounting arm, wherein a longitudinal axis for each of the pins is substantially parallel; and
wherein each mounting pin is capable of being coupled to a side of a cooler body.
2 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first mounting arm and second mounting arm are parallel.
3 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein each mounting pin comprises:
a first end coupled to one of the mounting arms;
and a second end; and
an end cap covering the second end and a portion of the mounting pin.
4 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein each mounting arm may further comprise at least one hole, wherein each hole comprises a channel through the mounting arm.
5 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 4 , wherein the mounting arm comprises a plurality of holes positioned along the direction of the mounting arm.
6 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the mounting arm comprises an angled member.
7 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , further comprising:
a first sleeve positioned about the axle, wherein the first end of the first mounting arm is coupled to the first sleeve;
a second sleeve positioned about the axle, wherein the first end of the second mounting arm is coupled to the second sleeve; and
wherein each of the said first sleeve and said second sleeve is slidably adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the axle.
8 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the assembly rotates about a longitudinal axis of the mounting pins.
9 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axle, first mounting arm, second mounting arm and mounting pins are made of a metallic material.
10 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 1 , wherein the axle, first mounting arm, second mounting arm and mounting pins are made of a plastic material.
11 . A rotatable wheel assembly for use with a cooler comprising:
an axle having a first end and a second end;
a first wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a second wheel positioned adjacent to the second end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, each mounting arm comprising:
a first end and a second end, the first end of each mounting arm coupled to the axle, wherein the mounting arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the axle;
an eyelet extending through the mounting arm, said eyelet positioned between the first end and the second end of the mounting arm; and
wherein each eyelet is capable of being slidably positioned around a stud extending outward from a side of a cooler body.
12 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein the first mounting arm and second mounting arm are parallel.
13 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein each mounting arm comprises a plurality of weight-reducing holes positioned along the direction of the mounting arm.
14 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein each mounting arm comprises an angled member.
15 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , further comprising:
a first sleeve positioned about the axle, wherein the first end of the first mounting arm is coupled to the first sleeve;
a second sleeve positioned about the axle, wherein the first end of the second mounting arm is coupled to the second sleeve; and
wherein each of the said first sleeve and said second sleeve is slidably adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the axle.
16 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein the assembly rotates about an axis comprising the centerpoint of each eyelet.
17 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein the axle, first mounting arm and second mounting arm are made of a metallic material.
18 . The rotatable wheel assembly of claim 11 , wherein the axle, first mounting arm, and second mounting arm are made of a plastic material.
19 . An insulated container comprising:
insulated side and end wall panels;
a bottom wall panel coupled along a bottom edge of each of the side and end wall panels, wherein the bottom wall panel and side and end wall panels comprise an internal cavity;
a lid;
a first receptacle positioned along a first side panel;
a second receptacle positioned along a second side panel; and
a rotatable wheel assembly, said assembly comprising:
an axle having a first end and a second end;
a first wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a second wheel positioned adjacent to the second end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, each mounting arm comprising:
a first end and a second end, the first end of each mounting arm coupled to the axle, wherein the mounting arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the axle;
a mounting pin coupled to each mounting arm and extending orthogonal to the direction of the mounting arm; and
wherein each mounting pin is capable of being positioned within one of the first and second receptacles.
20 . The insulated container of claim 19 , wherein the rotatable wheel assembly further comprises:
a first sleeve positioned about the axle, wherein the first end of the first mounting arm is coupled to the first sleeve;
a second sleeve positioned about the axle, wherein the first end of the second mounting arm is coupled to the second sleeve; and
wherein each of the said first sleeve and said second sleeve is slidably adjustable along the longitudinal axis of the axle.
21 . The insulated container of claim 19 , wherein the rotatable wheel assembly rotates about a longitudinal axis of the mounting pins.
22 . The insulated container of claim 19 , further comprising a relief line extending horizontally along a first end wall panel, wherein the relief line is capable of cradling at least a portion of the axle.
23 . The insulated container of claim 22 , further comprising a handle coupled to the first end wall panel, wherein the relief line is positioned above the handle.
24 . The insulated container of claim 19 , further comprising a relief positioned within and along the bottom wall and extending between and orthogonal to the first side wall panel and the second side wall panel, said relief of a size and a shape for receiving at least a portion of the axle.
25 . The insulated container of claim 24 , further comprising a retaining tab adjacent to the relief, said tab holding the axle within the relief.
26 . The insulated container of claim 25 , wherein the retaining tab is rotatable from a first position holding the axle within the relief to a second position allowing the axle to be removed from the relief.
27 . The insulated container of claim 19 , wherein the rotatable wheel assembly is rotated from a resting position to a rolling position.
28 . An insulated container comprising:
insulated side and end wall panels;
a bottom wall panel coupled along a bottom edge of each of the side and end wall panels, wherein the bottom wall panel and side and end wall panels comprise an internal cavity;
a lid;
a first stud positioned along an outer periphery of a first side panel and extending outward therefrom;
a second stud positioned along an outer periphery of a second side panel and extending outward therefrom; and
a rotatable wheel assembly, said assembly comprising:
an axle having a first end and a second end;
a first wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a second wheel positioned adjacent to the second end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, each mounting arm comprising:
a first end and a second end, the first end of each mounting arm coupled to the axle, wherein the mounting arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the axle;
a first eyelet extending through the first mounting arm, said first eyelet positioned between the first end and the second end of the first mounting arm;
a second eyelet extending through the second mounting arm, said second eyelet positioned between the first end and the second end of the second mounting arm; and
wherein the first eyelet is coupled to the first stud and the second eyelet is coupled to the second stud, said eyelets capable of rotating about the studs, and wherein the rotatable wheel assembly rotates about a longitudinal for the first and second studs.
29 . A method of engaging a rotatable wheel assembly for an insulated container resting on a surface comprising the steps of:
removing an axle of a rotatable wheel assembly from a relief positioned along a first end of the insulated container;
rotating the wheel assembly about a fixed axis until at least one wheel rotatably coupled to the axle of the wheel assembly contacts the surface;
raising the first end of the insulated container and the wheels out of contact with the surface, the insulated container raised to an angle wherein the first end is at a level above a second end of the container wherein the axle rotates about the fixed axis to a position under a bottom wall panel of the insulated container;
lowering the first end of the insulated container until the bottom wall panel of the container contacts at least a portion of the axle, one of said first end and said second end positioned in contact with the surface;
raising the end of the container in contact with the surface to a height above the surface; and
rolling the container on the wheels of the rotatable wheel assembly.
30 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the insulated container comprises:
insulated side and end wall panels;
the bottom wall panel coupled along a bottom edge of each of the side and end wall panels, wherein the bottom wall panel and side and end wall panels comprise an internal cavity;
a lid;
a first receptacle positioned along a first side panel;
a second receptacle positioned along a second side panel; and
the rotatable wheel assembly, said assembly comprising:
the axle having a first end and a second end;
a first wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a second wheel positioned adjacent to the second end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, each mounting arm comprising:
a first end and a second end, the first end of each mounting arm coupled to the axle, wherein the mounting arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the axle;
a mounting pin coupled to each mounting arm and extending orthogonal to the direction of the mounting arm; and
wherein each mounting pin is positioned within one of the first and second receptacles.
31 . The method of claim 29 , wherein the insulated container comprises:
insulated side and end wall panels;
the bottom wall panel coupled along a bottom edge of each of the side and end wall panels, wherein the bottom wall panel and side and end wall panels comprise an internal cavity;
a lid;
a first stud positioned along an outer periphery of a first side panel and extending outward therefrom;
a second stud positioned along an outer periphery of a second side panel and extending outward therefrom; and
the rotatable wheel assembly, said assembly comprising:
the axle having a first end and a second end;
a first wheel positioned adjacent to the first end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a second wheel positioned adjacent to the second end of the axle and capable of rotation about the axle;
a first mounting arm and a second mounting arm, each mounting arm comprising:
a first end and a second end, the first end of each mounting arm coupled to the axle, wherein the mounting arm extends in a direction substantially orthogonal to a longitudinal axis of the axle;
a first eyelet extending through the first mounting arm, said first eyelet positioned between the first end and the second end of the first mounting arm;
a second eyelet extending through the second mounting arm, said second eyelet positioned between the first end and the second end of the second mounting arm; and
wherein the first eyelet is coupled to the first stud and the second eyelet is coupled to the second stud, said eyelets capable of rotating about the studs, and wherein the rotatable wheel assembly rotates about a longitudinal for the first and second studs.