Heavy duty cooler
View Patent ↗An ice chest or portable cooler is disclosed which includes a unique construction which enables the cooler to maintain the contents therein at or below a desired temperature for an extended period of time. The top, walls, and bottom of the cooler utilize a shell which includes an inner and outer layer of a plastic and a relatively thick layer of an insulation material between the layers of plastic. The construction adds strength and rigidity to the cooler, while not increasing the weight as a result of the relatively light insulation material.
1. A portable thermally nonconductive container comprising:
a front wall; a back wall; a bottom; and opposite end walls forming a unitary container defining an interior and an exterior;
at least one top hingedly secured to said unitary container for enclosing the interior;
each of said front wall, said back wall, said bottom, said end walls and said at least one top including an inner layer of a high density thermally nonconductive material, an outer layer of a high density thermally nonconductive material, and a layer of a thermally nonconductive foam material between said inner and said outer layers, the thickness of said inner and said outer layer being substantially less that the thickness of said foam material;
an upper ledge formed from a recess along an interior longitudinal length of said front wall and back wall for receipt of a removable upper basket having extensions constructed and arranged to reside in the upper ledge recesses allowing slidable positioning of said upper basket along an internal length formed within the unitary container;
a lower ledge formed from a recess along an interior longitudinal length of said front and back wall for receipt of a removable lower basket having extensions constructed and arranged to reside in the lower ledge recesses allowing slidable positioning of said lower basket along the internal length of the unitary container, said upper basket and upper ridge is larger than said lower basket and lower ridge allowing placement of said upper basket over said lower basket;
a divider slot formed from a vertical recess along an interior length of said front and back wall for receipt of a removable divider;
a seal constructed from an elastomeric material secured to and extending substantially around said at least one top, said seal being constructed and arranged to cooperate with a top edge of said front wall, said back wall and said end walls to form a thermally nonconductive barrier between the interior of said thermally nonconductive container and the exterior of said thermally nonconductive container; and
a plurality of latches releasably secured between said top and said front wall, said latches being constructed and arranged to secure said top in a closed position when simultaneously engaging said top and said front wall, said latches and said seal both providing a thermally nonconductive barrier between the interior and exterior of said thermally nonconductive container.
2. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 1 wherein said top includes at least two members, each of said at least two members being openable and closable separately from each other; and latches on said top members and said front wall constructed and arranged to maintain each of said at least two top members in a closed condition.
3. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 1 including a plurality of supports secured to said bottom of said thermally nonconductive container, said supports being constructed and arranged to raise said bottom of said thermally nonconductive container above a support surface and protect said bottom of said thermally nonconductive container from damage by the support surface.
4. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 1 including a plurality of hinges having a single hinge pin commonly connecting said hinges, said hinges formed on said top and said back wall of said thermally nonconductive container, said hinges enable said top to be vertically aligned with said back wall when said top is opened.
5. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 4 wherein said hinges are formed solely from a high density plastic material.
6. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 2 wherein said top includes at least two members, each of said at least two members being openable and closable separately from each other; and
latches on said top members and said front wall constructed and arranged to maintain each of said at least two top members in a closed condition.
7. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 6 including a plurality of hinges formed on said top and said back wall of said thermally nonconductive container, said hinges enable said top to be vertically aligned with said back wall when said top is opened.
8. The portable thermally nonconductive container of claim 7 wherein said hinges are formed solely from a high density plastic material.
9. The portable nonconductive container of claim 1 wherein said removable divider is formed of a high density plastic.