Portable cooler with powered cooling system

Abstract

A portable cooler with a powered cooling system is disclosed. Preferred embodiments include wheels large and flexible enough for rolling over sand, grass, and other uneven surfaces, and handles for carrying and / or pulling. Pulling handles can include an extension that can be rigid or flexible and can be retractable. Power sources include rechargeable and / or exchangeable batteries, and / or a solar panel. Accessories in preferred embodiments include a power outlet for a cellular telephone, a power outlet for an iPod, a docking station for an iPod, an AC electrical outlet, a radio, a CD player, a tape player, an MP3 player, a television, audio headset outlets, and one or more audio speakers. In preferred embodiments, some or all of the power source, the cooling system, and the accessories are protected from water and / or sand. Some embodiments include a beverage holder, and in some of these embodiments the beverage holder is cooled.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION[0001]The invention generally relates to portable coolers, and more specifically to means for cooling the interior of a portable cooler.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0002]When outdoor recreational activities continue for more than a short time, access to food and beverages is often desirable. This is especially true when the activities take place in warm weather and / or in bright sunlight. Examples include a day at the beach, a picnic in the park, and such like.[0003]Sometimes it is not possible, or at least not convenient, to purchase desired food and / or beverages at a recreational location, and so it is often desirable to transport food and beverages to the recreational site from elsewhere. A thermally insulated “cooler” can be used to transport food and beverages, so as to protect them from warm weather, and ice or another frozen substance can be placed in the cooler so as to maintain the contents at a reduced temperature. However, this approach typically achie...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0006]Preferred embodiments include wheels that facilitate transportation of the portable cooler, and in some of these embodiments the wheels are sufficiently large and flexible to facilitate rolling of the cooler across sand, grass, and other uneven surfaces. Some preferred embodiments include a graspable carrying handle, and some of the embodiments that include wheels include a graspable pulling handle that facilitates pulling on the cooler so as to cause the cooler to roll in a desired direction. In some of these embodiments the graspable pulling handle includes an extension that facilitates pulling on the cooler by a standing individual, and in some of these embodiments the extension is flexible and / or retractable.

[0007]In preferred embodiments the power source and / or the cooling system is contained within a compartment that protects the contents against exposure to water and / or sand.

Problems solved by technology

Sometimes it is not possible, or at least not convenient, to purchase desired food and / or beverages at a recreational location, and so it is often desirable to transport food and beverages to the recreational site from elsewhere.

However, this approach typically achieves only a limited reduction of temperature inside the cooler, and usually lasts only a few hours.

When ice is used, there is also a tendency for water that results from melting of the ice to contaminate food and other contents of the cooler.

However, battery lifetimes for such devices are limited, and may not be sufficient for the duration of a recreational experience, for example when the activity continues through the day and into the evening.

This is especially true for portable equipment that is designed to provide music or other entertainment to groups of people, because such devices typically require significantly more electrical power than devices meant to serve only one person, and consequently they tend to have short battery lifetimes.

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