Stake down cooler

Abstract

A portable storage container with an anti-theft mechanism. The storage container has internal deployable stakes that are housed within the storage container during transport. Upon placing the storage container on a suitable medium which is sand, the user can deploy the stakes from inside the storage container and into the medium. The lid may have a lock to prevent unauthorized access to the stake system.

Description

PRIORITY / CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS[0001]This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61 / 736,082, filed Dec. 12, 2012, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.TECHNICAL FIELD[0002]The presently disclosed and claimed inventive concepts generally relate to an apparatus for safely storing items in public places, and more particularly to a lockable container that can be secured to the ground.BACKGROUND[0003]Portable storage containers have become increasingly popular. These include picnic baskets, camera cases, knap sacks, coolers and other types of containers that are light weight and easily moved. These containers are useful for transporting and storing items for activities such as picnics, concerts, camping trips, beach trips and other activities.[0004]Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity of these containers it has become a common problem for thieves to steal unattended or unwatched storage containers. In order to fulfill the...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

The invention is a container that has stakes or legs that extend out and penetrate the substrate beneath it. The container can be a cooler or any other type of container. The stakes are moved between a deployed position and a retracted position. In the deployed position, the stakes extend out from the cooler and are intended to penetrate the substrate. The stakes can be any shape or cross-section, such as round, triangular, or v-shaped. The stakes can be hollow or solid. The cooler can be used on a beach or other sandy or soil surface, and the stakes help stabilize it and prevent it from being blown over or taken without permission. The cooler can also have removable stakes, and the stakes can have a locking mechanism to secure them in the extended position. In loose sand, stake extensions or snap-together locks can be used to secure the cooler. Overall, the invention allows for secure and stable attachment of containers to substrates.

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, with the rise in popularity of these containers it has become a common problem for thieves to steal unattended or unwatched storage containers.

While these features are well suited for the container's intended use by the owner, these same features result in the container being easily stolen.

Further, with the mass production of storage containers, no individual container is readily identifiable from other containers of similar design.

Because of the similarity of one container to another, containers can be accidentally taken by an unauthorized person who has no illegal intent, but simply believes that the container is theirs.

Previous containers have failed to incorporate theft deterrent measures.

Many of these, such as GPS tracking devices, are cost prohibitive to the average user seeking to get an affordable storage container.

It is difficult to develop a system for securing the storage containers because many times, on a beach or in a park, there is not a reasonably stationary and secure object to lock the container to.

Additionally, these containers, especially coolers, can have a tendency to tip over due to settling of the material below the container, inadvertent force being applied, or due to wind.

Upon tipping over, the container can open and the contents can be dispersed across the ground, becoming covered in sand or other material which is difficult to completely remove and in the case of food, potentially ruinous.

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