Clear cooler with integrated lighting

Abstract

A cooler is provided herein which may be used to hold items (e.g., food, drinks, etc.). The cooler may include a body and a lid. The lid may be hingedly attached to the body. The body may include at least one lighting component, which may be adjusted by a user via a button, a user interface, and / or a remote. A portion of the body may be substantially transparent, such that a user may view the contents in the cooler without opening the lid.

Description

CLEAR COOLER WITH INTEGRATED LIGHTINGCross-Reference to Related Applications

[0001] The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63 / 655,236, filed June 3, 2024, entitled, “CLEAR COOLER WITH INTEGRATED LIGHTING,” the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.Field of Invention

[0002] The present invention relates generally to a cooler. More specifically, the invention relates to a clear or semi-transparent cooler with integrated lighting.Background of Invention

[0003] Consumers frequently use coolers to store and transport food and beverages and other items. Coolers may be used to keep food and beverages cold when transporting the food and beverages, and when ice is added to a cooler, the cooler may cool the food and beverages as desired by a consumer. Additionally, consumers may use a cooler as a table of sorts and may store food, beverages, and other items on the top of the cooler.

[0004] However, typical coolers present different issues when used. For example, consumers must open the lid of the cooler (which can cause the cooler to lose its cooling effects) in order to view what is loaded in the cooler. Following along with this example, when it is dark out or there is not suitable light surrounding the cooler, consumers may not be able to view its contents (even when the lid is open). As another example, consumers must remove food, beverages, or other items from the top of the cooler in order to open the lid of the cooler and access what is stored. As such, a need exists for a cooler that addresses the problems present in current coolers and can be used for multiple purposes as desired by consumers.Summary of Invention

[0005] The present invention overcomes many of the shortcomings and limitations of the prior art devices discussed above. The invention described herein includes several embodiments of a clear cooler with integrated lighting.

[0006] A cooler is provided herein which may be used to hold items (e.g., food, drinks, etc.). The cooler may include a portion of which is substantially clear or transparent. This may allow a user to view the contents in the cooler without opening a lid of the cooler. This may assist in keeping the cold air within the cooler and maintain the items in the cooler at a desired temperature.

[0007] The cooler may include lighting which may light an interior portion of the cooler. The lighting may be controlled by a user or may be adjusted based on certain thresholds being met or not met within the cooler. The lighting may be customizable, and in one embodiment, a user may control the look and operation of the lighting via a user interface and / or a remote.Brief Description of Drawings

[0008] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a cooler constructed according to the teachings of the present application;

[0009] Fig. 2 is a rear view of the cooler of Fig. 1;

[0010] Fig. 3 is a top view of the cooler of Fig. 1;

[0011] Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a remote constructed according to the teachings of the present application; and

[0012] Fig. 5 is a bottom view of the cooler of Fig. 1.

[0013] While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, a specific embodiment thereof is shown by way of example in the drawings and willherein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the drawings and detailed description presented herein are not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular embodiment disclosed, but to the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.Detailed Description

[0014] The invention will now be described with reference to the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals refer to like parts throughout. For purposes of clarity in illustrating the characteristics of the present invention, proportional relationships of the elements have not necessarily been maintained in the drawing figures.

[0015] Turning first to Fig. 1, a cooler 1 may include a body 5 and a lid 10. The body 5 may be made of any suitable material (e.g., glass, plastic) and may be sized and shaped in any desirable manner. The body 5 may be formed such that items (e.g., food and drinks) may be placed into the body 5. The lid 10 may be hingedly attached to the body 5 such that a user may open the lid 10 to access and view contents in the cooler 1. According to one embodiment, a portion of the body 5 and / or the lid 10 may be substantially clear or transparent. This may be particularly useful when a user wants to view the contents in the cooler 1 without having to open the lid 10. This may aid in preventing loss of coolness within the cooler 1 while a user determines what within the cooler 1 that she would like to access, as the user does not have to open the lid 10, allowing cold air to escape the cooler 1. As illustrated, a front portion 15 and rear portion 20 of the body 5 and a center portion 25 of the lid 10 may be substantially clear or transparent while the other areas are made of an opaque material (e.g., plastic or metal). It should be understood that any portion, if not a majority of, the body and the lid are substantially transparent.

[0016] The lid 10 may be locked in place via a lid locking mechanism 30. The lid locking mechanism 30 may include a latch 35 and a catch 40. When locked, the latch 35 may surround the catch 40, such that the lid 10 may not be lifted. A user may detach the latch 35 from the catch 40 in order to open the lid 10 and access the contents within the cooler 1. In a closed position, as illustrated in Fig. 1, the latch 35 may be engaged with the catch 40 and may be locked. As such, the lid 10 will remain closed unless and until it is opened by a user by unlocking the lid locking mechanism 30. In an open position (not illustrated), the latch 35 may be removed from the catch 40, such that the lid locking mechanism 30 is unlocked, and the lid 10 may be opened. When the lid 10 is open, the latch 35 is un-engaged from the catch 40, and a user may access contents within the cooler 1.

[0017] The cooler 1 may include handles 45, which may be used to carry or otherwise handle the cooler 1. The handles 45 may be any suitable handle and may be made of any suitable material (e.g., plastic, leather, etc.). The handles 45 may be rotatably attached or coupled to the cooler 1 and may be rotated about a handle rotation portion 50, which may be integrally formed with or attached to the body 5. According to various embodiments, there may be two handles 45 on opposite ends of the body 5. In one embodiment, the handles 45 may be lengthened or adjusted as desired by a user, and the handles 45 may be interchangeable such that a user may swap out the handles 45 to fit her preferences. For example, a user may change out the rigid, plastic handle for a less rigid, leather handle.

[0018] Turning to Fig. 2, the lid 10 may be hingedly attached to the body 5 via a hinge 55, such that the lid 10 may hinge about the hinge 55 and may rotate in an upward and backward direction about the body 5. According to one embodiment, when fully opened, the lid 10 may form a 100° angle, or any other preferred angle, with a top portion 60 of the body 5. According to various embodiments, the hinge 55 may include a spring mechanism, which may cause the lid 10 to open to a “fully open” position after being unlocked. In one embodiment, the lid 10of the cooler 1 may include a lid opening button which, when pressed by a user, causes the lid10 to open.

[0019] The lid opening button may engage a latch, which may be similar to any latch known in the art, and may unlock the lid 10 from the body 5. In one embodiment, the lid opening button may “auto-open” the lid 10 when pressed by a user. When unlocked, a user may open the lid 10 and the hinge 55 may cause the lid 10 to open into an “open” position.

[0020] The cooler 1 may include integrated lighting 65 within the body 5, shown in greater detail in Fig. 3. The body 5 may include several lighting components. In various embodiments, the body 5 may include several light rings, and in one embodiment, the body 5 may include an upper light ring 70 and a lower light ring 75. Although two light rings 70, 75 are illustrated, in various embodiments, there may be more than two light rings. The upper light ring 70 may be located near or in an upper collar 80 of the body 5. In one embodiment, the upper light ring 70 is substantially not visible from an exterior of the cooler 1 or when the lid 10 is opened. Light from the upper light ring 70 may project in a downward direction into the body 5. The lower light ring 75 may be located in or near a lower base 85 of the body 5, and light from the lower light ring 75 may project in an upward direction into the body 5. The upper light ring 70 and lower light ring 75 may be integrally formed with or attached to the interior 90 of the body 5 in their respective positions. The light rings 70, 75 may be shaped, sized, or lighted in any suitable manner.

[0021] According to various embodiments, the light rings 70, 75 may be placed internally in the cooler 1 and may be considered “indirect” to a user. As an example, this may be particularly useful when a user is around the cooler 1 at night, as the light rings 70, 75 may not be “too bright” to a user’s eyes. According to various embodiments, the light rings 70, 75 may include various light settings (e.g., “warm” light, “cool” light, lights of various colors). According to various embodiments, the light rings 70, 75 may adjust in color based on certainconditions being met in the cooler 1 (e.g., turning yellow to red to indicate that the temperature and / or humidity level in the cooler 1 has reached a high level). The light rings 70, 75 may be designed such that the lighting with the light rings 70, 75 is substantially uniformly diffused. Such uniform diffusion may aid in preventing “hot spots” in the light rings 70, 75. The light rings 70, 75 may be powered in any suitable manner, including, but limited to, batteries, outlets, etc. In one embodiment, the cooler 1 may include a battery within the cooler 1, which may power the light rings 70, 75 and any other electrical components now known or hereafter developed. The battery may be charged via a charging port 95. A user may plug in a corresponding charger to the charging port 95 in order to charge the internal battery.

[0022] Turning to Fig. 3, according to various embodiments, the cooler 1 and its components and settings, including the light rings 70, 75, may be controlled by a user. The cooler 1 may include a user interface 100 positioned on a top side 105 of the lid 10. In one embodiment, the user interface 100 may be positioned near the lid locking mechanism 30. The user interface 100 may be configured to control various settings of the cooler 1, and the user interface 100 may include various buttons 110, which may be capacitive touch buttons. Each button 110 may include graphics which may be illuminated via an LED (e.g., white LED) when activated by a user. The user interface 100 may include a power button, which may turn the light rings 70, 75 on / off The power button may cause the other buttons to illuminate via the LEDs as discussed above. In one embodiment, when a user presses the power button, the light rings 70, 75 may light up and the displays of the other buttons 110 may be displayed.

[0023] According to various embodiments, a user may press a “+” brightness button to increase the brightness of the light rings 70, 75, and a user may press a brightness button to decrease the brightness of the light rings 70, 75. The adjustment of the brightness may occur simultaneously or separately for both light rings 70, 75. In one embodiment, a user may individually adjust the brightness of each of the light rings 70, 75. A user may press a modebutton to change the light rings 70, 75 between warm and cool temperature settings. The user interface 100 may include a temperature display and humidity display, which may display measurements of the temperature and humidity, respectively, within the cooler 1. Such measurements may be determined and calculated via temperature and humidity sensors placed within the cooler 1.

[0024] According to various embodiments, the cooler 1 may be connected to a remote 115, as illustrated in Fig. 4. The remote 115 may be connected to the cooler 1 via any suitable means, including a wireless connection, wired connection, or Bluetooth connection. The remote 115 may include similar information as displayed on the user interface 100 and may include buttons 120, which may be similar to the buttons 110 of the user interface 100, as described above. As such, a user may control various settings of and view certain information associated with the cooler 1 via the remote 115.

[0025] According to various embodiments, the remote 115 may be used to detect and / or notify a user of a high temperature or high humidity level within the cooler 1. Such notification may be achieved, for example, via tactile, visual, or audible feedback. As an example, this may be particularly useful when a user is not near the cooler 1, and the user wants to be notified when the cooler 1 is not meeting desired temperature and / or humidity levels. According to various embodiments, the cooler 1 and remote 115 may be connected wirelessly to other coolers and / or remotes to create a “daisy-chain” ability. As an example, this may be particularly useful when a user has multiple coolers and the user desires for the lighting to match amongst the coolers (e.g., when matching the lighting to the music and connecting the lighting of each of the coolers to create a light show). In one embodiment, an underside of the lid 10, not illustrated in Fig. 4, may include a remote receiving portion which may be configured to receive the remote 115 and hold the remote 115 in place when it is not being used or when it is in stow.

[0026] Turning now to Fig. 5, the cooler 1 may include various feet 125 on a bottom side 130 of the cooler 1. The feet 125 may be integrally formed with or attached to the bottom side 130. In one embodiment, and as illustrated in Fig. 5, the cooler 1 includes four feet 125; however, any number of feet 125 may be desired or used. The feet 125 may be any suitable shape or size and may be made of any suitable material. According to one embodiment, the feet 125 are made of rubber. According to various embodiments, the feet 125 may be replaced or supplemented with any type of foot, which may be selected to improve the ability of the feet 125 and / or aid in ensuring that the feet 125 are securing the cooler 1 as desired. As an example, this may be particularly useful when a user is using the cooler 1 on a boat where the movement of unpredictable water conditions could cause the cooler 1 to tip. In such an example, the feet 125 may be specifically designed to aid in preventing such tipping.

[0027] According to various embodiments, the cooler 1 may include sidewalls and / or a removable bag integrally formed with or attached to the body 5. According to various embodiments, the sidewalls and removable bag may aid in protecting the body 5 and may serve as protective covers. As one example, this may be useful when a user is transporting the cooler 1 from her car to a campsite. The sidewalls may assist in preventing the body 5 from being scratched or damaged.

[0028] As one example, the cooler 1 may include two sidewalls which may be formed to fit around and engage with the body 5. The sidewalls may be made of any suitable material (e.g., wood veneer) and may be finished and designed in any suitable fashion. In one embodiment, the sidewalls may be removed from the body by pulling a pull tab, which may be integrally formed with or attached to each sidewall. According to one embodiment, the pull tab may be attached within a pull tab slot and, when not used, the pull tab may sit within the pull tab slot. The pull tab may be any suitable fabric or material, and in one embodiment, the pulltab is made of leather. In one embodiment, the pull tab may be positioned on a center portion of the sidewall.

[0029] According to various embodiments, ends of each sidewall may include a magnetic strip which may engage with the body 5 when the sidewall is not removed from the body 5. The magnetic strip may keep the sidewalls in place on the body 5 and may aid in preventing the sidewalls from detaching from the body 5 when undesired. When removed from the body 5, the sidewalls may be used as tables by standing the sidewalls on their ends. Users may place items (e.g., food, drinks, etc.) on the tables.

[0030] In one embodiment, the cooler 1 may include a removable bag that may be formed to fit around and engage with the body 5. The removable bag may be made of any suitable material (e.g., leather) and may be finished and designed in any suitable fashion. The removable bag may be any suitable thickness, and in one embodiment, the removable bag is 1.5mm to 3mm thick. The removable bag may be removed from the body 5. When removed, the removable bag may be used for various purposes, including storing items.

[0031] The removable bag may include an attachment strap mechanism that may wrap around the body 5, when a user wants the removable bag to be attached to the body 5. The attachment strap mechanism may be used to carry the cooler 1, instead of or in addition to the handles 45. The attachment strap mechanism may include a strap which may be integrally formed with or attached to the removable bag. In one embodiment, the strap is made of leather or another preferred material.

[0032] According to various embodiments, the interior 90 of the body 5 may be configured to receive certain separation mechanisms. The separation mechanisms may be used to separate different drinks from one another (e.g., wine bottles). According to various embodiments, the separation mechanisms may be shaped to fit within and engage with a base of the interior 90 of the body 5. The separation mechanisms may be any suitable shape or sizeand may be formed as a single piece or may be taken apart into various pieces for cleaning, storage, etc.

[0033] In one embodiment, the cooler 1 may include a removable drawer, which may be removed from a body 5 of the cooler 1. The drawer may be configured to attach to the body 5 in any suitable manner. The drawer may be configured to sit next to, apart from, or atop the body 5 of the cooler 1. According to one embodiment, the removable drawer is placed on top of the body. The drawer may be at least partially substantially transparent to allow users to view the contents within the drawer. The removability of the drawer may be useful in small spaces and / or when users want to display the items that are stored in the cooler 1.

[0034] Although some components are described with reference to other particular components, it should be understood that any of the aforementioned components may be used in connection with or instead of the components specifically mentioned. As an example, a cooler may include a lid which may be similar to the lids as described herein. In one embodiment, the lid may include two portions which may open independently or simultaneously and may open toward one another. As such, a user can open one of the portions to access the contents in the cooler.

[0035] Each of the embodiments of the cooler as described herein may be configured to maintain a cool temperature and control condensation when filled with ice. The cooler may be single or dual walled, in order to maintain a desired temperature and condensation level. The cooler may include venting fans within the interior, which may aid in preventing bacteria and mold growth. Additional air conditioning fans may be installed on an exterior or interior of the coolers which may provide air conditioning to users around the coolers. The venting fans and air conditioning fans may be installed in any suitable manner, including into the lid.

[0036] The lighting described herein may be ultraviolet lighting, which may be useful for cleaning purposes. The lighting as described herein may be used for a variety of purposes.The lighting may be used to: visually show a low level of beverages; visually show a high temperature and / or a humidity risk; offer entertainment value (e.g., lighting effects in tune to music playing); assist with lighting an area for users to view the surrounding area; detect a bacteria level and visually indicate to a user that the cooler needs to be cleaned or is being cleaned via ultraviolet lighting; and / or visually show when the battery needs to be changed.

[0037] Additional or alternative lighting may be installed on the coolers to provide pathway lighting around the cooler. For example, the pathway lighting may be coupled to a motion sensor to turn on when users are in the area. According to various embodiments, the pathway lighting may be used when transporting the cooler and may aid in lighting the area through which a user is walking. The pathway lighting may display information. As an example, the pathway lighting may display temperature and / or humidity data from the cooler. As another example, the pathway lighting may display a desired phrase as selected by a user (e.g., “Welcome to the party!”). All lighting as discussed herein may change colors and / or brightness, as desired by users.

[0038] The remotes as described herein may achieve similar functions as the lighting by using haptics to indicate various events to a user. The substantially transparent portions of the coolers as described above may be made of polymer dispersed liquid crystal film, which may be configured to block up to ninety-nine percent (99%) of ultraviolet rays. The film may be any color. The film may assist in maintaining a desired temperature in a cooler.

[0039] The coolers as described herein may be used for any suitable purpose. For exemplary purposes, the coolers may be used as furniture, may be attached to wheels in order to be easily transported, and / or may be attached to a portable chair. The coolers may include storage racks attached to or coupled with the cooler, which may be used to store or transport other goods. The coolers may be integrated into a bar or island, and the contents within the coolers may be accessed in any suitable manner, including through the front portions of thecoolers. The coolers may include a whiteboard, which may be useful to display anything desired by a user. The whiteboard may be attached or coupled to the cooler in any suitable manner. As one example, the whiteboard could include details about what is stored in the cooler.

[0040] As is evident from the foregoing description, certain aspects of the present invention are not limited by the particular details of the examples illustrated herein, and it is therefore contemplated that other modifications, applications, variations, or equivalents thereof, will occur to those skilled in the art. Many such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications of the present constructions will, however, become apparent to those skilled in the art after considering the specification and the accompanying drawings. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. All such changes, modifications, variations, and other uses and applications which do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present inventions are deemed to be covered by the inventions which are limited only by the claims which follow.

Claims

Claims1. A cooler comprising: a body configured for storing contents; a lid hingedly attached to the body; and at least one lighting component, wherein the at least one lighting component is integrated into at least one of an interior of the body and an interior of the lid; wherein at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the lid is substantially transparent.

2. The cooler of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of feet positioned on a bottom side of the body.

3. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising at least one handle configured to carry the cooler.

4. The cooler of claim 1, wherein, when the lid is in an open position, the contents in the body are accessible, and wherein, when the lid is in a closed position, the contents in the body are viewable.

5. The cooler of claim 1, wherein the at least one lighting component includes an upper light ring and a lower light ring.

6. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the upper light ring is positioned within an upper collar of the body, and wherein light from the upper light ring projects in a downward direction into the body.

7. The cooler of claim 5, wherein the lower light ring is positioned within a lower base of the body, and wherein light from the lower light ring projects in an upward direction into the body.

8. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a user interface configured to control at least one setting of the cooler.

9. A cooler comprising: a body configured for storing contents within an interior of the body; a lid hingedly attached to the body; at least two light rings positioned within the interior; a user interface configured to control at least one setting of the cooler; and a plurality of feet positioned on a bottom side of the body; wherein at least a portion of the body is substantially transparent.

10. The cooler of claim 9, wherein the at least one setting includes a light setting for the at least two light rings.

11. The cooler of claim 9, further comprising a lid locking mechanism configured to selectively secure the lid in a closed position relative to the body.

12. The cooler of claim 1, further comprising a remote configured to control at least one setting of the cooler.

13. The cooler of claim 12, wherein the lid includes a remote receiving portion configured to receive the remote.

14. The cooler of claim 9, wherein an outer surface of the portion of the body includes a film configured to block ultraviolet rays.

15. The cooler of claim 9, further comprising a rechargeable battery configured to power the at least two light rings.

16. The cooler of claim 9, wherein at least a portion of the lid is substantially transparent.

17. A cooler comprising: a body configured for storing contents within an interior of the body; a lid hingedly attached to the body;at least one handle configured to carry the cooler; an upper light ring positioned within an upper collar of the interior of the body; a lower light ring positioned within a lower base of the interior of the body; and at least one of: a user interface configured to control at least one setting of the cooler; and a remote configured to control at least one setting of the cooler; wherein at least a portion of the body and at least a portion of the lid is substantially transparent.

18. The cooler of claim 17, wherein light from the upper light ring projects in a downward direction into the body.

19. The cooler of claim 17, wherein light from the lower light ring projects in an upward direction into the body.

20. The cooler of claim 17, wherein, when the lid is in an open position, the contents in the body are accessible, and wherein, when the lid is in a closed position, the contents in the body are viewable.

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