Adjustable basket apparatus for a cooler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooler designs fail to maintain dry storage, leading to food spoilage and contamination from melting ice, especially affecting loose or poorly sealed items.
Innovation Solution
An adjustable cooler basket apparatus with a base and rim that can be adjusted in length, featuring edge engagement pieces with rubber pads for stable friction fit, and a retention apparatus to lock the rim in place, allowing suspension above the cooler floor.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a fixed-size basket is used in a cooler, then the basket structure is simple, but it cannot adapt to various cooler sizes and depths
Solution Approach 1:
The basket employs adjustable length sides with telescoping sections that can be extended or contracted to match different cooler dimensions. The sides include multiple position settings that can be locked in place, transforming a static structure into a dynamic one that adapts to various cooler sizes and depths while maintaining structural integrity.
Solution Approach 2:
The basket sides are divided into multiple segmented sections that can independently adjust their length. Each side consists of telescoping segments with locking mechanisms, allowing the overall basket dimensions to be customized for different cooler configurations without requiring a completely different basket design.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the basket base rests directly on the cooler floor, then the structure is stable, but food items come into contact with melting ice water
Solution Approach 1:
The basket base is elevated above the cooler floor by extending the side structures downward to engage with the cooler walls or by incorporating lift mechanisms. This extraction of the base from direct contact with the cooler floor prevents food items from contacting melting ice water while maintaining overall structural stability through the elevated configuration.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the basket sides are fixed in length, then the manufacturing is simple, but the basket cannot be adjusted to fit different cooler configurations
Solution Approach 1:
The basket sides incorporate telescoping sections with locking mechanisms that allow length adjustment to match different cooler configurations. Each side can be extended or contracted to the required length and locked in place, providing adaptability while using standardized components that simplify the manufacturing process.
Solution Approach 2:
The adjustable side design serves multiple functions: it adapts to various cooler sizes, accommodates different cooler configurations (with or without ledges), and provides a universal solution that can be used across different basket applications without requiring custom-manufactured parts for each scenario.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The apparatus keeps food dry by preventing direct contact with melting ice, preserving freshness and quality, and adapts to various cooler sizes and depths.
Implementation Method 1
The first and second edge engagement pieces include rubber pads, wherein the rubber pads are configured to be in a stable position on the walls of the cooler or freezer via friction.
Data Source
AI summary
A basket apparatus includes a base comprising of a supporting infrastructure holding and retaining items within the basket apparatus and a rim coupled to the base, wherein the rim forms a perimeter opening to the base of the basket apparatus. The base is adjustable in length in at least one direction and wherein the rim is adjustable in length in the at least one direction. The basket further includes a retention apparatus configured to lock the rim in place in the at least one direction. The basket further includes a first edge engagement piece and a second edge engagement piece located on opposite ends of the perimeter opening. The edge engagement pieces are orthogonal to the at least one direction. The edge engagement pieces are configured to engage opposite walls of a cooler and suspend a bottom of the base above a floor of the cooler.