Cooler Drain-Hole Adapter Kit for Reversible Cold Tap Conversion

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cooler kits for converting a cooler into a cold tap require drilling holes, making the cooler unsuitable for its original purpose and irreversible.

Innovation Solution

An adapter kit comprising a metal cooling element and a multi-passage fitting that non-destructively adapts a cooler with a melt water drain hole into a cold tap, allowing the cooler to be converted and then returned to its original form by using the existing drain hole without altering the cooler's physical construction.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If drilling holes in the cooler sidewall or lid to mount valves, then the cooler can be converted into a cold tap, but the cooler becomes unsuitable for its original purpose and cannot be returned to its original form

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooler conversion to cold tapVSAvoidcooler original form integrity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The adapter assembly is segmented into removable components including the MP fitting, valve, and tubing that can be detached from the cooler. This allows the cooler to be converted into a cold tap system while maintaining the ability to restore the cooler to its original undrilled state by simply removing the adapter components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter kit serves as an intermediary component that bridges the cooler and the cold tap functionality without permanently modifying the cooler. The adapter assembly interfaces with the cooler's existing drain hole and provides the cold tap function through removable components, thus mediating between the original cooler form and the desired cold tap function.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Stability of the object's composition

If using existing drain hole for adapter installation, then the cooler structure remains unaltered and reversible, but the adapter must precisely fit the drain hole dimensions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecooler structure integrityVSAvoidadapter fit to drain hole

Core Design Contradiction:

Stability of the object's compositionVSManufacturing precision

Solution Approach 1:

The MP fitting is designed with a universal interface that can accommodate various standard cooler drain hole sizes. The fitting incorporates adjustable or interchangeable components that allow it to seal effectively against different drain hole dimensions, making the adapter kit applicable to multiple cooler models without requiring custom manufacturing for each specific drain hole size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

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

Enables the cooler to function as a cold tap while remaining usable as a conventional ice chest without any permanent modifications, maintaining its original form and functionality.

Implementation Method 1

The metal cooling element is adapted for cooling liquid within the cooler

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS10267557B2Cooler cold tap adapter

Publication Date: 2019.04.23 TABOADA KEITH

AI summary

Described herein are an adapter kit for non-destructively adapting a cooler having a melt water drain hole into a cold tap, a cooler configured as a cold tap, and a method for non-destructively adapting a cooler having a melt water drain hole into a cold tap. In one example, the adapter kit allows the cooler to be configured as a cold tap, while being readily removable to allow the cooler to return to it's undamaged, original form.