Portable beach cooler
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional coolers are heavy when filled with ice, difficult to transport, lack additional features, and do not optimally leverage cold zones for cooling beverages placed atop the lid.
Innovation Solution
A portable beach cooler with a thermally-insulative receptacle, motorized tracked wheels, and an ice tray that automatically lifts for easy access, equipped with cupholders and electronic features for navigation and entertainment.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If traditional coolers are filled with ice to maintain low temperatures, then cooling effectiveness is improved, but weight increases making them difficult to transport
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler is divided into modular components including a detachable ice tray, separable lid and body, and individual cupholders. This segmentation allows users to transport only necessary portions and facilitates easier handling while maintaining cooling effectiveness through distributed ice placement.
Solution Approach 2:
The ice tray incorporates an automatic lifting mechanism that dynamically adjusts ice accessibility. The motorized lift system allows the ice tray to rise automatically when needed, reducing manual effort while maintaining optimal ice placement for cooling efficiency throughout the journey.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional coolers are designed for simple cooling function, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but additional features like entertainment and power are lacking
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler integrates multiple functions into a single device including cooling storage, beverage dispensing through cupholders, electronic entertainment systems, power supply capabilities, and automated navigation. This multi-functionality allows one device to replace multiple separate items while maintaining reasonable manufacturing costs through shared components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines traditionally separate functions into the cooler system: ice storage merges with beverage cooling, electronic devices merge with power supply, and manual operation merges with automated motorized features. This consolidation creates a versatile hub that serves multiple beach and outdoor needs simultaneously.
3Ease of operation
If beverages are placed atop the cooler lid for easy access, then accessibility is improved, but cold air escape increases reducing cooling efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The cupholder acts as an intermediary structure between the interior cold storage space and the exterior environment. It allows beverages to be accessed from the lid while maintaining a barrier that prevents cold air escape, effectively mediating between accessibility needs and thermal retention requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The cupholder is nested within the lid structure, with the beverage container nested within the cupholder. This nested arrangement allows beverages to be positioned for easy access on the lid while the cupholder walls and lid structure create nested barriers that trap cold air inside the cooler body.
4Device complexity
If manual lifting of ice tray is required for ice access, then device complexity is reduced, but user convenience deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ice tray lifting mechanism operates automatically through a motorized system that detects when ice is needed and raises the tray without requiring manual intervention. This self-service capability maintains relative mechanical simplicity while dramatically improving ice accessibility and user convenience.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical lifting system is replaced with an automated motorized mechanism. This substitution eliminates the need for complex manual cranks or levers while providing automated ice tray elevation, reducing mechanical complexity in the user interface while maintaining functional simplicity.
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 efficient temperature-controlled storage and transportation of food and beverages, allowing automatic terrain traversal and direct cooling of beverages, while serving as a multifunctional hub for beachgoers.
Implementation Method 1
The present invention comprises a thermally-insulative receptacle
Implementation Method 2
A portable beach cooler with a thermally-insulative receptacle, motorized tracked wheels
Implementation Method 3
The ice tray may be connected to an automatic lifting mechanism that allows the ice tray to rise for convenient user access to ice
Implementation Method 4
The lid of the cooling body may have several cupholders that traverse into the ice tray, providing direct access to ice for contained beverages
Data Source
AI summary
A portable beach cooler is capable of reducing the temperature of stored items. A main cooling body opens to reveal an ice tray. The ice tray may be connected to a lifting mechanism that allows the ice tray to rise for convenient user access to ice. The lid of the cooling body may have several cupholders traversing through the lid, providing direct access to ice for contained beverages. A cupholder adapter may support beverages atop the lid or may be inverted atop a beverage contained within the cupholder to provide direct beverage access to ice while simultaneously preventing cold air from escaping. A set of tracked wheels is connected to a motorized frame capable of supporting the cooling body. The apparatus may further be equipped with cameras to allow for automatic maneuvering of the motorized frame behind a user, as well as a variety of other electronic ports and devices.