Portable Cooler Assembly
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cooler devices lack a design that effectively keeps food items and beverage containers above water from melted ice, leading to potential spoilage and inconvenience in portable cooling solutions.
Innovation Solution
A cooler device with a thermally insulating material, featuring an upper chamber fluidly discrete from a lower chamber, a mesh grill in the upper chamber to elevate items, and a drawer for separate storage, preventing exposure to melted ice water while maintaining temperature control.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If food items are placed directly in the cooler with ice, then cooling efficiency is improved, but food items become exposed to melted ice water causing spoilage
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler is divided into two fluidly discrete chambers: an upper chamber for food items and a lower chamber for ice. This segmentation allows the food to be cooled by cold air circulation while physically separated from melted ice water, preventing spoilage while maintaining cooling efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention transitions from a single-level storage approach to a vertical two-chamber configuration. By stacking chambers vertically with the food chamber above the ice chamber, the design utilizes the vertical dimension to separate food from water while maintaining close thermal proximity for efficient cooling.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If a mesh grill is added to elevate food items, then protection from water is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
A mesh grill is introduced as an intermediary component between the food items and the lower chamber. This simple grid structure elevates food items above potential water contact points while allowing cold air to circulate through to the food, providing water protection without significantly increasing complexity.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a drawer is integrated into the cooler, then storage versatility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The cooler incorporates a slide-out drawer within the lower chamber, segmenting the storage space into a fixed upper chamber and a movable lower chamber. This allows versatile storage options with the drawer removable for washing or additional uses, while the modular design minimizes the increase in overall structural complexity.
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 solution effectively keeps food and beverage items cool and dry, preventing spoilage by positioning them above water from melted ice and providing efficient storage and transport options.
Implementation Method 1
a cooler that is comprised of a thermally insulating material wherein the cooler is configured to store ice and food items
Implementation Method 2
The mesh grill is spaced upwardly in the upwardly chamber to inhibit the food items from being exposed to water from melted ice
Data Source
AI summary
A portable cooler assembly includes a cooler that is comprised of a thermally insulating material wherein the cooler is configured to store ice and food items. The cooler has an upper chamber that is fluidly discrete from a lower chamber. The cooler includes a lid and a pair of first latches pivotally coupled to the lid which releasably engages the cooler for retaining the lid in a closed position. A mesh grill is positioned in the upper chamber in the cooler and food items can be placed upon the mesh grill. The mesh grill is spaced upwardly in the upwardly chamber to inhibit the food items from being exposed to water from melted ice. A drawer is slidably integrated into the cooler to contain food items.