Multi-compartment modular cooler

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10473390-B2
Application number	US-201715712227-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 22, 2017
Priority date	Oct 5, 2016
Publication date	Nov 12, 2019
Grant date	Nov 12, 2019

Abstract

A multi-compartment modular cooler comprising multiple fully enclosed environments, including an insulated cold storage environment, a dry storage environment and an adjustable storage environment that may be either heated or cold storage. The fully enclosed environments may separate into self-contained individual containers. Each of the separate, self-contained enclosures may also recombine into a single unit, simplifying transportation of each section. Connection and disconnection of each section of the cooler may be facilitated by interfacing a plurality of pillars extending from a bottom surface of the upper section into one or more cup holder wells molded into the lid enclosing a lid of the lower section. The depth of the cup holder wells and the length of each pillar being inserted into the cup holder wells may provide significant stability for maintaining the upper section of the multi-compartment cooler in position while connected to the upper section.

First claim

What is claimed:

1. A multi-compartment cooler comprising:
an enclosed first section comprising an insulated storage compartment, wherein the insulated storage compartment maintains a temperature below the temperature of an ambient environment exterior to the insulated storage compartment;
a lid connected to the first section, the lid comprising a plurality of indentations, wherein the plurality of indentations operate as a cup holder;
a second section connectable to the lid of the first section;
the second section comprising a lower enclosure having a dry storage compartment, an adjustable storage compartment configured as either a heatable storage compartment or a coolable storage compartment separately accessible from the enclosed dry storage compartment of the lower enclosure, and a plurality of pillars extending from a bottom surface of the lower enclosure, wherein the pillars interconnect with each of the plurality of indentations of the lid; and
an insertable heating enclosure sized to fit within the adjustable storage compartment;
an adjustable vent on a top surface of the insertable heating enclosure; and
a plurality of pull tabs positioned at a base of the insertable heating enclosure, wherein the pull tabs activate a heating fuel.

2. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 further comprising:
a pair of wheels connected to the enclosed first section; and
a telescopic handle attached to the enclosed first section.

3. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 2 , further comprising:
a handle attached to a top exterior surface of the adjustable storage compartment; and
the second section is detachable from the enclosed first section.

4. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable storage compartment is configured as the heatable storage compartment and the adjustable storage compartment further comprises:
a heating device positioned within the heatable storage compartment, said heating device increases a temperature within the heatable storage compartment above room temperature; and
an adjustable vent positioned on a top exterior surface of the heatable storage compartment, wherein the adjustable vent modulates an amount of moisture within the heatable storage compartment.

5. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 , wherein the adjustable storage compartment is configured as coolable storage compartment and an upper enclosure of the second section comprises a cooling device positioned within the coolable storage compartment, said cooling device decreases a temperature within the coolable storage compartment below room temperature.

6. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 , wherein the enclosed first section is constructed out of a rigid insulated material and an upper enclosure of the second section is constructed out of an insulated fabric.

7. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 , wherein the insulated storage compartment includes a removable barrier.

8. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 further comprising a removable magnetic badge affixed to an exterior surface of the multi-compartment cooler.

9. The multi-compartment cooler of claim 1 , wherein the heating fuel activated by the pull tabs is selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, calcium oxide, activated charcoal, sodium chloride, magnesium aluminum silicate, vermiculite, and a combination thereof.

10. A method for maintaining separate environments within a multi-compartment cooler comprising the steps of:
enclosing a first section of the multi-compartment cooler, the first section comprising an insulated storage compartment and a lid having a plurality of indentations on a top surface of the lid sized for each holding a cup;
connecting, to the lid of the first section, a second section comprising a lower enclosure having a dry storage compartment, an adjustable storage compartment operating either as a heatable storage compartment or a coolable storage compartment separate from the dry storage compartment of the lower enclosure and a plurality of pillars extending from a bottom surface of the lower enclosure fitting into each of the plurality of indentations of the lid; and

inserting a heating enclosure within the adjustable storage compartment, the heating enclosure comprising an exterior body, an adjustable vent on the exterior body and a plurality of pull tabs for activating a heating device.

11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable storage compartment is operating as the heatable storage compartment and further comprising the steps of:
inserting a heating device into the heatable storage compartment;
increasing a temperature within the heatable storage compartment above room temperature without increasing a temperature within the insulated storage compartment;
adjusting a vent positioned on a top exterior surface of the heatable storage compartment, wherein adjusting the vent modulates an amount of moisture within the heatable storage compartment.

12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the adjustable storage compartment is operating as the coolable storage compartment and further comprising the steps of:
inserting a cooling device within the coolable storage compartment; and
decreasing a temperature within the coolable storage compartment to a temperature below room temperature.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of:
inserting a removable barrier into the insulated storage compartment.

14. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of:
attaching a removable magnetic badge to an exterior surface of the multi-compartment cooler.

15. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the steps of:
pulling one or more of the plurality of pull tabs;
exposing a heating fuel to air, causing an exothermic reaction; and
increasing a temperature inside the heating enclosure as a function of the exothermic reaction.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the heating fuel is selected from the group consisting of iron oxide, calcium oxide, activated charcoal, sodium chloride, magnesium aluminum silicate, vermiculite and a combination thereof.

17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the multi-compartment cooler further comprises:
a pair of wheels connected to the first section;
a telescopic handle connected to the first section; and
a separate handle attached to a top exterior surface of an upper enclosure.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising the step of:
lifting and separating the second section from the first section without exposing the insulated storage compartment or the dry storage compartment.

Assignees

• Walmart Apollo Llc

Inventors

• Mccurry Nicholas Ray
• Rich James

Classifications

• F25D2400/38

  Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels · CPC title

• F25D23/069

  Cooling space dividing partitions · CPC title

• F25D31/005 Primary

  Combined cooling and heating devices · CPC title

• F25D3/06

  Movable containers · CPC title

• F25D2201/10

  with respect to heat · CPC title