A COOLER BOX WITH SIDE DRAWER ACCESS

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to the leisure industry and more specifically to the temporary refrigerated storage of food and beverages in Insulated picnic cool containers commonly known in Australia as "eskies". In particular, but not exclusively, the invention relates to a cooler box with an upper lid often used as a seat and having a unique side drawer to facilitate access to the contents of the cooler while the user remains seated on the lid.

BACKGROUND ART

The use of insulated containers adapted to hold food and drink alongside ice or ice packs is ubiquitous in the Australian picnic landscape. These containers or cooler boxes, commonly referred to as "eskies" or "esky" in the singular, can be found in the possession of almost every Australian family as essential picnic or holiday paraphernalia. In almost all examples, the esky comprises a rectangular container constructed of polystyrene foam with or without an outer shell of impact resistant plastic into which ice, drinks, food and other refreshments requiring temporary refrigeration are packed. Upmarket models have also been known to incorporate one or more pairs of wheels to facilitate wheeling instead of carrying the esky to the picnic spot. In most examples there are usually included at least a pair of carry handles located on opposite ends or sides of the esky. In addition to being great picnickers, Australians are also notorious sport lovers and the esky often finds itself being used as a seat at various sporting venues. In some models the top lid is shaped to function accordingly. As the lid is the only access to the esky's contents, therein lays an inconvenience, disadvantage or limitation of prior art coolers. The user of course unfortunately has to stand up from his or her comfortable sitting position every time a drink or other refreshment is to be retrieved from the esky.

It is thus an aim or an object of the invention to provide a novel and innovative solution to the limitations and disadvantages of prior art cooler boxes or eskies. Other aims and advantages of the Invention may also become apparent from the following description. STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect the Invention resides in a cooler box, commonly called an "esky" in Australia comprising in combination:

a container of insulating material, the container having

a top opening lid and adapted to support an adult user seated on the lid;

a side of the container including

one or more drawers slidable between an open and a closed position,

whereby the user can access contents of the cooler box while remaining seated.

Preferably, the one or more drawers comprise substantially one side of the container.

Preferably, there is a peripheral seal between the one or more drawers and the container adapted to hermetically seal a drawer against the, container in the closed position.

Preferably the peripheral seal is of a resilient compressible material including rubber, neoprene or other suitable compound.

Preferably, the one or more drawers slides between the open and closed positions on robust rollers adapted to support the weight of any drinks, ice and food held by a drawer.

Preferably the drawer is secured in the closed position by one or more turn latches which draws the one or more drawers tightly against the container which compresses the peripheral seal.

Suitably, the cooler box is constructed of sturdy insulating materials so as to be able to support the weight of an adult seated on the lid.

Preferably, there are one or more carry handles associated with the cooler box.

Preferably, there is also a retractable pull handle to assist in wheeling the cooler box instead of having to carry it. In a preferred version the cooler box may also incorporate at least a pair of wheels for added mobility. There can also be accessories such as a bottle opener or jar lid remover incorporated in the container or top opening lid.

Preferably, the top lid incorporates a padded seat for the comfort of the seated user. Preferably, the top lid also functions as a cutting or fish filleting board.

Preferably, the top lid incorporates one or more drink holders or recesses adapted to assist in retaining the temperature of a canned or bottled beverage.

Preferably, the top lid is hinged to the container.

In the alternative, the top lid is detachable from the container.

Preferably, the one or more drawers has a removable plug to drain out any water.

Preferably, the one or more drawers is removable from the container for cleaning.

Preferably, the cooler box is adapted to be stacked vertically in a cabinet arrangement of two or more cooler boxes.

Preferably, the cooler box includes storage compartments for small items and which may be lockable for securing personal and valuable items such as phones, wallets, jewellery and keys.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

In order that the invention be more readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings wherein:

figure 1 and Figure 2 show a preferred cooler box according to the invention. Figure 3 shows a perspective representation of the cooler boxes of Figures 1 and 2 in a stacked arrangement according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to Figure 1 and Figure 2, there is shown a cooler box 10, commonly called an "esky" In Australia. The container is constructed of insulating material of polystyrene foam with an outer shell of impact resistant plastic so as to be able to support the weight of an adult user seated on the lid 12.

The container has a top opening lid 12 and side drawer 14 slidable between an open and a closed position, whereby the user can access contents of the cooler box while remaining seated on the lid. The side drawer comprises substantially one side of the container.

There is a peripheral seal (not shown) of a resilient compressible material such as rubber, neoprene or other suitable compound between the drawer and the container to hermetically seal the drawer against the container in the closed position. The drawer slides between the open and closed positions on robust rollers 16,18 adapted to support the weight of any drinks, ice and food held by the drawer. The drawer is secured in the closed position by quarter turning turn latches 19,20 which draws the drawer tightly against the peripheral seal.

There are one or more carry handles 22,24 associated with the cooler box and the cooler box may incorporate a pair of wheels 26,28 for added mobility. There can be accessories such as a bottle opener 30 or drink holder 32 incorporated in the container and top lid, respectively. There is a retractable pull handle 34 to allow the cooler box to be wheeled instead of being carried. There is a drain plug 36 to allow any water collecting in the bottom of the container to be drained. To facilitate stacking (as shown in Figure 3) the base of the cooler boxes may have feet 37,38,39 adapted to engage indentations 41,43,45 in the lids.

Figure 3 shows cooler boxes 10, 40, 50 in a vertically stacked formation. This arrangement results in saving space and provides an onsite food cabinet or camp 'fridge' with convenient access to contents via drawers 14, 42, 52 and 54. In this example, topmost cooler box 50 is a two drawer 52, 54 version shown with partially open top lid 56 and extended pull handle 58.

VARIATIONS

It will of course be realised that while the foregoing has been given by way of illustrative example of this invention, all such and other modifications and variations thereto as would be apparent to persons skilled in the art are deemed to fail within the broad scope and ambit of this invention as is herein set forth.

In the specification the terms "comprising" and "containing" shall be understood to have a broad meaning similar to the term "including" and will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps. This definition also applies to variations on the terms "comprising" and "containing" such as "comprise", "comprises", "contain" and "contains".