Refrigeration – Cooled enclosure – Portable receptacle
Reexamination Certificate
1999-11-22
2001-06-12
Doerrler, William (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Cooled enclosure
Portable receptacle
C062S331000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06244064
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to tool cases and, more specifically, to a combination toolbox and cooler device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Almost any manual labor task or job requires the use of some type of tool. In fact, for almost all craftsmen and apprentice, tools are a means to an end, and as such, are essential to properly perform the desired tasks. However, one tool is typically not sufficient. To the contrary, electricians, mechanics, carpenters, and the like are well known for having a multitude of tools to ensure that any task within their respective trade can be properly performed. As a result, a plurality of toolboxes and tool cases for carrying these tools have been invented. In addition to the need for carrying tools, many craftsmen and apprentice work in remote or temporary locations that do not have adequate facilities for maintaining cold food and beverages. In other words, many work environments lack adequate refrigeration to keep and temporarily store food and beverages. As a result, many workmen dangerously risk ingestion of spoiled food or severely limit their choices to selections not requiring refrigeration.
In an attempt to overcome some of these problems, workmen will typically carry a separate cooler/lunch box for the purpose of maintaining there food and beverages at a safe and enjoyable temperature. A variety of cooler arrangements have been purposed for this purpose. Examples of such attempts may be found by reference to U.S. Pat. No. 4,904,848 to Colevas, U.S. Pat. No. 4,866,572 to Blodgett, U.S. Pat. No. 4,420,678 to Kalb, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,037,081 to Aldridge et al. However, these devices do not solve the problems at issue; that is, having to carry both a toolbox and a lunch box/cooler to a worksite and, thus, requiring the use of both hands, thereby limiting the ability to carry other necessary items.
It is readily apparent that a new and improved toolbox/cooler combination is needed that is capable of holding a multitude of tools, preserving perishable foods, and keeping chilled cold food and beverages. It is, therefore, to the provision of such an improvement that the present invention is directed.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Briefly described, in a preferred embodiment, the present invention overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages by providing a device capable of acting as both a toolbox and a cooler.
The present invention, in a preferred embodiment, comprises a tool box section and a cooler section integrally formed as one device. The toolbox portion, generally, is a typical tool box having a plurality of stacking tool trays with a latching means for securing said trays together. The stacked and latched tool trays thereby form the upper portion of the toolbox section. The lower portion forms, generally, a rectangular box having an open face and a generally half open top. Carried by approximately half of the lower portion, in the open top area, are a plurality of sliding tool drawers, well known within the art of toolboxes, that slide open through the open face of the lower portion of the toolbox section.
Carried by approximately the other half of the lower portion is the cooler section. The cooler section is made of any of a variety of well-known insulating materials, such as STYROFOAM®, and is encased in a plastic or metal material to increase the durability of the cooler section. The cooler section comprises a hinged lid having a cavity opposite the hinged end for inserting fingers to facilitate lifting of the lid. The cooler section slides in and out of the lower portion via a well-known means such as a tongue-and-groove, protrusion-and-track, or wheel-and-track arrangement. In addition, the cooler section is secured in the lower portion by any of a variety of well-known means such as dimples or recessed areas positioned at the end of the tongue-and-groove, protrusion-and-track, or wheel-and-track arrangements; thereby, requiring additional force to overcome the dimpled or recessed area. In order to insert and remove the cooler section, a protruding or recessed handle is formed on the exterior face wall of the cooler.
In a first alternate embodiment, the trays that form the upper portion of the toolbox section are sliding trays similar in function to the lower section sliding trays.
In a second alternate embodiment, the toolbox is a tackle box having pivotally raising multi-tiered trays. The cooler section is dimensioned to fit inside the lower portion of the tackle box underneath the multi-tiered trays. The lid of the tackle box is removably latched. In a third alternate embodiment, the lid is hinged to the tackle box. The lid of the cooler portion of both the second and third alternate embodiments comprises recessed hinged legs that allow the lid to be used as an extended work surface or food tray for eating. One side of the lid of the cooler comprises hooks or other means for securing that side to the tackle box while the other side is supported by hinged legs or in an alternate embodiment, both sides of the lid have hinged legs for supporting the lid in a free standing position. Note that the cooler as described in these embodiments may also be utilized in the toolbox embodiments described above.
In a fourth alternate embodiment, the first upper tray of the preferred embodiment is molded or otherwise formed and dimensioned to snugly and securely receive a typical drill and/or other tools.
A feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination toolbox/cooler device that eliminates the need to carry both a separate toolbox and a cooler.
Another feature and advantage of the present invention is provide a new and improved combination toolbox/cooler device that is capable of holding tools and keeping food and beverages cold.
Another feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination toolbox/cooler device having means for removably attaching a cooler to a toolbox.
Another feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination toolbox/cooler device wherein the lid of the cooler comprises hinged legs such that the lid may be used as an additional work table or food and beverage table when removed from the cooler.
Another feature and advantage of the present invention is to provide a new and improved combination toolbox/cooler device having the upper tray molded or otherwise formed and dimensioned for snugly receiving an electric drill and/or other tools.
These and other objects, features and advantages of the invention will become more apparent to one skilled in the art from the following description and claims when read in light of the accompanying drawings.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3482418 (1969-12-01), Moore
patent: 4037081 (1977-07-01), Aldridge et al.
patent: 4420678 (1983-12-01), Kalb
patent: 4866572 (1989-09-01), Blodgett
patent: 4904848 (1990-02-01), Colevas
patent: 5276310 (1994-01-01), Schmidt et al.
patent: 5439108 (1995-08-01), Lackie
patent: 5503571 (1996-04-01), Cheslock
patent: 5605056 (1997-02-01), Brown et al.
patent: 5660299 (1997-08-01), Harvey
patent: 5833065 (1998-11-01), Burgess
Jackson Timothy L.
Monroe Maurice L.
Powell Arthur
Scandrett Benjamin
Willis, Sr. Melvin T.
Doerrler William
Hughes & Kaplan
Jones Melvin
Kaplan, Esq. Barry E.
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