Receptacles – Receptacle having means to facilitate maintaining contents... – For a beverage
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-06
2001-08-07
Pollard, Steven (Department: 3727)
Receptacles
Receptacle having means to facilitate maintaining contents...
For a beverage
C220S592040, C220S592140
Reexamination Certificate
active
06269965
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to portable coolers or insulated ice chests, and, more particularly, to a cooler insert for maintaining containers of condiments in refrigerated condition, while exposing their upper portions for optimal display and in condition for convenient dispensing therefrom.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 5,931,019 discloses a perforated bait tray insert assembly for a cooler that rests on the ice in the cooler and descends as the ice melts until a fixed level is reached. An accessory tray has a platform that is supported below a flange that rests on a shoulder of the cooler that is below the cooler top edge.
Applicants' U.S. Pat. No. 5,437,165 discloses a panel with food receptacle receiving apertures that is held below a cooler top. The panel has downwardly extending legs to maintain the panel at a fixed height in the cooler below the cooler top edge, where they are not easily seen or accessed.
Jarvis, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,184 teaches a grid platform positioned at a fixed elevation within the cooler by downwardly directed legs. Food stored on the platform is cooled by ice on the platform. Melt water drains through the grid and collects at the bottom of the cooler to cool beverage cans. Cans are accessed by a door in the platform.
When large containers of condiments are stored in a cooler, and are to be exposed for dispensing by the public, it would be useful to have the tops of the condiment containers extend well above the top edge of the coolers for enhanced visibility and accessibility. This is especially useful when the tops of the condiment containers are provided with dispensing pumps such as are commonly found at concession stands for dispensing mustard, ketchup, and mayonnaise, for example.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an insert means for storing containers of condiments and the like in a portable cooler to keep them cool while at the same time supporting the tops of the condiment containers above the top edge of the cooler for enhanced visibility and accessibility. It is another object of the invention that the insert have a second position for storage within the cooler in which the cooler cover may be closed for storage and transport when not in dispensing configuration. It is yet another object of the invention that the insert occlude the upper portion of the cooler so that the ice will last longer.
The insert of the invention has a planar platform that is provided with perforations large enough to receive the bodies of receptacles, and small enough to prevent passage of the upper flanges of the receptacles. The platform has a flange at its perimeter disposed in a plane parallel to the platform plane and spaced apart therefrom by a distance great enough to present the tops of the receptacles above the upper edge of the cooler when the flange is resting on an upper shoulder of the cooler in the dispensing mode, and to hold the platform below the upper edge of the cooler when the insert is inverted and the cooler lid is closed for the storage and transport mode.
These and other objects, features, and advantages of the invention will become more apparent when the detailed description is studied in conjunction with the drawings in which like elements are designated by like reference characters in the various drawing figures.
REFERENCES:
patent: 1786827 (1930-12-01), Copeman
patent: 2370034 (1945-02-01), Haugland
patent: 3052508 (1962-09-01), Fink
patent: 3952905 (1976-04-01), Rumrill
patent: 5027972 (1991-07-01), Bartholomew
patent: 5052184 (1991-10-01), Jarvis
patent: 5437165 (1995-08-01), White
patent: 5931019 (1999-08-01), White
White Richard W.
White Robert J.
Blum Alvin S.
Pollard Steven
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