Portable Electric Cooler

Abstract

A portable electric cooler for providing ice-free refrigeration of items is disclosed. The cooler includes an insulated, durable body with rotatable wheels at the base thereof for maneuverability on different surfaces. The cooler has at least one solar panel for converting solar energy into electric power. A refrigeration area is adapted to provide cooling to items and is accessible via a hinged lid. The refrigeration area can provide 48 hours of refrigeration without ice or outlet power supply. A long pivoting handle is disposed for easy transportation, a plurality of LEDs provides visibility and aesthetic appeal, and at least one accessory plug is included for providing electric power to accessories. An internal rechargeable battery provides electric power to the cooler and connected accessories. The cooler is equipped with a temperature control module, a voltage regulator, and an integrated Bluetooth speaker for audio entertainment.

Claims

1. A portable electric cooler comprising: an insulated cooler body having a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and a top surface; a plurality of wheels; a refrigeration area; a temperature controller; a voltage regulator; and a refrigeration unit; wherein each wheel of said plurality of wheels mounted to a corner of said bottom wall of said insulated cooler body; wherein said refrigeration area surrounded by said insulated cooler body; wherein said top surface having a hinged lid and a solar panel for absorbing solar energy and converting the solar energy into electric power; wherein said electric power supplies power to said refrigeration unit of said portable electric cooler; and further wherein said refrigeration unit provides cooling to said refrigeration area.

2. The portable electric cooler of claim 1, wherein said hinged lid pivotally attached to a top edge of said second side wall.

3. The portable electric cooler of claim 2, wherein said rear wall having a pivoting handle securable in a rigidly fixed position to push or pull said insulated cooler body.

4. The portable electric cooler of claim 3, wherein said front wall having a handle for pulling said insulated cooler body.

5. The portable electric cooler of claim 4, wherein said each wheel is rotatable in 360 degrees.

6. The portable electric cooler of claim 5, wherein at least one of said first side wall and said second side wall having a plurality of LEDs for providing illumination to said refrigeration area.

7. The portable electric cooler of claim 6, wherein said first side wall having a light control button for activating and deactivating said plurality of LEDs.

8. The portable electric cooler of claim 7, wherein said first side wall having a power button for activating and deactivating said refrigeration unit.

9. The portable electric cooler of claim 8, wherein said temperature controller movable in a first direction for increasing a temperature setting and movable in a second direction for decreasing the temperature setting of said refrigeration unit.

10. A portable electric cooler comprising: an insulated cooler body having a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and a top surface; a refrigeration area; a temperature controller; a voltage regulator; a refrigeration unit; and a child power lock; wherein said refrigeration area surrounded by said insulated cooler body; wherein said top surface having a hinged lid and a solar panel for absorbing solar energy and converting the solar energy into electric power; wherein said electric power supplies power to said refrigeration unit of said portable electric cooler; wherein said refrigeration unit provides cooling to said refrigeration area; and further wherein said child power lock having a selective actuation for preventing opening of said hinged lid.

11. The portable electric cooler of claim 10 further comprising a cover lift button for autonomously lifting said hinged lid from a closed position to an open position for accessing said refrigeration area.

12. The portable electric cooler of claim 11, wherein said rear wall having a pivoting handle securable in a rigidly fixed position to push or pull said insulated cooler body.

13. The portable electric cooler of claim 12, wherein said front wall having a handle for pulling said insulated cooler body.

14. The portable electric cooler of claim 13, wherein said each wheel is rotatable in 360 degrees.

15. The portable electric cooler of claim 14, wherein at least one of said first side wall and said second side wall having a plurality of LEDs for providing illumination to said refrigeration area.

16. The portable electric cooler of claim 10 further comprising a Bluetooth speaker embedded in at least one wall of said insulated cooler body for coupling to an external audio source for receiving and playing audio.

17. The portable electric cooler of claim 16, wherein at least one wall of said insulated cooler body having a power button for activating and deactivating said refrigeration unit.

18. The portable electric cooler of claim 17, wherein said temperature controller movable in a first direction for increasing a temperature setting and movable in a second direction for decreasing the temperature setting of said refrigeration unit.

19. A portable electric cooler comprising: an insulated cooler body having a first side wall, a second side wall, a front wall, a rear wall, a bottom wall, and a top surface; a refrigeration area; a temperature controller; a voltage regulator; a refrigeration unit; and a plurality of accessory plugs; wherein said refrigeration area surrounded by said insulated cooler body; wherein said top surface having a hinged lid and a solar panel for absorbing solar energy and converting the solar energy into electric power; wherein said electric power supplies power to said refrigeration unit of said portable electric cooler; wherein said refrigeration unit provides cooling to said refrigeration area; and further wherein said plurality of accessory plugs disposed in said insulated cooler body for providing electric power to one or more connected accessories.

20. The portable electric cooler of claim 19 further comprising a rechargeable battery, wherein said rechargeable battery connected to a cord and a charging plug for plugging into an electric supply.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] The description refers to provided drawings in which similar reference characters refer to similar parts throughout the different views, and in which:

[0020] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0021] FIG. 2 illustrates a side perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed architecture;

[0022] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0023] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing internal components included in the portable electric cooler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure;

[0024] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in a closed position in accordance with the disclosed structure; and

[0025] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view showing use of the portable electric cooler of the present invention at a camping site in accordance with the disclosed structure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

[0026] The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof. Various embodiments are discussed hereinafter. It should be noted that the figures are described only to facilitate the description of the embodiments. They are not intended as an exhaustive description of the invention and do not limit the scope of the invention. Additionally, an illustrated embodiment need not have all the aspects or advantages shown. Thus, in other embodiments, any of the features described herein from different embodiments may be combined.

[0027] As noted above, there is a long-felt need in the art for a cooler device that can be used to keep the beverages cold while camping or other outdoor settings. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can keep the beverage cold as well as hold other utilities in it such as a charging station, temperature controlling, child locks, and speakers. Additionally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can be charged to keep things cold with refrigeration for longer periods in a single charge. There is also a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that can keep the beverage cold as well as fresh at the time. Further, there is a long-felt need in the art for a portable cooler device that is easy to carry and provides cooling without requiring ice. Finally, there is a long-felt need in the art for a multipurpose portable electric cooling system that is inexpensive to manufacture, safe, and easy to use.

[0028] The present invention, in one exemplary embodiment, is a portable and easily maneuverable electric cooler is disclosed. The cooler includes an insulated and durable body with integrated 360-degree rotatable wheels for enhanced maneuverability across different terrains, an ice-free refrigeration compartment capable of maintaining items cold for up to 48 hours on a single charge of an internal battery, a power button for activating the cooler, a temperature controller for setting the refrigeration temperature, and an automatic cover lift for hands-free access to the refrigeration area, a child power lock mechanism to prevent unintended access, a plurality of LED illumination sources controlled by a light control button for visibility in low light conditions, a voltage regulator to prevent overcharging and overheating of the internal battery, and a temperature control module for maintaining a temperature within the refrigeration area that is adjustable via the temperature controller to prevent freezing of beverages stored in the refrigeration area.

[0029] Referring initially to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in an open position in accordance with the disclosed architecture. The portable electric cooler 100 of the present invention is designed as a lightweight and ice-free cooling portable device for providing cooling solution that can keep items such as beverages cold with refrigeration for up to 48 hours in a single charge. More specifically, the portable electric cooler 100 includes an insulated and durable body 102 that has a plurality of rotating wheels 104. The wheels 104 are disposed at the bottom corner ends 106 of the housing body 102. In one embodiment, each wheel 104 can be 360-degrees rotatable. The wheels 104 enable easy maneuverability of the portable electric cooler 100 on any surface including beaches, mountains, and other types of surfaces.

[0030] The body 102 has a first side wall 108, a second side wall 110, a front wall 112, a rear wall 114, and a bottom wall 116. The top surface 118 includes at least one solar panel 120 for absorbing solar energy and converting the absorbed solar energy into electric power for the functioning of the electric portable cooler 100. A refrigeration area 122 is disposed in the cooler 100 and is adapted to provide ice-free refrigeration to beverages and other items. A hinged lid 124 is pivotally attached to the top edge 125 of the second side wall 110 and provides protection and cover to the refrigeration area 122. The hinged lid 124 is adapted to transition from an open position (Arrow A) in which the refrigeration area 122 is accessible to store and access items to a closed position (FIG. 5) in which the hinged lid 124 becomes coplanar to the solar panel 120 and seals the refrigeration area 122.

[0031] The hinged lid 124 is connected to an elongated and flexible cord 126 which extends between the front wall 112 and the inner surface 128 of the hinged lid 124. The cord 126 helps in holding the hinged lid 124 in the open position in which the hinged lid 124 departs away from the second side wall 110 an angle. The cord 126 prevents the hinged lid 124 from falling toward the second side wall 110 of the housing body 102. The inner surface 128 of the hinged lid 124 includes a sealing protrusion 130 in the form of a foam or any other similar material to completely seal the refrigeration area 122 when the hinged lid 124 is in a closed position.

[0032] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the rear wall 114 of the housing body 102 includes a long pivoting handle 132 which is attached to the rear surface 114 using a hinge 134. The long handle 132 can be locked (i.e., rigidly fixed) in an installed position (Arrow B) to enable a user to push or pull the cooler device 100 on any surface. The front wall 112 has a small handle 136 disposed thereon which can be used by a user for pulling the cooler device 100.

[0033] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the first side wall 108 includes a plurality of LEDs or illumination sources 138 for providing illumination. The second side wall 110 can also include similar illumination sources for illumination. The illumination provides an aesthetic appearance to the portable cooler device 100 and provides illumination in dark areas and at night. A light control button 140 is disposed on the first side wall 108 for activating and deactivating the LEDs 138.

[0034] A power button 142 is disposed on the first side wall 108 for activating and deactivating the refrigeration of the cooler device 100. The power button 142 is adapted to disconnect the electric supply to the refrigeration area 122. The multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 includes a built-in temperature regulation mechanism operated by a temperature controller 144. The temperature controller 144 is preferably in the form of a knob that can be rotated in one direction (such as clockwise; Arrow C) to increase the temperature of the refrigeration area 122 and rotated in the opposite direction (such as counterclockwise; Arrow D) to decrease the temperature of the refrigeration area 122.

[0035] The portable electric cooler 100 includes a child power lock mechanism that prevents opening of the hinged lid 124 for accessing the refrigeration area 122. A power lock button 146 disposed on the first side wall 108 can be activated to lock the hinged lid 124. An automatic cover lift button 148 enables a user to automatically (i.e., autonomously) lift the hinged lid 124 from the closed position to the open position for accessing the refrigeration area 122.

[0036] A plurality of accessory plugs 150 are disposed in the cooler body 102 for providing electric power to one or more connected accessories such as smartphones and external lights. Preferably, each accessory plug 150 is adapted to provide 110 V supply and electric charge can be updated based on the requirements of users. In some embodiments, when the internal battery 152 of the electric cooler device 100 is less than 10% charged, then, accessory plugs 150 are automatically (i.e., autonomously) disabled.

[0037] For recharging the internal rechargeable battery 152 of the cooler device 100, a charging plug 154 is included which can be plugged into any conventional electric supply. The charging plug 154 includes a cord 156 which is internally connected to the battery controller for recharging the internal battery 152. A plug holder 158 is disposed in the body 102 for receiving and accommodating the charging plug 154 when the charging plug 154 is not used for recharging the internal battery 152.

[0038] FIG. 3 illustrates a rear perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The rear wall 114 has an attached Bluetooth speaker 160 which is adapted to couple to an external audio source such as a smartphone for receiving and playing audio. The Bluetooth speaker 160 can include a built-in battery or can also be powered by the internal battery 152 of the cooler device 100. The internal battery 152 is disposed in a charging slot 162 on the rear wall 114. The charging slot 162 is adapted to receive and accommodate the internal rechargeable battery 152. The charging slot 162 uses the power from the solar panel 120 or from the charging plug 154 to recharge the rechargeable battery 152. The rechargeable battery 152 provides electric power to the LEDs 138 and the refrigeration area 122.

[0039] FIG. 4 illustrates a block diagram showing internal components included in the portable electric cooler of the present invention in accordance with the disclosed structure. The portable cooler 100 includes a temperature control module 402 for monitoring and regulating the temperature of the refrigeration area 122. The temperature control module 402 adjusts the cooling based on the temperature set by the temperature controller 144. In different embodiments, the temperature control module 402 sets the temperature between 2 degrees centigrade (35 degrees F.) and 10 degrees centigrade (50 degrees F.) to prevent freezing of beverages inside the refrigeration area 122.

[0040] A voltage regulator 404 is adapted to regulate the voltage supplied to the internal battery 152. The voltage regulator 404 transfers supply from the received external power through the cord 156 to the internal battery 152. The electric power produced by the solar panel 120 is transferred to the LEDs 138 and speaker 160 using the voltage regulator 404. The voltage regulator 404 also prevents overcharging and overheating of the internal battery 152. The voltage regulator 404 also provides power to the refrigeration unit 406 which provides cooling in the refrigeration area 122.

[0041] FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of the portable electric cooler of the present invention in a closed position in accordance with the disclosed structure. In the present embodiment, the hinged lid 124 is in a closed position with the solar panel 120, and the hinged lid 124 are oriented in a coplanar position. The hinged lid 124 covers and seals the refrigeration area 122 for preventing leakage of the chilled air into the atmosphere and for keeping the beverages 502 cold. The refrigeration area 122 is about 30% of the total volume of housing body 102 and the solar panel 120 covers the electronic components such as temperature control module 402, the voltage regulator 404, refrigeration unit 406, and more of the all-in-one portable cooler 100.

[0042] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view showing use of the portable electric cooler of the present invention at a camping site in accordance with the disclosed structure. The electric cooler can be used in different situations such as sporting events, camping, long trips, and more. Further, the all-in-one portable cooler 100 can be easily stored inside a vehicle for easy storage and transportation. The multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 can have dimensions of about 24 (L)20 (W)18 (H).

[0043] Certain terms are used throughout the following description and claims to refer to particular features or components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, different persons may refer to the same feature or component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components or features that differ in name but not structure or function. As used herein portable electric cooler, portable electric cooler, portable cooler, all-in-one portable cooler, multifunctional portable electric cooler, and cooler are interchangeable and refer to the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 of the present invention.

[0044] Notwithstanding the foregoing, the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 of the present invention can be of any suitable size and configuration as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, provided that it accomplishes the above-stated objectives. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 as shown in the FIGS. are for illustrative purposes only, and that many other sizes and shapes of the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 are well within the scope of the present disclosure. Although the dimensions of the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 are important design parameters for user convenience, the multifunctional portable electric cooler 100 may be of any size that ensures optimal performance during use and/or that suits the user's needs and/or preferences.

[0045] Various modifications and additions can be made to the exemplary embodiments discussed without departing from the scope of the present invention. While the embodiments described above refer to particular features, the scope of this invention also includes embodiments having different combinations of features and embodiments that do not include all of the described features. Accordingly, the scope of the present invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations as fall within the scope of the claims, together with all equivalents thereof.

[0046] What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications, and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term includes is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term comprising as comprising is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.