Cooler device for canned drinks

Abstract

A cooler device includes an elongate housing for receiving canned drinks. A lid is selectively secured by a catch mechanism for enclosing an open top end of the housing in a closed position of the lid. The housing has an external surface configured to have the appearance of an animal, with the lid being concealed within the external surface of the housing to provide an entertaining and finished appearance to the cooler device. The catch mechanism is also concealed by the external surface of the housing by forming a release button of the catch mechanism to be a facial feature of the animal which decorates the external surface of the housing.

1 . A cooler device for canned drinks comprising: 
 an elongate tubular housing having an enclosed bottom end and an open top end;    a lid pivotally supported on the tubular housing between a closed position enclosing the open top end of the tubular housing and an open position in which canned drinks can be inserted into the housing through the open top end;    a catch mechanism for selectively securing the lid in the closed position;    the housing having an external surface configured to have the appearance of an animal;    the lid having an external surface configured to have the appearance of a portion of the animal so as to be concealed within the external surface of the housing; and    the catch mechanism being concealed by the external surface of the housing.    
   
   
       2 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the lid comprises a portion of a head of the animal formed by the external surface of the housing.  
   
   
       3 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein a seam defined between the lid and the housing is concealed along an intersection of a forehead and eyes of the animal formed by the external surface of the housing.  
   
   
       4 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein the catch mechanism includes a release button for releasing the lid into the open position, the release button being concealed as a nose of the animal formed by the external surface of the housing.  
   
   
       5 . The device according to  claim 1  wherein: 
 the catch mechanism includes a slot formed in one of the lid and the housing and a catch member formed on an opposing one of the lid and the housing;    the catch member includes a hook formed at an end thereof;    the slot includes an internal shoulder formed thereon upon which the hook is engaged in the closed position of the lid and a wall portion adjacent the internal shoulder, and    one of the wall portion and the hook is flexible for disengaging the hook from the internal shoulder when flexed.    
   
   
       6 . The device according to  claim 5  wherein the wall portion is movable relative to surrounding walls of the slot for disengaging the hook from the internal shoulder by flexing movement of the wall portion towards the hook.  
   
   
       7 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein the wall portion is integrally moulded with the surrounding walls of the slot.  
   
   
       8 . The device according to  claim 6  wherein there is provided a radial arm supported on the wall portion for movement therewith which projects radially outwardly relative to the tubular housing.  
   
   
       9 . The device according to  claim 8  wherein the radial arm connects to a nose of the animal formed by the external surface of the housing for concealing the catch mechanism.