Invertible cooler with ice trap

Abstract

An invertible portable cooler having a lid, an insulated interior to receive and retain ice and ice water, a can receptacle member to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans, and an ice trap to receive and retain ice drained of excess water, wherein the beverage cans and ice retained by the ice trap are accessible by opening the lid of the cooler. The cooler may be provided with one or two spigots for dispensing the ice water without removing the cooler lid. The cooler may have a second lid opposite from the first lid. A cooler stand may be provided that accommodates inversion of the cooler.

I claim: 
     
         1 . An invertible portable cooler comprising:
 an insulated side wall and bottom defining an interior adapted to receive and retain ice and ice water;   a can receptacle body connected to said cooler and adapted to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans above and separated from said ice and ice water retained within said interior;   said can receptacle body comprising an ice trap adapted to receive ice therein upon inversion of said cooler from a first position to a second position, and further comprising apertures to release ice water from said can receptacle body and said ice trap upon reversion of said cooler to said first position;   wherein ice received within said ice trap is retained by said ice trap when said cooler is reverted from said second position to said first position.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said ice trap comprises a uni-directional hinged gate. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said can receptacle body further comprises an insulated wall removably mounted onto said insulated cooler side wall. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 3 , further comprising a lid, wherein said lid is adapted to removably mount onto said cooler insulated side wall or onto said can receptacle body insulated wall. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a spigot disposed on said cooler insulated side wall. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of spigots disposed on said cooler insulated side wall. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising pivot stand, wherein said cooler insulated side wall is pivotally mounted on said pivot stand such that said cooler is pivotable from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said can receptacle body further comprises suspension means for suspending said can receptacle body within said cooler. 
     
     
         9 . An invertible portable cooler comprising:
 an insulated side wall and bottom defining an interior adapted to receive and retain ice and ice water;   a can receptacle body connected to said cooler and adapted to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans above and separated from said ice and ice water retained within said interior;   said can receptacle body comprising an ice trap adapted to receive ice therein upon inversion of said cooler from a first position to a second position, said ice trap comprising a uni-directional hinged gate member;   said can receptacle body further comprising apertures to release ice water from said can receptacle body and said ice trap upon reversion of said cooler from said second position to said first position; and   a lid member;   wherein ice received within said ice trap is retained by said ice trap when said cooler is reverted from said second position to said first position;   wherein the beverage cans retained within said can receptacle body and ice retained by said ice trap are accessible by opening said lid when said cooler is in said first position.   
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 9 , wherein said can receptacle body further comprises an insulated wall removably mounted onto said insulated cooler side wall. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 10 , further comprising a lid adapted to removably mount onto said cooler insulated side wall or onto said can receptacle body insulated wall. 
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising a spigot disposed on said cooler insulated side wall. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising a pair of spigots disposed on said cooler insulated side wall. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising pivot stand, wherein said cooler insulated side wall is pivotally mounted on said pivot stand such that said cooler is pivotable from said first position to said second position. 
     
     
         15 . The cooler of  claim 9 , wherein said can receptacle body further comprises suspension means for suspending said can receptacle body within said cooler. 
     
     
         16 . An invertible portable cooler comprising:
 an insulated side wall and bottom defining an interior adapted to receive and retain ice and ice water;   a removable lid member sealing said cooler;   a can receptacle body connected to said cooler and adapted to receive and retain a plurality of beverage cans above and separated from said ice and ice water retained within said interior;   said can receptacle body comprising a base member and an ice trap adapted to receive ice therein upon inversion of said cooler from a first position to a second position, said ice trap comprising a tubular separation wall and a uni-directional hinged gate member, said ice trap being centrally disposed within said cooler;   wherein ice passes through said uni-directional hinged gate member and into said tubular separation wall when said cooler is inverted from said first position to said second position, and wherein ice received within said ice trap is retained by said ice trap when said cooler is reverted from said second position to said first position;   said can receptacle body further comprising apertures disposed in said base member and said tubular separation wall, wherein ice water is released from said can receptacle body and said ice trap upon reversion of said cooler from said second position to said first position; and   wherein beverage cans retained within said can receptacle body and ice retained by said ice trap are accessible by opening said lid when said cooler is in said first position.   
     
     
         17 . The cooler of  claim 16 , wherein said can receptacle body further comprises an insulated wall removably mounted onto said insulated cooler side wall. 
     
     
         18 . The cooler of  claim 17 , further comprising a lid adapted to removably mount onto said cooler insulated side wall or onto said can receptacle body insulated wall. 
     
     
         19 . The cooler of  claim 16 , further comprising a spigot disposed on said cooler insulated side wall. 
     
     
         20 . The cooler of  claim 16 , wherein said can receptacle body further comprises suspension means for suspending said can receptacle body within said cooler.