Beverage cooler

Abstract

A beverage cooler is configured for retaining a plurality of beverage containers. The beverage cooler includes a rigid body defining a plurality of recessed surfaces that are each sized to receive at least a portion of a side surface of a beverage container. A cooling chamber is defined within at least a portion of the body for cooling the beverage containers. A collapsible beverage housing is mounted to the body that defines a plurality of separate compartments that are each sized to contain a beverage container. The beverage housing is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position in which each discrete compartment is oriented to readily receive a beverage container.

1 . A beverage cooler comprising:
 a body defining a plurality of recessed surfaces that each terminate at a flat surface, wherein, with the exception of the recessed surfaces of the body, a thickness dimension of the body is substantially constant;   a cooling chamber defined within at least a portion of the body; and   a beverage housing mounted to the body that is configured to retain beverage containers adjacent the body.   
     
     
         2 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1  further comprising a handle for grasping the beverage cooler, wherein the handle includes an enlarged section at its terminal end. 
     
     
         3 . The beverage cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the handle is integral with the body of the beverage cooler. 
     
     
         4 . The beverage cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines an opening for receiving a hook. 
     
     
         5 . A beverage cooler for retaining a plurality of beverage containers, said beverage cooler comprising:
 a rigid body defining a plurality of recessed surfaces that are each sized to receive at least a portion of a side surface of a beverage container;   a cooling chamber defined within at least a portion of the body for cooling the beverage containers; and   a collapsible beverage housing mounted to the body that defines a plurality of separate compartments that are each sized to contain a beverage container, wherein the beverage housing is movable between a collapsed position and a deployed position in which each compartment is oriented to receive a beverage container.   
     
     
         6 . The beverage cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the collapsible beverage housing is composed of cloth. 
     
     
         7 . The beverage cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the collapsible beverage housing comprises an outer layer that is composed of cloth and an inner layer that is composed of either insulative or conductive material. 
     
     
         8 . The beverage cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the collapsible beverage housing is releasably mounted to the body. 
     
     
         9 . The beverage cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the collapsible beverage housing is releasably mounted to three different sides of the body. 
     
     
         10 . The beverage cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the collapsible beverage housing includes at least one opening that is sized to receive at least one fastener that is either positioned or defined on the body. 
     
     
         11 . The beverage cooler of  claim 10  further comprising a lock tab that is releasably coupled to the at least one fastener of the body to retain the beverage housing against the body. 
     
     
         12 . The beverage cooler of  claim 10 , wherein a portion of a top edge of the collapsible beverage housing forms a triangular section adjacent the at least one opening. 
     
     
         13 . The beverage cooler of  claim 5  wherein each compartment is partially enclosed and is defined by at least five interconnected walls. 
     
     
         14 . A beverage cooler for retaining a plurality of beverage containers, said beverage cooler comprising:
 a body defining a plurality of recessed surfaces that are each sized to receive at least a portion of a side surface of a beverage container, wherein each recessed surface terminates at a substantially flat surface that is sized to receive a portion of a bottom edge of a beverage container;   a cooling chamber defined within at least a portion of the body for cooling the beverage containers;   a beverage housing mounted to the body that defines a plurality of separate compartments that are each sized to contain a beverage container; and   a plurality of feet positioned on or adjacent a bottom side surface of the beverage housing that are provided to maintain the beverage cooler in an upright position.   
     
     
         15 . The beverage cooler of  claim 14 , wherein the beverage housing comprises an outer, collapsible layer of material and a sheet of material from which the feet protrude, wherein the sheet of material is mounted to said outer layer of material. 
     
     
         16 . The beverage cooler of  claim 15 , wherein said outer layer of material includes openings through which the feet of the sheet of material protrude. 
     
     
         17 . The beverage cooler of  claim 15 , wherein said sheet of material is stitched to the outer layer of material. 
     
     
         18 . The beverage cooler of  claim 16 , wherein the beverage housing comprises the outer layer of material, the sheet of material from which the feet protrude, and an inner layer of material. 
     
     
         19 . The beverage cooler of  claim 18 , wherein the sheet of material from which the feet protrude is sandwiched between the outer layer of material and the inner layer of material. 
     
     
         20 . The beverage cooler of  claim 14 , wherein the body includes at least two feet that are positioned at an elevation beneath the substantially flat surface of the body to maintain the beverage cooler in an upright position.