Cooler adapted for use in marine environment

Abstract

A cooler includes a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell. The inner shell defines a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the floor sloping from a higher end to a lower end. The box portion defines a drain hole passing therethrough adjacent to the lower end. The inner shell and the outer shell define a cavity therebetween adjacent to the floor. The cavity, into which a tray fits, opens to a hole defined by the outer shell. The outer shell includes a bottom from which four feet that are molded into the outer shell extend so as to form an air gap between the bottom and any surface upon which the cooler is placed. A door is configured to cover the hole. The outer shell defines a first recess about the hole so that neither the door nor the attachment member extends beyond an outer surface of the outer shell when the door is in a closed position. A lid portion is configured to fit against the inner shell top.

1 . A cooler configured to be placed on a surface, comprising:
 a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the outer shell including a bottom   b. at least two spaced apart feet formed from the bottom of the outer shell and extending downwardly from the bottom of the outer shell so as to form an air gap that separates the bottom of the outer shell from the surface upon which the cooler is placed; and   c. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the air gap covers at least 60% in area of the bottom of the outer shell. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the feet are molded into the outer shell. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including:
 a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;   b. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;   c. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and   d. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion.   
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90° from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:
 a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and   b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.   
     
     
         8 . A cooler configured to be placed on a surface, comprising:
 a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the outer shell including a bottom   b. four spaced apart feet formed from the bottom of the outer shell and extending downwardly from a different corner of the bottom of the outer shell so as to form an air gap that separates the bottom of the outer shell from the surface upon which the cooler is placed; and   c. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top.   
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the feet are molded into the outer shell. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the air gap covers at least 60% in area of the bottom of the outer shell. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 8 , further comprising a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween; 
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 8 , further comprising a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including:
 a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;   b. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;   c. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and   d. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion.   
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 12 , wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90° from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:
 a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and   b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.   
     
     
         15 . A cooler configured to be placed on a surface, comprising:
 a. a box portion having a rigid outer shell and a rigid inner shell, an insulative material disposed between the outer shell and the inner shell, the inner shell defining a chamber therein having a floor and opening to a inner shell top, the outer shell including a bottom   b. at least two spaced apart feet formed from and extending downwardly from the bottom of the outer shell and molded into the outer shell so as to form an air gap between the bottom of the outer shell and the surface upon which the cooler is placed, the air gap covering at least 60% in area of the bottom of the outer shell; and   c. a lid portion configured to fit against the inner shell top.   
     
     
         16 . The cooler of  claim 15 , further comprising a hinge including a first hinge part molded into the outer shell adjacent the inner shell top and second hinge part molded into the lid portion, the first hinge part coupled to the second hinge part to allow hinged movement therebetween; 
     
     
         17 . The cooler of  claim 15 , further comprising a seal configured to seal the lid portion to the box portion, the seal including:
 a. a flat upper peripheral edge defined by a top of the box portion;   b. a flat lower peripheral edge defined by a bottom of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the flat upper peripheral edge defined by the box portion;   c. a protrusion extending upwardly substantially along the entire upper peripheral edge of the box portion; and   d. an indentation extending upwardly into substantially the entire lower peripheral edge of the lid portion and configured to matingly engage the protrusion.   
     
     
         18 . The cooler of  claim 17 , wherein the hinge includes a stopping mechanism that prevents the lid from extending more that 90° from the top of the box portion when the lid portion is fully opened. 
     
     
         19 . The cooler of  claim 15 , wherein the lid portion has an outer surface that defines at least two recess, including:
 a. a circular recess configured to hold drinks therein; and   b. a rectangular recess configured to hold items therein.