Apparatus and method for minimizing or preventing leakage from an outer container into an inner container and from an inner container into an outer container

Abstract

Embodiments may include one or more containers which may be placed inside an ice chest (or other container which is intended to control contents temperature) to prevent leaking of the ice or water into the one or more containers. Embodiments may also include an outer container which is intended to control contents temperature which is capable of securely holding one or more inner containers disposed therein and effectively segregating contents of the outer container from the contents of the one or more inner containers. In some embodiments, the one or more inner containers are securely positionally supported with respect to the outer container by a base of the outer container.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 an ice chest; and   one or more containers disposed in the ice chest for storing one or more items therein, the one or more containers being supported in a stable position with respect to the ice chest by a bottom internal surface of the ice chest and capable of sealing contents of the one or more containers from contamination by the internal contents of a remainder of the ice chest.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein a bottom external surface of the one or more containers is in contact with a bottom internal surface of the ice chest. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein one or more connecting mechanisms releasably connect the bottom external surface of the one or more containers to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise a threaded peg extending from the bottom internal surface of the ice chest and complementary female threading on the bottom external surface of the one or more containers, wherein upon rotation of the threaded peg and complementary female threading in a direction with respect to one another the one or more containers are attached to the ice chest in a stable manner. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein a remainder of the bottom external surface of the one or more containers which is not the complementary female threading is in contact with the bottom internal surface of the ice chest. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise a peg having one or more latch holes therein extending from the bottom internal surface of the ice chest and a latch corresponding to the one or more latch holes extending from the one or more containers, wherein upon placement of the latch into the one or more latch holes the one or more containers are attached to the ice chest in a stable manner, wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms further comprise a latch release mechanism for removing the latch from the one or more latch holes upon activation of the latch release mechanism to detach the one or more containers from the ice chest. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise one or more suction cup members attached to the bottom external surface of the one or more containers or to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 3 , wherein the one or more connecting mechanisms comprise a plurality of spaced-apart connecting members attached to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest in a symmetric manner to permit the one or more containers to be connected to the ice chest using the one or more of the connecting members in various locations in the ice chest and at various orientations of the one or more containers. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more holes through one or more sides of the one or more containers to allow a controlled amount of the internal contents of the ice chest to seep into the one or more holes. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers extend to or above an expected ice level for the ice chest. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 10 , wherein the one or more containers extend to a top of the ice chest. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising one or more lids for sealing a top of the one or more containers, the one or more lids comprising a lip extending over an outer edge of the top of the one or more containers to prevent contaminants from inside the ice chest from seeping into the one or more containers through the one or more lids. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more containers are detachable from and attachable to the ice chest to stabilize a position of the one or more containers with respect to the ice chest. 
     
     
         14 . A method, comprising:
 providing one or more containers for storing one or more items therein within an ice chest; and   sealing contents of the one or more containers from contamination by the internal contents of a remainder of the ice chest using the base of the ice chest to support a stable position of the one or more containers relative to the ice chest.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising adding ice to the ice chest, wherein the ice level of the ice within the ice chest is at or below the top of the one or more containers. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising removably attaching the one or more containers to a bottom internal surface of the ice chest to stabilize the containers in position relative to the ice chest. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 providing one or more first connecting members disposed on a bottom external surface of the one or more containers; and   providing a plurality of second connecting members disposed on a bottom internal surface of the ice chest to which the one or more first connecting members are connectible to one or more of the second connecting members to removably attach the one or more containers to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest, the second connecting members spaced apart from one another with symmetry so that the one or more containers may be connected to the ice chest in various locations at various container orientations.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising attaching the one or more containers to the bottom internal surface of the ice chest by connecting the one or more first connecting members to the one or more second connecting members. 
     
     
         19 . A container for placing within an ice chest to segregate its contents from a remainder of the ice chest, comprising:
 a latch extending from a bottom external surface of the container capable of connecting with a peg having a corresponding latch hole therein located on a base of the ice chest upon correct placement of the container within the ice chest.   
     
     
         20 . The container of  claim 19 , wherein the bottom external surface of the container comprises at least two heights, a smaller of the at least two heights of the bottom external surface forming a housing for the latch and generally corresponding to the height of the peg to house the peg therein upon correct placement of the container within the ice chest.