Cooler with integrated audio system and power station

Abstract

A cooler is divided into distinct, watertight compartments. A first, lower compartment is defined within a main housing section and receives items to be insulated from an ambient environment. The lower compartment is covered by a hinged lid that defines a second, upper compartment for receiving portable electronic devices and the like. A third compartment, disposed forward of the lower compartment, is defined between an exterior surface of the main housing section and a removable module. An audio system comprising an audio player, amplifier, and speakers are retained within the third compartment. In some embodiments, the removable module includes a power station configured to supply sufficient power to supply the audio system and operate and/or charge ancillary devices. In an embodiment, the audio system further includes a wireless interface and/or one or more input ports for receiving signals from such ancillary devices as an MP3 player or an electric guitar.

1 . An insulated cooler, comprising:
 a main housing defining a first interior compartment, an upper opening aligned with the first interior compartment, and a plurality of insulated sidewalls;   a cooler compartment lid assembly including a first lid pivotably connected to the main housing by a hinge,
 wherein the first lid is dimensioned and arranged to provide an upper surface of the first interior compartment when the first lid is in a closed position and to enable access to the first interior compartment when the first lid is in an open position, and 
 wherein the first lid defines a second interior compartment dimensioned and arranged to receive and store at least one portable electronic device and an access opening aligned with the second interior compartment, and 
   a second lid pivotably securable to the first lid and dimensioned and arranged to provide an upper surface of the second interior compartment when the second lid is in a closed position and to enable access to the second interior compartment when second lid is in an open position; and   a removable module having a power station and a plurality of audio system components secured thereto and defining a peripheral lip dimensioned and arranged to overlie a first exterior surface region of the main housing, the removable module being manipulable between a position of attachment to the main housing and a position of detachment from the main housing,
 wherein while the removable module is in the position of attachment, the peripheral lip overlies the first exterior surface region and a third compartment dimensioned and arranged to enclose the audio system components is defined by a second exterior surface of the main housing and respective interior surfaces of the removable module; and 
 wherein the audio system components include an audio player device comprising at least one of an audio receiver or a digital audio player, a plurality of speakers electrically coupled to the audio player device, and an amplifier having an audio input source line for receiving an audio signal from at least one of the audio player device or an electric guitar. 
   
     
     
         2 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the removable module is dimensioned and arranged to support a first pair of the plurality of speakers at an obtuse angle relative to an underlying support surface to thereby direct acoustic energy upwardly and away from the underlying support surface. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler according to  claim 2 , wherein the first pair of speakers is a lower pair of speakers and wherein the removable module is further dimensioned and arranged to support a second, upper pair of speakers at an angle different than the obtuse angle. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of handles respectively movable angularly relative to corresponding exterior sidewalls of the main housing, wherein at least one of the handles has a bottle opener formed therein. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler according to  claim 4 , wherein each of the handles includes a transverse graspable portion of molded plastic, each graspable portion defining an aperture and having a bottle cap removing insert aligned with the aperture. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lid defines a first upwardly facing surface and a second upwardly facing surface recessed from the first upwardly facing surface, wherein the access opening to the second compartment is defined in the second upwardly facing surface, and wherein the first upwardly facing surface defines an opening aligned with the access opening. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler according to  claim 6 , wherein the first lid further defines a peripheral lip extending upwardly from the second upwardly facing surface and surrounding the access opening, the peripheral lip being dimensioned and arranged to substantially prevent water accumulating on the second upwardly facing surface from entering the second compartment. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the second lid further defines a lower surface alignable with the second compartment and a second peripheral lip extending downwardly from the lower surface, the second peripheral lip being dimensioned and arranged to at least one of surround, overlie or frictionally engage with the peripheral lip defined by the first lid to further inhibit entry of water into the second compartment. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the main housing defines a forward wall defining the second exterior surface and a rear wall defining a third exterior surface, the cooler further comprising:
 a handle; and   a pair of external wheels mounted near the rear wall such that the cooler may be tilted up by lifting the handle so that the cooler rests on the pair of external wheels and may be rolled on the wheels.   
     
     
         10 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the audio player comprises a user interface including a display and wherein the removable module defines an opening dimensioned and arranged to enable a user to view the display and operate the user interface. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler according to  claim 10 , further including a removable translucent panel dimensioned and arranged to cover the display and to restrict impingement of rain or splashed water while permitting the display to be viewed, the panel being manipulable between an open position for operation of the user interface and a closed position for protecting the display. 
     
     
         12 . The cooler according to  claim 11 , wherein the removable module further comprises a shelf dimensioned and arranged to receive a portable electronic device, the cover being further dimensioned and arranged to cover the shelf and any contents disposed thereon. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the power station comprises a power supply including a battery, and wherein the cooler further comprises a plurality of device ports, at least a first of the ports being dimensioned and arranged to receive a male connector and being electrically coupled to the power supply to at least one of recharge or energize a portable electronic device using battery power. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler according to  claim 13 , wherein the first of the ports is a USB port. 
     
     
         15 . The cooler according to  claim 13 , wherein the first of the ports is a  12 V port for receiving a cigarette-lighter style connector. 
     
     
         16 . The cooler according to  claim 13 , wherein one of the plurality of device ports is an amplifier port dimensioned and arranged to receive input from an electric guitar, the amplifier port being electrically coupled to the amplifier. 
     
     
         17 . The cooler according to  claim 13 , further including a plurality of covering plugs respectively connected to a common rail and dimensioned and arranged for frictional engagement with a corresponding one of the device ports, whereby each covering plug may be selectively and independently removed from a seated position to expose a corresponding device port and thereby permit insertion of an auxiliary device connector into the corresponding device port. 
     
     
         18 . The cooler according to  claim 17 , wherein at least one of the plurality of covering plugs and the common rail are fabricated from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         19 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the audio player further includes a wireless interface. 
     
     
         20 . The cooler according to  claim 1 , further including a plurality of covering plugs respectively connected to a common rail and dimensioned and arranged for frictional engagement with a corresponding one of a plurality of device ports associated with the power station, whereby each covering plug may be selectively and independently removed from a seated position to expose a corresponding device port and thereby permit insertion of an auxiliary device connector into the corresponding device port. 
     
     
         21 . An insulated cooler, comprising:
 a main housing defining a first interior compartment, an upper opening aligned with the first interior compartment, and a plurality of insulated sidewalls;   a cooler compartment lid assembly including a first lid pivotably connected to the main housing by a hinge,
 wherein the first lid is dimensioned and arranged to provide an upper surface of the first interior compartment when the first lid is in a closed position and to enable access to the first interior compartment when the first lid is in an open position, and 
 wherein the first lid defines a second interior compartment dimensioned and arranged to receive and store at least one portable electronic device and an access opening aligned with the second interior compartment, and 
   a second lid pivotably securable to the first lid and dimensioned and arranged to provide an upper surface of the second interior compartment when the second lid is in a closed position and to enable access to the second interior compartment when second lid is in an open position;   a power station comprising a battery and a plurality of device ports for at least one of energizing, charging or receiving input from respective auxiliary devices;   a plurality of audio system components; and   a removable module manipulable between a position of attachment to the main housing and a position of detachment from the main housing,
 wherein while the removable module is in the position of attachment, a third compartment dimensioned and arranged to enclose the audio system components and power station is defined by a second exterior surface of the main housing and respective interior surfaces of the removable module; and 
 wherein the audio system components include an audio player device comprising at least one of an audio receiver or a digital audio player, a plurality of speakers electrically coupled to the audio player device, and an amplifier having an audio input source line for receiving an audio signal from at least one of the audio player device or an electric guitar. 
   
     
     
         22 . The cooler according to  claim 21 , further including a plurality of covering plugs respectively connected to a common rail and dimensioned and arranged for frictional engagement with a corresponding one of the device ports, whereby each covering plug may be selectively and independently removed from a seated position to expose a corresponding device port and thereby permit insertion of an auxiliary device connector into the corresponding device port. 
     
     
         23 . The cooler according to  claim 22 , wherein at least one of the plurality of covering plugs and the common rail are fabricated from an elastomeric material.