Modular Cooler Apparatus and System

Abstract

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for transporting sets of items at different temperatures using a modular system, which comprises a cooler, a detachable tote, and a means of securely affixing the tote to the top of the cooler for facilitating compact portability. In more detail, the Modular Cooler Apparatus and System invention comprises a soft-sided cooler comprising an insulated base and an insulated lid that connect together in a sealable fashion using a water proof zipper, lower strap connection points, and connecting support straps with connectors; a detachable soft-sided tote comprising a waterproof polyester exterior, a pocket, handle straps, upper strap connection points; and connecting straps comprising webbing, stitched loops, and tension locks with gates, which securely bind the detachable tote pack to the top of the cooler in a well-balanced fashion.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for transporting sets of items at different temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
 a modular tote, said modular tote comprising
 an accessible inner space, 
 handles, 
 one or more tote connectors, said tote connectors comprising hardware that connects to other said hardware, and 
 a bottom; 
   a modular cooler, said modular cooler comprising
 an insulated inner chamber, 
 a cooler access door, 
 one or more cooler connectors, said cooler connectors comprising said hardware that connects to other said hardware, and 
 a top; and 
   one or more detachable shoulder straps, said detachable shoulder straps comprising
 a strap, 
 one or more tote strap connectors, said tote strap connectors comprising said hardware that connects to other said hardware; and 
 one or more cooler strap connectors, said cooler strap connectors comprising
 said hardware that connects to other said hardware; 
 
   wherein
 said modular tote stores said items at ambient temperature; 
 said modular cooler stores said items at non-ambient temperature; 
 said modular tote may be detached and used by itself; 
 said modular cooler may be detached and used by itself; 
 said modular tote connects to said modular cooler by connecting said tote connectors to said cooler connectors, so that said bottom of said modular tote firmly contacts said top of said modular cooler in a well-balanced manner, in order to form a combined unit with compact portability; and 
 said detachable shoulder straps connect to said combined unit by connecting said tote strap connectors to said tote connectors and by connecting said cooler strap connectors to said cooler connectors, so that said combined unit may be supported by said detachable shoulder straps in a well-balanced manner. 
   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein
 said tote connectors comprise buckles and belts,   said cooler connectors comprise said buckles and said belts,   said tote strap connectors comprise said buckles and said belts, and   said cooler strap connectors comprise said buckles and said belts.   
     
     
         3 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said tote connectors comprise a zipper and said cooler connectors comprise said zipper. 
     
     
         4 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said modular tote and said modular cooler are round in order to minimize surface area relative to volume of said apparatus. 
     
     
         5 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein said combined unit is a backpack. 
     
     
         6 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , said modular tote of said apparatus further comprises pockets, said pockets comprising a pocket zipper. 
     
     
         7 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , said modular tote of said apparatus further comprising
 an inner liner, said inner liner disposed within said accessible inner space of said modular tote, said inner liner comprising
 a drawstring bag, 
 a drawstring casing disposed within said drawstring bag, 
 a drawstring loosely disposed within said drawstring casing, and 
 a cord lock, which locks said drawstring at a desired length in order to open or close said drawstring bag. 
   
     
     
         8 . An apparatus of  claim 1 , said cooler access door of said modular cooler of said apparatus further comprising
 a zipper opening and   a hinge.   
     
     
         9 . An apparatus for transporting sets of items at different temperatures, said apparatus comprising:
 a modular tote, said modular tote comprising
 an accessible inner space, 
 one or more horizontal tote straps, 
 a tote top, and 
 a tote bottom; 
   a modular cooler, said modular cooler comprising
 an insulated inner chamber, 
 a cooler access door, 
 one or more horizontal cooler straps, 
 a cooler top, and 
 a cooler bottom; and 
   a detachable strap system, said detachable strap system comprising
 a plurality of vertical straps, said vertical straps comprising
 a vertical strap top and 
 a vertical strap bottom, 
 
 a plurality of bottom straps, said bottom straps depending from said vertical strap bottoms, 
 handles, said handles depending from said vertical strap tops; 
   wherein
 said modular tote stores said items at ambient temperature; 
 said modular cooler stores said items at non-ambient temperature; 
 said modular tote may be detached and used by itself; 
 said modular cooler may be detached and used by itself; and 
 said modular tote and said modular cooler are joined into a combined unit with compact portability by
 inserting said handles of said detachable strap system under said horizontal cooler straps of said modular cooler, then 
 inserting said handles of said detachable strap system under said horizontal tote straps of said modular tote, and then 
 drawing said handles upward until said bottom straps are firmly against said cooler bottom, so that said tote bottom of said modular tote firmly contacts said cooler top of said modular cooler in a well-balanced manner. 
 
   
     
     
         10 . An apparatus of  claim 10 , said modular tote of said apparatus further comprising
 an inner liner, said inner liner disposed within said accessible inner space of said modular tote, said inner liner comprising
 a drawstring bag, 
 a drawstring casing disposed within said drawstring bag, 
 a drawstring loosely disposed within said drawstring casing, and 
 a cord lock, which locks said drawstring at a desired length in order to open or close said drawstring bag. 
   
     
     
         11 . An apparatus of  claim 10 , said cooler access door of said modular cooler of said apparatus further comprising
 a zipper opening and   a hinge.