Ice chest suspension device

Abstract

A means of suspending items within a transportable container, such as an environmental enclosure like a common “cooler” or “ice-chest”. Inside the container, items are supported by resting on top of a shelf or platform that may be rigid, semi-rigid, inflatable, pleated, telescoping, floating, cushioned, or flexible. The shelf may be supported by straps that may exit the container and are fastened to, or encircle, the interior and/or exterior of the container. The mechanism for attachment to the outside of the container may be a simple loop over an external anchor point affixed to the outside of the container, or a latch or latches, or a magnetic device, or a continuous loop or loops that encircle the container such that no external anchor is required.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A suspension system comprising:
 a platform configured to fit within an enclosure;   at least one platform magnet affixed to a lid of said platform;   at least one other platform magnet affixed to said enclosure; and   at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure, wherein said at least one platform magnet affixed to said lid of said enclosure and said at least one other platform magnet affixed to said platform are attracted to said at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure.   
     
     
         2 . The suspension system of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a rim of said platform, wherein said at least one platform magnet is associated with said rim. 
 
     
     
         3 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure is formed in at least one of:
 a wall of said enclosure; 
 a bottom of said enclosure; and 
 a lid of said enclosure. 
 
     
     
         4 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure is affixed to at least one of:
 a wall of said enclosure; 
 a bottom of said enclosure; and 
 an inside of said lid of said enclosure. 
 
     
     
         5 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said platform comprises at least one of:
 a cargo mesh; 
 a flexible substrate; 
 a flexible rubber platform; 
 a flexible plastic platform; and 
 a cloth platform. 
 
     
     
         6 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said enclosure comprises an ice chest. 
     
     
         7 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein said at least one enclosure magnet comprises at least one of:
 a magnetized screw; 
 a magnetized rivet; 
 a magnetized nail; and 
 a magnetized bolt. 
 
     
     
         8 . An apparatus comprising:
 a platform configured to fit within an enclosure;   at least one platform magnet affixed to an exterior of said platform; and   at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure wherein said at least one platform magnet affixed to said exterior of said platform is attracted to said at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 a rim of said platform, wherein said at least one platform magnet is associated with said rim. 
 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said at least one enclosure comprises at least one of:
 a magnetized screw; 
 a magnetized rivet; 
 a magnetized nail; and 
 a magnetized bolt. 
 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said at least one enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure is affixed to at least one of:
 a wall of said enclosure; 
 a bottom of said enclosure; and 
 a lid of said enclosure. 
 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said platform comprises at least one of:
 a cargo mesh; 
 a flexible substrate; 
 a flexible rubber platform; 
 a flexible plastic platform; and 
 a cloth platform. 
 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said enclosure comprises an ice chest. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 8  further comprising:
 at least one anchor associated with said enclosure magnet; and 
 a strap associated with said platform, said strap being configured to engage with said at least one anchor. 
 
     
     
         15 . A method for suspending items in an enclosure comprising:
 disposing a platform in said enclosure;   suspending said platform in said enclosure with at least one platform magnet associated with said platform and at least enclosure magnet associated with said enclosure, wherein said platform magnet is attracted to said enclosure magnet.   
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 associating said platform magnet with a rim of said platform. 
 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 forming said at least one enclosure magnet in at least one of: 
 a wall of said enclosure; 
 a bottom of said enclosure; and 
 a lid of said enclosure. 
 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 15  further comprising:
 affixing said at least one enclosure magnet in at least one of:
 a wall of said enclosure; 
 a bottom of said enclosure; and 
 
 a lid of said enclosure. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said platform comprises at least one of:
 a cargo mesh; 
 a flexible substrate; 
 a flexible rubber platform; 
 a flexible plastic platform; and 
 a cloth platform. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 15  wherein said enclosure comprises an ice chest.