Cooler with Slidable Storage Area

Abstract

An insulated cooler for storing beverages or other items. An embodiment of a cooler may include an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items. The storage drawer is slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume. In some embodiments, the storage drawer may include a stop member configured to engage the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooler, comprising:
 an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and   a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items, the storage drawer being slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume, the storage drawer including a stop member configured to engage the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the stop member of the storage drawer is configured to disengage from the insulated container when a first end of the storage drawer is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be removed from the opening and separated from the insulated container. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the storage drawer includes a tray that defines the storage area, and a door attached to a first end of the tray, the door being configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position, and wherein the stop member extends upwardly from the tray at a location spaced apart from the first end of the tray. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 3 , wherein the stop member includes at least one upwardly projecting member that is configured to engage a downwardly depending abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated container includes at least two tracks, each track being elongated and disposed on an interior surface within the interior volume proximate to an outer side of the storage drawer, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide members, each slide member being disposed on the outer side of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two tracks of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 5 , wherein each track is integrally formed with the interior surface of the insulated container. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated container includes at least two rails, each of the at least two rails being elongated and disposed along an interior corner within the interior volume proximate a bottom of the insulated container, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide channels, wherein each of the at least two slide channels being formed in a lower corner of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two rails of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein each rail is integrally formed with an interior surface of the insulated container. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the interior corner is formed by an intersection of a sidewall and the bottom of the insulated container. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the at least two rails of the insulated container and the at least two slide channels of the storage drawer are configured to provide a space between the storage drawer and the bottom of the insulated container. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated container includes a lid pivotably coupled to a sidewall and moveable between a closed position to enclose the interior volume, and an open position to enable access to the interior volume. 
     
     
         12 . A cooler, comprising:
 an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume; and   a storage drawer that includes a tray defining a storage area for storing one or more items and a door attached to a first end of the tray, the storage drawer being slidably coupled to the insulated container and slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area is withdrawn from the interior volume, the door being configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position, the storage drawer further including a stop member extending away from the tray at a location spaced apart from the first end, the stop member being configured to:
 engage an abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position; and 
 disengage from the abutment portion of the insulated container when the first end is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be disengaged from the insulated container. 
   
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 12 , wherein the stop member includes at least one upwardly projecting member that is configured to engage a downwardly depending abutment portion of the insulated container when the storage drawer is in the second position. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 12 , wherein the insulated container includes at least two tracks, each track being elongated and horizontally disposed on an interior surface within the interior volume proximate to an outer side of the storage drawer, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide members, each slide member being disposed on the outer side of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two tracks of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container. 
     
     
         15 . The cooler of  claim 12 , wherein the insulated container includes at least two rails, each rail being elongated and disposed along an interior corner within the interior volume proximate a bottom of the insulated container, and wherein the storage drawer includes at least two slide channels, each slide channel being formed in a lower corner of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two rails of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container. 
     
     
         16 . A cooler, comprising:
 an insulated container having an opening disposed through a sidewall thereof to provide access to an interior volume, the insulated container including at least two rails, each rail being elongated and disposed along an interior corner within the interior volume proximate a bottom of the insulated container; and   a storage drawer defining a storage area for storing one or more items, the storage drawer including at least two slide channels, each slide channel being formed in a lower corner of the storage drawer and slidably engaging one of the at least two rails of the insulated container to slidably support the storage drawer within the interior volume of the insulated container, the storage drawer being slidably moveable through the opening between a first position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is disposed within the interior volume, and a second position in which the storage area of the storage drawer is withdrawn from the interior volume.   
     
     
         17 . The cooler of  claim 16 , wherein the storage drawer comprises a tray defining the storage area, and a door attached to a first end of the tray, the door being configured to cover the opening when the storage drawer is in the first position. 
     
     
         18 . The cooler of  claim 16 , wherein the at least two rails of the insulated container and the at least two slide channels of the storage drawer are configured to provide a space between the storage drawer and the bottom of the insulated container. 
     
     
         19 . The cooler of  claim 16 , wherein the storage drawer further includes a stop member configured to engage an abutment portion of the insulated container to prevent the storage drawer from disengaging from the insulated container when the storage drawer is slid into the second position. 
     
     
         20 . The cooler of  claim 19 , wherein the stop member of the storage drawer is further configured to disengage from the abutment portion of the insulated container when a first end of the storage drawer is rotated upwardly to enable the storage drawer to be removed from the opening and separated from the insulated container.