Cooler

Abstract

A cooler is provided which has various improvements. The cooler may be a passive cooler or may be actively cooled for providing desirable cooling effects. The cooler may include an accessory system, for example, with bottle or can holders or a post holder which utilizes the weight of the cooler to support a sunshade. The accessory system may be positioned in various locations of the cooler, one location being in a recess which is utilized to open the cooler lid. The smart cooler may also comprise a cushion assembly which may be placed on an upper surface of the lid and may have straps to retain the cushion on the lid. The lid may be formed to accept and retain a cushion retaining feature so that the cushion does not excessively move from the top surface of the lid.

1 . A cooler comprising:
 a base having a bottom and a plurality of sides extending from the bottom;   an opening defined at upper ends of said plurality of sides, said opening providing access to an interior of said base;   a lid positionable over said opening and on said base, said lid being moveable to access or deny access to said interior;   said lid having at least a first aperture and a second aperture near a front surface;   a lid latch extending through each of said first aperture and said second aperture;   each said lid latch having a latch base and a latch strap, said latch strap passing through said first aperture or said second aperture, and each said latch base is retained within said first aperture or said second aperture so that an upper surface of each said base is substantially flush with said lid;   a catch located on said base and below said lid latch wherein said catch is capable of engaging a catch aperture of said latch strap.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a strap channel at opposite ends of said lid. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 1 , said strap channels configured to receive a strap of an accessory on an upper surface of said lid. 
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 3 , said accessory being a cushion. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , said strap channels capable of receiving a tie-down strap. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a lid grip extending from said lid. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a recess in said base, access to said recess being closed when said lid is positioned over said opening. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 7 , said recess capable of retaining one or more accessories. 
     
     
         9 . The cooler of  claim 1 , said lid further comprising lid grips, each of said first and second aperture disposed in a respective said lid grip so that said latch strap extends through said lid grip. 
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising an indentation in said front surface of said base, said catch disposed within said indentation. 
     
     
         11 . A cooler, comprising:
 a base and a lid connected to said base;   said base having a bottom and a plurality of sides extending upwardly from said bottom to define an interior basin of said base;   said lid and said base connected by a hinge along one side of said plurality of sides;   at least a first aperture and a second aperture in said lid on a side of said plurality of sides that is opposite from said hinge;   a first lid latch extending through said first aperture and a second lid latch extending through said second aperture;   each of said first lid latch and said second lid latch comprising a latch base and a latch strap;   wherein each said latch strap extends through a respective said aperture and each said base is retained in a respective said aperture;   a catch disposed on a front surface of said base beneath each of said first aperture and said second aperture;   wherein a latch aperture in each of said first lid latch and said second lid latch is configured to engage said catch to retain said lid in a closed position.   
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 11 , further comprising a strap channels on said lid to locate straps of an accessory. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 12 , said accessory being a cushion. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 11 , further comprising a recess in said base, said recess capable of retaining one or more accessories. 
     
     
         15 . The cooler of  claim 14 , said one or more accessories comprising a bottle opener, a beverage holder, and a container. 
     
     
         16 . The cooler of  claim 10 , wherein an upper surface of said latch base is substantially flush with an exterior surface of said lid. 
     
     
         17 . The cooler of  claim 11 , further comprising lid grips on said lid, each of said aperture extending through a respective said lid grip.