US20080141704A1

US20080141704A1 - Cooler drain system

Info

Publication number: US20080141704A1
Application number: US11/639,700
Authority: US
Inventors: Patricia Williams
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2006-12-15
Filing date: 2006-12-15
Publication date: 2008-06-19

Abstract

A drain system for a cooler having a drain, said drain having a drain spout, comprising a funnel removably attached to said drain spout and a hose removably attached to the bottom of said funnel.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a cooler for holding food and/or drinks on ice and a system for draining water from ice melting in the cooler.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Coolers which hold food and/or drinks are commonly used by campers, travelers and even in home and backyard entertaining. Coolers are also often carried in vehicles, RVs, motor homes and trailers, whether or not they are equipped with a refrigerator. The coolers are made of many different materials, such as a hard plastic or Styrofoam. Many coolers do not have a drain for draining water from ice melting in the cooler. Most of the better coolers are equipped with a drain, which can be opened to drain off the water.
In order to drain the water, if the cooler is being carried in a vehicle, RV, motor home or trailer, it is necessary to stop, carry the cooler out of the vehicle, RV, motor home or trailer, put it in a proper place on the ground and open the drain. This causes delay and often is difficult, due to the weight of the cooler filled with food and/or drink items.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide a method for draining water out of a cooler without having to move the cooler to a different location.
Another object of the invention is to provide a simple and effective way to drain melted ice water from a cooler without stopping and moving the cooler to the ground.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

This invention comprises the combination of a cooler equipped with a drain and hose or pipe to carry off the water, together with a collection device to direct the water from the drain to a hose or pipe and a means to attach the collection device to the cooler drain.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cooler and drain system of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the drain system alone;

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of another embodiment of the drain system of the invention; and,

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drain system of FIG. 3 alone.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, there is shown a cooler 10 having a drain 12. Drain 12 has a spout 24 and a removable cap 14, which seals drain 12 when pushed into spout 24 of drain 12. Cap 14 is movably attached to drain spout 24 and pops open by pulling it out of spout 24. The invention will operate even if the drain spout does not have a cap and the water constantly drains out.
A funnel 16 is held just below drain spout 24 by hook 18. Hook 18 has a circular portion 20 adapted to hold funnel 16 and a U-shaped portion 22, which fits over the top of drain spout 24, to hold funnel 16 directly under spout 24 of drain 12.
A hose 26 having a threaded female connector 28 attaches to the threaded male lower end 30 of funnel 16. Hose 26 can be of any convenient length needed, so that the other far end of hose 26 (not shown) can be placed out of the door of the vehicle, RV, motor home or trailer, to deposit the water on the ground out of the vehicle, etc. This can be accomplished, when it is desired to drain water from cooler 10, either when the vehicle, etc. is moving or is stopped, although it is safer to pull over and stop, to drain the water from the cooler. The water runs through hose 26 onto the ground without any need for a collection device.
Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is shown another embodiment of the invention comprising a cooler 40 having a drain 42, a drain spout 44 and a cap 46 to removably seal spout 44.
A funnel 46 has a built-in hook 48 having two arms 50 and 52, which fit tightly around and grasp spout 44. Arms 50 and 52 are spring biased to fit firmly around spout 44 and they may be pulled apart to remove them from spout 44, if desired. Arms 50 and 52 will return to their original position due to their built-in bias to the center, towards each other.
Hose 54 with threaded female connector 56 threadably attaches to the threaded male lower end 58 of funnel 46. Water may be drained from cooler 40 as set forth above with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2.
The funnels described may be made of plastic, aluminum or any other convenient materials. The hose or pipes may be made of plastic, rubber or any other convenient material, a flexible material being preferred. The funnel may be cone shaped as shown, or may be cylindrical, box-shaped, spiral or any other shape, so long as means are provided to hang it just below the drain spout, and so long as it has a connection for the hose at its lower surface. The cone shape is preferred for ease of use.

Claims

1. A combination cooler and drain system comprising, a cooler having a drain,: said drain having a drain spout, a funnel removably attached to said drain spout and a hose removably attached to the bottom of said funnel.

2. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 1 in which the funnel is cone shaped.

3. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 1 in which the funnel is removably attached to the drain spout by a hook.

4. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 3 in which the hook has a circular portion to hold the funnel and a U-shaped portion to attach to the drain spout.

5. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 1 in which the hose is threadably attached to the bottom of the funnel.

6. The combination cooler, and drain system of claim 3 in which the hook is a part of the funnel, the hook having two arms, which grasp the drain spout.

7. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 3 in which the two arms of the hook are biased towards each other.

8. A combination cooler and drain system comprising, a cooler having a drain, said drain having a drain spout, a cone shaped funnel removably attached to said drain spout and a hose removably attached to the bottom of said funnel, said funnel being removably attached to said drain spout by a hook, the hook having a circular portion to hold the funnel and a U-shaped portion to attach to the drain spout.

9. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 8 in which the hose is threadably attached to the bottom of the funnel.

10. A combination cooler and drain system comprising, a cooler having a drain, said drain having a drain spout, a cone shaped funnel removably attached to said drain spout and a hose removably attached to the bottom of said funnel, said funnel being removably attached to said drain spout by a hook, in which the hook is a part of the funnel, the hook having two arms, which grasp the drain spout.

11. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 10 in which the two arms of the hook are biased towards each other.

12. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 8 in which the hose is threadably attached to the bottom of the funnel.

13. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 1 further comprising a cap movably attached to the drain spout, adapted to removably close the drain spout.

14. The combination cooler and drain system of claim 8 further comprising a cap movably attached to the drain spout, adapted to removably close the drain spout.

15. Apparatus for draining water from a cooler which holds ice for keeping food and drink cold and having a drain spout emerging from the cooler comprising, a funnel removably attached to said drain spout and a hose removably attached to the bottom of said funnel.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the funnel is cone shaped.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the funnel is removably attached to the drain spout by a hook.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the hook has a circular portion to hold the funnel and a U-shaped portion to attach to the drain spout.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the hose is threadably attached to the bottom of the tunnel.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 in which the hook is a part of the funnel, the hook having two arms which are biased towards each other, which grasp the drain spout.