Mobile cooler station

Abstract

The present invention provides a plurality of injection molded plastic panels having integrated connectors which are capable of being packaged and shipped in a knock-down state and constructed to form an aesthetically pleasing mobile cooler assembly. The integrated connection of the side walls, front, back, cover and bottom panel components simplifies cooler assembly construction. The panels are formed of injection molded plastic to interlock with one another without the need for fasteners or connectors. The system incorporates a minimum number of components by integrally forming the connectors into the panels which are snapped together to complete the assembly.

1 . A mobile cooler assembly comprising: 
 a left side panel for enclosing the left side of said cooler assembly;    a right side panel for enclosing the right side of said cooler assembly;    a base panel for enclosing the bottom of said cooler assembly;    a back panel for enclosing the back of said cooler assembly;    a front panel for enclosing the front of said cooler assembly; and    a cover hinedgly secured to at least one of said left, right, or back panels;    said cover constructed and arranged to provide ingress into said mobile cooler assembly and facilitate removal of food and beverages from a cooler portion of said mobile cooler assembly when in an open position;    said cover constructed and arranged to cooperate with said left, right back and front panels to enclose the top of said mobile cooler assembly when in a closed position;    said base panel is adapted to receive means to provide mobility to said mobile cooler assembly;    whereby said base panel, said left side panel, said right side panel, said back panel, said front panel, and said cover are constructed and arranged for snap-together assembly without additional fasteners;    wherein said mobile cooler assembly can be shipped in a disassembled state and assembled on a desired site.    
   
   
       2 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cover is hingedly secured to said back panel via a hinge assembly for pivotal movement between said closed and said open positions.  
   
   
       3 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 2  wherein said hinge assembly is constructed and arranged to snap-together without additional fasteners; 
 whereby a portion of said hinge assembly is constructed and arranged to cooperate with said back panel and a portion of said hinge assembly is constructed and arranged to cooperate with said cover.    
   
   
       4 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 1  wherein said cooler portion comprises: 
 a tub located in an upper portion of said mobile cooler assembly;    said tub extending substantially between said front and back panel and also substantially between said left and right side panels; and    the depth of said tub is substantially less that the height of said mobile cooler assembly;    said cooler assembly further comprising a support panel constructed and arranged to support said tub;    said support panel extending between said front and back panels and also between said left and right side panels; and    said support panel is spaced upwardly from said base panel.    
   
   
       5 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 4  wherein said cooler further includes insulation panels positioned on said front panel, said back panel, said left and right side panels, said support panel and said cover; 
 means are provided on said front panel, said back panel, said left and right side panels, said support panel and said cover to secure said insulation panels thereto;    said insulation panels are constructed and arranged to encompass the entire exterior surface of said tub to insulate the contents therein.    
   
   
       6 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 4  further including a rim which extends around the entire top perimeter of said tub; 
 said rim also extending horizontally to span the gap between said tub and said front, said back, said left, and said right side panels.    
   
   
       7 . The mobile cooler of  claim 6  wherein said cover is provided with a support on at least one side portion thereof, said support being constructed and arranged to fold when said cover is closed and be fully extended when said cover is open; 
 said support extending between said side portion of said cover and said rim;    whereby said cover panel is supported in said open position by said support and is permitted to completely close when said support is folded over.    
   
   
       8 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 4  wherein said tub is provided with a drain in a bottom portion thereof; 
 a drain hose is connected to said drain and extends to the exterior of said mobile cooler assembly.    
   
   
       9 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 1  wherein said base panel includes; 
 a top surface constructed and arranged to provide a rigid and generally flat surface;    a bottom surface constructed and arranged to provide rigidity and stability to said mobile cooler assembly;    a front closed edge and a rear closed edge;    a left edge and a right edge each having at least one integrally formed boss arranged in a linear fashion and extending outwardly from said left and said right edges, said at least one boss constructed and arranged to cooperate with at least one inwardly extending socket integrally formed on a lower portion of said left and said right side panels for interlocking engagement therebetween.    
   
   
       10 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 9  wherein each of said bosses includes at least one spring lock integrally formed thereto, said at least one spring lock is constructed and arranged to cooperate with at least one aperture integrally formed into said sockets; 
 wherein said at least one spring lock engages at least one side wall of said at least one aperture for interlocking engagement therebetween.    
   
   
       11 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 9  wherein said bottom surface of said base panel includes at least four integrally formed caster bosses, wherein each of said caster is constructed and arranged to cooperate with a caster for securement thereof without additional fasteners, whereby said mobile cooler assembly is moveably supported upon said casters.  
   
   
       12 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 11  wherein at least one of said casters includes a manually engageable lock, wherein said lock is constructed and arranged to prevent rotation of said caster while said lock is in an engaged position and allow free rotation of said caster in a disengaged position.  
   
   
       13 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 9  wherein at least one of said left side panel and said right side panel includes; 
 a bottom portion including at least one integrally formed socket constructed and arranged to cooperate with said base panel in an overlapping and interlocking manner;    a top edge including an upwardly extending lip constructed and arranged to cooperate with said cover panel in an underlying manner;    a first edge having at least one integrally formed elongated socket for connection to said back panel in a perpendicular relationship;    a second-edge having at least one integrally formed elongated socket for connection to said front panel in a perpendicular relationship;    an inner surface; and    an outer surface.    
   
   
       14 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 13  wherein said at least one elongated socket formed on said first edge is constructed and arranged to interlockingly engage a corresponding at least one elongated boss formed on said rear panel resulting in a mechanically secure connection therebetween and wherein said at least one elongated socket formed on said second edge is constructed and arranged to interlockingly engage a corresponding at least one boss formed into said front panel resulting in a mechanically secure connection therebetween.  
   
   
       15 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 4  wherein said support panel includes; 
 a top surface constructed and arranged to provide a support for said tub;    a bottom surface constructed and arranged to provide a generally flat surface;    a front closed edge and a rear closed edge;    a left edge and a right edge each having at least one integrally formed boss arranged in a linear fashion and extending outwardly from said left and said right edges, said at least one boss constructed and arranged to cooperate with at least one integrally extending socket integrally formed in said left and said right side panels for interlocking engagement therebetween.    
   
   
       16 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 4  wherein said front panel includes a door; 
 said door extending between said left side panel and said right side panel;    said door extending upwardly between said base panel and said support panel;    said door hinedgly secured to said base panel and said support panel to provide access to the interior of said mobile cooler assembly below said support panel.    
   
   
       17 . The mobile cooler of  claim 1  further including a latch positioned along a front portion of said cover and extending downwardly away from said cover; 
 said latch constructed and arranged to engage and cooperate with a portion of said front panel located adjacent a top portion thereof to hold said cover in a closed position.    
   
   
       18 . The mobile cooler of  claim 1  further including a shelf adapted to be hingedly mounted to an upper portion of said right side panel or said left side panel.  
   
   
       19 . The mobile cooler of  claim 18  further including a rack adapted to be mounted to an upper portion of said left side panel or said right side panel; 
 wherein said shelf and said rack are not simultaneously mounted on the same side panel.    
   
   
       20 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 8  wherein said drain is provided with a valve to permit or prevent fluid from draining from said tub to the exterior of said mobile cooler assembly through said drain hose.  
   
   
       21 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 1  wherein the means to provide mobility to said mobile cooler assembly comprises casters mounted to said base panel; 
 wherein said cooler assembly may be easily moved in any direction.    
   
   
       22 . The mobile cooler assembly of  claim 21  further including releasable locks on said casters.