Insulated container with foot-operated lid

Abstract

A cooler having a foot operated lid. The cooler includes a body, a lid, and a mechanism for opening the lid. The mechanism includes a pedal, the application of force to which causes the lid to move relative to the body. A cooler may also have a plurality of sides and a dry erase board mounted onto at least one of the sides. A cooler may also have a compartment inside at least one of the sides that is accessible by opening a door. A cooler may also include a bin or panel on at least one of the sides that is rotatably attached to at least one of the sides. The opening of the bin or panel allows access to the interior of the cooler without opening the lid.

1 . A cooler, comprising:
 a body;   a lid attached to the body; and   a mechanism for opening the lid relative to the body, the mechanism having a pedal, the application of force to which causes the lid to move relative to the body.   
   
   
       2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is hinged to the body at a hinge, and wherein application of the force causes the lid to rotate about the hinge. 
   
   
       3 . The cooler of  claim 2 , further comprising a linkage between the pedal and the lid, the linkage being configured to translate downward movement of the pedal to upward, rotational movement of the lid about the hinge. 
   
   
       4 . The cooler of  claim 3 , wherein the body comprises an insulated container with an inner wall, an outer wall, and insulation sandwiched between the inner and outer walls, and wherein the pedal is mounted on a front of the body, and the insulation comprises a channel along a bottom side of body and extending up a back of the body, with the linkage mounted in the channel. 
   
   
       5 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a linkage between the pedal and the lid, the linkage being configured to translate downward movement of the pedal to upward, opening movement of the lid. 
   
   
       6 . The cooler of  claim 5 , wherein the body comprises an insulated container with an inner wall, an outer wall, and insulation sandwiched between the inner and outer walls, and wherein the pedal is mounted on a front of the body, and the insulation comprises a channel along a bottom side of body and extending up a back of the body, with the linkage mounted in the channel. 
   
   
       7 . A cooler, comprising:
 an insulated body defining an exterior surface and an interior;   a lid for providing selective access to the interior; and   a dry erase board mounted to at least one of the exterior surface and the lid.   
   
   
       8 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the exterior surface comprises a recess, and wherein the dry erase board is mounted in the recess. 
   
   
       9 . The cooler of  claim 8 , wherein the recess comprises a depth approximately equal to the thickness of the dry erase board, permitting the exterior surface to transition smoothly to an outer surface of the dry erase board. 
   
   
       10 . The cooler of  claim 7 , wherein the dry erase board is mounted on a front of the body. 
   
   
       11 . A cooler, comprising:
 a body having a plurality of sides and defining an interior with an opening;   a lid for selectively fitting over the opening;   a compartment inside at least one of the sides; and   a door configurable from an open configuration, wherein the compartment is accessible from an outside of the body, to a closed configuration, wherein the compartment is closed.   
   
   
       12 . The cooler of  claim 11 , wherein at least on of the sides includes slots, and wherein the door is slidingly mounted in the slots. 
   
   
       13 . The cooler of  claim 11 , wherein the opening is at the top of the body. 
   
   
       14 . A cooler, comprising:
 a body having a plurality of sides and a first opening at a top;   a lid for selectively fitting over the first opening;   a second opening in at least one of the plurality of sides; and   a panel configured to selectively cover the second opening.   
   
   
       15 . The cooler of  claim 14 , wherein the panel is rotatably connected to an edge of the second opening. 
   
   
       16 . The cooler of  claim 15 , wherein the panel is rotatably connected to a bottom edge of the second opening, and further comprising a pair of side portions extending substantially perpendicularly rearward into the body from the ends of the front panel. 
   
   
       17 . The cooler of  claim 16 , wherein the side portions are semicircularly shaped with a curved edge oriented upwards. 
   
   
       18 . The cooler of  claim 15 , further comprising a membrane located on the interior side of the panel and covering the second opening, the membrane comprising slits for allowing an object to pass through the membrane. 
   
   
       19 . The cooler of  claim 14 , further comprising a membrane located on the interior side of the panel and covering the second opening, the membrane comprising slits for allowing an object to pass through the membrane.