Illuminated cooler

Abstract

An electrically illuminated cooler having a temperature insulated general storage chamber and at least one illumination source. The illumination source may comprise a single lighting element such as for example a light emitting diode, which may flash, or a plurality of lighting elements which may be directed to different areas, which may be of different colors, and which may be independently controlled. The cooler may comprise circuitry including switches, flasher, and power storage such as battery cells. The cooler may comprise a fold out tray which itself may be illuminated by the illumination source, or may alternatively or in addition may be internally illuminated. The cover of the cooler may have a compartment which communicates with the general storage chamber but which stores articles out of contact with contents of the general storage chamber.

1 . An illuminated cooler comprising:
 a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;   a tray which is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the tray is held compactly to the receptacle in the stowed position and wherein the tray engages and projects from the receptacle so as to present a horizontal support surface in the deployed position; and   an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light from the receptacle, further comprising at least one lighting element and circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each said lighting element and comprising a switch disposed to control electrical power supplied to at least one said lighting element.   
     
     
         2 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the lighting elements comprise light emitting diodes. 
     
     
         3 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry comprises an electrical storage device carried aboard the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the illumination source comprises a tray illuminator which is disposed to project light directly onto the tray so as to illuminate objects placed on the tray. 
     
     
         5 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray is at least partially translucent in a direction extending away from the receptacle when the tray is in the deployed position, and wherein the illumination source further comprises a tray accent illuminator disposed to project light through the tray in a direction away from the receptacle. 
     
     
         6 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 1 , wherein the tray bears at least one opening which is dimensioned and configured to receive a container, and a generally U-shaped member which is pivotally mounted within the tray and is disposed to pivot within the opening to form a floor which prevents the container from falling through the opening when the tray is in the deployed position. 
     
     
         7 . An illuminated cooler comprising:
 a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;   an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light from the receptacle, further comprising at least one first lighting element, at least one second lighting element, and circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each said lighting element and comprising at least one switch disposed to control electrical power supplied to at least one said lighting element, wherein   the first lighting element is disposed to project light into the general storage chamber, and the second lighting element is disposed to project light outside the general storage chamber.   
     
     
         8 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 7 , further comprising a cover storage compartment for storing articles, wherein the cover storage compartment is separate from yet in communication with the general storage chamber, whereby articles contained within the cover storage compartment may be subjected to temperatures prevailing within the general storage chamber yet isolated from contact with contents of the general storage chamber. 
     
     
         9 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the switch comprises a manual master switch disposed to control all of the lighting elements. 
     
     
         10 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the illumination source further comprises a receptacle illuminator disposed to project light against the interior surface of the receptacle. 
     
     
         11 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 7 , wherein the switch comprises a liquid resistant switch cover. 
     
     
         12 . An illuminated cooler comprising:
 a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;   an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light from the receptacle, further comprising at least one lighting element, and circuitry disposed to conduct electrical power to each said lighting element and comprising a flasher disposed to illuminate the at least one lighting element automatically and intermittently.   
     
     
         13 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 12 , wherein the circuitry further comprises a manual controller which initiates and terminates flashing of the lighting elements. 
     
     
         14 . An illuminated cooler comprising:
 a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;   an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which is disposed to project light selectively of different colors from the receptacle.   
     
     
         15 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 14 , further comprising a lighting actuator disposed to illuminate the lighting elements selectively according to color. 
     
     
         16 . An illuminated cooler comprising:
 a receptacle having an exterior surface, an interior surface, and a general storage chamber defined within the interior surface, further comprising a lateral wall defining a first open end and an opposed second end, a bottom wall spanning at least some sections of the lateral wall so as to substantially close the second end, and a closure which is disposed to removably engage the lateral wall at the first open end, wherein the receptacle is substantially insulated;   an illumination source which is supportably engaged with the receptacle and which comprises an illuminator stand which is movable between a stowed position and a deployed position, wherein the illuminator stand has a proximal end movably mounted to the receptacle and a distal end bearing at least one lighting element.   
     
     
         17 . The illuminated cooler according to  claim 16 , wherein the circuitry comprises an illuminator stand switch disposed to control only the environmental illuminator.