Lid structure for cooler

Abstract

A portable cooler includes a cooler body formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage section, a lid mating surface formed at a first angle relative to a bottom surface of the cooler body, and a cooler lid coupled to the cooler body by a hinge. The cooler lid includes a body mating surface formed at a second angle that is a supplementary angle to the first angle so that a first surface of the cooler lid extends generally horizontally from the cooler body when the lid is fully opened. Some embodiments may include two lids, each of which opening in opposite direction. An internal reinforcement within the cooler body allows the cooler to resist deflection in the lid contact region when the lid is opened and in contact with the cooler body.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable cooler, comprising:
 a cooler body formed of an insulating shell defining an interior storage section, the cooler body having a lid mating surface formed at a first angle relative to a bottom surface of the cooler body, the cooler body having an internal support structure adjacent the lid mating surface, the support structure including one or more lateral supports and one or more vertical supports; and   a cooler lid coupled to the cooler body by a hinge and structured to pivot about the hinge relative to the cooler body, the cooler lid including a body mating surface formed at a second angle that is a supplementary angle to the first angle so that a first surface of the cooler lid extends generally horizontally from the cooler body when the lid is fully opened and so that the body mating surface of the cooler lid is in direct contact with the lid mating surface of the cooler body when the lid is full opened.   
     
     
         2 . The portable cooler of  claim 1  in which the first angle is other than a normal angle relative to the bottom surface of the cooler body. 
     
     
         3 . The portable cooler of  claim 1  in which the first angle is approximately 70°. 
     
     
         4 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , in which the hinge is a piano hinge, and in which the cooler body further comprises a projection disposed at each end of the piano hinge to cover each respective end of the piano hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The portable cooler of  claim 4  in which the piano hinge is made from stainless steel. 
     
     
         6 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , in which the first surface of the cooler lid comprises a blender receiving recess structured to accept a blender jar within it and prevent the blender jar from spinning when a rotating force is applied to the blender jar. 
     
     
         7 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , in which the cooler body further includes a second lid mating surface opposite the lid mating surface and formed at a third angle relative to a bottom surface of the cooler body, the portable cooler further comprising:
 a second cooler lid coupled to the cooler body by a second hinge and structured to pivot about the second hinge relative to the cooler body, the second cooler lid including a second body mating surface formed at a fourth angle that is a supplementary angle to the third angle so that a first surface of the second cooler lid extends generally horizontally from the cooler body when the second lid is fully opened.   
     
     
         8 . The portable cooler of  claim 7  in which the first angle is the same as the third angle and in which the second angle is the same as the fourth angle. 
     
     
         9 . The portable cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the blender receiving recess includes a surface having a hole, the portable cooler further including a rotating spindle projecting through the hold of the blender receiving recess. 
     
     
         10 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lateral supports and the one or more horizontal supports are surrounded by foam insulation. 
     
     
         11 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more lateral supports and the one or more horizontal supports are integrated with foam insulation.