Travel cooler with transitionable u-shaped handle

Abstract

A travel cooler, includes a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items. A lengthwise dimension of the cooler extends between opposite ends of the cooler, and the body defines recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler. The cooler further includes a U-shaped handle having two legs connected by a handle portion. The cooler is transitionable between a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler, and a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler, the handle portion extending in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A travel cooler, comprising:
 (a) a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items, a lengthwise dimension of the cooler extending between opposite ends of the cooler, the body further having recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler;   (b) a pair of coaxial wheels attached to the body for rolling of the cooler when the cooler is pivoted about an axis of the wheels; and   (c) a U-shaped handle for pivoting of the cooler about the axis of the wheels and rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the U-shaped handle comprising two parallel legs connected by a handle portion, the U-shaped and extending upwardly at an angle to a plane of the parallel legs;   (d) wherein the cooler is transitionable between,
 (1) a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler so as to serve as a lever in pivoting the cooler about the axis of the pair of coaxial wheels when tilting the cooler for rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and 
 (2) a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the body of the cooler, the handle portion extending upwardly in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler. 
   
     
     
         2 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion extends upwardly above the sidewalls of the body of the cooler proximate the lid of the cooler when the cooler is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         3 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the handle portion extends above a rim portion of the cooler when the cooler is in the second configuration. 
     
     
         4 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is not connected to the body of the cooler by way of a hinge. 
     
     
         5 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the handle is detachable from and reattachable to the body of the cooler. 
     
     
         6 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a distance from the body of the cooler equal to over half of their length. 
     
     
         7 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the recessed exterior surface slots comprise two parallel, elongate channels that extend generally horizontally through the body. 
     
     
         8 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the legs of the U-shaped handle extend generally horizontally through the body when received within the recessed exterior surface slots. 
     
     
         9 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the legs of the handle are received and retained within the recessed exterior surface slots. 
     
     
         10 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped handle telescopes. 
     
     
         11 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped handle comprises a piston portion and a cylinder portion within which the piston portion slides for telescoping of the handle. 
     
     
         12 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped handle is constructed from aluminum. 
     
     
         13 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the U-shaped handle is rigid. 
     
     
         14 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , where the wheels are large enough for rolling of the cooler across sand on a beach. 
     
     
         15 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the sidewalls of the body of the cooler are inflatable. 
     
     
         16 . The travel cooler of  claim 15 , wherein the inflatable sidewalls comprise a single, inflatable bladder, and that the bladder comprises a substantially air impermeable, flexible material that defines an inner wall and an outer wall with an enclosed space extending there between for receiving air. 
     
     
         17 . A travel cooler, comprising:
 (a) a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items, a lengthwise dimension of the cooler extending between opposite ends of the cooler, the body further having recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler;   (b) a pair of coaxial wheels attached to the body for rolling of the cooler when the cooler is pivoted about an axis of the wheels; and   (c) a U-shaped handle for pivoting of the cooler about the axis of the wheels and rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the U-shaped handle comprising,
 (1) two legs connected by a handle portion, and 
 (2) a spring-biased catch; 
   (d) wherein the cooler is transitionable between,
 (1) a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler so as to serve as a lever in pivoting the cooler about the axis of the pair of coaxial wheels when tilting the cooler for rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and 
 (2) a second configuration,
 (A) in which the handle portion of the U-shaped handle extends upwardly at a spacing from, but in close proximity to, an end of the body of the cooler, and 
 (B) in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler and are retained therein in a locked disposition by the spring-biased catch. 
 
   
     
     
         18 . The travel cooler of  claim 17 , wherein the handle further is disposed by the catch in a locked disposition when the cooler is in the first configuration. 
     
     
         19 . A travel cooler, comprising:
 (a) a body comprising a base, sidewalls, and a lid connected together to define an interior, insulated containment space for holding cooler items, a lengthwise dimension of the cooler extending between opposite ends of the cooler, the body further having recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler;   (b) a pair of coaxial wheels attached to the body for rolling of the cooler when the cooler is pivoted about an axis of the wheels;   (c) a U-shaped handle for pivoting of the cooler about the axis of the wheels and rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the U-shaped handle comprising two legs connected by a handle portion; and   (d) a second handle   (e) wherein the cooler is transitionable between,
 (1) a first configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle extend a substantial length from the body of the cooler so as to serve as a lever in pivoting the cooler about the axis of the pair of coaxial wheels when tilting the cooler for rolling of the cooler by way of the pair of coaxial wheels, the handle portion being distant from the body of the cooler, and 
 (2) a second configuration, in which the legs of the U-shaped handle are received within the recessed exterior surface slots extending along a lengthwise extent of the cooler, the handle portion extending in close proximity to an end of the body of the cooler, the second handle being located on an end opposite to the end of the body of the cooler proximate to which the handle portion extends when the cooler is in the second configuration. 
   
     
     
         20 . The travel cooler of  claim 19 , wherein the second handle is connected to the body of the cooler by a hinge and is pivotal to a first position, in which the handle extends at a spacing of the body, and to a second position, in which the handle extends adjacent the body of the cooler. 
     
     
         21 . The travel cooler of  claim 19 , wherein the U-shaped handle telescopes.