Travel cooler with transitionable u-shaped handle

Abstract

A travel cooler includes a base and an insulated container with interior space for perishable foods. In an aspect, the travel cooler includes an air pump, and an exterior of the cooler defines a receiving area for retaining the pump. In other aspects, the cooler includes a detachable handle; the base includes a portion that extends beyond the container to define a cargo receiving area; and a retaining member is mounted to the base and configured to move between a retracted position defining the cargo receiving area and a protracted position substantially eliminating the cargo receiving area. Alternatively, the travel cooler includes a bracket removably mounted to the insulated container that defines the cargo receiving area. In more aspects, the container includes an inflatable wall and a valve; and the base is part of a wheeled platform and the container is configured to be selectively coupled to the wheeled platform.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A travel cooler, comprising:
 (a) a wheeled platform including,
 (i) a base, 
 (ii) a plurality of wheels mounted to said base for rolling movement of said platform, and 
 (iii) a first coupling component fixedly disposed on said base; and 
   (b) an insulated container configured to be selectively coupled to, and uncoupled from, said wheeled platform, said insulated container including a second coupling component fixedly disposed on said container;   (c) wherein,
 (i) said first and second coupling components are disengaged from one another when said insulated container is uncoupled from said wheeled platform, 
 (ii) said first and second coupling components are disposed in interlocking engagement when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform, whereby said insulated container is securely coupled to said wheeled platform in fixed disposition relative thereto for safe transportation on said wheeled platform, and 
 (iii) said base defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of said insulated container is received when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform. 
   
     
     
         2 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said base includes a peripheral wall defining said container receiving recess. 
     
     
         3 . The travel cooler of  claim 2 , wherein said peripheral wall defines a profile that matches a profile of the outer periphery of said insulated container such that said peripheral wall extends in close proximity to and/or in abutment with said outer periphery of said insulated container for support thereof when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform. 
     
     
         4 . The travel cooler of  claim 3 , wherein said peripheral wall completely encircles said outer periphery of said insulated container when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform. 
     
     
         5 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said wheeled platform extends below and beyond said insulated container such that no portion of said insulated container extends laterally beyond an edge of said wheeled platform. 
     
     
         6 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said first and second coupling components are configured to snap into interlocking engagement with one another. 
     
     
         7 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said insulated container further includes a wall and wherein said second coupling component is fixedly disposed on said wall. 
     
     
         8 . The travel cooler of  claim 7 , wherein said wall comprises a bottom wall of said insulated container. 
     
     
         9 . The travel cooler of  claim 8 , wherein said first coupling component is disposed on a top surface of said base. 
     
     
         10 . The travel cooler of  claim 8 , wherein said insulated container further includes a drain conduit and wherein said base includes an opening configured to receive said drain conduit therein when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform. 
     
     
         11 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said insulated container comprises an inflatable wall. 
     
     
         12 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said wheels of said base consist of a pair of coaxial wheels. 
     
     
         13 . The travel cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said insulated container comprises inflatable side walls and at least one valve for filing said inflatable walls with air. 
     
     
         14 . A travel cooler, comprising:
 (a) a wheeled platform including,
 (i) a base, 
 (ii) a plurality of wheels mounted to said base for rolling movement of said platform, and 
 (iii) a first plurality of coupling components fixedly disposed on said base; and 
   (b) an insulated container configured to be selectively coupled to, and uncoupled from, said wheeled platform, said insulated container including a second plurality of coupling components fixedly disposed on said container;   (c) wherein,
 (i) each of said first plurality of coupling components is disengaged from a respective one of said second plurality of coupling components when said insulated container is uncoupled from said wheeled platform, 
 (ii) each of said first plurality of coupling components is disposed in interlocking engagement with a respective one of said second plurality of coupling components when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform, whereby said insulated container is securely coupled to said wheeled platform in fixed disposition relative thereto for safe transportation on said wheeled platform, and 
 (iii) said base defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of said insulated container is received when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform. 
   
     
     
         15 . The travel cooler of  claim 14 , wherein said first plurality of coupling components is configured to snap into interlocking engagement with said second plurality of coupling components, and wherein each said plurality of coupling components includes at least eight coupling components. 
     
     
         16 . The travel cooler of  claim 14 , wherein said insulated container further includes a bottom wall and wherein said plurality of second coupling component are fixedly disposed in an arrangement on said bottom wall proximate to a perimeter of said bottom wall. 
     
     
         17 . The travel cooler of  claim 16 , wherein said first plurality of coupling components is disposed on a top surface of said base, said first plurality of coupling components being disposed in the same arrangement relative to one another as the arrangement of said second plurality of coupling components. 
     
     
         18 . The travel cooler of  claim 16 , wherein said insulated container further includes a drain conduit and wherein said base includes an opening configured to receive said drain conduit therein when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform, and wherein said first plurality of coupling components encircle said opening in said base. 
     
     
         19 . The travel cooler of  claim 14 , wherein said insulated container comprises inflatable side walls and at least one valve for filing said inflatable walls with air. 
     
     
         20 . A travel cooler comprising
 (a) a wheeled platform including,
 (i) a base, and 
 (ii) a plurality of wheels mounted to said base for rolling movement of said platform; 
   (b) an insulated container; and   (c) means for selectively coupling and uncoupling said wheeled platform and said insulated container whereby said insulated container can be securely coupled to said wheeled platform for safe transportation on said wheeled platform;   (d) wherein said base defines a container receiving recess within which a bottom portion of said insulated container is received when said insulated container is coupled to said wheeled platform.