Water cooler abstract
The present invention discloses a holder for a portable water cooler,
which holder is designed to be mounted onto the inside of the side
of a bed of a pickup truck. The water cooler holder has a cylindrical
container-like member which securely holds the water cooler therein
which member is mounted onto a frame which pivots from a first downward
position to a second upward position so that the water cooler can
be accessed from the outside of the bed of the pickup.
Water cooler claims
I claim:
1. An apparatus for holding a conventional water cooler onto the
inside of the side of the bed of a vehicle in combination, comprising:
a) a first base disposed on the inside of the side of a vehicle,
wherein said first base has a first upper end and a second lower
end; b) a cylindrical member for containing the water cooler, said
cylindrical member having a first upper end and a second bottom
end; and, c) a first frame member pivotally connecting said cylindrical
member to said first base, wherein said cylindrical member moves
from a first lower position internal the bed of a vehicle to a second
upper position external the bed of a vehicle to permit a user to
obtain water from the water cooler.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said first base further comprises
fasteners for connection of said first upper end to the inside of
the side of a vehicle and said second lower end to the bed of a
vehicle to permit the first base to be substantially vertically
disposed.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said first base is substantially
vertically disposed on the inside of the side of the bed of a vehicle.
4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said cylindrical member further
comprises a strap disposed on said first upper end of said cylindrical
member, a base member disposed on said second lower end of said
cylindrical member, said base member having a top side and an underside,
and a plurality of second frame members disposed between said strap
and said base member so that a canister-like member is formed to
receive the water cooler therein.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said strap further comprises
a fastener for removably connecting the ends of said strap to each
other to permit the strap to be secured about the water cooler.
6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said first frame member further
comprises a third frame member pivotally connected to said underside
of said base member, said third frame member having a first end
and a second end, said first end being pivotally connected to said
underside of said base member and said second end being perpendicularly
securely connected-to a fourth frame member.
7. The apparatus of claim 6 wherein said fourth frame member has
a first end and a second end, said first end of said fourth frame
member being securely perpendicularly connected to said second end
of said third frame member, and said second end of said fourth frame
member being pivotally connected to said first base to permit said
cylindrical member to move from a first lower position internal
the bed of a vehicle to a second upper position eternal the bed
of a vehicle.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein each of said third and said
fourth frame members further comprises a pair of parallel frame
members.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising a downwardly extending
leg disposed on said underside of said base member of said cylindrical
member to contact the bed of the vehicle to provide support to the
base member.
10. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising a cable connecting
said base member of said cylindrical member to said first base to
prevent the water cooler from tilting over to the outside of the
bed of a vehicle.
11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein said fastener for removably
connecting the ends of said first strap further comprises a buckle-type
fastener.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said fastener for removably
connecting the ends of said first strap further comprises an offset-type
fastener.
Water cooler description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to water coolers, and,
more particularly, is concerned with a holder for a water cooler
for being mounted onto a vehicle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Water coolers have been described in the prior art; however, none
of the prior art devices disclose the unique features of the present.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5799849 dated Sep. 1 1998 Beer, et al., disclosed
a safety carrier for stabilizing a pressure-fluid bottle in an upright
position in a pickup box in a truck which has a carrier frame operatively
anchored to the truck's frame and a rigid ring connected to the
frame in an articulated manner. The ring is on a swivel mount at
an end of a pivoting arm. The arm is attached to the frame. The
ring may be selectively changed by a user, without disconnecting
from the frame, between an operative configuration and a stowage
configuration. In the operative configuration, the ring is generally
horizontal and projects out over the pickup box's floor to receive
and fit closely about the pressure fluid bottle. An adjustable strap
attached at one end to the ring includes a hook at an opposite end
for securing a flange on the bottle. In the stowage configuration,
the ring is rotated to a generally vertical position and the arm
is pivoted to swing the ring flush against a wall of the pickup
box. The carrier frame is anchored to a lip on the pickup box. The
carrier frame is anchored to a lip on the pickup box wall by a clamping
portion. The carrier frame is adjustable in height to accommodate
differently sized trucks. The ring may be coupled to the carrier
frame at an adjustable relative height to accommodate differently
sized bottles. The arm is captured in place in a tube welded to
the frame by a safety pin inserted through a safety pin aperture
defined radially through the arm.
In U.S. Pat. No. 840130 dated Jan. 1 1907 Hylton disclosed
an invention relating to certain new and useful improvements in
collapsible stands for water-coolers, the object being to provide
a cheap, simple, and substantial stand which may be readily assembled
for use or taken apart for shipping purposes.
In U.S. Pat. No. 861093 dated Jul. 23 1907 Cordley disclosed
an invention relating to a collapsible stand for supporting water
coolers and accessories thereof, and consisting of a stand which
may be folded up so as to occupy the least possible space when boxed
or crafted for shipment; which stand may, however, be readily unfolded
and set up for use; and when properly adjusted the various elements
thereof will be locked in position thereby forming a strong and
rigid stand especially adapted for the purpose specified.
While these devices may be suitable for the purposes for which
they were designed, they would not be as suitable for the purposes
of the present invention, as hereinafter described.
SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION
The present invention discloses a holder for a portable water cooler,
which holder is designed to be mounted onto the inside of the side
of a bed of a pickup truck. The water cooler holder has a cylindrical
container-like member which holds the water cooler therein which
member is mounted onto a frame which pivots from a first downward
position to a second upward position so that the water cooler can
be accessed from the outside of the bed of the pickup.
An object of the present invention is to provide a holder for a
water cooler. Another object of the present invention is to securely
contain a water cooler to prevent the water cooler from moving around
in the back end of a pickup truck while the truck is in motion.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a water cooler
holder which can be easily moved from the inside of a pickup truck
to the outside of a pickup truck.
The foregoing and other objects and advantages will appear from
the description to follow. In the description reference is made
to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which
is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the
invention may be practiced. These embodiments will be described
in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice
the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments
may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without
departing from the scope of the invention. In the accompanying drawings,
like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout
the several views.
The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken
in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is best
defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will
now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which:
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention shown in
operative connection.
FIG. 2 is a side elevation view of the present invention shown
in operative connection.
FIG. 3 is a side elevation view of a portion of the present invention.
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
With regard to reference numerals used, the following numbering
is used throughout the drawings.
10 present invention 12 water cooler 14 canister 16 strap member
38 side frame member 20 bottom of canister 22 bottom of water cooler
24 fastener 26 pivot 28 frame member 30 frame arm 32 pivot 33 bed
of pickup 34 side of bed 36 bottom of bed 38 base 40 fastener 42
cable 44 connection 46 connection 48 leg 50 pivot 52 arm 54 base
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
In order that the invention may be more fully understood, it will
now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying
drawings in which FIGS. 1 through 3 illustrate the present invention
wherein a water cooler holder for use with a vehicle is disclosed.
Turning to FIGS. 1-2 shown therein is the present invention 10
along with a conventional water cooler 12 which water cooler is
disposed in an upwardly standing cylindrical frame-like member or
canister 14 which is cup-like in order to receive the water cooler
12 therein. The water cooler 12 has a top thereon and means such
as a spigot (not shown) on its side to release water therefrom.
Canister 14 has an upper strap-like member 16 disposed about the
water cooler in the horizontal plane along with a plurality of upright
standing side frame support members 18 which connect the upper strap-like
member 16 to a lower base or plate 20 of the canister 14 which base
communicates with and receives the bottom 22 of the cooler 12. The
upper strap 16 also has a fastener 24 which is a quick release buckle-type
or like fastening member which is used to removably connect the
ends of the strap-like member 16 around the water cooler 12 in order
to secure the water cooler internal canister 14 to prevent the water
cooler from being tossed about the bed 33 of the pickup as the pickup
or like vehicle is being driven. The underside of the base 20 of
canister 14 is connected pivotally at 26 to a pair of parallel frame
members 28 which are securely perpendicularly connected to another
pair of parallel frames or arms 30 which pivot at 32 so as to allow
the arms 30 and frame members 28 to pivot from a first lower position
inside the bed 33 of a pickup to a second upper position so that
the canister 14 having the water cooler 12 therein can be accessed
from the outside of the side 34 of the pickup truck bed 33. The
present invention is mounted pivotally at 32 onto a vertically disposed
base frame 38 which is connected by a plurality of fastening means
40 to the inside of the side 34 and/or bottom 36 of bed 33 of the
pickup truck. Also shown is a cable member 42 which has one end
connected at 44 to the base 38 and a second end connected at 46
to inside of the base 20 of the canister in order to prevent the
canister 14 from tipping over to the outside of the bed 33 of the
pickup truck. It can also be seen that the underside of base 20
of the canister 14 has a downwardly extending leg 48 thereon which
supports the bottom of the canister in its lower position by having
the leg 48 rest on the bottom 36 of the bed 33 of the pickup truck.
Turning to FIG. 3 shown therein is a view of another type of fastener
24 along with the two ends of strap 16. Fastener 24 has a conventional
offset or cantilevered base 54 which is connected pivotally at 50
to the ends of the strap 16 and has an arm 52 thereon for locking
the two strap ends together so as to tighten strap 16 about a water
cooler as previously disclosed. |