Purvis Patents Ice-Cooler Tops
by June 9, 2003 12:00 am 65 views
Mary Purvis of Fayetteville received a patent in November for an idea related to her invention of an interchangable ice-cooler top that can be emblazoned with sports-team logos. The patent concerns bundling at least two ice-chest tops with a bottom at the point of purchase, said Ron Kananen, Purvis’ Washington, D.C., attorney.
Kananen is still working on the product’s original patent, which has evolved into two differnt patents — one for the cooler itself and one for the method of using the cooler.
Purvis said she got the idea because her husband, Hoyt Purvis, is a fan of the Arkansas Razorbacks, Washington Redskins and Baltimore Orioles. With interchangeable cooler tops, he can attend the games and support his favorite team while still toting the same ice chest. All he has to do is put a new top on the cooler.
Mary Purvis said she noticed at sporting events that ice coolers are about the only items that don’t have team logos on them. Her ideas is to attach a plactic top to the existing lid of a cooler similar to the way that cellular-telephone covers attach to the phones. Purvis said she has been working on the design and patent for about five years now. She said the ice-chest tops will sell for about $20 each.
According to the November patent application, the logo could be attached to the cooler with adhesive, Velcro fasteners, guide members or “elastomeric attaching members.”
The application states that the logos could also be used on the sides of the cooler.
Purvis and Kananen are currently looking at options to market and manufacture the product.
Mary Purvis is operations manager for Transplace, the transportation and logistics company in Lowell.