Patent ID: 6422024
Filing Date: 2002-07-23
Classification: A47G,F25B,F25D,H01L

Abstract:
A beverage cooling device comprising, in combination:a container comprising: a container base for resting on a surface; and a peripheral side wall extending upwardly from a periphery of said container base such that said container base and said peripheral side wall define an interior space of the container for receiving liquids: wherein said container base comprises: a base wall; a side wall extending upwardly from said base wall; a first intermediate wall located above said base wall, said first intermediate wall being mounted to said side wall, said base wall and said first intermediate wall defining a first compartment therebetween, said first compartment having an interior; a perimeter wall extending downwardly from said base wall, said perimeter wall having a lower peripheral edge; a second intermediate wall located below said base wall, said second intermediate wall being mounted to said perimeter wall, said base wall and said second intermediate wall defining a second compartment therebetween, said second compartment having an interior, said second intermediate wall having a plurality of holes therethrough; wherein said perimeter wall has a plurality of openings extending therethrough, said openings being positioned between said base wall and said second intermediate face and being in fluid communication with the interior of said second compartment for permitting air flow out of the interior of said second compartment; and heat transfer means for transferring heat into or out of liquid held in said interior space of said container, said cooling means being located in said container base, said heat transfer means comprising: a first heat sink mounted on said base wall and being positioned in said first compartment, said first heat sink extending toward said first intermediate wall; a second heat sink mounted on said base wall and being positioned in said second compartment, said second heat sink extending toward said second intermediate wall; and a thermo-electric device for selectively moving heat between said first and second heat sinks, said thermo-electric device being positioned on said base wall, said thermo-electric device being positioned between and abutting against said first and second heat sinks such that said thermo-electric device selectively transfers heat to one of said first and second sinks and transfers heat from the other of said first and second sinks.