Abstract:
A food cooling assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a reservoir adapted to retain a fluid. The receptacle includes an opening extending therethrough. The assembly also includes a chiller including a pump having a suction end and a discharge end and a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to the opening and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump. A cooling conduit having a first cooling end is coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening. A heat transfer device is in physical contact with the cooling conduit between the first cooling end and the second cooling end, such that heat is transferred between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit. A method of cooling food using water from a reservoir to cool the food is also disclosed.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to a chiller that uses cold water from a reservoir, such as a picnic cooler, to cool a receptacle, such as a plate or a bowl, as well as food placed on or in the receptacle. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Picnics are a popular pastime that allow people to take food outside, such as in the backyard, to a park, or even to the beach. Picnickers typically pack a cooler with ice and place the food to be eaten during the picnic inside the cooler. The cooler is thermally insulated and the ice inside the cooler helps to keep the food cold for an extended period of time. 
         [0003]    One drawback to taking food on a picnic is that, due to the generally hot weather which typically accompanies a picnic, food must remain in a cooler to remain chilled or, alternatively, removed from the cooler and set outside the cooler to allow access to the food by the picnickers. If picnic food, particularly food that contains mayonnaise, such as salads, is allowed to remain out of the cooler for an extended period of time, the food loses its taste and may even go bad, making the food unhealthy to eat. 
         [0004]    There exists a need to provide a system that keeps picnic food chilled outside of the cooler, both for taste and for sanitary reasons. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    Briefly, the present invention provides a food cooling assembly. The assembly includes a reservoir adapted to retain a fluid. The receptacle includes an opening extending therethrough. The assembly also includes a chiller including a pump having a suction end and a discharge end and a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to the opening and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump. A cooling conduit having a first cooling end is coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening. A heat transfer device is in physical contact with the cooling conduit between the first cooling end and the second cooling end, such that heat is transferred between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit. 
         [0006]    Further, an additional exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for cooling food. The apparatus comprises a pump having a suction end and a discharge end and a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to an opening in a receptacle adapted to retain a fluid and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump. A cooling conduit having a first cooling end is coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening. A heat transfer device is in physical contact with the cooling conduit, such that heat is transferrable between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit. 
         [0007]    Additionally, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of cooling food using water from a reservoir to cool the food. The method comprises the steps of: placing the food in a receptacle; and circulating the water from the reservoir, out of the reservoir, to the receptacle, and back to the reservoir. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain features of the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0009]      FIG. 1  is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a chiller assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is an electrical schematic drawing of a temperature control circuit that may be used with the chiller assembly shown in  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a side elevational view, in section, of a receptacle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a grill assembly that incorporates the chiller assembly of the present invention; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a chiller assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention. 
         [0019]    Referring in general to the figures, a chiller assembly  100  according to the present invention is shown. Chiller assembly  100  comprises a reservoir, such as a picnic cooler  110 , and a chiller  120  that is releasably couplable to cooler  110 . Cold water circulates through cooler  110  and chiller  120  to remove heat from food being chilled by chiller assembly  100 . 
         [0020]    Cooler  110  is used as a source of chilled fluid, such as water  113 . Water  113  may be provided by melted ice or, alternatively, water  113  may be added to ice that is placed within cooler  110 . Cooler  112  includes an opening, such as a drain  114  located proximal to the bottom of cooler  112 , that is used to drain water  113  from cooler  110 . Drain  114  includes a removable drain plug (not shown) that is removed from drain  114  to allow water  113  to drain from cooler  110 . The drain plug may be inserted into drain  114  to keep water  113  from draining out of cooler  110  through drain  114  when chiller  120  is not is use. 
         [0021]    Chiller  120  includes a plug  122  that is releasably insertable into drain  114 . Plug  122  is sized for a standard sized drain  114  provided in commercially available coolers, such as manufactured by COLEMAN®, THERMOS®, IGLOO®, or others. Plug  122  may be tapered to compensate for slightly differing sized drains  114 . Optionally, an adapter (not shown) may be provided to plug drains sufficiently larger than drain  114 . 
         [0022]    A supply conduit  130  includes a first end  132  that extends into and through plug  122 . In an exemplary embodiment, first end  132  extends approximately 12 millimeters from plug  122 . Supply conduit  130  also includes a second end  134  that is coupled to a pump  140 . 
         [0023]    In an exemplary embodiment, pump  140  may be a 9-12 volt DC electrical pump powered by three or four “D” cell batteries. Alternatively, pump  140  may be powered by an electrical connection  141  that provides auxiliary power to pump  140  from an outside power source, such as an automobile cigarette lighter (not shown) or automobile auxiliary power outlet (not shown). Still alternatively, pump  140  may be powered by other means, such as solar power. Pump  140  may pump 1-2 liters per minute of water  113  from cooler  110 . Pump  140  has an ON/OFF switch  142  that enables a user to turn pump  140  on and off. 
         [0024]    Pump  140  includes a suction end  144  that is coupled to second end  134  of supply conduit  130 . Pump  140  also includes discharge end  146  that is coupled to a first end of a cooling conduit  150 . 
         [0025]    Cooling conduit  150  has a first end  152  that is coupled to pump discharge end  146 . Cooling conduit  150  also has a second end  154  that extends into and through plug  122 . In an exemplary embodiment, shown in  FIG. 1 , second end  154  is flush with end of plug  122 . Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that second end  154  may extend beyond plug  122  or end within plug  122 . 
         [0026]    Cooling conduit  150  includes a contact portion  156  between first end  152  and second end  154  that is wrapped around and contacts a receptacle  160 . Contact portion  156  transfers heat from receptacle  160  to contact portion  156 . Receptacle  160  may be a bowl, a dish, a plate, a tube, or any other suitable configuration for holding and retaining food thereon or therein. Receptacle  160  may also be in a shape that facilitates the cooling of beverage containers, such as wine bottles, wine boxes, or other drink containers.  FIGS. 2-5  show exemplary embodiments of receptacles  160   a,    160   b,    160   c,    160   d  that are envisioned by the present invention. Receptacle  160  is used as a heat transfer device that transfers heat from the food on/in receptacle  160  to water  113  that is circulated through chiller assembly  100  via supply conduit  130 , pump  140 , and cooling conduit  150 . Food may be placed directly into receptacle  160  or alternatively, food may be placed in a container, such as an original food or beverage container or other consumer-type package (not shown), which is in turn placed in receptacle  160 . 
         [0027]    In an exemplary embodiment, receptacle  160  is constructed from aluminum or other heat conductive material to facilitate transfer of heat from receptacle  160 , through cooling conduit  150 , to water  113 . Optionally, receptacle  160  may include a removable lid  162  that may be placed over receptacle  160  to reduce ambient heat absorption of food in receptacle  160 . 
         [0028]    While the exemplary embodiment of chiller assembly  100  shown in  FIG. 1  shows pump  140  disposed upstream of receptacle  160 , those skilled in the art will recognize that pump  140  may be disposed anywhere in the circulation path of water  113  such that water  113  is pumped from cooler  112 , through supply conduit  130 , through cooling conduit  150  to receptacle  160 , and back to cooler  112 . 
         [0029]    Supply conduit  130  may be constructed from polyurethane or other suitable thermal insulation material in order to reduce thermal losses between cooler  110  and pump  140 . Contact portion  156  may be constructed from a metallic material, such as aluminum or copper, to facilitate heat transfer from receptacle  160 , through contact portion  156 , to water  113  being pumped through contact portion  156 . Contact portion  156  may be integrally formed with receptacle  160 . Alternatively, contact portion  156  may be adhered to receptacle  160  with an adhesive or a metallic tape. 
         [0030]    Optionally, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a temperature monitoring device, such as a thermometer  180 , may be thermally coupled to chiller assembly  100 . Thermometer  180  may be coupled to receptacle  160  to record the temperature of receptacle  160 . Additionally, a second thermometer  182  may record ambient temperature. Thermometer  180  may be coupled to a temperature control circuit  188 , shown schematically in  FIG. 6 , that operates pump  140  as needed based on the local temperature at receptacle  160 . 
         [0031]    Optionally, referring back to  FIG. 1 , a third thermometer  184  may be inserted into cooler  110  or coupled with supply conduit  130  to monitor the temperature of the cooling fluid. Third thermometer  184  may be coupled to an alarm  186 . If the fluid in cooler  110  or supply conduit  130  reaches a predetermined temperature, such as about 2 degrees Celsius (about 35 degrees Fahrenheit), alarm  186  may be triggered to alert the user that additional ice may need to be added to cooler  110 . 
         [0032]    In an alternative exemplary embodiment of a chiller assembly  200 , shown in  FIG. 7 , a receptacle  260  may be used instead of receptacle  160 . Receptacle  260  includes a concave basin  262  having an exterior surface  264  which is in contact with cooling conduit  150  and an interior surface  266  onto which a cooling fluid, such as water  268 , is poured. A food container  270  is inserted over receptacle  260  such that water  268  contacts a lower surface  272  of food container  270 . In this embodiment, food container  270  may be removed from receptacle  260 , such as for cleaning after use. 
         [0033]    Receptacle  260  is cooled in a manner as described above with respect to receptacle  160 , cooling water  268  in receptacle  260 . Cooled water  268  then cools food container  270  through conductive heat transfer. Cooled food container  270  in turn cools food disposed within food container  270 . 
         [0034]    While chiller assembly  100  may use a cooler  110  that may be a portable cooler, such as a plastic picnic cooler, those skilled in the art will recognize that an alternative exemplary embodiment of a chiller assembly  300  can incorporate a cooler  310  that may be less portable, such as, for example, cooler  310  that may be incorporated into a gas grill  302 , shown in  FIG. 8 . Chiller assembly  300  may incorporate a receptacle  360  that is used to keep food cool prior to placing the food on grill  302 . Alternatively, chiller assembly  300  may be used to keep condiments, marinades, or other foodstuffs cool while still in proximity to a heated grilling surface. A switch  342  mounted on the face of grill  302  may be used to operate chiller assembly  300 . As with pump  140  above, a pump  340  may be powered by a DC battery source (not shown) or an AC power source (not shown). 
         [0035]    Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in  FIG. 9 . While chiller assembly  100  shows a single receptacle  160 , chiller assembly  400  shows multiple receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ coupled in parallel. A first manifold  470  is coupled to a cooling conduit  450  such that water  413  pumped by a pump  440  from a cooler  410  through a supply conduit  430  and through pump  440  is split into a first cooling conduit  450  coupled to a first manifold outlet  472  and a second cooling conduit  450 ′ coupled to a second manifold conduit  474 . First cooling conduit  450  is used to cool receptacle  460  and second cooling conduit  450 ′ is used to cool second receptacle  460 ′. After cooling receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ respectively, cooling conduits  450 ,  450 ′ are re-coupled at a second manifold  476 . Second manifold  476  outlets into a single return conduit  478  that transports water  413  back to cooler  410 . 
         [0036]    Receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ may be similarly shaped or, alternatively, receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ may have different shapes, such as to hold different types/amounts of food. For example, receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ may have shapes similar to any of receptacles  160   a,    160   b,    160   c,    160   d  in  FIGS. 2-5 . Manifolds  470 ,  476  may include valves (not shown) that allow water  413  to be directed through either one or both of cooling conduits  450 ,  450 ′ to cool either one or both of receptacles  460 ,  460 ′. While two receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ are shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that more than two receptacles  460 ,  460 ′ may be coupled via manifolds  470 ,  476 . 
         [0037]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.