Abstract:
A portable temperature controlled container having a body including an internal chamber with an opening into the internal chamber; and a temperature control unit coupled to the body and displaced to be thermally coupled with a first portion of the internal chamber, the temperature control unit configured to selectively alter the temperature in the internal chamber by releasing a thermally controlled material into the internal chamber.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY UNDER 35 U.S.C. §119. 
     The present Application for Patent claims priority to Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/868,302, entitled “PORTABLE COOLING SYSTEM,” filed Dec. 2, 2006, and expressly incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The present invention relates generally to temperature controlled containers, and more particularly, to a portable temperature controlled container. 
     2. Background 
     In many portable food vending applications, the use of a portable temperature controlled container is necessary for keeping the product to be dispensed at a particular temperature. For example, in vending applications involving the dispensing of a frozen dessert such as the “soft-serve” variety of soft ice cream, it would be preferable if the ice cream is kept at a temperature that is within a specific range of temperatures. If the ice cream is not kept cold enough, then it will melt. Conversely, if the ice cream is kept at a temperature that is too low, then the ice cream may be too hard to dispense. In other examples, it is desirable that liquids such as beer are cooled and maintained around a certain temperature. It may also be preferable that the food or liquid to be dispensed is to be kept at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature. For example, a roaming vendor at a baseball stadium may desire to sell hot dogs at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature. In another example, the foods to be dispensed may be a liquid such as hot chocolate or soup. 
     Adding to the challenge of maintaining food at a particular temperature, in many cases the type of food to be dispensed will often need to be kept at a temperature that is on ah opposite end of the temperature spectrum from the ambient temperature. Thus, on a cold day, hot or warm foods and liquids are desirable. In contrast, on a warm day, cold or frozen foods and liquids are desirable. 
     Typically, the foods or liquids to be dispensed are carried by a vendor in an insulated container, with the temperature of the interior of the container being maintained around a particular temperature through the use of a source of cooling or heating. For example, cooling may come from a coolant, such as an ice or dry ice (i.e., frozen carbon dioxide) pack, that is much colder than the item to be cooled. As such, it is a challenge to maintain the temperature of the item to be cooled around the desired range if the item is a food product that needs to be cooled, but not frozen, because the coolant is much colder than the food product needs to be. Thus, it would be preferable if the container were able to maintain the temperature of the items contained therein within a specific range even though the source of cooling is at a temperature that is much lower than the desired temperature. Further, the approach used to cool the contents of the container needs to be compatible with the portability aspect of the application. This eliminates such solutions as refrigeration units due to the weight of these units and the amount of energy they need to operate, even though refrigeration units are capable of being turned off and on to control the amount of cold that is generated. 
     It may also be preferable that the food to be stored in the container is kept at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature. The heat source may be a heat pack that generates heat using a chemical reaction or an electrically powered heater. However, similar to the cooling application, the heat source is typically at a higher temperature than the food needs to be. Thus, it would also be preferable if the system were able to maintain the temperature of the items contained therein within a specific range even though the source of heating is at a temperature that is much higher than the desired temperature. 
     There is therefore a need in the art for a solution to provide a temperature controlled container that is portable and can dispense food easily. 
     SUMMARY 
     Aspects disclosed herein address the need to provide a temperature controlled container that is portable by providing a portable temperature controlled container having a body including an internal chamber with an opening into the internal chamber; and a temperature control unit coupled to the body and displaced to be thermally coupled with a first portion of the internal chamber, the temperature control unit configured to selectively alter the temperature in the internal chamber by releasing a thermally controlled material into the internal chamber. 
    
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
       The invention may be more readily understood by referring to the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a front perspective view of a frozen food dispenser; 
         FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the frozen food dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a front perspective view of the frozen food dispenser of  FIG. 1  with a open front door exposing an internal chamber; 
         FIG. 4  is a front perspective view of a temperature control and compressor assembly contained in the frozen food dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a second front perspective view of the temperature control and compressor assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a third front perspective view of die temperature control and compressor assembly of  FIG. 4  with an exposed temperature control assembly; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a shut-off valve of the frozen food dispenser of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a perspective view of an elevator assembly of the temperature control and compressor assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a perspective view of a frozen food container; 
         FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the frozen food container of  FIG. 9  in the process of being inserted into an internal chamber the temperature control and compressor assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 11  is a perspective view of the frozen food container of  FIG. 9  inserted into the internal chamber of the temperature control arid compressor assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a front plan view of the frozen food container of  FIG. 9  inserted into the internal chamber of the temperature control and compressor assembly of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 13  is a front plan view of the frozen food container of  FIG. 9  inserted into the internal chamber of the temperature control and compressor assembly of  FIG. 4 , wherein a portion of the contents of the frozen food container has been dispensed in accordance with one preferred embodiment Of the present invention; 
         FIG. 14  is a front exploded perspective view of the temperature control assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 15  is a top plan view of the temperature control assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly of  FIG. 6 , taken along line XVI-XVI as illustrated in  FIG. 15 ; and, 
         FIG. 17  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly of  FIG. 6 . 
         FIG. 18  is an exploded cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly, temperature control disk and coolant chamber of  FIG. 14 . 
     
    
    
     Like numerals refer to like parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Various aspects of the disclosure are described below. It should be apparent that the teachings herein may be embodied in a wide variety of forms and that any specific structure, function, or both being disclosed herein is merely representative. Based on the teachings herein, one skilled in the art should appreciate that an aspect disclosed herein may be implemented independently of any other aspects and that two or more of these aspects may be combined in various ways. For example, an apparatus may be implemented or a method may be practiced using any number of the aspects set forth herein. In addition, such an apparatus may be implemented or such a method may be practiced using other structure, functionality, or structure and functionality in addition to or other than one or more of the aspects set forth herein. Furthermore, an aspect may comprise at least one element of a claim. 
     The word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any aspect described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other aspects. 
     The various aspects of the disclosure will first be explained in an application where a frozen dessert is to be dispensed.  FIG. 1  illustrates a frozen food dispenser  100  configured in accordance with a disclosed aspect of the portable temperature controlled container. The frozen food dispenser  100  includes a pair of cup dispensers  102  and a pair of cup holders  104 . Each cup dispenser of the pair of cup dispensers  102  in an aspect of the disclosed frozen food dispenser holds two sets of cups  114  into which the frozen food is to be dispensed. In another aspect, other containers may be used, including edible containers. For example, the pair of cup dispensers  102  may dispense edible ice cream cones. The frozen food dispenser  100  includes a top door  106  through which a pair of codling chambers is accessed, as further described herein. The top door  106  includes a pair of top door latches  156  to secure the top door  106  to the body of the frozen food dispenser  100 . The frozen food dispenser  100  also includes an instrument panel  108  for a user to interface with the frozen food dispenser  100 , arid a front door  110  through which a pair of internal chambers of the frozen food dispenser  100  is accessed. 
       FIG. 2  is a rear perspective view of the frozen food dispenser  100  illustrating a back panel  176  and attachment points  172  and  174  for a harness (not shown). In one aspect, the user wears the harness, with the frozen food dispenser  100  being located in from of the user. The frozen food dispenser  100  may use insulation technology to thermally separate the user from the contents of the frozen food dispenser  100 . The use of insulation is also desirable to maximize the cooling that has been applied to the contents of the frozen food dispenser  100 . 
       FIG. 3  illustrates the frozen food dispenser  100  with the front door  110  being opened to expose an interior chamber that houses a temperature control and compressor assembly  310 . The temperature control and compressor assembly  310  includes a pair of inner doors  306  used to access a pair of respective internal chambers  304  of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310 . Each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304  has a particular volume in which a container or other object may be inserted. Insulation may also be used on each internal chamber to thermally separate them. The temperature control and compressor assembly  310  includes a volume control system configured to change the volume of each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304 , as well as a temperature control system configured to control the temperature of the internal chamber  304 , as further described herein. 
     In an aspect of the disclosed temperature control and compressor assembly, the volume control system of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310  includes an elevator assembly  302  and a pressure plate  308  for each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304 . The elevator assembly  302  and the pressure plate  308  are illustrated in  FIG. 3  as being apart from each other. However, in operation of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310 , the elevator assembly  302  will be moved to engage the pressure plate  308 . The elevator assembly  302  may also be mechanically attached to the pressure plate  308  so that the elevator assembly  302  and the pressure plate  308  move together. 
       FIG. 8  is a perspective view of the elevator assembly  302  of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310  of  FIG. 3  configured in accordance with an aspect of the disclosed temperature control and compressor assembly. The elevator assembly  302  includes a motor  802  mounted in an elevator frame  804  that drives a worm gear  810 . The worm gear  810  is attached to a shaft  808  to drive a second shaft  814  through a plurality of bevel gears  812 . The second shaft  814  includes a plurality of drive gears  816  that are engaged with the plurality of tracks  440  to compress the frozen food container  900 . Specifically, as the motor  802  is operated, the plurality of drive gears  816  may be driven to move the elevator assembly  302  up or down. As noted, in an aspect of the disclosed compression assembly, the elevator assembly  302  is coupled to the pressure plate  308  so that when the elevator assembly  302  is driven up or down, the pressure plate  308  is also moved up or down, respectively. 
       FIG. 4  illustrates a detailed view of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310  from the frozen food dispenser  100 , including a base  420  in which batteries and other electrical components used for the operation of the frozen food dispenser (riot shown) are mounted. The temperature control and compressor assembly  310  also includes a temperature control system  404  mounted below a pair of coolant chambers  402 . Referring also to  FIG. 5 , in an aspect of the operation of the temperature control and compressor assembly, coolant material is placed into the pair of coolant chambers  402 . Then, in operation, the temperature control system  404  controls how much coolant is released from each of the pair of coolant chambers  402  into its respective internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304  through a plurality of cooling slots  508 . The release of the coolant affects (e.g., lowers) the temperature contained in each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304 . Each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304  also includes a plurality of exhaust slots  502  so that any coolant that needs to escape can do so. Each internal chamber in the pair of internal chambers  304  also includes a plurality of tracks  440  that are needed in the operation of the elevator assembly  302  to compress the frozen food container  900  in an aspect of the disclosed temperature control and compressor assembly. 
       FIG. 6  is another perspective view of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310  with an exposed temperature control system  404  configured in accordance with one aspect of the disclosed temperature control system. The temperature control system  404  includes a pair of temperature control disks  602 , each configured with a plurality of cooling slots  604  cut therein. The plurality of slots  604  are used in conjunction with the plurality of cooling slots  508  from the coolant chambers  402  and, referring also to  FIG. 14 , a plurality of cooling slots  1404  located in the tray of the temperature control system  404 , to control the amount of coolant that is dispensed into the coolant chambers  402 . Specifically, each one of the plurality of cooling slots  1404  are aligned to a respective one of the plurality of cooling slots  508 , and, as each of the temperature control disks  602  is rotated, the plurality of cooling slots  604  will be aligned to the plurality of cooling slots  508 . Thus, because the plurality of cooling slots  1404  is aligned to the plurality of cooling slots  508 , when the plurality of cooling slots  604  is aligned to the plurality of cooling slots  508 , the plurality of cooling slots  604  will also be aligned to the plurality of cooling slots  1404 . Depending upon the amount of alignment of the plurality of cooling slots  604  to the plurality of cooling slots  508  (and thus the plurality of cooling slots  1404 ), the amount of coolant released into the coolant chambers  402  can be controlled. Each one of the pair of temperature control disks  602  may be controlled separately. Thus, each disk in the pair of temperature control disks  602  may be controlled to independently affect the temperature of the interior chamber contained below. 
       FIG. 9  illustrates a frozen food container  900  configured in accordance with an aspect of a disclosed frozen food container that may be inserted into each internal chamber of the pair of internal chambers  304 . The frozen food container  900  includes a plurality of folds  902  that allows the frozen food container  900  to be compressed in a controlled and predictable manner so that the frozen food contained therein may be dispensed. The frozen food container  900  also includes a dispensing tube  904  through which the frozen food may exit when the frozen food container  900  is compressed. The frozen food container  900  will allow quick and sanitary replacement of the frozen food. 
     Referring back to  FIG. 4 , and further referring to  FIGS. 5-7 , a perspective view of a shut-off valve  412  of the frozen food dispenser  100  configured in accordance with one aspect of die disclosed shut-off valve is shown. The shut-off valve  412  includes a motor  702  that drives a threaded shaft  704  to close a clamp  706  to control the dispensing of the contents of the frozen food container  900 . In an aspect of a disclosed value, clamp  706  is configured to close down upon dispensing tube  904  to limit what is being dispensed from frozen food container  900  and is used in conjunction with elevator assembly  302  and a pressure plate  308  to control the dispensing of the frozen food contained in the frozen food container  900 , as further detailed herein. 
       FIG. 10  is a perspective view of the frozen food container  900  about to be inserted into one of the internal chambers  304  of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310 . To simplify the description, only one-half of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310  will be described. In an aspect of the disclosed operation of the frozen food dispenser, the frozen food container  900  is inserted into one of the pairs of internal chambers  304  in the frozen food dispenser  100 , with the dispensing tube  904  of die frozen food container  900  being inserted through the opening of the shut-off valve  412  associated with that internal chamber. 
       FIGS. 11 and 12  illustrate perspective and side plan views, respectively, of the frozen food container  900  after it has been inserted into one of the pairs of internal chambers  304  of the temperature control and compressor assembly  310 . In an aspect of the disclosed operation of the frozen food dispenser, after the frozen food container  900  has been loaded, the shut-off valve  412  can clamp the dispensing tube  904 . Then, the elevator assembly  302  will be lowered to be snug with the frozen food dispenser  900 . In another disclosed operation of the frozen food dispenser, elevator assembly  302  will be used to prime the frozen food to be dispensed so the frozen food container  900  will be squeezed until a predetermined amount of the frozen food contained in the frozen food container  900  is dispensed from the dispensing tube  904  and then the shut-off valve  412  will be closed. 
     As previously discussed, when the elevator assembly  302  is driven up or down, the pressure plate  308  is also moved up or down. When the pressure plate  308  is moved down, the frozen food container  900  is compressed by the pressure plate  308  to dispense the contents of the frozen food container  900 . As discussed above, the dispensing of the contents of the frozen food container  900  through the dispensing tube  904  is also regulated by the shut-off valve  412 . The shut-off value  412  may be used to regulate the maximum amount of frozen food that is dispensed from the frozen food container  900  while the elevator assembly  302  and the pressure plate  308  may be used to generate a desired positive pressure applied to the frozen food container  900 . In addition, the elevator assembly  302  and the pressure plate  308  may be used to generate a desired negative pressure as applied to the frozen food container  900  before the shut-off valve  412  is operated to stop the dispensing the frozen food. Specifically, when the elevator assembly  302  (and thereby the pressure plate  308 ) is moved upwards, the frozen food container  900  will be allowed to expand (or will be forced to expand like an accordian if the frozen food container  900  is attached to the pressure plate  308 ). In this case, the contents of the frozen food container  900  will be pulled back in through the dispensing tube  904 . Thus, the elevator assembly  302  is operated in conjunction with the shut-off valve  412  so that the dispensing of the contents of the frozen food container  900  can be regulated. 
       FIG. 13  is a front plan view of the frozen food container  900  that was previously inserted into the temperature control and compressor assembly  310 , wherein a portion of the contents of the frozen food container  900  has been dispensed in accordance with an aspect of the operation of the frozen food container. 
       FIG. 14  is a front exploded perspective view of the temperature control assembly  404 , which will be described with reference to  FIGS. 10-13  and  15 - 18 . In an aspect of the disclosed temperature control assembly, the temperature control assembly  404  includes a cooling pack  1002  that is stored in the coolant chamber  402 . In an aspect of the disclosed cooling pack, as shown in  FIG. 18 , cooling pack  1002  is filled with water. Cooling pack  1002  also includes a dry ice portion  1602 . The cooling pack  1002  is inserted into the interior of the coolant chamber  402 . As the air around the cooling pack  1002  is cooled, the cooled air goes down the plurality of cooling slots  508 , passes through the portion of the plurality of cooling slots  604  of the temperature control disk  602  that is aligned with the plurality of cooling slots  508  and the plurality of cooling slots  1404  in the tray of the temperature control system  404  into the interior of the coolant chamber  402 . 
       FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly  404 , taken along line XVI-XVI of the top plan view illustrated in  FIG. 15 . In addition,  FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of selected components from control assembly  404 , with  FIG. 18  being an exploded cross-sectional view of the temperature control assembly  404 . As shown in these figures, the temperature control disk  602  is rotated by a motor  1602  coupled to a set of gears  1604 . The alignment of the temperature control disk  602  controls the cooling from the coolant cooled air into the internal chambers  304  of the frozen food dispenser  100 . Specifically, the plurality of cooling slots  604  of the temperature control disk  602  arc aligned with the plurality of cooling slots  508  from the coolant chambers  402  and the plurality of cooling slots  1404  located in the tray of the temperature control system  404  to control the cooling provided to the items in the internal chamber  304 . It should be noted that, in an aspect of the disclosed configuration of the frozen food dispenser, it is assumed that the position of the coolant (e.g., cooling pack  1002 ) is located with respect to the frozen food dispenser  100  so that the air being cooled, which becomes more dense, is pulled by gravity over the product, to be cooled. 
     As described above, one frozen food that may be dispensed from the frozen food dispenser  100  is ice cream. In other aspects of the disclosed frozen food dispenser, the items being cooled may be such items as liquids (e.g., alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages); semi-frozen liquids (e.g., “slushies”); or any item that needs to be copied or maintained around a particular temperature. For example, the portable temperature controlled container described herein may be used to cool non-food items, such as biological materials (e.g., human organs) or chemicals that need to be maintained at a predetermined temperature. Further, the configuration of the portable temperature controlled container may be altered to suit the contents being carried, including a form that resembles a shape similar to beverage coolers. In addition, the portable cooling system may have other dispensing mechanisms built into it to dispense frozen, liquid or semi-frozen liquid beverages, mixed or non-mixed. For example, a standard interior size may be created so that custom modules that perform various functions (mixing, cooling, heating) can made interchangeable. Thus, each portable temperature/controlled container can be customized for a particular application simply by the selection of an appropriate module. 
     Further still, in another aspect of the disclosed portable temperature controlled container, a heated container may be used to store items that need to be maintained at a temperature that is higher than the ambient temperature. In this case, the temperature control (i.e., heating) unit may be located on the bottom of the internal chamber of a temperature control and compression assembly to take advantage of the physical property that heal rises. In effect, the disclosed temperature control and compressor assembly may be reoriented upside down. Thus, the amount of heat that is provided to the internal chamber is based on the size of the opening in the temperature control unit that will allow the heat from the temperature control unit to rise into the internal chamber. Any suitable heat source may be used, including chemical or electrically-based solutions. 
     The previous description of the disclosed aspects is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the present disclosure. Various modifications to these aspects will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other aspects without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Thus, the present disclosure is not intended lb be limited to the aspects shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. Accordingly, the present invention is to be defined solely by the scope of the following claims.