Solar powered thermoelectric cooled cosmetic case

A solar and battery powered thermoelectrically cooled cosmetic bag constructed of an insulative material sandwiched between two layers of thermally conductive and reflective material including a thermoelectric module. Said thermoelectric module comprising hot and cold surfaces which are in thermal communication with the interior and exterior thermally conductive layers. Photo voltaic cells on the exterior of the bag and thermocouples in thermal communication with the exterior thermally conductive layer of the bag charge a rechargeable battery located within the bag. A thermistor controlled proportional circuit allows current to flow from the photo voltaic cell array and rechargeable battery to the thermoelectric module which creates and maintains a predetermined temperature setting within the interior of the cosmetic bag.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The typical cosmetic carrying case or bag has been found to be inadequate 
in that certain cosmetics, composed of materials having relatively low 
melting temperatures, are rendered useless when exposed to such 
temperatures. Maintaining an Ideal temperature range within the small 
volume of space within the cosmetic bag is therefore a most desireable 
option. Much art has been devoted to producing insulative fabrics and 
plastics which are used in a variety of containers and clothing. Generally 
the containers are used for transporting perishable food items and the 
clothing is used for outdoor wear where exposure to large temperature 
changes is likely. All of these devices, however are passive devices. They 
characteristically maintain a temperature by offering resistance to heat 
transfer. Often, in the case of the containers, smaller containers of 
frozen solutions are placed inside of the container to produce lower 
initial temperatures for the interior of the container. However, when 
exposed to higher ambient temperatures, the interior of the container 
will, over time, absorb enough heat to reach ambient. One exception is a 
thermoelectrically cooled refrigerator marketed commercially which 
requires the use of an external power source. Thermoelectric refrigeration 
is based on the Peltier effect, a reciprocal of the Seebeck effect which 
was discovered early in the nineteenth century. Both effects deal with the 
interrelationship of heat energy and electrical energy in a circuit which 
contains a junction of dissimilar materials, primarily bismuth and 
tellurium. The modern thermoelectric module lends itself ideal for the 
purpose of cooling small well inslated spaces such as those within the 
small cosmetic carrying cases and bags in use by the contemporay 
individual. The solar powered temperature regulated cosmetic bag described 
herein uses a novel configuration of solid state power generating devices, 
thermoelectric cooling modules, and switching devices integrated with 
extremely efficient insulation and thermal reflective materials in such a 
fashion as to provide sustained temperature regulation which can be easily 
carried or worn by a single individual without difficulty. The instant 
invention will embody an apparatus and a method of maintaining a 
controlled environment which does not attain ambient temperatures as is 
the case with well known simple insulated containers and garments, thereby 
fulfilling a need long sought for in the art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a cosmetics case or bag in combination 
with a thermoelectrical refrigeration device used to effect temperature 
within said case to a predetermined setting. Said cosmetics bag is 
constructed of a layer of insulative material such as or similar to dosed 
cell neoprene foam rubber. This material is formed in such a way as to 
create a container with an interior and an exterior. The exterior and 
interior surfaces will have a thermally conductive material covering part 
or all of their area. The thermally conductive material will serve as heat 
absorbing medium and heat rejection medium for the thermoelectric device. 
The relatively hot element of the thermoelectric device will be in contact 
with the thermal conductive material on the exterior of the container, and 
the relatively cool element will be in contact with the conductive 
material on the interior surface. A thermoelectric device is placed in an 
aperature cut into the insulating material sandwiched between the two heat 
conducting materials. There is an advantage to cover the hot side of the 
thermoelectric module with a material with a high degree of thermal 
transmissivity such as a material marketed under the trade name, Mylar. 
The mylar or a product similar also reflects a large quanta of radiant 
energy from the sun. This contributes to the insulating value of the 
material from which the container is constructed. The cosmetics bag 
employs a closing or sealing device which allows a person to establish a 
unique environment for the articles carried or stored. When opened, it 
will allow access to its interior. Included is an electrical circuit 
comprising a storage means (battery), and one or more thermoelectric 
modules which exhibit the Peltier effect. This effect is created when an 
electric current is passed through the thermoelectric refrigeration 
module. The thermoelectric module is made from two elements of semi 
conductor, primarily Bismuth Telluride, heavily doped to create either an 
excess or deficiency of electrons. A switch, when closed, allows an 
electric current to pass through the module causing one junction to become 
cold, therefore capable of absorbing heat and the other junction to become 
hot, as the heat absorbed is pumped to that side. The electric input 
provided by an electrical storage means or battery is proportionally 
controlled by a thermister located in the circuit, mounted in the interior 
of the container. Said thermister, which is a solid state device capable 
of impeding or allowing the flow of electric current in response to the 
temperature within the interior of the bag, is in circuit with operational 
amplifier (op-amp) circuit elements which amplify the difference between 
thermistor resistance and set point temperatures and process the resulting 
signal, providing an electronic feedback means between a power source 
(electric storage means) and the thermoelectric module. In the preferred 
embodiment a rechargeable cell or plurality of cells is employed as a 
power source for said thermoelectric modules. Said circuit also comprises 
at least one or a plurality of photovoltaic cells positioned on the 
exterior of the container for the purpose of recharging or replenishing 
the electricial charge in said electrical storage means. The circuit also 
includes a thermocouple device which is bonded to the thermally conductive 
material located on the exterior of the storage chamber which, as 
mentioned above, is being used as a heat sink for the hot surface of the 
thermoelectric device. The thermocouple will act as a transducer by 
converting a portion of the heat energy into electric current as a 
consequence of the Seebeck effect, which is the inverse of the Peltier 
effect by which the thermoelectric modules exhibit cooling effect. The 
thermocouple is in an electrical circuit with the electric storage means 
and is connected in parallel with the photovoltaic cells providing a 
plurality of recharging means for the electric storage means. In another 
embodiment an external electrical connection, for connection to an 
electrical outlet, is in electrical communication with the storage 
batteries. This electrical connection can be used to provide yet another 
means of recharging the power source when the photovoltaic cells and 
thermocouples are not operational. When the proportional control circuit 
containing the thermistor senses that the interior temperature of the 
chamber exceeds the preset temperature required, the circuit permits 
current to flow from the power source (electrical storage means) to the 
thermoelectric module. Heat is transferred from the interior thermally 
conductive layer to the outer thermally conductive layer. Some of this 
heat is transduced by the thermocouple into electrical energy which flows 
into the electrical storage means. The rest of the heat is dissipated into 
the ambient environment. The photovoltaic cells transduce light energy 
into electrical energy which flows into the electrical storage means. When 
the proportional circuit senses that the preset temperature exceeds the 
interior temperature of the bag, the circuit discontinues the flow of 
current from the power source to said thermoelectric module. The 
thermocouple transduces the residual heat in the outer thermally 
conductive layer from the thermoelectric module and the photovoltaic cells 
continue to transduce ambient light energy effectively recharging the 
electrical storage means, which will again discharge when required by said 
proportional control circuit. 
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to to provide an 
apparatus and a method by which a predetermined temperature can be 
maintained within an enclosure such as a cosmetic bag or case by power 
from the sun and by heat. 
It is another object of the present invention to provide an apparatus and a 
method by which the interior of a cosmetic bag is thermostatically 
controlled by sub miniature solid state components. 
Another yet further object of the invention is to transport temperature 
sensitive materials or to cool various body parts. 
The above and yet other objects and advantages of the present invention 
will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Detailed Description 
of the invention, the Drawings, and Claims appended herewith. 
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
With reference to FIG. 1 the embodiment illustrated is a pouch or cosmetic 
bag 10 which is intended to be carried on the person. Bag 10 is 
constructed of an insulative material coated or covered with a heat 
conducting material forming an exterior surface 15 and an interior surface 
16. Inserted within an opening in beg 10 is thermoelectric module 20 which 
serves as a heat pumping means. Heat is absorbed from within the interior 
of beg 10 by interior surface 16 in thermal communication with relatively 
cold surface 204 of module 20. Heat is transferred to surface 203 of 
module 20. This is achieved by allowing a current of electricity to flow 
from electrical storage means 21. Heat absorbed from interior surface 16 
is now rejected by exterior surface 15 which is in thermal communication 
with relatively hot surface 203. It should be understood that exterior 
surface 15 is constructed of a material which also has high reflective 
characteristics for radiant heat, thus improving the insulative qualities 
of said insulative material of which the invention is constructed. 
Electrical storage means 21 is also in electric communication with at 
least one photovoltaic cell 24 mounted on the exterior surface of bag 10. 
Photovultaic cell 24 is utilized for recharging electric storage means 21 
before, during, or after use. With reference to FIG. 3 which is a 
schematic of the electrical circuit in the preferred embodiment electrical 
storage means 21 has a positive and negative pole is in electrical 
communication wth photovoltaic cell 24 also with a positive and negative 
pole. During operation switch 23 is closed allowing current to flow 
through module 20 causing a refrigeration effect. A thermistor 22 
sensitive to temperature regulates the amount of current allowed to flow 
through module 20. In thermal communication with module 20 is thermocouple 
25 which is intended to convert at least a portion of heat rejected at 
surface 203 into electricity. Current produced at thermocouple 25 is 
introduced back into the circuit. The combination of photovoltaic call 24, 
thermistor 22, and thermocouple 22 will ease the drain on storage means 
21. When switch 23 is open photovoltaic cell 24 continues to charge 
storage means 21. 
Accordingly, while there have been shown and described the preferred 
embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that the 
invention may be embodied otherwise than as specifcally illustrated or 
described and that within said embodiments certain changes in the detail 
and construction, and the form of arrangement of the parts may be made 
without departing from the underlying idea or principles of this invention 
within the scope of the appended claims.