Beverage cooler or warming apparatus

A cooling or warming apparatus for beverages that relies primarily on conduction heat transfer. The apparatus includes at least one heat conduction unit inside an enclosed case. The heat conduction unit includes a cylindrical sleeve with a center bore configured to receive and transfer heat to and from a 12 fl. oz. aluminum can or 0.5 liter plastic water bottle. Attached to the outside surface of the sleeve is a laterally extending interface block. Both the sleeve and the interface block are made of aluminum and covered with an insulation layer. A Peltier device planar structure with a cool side and a hot side. During assembly the Peltier device is attached with the cold side in direct contact with the exposed end of the interface block. A heatsink is attached to opposite the hot side of the Peltier device, and a fan assembly mounted is over the heatsink. The apparatus includes control switches that control its operation as a cooling or warming apparatus and a 12 VDC electrical power source.

COPYRIGHT NOTICE

Notice is given that this patent document contains original material subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile or digital download reproduction of all or part of the patent document, but otherwise reserves all copyrights.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates generally to portable coolers, and more particularly to portable coolers specifically designed for chilling beverages sold in 12 fl. oz. aluminum cans or 16.9 fl. oz. (0.5 L) plastic water bottles.

2. Description of the Related Art

Portable coolers in the prior art use ice, cooling packs or Peltier devices to cool ambient air that directly flows against beverages or other food items inside the cooler or against an intermediate object that holds beverages or food items. Unfortunately, each time the cooler is opened to access the beverages or food item, cold air created inside the cooler escapes and replaced by warm outside ambient air. When the cooler is closed, the warm ambient air must be cooled. Reducing the volume of cold air lost when the cooler is opened is a common approach to making these coolers more efficient.

In the United States, soft drinks are commonly sold in 12 fl. oz. aluminum cans. The U.S. standard aluminum can is 4.83 inches in height, 2.13 inches in diameter at the lid, and 2.60 inches in the diameter at the widest point of the body. Drinking water is commonly sold in 16.9 fl. oz. (0.5 liter) plastic bottles. Although the size of 16.9 fl. oz. water bottles in the U.S. varies more than aluminum cans do, they typically measure approximately 9 inches in height and 2.5 inches in diameter at the widest point of the body. By making aluminum cans and plastic water bottles with nearly identical diameters, the cans and water bottles will fit into standardized cup holders in motor vehicles sold in the U.S.

When traveling in an automobile, it is common for drivers and passengers to drink hot beverages, such a hot coffee, from containers also designed to fit into standardized cup holders in a motor vehicle.

What is needed is a compact, lightweight, quiet, cooler for one or two standard size 12 fl. oz. aluminum cans or 16.9 fl. oz. plastic water bottles. What is also needed is such a cooler that does not rely on cooling ambient air but instead uses more efficient conduction heat transfer processes. What is also needed is a cooler that can also be a warmer for beverages when desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects of the invention are met by the beverage cooling or warming apparatus that includes at least one heat conduction unit inside a compact, lightweight case. Each heat conduction unit includes at a cylindrical sleeve with a center bore configured to receive a beverage container, a laterally extending interface block attached to the cylindrical sleeve, and a Peltier device (also called a ‘thermoelectric heat pump’) attached to the interface block.

The cylindrical sleeve's center bore is configured to receive and transfer heat to and from either a standard 12 fl. oz. aluminum can, a 16.9 fl. oz. plastic water bottle or a complimentary-shaped, heat transferring secondary container. In one embodiment, the center bore is 1 to 2 mm larger in diameter than a standard 12 fl. oz. aluminum beverage can and 2 to 4 mm larger in diameter than a plastic water bottle as defined above. The length of the center bore is approximately 6 inches which is optimal for use with a 4.8 inch tall aluminum can or a 9 inch tall plastic water bottle. When a cylindrical sleeve is used that is longer than an aluminum can, a chair is placed inside the center bore to elevate the beverage can inside the cylindrical sleeve so the top lid of the beverage can is exposed enabling the beverage can to be easily grasped. When used with a water bottle, approximately ⅔ length of a water bottle is positioned inside the cylindrical sleeve. It should be understood that the length of the cylindrical sleeve may vary 1.5 inches in length.

The Peltier device is a thin, thermoelectric cooling plate with two opposite, heat absorbing (cooling) or heat generating (warming) planar sides. Which planar side of the Peltier device is heat absorbing or heat generating depends on the direction of current flow. The Peltier device is aligned so that one planar side is in direct contact with the interface block. A heatsink is attached to the opposite planar side of the Peltier device. A fan assembly is mounted over the heat sink.

Disposed around the cylindrical sleeve and the interface block is relatively thick, insulation layer. In the embodiment described and shown herein, the insulation layer is made of polyurethane adhesive tape wrapped completely around the exposed outer surfaces of the cylindrical sleeve and the interface block.

In the embodiment shown, the cooler includes a compact case with two heat conduction units arranged in a side-by-side manner with their axes aligned parallel. The case includes a top roof through which the two cylindrical sleeves extend. Attached to the case is a pivoting lid that covers the top roof pivots and selectively opens enabling the user to access the aluminum cans, the water bottles or the secondary container. Because the cylindrical sleeve and interface block are covered with an insulation layer and located inside the interior cavity below the top roof, impact of ambient air that enters the case when the lid is opened is minimal.

Air vents are formed on the case that allow ambient air to freely flow into the interior cavity. The fan assembly causes the ambient air to flow over the heatsink so the heat differential is maintained between the cold and hot planar sides of the Peltier device.

The cooler also includes a main ON/OFF control switch, a single Cold or Hot control switch, and a LO to HIGH variable switch. The cooler is also distributed with a motor vehicle 12 VDC power plug that connects directly to the cooler and/or with a 110 VAC electrical adapter that converts 110 VAC to 12 VDC.

When the apparatus is a warmer, a heat transferring, cylindrical shape, secondary container must be used in each cylindrical sleeve. The diameter of the secondary container is equal or slightly less than (1-3 mm) the 12 fl. oz. aluminum can or plastic water bottle as described above.

During use, the user decides if the apparatus is to be a cooler or warmer. The user then adjusts the Cold or Hot control switch to the desired operation. The user then adjusts the LO to HIGH variable switch to control the amount of cooling or heating desired. Next, the user then places the designed aluminum can, water bottle or secondary container in one or both cylindrical sleeves. After 60 to 90 minutes, the beverage or water in the aluminum can, water bottle or secondary container should be at the desired temperature.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)

Referring to the Figs. there is shown a portable beverage carrier apparatus10that includes a case12with an enclosed cavity14with two energy heat conduction units,100,100′ mounted therein.

As shown inFIGS. 1-7, the case12is a small, compact structure specifically designed to house two heat conduction units100,100′. The case12includes a front wall16, a rear wall20, a left side wall24, a right side wall28, and a top roof60. Formed on the case12is a bottom opening36, shown more clearly inFIG. 11. During assembly, a base40is attached over the bottom opening36. When the top roof60is attached to the case12, an enclosed interior cavity14is formed inside the case12surrounded by the front wall16, the rear wall20, the left side wall24, the right side wall28, and the top roof60. As described further below, attached to the case12and extending over the top roof60is an optional pivoting lid80.

The base40includes main body42with a perimeter edge43complimentary to the outline shape of the front, rear and side walls of the case12. The main body42includes a perpendicularly aligned raised abutment edge44located inside the main body's perimeter edge43. During assembly, the abutment edge44extends into the case's bottom opening36and adjacent to the front wall16, the rear wall20and the left and right side walls24,28, respectively, to provide structural support.

Perpendicularly aligned and mounted or formed on the inside surface of the base40are two necks46each designed to engage the lower end of a cylindrical sleeve110. During use, the two necks46which are slightly larger than the cylindrical sleeve110, to hold the lower ends of the cylindrical sleeves110in a fixed position on the base40. Each neck46includes a rear extension void area47configured to receive the lower end of the protruding mounting surface114formed on one side of the cylindrical sleeve110. During assembly, an optional end cap112is attached to the lower edge of the cylindrical sleeve110to form a watertight fitting inside the cylindrical sleeve110, (seeFIG. 17).

Also formed on the base40are plurality of air vent openings50and a plurality of elevated feet54. The feet54support and raise the base40over a support surface allowing outside ambient air to flow freely through the vent openings50and into or out of the interior cavity14during operation.

The top roof60is integrally formed or attached over the top opening of the case12and attaches or is integrally formed with the front wall16, the rear wall20, and the left and right side walls24,28, respectively. As shown inFIGS. 10 and 18, the top roof60includes flat front section61with two sleeve openings62and a rear section64. In the embodiment shown in the Figs, the rear section64is offset and lower than the front section61. Formed around each sleeve opening62is a coaxially aligned recessed circular race66that receives a flat gasket70attached to the lid80. Formed on the rear section64is a switch panel72that includes a main ON/OFF control switch73, a single Cold or Hot control switch74, and a LO to HIGH variable switch76. It may also include an optional LED bulb75. (see alsoFIG. 20).

The lid80includes a lid body81with a front wall82, two side walls84,86, a rear wall88, and a top panel90. Formed on the opposite corners of the lid body81adjacent to the rear wall20are two downward extending arms92. The arms92are parallel and fit into complimentary-shaped slots68formed on the opposite corners of the top roof60. As shown inFIG. 12, each arm92include a bore94that, during assembly, are aligned and registered with bores26,27, formed inside the side walls24,28, respectively, near the adjacent edges of the top cover60and the rear wall20when inserted into the slots68. A peg95is inserted into adjacent bores26,27, and94to lock and pivotally attached the lid body81to the case12.

The lid80includes an inside cavity with two perpendicularly aligned cylindrical receivers96aligned and registered over the top edges of the two cylindrical sleeves110when the lid80is closed over the case12. The cylindrical receivers96are perpendicularly aligned to the inside surface of the top panel90. The cylindrical receivers96are aligned so they are longitudinally aligned over the cylindrical sleeves110when the lid80is closed over the top roof60. Attached to the lower edges of each cylindrical receiver96is a circular flat gasket97. The cylindrical receivers96are configured to receive the top portion of a beverage container when placed into a cylindrical sleeve110. When the lid80is closed, the cylindrical receivers96are longitudinally aligned with the cylindrical sleeves110. The cylindrical receivers96are enough in length so that when the lid80is closed, the gaskets97extend into circular recessed races66formed on the top roof60and coaxially aligned around each cylindrical sleeve110. During use, the gaskets97fits into the races66and presses firmly against the top roof60and apply downward pressure on the top roof60. The gaskets97also provide insulation between the lid80, the top roof60, and the cylindrical sleeve110.

The case12and lid80are made of plastic or sheet metal.

As shown inFIG. 19, a removable chair160may be inserted into the cylindrical sleeve110to elevate a standard 12 fl. oz. aluminum beverage can300.FIG. 22is a perspective view of the chair160. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 22, the chair160is sufficient in height to elevate the aluminum can300so that the upper 10 to 15% of the aluminum can300is exposed. When used to cool a water bottle302, the chair160is removed and may be stored in a cylindrical receiver96formed on the lid80.

Located inside the interior cavity14is at least one heat conducting unit100. In the embodiment presented, there are two heat conducting units100,100′ located inside the interior cavity114. Each cooling unit100,100′ includes a cylindrical sleeve110, an interface block120, a Peltier device130, a heatsink140, a fan150and insulation layer170.

The cylindrical sleeve110includes a center bore112configured to receive and to transfer heat to and from a standard aluminum can300that measures approximately 4.8 inches in length or a water bottle302that measures approximately 8.5 inches in length. In the embodiment shown and described therein, the length of the cylindrical sleeve110is optimized for use with aluminum cans300and water bottles302. The cylindrical sleeve110is made aluminum approximately 6 inches in length with an outer diameter that measures approximately 3.105 inches. The center bore112is approximately 2.605 inches in diameter. As shown inFIG. 17, the sidewall of the cylindrical sleeve110are approximate 0.25 inches thick. The cylindrical sleeve110includes a longitudinally aligned flat mounting surface114formed on one side for mounting the flat surface122of the interface block120.

The mounting surface114varies in thickness. At its thinnest location it measures approximately 0.16 inches thick. In the embodiment in theFIG. 16, the mounting surface114extends the entire length of the cylindrical sleeve110and is made of the same material as the cylindrical sleeve110. The mounting surface114is approximately 1.5 to 2 inches wide. The outer surface of the mounting surface114is flat and configured to press tightly against the inside surface of the interface block120that extends laterally from the cylindrical sleeve110. Threaded bores are formed on the mounting surface114that received threaded connectors that extend through the interface block120to securely attach the interface block120to the cylindrical sleeve110.

The interface block120is also made of aluminum a square or rectangular shaped box structure with two parallel flat ends122,124. The interface block120measures approximately 1.66 inches (w)×1.66 inches (h) and 0.8 inches thick (l). The interface block120includes two side ears128,129as shown inFIG. 21each with a bore that received threaded connectors126that connected to threaded bores116formed on the mounting surface114of the cylindrical sleeve110. As shown inFIG. 19, bores may also be formed on the heatsink140enabling one pair of threaded connectors126to connect the interface block120, the Peltier device130and the heatsink140. The fan assembly150may include an optional frame152that snap fits over the heatsink140.

Disposed around the cylindrical sleeve110and the interface block120is an insulation layer170. In one embodiment, the insulation layer17is made of adhesive tap made of polyurethane which may be applied in tape form, spray foam, or a two part clamshell structure. The insulation layer120is configured to cover the entire cylindrical sleeve110, the mounting surface114and the top, bottom and sides of the interface block120.

Attached to the outside end124of the interface block120is a Peltier device130. The Peltier device130is oriented so that the cold side132is aligned adjacent to the outside end124. The opposite, or hot side134of the Peltier device130faces outward. In the embodiment described herein, the Peltier device130is a thermoelectric cooling plate manufactured by various manufactures available from Amazon.com. (Model No. TEC1-12703, 12 27W). It measures approximately 40 mm×40 mm×4 mm has an operating temperature between −55 degrees C. and +83 degrees C.

During operation, the Peltier device130depends heavily on the ambient temperature outside. If the Peltier device130is operated outdoors in a hot climate with ambient 100 degrees F. temperature, the Peltier unit130will struggle to cool the beverage can300or water bottle302to 60 degrees. Typical Peltier devices state the ability to lower the temperature approximately 40 degrees F. below the ambient air temperature. So this reason, a temperature readout has been eliminated. During operation, rotational LO to HIGH variable switch76is used for rough relative cooling set points. When the knob76is set to ‘LO’, this means the lowest voltage setting applied to the Peltier device130. When set to LO, this means the highest voltage setting applied to Peltier device130. The user is instructed to test the settings to determine the set point that cools or warms their beverage to their desired temperature.

A heatsink140is attached to the hot side of the Peltier device130. The heatsink140fits inside an outer square shape frame142(seeFIG. 16). Mounted over the outside surface of the heat-sink140is a D.C. 12 V volt fan assembly150, (fan, blade and surrounding finger guard).

When the apparatus10is a beverage warmer, the current through the Peltier device130is reversed so the Peltier device130heats the aluminum interface block120and the cylindrical sleeve110. The opposite side of the Peltier device130now cools the heatsink140. The fan assembly150forces warm ambient air over the heatsink140.

Also, when used as a beverage warmer, a cylindrical secondary container400is placed inside the cylindrical sleeve110. The secondary container400include a lower cylindrical body402made of aluminum or similar heat conductive material. The outer diameter of the cylindrical body402is 1 to 2 mm less in diameter than the center bore112. The lower cylindrical body402must also be made of heat resistant material that will not burn, melt or deform. Attached or formed on the body402is an upper cylindrical section404made of or covered by heat insulating material. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 23, a large diameter lower collar410is formed on the lower edge of the upper cylindrical section404which protects the user's hand against heated side walls of the cylindrical body402. In the embodiment inFIG. 23, the length of the cylindrical body402is approximately the same length as the depth of the center bore112so the lower end of the cylindrical body402rests against in inside surface of the cylindrical sleeve110. When the cylindrical section402is shorter than the cylindrical sleeve110, the collar410acts as an abutment edge that prevents the second container400from falling into the center bore112. In the embodiment shown inFIG. 23, an optional lid406is disposed over the upper portion404to prevent spills.

As shown inFIG. 4, mounted on the rear wall20of the case12is a female electrical plug connector200configured to connect to a complimentary-shaped male plug connector202. The male plug connector202is attached to a wire204that connects either to a 110 VAC electrical power adaptor (also called a wall bug)210that converts 110 VAC to 12 VDC or to a motor vehicle cigarette plug adapter212. Both adapters210and212are configured to provide the 8 Amps of current to power the two Peltier devices130.

In the embodiment shown in the Figs. the apparatus10is a designed to be a portable, compact and used in a motor vehicle. The case12measures approximately 8″×7″×9″. (W×D×L). In the embodiment presented in the Figs., the apparatus10include two side by side heat conducting units100,100′. It should be understood that the apparatus10may use one heat conducting unit100or more than two conducting units oriented in different configurations inside the case12.

A key feature of the invention is the beverage coolers and warmers that used cool or hot air to cool or heat beverages are very inefficient and an improved beverage cooler and heater for beverages that used conduction is more efficient. Also, the discovery that 12 fl. oz. beverage aluminum cans300and 16.9 fl. oz plastic water bottles302have approximately the same diameter and therefore can be quickly cooled from room temperature (72 degrees F.) to refrigerator temperatures (sub 40 degrees) in 60 to 90 minutes a Peltier device assigned to each thermal conducting unit

Because cooling and warming is through the Peltier device130to the interface block120, and to the cylindrical sleeve110with a center bore112that 1 to 2 mm in diameter greater than the beverage container300or310, changes to ambient air does not substantially affect the apparatus' cooling or heating properties. Any ambient air that enters the lid80has little or no effect on the temperature of the ambient air flowing inside the interior cavity and does not contact the cylindrical sleeves or the interface blocks. Also, because the length of the cylindrical sleeve110is limited to approximately 6 inches, the apparatus10is optimized for use with standard 12 fl. oz. aluminum cans and 16.9 fl. oz. water bottles.

In compliance with the statute, the invention described has been described in language more or less specific on structural features. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction shown comprises the preferred embodiments for putting the invention into effect. The invention is therefore claimed in its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the amended claims, appropriately interpreted under the doctrine of equivalents.