Patent Publication Number: US-2021180858-A1

Title: Cooling Assembly for Drink Container

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This document relates to the technical field of (and is not limited to) a cooling assembly for a drink container. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Beverage cooling devices are known. 
     SUMMARY 
     It will be appreciated that there exists a need to mitigate (at least in part) at least one problem associated with the existing beverage cooling devices (also called the existing technology). After much study of, and experimentation with, the existing beverage cooling devices, an understanding (at least in part) of the problem and its solution have been identified (at least in part) and are articulated (at least in part) as follows: 
     It may be advantageous to provide an apparatus configured for relatively quicker cooling of drink containers (also called beverage cans) in comparison to the cooling rates current possible with known beverage cooling devices. 
     To mitigate, at least in part, at least one problem associated with the existing technology, there is provided (in accordance with a major aspect) an apparatus. The apparatus includes a cooling assembly having a longitudinal axis extending therethrough. The cooling assembly defines a container cavity extending along the longitudinal axis. The cooling assembly also defines an entrance leading to the container cavity. The entrance and the container cavity are configured to receive a drink container along an insertion direction co-aligned with the longitudinal axis. A thermal-transfer body is configured to be in thermal communication with the container cavity and an exterior of the cooling assembly. The thermal-transfer body is also configured to selectively convey thermal energy from the container cavity to the exterior of the cooling assembly. 
     Other aspects are identified in the claims. Other aspects and features of the non-limiting embodiments may now become apparent to those skilled in the art upon review of the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments with the accompanying drawings. This Summary is provided to introduce concepts in simplified form that are further described below in the Detailed Description. This Summary is not intended to identify potentially key features or possible essential features of the disclosed subject matter, and is not intended to describe each disclosed embodiment or every implementation of the disclosed subject matter. Many other novel advantages, features, and relationships will become apparent as this description proceeds. The figures and the description that follow more particularly exemplify illustrative embodiments. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The non-limiting embodiments may be more fully appreciated by reference to the following detailed description of the non-limiting embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  depict perspective views of embodiments of a cooling assembly configured to receive a drink container; and 
         FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  depict cross-sectional views of embodiments of the cooling assembly of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2 , in which views are taken along a cross-sectional line A-A as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
       The drawings are not necessarily to scale and may be illustrated by phantom lines, diagrammatic representations and fragmentary views. In certain instances, details unnecessary for an understanding of the embodiments (and/or details that render other details difficult to perceive) may have been omitted. Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding components throughout the several figures of the drawings. Elements in the several figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not been drawn to scale. The dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be emphasized relative to other elements for facilitating an understanding of the various disclosed embodiments. In addition, common, and well-understood, elements that are useful in commercially feasible embodiments are often not depicted to provide a less obstructed view of the embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
         
           
             
                 
               
                 
                     
                 
                 
                   LISTING OF REFERENCE NUMERALS 
                 
                 
                   USED IN THE DRAWINGS 
                 
                 
                     
                 
               
              
                 
                     
                 
              
             
             
                 
                 
                 
              
                 
                     
                   cooling assembly 100 
                   cooling device 112 
                 
                 
                     
                   longitudinal axis 101 
                   housing assembly 200 
                 
                 
                     
                   container cavity 102 
                   flexible wall 202 
                 
                 
                     
                   entrance 103 
                   ridged wall 204 
                 
                 
                     
                   thermal-transfer body 104 
                   passageways 206 
                 
                 
                     
                   rotation control wire 105 
                   cover 208 
                 
                 
                     
                   rotating device 106 
                   pivot 210 
                 
                 
                     
                   rotation direction 107 
                   cooling device 212 
                 
                 
                     
                   controller device 108 
                   electrical motor 214 
                 
                 
                     
                   cooling control wire 109 
                   drive gear 216 
                 
                 
                     
                   driven gear 218 
                   biasing member 228 
                 
                 
                     
                   bearing 220 
                   plate 230 
                 
                 
                     
                   rotatable base 222 
                   biasing support member 232 
                 
                 
                     
                   stand support 224 
                   drink container 900 
                 
                 
                     
                   first fluid seal 225A 
                   insertion direction 901 
                 
                 
                     
                   second fluid seal 225B 
                   user 902 
                 
                 
                     
                   stand device 226 
                 
                 
                     
                     
                 
              
             
           
         
       
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE NON-LIMITING EMBODIMENT(S) 
     The following detailed description is merely exemplary and is not intended to limit the described embodiments or the application and uses of the described embodiments. As used, the word “exemplary” or “illustrative” means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any implementation described as “exemplary” or “illustrative” is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. All of the implementations described below are exemplary implementations provided to enable persons skilled in the art to make or use the embodiments of the disclosure and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The scope of the claim is defined by the claims (in which the claims may be amended during patent examination after the filing of this application). For the description, the terms “upper,” “lower,” “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof shall relate to the examples as oriented in the drawings. There is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory in the preceding Technical Field, Background, Summary or the following detailed description. It is also to be understood that the devices and processes illustrated in the attached drawings, and described in the following specification, are exemplary embodiments (examples), aspects and/or concepts defined in the appended claims. Hence, dimensions and other physical characteristics relating to the embodiments disclosed are not to be considered as limiting, unless the claims expressly state otherwise. It is understood that the phrase “at least one” is equivalent to “a”. The aspects (examples, alterations, modifications, options, variations, embodiments and any equivalent thereof) are described regarding the drawings. It should be understood that the invention is limited to the subject matter provided by the claims, and that the invention is not limited to the particular aspects depicted and described. It will be appreciated that the scope of the meaning of a device configured to be coupled to an item (that is, to be connected to, to interact with the item, etc.) is to be interpreted as the device being configured to be coupled to the item, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, “configured to” may include the meaning “either directly or indirectly” unless specifically stated otherwise. 
       FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  depict perspective views of embodiments of a cooling assembly  100  configured to receive a drink container  900 .  FIG. 1  depicts the drink container  900  positioned exteriorly of the cooling assembly  100 .  FIG. 2  depicts the drink container  900  positioned interiorly of the cooling assembly  100 . 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the drink container  900  is positioned over an entrance  103  leading into a container cavity  102 . The drink container  900  is insertable past the entrance  103  and into the container cavity  102 . 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the drink container  900  is fully inserted into the container cavity  102 . The drink container  900  is securely received in (and is, preferably, not removable from) the container cavity  102 . The rotating device  106  may be activated (to rotate the drink container  900 ). The rotating device  106  is configured to be rotated along a rotation direction  107 . The cooling device  112  may be activated (for the removal of thermal energy from the drink container  900 ). Preferably, the rotating device  106  and the cooling device  112  are operated at the same time. Alternatively, the rotating device  106  and the cooling device  112  are operated so that the operations thereof overlap over a duration of time. Once the drink container  900  has reached a relatively cooler temperature (a desired temperature or a predetermined temperature), the rotating device  106  and the cooling device  112  may be deactivated, and the drink container  900  may be removed from the container cavity  102  (and the cooled drink may be enjoyed by the user  902 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is depicted an embodiment of an apparatus. The apparatus includes and is not limited to (comprises) a cooling assembly  100  having a longitudinal axis  101  extending therethrough. The cooling assembly  100  defines a container cavity  102  extending along the longitudinal axis  101 . The cooling assembly  100  also defines an entrance  103  leading to the container cavity  102 . The entrance  103  and the container cavity  102  are configured to receive a drink container  900  along an insertion direction  901  co-aligned with the longitudinal axis  101 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a thermal-transfer body  104  configured to be in thermal communication with (either directly or indirectly, or positioned adjacent to) the container cavity  102  and an exterior of the cooling assembly  100 . The thermal-transfer body  104  is also configured to selectively convey thermal energy from the container cavity  102  to the exterior (outer environment) of the cooling assembly  100 . The thermal-transfer body  104  may include a heat transfer fluid, a cooling fluid or a coolant, etc., and any equivalent thereof. The thermal-transfer body  104  may include a liquid and/or a gas. The thermal-transfer body  104  is configured to reduce or regulate the temperature of a system. Preferably, the thermal-transfer body  104  has a high thermal capacity, a low viscosity, is low-cost, non-toxic, chemically inert and neither causes nor promotes corrosion. The thermal-transfer body  104  may be configured to either keep its phase by staying in a liquid state or a gaseous state, or may undergo a phase transition, with the latent heat adding to the cooling efficiency. The latter, when used to achieve below-ambient temperature, is more commonly known as a refrigerant. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a cooling device  112  configured to be in thermal communication with (positioned in) the thermal-transfer body  104 . The cooling device  112  is also configured to draw (move) thermal energy once the cooling device  112  is selectively activated. Preferably, the cooling device  112  also configured to move thermal energy from the container cavity  102  to the thermal-transfer body  104  once the cooling device  112  is selectively activated. Preferably, the cooling device  112  is configured to provide a thermoelectric cooling that utilizes the Peltier effect to create a heat flux at the junction of two different types of materials. A Peltier cooler, heater, or thermoelectric heat pump is a solid-state active heat pump which transfers heat from one side of the device to the other, with consumption of electrical energy, depending on the direction of the current. Such an instrument is also called a Peltier device, Peltier heat pump, solid state refrigerator, or thermoelectric cooler (TEC). It may be used either for heating or for cooling. It may also be used as a temperature controller that either heats or cools. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a controller device  108  configured to be in electrical communication with the cooling device  112 . The controller device  108  may include a microprocessor device (known to those skilled in the art), along with a keyboard (user input and output device, etc.). The controller device  108  is also configured to selectively activate (via a cooling-control signal issued from the controller device  108  along a cooling control wire  109 ) the cooling device  112 . This is done in such a way that the cooling device  112 , in use, draws thermal energy away from the container cavity  102  to the exterior of the cooling assembly  100  via the thermal-transfer body  104 . For instance, the cooling device  112  may include a solid-state device  212 , a conventional compressor, etc., and any equivalent thereof. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a rotating device  106  (such as a rotatable disk) positioned in the cooling assembly  100  (such as, at the bottom section of the container cavity  102 ). The rotating device  106  is configured to contact (abut) the drink container  900  once the drink container  900  is inserted into the container cavity  102 . The rotating device  106  is also configured to selectively rotate the drink container  900  along a rotation direction  107  once the drink container  900  is inserted into the container cavity  102 , and once the rotating device  106  contacts the drink container  900 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the controller device  108  is also configured to be in electrical communication with the rotating device  106  (via a rotation control line  105 ). The controller device  108  is also configured to urge rotational movement of the rotating device  106  (by issuing the transmission of a rotation-control signal via the rotation control line  105  to the rotating device  106 ). 
       FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 5  and  FIG. 6  depict cross-sectional views of embodiments of the cooling assembly  100  of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2 . The views are taken along a cross-sectional line A-A as depicted in  FIG. 2 . 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 3 , the apparatus further includes a housing assembly  200  and a cover  208 . The cover  208  is placed in an open position. The drink container  900  is positioned over the entrance  103  of a housing assembly  200  (also called a stationary housing assembly). The housing assembly  200  surrounds the container cavity  102 . 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 4 , the drink container  900  is inserted, at least in part, past the entrance  103  of the housing assembly  200  and into the container cavity  102 . 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 5 , the drink container  900  is fully inserted into the container cavity  102  of the housing assembly  200 . This is done in such a way that the cover  208  may be closed. 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , the cover  208  of the housing assembly  200  is placed in a closed position (once the drink container  900  received in the container cavity  102 ). This is done in such a way that the cover  208  prevents the drink container  900  from unwanted removal from the container cavity  102  of the housing assembly  200  (while the drink container  900  is being cooled down). The rotating device  106  may be activated (to rotate the drink container  900 ). The cooling device  112  may be activated (to remove thermal energy from the drink container  900 ). Preferably, the rotating device  106  and the cooling device  112  are operated at the same time. Alternatively, the rotating device  106  and the cooling device  112  are operated so that the operations thereof overlap over a duration of time. Once activated, the rotating device  106  is configured to be rotated along a rotation direction  107 . 
     Referring to the embodiment of  FIG. 6 , once the drink container  900  has reached a relatively cooler temperature (a desired temperature or a predetermined temperature), the rotating device  106  and the cooling device  112  may be deactivated, the cover  208  of the housing assembly  200  may be placed in the open position (as depicted in  FIG. 3 , for instance), and the drink container  900  may be removed from the container cavity  102  (and may be enjoyed by the user  902 , as depicted in  FIG. 1 ). 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a housing assembly  200  surrounding the container cavity  102 . The housing assembly  200  defines the entrance  103  leading to the container cavity  102 . A flexible wall  202  is supported by the housing assembly  200 . The flexible wall  202  may include a rubber material, etc., and any equivalent thereof. The flexible wall  202  is positioned at an outer periphery of the container cavity  102 . The flexible wall  202  is positioned between the container cavity  102  and the thermal-transfer body  104 . Preferably, the thermal-transfer body  104  includes a cooling fluid. The flexible wall  202  is configured to prevent fluid communication of the cooling fluid with the drink container  900  once the drink container  900  is inserted into the container cavity  102 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a ridged wall  204  supported by the housing assembly  200 . The ridged wall  204  may include a sheet of metal, and any equivalent thereof. The ridged wall  204  is positioned adjacent to the flexible wall  202 . The ridged wall  204  is positioned between the flexible wall  202  and the cooling fluid of the thermal-transfer body  104 . The ridged wall  204  defines passageways  206  (that extend between opposite lateral side surfaces thereof). The passageways  206  are configured to permit fluid communication (fluid movement) of the cooling fluid between the container cavity  102  and the flexible wall  202 . The ridged wall  204  is configured to receive weight from the cooling fluid contained in the thermal-transfer body  104  in such a way that a relatively lesser amount of weight from the cooling fluid is transferred to the flexible wall  202  via the passageways  206  of the ridged wall  204 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a cover  208  (also called a lid). The cover  208  is configured to be supported by the housing assembly  200  at the entrance  103  leading to the container cavity  102 . Preferably, the cover is thermally insulated. A pivot  210  is configured to pivotally couple the cover  208  to the housing assembly  200  at the entrance  103  leading to the container cavity  102 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) an electrical motor  214  connected to the rotating device  106 . The controller device  108  is also configured to be in electrical communication with the electrical motor  214 . The controller device  108  is also configured to selectively activate the electrical motor  214 . This is done in such a way that the electrical motor  214  urges rotation of the rotating device  106 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a drive gear  216  connected to an output shaft of the electrical motor  214 . A driven gear  218  is connected to the rotating device  106 . The drive gear  216  and the driven gear  218  are operatively connected together. This is done in such a way that rotation of the electrical motor  214  urges rotation of the rotating device  106 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a bearing  220  (ball bearings) supported by (contained in) the housing assembly  200 . The bearing  220  is configured to support rotational movement of the rotating device  106  about the longitudinal axis  101 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a rotatable base  222  rotatably mounted to the housing assembly  200 . The rotatable base  222  is configured to contact the bearing  220 . The rotatable base  222  is configured to support selective rotation of the rotating device  106  about the longitudinal axis  101 . The rotatable base  222  is connected to the driven gear  218 . This is done in such a way that selective rotation of the electrical motor  214  urges selective rotation of the rotatable base  222  and the rotating device  106  via interaction between the drive gear  216  and the driven gear  218 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a stand support  224  supported by the rotatable base  222 . The stand support  224  is configured to support vertical alignment of the rotating device  106 . The stand support  224  is configured to slidably receive, at least in part, the rotating device  106 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the rotating device  106  includes a stand device  226  having a central stem  227  extending centrally therefrom. The central stem  227  is configured to be slideably supported by (or slideably received in) the stand support  224 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a biasing support member  232  is supported by the stand support  224 . A biasing member  228  (also called a spring) is positioned between (either directly or indirectly) the stand device  226  and the biasing support member  232 . The biasing member  228  is configured to bias movement of the stand device  226  toward the entrance  103 . 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a plate  230  positioned between the biasing support member  232  and the biasing member  228 . The plate  230  is configured to contact the biasing member  228 . Preferably, the plate  230  has a first flat surface configured to contact the biasing member  228 . The plate  230  is configured to contact the biasing support member  232 . Preferably, the plate  230  has a second flat surface configured to contact the biasing support member  232 . 
     Referring to the embodiment as depicted in  FIG. 6 , the flexible wall  202  and the ridged wall  204  are (fixedly) mounted to one side (upper side) of the plate  230  (or to the biasing support member  232  for the case where the plate  230  is not utilized). Selective activation of the electrical motor  214 , in turn, causes rotation of the rotatable base  222 , the stand support  224 , the biasing support member  232 , the biasing member  228 , the plate  230 , the biasing support member  232 , the stand device  226  (of the rotating device  106 ), the flexible wall  202 , the ridged wall  204 , as well rotation of the drink container  900  (which is positioned on the stand device  226 ). A technical advantage of this arrangement is that relatively faster cooling action or result may be achieved for the drink container  900  as a result of rotating the flexible wall  202 , the ridged wall  204  and the drink container  900  (all relative to the housing assembly  200 ). 
     Referring to the embodiments as depicted in  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 6 , the apparatus of  FIG. 1  and/or  FIG. 2  further includes (and is not limited to) a first fluid seal  225 A positioned between the plate  230  and the biasing support member  232 . The fluid seal  225 A is configured to prevent inadvertent leakage of the cooling fluid from the thermal-transfer body  104  via the plate  230  and the biasing support member  232 . A second fluid seal  225 B is positioned proximate to the entrance  103 . The second fluid seal  225 B is configured to prevent inadvertent leakage of the cooling fluid via the entrance  103 . 
     The following is offered as further description of the embodiments, in which any one or more of any technical feature (described in the detailed description, the summary and the claims) may be combinable with any other one or more of any technical feature (described in the detailed description, the summary and the claims). It is understood that each claim in the claims section is an open ended claim unless stated otherwise. Unless otherwise specified, relational terms used in these specifications should be construed to include certain tolerances that the person skilled in the art would recognize as providing equivalent functionality. By way of example, the term perpendicular is not necessarily limited to 90.0 degrees, and may include a variation thereof that the person skilled in the art would recognize as providing equivalent functionality for the purposes described for the relevant member or element. Terms such as “about” and “substantially”, in the context of configuration, relate generally to disposition, location, or configuration that are either exact or sufficiently close to the location, disposition, or configuration of the relevant element to preserve operability of the element within the invention which does not materially modify the invention. Similarly, unless specifically made clear from its context, numerical values should be construed to include certain tolerances that the person skilled in the art would recognize as having negligible importance as they do not materially change the operability of the invention. It will be appreciated that the description and/or drawings identify and describe embodiments of the apparatus (either explicitly or inherently). The apparatus may include any suitable combination and/or permutation of the technical features as identified in the detailed description, as may be required and/or desired to suit a particular technical purpose and/or technical function. It will be appreciated that, where possible and suitable, any one or more of the technical features of the apparatus may be combined with any other one or more of the technical features of the apparatus (in any combination and/or permutation). It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that the technical features of each embodiment may be deployed (where possible) in other embodiments even if not expressly stated as such above. It will be appreciated that persons skilled in the art would know that other options would be possible for the configuration of the components of the apparatus to adjust to manufacturing requirements and still remain within the scope as described in at least one or more of the claims. This written description provides embodiments, including the best mode, and also enables the person skilled in the art to make and use the embodiments. The patentable scope may be defined by the claims. The written description and/or drawings may help to understand the scope of the claims. It is believed that all the crucial aspects of the disclosed subject matter have been provided in this document. It is understood, for this document, that the word “includes” is equivalent to the word “comprising” in that both words are used to signify an open-ended listing of assemblies, components, parts, etc. The term “comprising”, which is synonymous with the terms “including,” “containing,” or “characterized by,” is inclusive or open-ended and does not exclude additional, unrecited elements or method steps. Comprising (comprised of) is an “open” phrase and allows coverage of technologies that employ additional, unrecited elements. When used in a claim, the word “comprising” is the transitory verb (transitional term) that separates the preamble of the claim from the technical features of the invention. The foregoing has outlined the non-limiting embodiments (examples). The description is made for particular non-limiting embodiments (examples). It is understood that the non-limiting embodiments are merely illustrative as examples.