Patent Publication Number: US-2012042873-A1

Title: Heating cabinet

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0079897, filed on Aug. 18, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes. 
     BACKGROUND 
     1. Field 
     The following description relates to a heating cabinet, and more particularly, to a heating cabinet capable of keeping foods and beverage warm. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     A heating cabinet is a device configured to keep foods and beverage warm. The heating cabinet may be classified into a various types of heating cabinets depending on its driving source, for example, electricity, combustion heat of gas, circulating hot air and circulating steam. As described above, a conventional heating cabinet requires the electricity or gas produced from a power plant, and thus causes a difficulty in carrying along with a user. 
     Meanwhile, as eco-friendly products become gaining in importance, the demand for low power-driven products or solar battery-driven products is increased. 
     SUMMARY 
     In one aspect, there is provided a heating cabinet for keeping foods warm by use of solar energy and ensuring its portability. 
     In one general aspect, there is provided a heating cabinet including a body member which has an outer surface formed using transparent material and includes an accommodation space formed therein, in which an inside of a part surrounding the accommodation space is filled with heat retaining fluid heated by solar energy such that heat received from solar energy is held in the heat retaining fluid; and a detachable member which is formed at one side of the body member to allow the body member to be detachable to the window. 
     As described above, in a state the heating cabinet of the present invention is attached to a window installed on a wall of offices or houses, if beverage and foods are contained in the heating cabinet during a predetermined time, the beverage and foods are heated up and heated foods are kept warm. In addition, when taking foods contained in the heating cabinet, a user may take foods by separating the heating cabinet from the window. Alternatively, a user may separate the heating cabinet from the window and take foods while carrying the separated heating cabinet. 
     Other features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view showing an example of a heating cabinet. 
         FIG. 2  is a perspective view showing another example of a heating cabinet. 
     
    
    
     Elements, features, and structures are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and the detailed description, and the size and proportions of some elements may be exaggerated in the drawings for clarity and convenience. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses and/or systems described herein. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art. Descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted to enhance clarity and conciseness. 
     Hereinafter, examples will be described with reference to accompanying drawings in detail. 
     As shown  FIGS. 1 and 2 , a heating cabinet  100  includes a body member  110  and a detachable member  120 . 
     The body member  110  has an outer surface formed using transparent material and is configured to form an accommodation space therein, in which an inside of a part surrounding the accommodation space is filled with heat retaining fluid heated by solar energy. The body member  110  receives solar energy and stores heat of the solar energy in the heat retaining fluid not shown, thereby keeping stuffs of the accommodation space warm using the heat. The heat retaining fluid is heated by the solar energy. The heat retaining fluid may be implemented using water. 
     The detachable member  120  is formed at one side of the body member  110  and is detachable to a window. The detachable member  120  may be implemented using a suction plate. According to an example of coupling the detachable member  120  to the body member  110 , coupling holes are formed through the body member  110  and the suction plate is coupled to the coupling holes. 
     In a state the heating cabinet  100  is attached to a window installed on a wall of offices or houses, if beverage and foods are contained in the heating cabinet  100  during a predetermined time, the beverage and foods are heated up or heated foods are kept warm. In addition, when taking foods contained in the heating cabinet  100 , a user may take foods by separating the heating cabinet  100  from the window. Alternatively, a user may separate the heating cabinet from the window and take foods while carrying the separated heating cabinet  100 . 
     Meanwhile, an example of the body member  110  may include an outer body part  111 , an inner body part  112  and a sealing part  113 . 
     The outer body part  111  is formed using transparent material. The outer body part  111  may be implemented using transparent plastic. 
     The inner body part  112  is accommodated in the outer body part  111 . The inner body part  112  has a size smaller than that of the outer body part  111 . The inner body part  112  may be formed using material having a high thermal conductivity. The inner body part  112  may be implemented using aluminum. For example, each of the outer body part  111  and the inner body part  112  may be provided in the form of a hexahedron having an open upper surface. For example, each of the outer body part  111  and the inner body part  112  may be provided in the form of a cylinder having an open upper surface. 
     The sealing part  113  is configured to seal an open upper part of a space between the outer part  111  and the inner body part  112  to prevent heat retaining fluid filled between the outer body part  111  and the inner body part  112  from being lost to the outside. The sealing part  113  serves to prevent the heat retaining fluid filled in a space between the outer body part  111  and the inner body part  112  from being lost to the outside. 
     According to the body member  110  having the structure described above, heat of solar energy is transferred to the heat retaining fluid. The heat accumulated in the heat retaining fluid serves to heat up foods in the accommodation space or keep heated foods warm. 
     According to another example, the heating cabinet  100  may further include a solar battery part  130  and a heating part not shown. 
     The solar battery part  130  is formed at one side of the body member  110  to convert solar energy to electric energy. 
     The heating part is formed at one of the outer body part  111 , the inner body part  112 , and the heat retaining fluid and is electrically connected to the solar battery part  130 . The heating part converts solar energy of the solar battery part  130  to electric energy. The heating part may be implemented using heating coils. The heat produced from the heating coils serves to heat up foods or keep heated food warm. 
     Meanwhile, the heating cabinet  100  may further include an outlet socket  140 . The outlet socket  140  is formed at one side of the outer body part  111 . The outlet socket  140  is electrically connected to the solar battery part  130 . A plug of home appliances is put into the outlet socket  140 . The outlet socket  140  provides electricity of the solar battery part  130  to the home appliances, thereby operating the home appliances. 
     A number of exemplary embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.