Patent ID: 7278270

Claim:
A thermoelectric insulated container, comprising: an insulated container having a hole therethrough, the hole defining a depth and an inner periphery; and a thermoelectric unit extending into the insulated container, the thermoelectric unit comprising: a thermoelectric module; a thermally conductive block connected to the thermoelectric module; a first heat sink connected to one of the thermally conductive block and the thermoelectric module and positioned in fluid communication with an inside of the insulated container; a first fan positioned to direct air over the first heat sink; and a second heat sink connected to the other of the thermally conductive block and the thermoelectric module and in fluid communication with an outside of the insulated container; the first heat sink, the thermoelectric module, and the second heat sink being aligned linearly such that a line projecting through the first heat sink, the thermoelectric module, and the second heat sink extends through the hole; the thermally conductive block and the thermoelectric module being arranged and configured such that the first and second heat sinks are spaced a distance substantially the same as the depth, whereby the second heat sink is mostly outside of the insulated container, and the first heat sink is mostly inside the insulated container.