U.S. patent application number 11/888276 was filed with the patent office on 2009-02-05 for portable cooler with internal ice maker.
Invention is credited to Donald E. Whillock, SR..
Application Number | 20090031750 11/888276 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 40336849 |
Filed Date | 2009-02-05 |
United States Patent
Application |
20090031750 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Whillock, SR.; Donald E. |
February 5, 2009 |
Portable cooler with internal ice maker
Abstract
A portable cooler including a sealable outer container, and a
sealable inner container situated within the outer container. A
first thermoelectric cooling device having a cooling panel and a
heating panel is mounted on the wall of the outer container such
that the cooling panel faces the interior of the sealable outer
container and the heating panel faces outside of said sealable
outer container. A second thermoelectric cooling device, also
having a cooling panel and a heating panel, is mounted on the wall
of the internal container such that the cooling panel faces the
interior of the inner container and the heating panel faces outside
of the sealable inner container into the interior of said sealable
outer container.
Inventors: |
Whillock, SR.; Donald E.;
(Marianna, FL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
John Wiley Horton, Attorney;Pennington, Moore, Wilkinson, Bell & Dunbar,
P.A.
2nd Floor, 215 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee
FL
32301
US
|
Family ID: |
40336849 |
Appl. No.: |
11/888276 |
Filed: |
July 31, 2007 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
62/344 ;
62/457.5; 62/457.9 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F25D 11/003 20130101;
F25B 21/02 20130101; F25C 2400/10 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
62/344 ;
62/457.5; 62/457.9 |
International
Class: |
F25D 11/00 20060101
F25D011/00 |
Claims
1. A portable cooler comprising: a. a sealable outer container,
having an insulated side wall, an insulated base, an insulated top,
and an interior therebetween; b. a sealable inner container
situated within said outer container, said inner container having
an interior and a wall separating said interior of said sealable
inner container from said interior of said sealable outer
container; c. a first thermoelectric cooling device, having a
cooling panel and a heating panel, said first thermoelectric
cooling device positioned on said sealable outer container such
that said cooling panel faces said interior of said sealable outer
container and said heating panel faces outside of said sealable
outer container; d. a second thermoelectric cooling device, having
a cooling panel and a heating panel, said second thermoelectric
cooling device positioned on said sealable inner container such
that said cooling panel faces said interior of said sealable inner
container and said heating panel faces outside of said sealable
inner container into said interior of said sealable outer
container.
2. The portable cooler of claim 1, further comprising an ice maker
positioned in said sealable inner container.
3. The portable cooler of claim 1, wherein said first
thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said insulated side
wall of said sealable outer container.
4. The portable cooler of claim 1, wherein said second
thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said wall of said
sealable internal container.
5. The portable cooler of claim 2, further comprising a reservoir
for storing water, said reservoir fluidly connected with said ice
maker.
6. The portable cooler of claim 2, said ice maker positioned
adjacent to said cooling panel of said second thermoelectric
cooling device.
7. The portable cooler of claim 2, said ice maker configured to
dump ice pieces into an ice storage zone, said ice storage zone
positioned in said interior of said sealable internal
container.
8. A portable cooler comprising: a. a first sealable container,
having an insulated side wall, an insulated base, an insulated top,
and an interior therebetween; b. a second sealable container,
having an insulated wall, and an interior, said second sealable
container including a separating wall separating said interior of
said second sealable container from said interior of said first
sealable container; c. a first thermoelectric cooling device,
having a cooling panel and a heating panel, said first
thermoelectric cooling device positioned on said first sealable
container such that said cooling panel faces said interior of said
first sealable container and said heating panel faces outside of
said first sealable container; d. a second thermoelectric cooling
device, having a cooling panel and a heating panel, said second
thermoelectric cooling device positioned on said second sealable
container such that said cooling panel faces said interior of said
second sealable container and said heating panel faces outside of
said second sealable container into said interior of said first
sealable container.
9. The portable cooler of claim 8, further comprising an ice maker
positioned in said second sealable container.
10. The portable cooler of claim 8, wherein said first
thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said insulated side
wall of said first sealable container.
11. The portable cooler of claim 8, wherein said second
thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said separating
wall.
12. The portable cooler of claim 9, further comprising a reservoir
for storing water, said reservoir fluidly connected with said ice
maker.
13. The portable cooler of claim 9, said ice maker positioned
adjacent to said cooling panel of said second thermoelectric
cooling device.
14. The portable cooler of claim 9, said ice maker configured to
dump ice pieces into an ice storage zone, said ice storage zone
positioned in said interior of said second sealable container.
15. A portable cooler comprising: a. a first insulated sealable
container having a first interior; b. a second insulated sealable
container having a second interior, said second sealable container
integrated with said first sealable container such that second
interior is separated from said first interior; c. a first
thermoelectric cooling device attached to said first insulated
sealable container, said first thermoelectric cooling device
configured to transfer heat out of said first interior by Peltier
effect; and d. a second thermoelectric cooling device attached to
said second insulated sealable container, said second
thermoelectric cooling device configured to transfer heat out of
said second interior into said first interior by Peltier
effect.
16. The portable cooler of claim 15, further comprising an ice
maker positioned in said second sealable container.
17. The portable cooler of claim 15, further comprising a
separating wall separating said first interior from said second
interior, wherein said second thermoelectric cooling device is
mounted to said separating wall.
18. The portable cooler of claim 16, further comprising a reservoir
for storing water, said reservoir fluidly connected with said ice
maker.
19. The portable cooler of claim 16, said ice maker positioned
adjacent to said second thermoelectric cooling device.
20. The portable cooler of claim 16, said ice maker configured to
dump ice pieces into an ice storage zone, said ice storage zone
positioned in said interior of said second sealable container.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] This invention relates to the field of portable coolers.
More specifically, the present invention comprises a portable
cooler with an integrated internal ice maker.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] Portable coolers have been widely used for transporting cold
storage items--such as food and drinks--from one location to
another for many years. Conventionally, a portable cooler is loaded
with cold storage items along with a cooling medium--such as ice or
frozen gel packages--to keep the inside of the cooler cold.
Assuming the cooler remains closed and a sufficient amount of
cooling medium is used, the cold storage items will remain at near
freezing temperatures for a couple of days. However, it is not
uncommon for the contents of the container to be accessed
periodically over time as the contents are consumed. This repeated
opening of the container allows ambient heat to enter the portable
container and expedites the depletion of the cooling medium.
[0005] More recently, electrically-powered cooling elements have
been employed in portable coolers to transfer heat out of the
cooler. These devices are often configured to be powered by a 12
volt DC power source, such as a cigarette lighter of an automobile.
Despite the existence of such powered transportable coolers, there
remains a need for a portable cooler that is able to store cold
storage items and make and store ice. While these cooling elements
work well for keeping the cooler at near-freezing temperatures
these cooling elements are not efficient enough to freeze ice.
Therefore, it would be beneficial to provide a portable cooler that
is capable of making ice and is small enough to be easily
transported in a vehicle.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The present invention comprises a portable cooler including
a sealable outer container, and a sealable inner container situated
within the outer container. A first thermoelectric cooling device
having a cooling panel and a heating panel is mounted on the wall
of the outer container such that the cooling panel faces the
interior of the sealable outer container and the heating panel is
located on the outside of the sealable outer container. A second
thermoelectric cooling device, also having a cooling panel and a
heating panel, is mounted on the wall of the internal container
such that the cooling panel faces the interior of the inner
container and the heating panel is located outside of the sealable
inner container but inside the sealable outer container.
[0007] With the thermoelectric cooling devices placed in this
arrangement, the inner container can be made cold enough to freeze
ice. As such, an ice maker may be placed in the inner container to
provide the user with a constant supply of ice. The interior of the
outer container is maintained at a temperature sufficient for the
storage of drinks and food items. An integrated electrical control
system is provided to distribute power to the thermoelectric
cooling devices and operate the internal ice maker.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] FIG. 1 is a perspective view, showing the present
invention.
[0009] FIG. 2 is a section view, showing the present invention.
[0010] FIG. 3 is a section view, showing an internal ice maker and
storage container.
[0011] FIG. 4 is a section view, showing an internal ice maker and
storage container.
[0012] FIG. 5 is a perspective view, showing an internal ice maker
and storage container.
REFERENCE NUMERALS IN THE DRAWINGS
TABLE-US-00001 [0013] 10 portable cooler 12 internal container 14
3Peltier panel 16 Peltier panel 18 control module 20 top 22 hinges
24 insulated wall 26 insulated wall 28 top 30 hinges 32 tab 34
power cord 36 connector 38 heating plate 40 cooling plate 42
heating plate 44 cooling plate 46 ice 48 tip 50 conduit 52 pivot
joint 54 motor 56 drain 58 tube 60 reservoir 62 pump 64 storage
zone 66 port 68 ice maker
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0014] The present invention, portable cooler 10, is illustrated in
FIG. 1. Portable cooler 10 has much in common with a conventional
"ice chest" type cooler. Portable cooler 10 is shaped as a
rectangular box with sealable top 20. It is preferred that portable
cooler 10 be manufactured in the size range of conventional ice
chest type coolers, so that portable cooler 10 may be transported
in the trunk of a car.
[0015] Sealable top 20 is attached to the bottom portion of
portable cooler 10 with hinges 22. Top 22 forms an air-tight seal
with the bottom portion of the box when top 22 is closed. The
bottom portion of portable cooler 10 is bounded by insulated walls,
including insulated walls 26 and 24, and an insulated base.
[0016] Portable cooler 10 also has an integrated internal container
12 for making and storing ice. Like portable cooler 10, internal
container 12 in insulated with a sealable top 28. Top 28 is
attached to the insulated bottom portion of internal container 12
with hinges 30. Tab 32 is provided on top 28 to facilitate opening
of top 28.
[0017] Internal container 12 and the outer container of portable
cooler 10 each have a Peltier panel (Peltier panels 14 and 16,
respectively) for rejecting heat out of the inside of the
containers. Peltier panels 14 and 16 are thermoelectric devices
which use the Peltier effect to create a temperature difference,
.DELTA.T, from an electric voltage. Commercially available Peltier
panels are capable of creating a .DELTA.T of approximately
40.degree. F. from one side of the panel to the other. Thus,
Peltier panel 16 functions to reject heat out of portable cooler 10
and thus cool the inside of portable cooler 10. Peltier panel 14
rejects heat out of internal container 12 into the inside of
portable cooler 10 and cools the inside of internal container
12.
[0018] Control module 18 is provided for controlling the many
electronic elements of the present invention including Peltier
panels 14 and 16 and the ice maker. Power cord 34 and connector 36
are provided so that portable cooler 10 may be powered by a 12 VDC
source, such as 12 VDC electrical outlet in an automobile.
[0019] A section view is provided in FIG. 2 to illustrate the
internal components of the present invention. Peltier panel 14 has
cooling plate 44 facing the inside of internal container 12 and
heating plate 42 facing the inside of portable cooler 10.
Commercially-available Peltier panels have two ceramic plates with
an array of small BismuthTelluride cubes ("couples") in between.
The polarity of the DC current supplied to the panel determines the
direction of heat transfer.
[0020] When powered, Peltier panel 14 transfers heat out of
internal container 12 (cooling plate 44 lowers the temperature of
the inside of internal container 12, and heating plate 42 heats the
inside of portable cooler 10). Peltier panel 16 has cooling plate
40 facing the inside of the container and heating plate 38 facing
the outside of portable cooler 10. When powered, cooling plate 40
lowers the temperature inside portable cooler 10, and heating plate
38 rejects heat outside of portable cooler 10.
[0021] It should be noted that the Peltier panels shown in the
drawing views are merely representative of the type of
thermoelectric devices that may be used in accordance with the
present invention. Fans or other active devices may be employed
with thermoelectric elements for improved efficiency. In addition,
the heating and cooling plates of the Peltier panels may be ribbed
or louvered to increase the surface area of heat transfer.
[0022] Although a single Peltier panel is illustrated on each
container, it may be desirable to employ multiple Peltier panels on
either or both internal container 12 and/or portable cooler 10.
Also, Peltier panel 16 must be capable of removing the heat
generated by Peltier panel 14 from portable cooler 10 while
providing portable cooler 10 with a sufficiently cool internal
temperature to store perishable food items and keep beverages
cold.
[0023] A detailed illustration of the internal container is
provided in FIG. 3. Reservoir 60 is provided in the bottom of the
internal container to hold a supply of water for the ice maker.
Tube 58 extends to the bottom of reservoir 60 and is fluidly
connected with pump 62. Pump 62 draws water through tube 58 and
into conduit 50. The water passes through conduit 50 out tip 48
where it begins to freeze next to cooling plate 42 as ice 46. Once
ice 46 has formed on tip 48, the control module actuates motor 54
to dump ice 46.
[0024] Turning to FIG. 4, the reader will note that ice 46 is
ejected through port 66 of ice maker 68 into storage zone 64.
Weight sensors or timing circuits may be used to coordinate the
freezing operations with the delivery of ice particles into storage
zone 64. A pressure pulse of water may also be expelled by pump 62
when motor 54 causes conduit 50 to pivot about pivot joint 52. The
pressure pulse of water helps separate ice 46 from tip 58 of
conduit 50. Alternatively, an electric current may be supplied to
conduit 50 the heat the tip of conduit 50 and loosen the ice. As
shown in FIG. 5, the motor is then actuated again to return
conduits 50 to their original position.
[0025] Turning back to FIG. 3, drain 56 is provided in the bottom
of the storage zone, so that water melting off of the ice can
return to reservoir 60. Drain 56 also provides a port for filling
reservoir 60. Level sensors may be employed in reservoir 60 to shut
off the ice maker when reservoir 60 is empty. The level sensors may
also be integrated with a warning LED (possibly mounted on the
outside of portable cooler 10) to inform the user when more water
needs to be added to the reservoir.
[0026] Other features may be added to the illustrated embodiment to
improve the functionality of the present invention. For example,
the portable cooler can be powered with solar panels. The solar
panels may be incorporated into the lid or may be a free-standing
separate component that is wired to the cooler. An integrated
charge controller and battery bank may be used to store the
harvested solar power.
[0027] Also, top 20 may be replaced with a lid having multiple
hatches, allowing the user to open a desired portion of the lid.
Such a design would limit the amount of ambient heat that enters
the portable cooler when the lid is opened, thereby reducing the
demand on the Peltier panels.
[0028] In addition, control module 18 may include one or more
switches which the user can actuate to control the polarity of the
current sent to one or both Peltier panels. In the preferred
embodiment, a pair of three-position switches are employed--one
switch for controlling Peltier panel 14 and a second switch for
controlling Peltier panel 16. These switches can be mounted to the
inside or outside of the cooler. In the switch's first position,
the switch sets the polarity such that the Peltier panel can be
used for cooling the inside of the container. When both switches
are set to this position, the cooler operates as described
previously (i.e. Peltier panel 14 transfers heat out of the cooler
and Peltier panel 16 transfers heat out of the internal container).
In the switch's second position, the switch decouples the power
from the Peltier panel so that it is inactive. The user may wish to
set the switch for Peltier panel 14 to this position when the user
does not require the use the ice maker. In the switch's third
position, the switch reverses the polarity from the first position
such that the Peltier panel can be used to heat the inside of the
container. Using the third position, the user can use the "cooler"
to keep food warm.
[0029] The preceding description contains significant detail
regarding the novel aspects of the present invention. It should not
be construed, however, as limiting the scope of the invention but
rather as providing illustrations of the preferred embodiments of
the invention. For example, ice maker 68 is merely representative
of one type of ice maker that can be used in accordance with the
present invention. Many other ice maker designs may be used. Such a
variation would not alter the function of the invention. The
preceding descriptions should not be construed, therefore, as
limiting the scope of the invention but rather as providing
illustrations of the preferred embodiments of the invention.
* * * * *