Tabletop Beverage Quick Cooling Device

Abstract

A tabletop beverage quick cooling device has a housing that contains a chiller portion with a hinged cover. A refrigeration unit is provided to cool water to use to cool the beverage. The refrigeration unit may be mechanical or solid state. The chiller contains a removable cage that holds cans or bottles. The chiller holds chilled water to bathe the cage in the low temperature water. The cage rests on two rollers that provide rotation and are rotated by a motor. A compressor, condenser and associated components are used to produce the low temperatures needed to chill the water. In another embodiment, solid state thermoelectric modules take the place of the compressor, etc. Rotation is controlled by a control panel which can also monitor temperature. An optional ice storage chamber is provided to store ice. Additionally, an ice maker may be provided to produce ice.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/566,702, filed Sep. 25, 2009, which was a continuation in part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/839,420, filed Aug. 15, 2007, the complete disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] In early times, humans hunted and gathered the food they needed each day. Techniques to preserve food were developed that allowed humans to store food ahead of time. It was discovered that keeping food cool increased the usable time to safely consume the food. People started digging holes and constructing boxes within the Earth to cool the food. Later people used ice in insulated boxes to keep food fresh longer. The first practical demonstration of artificial refrigeration occurred in the late 1700's with the first practical refrigerator appearing in the 1830's.

[0003] Modern refrigerators include frost free freezers, climate controlled drawers, touch screen interfaces, beverage and ice dispensing units with new features appearing all the time. Although the modern refrigerator represents a tremendous advance in technology, there remains a need to quickly cool beverages for immediate consumption. Often people will place a beverage to be cooled in the freezer only to have it explode making a mess if not removed in time.

[0004] There is a need for a portable, convenient beverage chilling device that can rapidly lower the temperature of a beverage to be consumed.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] A tabletop beverage quick cooling device has a housing that contains a chiller portion with a hinged cover. A refrigeration unit is provided to cool water to use to cool the beverage. The refrigeration unit may be mechanical or solid state. The chiller contains a removable cage that holds cans or bottles. The chiller holds chilled water to bathe the cage in the low temperature water. The cage rests on two rollers that provide rotation and are rotated by a motor. A compressor, condenser and associated components are used to produce the low temperatures needed to chill the water. In another embodiment, solid state thermoelectric modules take the place of the compressor, etc. Rotation is controlled by a control panel which can also monitor temperature. An optional ice storage chamber is provided to store ice. Additionally, an ice maker may be provided to produce ice.

[0006] Other features and advantages of the instant invention will become apparent from the following description of the invention which refers to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0007] FIG. 1 is a front view of a tabletop quick cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0008] FIG. 2 is a side view of the tabletop quick cooling device shown in FIG. 1.

[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the tabletop quick cooling device shown in FIG. 1 with covers closed.

[0010] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the tabletop quick cooling device shown in FIG. 1 with covers open.

[0011] FIG. 5 is a transparent front view of a tabletop quick cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0012] FIG. 6 is a transparent rear view of a tabletop quick cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] FIG. 7 is a transparent rear view of a tabletop quick cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0014] FIG. 8 is a transparent rear view of a tabletop quick cooling device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] In the following detailed description of the invention, reference is made to the drawings in which reference numerals refer to like elements, and which are intended to show by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that structural changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention.

[0016] Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a tabletop beverage quick cooling device 200 is shown having a housing 255. A chilling chamber 235 is provided to hold a chilled liquid 305. Liquid 305 is water, although other solutions may be used. A cage 250 is provided to hold a bottle or can (not shown) in chilling chamber 235 and to rotate it in chilled water 305 to efficiently and quickly cool the beverage. Cage 250 is rotated by a power roller 270 and a follower 280. Power roller 270 and follower 280 run longitudinally within chilling chamber 235 to hold and support cage 250 allowing chilled liquid 305 to surround a beverage (not shown) placed in cage 250. As power rotator is rotated, cage 250 rotates between power rotator 270 and follower 280. Chilling chamber 235 has a cover 230 that is opened to load cage 250 with the selected beverage and then closed during operation. Both rollers are made of a friction enhancing material such as, but not limited to rubber, plastic or other suitable material that will frictionally interact with cage 250.

[0017] A control panel 215 is used to control all functions such as power on/off control 220, timer control 221, rotation control 225, temperature control 226, etc. Not all of these functions need to be available and may be offered as options depending on the needs of the user. In one embodiment, only a power switch is provided. In the embodiment having a water holding tank 300, a water fill port 295 is provided to allow the user to fill water holding tank 300 with water. In one embodiment, the water is chilled in water holding tank 300 and transferred to chilling chamber 235 through water transfer port 310. A refrigeration portion 290 is provided to hold the refrigeration components needed to chill water 305. Additionally, rotation control 225 may be include speed control to allow the user to vary the rotational speed.

[0018] In one embodiment, an ice storage unit 210 is provided to hold ice in an ice storage chamber 245 and an optional ice making unit 260 may be provided to make ice as is known in the art. An ice shutoff switch 285 is provided to stop ice production once full. In this embodiment, the water required to make the ice may be stored in water holding tank 300 or may be plumbed to a water line as is known in the art. A cover 205 is provided to keep the ice cool and clean. Support legs 240 are provide to stabilize and support tabletop beverage quick cooling device 200.

[0019] Referring to FIG. 6, a rear view of tabletop beverage quick cooling device is shown having a mechanical refrigeration unit 290 that includes refrigeration coils 325, compressor 330 and associated cooling coils (not shown) that are in thermal communication with the water to be chilled as is known in the art along with the necessary electrical control and wiring required. Cage 250 is rotated by a motor 315 that drives rotator 270 and follower 280 rotates freely.

[0020] Referring now to FIG. 7, a solid state cooling chip array 336 is shown placed in thermal contact with chilling chamber 235 to chill water 305. A control circuit 340 is provided to power solid state cooling chip array 336. Electrical connections are made using wires 350 to connect control circuit 340 to solid state cooling chips array 336. In FIG. 8, a solid state cooling chip array 335 is shown in thermal contact with the water in water holding tank 300 and transferred to chilling chamber 235. Electrical connections are made using wires 345 to connect control circuit 340 to solid state cooling chips array 335. Motor 315 is electrically connected to control panel 215 using wires 320.

[0021] Although the instant invention has been described in relation to particular embodiments thereof, many other variations and modifications and other uses will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A tabletop beverage quick cooling device comprising: a housing; a chilling chamber disposed within said housing; a cage removably disposed within said chilling chamber; a chilling chamber cover adapted to allow access to said chilling chamber; a power rotator longitudinally disposed inside said chilling chamber; a follower also longitudinally disposed within said chilling chamber adapted to moveably support said cage; a rotating means for rotating said power rotator; a cooling means for cooling a chilling fluid; and a control unit electrically connected to said rotating means and to said cooling means whereby said tabletop beverage quick cooling device is controlled.

2. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 1 wherein said cooling means is a mechanical refrigeration unit.

3. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 1 wherein said cooling means is a solid state cooling chip array.

4. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 1 wherein said rotating means is a motor in mechanical communication with said power rotator.

5. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 1 further comprising a water holding tank wherein water is supplied to said chilling chamber.

6. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 1 further comprising an ice storage chamber disposed within said housing wherein ice is storable therein.

7. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 6 further comprising an ice maker disposed within said ice storage chamber.

8. A tabletop beverage quick cooling device comprising: a housing; a chilling chamber disposed within said housing; a refrigeration unit adapted to chill water within said chilling chamber; a control panel in electrical connection with said refrigeration unit whereby said refrigeration unit is controllable; a pair of rollers longitudinally disposed within said chilling chamber; a motor adapted to rotate at least one of said pair of rollers; a cage adapted to fit on said pair of rollers whereby said cage rotates when said pair of rollers are energized; and said cage adapted to removably hold a beverage container.

9. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 8 wherein said refrigeration unit is a mechanical refrigeration unit.

10. The tabletop beverage quick cooling device of claim 8 wherein said refrigeration unit is a solid state cooling chip array refrigeration unit.