Container cooler and warmer

• US 20040194470A1
• Filed: 04/19/2004
• Published: 10/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snuddles LLC
• Original Assignee: Snuddles LLC
• Inventors: Thomas, Adam S., Upadhye, Shilpa M., Weir, James A., Upadhye, Shashank S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,287,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2438 for warming a water-bath or -jacket
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/803 Bottles
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 29/00 Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans

Abstract

Disclosed is a container warmer that utilizes the same compartment for heating and cooling. In optional embodiments, the unit may include a programmable timer operably connected to the heating and cooling units such that the timer may regulate activity of the units. In other embodiments, the invention may include a baby bottle warmer in which the baby bottle is placed in a water bath in a compartment, the water bath being heated or cooled by heating or cooling units, and optionally operably connected to a programmable timer.

Claims

1. An apparatus that can provide convenient warming and cooling of a container, comprising:

(a) an inner container housing having an internal space, an inner container housing bottom, the inner container housing bottom further including an inner container housing bottom inner surface and an inner container housing bottom external surface, the inner container housing adapted to at least partially enclose the container, and the inner container housing further comprising at least one side wall having a side wall inner surface and a side wall external surface;

(b) at least one first thermoregulation member adjacent to the inner container housing comprising at least one of a water bath, recirculating water bath, evaporator, heat transfer fluid unit, plurality of fins, at least one fan, thermoelectric module, Stirling Cycle unit, absorption unit, refrigerant unit, thermoacoustic unit, and heat sink, or combination thereof;

(c) at least one second thermoregulation member adjacent to the inner container housing comprising at least one of a heater coil, radiant heat module, convection heat module, heater band, flexible heater band, thermoelectric module, and conduction heat module, or combination thereof; and

(d) a switch operably connected to the first and second thermoregulation members.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inner container housing bottom further includes a heat sink.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat sink is integrally formed with the inner container housing bottom.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the heat sink is integrally formed with the inner container housing.

5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one side wall is integrally formed with the inner container housing bottom.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first thermoregulation member is a thermoelectric module.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein a heat sink and a fan are operably connected to the thermoelectric module.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein thermal grease is disposed between the thermoelectric module and the inner container housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein the thermoelectric module is partially or totally covered by a protective barrier.

10. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein a cold side of the thermoelectric module is adjacent to the inner containing housing bottom.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the at least one second thermoregulation member is adapted to apply heat to the inner container housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second thermoregulation member is adjacent to the at least one side wall.

13. The apparatus of the claim 12, wherein the second thermoregulation member is a heater band adjacent to the side wall external surface.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the second thermoregulation member is adjacent to the side wall inner surface.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the second thermoregulation member is submersible.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch is connected to a timer.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the timer is a programmable timer.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the apparatus further includes an input device comprising at least one of a keypad, keyboard, sound activated module, pointer, touch screen, dial, or button, or combination thereof.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first thermoregulation member is a thermoelectric module, the second thermoregulation member is a heater band, and the switch is operably connected to a programmable timer.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the inner container housing includes a heat sink on the inner container housing bottom inner surface, the thermoelectric module is adjacent to the inner container housing bottom external surface, and the heater band is adjacent to the side wall external surface.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the switch also includes an override switch to override the programmable timer.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the apparatus further includes at least one of a sound activation override switch, breakaway cord, display, weight sensor, thermostat, drain port, basket, lid, battery backup, audible alarm, external light, and agitator, or combination thereof.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the inner container housing includes at least one sleeve disposed between the inner containing housing internal space and either the inner container housing bottom or the side wall or both.

24. An apparatus that can provide convenient warming or cooling of a container inserted into a thermoregulation unit, comprising:

(a) a means for adjusting the temperature of the container;

(b) a means for controlling the means for adjusting the temperature of the container.

25. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for adjusting the temperature comprises at least one of a recirculating water bath, evaporator, heat transfer fluid unit, plurality of fins, at least one fan, thermoelectric module, Stirling Cycle unit, absorption unit, refrigerant unit, thermoacoustic unit, heat sink, heater coil, radiant heat module, convection heat module, thermoelectric module, and conduction heat module, or combination thereof.

26. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the means for adjusting the temperature further includes a means for cooling the container and a means for heating the container.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein the means for cooling the container further includes at least one of a recirculating water bath, evaporator, heat transfer fluid unit, plurality of fins, at least one fan, thermoelectric module, Stirling Cycle unit, absorption unit, refrigerant unit, thermoacoustic unit, heat sink, or combination thereof;

and the means for heating the container further includes at least one of a heater coil, radiant heat module, convection heat module, thermoelectric module, and conduction heat module, or combination thereof.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the means for controlling further includes an input device, the input device comprising at least one of a timer, keypad, keyboard, sound activated module, pointer, touch screen, dial, and button, or combination thereof.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the apparatus further includes at least one of a sound activation override switch, breakaway cord, display, weight sensor, thermostat, drain port, basket, lid, battery backup, audible alarm, external light, car adapter, and agitator, or combination thereof.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the means for cooling comprises a thermoelectric module and the means for heating comprises a heater band.

31. A method that can provide convenient warming or cooling of a container inserted into an inner container housing, comprising:

(a) providing an engaging signal to activate a thermoregulator control unit; and

(b) engaging a thermoregulator in response to the control unit activation such that the thermoregulator will heat or cool the inner container housing.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the step of providing a signal includes the step of providing a timing signal generated from a programmable timer.

33. A method to heat or cool a container, comprising:

(a) activating a control unit to activate a thermoregulator;

(b) heating or cooling the container in response to the thermoregulator activation; and

(c) wherein the cooling is by at least one of a recirculating water bath, evaporator, heat transfer fluid unit, plurality of fins, at least one fan, thermoelectric module, Stirling Cycle unit, absorption unit, refrigerant unit, thermoacoustic unit, heat sink; and

the heating is by at least one of a heater coil, radiant heat module, convection heat module, thermoelectric module, and conduction heat module, or combination thereof.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the method includes programming a timer to activate the control unit, heating the container in response to a control unit activation signal, and cooling the container in response to a control unit activation signal.

35. A method to heat or cool a container, comprising:

(a) activating a cooling unit to cool an inner container housing;

(b) programming a timer to generate a control signal when the timer goes off; and

(c) activating a heating unit to heat the inner container housing in response to the control signal and shutting off the cooling unit.

36. The method of claim 35, wherein the cooling unit is a thermoelectric module and the heating unit is a heater band.

37. A method of using an apparatus to warm a baby bottle, comprising:

(a) inserting a baby bottle into the apparatus;

(b) engaging a cooling unit in the apparatus to cool the baby bottle; and

(c) engaging a warming unit in the apparatus to heat the baby bottle.

38. The method of claim 37, including setting a switch to modulate activity between the cooling and heating units.

39. A baby bottle warmer and cooler, comprising:

(a) an outer housing adapted to receive the baby bottle;

(b) the outer housing containing an inner housing adapted to receive the baby bottle, the

(c) the inner housing having an internal space, an inner housing bottom, the inner housing bottom further including an inner housing bottom inner surface and an inner housing bottom external surface, and the inner housing further comprising at least one side wall, the side wall having a side wall inner surface and a side wall external surface;

(d) at least one first thermoregulation member adjacent to the inner housing comprising at least one of a water bath, recirculating water bath, evaporator, heat transfer fluid unit, plurality of fins, at least one fan, thermoelectric module, Stirling Cycle unit, absorption unit, refrigerant unit, thermoacoustic unit, and heat sink, or combination thereof;

(e) at least one second thermoregulation member adjacent to the inner housing comprising at least one of a heater coil, radiant heat module, convection heat module, heater band, flexible heater band, thermoelectric module, and conduction heat module, or combination thereof;

(f) a switch operably connected to the first and second thermoregulation members, the switch being operably connected to a timer; and

(g) an input device on the outer housing operably connected to the switch.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the apparatus further includes at least one of a sound activation override switch, breakaway cord, display, weight sensor, thermostat, drain port, basket, lid, battery backup, audible alarm, external light, car adapter, and agitator, or combination thereof.