METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTRICALLY COOLED PITCHER
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and
a removable container configured for holding and dispensing a liquid, the container including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the liquid in the container.
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Abstract
Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus that includes a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply and a removable container configured for holding and dispensing a liquid. The thermoelectric cooling unit includes a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other. The first surface expends thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink. The container holds and dispenses a liquid. The container includes a thermally conductive portion that is removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate. The frictional contact is sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the liquid in the container.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and a removable container configured for holding and dispensing a liquid, the container including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the liquid in the container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a water purification filter coupled to a water source, the water purification filter producing filtered water suitable for drinking; a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and a container configured for holding and dispensing the filtered water;
the container being in fluid communication with the filtered water produced by the water purification filter and including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the filtered water in the container.
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12. An apparatus comprising:
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a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; a water purification filter coupled to a water source and the power supply, the water purification filter using power supplied by the power supply to produce filtered water suitable for drinking; a container configured for holding and dispensing the filtered water;
the container being in fluid communication with the filtered water and including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the filtered water in the container.
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13. A method for cooling a fluid comprising:
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removably coupling a container configured for holding and dispensing the liquid to a thermoelectric cooling unit, the container having a conductive portion, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and cooling the fluid as a function of being transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification