Device for heating and cooling a beverage
First Claim
1. A heating and cooling device for at least one beverage in a beverage container comprising:
- a chassis;
a first thermoelectric heating and cooling element provided on said chassis;
a first heat transfer member having a first face and a second face, the second face thermally connected to the element;
an electronic controller for controlling application of direct electric current to the element to control heating and cooling functions of the element; and
a first beverage container holder having a first container holding chamber defined by a side wall and a bottom, said first holder being formed as a separate unit and lockably engaged in a first position in which the holder is mounted on the chassis with the first face of the heat transfer member protruding through an opening formed in said side wall, from a second position in which the holder is completely detached from the chassis and the first heat transfer member;
wherein the holder is adapted to receive and hold a beverage container, with the first face of the first heat transfer member abutting against a portion of the beverage container.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A beverage heating and cooling device has at least one removable beverage container holding chamber. Each chamber has a spring mechanism assembly to bias a beverage container against a heat transfer member protruding through the chamber-side-wall opening. An electronic controller controls the operation of a thermoelectric heating and cooling element connected to the heat transfer member. The controller has a thermal fuse to protect the device from overheating in the event that the thermal switches fail to maintain the heat transfer member at a desired temperature range. When used in a motor vehicle with the ignition off, an automatic timer within the controller shuts off the unit after a predetermined time to conserve power.
95 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A heating and cooling device for at least one beverage in a beverage container comprising:
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a chassis; a first thermoelectric heating and cooling element provided on said chassis; a first heat transfer member having a first face and a second face, the second face thermally connected to the element; an electronic controller for controlling application of direct electric current to the element to control heating and cooling functions of the element; and a first beverage container holder having a first container holding chamber defined by a side wall and a bottom, said first holder being formed as a separate unit and lockably engaged in a first position in which the holder is mounted on the chassis with the first face of the heat transfer member protruding through an opening formed in said side wall, from a second position in which the holder is completely detached from the chassis and the first heat transfer member; wherein the holder is adapted to receive and hold a beverage container, with the first face of the first heat transfer member abutting against a portion of the beverage container. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17)
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11. A heating and cooling device for at least one beverage in an beverage container comprising:
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a chassis; at least one thermoelectric heating and cooling element provided on said chassis; at least one heat transfer member having a first face and a second face, the second face being thermally connected to the element; an electronic controller for controlling application of direct current to the element to control heating and cooling functions of the element, the controller including a thermal fuse, an automatic timeout timer, and an indicator driver; and at least one beverage container holder mounted on the chassis and adapted to receive and hold the beverage container. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A heating and cooling device for at least one beverage in a beverage container comprising:
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a chassis; at least one thermoelectric heating and cooling element provided on said chassis; at least one heat transfer member having a first face and a second face, the second face thermally connected to the element; means for controlling the application of direct electric current to the element to independently control heating and cooling functions of the element; and at least one beverage container holder adapted to receive and hold the beverage container, said beverage container holder being formed as a separate unit and lockably engaged in a first position in which the holder is mounted on the chassis, from a second position in which the holder is completely detached from the chassis and the heat transfer member. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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18. In a device for heating and cooling a beverage in a beverage container, said device including a chassis, a thermoelectric heating and cooling element fixed on said chassis, and a heat transfer member connected to said element, the improvement comprising:
at least one beverage container holder formed as a separate unit and lockably engaged in a first position in which the holder is mounted on the chassis, from a second position in which the holder is completely detached from the chassis and the heat transfer member, said holder having a substantially cylindrical side wall formed with an opening through which the heat transfer member protrudes, said heat transfer member arranged to abut a beverage container inserted into the beverage container holder, when the beverage container holder is mounted on the chassis.
Specification