Grommet assembly associated with work surfaces for heating and cooling liquids

• US 8,987,642 B2
• Filed: 08/04/2011
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R.
• Primary Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US13/198,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20120031888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,328 Days
• Field of Search: 2194431-4682
• US Class Current: 219/452.11
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2461 with electrical heating means

Abstract

Grommet assemblies (600, 700, 800, 900) maintain liquids or other materials within vessels (606, 706, 806, 902) at desired temperatures selectively above or below ambient. Certain of the grommet assemblies (600, 700) are receivable within apertures (612, 712) within a work surface (604, 704). A thermoelectric device (638, 738) is utilized in combination with a hot/cold plate (620, 720) to selectively heat or cool liquids or other materials contained within the vessel (606, 706).

Claims

1. A hot/cold grommet assembly for maintaining liquid or other materials in a vessel at a desired temperature, said grommet assembly being mounted to or on a work table or other furniture item having a work surface, said grommet assembly comprising:

a grommet having a casing received within an aperture extending through said work surface, said grommet having a lower casing and an upper collar, said lower casing forming a housing interior;

heating means selectable by a user and positioned within a housing interior, and coupled to a hot/cold plate for selectively maintaining said liquid or other materials at a desired temperature above ambient temperatures of said liquid or other materials within said vessel, with said vessel positioned on said hot/cold plate; and

cooling means positioned within said housing interior, and coupled to said hot/cold plate, for maintaining the temperature of said liquid or other materials in said vessel at a temperature below ambient temperature of said liquid or other materials within said vessel;

power means connected to said heating means and said cooling means and connectable to a source of electrical power, so as to energize said heating means and said cooling means; and

said upper collar of said grommet being positioned substantially flush with said work surface, and said hot/cold plate also being positioned substantially flush with said work surface; and

said heating means further comprises at least two alignment elements mounted outside of said housing interior, said alignment elements adapted to be received within corresponding ones of alignment slots positioned on interior surfaces of said casing, so as to maintain said heating means in an appropriate alignment relative to said grommet.

2. A hot/cold grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said power connection means comprises:

an AC electrical plug adapted to be plugged into a source of AC electrical power;

an electrical AC cord connected at one end to said AC plug;

a DC or low voltage adapter connected to another end of said AC electrical plug; and

a DC or low voltage electrical cord connected at one end to an output of said DC or low voltage adapter, and connected at an opposing end to said heating means and said cooling means, so as to energize said heating means and said cooling means.

3. A hot/cold grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said power connection means comprises:

a plug or jack adapted to be directly connected to a source of DC or low voltage power;

a DC or low voltage electrical cord connected at one end to said DC or low voltage plug or jack, and connected at an opposing end to said heating means and to said cooling means, so as to energize said heating means and said cooling means.

4. A hot/cold grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said grommet assembly is adapted to be positioned completely on top of said work surface.

5. A hot/cold grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that thermoelectric components of said hot/cold grommet assembly are positioned to a side of and below said upper collar and said hot/cold plate.

6. A hot/cold grommet assembly in accordance with claim 1, characterized in that said outer surface of said casing comprises a plurality of press-fit ribs, so as to provide a friction fit with an inner surface of said aperture when said grommet is received within said aperture.