Portable cooler container with active temperature control

• US 10,743,708 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2018
• Issued: 08/18/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Alexander, Clayton, Leith, Daren John, Timperi, Mikko Juhani, Wakeham, Christopher Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Stapleton, Eric S
• Application Number:
  US16/015,616
• Publication Number:
  US 20180360264A1
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 219485
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/02 Plates, dishes or the like
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/027 with means for keeping food cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 2202/00 Devices having temperature indicating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21041 with heating elements arranged outside the water vessel A47J27/2105 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/2105 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the water vessel can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 27/21083 with variable operating parameters, e.g. temperature or boiling period
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4417 with heating means for pre-heating the empty beverage containers, e.g. cup-warmers
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4425 Supports for beverage containers when filled or while being filled supports allowing to adapt the beverage making apparatus to the size of the beverage container A47J31/4482
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 31/4457 Water-level indicators
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2416 with a heat storage element or material
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2466 with integral heating means
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2472 of the cordless type, i.e. whereby the cup can be plugged into an electrically-powered base element
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/2494 using heat storage elements or materials, e.g. lava stones
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/32 Time-controlled igniting mechanisms or alarm devices
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 36/321 the electronic control being performed over a network, e.g. by means of a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 39/025 for warming dishes without food before use
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0005 comprising a single opening for filling and dispensing provided with a stopper
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0044 comprising heat or cold storing elements or material, i.e. energy transfer within the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/005 comprising heat or cold producing means, i.e. energy transfer from outside the vessel
• CPC Class Codes: A47J 41/0094 : Indicating means, e.g. for level or temperature
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 : reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2600/07 : Remote controls
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/0831 : the liquid is disposed in the space between the walls of the container
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/808 : Glasses
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/36 : Visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 : Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 : portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally

Abstract

An actively heated or cooled food container can have a lid movable between an open and a closed position and an insulated body to which the lid can be attached. The insulated body can have a sidewall that defines a perimeter of the container body and a base, the sidewall and base defining one or more chambers that can be sealed by the lid. The food container can have a temperature control system that can include one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with one or both of the sidewall and the base and operable to heat or cool one or both of the sidewall and the base to thereby heat or cool the one or more chambers in the food container.

Claims

1. A portable cooler container with active temperature control, comprising:

a movable insulated lid;

a square container body having vertical outer walls and a chamber defined by vertical inner walls and a base, the base being longer than the vertical inner walls, the vertical inner walls spaced inwardly from and vacuum insulated relative to the vertical outer walls, the chamber configured to receive and hold one or more containers of perishable liquid, the chamber configured to be selectively closed by the movable insulated lid, an outer surface of one or both of the container body and lid having an electronic ink display; and

a temperature control system, comprising

one or more thermoelectric modules configured to actively cool at least a portion of the chamber to cool the one or more containers of perishable liquid,

one or more batteries,

circuitry configured to control an operation of the one or more thermoelectric modules to cool at least a portion of the chamber to a predetermined temperature or temperature range, the circuitry further configured to wirelessly communicate with a cloud-based data storage system or a remote electronic device,

one or more temperature sensors configured to sense a temperature of the chamber and to communicate the sensed temperature to the circuitry, the circuitry configured to operate the one or more thermoelectric modules based at least in part on the sensed temperature information, and

an insulative layer spaced below the base of the chamber and configured to isolate the one or more thermoelectric modules from the circuitry and one or more batteries,

wherein the electronic ink display displays information received wirelessly by the circuitry from the remote electronic device or cloud-based data storage system.

2. The container of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the temperature control system is disposed in the container body and further comprises one or more heat sinks thermally coupled to the one or more thermoelectric modules and one or more fans operable to actively cool the one or more heat sinks.

3. The container of claim 1, further comprising one or more sensors configured to detect when the one or more containers of perishable liquid are placed in the chamber and to communicate a detection signal to the circuitry, the circuitry configured to automatically turn on power to the temperature control system based on said detection signal.

4. The container of claim 1, further comprising a user interface on a surface of the body.