Temperature-regulating containment system

• US 9,995,529 B1
• Filed: 12/08/2016
• Issued: 06/12/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nova Laboratories, Co.
• Original Assignee: Nova Laboratories
• Inventors: Banks, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Rojohn, III, Claire
• Application Number:
  US15/373,186
• Publication Number:
  US 20180164034A1
• Time in Patent Office: 551 Days
• Field of Search: 165253
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2201/14 using subatmospheric pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/361 Interactive visual displays
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/123 more than one sensor measuring the inside temperature in a compartment
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2700/16 Sensors measuring the temperature of products
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/005 Combined cooling and heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/008 Drinking glasses

Abstract

Disclosed herein are embodiments of a temperature-regulating containment system for actively heating or cooling a liquid to a desired liquid temperature, the temperature-regulating containment system comprising: a container having an internal cavity defined by a sidewall upwardly extending from a bottom wall; a heating element disposed beneath the bottom wall; a chamber disposed beneath the bottom wall, the chamber adjustable between an unfilled condition and a filled condition in which the chamber is filled with a heat transfer medium; and a cooling element disposed beneath the chamber. When the liquid temperature is below the desired liquid temperature: the chamber adjusts to the unfilled condition, and the heating element provides heat to the bottom wall. When the liquid temperature is above the desired liquid temperature: the chamber adjusts to the filled condition, and the cooling element removes heat from the bottom wall.

Claims

1. A temperature-regulating containment system for actively heating or cooling a liquid to a desired liquid temperature, comprising:

a container having an internal cavity defined by a sidewall upwardly extending from a bottom wall, said internal cavity configured to contain said liquid which has a liquid temperature;

a heating element disposed beneath said bottom wall, said heating element configured to provide heat to said bottom wall;

a chamber disposed beneath said bottom wall, said chamber adjustable between an unfilled condition and a filled condition in which said chamber is filled with a heat transfer medium; and

a cooling element disposed beneath said chamber, said cooling element configured to remove heat from said bottom wall;

wherein when said liquid temperature is below said desired liquid temperature;

said chamber adjusts to said unfilled condition; and

said heating element provides said heat to said bottom wall to heat said liquid to said desired liquid temperature; and

wherein when said liquid temperature is above said desired liquid temperature;

said chamber adjusts to said filled condition; and

said cooling element removes said heat from said bottom wall to cool said liquid to said desired liquid temperature;

further comprising one or more sensors operatively coupled to said containment system;

wherein at least one said sensor comprises a temperature sensor which provides sensed temperature information;

further comprising a display surface operatively coupled to said control circuitry;

further comprising control circuitry which controls one or more controllable components of said containment system based at least in part on said sensed temperature information;

further comprising a wireless transceiver operatively coupled to said control circuitry;

wherein said transceiver is configured to establish a communication connection with a remote device;

wherein said remote device comprises an application associated with said containment system.

2. The containment system of claim 1, wherein said heating element is coupled to a bottom wall outer surface of said bottom wall.

3. The containment system of claim 1, wherein said cooling element comprises a thermoelectric cooler.

4. The containment system of claim 3, wherein said cooling element comprises a Peltier device having a warmable face opposite a coolable face.

5. The containment system of claim 4, wherein said coolable face is proximate said bottom wall and said warmable face is distal from said bottom wall.

6. The containment system of claim 4, further comprising a heat sink coupled to said warmable face of said Peltier device, said heat sink in thermal communication with said warmable face.

7. The containment system of claim 1, wherein said chamber is disposed between said bottom wall and said cooling element.

8. The containment system of claim 7, wherein when said chamber is in said filled condition, said heat transfer medium thermally communicates with said bottom wall and said cooling element.

9. The containment system of claim 8, wherein when said chamber is in said unfilled condition, said bottom wall is thermally uncoupled from said cooling element.

10. The containment system of claim 9, wherein a vacuum exists in said chamber when said chamber is in said unfilled condition.

11. The containment system of claim 1, further comprising a power source operatively coupled to one or more powerable components of said containment system.

12. The containment system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said temperature sensors disposed in spaced apart relation along a height of said container.

13. The containment system of claim 12, whereby said sensed temperature information provides a sensed liquid level of said liquid within said internal cavity.

14. The containment system of claim 1, further comprising a display surface operatively coupled to said control circuitry;

wherein said display surface displays said liquid temperature or information related to said liquid temperature.

15. The containment system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface operatively coupled to said control circuitry;

wherein said user interface comprises one or more user-actuatable controls to provide operating instructions to said control circuitry.