US20060248918A1 - Cooler with container pockets and cold plate - Google Patents
Cooler with container pockets and cold plate Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- US20060248918A1 US20060248918A1 US11/480,725 US48072506A US2006248918A1 US 20060248918 A1 US20060248918 A1 US 20060248918A1 US 48072506 A US48072506 A US 48072506A US 2006248918 A1 US2006248918 A1 US 2006248918A1
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- Prior art keywords
- pockets
- cooler
- cold plate
- panel
- interior
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
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Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D11/00—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D11/006—Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators with cold storage accumulators
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- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F3/00—Show cases or show cabinets
- A47F3/04—Show cases or show cabinets air-conditioned, refrigerated
- A47F3/0439—Cases or cabinets of the open type
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
- A47F—SPECIAL FURNITURE, FITTINGS, OR ACCESSORIES FOR SHOPS, STOREHOUSES, BARS, RESTAURANTS OR THE LIKE; PAYING COUNTERS
- A47F7/00—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials
- A47F7/28—Show stands, hangers, or shelves, adapted for particular articles or materials for containers, e.g. flasks, bottles, tins, milk packs
- A47F7/283—Show stands or the like having a compartment for each container
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2331/00—Details or arrangements of other cooling or freezing apparatus not provided for in other groups of this subclass
- F25D2331/80—Type of cooled receptacles
- F25D2331/803—Bottles
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D2400/00—General features of, or devices for refrigerators, cold rooms, ice-boxes, or for cooling or freezing apparatus not covered by any other subclass
- F25D2400/38—Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
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- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F25—REFRIGERATION OR COOLING; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS; MANUFACTURE OR STORAGE OF ICE; LIQUEFACTION SOLIDIFICATION OF GASES
- F25D—REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D31/00—Other cooling or freezing apparatus
- F25D31/006—Other cooling or freezing apparatus specially adapted for cooling receptacles, e.g. tanks
- F25D31/007—Bottles or cans
Definitions
- This invention relates generally to refrigeration equipment, and, more particularly, to a cooler for beverages and the like.
- Coolers for use with ice are used in convenience stores and other commercial environments to place containers of beverages for easy access by consumers.
- Ice coolers typically take the form of a barrel or chest positioned near a store entrance, near the cash register, at the end of an isle or other locations to spur an impulse purchase. These containers are filled with ice and the beverage containers are placed on the ice and onto the ice. As the ice melts, the beverage containers sink forcing a consumer to fish around in the ice for the desired container. In addition to having a cold, wet hand, which is unpleasant, the consumer is sometimes exposed to germ-laden water. Barrel and chest coolers also have the disadvantage of placing the beverage containers at waist level instead of at eye level. It is desirable to have a cooler wherein melting ice does not wet the beverage containers and contaminate the water or containers.
- a problem with barrel and chest coolers is capacity. Typically, capacity is limited by the barrel or chest opening.
- a barrel opening increases in size with barrel diameter which is limited by distance between aisles, or, when located at the end of an aisle, by shelf width.
- a chest opening is limited by shelf width. It is therefore desirable to have a cooler whose capacity is not limited by shelf width or distance between shelves.
- Refrigerators are widely used for cooling food items and beverages. With beverages, the cooler is repeatedly opened and closed, not only to remove a beverage, but to see what beverage is available. It is therefore desirable to have a cooler that indicates what beverage is available without actually opening the door. It is also desirable to have beverage coolers that are mobile, if not portable, for placement on a retail floor as the need arises. Many such coolers use ice which can be quite messy; so, it would be advantageous to have a unit that is compact and cools efficiently without ice.
- a cooler comprises a bottom panel having lateral and transverse edge portions and a plurality of upright panels attached thereto and extending upward therefrom forming a vessel with an interior.
- the plurality of upright panels includes a front panel having a front surface and plurality of front pockets extending from the front surface to the interior of the vessel.
- a divider panel in the interior divides the interior into upper and lower chambers.
- a cold plate disposed in the upper chamber cools the plurality of front pockets.
- FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler with pockets for containers according to the present invention.
- FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cooler taken along line 2 - 2 of FIG. 1 .
- FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cooler similar to FIG. 1 but having a lower access panel.
- FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a cooler according to the present invention featuring a display panel attached to support ribs.
- FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but illustrating another preferred embodiment of the cooler utilizing refrigeration equipment.
- FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cooler similar to FIG. 1 but utilizing refrigeration equipment.
- FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but illustrating another preferred embodiment with a cold plate abutting container pockets.
- a cooler 10 is provided for cooling beverage containers 12 or other items.
- Cooler 10 has a bottom panel 12 and a plurality of upright panels forming a vessel capable of holding water.
- Bottom panel 12 has lateral and transverse edge portions and is polygonal shaped.
- Preferably bottom panel 12 is rectangular in shape with a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and side edge portions, but may be triangular or other shapes.
- a triangular shape is especially adapted for the end of a row of shelving or alongside a row of shelving allowing access to beverage containers from two sides,
- a rectangular shape is preferable at the end of a row of shelving because it protrudes less from the end of the shelving while holding more containers.
- the plurality of upright panels includes a front panel 16 attached to base 14 and extending upward therefrom. Similarly a rear panel 18 and end panels 20 , 22 also attach to base 14 and extend upward forming a vessel with an interior 24 adapted to hold fluid. Naturally, the number of upright panel will match the number of edge portions of bottom panel 14 .
- Front panel 16 has an exterior front surface and plurality of pockets 26 extending from the exterior front surface to the interior 24 of the vessel.
- rear panel 18 has an exterior surface and plurality of pockets 28 extending from the exterior surface to the interior 24 of the vessel. Pockets 26 , 28 are shown arranged in rows and columns but may be arranged in any order. Each pocket is preferably spaced from adjacent pockets to facilitate contact with the cooling medium.
- cooler 10 has a lid 30 preferably hingedly attached to rear panel 18 .
- lid 30 may simply rest atop the upright panels in a recess formed therein.
- Lid 30 may have a contoured configuration for aesthetic appeal or may be planar. Lid 30 swings open to provide access to the interior 20 of the cooler for adding ice for cooling. Lid 30 may be spaced from the topmost pockets to provide more space for ice. When added, ice will fill some of the spaces between the pockets. As the ice melts, water will fill voids between pockets and provide contact for heat transfer from the pockets. As the pockets cool, the containers in the pockets will also cool. To retard heat loss through the upright panels, interior panel surfaces not having a pocket can be insulated with foam, double walled construction, or a spray on insulating coating. In addition, the portions of the pockets immediately adjacent an insulated surface may also be insulated.
- a drain pipe 32 disposed along the bottom of the vessel collects water and is used to drain the vessel through a drain opening in one of the bottom or upright panels. Drain pipe 32 is preferably perforated so that it does not clog with ice particles. When the ice melts and the vessel is filled with water, it is time to drain the water. Water may be drained at other times as is convenient.
- a plurality of coasters or wheels 34 are mounted on base panel 14 for easy transport of the cooler from one location on a merchandise floor to another.
- the vessel may be filled with a fluid, such as air or water, or other heat conductive means or material, to be used for cooling by conventional refrigeration means (not shown) carried in a bottom compartment below the pockets.
- a divider panel 36 divides the cooler into an upper fluid holding vessel and a lower compartment for refrigeration equipment.
- One of the upright panels, the front panel as illustrated, has an access panel 38 adapted to provide access to the lower compartment.
- This configuration eliminates the chore of periodically changing the ice.
- the bottom compartment can be used to store additional containers instead of refrigeration equipment. Such stored containers would be at a temperature cooler than room temperature and always ready for insertion into available pockets.
- the cooler 10 may be shortened to fit on a tabletop or countertop where all containers are at eye level.
- lid 30 should be planar and the top surface used for displaying chips, nuts or other items complimentary to the beverages available in the pockets.
- a cooler 510 is provided for cooling beverage containers 512 or other items.
- Cooler 510 has a bottom panel 514 and a plurality of upright panels 516 , 518 , 520 , 522 forming a vessel.
- Bottom panel 514 has lateral and transverse edge portions and is polygonal shaped.
- Preferably bottom panel 514 is rectangular in shape with a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and side edge portions, but may be triangular or other shapes.
- a triangular shape is especially adapted for the end of a row of shelving or alongside a row of shelving allowing access to beverage containers from two sides,
- a rectangular shape is preferable at the end of a row of shelving because it protrudes less from the end of the shelving while holding more containers.
- the plurality of upright panels includes a front panel 516 attached to base 514 and extending upward therefrom.
- a rear panel 518 and end panels 520 , 522 also attach to base 514 and extend upward forming a vessel, preferably with an interior 524 adapted to hold fluid.
- the number of upright panel will match the number of edge portions of bottom panel 514 .
- Front panel 516 has an exterior front surface and plurality of front pockets 526 extending from the exterior front surface to the interior 524 of the vessel.
- rear panel 518 has an exterior surface and plurality of rear pockets 528 extending from the exterior surface to the interior 524 of the vessel. Pockets 526 , 528 are shown arranged in rows and columns but may be arranged in any order. Each pocket is preferably spaced from adjacent pockets to facilitate contact with the cooling medium.
- the containers in the pockets will also cool.
- interior panel surfaces not having a pocket can be insulated with foam, double walled construction, or a spray on insulating coating.
- the portions of the pockets immediately adjacent an insulated surface may also be insulated.
- a drain pipe 532 may be disposed along the bottom of the vessel to collect condensation and is used to drain the vessel through a drain opening in one of the panels.
- a plurality of coasters or wheels 534 are mounted on base panel 514 for easy transport of the cooler from one location on a merchandise floor to another.
- a divider panel 536 divides the cooler into an upper chamber or compartment and a lower compartment for refrigeration equipment, such as compressor 540 .
- One of the upright panels, the front panel as illustrated, has an access panel 538 adapted to provide access to the lower compartment.
- a cold plate 542 provides cooling for front and rear pockets 526 , 528 which cool the beverage containers 512 .
- Cold plate 542 is disposed in the upper compartment and is connected to the compressor 540 in the lower compartment via inlet and outlet tubes 544 , 546 .
- Cold plate may extend from the bottom of the upper compartment to the bottom of the upper compartment, or, to conserve material and weight, may be disposed in only the upper portion of the upper compartment.
- a cooler 710 is provided for cooling beverage containers 712 or other items.
- Cooler 710 has a bottom panel 714 and a plurality of upright panels forming a vessel.
- the plurality of upright panels includes a front panel 716 attached to base 714 and extending upward therefrom.
- a rear panel 718 and end panels also attach to base 714 and extend upward forming a vessel with an interior 724 .
- Front panel 716 has an exterior front surface and plurality of front pockets 726 extending from the exterior front surface to the interior 724 of the vessel.
- rear panel 718 has an exterior surface and plurality of rear pockets 728 extending from the exterior surface to the interior 724 of the vessel.
- Pockets 726 , 728 are shown arranged in rows and columns but may be arranged in any order. As the pockets cool, the containers in the pockets will also cool. To retard heat loss through the upright panels, interior panel surfaces not having a pocket can be insulated with foam, double walled construction, or a spray-on insulating coating. In addition, the portions of the pockets immediately adjacent an insulated surface may also be insulated.
- a drain pipe 732 may be disposed along the bottom of the vessel to collect condensation and is used to drain the vessel through a drain opening in one of the panels.
- a plurality of coasters or wheels 734 are mounted on base panel 714 for easy transport of the cooler from one location on a merchandise floor to another.
- a divider panel 736 divides the cooler into an upper chamber or compartment and a lower compartment for refrigeration equipment, such as compressor 740 .
- One of the upright panels has an access panel adapted to provide access to the lower compartment.
- a cold plate 742 provides cooling for front and rear pockets 726 , 728 which cool the beverage containers 712 .
- Cold plate 742 is disposed in the upper compartment and is connected to the compressor 740 in the lower compartment via inlet and outlet tubes 742 , 744 .
- Cold plate may extend from the bottom of the upper compartment to the bottom of the upper compartment, or, to conserve material and weight, may be disposed in only the upper portion of the upper compartment.
- front and rear pockets 726 , 728 preferably have bottom extensions that abut cold plate 742 .
- Each bottom extension has a general triangular configuration owing to its angled orientation relative to the front and rear panels. Forming the bottom extensions of a heat conductive material, such as a heat conductive polymer for example, promotes efficient cooling.
- a cold plate resides in the upper compartment.
- the cold plate is preferably vertically oriented to aid convection cooling wherein cooler, denser air descends as warmer, lighter air rises in the cooler.
- Convection cooling is sufficient for cooling beverages without a fan thereby simplifying the construction and operation of the cooler. While a fan is not necessary, a fan can be used for faster cooling.
- the pockets can be arranged to resemble the contour of familiar beverage containers instead of the rows and columns illustrated.
- the pockets can have drain holes to remove condensate.
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- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Thermal Sciences (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Devices That Are Associated With Refrigeration Equipment (AREA)
Abstract
Description
- This application is a continuation-in-part of non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/047,031 filed Jan. 31, 2005 entitled Cooler With Individual Container Pockets, and a continuation-in-part of provisional application Ser. No. 160/716,269 Filed Sep. 12, 2005 entitled Cold Plate Refrigerator.
- This invention relates generally to refrigeration equipment, and, more particularly, to a cooler for beverages and the like.
- Coolers for use with ice are used in convenience stores and other commercial environments to place containers of beverages for easy access by consumers. Ice coolers typically take the form of a barrel or chest positioned near a store entrance, near the cash register, at the end of an isle or other locations to spur an impulse purchase. These containers are filled with ice and the beverage containers are placed on the ice and onto the ice. As the ice melts, the beverage containers sink forcing a consumer to fish around in the ice for the desired container. In addition to having a cold, wet hand, which is unpleasant, the consumer is sometimes exposed to germ-laden water. Barrel and chest coolers also have the disadvantage of placing the beverage containers at waist level instead of at eye level. It is desirable to have a cooler wherein melting ice does not wet the beverage containers and contaminate the water or containers.
- A problem with barrel and chest coolers is capacity. Typically, capacity is limited by the barrel or chest opening. A barrel opening increases in size with barrel diameter which is limited by distance between aisles, or, when located at the end of an aisle, by shelf width. Similarly, a chest opening is limited by shelf width. It is therefore desirable to have a cooler whose capacity is not limited by shelf width or distance between shelves.
- Another problem with chest and barrel coolers is the inability to remove a single container without disturbing remaining containers. It is therefore desirable to have a cooler wherein containers can be removed, one at a time, without disturbing the remaining containers.
- Refrigerators are widely used for cooling food items and beverages. With beverages, the cooler is repeatedly opened and closed, not only to remove a beverage, but to see what beverage is available. It is therefore desirable to have a cooler that indicates what beverage is available without actually opening the door. It is also desirable to have beverage coolers that are mobile, if not portable, for placement on a retail floor as the need arises. Many such coolers use ice which can be quite messy; so, it would be advantageous to have a unit that is compact and cools efficiently without ice.
- The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems set forth above. Briefly summarized, according to the present invention, a cooler, comprises a bottom panel having lateral and transverse edge portions and a plurality of upright panels attached thereto and extending upward therefrom forming a vessel with an interior. The plurality of upright panels includes a front panel having a front surface and plurality of front pockets extending from the front surface to the interior of the vessel. A divider panel in the interior divides the interior into upper and lower chambers. A cold plate disposed in the upper chamber cools the plurality of front pockets.
- These and other aspects, objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more clearly understood and appreciated from a review of the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments and appended claims, and by reference to the accompanying drawings wherein similar reference numerals have been used, where possible, to designate similar or identical features that are common to the figures.
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FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a cooler with pockets for containers according to the present invention. -
FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the cooler taken along line 2-2 ofFIG. 1 . -
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a cooler similar toFIG. 1 but having a lower access panel. -
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of a cooler according to the present invention featuring a display panel attached to support ribs. -
FIG. 5 is a sectional view similar toFIG. 2 but illustrating another preferred embodiment of the cooler utilizing refrigeration equipment. -
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a cooler similar toFIG. 1 but utilizing refrigeration equipment. -
FIG. 7 is a sectional view similar toFIG. 5 but illustrating another preferred embodiment with a cold plate abutting container pockets. - Referring to
FIGS. 1-2 , acooler 10 is provided forcooling beverage containers 12 or other items. Cooler 10 has abottom panel 12 and a plurality of upright panels forming a vessel capable of holding water.Bottom panel 12 has lateral and transverse edge portions and is polygonal shaped. Preferablybottom panel 12 is rectangular in shape with a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and side edge portions, but may be triangular or other shapes. In a retail environment, a triangular shape is especially adapted for the end of a row of shelving or alongside a row of shelving allowing access to beverage containers from two sides, A rectangular shape is preferable at the end of a row of shelving because it protrudes less from the end of the shelving while holding more containers. - The plurality of upright panels includes a
front panel 16 attached tobase 14 and extending upward therefrom. Similarly arear panel 18 andend panels base 14 and extend upward forming a vessel with aninterior 24 adapted to hold fluid. Naturally, the number of upright panel will match the number of edge portions ofbottom panel 14.Front panel 16 has an exterior front surface and plurality ofpockets 26 extending from the exterior front surface to theinterior 24 of the vessel. Similarly,rear panel 18 has an exterior surface and plurality ofpockets 28 extending from the exterior surface to theinterior 24 of the vessel.Pockets - Still referring to
FIGS. 1-2 ,cooler 10 has alid 30 preferably hingedly attached torear panel 18. Alternatively,lid 30 may simply rest atop the upright panels in a recess formed therein.Lid 30 may have a contoured configuration for aesthetic appeal or may be planar. Lid 30 swings open to provide access to theinterior 20 of the cooler for adding ice for cooling.Lid 30 may be spaced from the topmost pockets to provide more space for ice. When added, ice will fill some of the spaces between the pockets. As the ice melts, water will fill voids between pockets and provide contact for heat transfer from the pockets. As the pockets cool, the containers in the pockets will also cool. To retard heat loss through the upright panels, interior panel surfaces not having a pocket can be insulated with foam, double walled construction, or a spray on insulating coating. In addition, the portions of the pockets immediately adjacent an insulated surface may also be insulated. - A
drain pipe 32 disposed along the bottom of the vessel collects water and is used to drain the vessel through a drain opening in one of the bottom or upright panels.Drain pipe 32 is preferably perforated so that it does not clog with ice particles. When the ice melts and the vessel is filled with water, it is time to drain the water. Water may be drained at other times as is convenient. - A plurality of coasters or
wheels 34 are mounted onbase panel 14 for easy transport of the cooler from one location on a merchandise floor to another. - Referring now to
FIG. 3 , instead of ice, the vessel may be filled with a fluid, such as air or water, or other heat conductive means or material, to be used for cooling by conventional refrigeration means (not shown) carried in a bottom compartment below the pockets. Adivider panel 36 divides the cooler into an upper fluid holding vessel and a lower compartment for refrigeration equipment. One of the upright panels, the front panel as illustrated, has anaccess panel 38 adapted to provide access to the lower compartment. This configuration eliminates the chore of periodically changing the ice. Where it is desired or most practical to use ice, the bottom compartment can be used to store additional containers instead of refrigeration equipment. Such stored containers would be at a temperature cooler than room temperature and always ready for insertion into available pockets. - Referring now to
FIG. 4 , the cooler 10 may be shortened to fit on a tabletop or countertop where all containers are at eye level. In this case,lid 30 should be planar and the top surface used for displaying chips, nuts or other items complimentary to the beverages available in the pockets. - Referring to
FIGS. 5-6 , a cooler 510 is provided for coolingbeverage containers 512 or other items.Cooler 510 has abottom panel 514 and a plurality ofupright panels Bottom panel 514 has lateral and transverse edge portions and is polygonal shaped. Preferablybottom panel 514 is rectangular in shape with a front edge portion, a rear edge portion and side edge portions, but may be triangular or other shapes. In a retail environment, a triangular shape is especially adapted for the end of a row of shelving or alongside a row of shelving allowing access to beverage containers from two sides, A rectangular shape is preferable at the end of a row of shelving because it protrudes less from the end of the shelving while holding more containers. - The plurality of upright panels includes a
front panel 516 attached tobase 514 and extending upward therefrom. Similarly, arear panel 518 and endpanels 520, 522 also attach to base 514 and extend upward forming a vessel, preferably with an interior 524 adapted to hold fluid. Naturally, the number of upright panel will match the number of edge portions ofbottom panel 514.Front panel 516 has an exterior front surface and plurality offront pockets 526 extending from the exterior front surface to theinterior 524 of the vessel. Similarly,rear panel 518 has an exterior surface and plurality ofrear pockets 528 extending from the exterior surface to theinterior 524 of the vessel.Pockets - Still referring to
FIGS. 5-6 , as the pockets cool, the containers in the pockets will also cool. To retard heat loss through the upright panels, interior panel surfaces not having a pocket can be insulated with foam, double walled construction, or a spray on insulating coating. In addition, the portions of the pockets immediately adjacent an insulated surface may also be insulated. - A
drain pipe 532 may be disposed along the bottom of the vessel to collect condensation and is used to drain the vessel through a drain opening in one of the panels. A plurality of coasters orwheels 534 are mounted onbase panel 514 for easy transport of the cooler from one location on a merchandise floor to another. - A
divider panel 536 divides the cooler into an upper chamber or compartment and a lower compartment for refrigeration equipment, such ascompressor 540. One of the upright panels, the front panel as illustrated, has anaccess panel 538 adapted to provide access to the lower compartment. - A
cold plate 542 provides cooling for front andrear pockets beverage containers 512.Cold plate 542 is disposed in the upper compartment and is connected to thecompressor 540 in the lower compartment via inlet andoutlet tubes - Referring now to
FIG. 7 , a cooler 710 is provided for coolingbeverage containers 712 or other items.Cooler 710 has abottom panel 714 and a plurality of upright panels forming a vessel. The plurality of upright panels includes afront panel 716 attached tobase 714 and extending upward therefrom. Similarly, arear panel 718 and end panels (not shown) also attach to base 714 and extend upward forming a vessel with an interior 724.Front panel 716 has an exterior front surface and plurality offront pockets 726 extending from the exterior front surface to theinterior 724 of the vessel. Similarly,rear panel 718 has an exterior surface and plurality ofrear pockets 728 extending from the exterior surface to theinterior 724 of the vessel.Pockets - A drain pipe 732 may be disposed along the bottom of the vessel to collect condensation and is used to drain the vessel through a drain opening in one of the panels. A plurality of coasters or
wheels 734 are mounted onbase panel 714 for easy transport of the cooler from one location on a merchandise floor to another. - A
divider panel 736 divides the cooler into an upper chamber or compartment and a lower compartment for refrigeration equipment, such ascompressor 740. One of the upright panels has an access panel adapted to provide access to the lower compartment. - A
cold plate 742 provides cooling for front andrear pockets beverage containers 712.Cold plate 742 is disposed in the upper compartment and is connected to thecompressor 740 in the lower compartment via inlet andoutlet tubes - Still referring to
FIG. 7 , front andrear pockets cold plate 742. Each bottom extension has a general triangular configuration owing to its angled orientation relative to the front and rear panels. Forming the bottom extensions of a heat conductive material, such as a heat conductive polymer for example, promotes efficient cooling. - It can now be appreciated that a cold plate resides in the upper compartment. The cold plate is preferably vertically oriented to aid convection cooling wherein cooler, denser air descends as warmer, lighter air rises in the cooler. Naturally, the greater the height of
cold plate 20, the greater the convection cooling. Convection cooling is sufficient for cooling beverages without a fan thereby simplifying the construction and operation of the cooler. While a fan is not necessary, a fan can be used for faster cooling. - While the invention has been described with particular reference to the preferred embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements of the preferred embodiments without departing from invention. For example, the pockets can be arranged to resemble the contour of familiar beverage containers instead of the rows and columns illustrated. Also, in humid environments, the pockets can have drain holes to remove condensate. In addition, it is possible to dispose the cold plate in a sidewall in the upper compartment. It is accordingly intended that the claims shall cover all such modifications and applications as do not depart from the true spirit and scope of the invention.
-
- 10 cooler
- 12 beverage containers
- 14 base panel
- 16 front panel
- 18 rear panel
- 20, 22 end panels
- 24 interior of water holding vessel
- 26 front pockets
- 28
rear pockets 28 - 30 lid
- 32 drain pipe
- 34 wheels
- 36 divider panel
- 38 access panel
- 510 cooler
- 512 beverage containers
- 514 bottom panel
- 516 front panel
- 518 rear panel
- 520, 522 end panels
- 524 interior of vessel
- 526 front pockets
- 528 rear pockets
- 532 drain pipe
- 534 coasters or wheels
- 536 divider panel
- 538 access panel
- 540 compressor
- 542 cold plate
- 544 inlet tube
- 546 outlet tube
- 712 beverage containers
- 714 bottom panel
- 716 front panel
- 718 rear panel
- 724 interior of vessel
- 726 front pockets
- 728 rear pockets
- 732 drain pipe
- 734 coasters or wheels
- 736 divider panel
- 740 compressor
- 742 cold plate
- 744 inlet tube
- 746 outlet tube
Claims (12)
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/480,725 US20060248918A1 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2006-07-03 | Cooler with container pockets and cold plate |
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US11/047,031 US7269970B2 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2005-01-31 | Cooler with individual container pockets |
US71626905P | 2005-09-12 | 2005-09-12 | |
US11/480,725 US20060248918A1 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2006-07-03 | Cooler with container pockets and cold plate |
Related Parent Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/047,031 Continuation-In-Part US7269970B2 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2005-01-31 | Cooler with individual container pockets |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
US20060248918A1 true US20060248918A1 (en) | 2006-11-09 |
Family
ID=37392879
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
US11/480,725 Abandoned US20060248918A1 (en) | 2005-01-31 | 2006-07-03 | Cooler with container pockets and cold plate |
Country Status (1)
Country | Link |
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US (1) | US20060248918A1 (en) |
Cited By (15)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
WO2011028909A1 (en) * | 2009-09-04 | 2011-03-10 | Polymer Solutions International | Storage assembly with angled support surfaces |
ITMI20091581A1 (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2011-03-17 | Oscartielle S P A | REFRIGERATED REFRIGERATOR CABINET |
US8505726B1 (en) * | 2012-10-10 | 2013-08-13 | Gunter Woog | Cooler for beverage containers |
US8794014B2 (en) | 2008-05-30 | 2014-08-05 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice making in the refrigeration compartment using a cold plate |
US20140360214A1 (en) * | 2012-01-27 | 2014-12-11 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Refrigeration apparatus |
US20160201970A1 (en) * | 2015-01-08 | 2016-07-14 | Jay Diaz | Beverage cooler device |
WO2016187131A1 (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2016-11-24 | Wolverine Tube, Inc. | Liquid cooled coldplate |
USD789749S1 (en) * | 2015-09-17 | 2017-06-20 | Pretty Star Store Llc | Beverage pod storage device |
USD789750S1 (en) * | 2015-11-24 | 2017-06-20 | Rev-A-Shelf-Company, LLC | Multi-tier drawer organizer |
US9795057B2 (en) | 2010-07-28 | 2017-10-17 | Wolverine Tube, Inc. | Method of producing a liquid cooled coldplate |
US9909799B2 (en) | 2013-01-28 | 2018-03-06 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Refrigeration apparatus |
US10368657B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2019-08-06 | Eva Lilja | Channel glide assemblies |
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US10704822B2 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2020-07-07 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Portable refrigeration apparatus |
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Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
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US8794014B2 (en) | 2008-05-30 | 2014-08-05 | Whirlpool Corporation | Ice making in the refrigeration compartment using a cold plate |
WO2011028909A1 (en) * | 2009-09-04 | 2011-03-10 | Polymer Solutions International | Storage assembly with angled support surfaces |
US9089214B2 (en) | 2009-09-04 | 2015-07-28 | Daniel Kelly | Storage assembly with angled support surfaces |
ITMI20091581A1 (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2011-03-17 | Oscartielle S P A | REFRIGERATED REFRIGERATOR CABINET |
WO2011033368A1 (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2011-03-24 | Oscartielle S.P.A. | Cabinet refrigerator with barriers for withholding air |
RU2523063C2 (en) * | 2009-09-16 | 2014-07-20 | ОСКАРТЬЕЛЛЕ С.п.А. | Chill box barriers for air retention |
US9795057B2 (en) | 2010-07-28 | 2017-10-17 | Wolverine Tube, Inc. | Method of producing a liquid cooled coldplate |
US10531594B2 (en) | 2010-07-28 | 2020-01-07 | Wieland Microcool, Llc | Method of producing a liquid cooled coldplate |
US20140360214A1 (en) * | 2012-01-27 | 2014-12-11 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Refrigeration apparatus |
US10767916B2 (en) * | 2012-01-27 | 2020-09-08 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Fluid reservoir refrigeration apparatus |
US8505726B1 (en) * | 2012-10-10 | 2013-08-13 | Gunter Woog | Cooler for beverage containers |
US9909799B2 (en) | 2013-01-28 | 2018-03-06 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Refrigeration apparatus |
US10806275B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2020-10-20 | Eva Lilja | Channel glide assemblies |
US10368657B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2019-08-06 | Eva Lilja | Channel glide assemblies |
US10455953B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2019-10-29 | Monster Energy Company | Channel glide assemblies |
US11439252B2 (en) | 2014-09-26 | 2022-09-13 | Eva Lilja | Channel glide assemblies |
US20160201970A1 (en) * | 2015-01-08 | 2016-07-14 | Jay Diaz | Beverage cooler device |
WO2016187131A1 (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2016-11-24 | Wolverine Tube, Inc. | Liquid cooled coldplate |
CN108029219A (en) * | 2015-05-15 | 2018-05-11 | 高克联管件公司 | The cold plate of liquid cooling |
US10704822B2 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2020-07-07 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Portable refrigeration apparatus |
US11543168B2 (en) | 2015-09-11 | 2023-01-03 | The Sure Chill Company Limited | Portable refrigeration apparatus |
USD789749S1 (en) * | 2015-09-17 | 2017-06-20 | Pretty Star Store Llc | Beverage pod storage device |
USD789750S1 (en) * | 2015-11-24 | 2017-06-20 | Rev-A-Shelf-Company, LLC | Multi-tier drawer organizer |
WO2020014242A1 (en) * | 2018-07-12 | 2020-01-16 | Pepsico, Inc. | Beverage cooler |
US11614279B2 (en) | 2018-07-12 | 2023-03-28 | Pepsico, Inc. | Beverage cooler |
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