GB2259808A

GB2259808A - Thermoelectric cooling boxes

Info

Publication number: GB2259808A
Application number: GB9218553A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Heidi Rampf
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1991-09-03
Filing date: 1992-09-02
Publication date: 1993-03-24
Also published as: FR2681671A1; CA2077373A1; GB9218553D0; DE9205963U1

Abstract

The cooling box comprises a housing 32 having a plurality of walls and an interior. A semiconductor cooling element 35 for cooling the interior and a heat dissipating body 36 are disposed on respectively opposite sides of one of the walls. The semiconductor cooling element 35 is disposed in the interior and the body 36 is thermally connected with the semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from the semiconductor cooling element. The cooling box, which may be used to cool cosmetics or medicines, may be inserted into a furniture cabinet. A rib 40 on the box engages a groove in the cabinet to locate the box in the cabinet. <IMAGE>

Description

Active Cooler and Article of Furniture With the Cooler The invention relates to an active cooler with a housing, a semiconductor cooling element provided for the cooler interior for cooling the cooler interior and a cooling body provided on the outside of the cooler for heat removal towards the outside; the cooling body is thermally connected with the semiconductor cooling element; and an article of furniture with this cooler.

Wall cabinets or units and built-in cabinets, for instance in bathrooms, as mirrored cabinets or as medicine cabinets are known, which provide storage space for cosmetics or medicines. The disadvantage in storing cosmetics or medication in such cabinets lies in the fact that cosmetics and medicines, especially in the hot summer months or in heated rooms during the cold season, are stored at temperatures which are too high.

This can make the application of cosmetics more difficult because lipsticks, for instance, tend to smear and cremes become too soft and spoil more quickly. With regard to medical supplies, due to the raised storage temperature, the shelf life of the respective medicament is substantially limited, especially when the medicament container has been opened.

It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide an active cooler and an article of furniture with the cooler, which overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices of this general type and which provides a small container in which various products, as for example cosmetics or medicine, can be stored at an evenly cool temperature, and which fits into a wall unit or a built-in cabinet, such as for instance a bathroom, mirror or medicine cabinet.

Accordingly the present invention provides an active cooler, comprising an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior and an exterior, a semiconductor cooling element and a cooling body disposed on one of the walls, the semiconductor cooling element being disposed on an inside of the one of the walls for cooling the interior, the cooling body being disposed on an outside of the one of the walls and being thermally connected with the semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from the semiconductor cooling element.

In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the wall which carries the semiconductor cooling element and the cooling body on respectively opposite sides is formed as a detachable lid to provide an access opening to the enclosure. In the alternative, the detachable lid may have a compartment formed therein for receiving cooling accumulators.

In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the cooling body for outward heat removal is a metal wall forming one of the walls of the enclosure, preferably the back wall, the metal wall cooling body also carrying the semiconductor cooling element for cooling the interior.

In accordance with another feature of the invention, the cooling body for outward heat removal is formed of cooling vanes or fins disposed on the one wall. In a further embodiment, the cooling fins form handles for the cooler lid or carrier handles for the cooler.

In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the cooler has a door formed by one of the walls of the enclosure.

In accordance with again a further feature of the invention, the door or the lid is provided with safety means for preventing or impeding the opening of the lid or door.

The safety means may be a lock.

In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the cooler includes means for electrically connecting the semiconductor cooling element to an electrical power source.

In accordance with yet an additional feature of the invention, the cooler includes a retaining element disposed on an outside of at least one of the walls for attaching the cooler to stationary objects.

In accordance with yet an added feature of the invention, the outside surfaces of at least one of the walls is provided with mirrored surface.

The invention further provides in combination, an article of furniture and an active cooler or cooling box. The active cooler comprises an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior and an exterior, a semiconductor cooling element and a cooling body disposed on one of the walls, the semiconductor cooling element being disposed on and inside of the one of the walls for cooling the interior, the cooling body being disposed on an outside of the one of the walls and being thermally connected with the semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from the semiconductor cooling element.

In accordance with again another feature of the invention, the article of furniture is provided with electrical socket means and plug means are electrically connected to the active cooler for connecting the semiconductor cooling element to an electrical power source. The furniture article may be provided with a power pack for providing electrical power to the semiconductor cooling element.

In accordance with again an additional feature of the invention, the combination includes a cooling fan associated with the cooling body, which cooling fan may be directly built into the article of furniture.

There is further provided, in accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, an active cooling box which comprises a housing having a plurality of walls and an interior, a semiconductor cooling element for cooling the interior and a cooling body disposed on respectively opposite sides of one of the walls, the semiconductor cooling element being disposed in the interior, and the cooling body being thermally connected with the semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from the semiconductor cooling element.

In comparison with the prior art, the invention has the advantageous effect that cosmetics or medicines can be subjected to cool storage in the cooler over a longer period of time.

Evenly good applicability for cosmetics is provided, for example, and medicines, even in opened containers, may be stored over longer periods of time than previously possible without sacrificing their durability and effectiveness. The new cooler is, on the one hand, mobile and can therefore be taken everywhere. On the other hand, it is quite suitable for incorporation into an article of furniture, even a wall unit or a built-in cabinet.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in an active cooler and article of furniture with the cooler, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims hereof.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of examples with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the cooler with two alternatively usable lids for closing the access opening of the cooler, i.e. a first lid with a cooling element mounted thereon for cooling the cooler interior and a second lid with a receptacle for cooling accumulators; Figure 2 is a perspective view of a cooler with a lid with a built-in cooling element for cooling the cooler interior, whereby cooling bodies for outward heat removal are formed as handles or carrying handles; Figure 3 is a perspective view of a cooler with a back wall of metal; Figure 4 is a perspective, partly sectional view of an article of furniture in the form of a wall or built-in cabinet with a cooler inserted therein;; Figure 5 is a perspective, partly broken view of the article of furniture according to Figure 4, but without the cooler; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the cooler with its door opened and removed from the wall cabinet or built-in cabinet; and Figure 7 is a perspective view of the rear of the cooler as seen in the direction of an arrow III in Figure 6.

Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to Figure 1 thereof, there is seen an active cooler 1 with a first lid 3, an alternative, second lid 4 and a box 2.

The cooler 1 is called an "active cooler" because its interior is actively cooled with a semiconductor cooling element, which is operated on electric mains.

Semiconductor cooling elements of this kind are formed of one or several Peltier elements. Such small cooling assemblies are commercially available. For instance, the firm Rehm Computer GmbH, Walserstr. 50, W-8985 Hischegg, Germany, offers a small cooling assembly under the tradename ICECAP for cooling processor chips.

In a first embodiment of the invention, the semiconductor cooling element 5 is disposed on the lower side of the first lid 3, which serves to close the access opening of the cooler 1. On the upper side of the lid 3 there is disposed a cooling body 6 for outward heat removal which is thermally coupled with the semiconductor cooling element 5. When the cooler 1 is closed with the first lid 3, the semiconductor cooling element 5 extends into the interior of the cooler 1, while the cooling body 6 for heat removal is located on the outside of the cooler. The cooling body 6 for heat removal is provided with cooling vanes or fins 8 as they are customary in the art.

When the goods to be cooled in the cooler are sufficiently cool, then the cooler may be transported over a given period of time without the semiconductor cooling element 5.

The second lid 4 may be used for that purpose, which lid 4 is provided with a compartment 7 for receiving cooling accumulators.

The lids 3 and 4, on the one hand, and the housing 2, on the other hand, of the first embodiment are provided with conventional closure members 9, by means of which the lids 3 or 4 are held to the box housing 2 when the cooler is closed.

Referring now to Figure 2 in detail, which shows another embodiment of the invention, the cooling fins 18 of the cooling body 16 for outward heat removal are formed as handles for the lid 13. When the cooler is closed, the handles 18 may be used to carry the housing 12.

Referring now to Figure 3, which shows a further embodiment of the invention, the housing 22 of the cooler is provided with a back wall 23 of a good conductor, such as metal. That outer wall, i.e. the back wall 23, forms the cooling body for the outward heat removal and it carries the semiconductor cooling element (not illustrated in Figure 3) for cooling the cooler interior.

The cooler 21 is furthermore provided with a door 24 for opening and closing the access opening of the cooler 21.

As shown in Figures 3, 4 and 6, the door 24 of the cooler housing 22 is, in one embodiment, provided with a safety mechanism to impede the opening of the door 24.

The cooler is thus made child-proof to a certain extent.

In another embodiment, the door 24 of the cooler 21 is provided with a lock 29 with the aid of which any unauthorized opening of the door 24 can be securely avoided.

The semiconductor cooling element 5, 35 (Figure 1,6) can be operated with little electric power consumption; i.e. it requires for its operation only a small amount of current at a low voltage. A power pack 37 is required. The power pack 37 is advantageously disposed on the outside of the housing 2, 12, 22, 32 of the cooler 1, 11, 21, 31.

When the cooler 1, 11, 21, 31 is used in an article of furniture 41, then the power pack 37 is built into the furniture in the area of a lighting strip 45.

With reference to Figures 6 and 7, the semiconductor cooling element 35 receives its electrical current through a plug 38 provided on the back side of the housing 32 of the cooler 31 which, when the cooler 31 is inserted in the article of furniture 41, engages in a socket 33 located at the back wall of the article of furniture 41.

With reference to Figures 4 and 5, the article of furniture 41, for example a built-in cabinet, a hanging cabinet or a mirror cabinet, is provided, in a conventional manner, with several doors 42, 43, 44 and with a lighting strip 45 thereabove. The active cooler 31 is inserted in the article of furniture 41 behind the door 44.

In the furniture-type embodiment, the cooler 31 is securely held in the furniture 41 by means of ribs or rails 40 on the housing 32 of the cooler 31, which mesh with corresponding grooves or tracks 39 in the article of furniture 41.

For the better insulation toward the outside, one or several of the outer surfaces of the housing 2, 12, 22, 32 of the cooler 1, 11,21,31 may be provided with mirrors or mirrorlike coatings. The box 2 of Figure 1 has been shaded accordingly.

The separate power pack 37 can be operated as a independent device, as this is nowadays widely done with radios, desk calculators, printers and other electrical devices, and it can be connected to the cooler 1, 11, 21, 31 through a non-illustrated cable and a non-illustrated electrical coupling. In that case it is possible to operate the cooler 1, 11, 21, 31 independently as a cooling device, i.e. not inserted into an article of furniture.

A cooling fan 46 may be associated with the cooling body 6, 16, 36 and the back wall 23 of the cooler 21 which is formed of metal. The fan 46, which is conventional in the art, is provided for improved heat removal from the cooling body.

When the cooler is used in furniture, the fan 46 is directly built into the article of furniture 41. The built-in fan 46 is illustrated in the broke-away section of Figure 5.

Claims

Claims:

1. Active cooler, comprising an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior and an exterior, a semiconductor cooling element and a cooling body disposed on one of said walls, said semiconductor cooling element being disposed on an inside of said one of said walls for cooling said interior, said cooling body being disposed on an outside of said one of said walls and being thermally connected with said semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from said semiconductor cooling element.

2. The cooler according to claiml, wherein said one of said walls is formed of a detachable lid for an access opening to said enclosure, said lid carrying said semiconductor cooling element and said cooling body on respectively opposite sides thereof.

3. The cooler according to claim 1, wherein one of said walls is a detachable lid for an access opening of said enclosure, said detachable lid having a compartment formed therein for receiving cooling accumulators.

4. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein said cooling body for outward heat removal is formed of a metal wall forming one of said walls, said metal wall carrying said semiconductor cooling element for cooling said interior.

5. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein said cooling body for outward heat removal is formed of cooling vanes.

6. The cooler according to claim 5, wherein said cooling vanes are in the form of handles for said lid or carrier handles for the cooler.

7. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein one of said walls of said enclosure is a door.

8. The cooler according to claim 2, including safety means disposed on said lid for preventing or impeding opening of said lid.

9. The cooler according to claim 8, wherein said safety means are in the form of a lock provided on said lid.

10. The cooler according to claim 7, including safety means disposed on said door for preventing or impeding opening of said door.

11. The cooler according to claim 10, wherein said safety means are in the form of a lock provided on said door.

12. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 11, including means for electrically connecting said semiconductor cooling element to an electrical power source.

13. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 12, including a retaining element disposed on an outside of one of said walls.

14. The cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 13, wherein an outside surface of at least one of said walls is provided with a mirrored surface.

15. In combination, an article of furniture and an active cooler, said active cooler comprising an enclosure having a plurality of walls defining an interior and an exterior, a semiconductor cooling element and a cooling body disposed on one of said walls, said semiconductor cooling element being disposed on an inside of said one of said walls for cooling said interior, said cooling body being disposed on an outside of said one of said walls and being thermally connected with said semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from said semiconductor cooling element.

16. The combination according to claim 15, including electrical socket means disposed in said article of furniture and plug means electrically connected to said active cooler for connecting said semiconductor cooling element to an electrical power source.

17. The combination according to claim 15, including a power pack disposed in said article of furniture for providing electrical power to said semiconductor cooling element.

18. The combination according to claim 15, including a cooling fan associated with said cooling body.

19. The combination according to claim 18, wherein said cooling fan is a built-in fan which is built into said article of furniture.

20. An active cooling box, comprising a housing having a plurality of walls and an interior, a semiconductor cooling element for cooling said interior and a cooling body disposed on respectively opposite sides of one of said walls, said semiconductor cooling element being disposed in said interior, and said cooling body being thermally connected with said semiconductor cooling element for outward heat removal from said semiconductor cooling element.

21. Active cooler substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. The combination according to any one of claims 15 to 19 substantially as herein described with reference to the accompanying drawings.