US20120042873A1

US20120042873A1 - Heating cabinet

Info

Publication number: US20120042873A1
Application number: US12/971,628
Authority: US
Inventors: Sang-Hoon Lim; Jeong-Chul Lee; Soo-bin HAN; Bong-man JUNG; Yong-Heack Kang
Original assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research KIER
Current assignee: Korea Institute of Energy Research KIER
Priority date: 2010-08-18
Filing date: 2010-12-17
Publication date: 2012-02-23
Also published as: JP5258870B2; KR101200555B1; KR20120017291A; JP2012040342A

Abstract

A heating cabinet is provided capable of keeping foods warm by use of solar energy. The heating cabinet includes a body member, which has an outer surface formed using transparent material and is configured to form an accommodation space therein, in which an inside of a part surrounding the accommodation space to be filled with heat retaining fluid heated by solar energy such that heat received from solar energy is stored in the heat retaining fluid to keep contents accommodated in the accommodation space warm; and a detachable member which is formed at one side of the body member to allow the body member to be detachable to the window. Foods contained in the heating cabinet are kept warm. When taking foods contained in the heating cabinet, a user takes foods by separating the heating cabinet from the window. Alternatively, a user separates the heating cabinet from the window and takes foods while carrying the separated heating cabinet.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0079897, filed on Aug. 18, 2010, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes.

BACKGROUND

1. Field
The following description relates to a heating cabinet, and more particularly, to a heating cabinet capable of keeping foods and beverage warm.
2. Description of the Related Art
A heating cabinet is a device configured to keep foods and beverage warm. The heating cabinet may be classified into a various types of heating cabinets depending on its driving source, for example, electricity, combustion heat of gas, circulating hot air and circulating steam. As described above, a conventional heating cabinet requires the electricity or gas produced from a power plant, and thus causes a difficulty in carrying along with a user.
Meanwhile, as eco-friendly products become gaining in importance, the demand for low power-driven products or solar battery-driven products is increased.

SUMMARY

In one aspect, there is provided a heating cabinet for keeping foods warm by use of solar energy and ensuring its portability.
In one general aspect, there is provided a heating cabinet including a body member which has an outer surface formed using transparent material and includes an accommodation space formed therein, in which an inside of a part surrounding the accommodation space is filled with heat retaining fluid heated by solar energy such that heat received from solar energy is held in the heat retaining fluid; and a detachable member which is formed at one side of the body member to allow the body member to be detachable to the window.
As described above, in a state the heating cabinet of the present invention is attached to a window installed on a wall of offices or houses, if beverage and foods are contained in the heating cabinet during a predetermined time, the beverage and foods are heated up and heated foods are kept warm. In addition, when taking foods contained in the heating cabinet, a user may take foods by separating the heating cabinet from the window. Alternatively, a user may separate the heating cabinet from the window and take foods while carrying the separated heating cabinet.
Other features will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the attached drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing an example of a heating cabinet.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing another example of a heating cabinet.

Elements, features, and structures are denoted by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings and the detailed description, and the size and proportions of some elements may be exaggerated in the drawings for clarity and convenience.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description is provided to assist the reader in gaining a comprehensive understanding of the methods, apparatuses and/or systems described herein. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the systems, apparatuses and/or methods described herein will suggest themselves to those of ordinary skill in the art. Descriptions of well-known functions and structures are omitted to enhance clarity and conciseness.
Hereinafter, examples will be described with reference to accompanying drawings in detail.
As shown FIGS. 1 and 2, a heating cabinet 100 includes a body member 110 and a detachable member 120.
The body member 110 has an outer surface formed using transparent material and is configured to form an accommodation space therein, in which an inside of a part surrounding the accommodation space is filled with heat retaining fluid heated by solar energy. The body member 110 receives solar energy and stores heat of the solar energy in the heat retaining fluid not shown, thereby keeping stuffs of the accommodation space warm using the heat. The heat retaining fluid is heated by the solar energy. The heat retaining fluid may be implemented using water.
The detachable member 120 is formed at one side of the body member 110 and is detachable to a window. The detachable member 120 may be implemented using a suction plate. According to an example of coupling the detachable member 120 to the body member 110, coupling holes are formed through the body member 110 and the suction plate is coupled to the coupling holes.
In a state the heating cabinet 100 is attached to a window installed on a wall of offices or houses, if beverage and foods are contained in the heating cabinet 100 during a predetermined time, the beverage and foods are heated up or heated foods are kept warm. In addition, when taking foods contained in the heating cabinet 100, a user may take foods by separating the heating cabinet 100 from the window. Alternatively, a user may separate the heating cabinet from the window and take foods while carrying the separated heating cabinet 100.
Meanwhile, an example of the body member 110 may include an outer body part 111, an inner body part 112 and a sealing part 113.
The outer body part 111 is formed using transparent material. The outer body part 111 may be implemented using transparent plastic.
The inner body part 112 is accommodated in the outer body part 111. The inner body part 112 has a size smaller than that of the outer body part 111. The inner body part 112 may be formed using material having a high thermal conductivity. The inner body part 112 may be implemented using aluminum. For example, each of the outer body part 111 and the inner body part 112 may be provided in the form of a hexahedron having an open upper surface. For example, each of the outer body part 111 and the inner body part 112 may be provided in the form of a cylinder having an open upper surface.
The sealing part 113 is configured to seal an open upper part of a space between the outer part 111 and the inner body part 112 to prevent heat retaining fluid filled between the outer body part 111 and the inner body part 112 from being lost to the outside. The sealing part 113 serves to prevent the heat retaining fluid filled in a space between the outer body part 111 and the inner body part 112 from being lost to the outside.
According to the body member 110 having the structure described above, heat of solar energy is transferred to the heat retaining fluid. The heat accumulated in the heat retaining fluid serves to heat up foods in the accommodation space or keep heated foods warm.
According to another example, the heating cabinet 100 may further include a solar battery part 130 and a heating part not shown.
The solar battery part 130 is formed at one side of the body member 110 to convert solar energy to electric energy.
The heating part is formed at one of the outer body part 111, the inner body part 112, and the heat retaining fluid and is electrically connected to the solar battery part 130. The heating part converts solar energy of the solar battery part 130 to electric energy. The heating part may be implemented using heating coils. The heat produced from the heating coils serves to heat up foods or keep heated food warm.
Meanwhile, the heating cabinet 100 may further include an outlet socket 140. The outlet socket 140 is formed at one side of the outer body part 111. The outlet socket 140 is electrically connected to the solar battery part 130. A plug of home appliances is put into the outlet socket 140. The outlet socket 140 provides electricity of the solar battery part 130 to the home appliances, thereby operating the home appliances.
A number of exemplary embodiments have been described above. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made. For example, suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner and/or replaced or supplemented by other components or their equivalents. Accordingly, other implementations are within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A heating cabinet comprising:

a body member, which has an outer surface formed using transparent material and is configured to form an accommodation space therein, in which an inside of a part surrounding the accommodation space to be filled with heat retaining fluid heated by solar energy such that heat received from solar energy is stored in the heat retaining fluid to keep contents accommodated in the accommodation space warm; and

a detachable member which is formed at one side of the body member to allow the body member to be detachable to the window.

2. The heating cabinet of claim 1, wherein the body member comprises:

an outer body part formed using transparent material;

an inner body part which is accommodated in the outer body and has an upper part configured to be open;

a sealing part configured to seal an open upper part of a space between the outer body part and the inner body part to prevent the heat retaining fluid, which is filled in the space between the outer body part and the inner body part, from being lost; and

a cover part configured to open and close the upper part of the inner body part.

3. The heating cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

a solar battery part which is formed at one side of the body member to convert solar energy to electric energy; and

a heating part which is formed at one of the outer body part, the inner body part and the heat retaining fluid and is electrically connected to the solar battery part.

4. The heating cabinet of claim 1, further comprising:

an outlet socket which is formed at one side of the outer body part and is electrically connected to the solar battery part.