초록 ▼

A refrigerated countertop snack container that can be styled in the form of a lidded cookie jar utilizes a Peltier effect thermoelectric element as the cooling module located beneath the main interior compartment formed by a hygienic thermally-conductive liner that is thermally insulated from the co

A refrigerated countertop snack container that can be styled in the form of a lidded cookie jar utilizes a Peltier effect thermoelectric element as the cooling module located beneath the main interior compartment formed by a hygienic thermally-conductive liner that is thermally insulated from the container's outer shell and is held at 38.degree. F. nominal for optimal food refrigeration. The liner is specially designed with tapered thickness to minimize bottom-to-top temperature difference. Heat generated by the refrigeration process is dissipated from a finned aluminum heat sink that is cooled by forced air from a quiet "muffin" fan drawing in air from a first set of air vent openings configured around a lower region of the container, and exhausting air, warmed by the heat sink and fan motor, through a second set of air vents located above the first set. A high frequency type switching power converter located in the bottom region of the container converts 115 volts a.c. from the domestic power line to about 12 volts d.c. to power the thermoelectric element and the fan, and provides electrical isolation from the power line.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigerated container for storing and dispensing chilled snack foods from a countertop location, comprising:a container body;an outer shell forming an exterior surface of said container body;an inner liner of said container body, contained within said outer shell and t

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] A refrigerated container for storing and dispensing chilled snack foods from a countertop location, comprising:a container body;an outer shell forming an exterior surface of said container body;an inner liner of said container body, contained within said outer shell and thermally insulated therefrom, forming a storage region for snack food, said inner liner being made from thermally conductive material and made to be tapered in thickness, being made thinnest in a top region and increasing in thickness to a thickest portion at a bottom region configured to have a downward-facing thermal input interface pad, whereby uniformity of temperature distribution throughout the storage region is enhanced by expediting transfer of corrective temperature changes from the thermal input interface pad to the top region;a cover on said container providing user access to the storage region;a Peltier-effect thermoelectric element, having a thermal pad, known as the cold pad, thermally coupled to the thermal input interface pad of said inner liner, and having a second thermal pad, known as the hot pad, located opposite the first thermal pad;a source of electrical direct current directed through said thermoelectric element so as to absorb heat at the cold pad and to generate heat at the hot pad; andheat sink means, coupled thermally to the hot pad, constructed and arranged to transfer heat therefrom to environmental air surrounding said container;whereby the storage region is caused to be cooled relative to the surrounding environmental air.