Food chiller

Abstract

A food cooling assembly is disclosed. The assembly includes a reservoir adapted to retain a fluid. The receptacle includes an opening extending therethrough. The assembly also includes a chiller including a pump having a suction end and a discharge end and a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to the opening and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump. A cooling conduit having a first cooling end is coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening. A heat transfer device is in physical contact with the cooling conduit between the first cooling end and the second cooling end, such that heat is transferred between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit. A method of cooling food using water from a reservoir to cool the food is also disclosed.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a chiller that uses cold water from a reservoir, such as a picnic cooler, to cool a receptacle, such as a plate or a bowl, as well as food placed on or in the receptacle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Picnics are a popular pastime that allow people to take food outside, such as in the backyard, to a park, or even to the beach. Picnickers typically pack a cooler with ice and place the food to be eaten during the picnic inside the cooler. The cooler is thermally insulated and the ice inside the cooler helps to keep the food cold for an extended period of time.

One drawback to taking food on a picnic is that, due to the generally hot weather which typically accompanies a picnic, food must remain in a cooler to remain chilled or, alternatively, removed from the cooler and set outside the cooler to allow access to the food by the picnickers. If picnic food, particularly food that contains mayonnaise, such as salads, is allowed to remain out of the cooler for an extended period of time, the food loses its taste and may even go bad, making the food unhealthy to eat.

There exists a need to provide a system that keeps picnic food chilled outside of the cooler, both for taste and for sanitary reasons.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention provides a food cooling assembly. The assembly includes a reservoir adapted to retain a fluid. The receptacle includes an opening extending therethrough. The assembly also includes a chiller including a pump having a suction end and a discharge end and a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to the opening and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump. A cooling conduit having a first cooling end is coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening. A heat transfer device is in physical contact with the cooling conduit between the first cooling end and the second cooling end, such that heat is transferred between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit.

Further, an additional exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides an apparatus for cooling food. The apparatus comprises a pump having a suction end and a discharge end and a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to an opening in a receptacle adapted to retain a fluid and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump. A cooling conduit having a first cooling end is coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening. A heat transfer device is in physical contact with the cooling conduit, such that heat is transferrable between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit.

Additionally, another exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a method of cooling food using water from a reservoir to cool the food. The method comprises the steps of: placing the food in a receptacle; and circulating the water from the reservoir, out of the reservoir, to the receptacle, and back to the reservoir.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and constitute part of this specification, illustrate the presently preferred embodiments of the invention, and, together with the general description given above and the detailed description given below, serve to explain features of the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a chiller assembly according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a second exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a third exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a receptacle that is used with the chiller assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is an electrical schematic drawing of a temperature control circuit that may be used with the chiller assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a side elevational view, in section, of a receptacle according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a grill assembly that incorporates the chiller assembly of the present invention; and

FIG. 9 is a side elevational view, partially in section, of a chiller assembly according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenience only and is not limiting. The terminology includes the words above specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of similar import. The embodiments illustrated below are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. These embodiments are chosen and described to best explain the principle of the invention and its application and practical use and to enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the invention.

Referring in general to the figures, a chiller assembly 100 according to the present invention is shown. Chiller assembly 100 comprises a reservoir, such as a picnic cooler 110, and a chiller 120 that is releasably couplable to cooler 110. Cold water circulates through cooler 110 and chiller 120 to remove heat from food being chilled by chiller assembly 100.

Cooler 110 is used as a source of chilled fluid, such as water 113. Water 113 may be provided by melted ice or, alternatively, water 113 may be added to ice that is placed within cooler 110. Cooler 112 includes an opening, such as a drain 114 located proximal to the bottom of cooler 112, that is used to drain water 113 from cooler 110. Drain 114 includes a removable drain plug (not shown) that is removed from drain 114 to allow water 113 to drain from cooler 110. The drain plug may be inserted into drain 114 to keep water 113 from draining out of cooler 110 through drain 114 when chiller 120 is not is use.

Chiller 120 includes a plug 122 that is releasably insertable into drain 114. Plug 122 is sized for a standard sized drain 114 provided in commercially available coolers, such as manufactured by COLEMAN®, THERMOS®, IGLOO®, or others. Plug 122 may be tapered to compensate for slightly differing sized drains 114. Optionally, an adapter (not shown) may be provided to plug drains sufficiently larger than drain 114.

A supply conduit 130 includes a first end 132 that extends into and through plug 122. In an exemplary embodiment, first end 132 extends approximately 12 millimeters from plug 122. Supply conduit 130 also includes a second end 134 that is coupled to a pump 140.

In an exemplary embodiment, pump 140 may be a 9-12 volt DC electrical pump powered by three or four “D” cell batteries. Alternatively, pump 140 may be powered by an electrical connection 141 that provides auxiliary power to pump 140 from an outside power source, such as an automobile cigarette lighter (not shown) or automobile auxiliary power outlet (not shown). Still alternatively, pump 140 may be powered by other means, such as solar power. Pump 140 may pump 1-2 liters per minute of water 113 from cooler 110. Pump 140 has an ON/OFF switch 142 that enables a user to turn pump 140 on and off.

Pump 140 includes a suction end 144 that is coupled to second end 134 of supply conduit 130. Pump 140 also includes discharge end 146 that is coupled to a first end of a cooling conduit 150.

Cooling conduit 150 has a first end 152 that is coupled to pump discharge end 146. Cooling conduit 150 also has a second end 154 that extends into and through plug 122. In an exemplary embodiment, shown in FIG. 1, second end 154 is flush with end of plug 122. Those skilled in the art, however, will recognize that second end 154 may extend beyond plug 122 or end within plug 122.

Cooling conduit 150 includes a contact portion 156 between first end 152 and second end 154 that is wrapped around and contacts a receptacle 160. Contact portion 156 transfers heat from receptacle 160 to contact portion 156. Receptacle 160 may be a bowl, a dish, a plate, a tube, or any other suitable configuration for holding and retaining food thereon or therein. Receptacle 160 may also be in a shape that facilitates the cooling of beverage containers, such as wine bottles, wine boxes, or other drink containers. FIGS. 2-5 show exemplary embodiments of receptacles 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d that are envisioned by the present invention. Receptacle 160 is used as a heat transfer device that transfers heat from the food on/in receptacle 160 to water 113 that is circulated through chiller assembly 100 via supply conduit 130, pump 140, and cooling conduit 150. Food may be placed directly into receptacle 160 or alternatively, food may be placed in a container, such as an original food or beverage container or other consumer-type package (not shown), which is in turn placed in receptacle 160.

In an exemplary embodiment, receptacle 160 is constructed from aluminum or other heat conductive material to facilitate transfer of heat from receptacle 160, through cooling conduit 150, to water 113. Optionally, receptacle 160 may include a removable lid 162 that may be placed over receptacle 160 to reduce ambient heat absorption of food in receptacle 160.

While the exemplary embodiment of chiller assembly 100 shown in FIG. 1 shows pump 140 disposed upstream of receptacle 160, those skilled in the art will recognize that pump 140 may be disposed anywhere in the circulation path of water 113 such that water 113 is pumped from cooler 112, through supply conduit 130, through cooling conduit 150 to receptacle 160, and back to cooler 112.

Supply conduit 130 may be constructed from polyurethane or other suitable thermal insulation material in order to reduce thermal losses between cooler 110 and pump 140. Contact portion 156 may be constructed from a metallic material, such as aluminum or copper, to facilitate heat transfer from receptacle 160, through contact portion 156, to water 113 being pumped through contact portion 156. Contact portion 156 may be integrally formed with receptacle 160. Alternatively, contact portion 156 may be adhered to receptacle 160 with an adhesive or a metallic tape.

Optionally, as shown in FIG. 1, a temperature monitoring device, such as a thermometer 180, may be thermally coupled to chiller assembly 100. Thermometer 180 may be coupled to receptacle 160 to record the temperature of receptacle 160. Additionally, a second thermometer 182 may record ambient temperature. Thermometer 180 may be coupled to a temperature control circuit 188, shown schematically in FIG. 6, that operates pump 140 as needed based on the local temperature at receptacle 160.

Optionally, referring back to FIG. 1, a third thermometer 184 may be inserted into cooler 110 or coupled with supply conduit 130 to monitor the temperature of the cooling fluid. Third thermometer 184 may be coupled to an alarm 186. If the fluid in cooler 110 or supply conduit 130 reaches a predetermined temperature, such as about 2 degrees Celsius (about 35 degrees Fahrenheit), alarm 186 may be triggered to alert the user that additional ice may need to be added to cooler 110.

In an alternative exemplary embodiment of a chiller assembly 200, shown in FIG. 7, a receptacle 260 may be used instead of receptacle 160. Receptacle 260 includes a concave basin 262 having an exterior surface 264 which is in contact with cooling conduit 150 and an interior surface 266 onto which a cooling fluid, such as water 268, is poured. A food container 270 is inserted over receptacle 260 such that water 268 contacts a lower surface 272 of food container 270. In this embodiment, food container 270 may be removed from receptacle 260, such as for cleaning after use.

Receptacle 260 is cooled in a manner as described above with respect to receptacle 160, cooling water 268 in receptacle 260. Cooled water 268 then cools food container 270 through conductive heat transfer. Cooled food container 270 in turn cools food disposed within food container 270.

While chiller assembly 100 may use a cooler 110 that may be a portable cooler, such as a plastic picnic cooler, those skilled in the art will recognize that an alternative exemplary embodiment of a chiller assembly 300 can incorporate a cooler 310 that may be less portable, such as, for example, cooler 310 that may be incorporated into a gas grill 302, shown in FIG. 8. Chiller assembly 300 may incorporate a receptacle 360 that is used to keep food cool prior to placing the food on grill 302. Alternatively, chiller assembly 300 may be used to keep condiments, marinades, or other foodstuffs cool while still in proximity to a heated grilling surface. A switch 342 mounted on the face of grill 302 may be used to operate chiller assembly 300. As with pump 140 above, a pump 340 may be powered by a DC battery source (not shown) or an AC power source (not shown).

Another exemplary embodiment of the present invention is shown schematically in FIG. 9. While chiller assembly 100 shows a single receptacle 160, chiller assembly 400 shows multiple receptacles 460, 460′ coupled in parallel. A first manifold 470 is coupled to a cooling conduit 450 such that water 413 pumped by a pump 440 from a cooler 410 through a supply conduit 430 and through pump 440 is split into a first cooling conduit 450 coupled to a first manifold outlet 472 and a second cooling conduit 450′ coupled to a second manifold conduit 474. First cooling conduit 450 is used to cool receptacle 460 and second cooling conduit 450′ is used to cool second receptacle 460′. After cooling receptacles 460, 460′ respectively, cooling conduits 450, 450′ are re-coupled at a second manifold 476. Second manifold 476 outlets into a single return conduit 478 that transports water 413 back to cooler 410.

Receptacles 460, 460′ may be similarly shaped or, alternatively, receptacles 460, 460′ may have different shapes, such as to hold different types/amounts of food. For example, receptacles 460, 460′ may have shapes similar to any of receptacles 160a, 160b, 160c, 160d in FIGS. 2-5. Manifolds 470, 476 may include valves (not shown) that allow water 413 to be directed through either one or both of cooling conduits 450, 450′ to cool either one or both of receptacles 460, 460′. While two receptacles 460, 460′ are shown, those skilled in the art will recognize that more than two receptacles 460, 460′ may be coupled via manifolds 470, 476.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could be made to the embodiments described above without departing from the broad inventive concept thereof. It is understood, therefore, that this invention is not limited to the particular embodiments disclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A food cooling assembly comprising:

a reservoir adapted to retain a fluid, wherein the receptacle includes an opening extending therethrough; and

a chiller comprising: a pump having a suction end and a discharge end; a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to the opening and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump; a cooling conduit having a first cooling end coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening; and a heat transfer device in physical contact with the cooling conduit between the first cooling end and the second cooling end, such that heat is transferred between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit.

2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a plurality of heat transfer devices.

3. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a plug disposed around at least a portion of the first supply end, wherein the plug is adapted to be removably coupled to the opening.

4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein the plug is disposed around at least a portion of the second cooling end.

5. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a generally concave shape.

6. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir comprises a cooler.

7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the chiller further comprises a heat measurement device thermally coupled to the heat transfer device.

8. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature control circuit operatively coupled to the pump.

9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein the second cooling end is adjacent the first supply end.

10. An apparatus for cooling food comprising:

a pump having a suction end and a discharge end;

a supply conduit having a first supply end releasably couplable to an opening in a receptacle adapted to retain a fluid and a second supply end coupled to the suction end of the pump;

a cooling conduit having a first cooling end coupled to the discharge end of the pump and a second cooling end releasably couplable to the opening; and

a heat transfer device in physical contact with the cooling conduit, such that heat is transferrable between the heat transfer device and the cooling conduit.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a plurality of heat transfer devices.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, further comprising a plug disposed around at least a portion of the first supply end, wherein the plug is adapted to be removably coupled to the opening.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plug comprises a taper.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the plug is disposed around at least a portion of the second cooling end.

15. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the heat transfer device comprises a generally concave shape.

16. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the second cooling end is adjacent the first supply end.

17. A method of cooling food using water from a reservoir to cool the food, the method comprising the steps of:

placing the food in a receptacle; and

circulating the water from the reservoir, out of the reservoir, to the receptacle, and back to the reservoir.

18. The method according to claim 17, wherein the step of circulating the water comprises circulating the water from the reservoir in a first lumen of a dual lumen tube and circulating the cooling fluid back to the reservoir in second lumen of the dual lumen tube.

19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of releasably coupling the reservoir to the receptacle.

20. The method according to claim 17, further comprising the step of measuring the temperature of the receptacle.