NATURALLY REFRIGERATED COOLER AND ICE BIN
An apparatus, system and method for natural refrigeration comprising a naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin containing an ice bin with a refrigerator compartment suspended within it. The ice bin and cooler compartment are configured such that when ice cubes and the resulting cold water are loaded into the ice bin, the ice cubes and resulting cold water surround the refrigerator compartment and act to remove heat from inside the refrigerator compartment.
This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/902,639, filed Nov. 11, 2013, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND OF INVENTIONRefrigerated coolers, refrigerators, coolers or other similar apparatus are commonly used to keep food and beverages cold for storage prior to being used and/or consumed. Such refrigerators or refrigerated coolers are commonly employed in restaurants, bars, pubs, fast food establishments, concessions, convenience stores, kiosks, boats, recreational vehicles, portable concession carts, residential households, outdoor kitchens, and the like. However, conventional refrigerated coolers or refrigerators rely on electrical components and gases to facilitate the cooling process and to maintain a constant temperature in the ambient range to keep food products and beverages cold. This reliance on electrical components and gases limits their use geographically to locations where electricity is available and also creates an environmental burden.
Conventional portable coolers, ice boxes, ice chests and like portable cooling apparatus are typically configured as a simple insulated container. Ice cubes or gel packs are commonly employed inside of such insulated containers to facilitate cooling of the items as well as maintain cold temperatures. Portable coolers, or ice chests, are typically used at picnics, campsites, recreational vehicles, boats, outdoor events, outdoor cooking events or any other areas in need of refrigeration but without readily available electricity. However, conventional portable coolers are an impractical substitute for conventional refrigerated coolers in commercial applications.
Conventional ice bins, insulated ice wells or ice well coolers typically employ either insulated or non-insulated boxes, sinks or coolers to store and dispense ice cubes for use in beverages or other food and beverage related purposes. Ice bins are commonly used in bars, pubs, restaurants, kiosks, concessions, convenience stores, portable concession carts and the like for the purpose of food or beverage service. However, their functionality is conventionally limited to the provision of service ice.
Accordingly, a need exists for an integrated naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin to provide a refrigerated cooler and service ice bin without the use of conventional electrical refrigeration components or gases.
SUMMARYIt is to be understood that this summary is not an extensive overview of the disclosure. This summary is exemplary and not restrictive, and it is intended to neither identify key or critical elements of the disclosure nor delineate the scope thereof. The sole purpose of this summary is to explain and exemplify certain concepts of the disclosure as an introduction to the following complete and extensive detailed description.
In certain exemplary aspects, the present disclosure describes a naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin designed to provide a refrigerated cooler as well as a service ice bin without the use of conventional electrical refrigeration components or gases. In certain further aspects, the naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin can be an all-in-one unit that utilizes ice cubes loaded into an ice bin as the coolant method for the refrigerated cooler.
In other aspects, the present disclosure provides for a large vertical ice bin with a refrigerator compartment. Here, the refrigerator compartment can be used as the refrigerated cooler and can be suspended inside the lower portion of this large ice bin. It is contemplated that the ice bin and refrigerator compartment can be designed such that ice cubes, and the resulting cold water from the melting of the ice cubes, surround the refrigerator compartment from all sides with the exception of the front. In a further aspect, the front side of the refrigerator compartment can be used to access the items inside through the use of an insulated access door. In light of the present disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that heat from within the refrigerator compartment can be transferred through the refrigerator compartment walls via thermal contact with the ice cubes and cold water. Thus, natural cold water convection moves heat from the refrigerator compartment through the refrigerator compartment walls to the ice cubes and cold water surrounding the refrigerator compartment and, finally, to the top of the ice bin.
In other aspects, the refrigerator compartment can be constructed of a highly thermally conductive material to facilitate the thermal conductivity of the refrigerator compartment to the ice cubes and cold water surrounding it. In a further aspect, the refrigerator compartment can be accessed through a front door similar to a conventional refrigerator. Here, it is contemplated that the front door can be also insulated to provide a thermal barrier and sealed using a gasket. In further aspects, the refrigerator compartment can contain shelves or remain open in design.
In other aspects, the large ice chamber of the ice bin can be located vertically above the refrigerator compartment. This ice bin can be top loading with direct access to the top, back, right and left side of the inner compartment cooler. The inner compartment can be also suspended from the bottom of the ice bin providing a reservoir underneath the refrigerator compartment with direct access to the left, right and back side of the ice bin.
In other aspects, the outer ice bin walls (i.e., the entire exterior of the unit) can be double walled and insulated to provide a thermal barrier to restrict heat loss from the ice bin. In even further aspects, materials used for the walls can include, for example and without limitation, 304 Stainless Steel, molded plastic, steel (outer wall only), galvanized steel (outer wall only), vinyl-lined aluminum or other suitable material used to provide a thermally insulated barrier as well as waterproof structure.
In other aspects, a sliding, removable or flip up door can be used to access the top of the ice bin. It is contemplated that the ice bin top access door can be or can not be insulated. In other aspects, the top of the ice bin can include, for example and without limitation, a draft tower with drain collection pan, cold water dispensing unit, cold drain pan tray, or the like.
In other aspects, a valve can be located at the bottom of the unit and can be used to discharge the water from the ice bin. Such a valve can be hooked up to external plumbing or simply used as a dump valve. In further aspects, the valve can comprise, for example and without limitation, a ball joint valve, a gate valve, a tee valve or any other valve device operable to restrict water in external or internal plumbing.
In other aspects, it is contemplated that condensation from within the refrigerator compartment can be directed through a drain from within the refrigerator compartment and plumbed to the valve located on the outside of the unit. In an additional or alternate embodiment, it is contemplated that the condensation from the refrigerator compartment can be directed to a water reservoir located within or connected to the ice bin.
In other aspects, a draft (or draught) version of a naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin is contemplated and comprises a draft tower with draft lines that can be inserted through the top of the refrigerator compartment, upwards through the top of the ice bin to a draft tower and dispensing faucet. In a further aspect, the draft tower and dispensing faucet can be located either on top or on the top side of the ice bin. In a further aspect, the draft lines can be fed through a draft line tube constructed of a highly thermally conductive material and into the draft tower. It is contemplated that the draft line tube can be in direct contact with the ice cubes and cold water inside of the ice bin. In light of the present disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that heat from the beverage, lines, surrounding air and draft line tube can be thermally transferred into the ice bin. Accordingly, the present disclosure provides an apparatus and system that can be used to cool the draft lines for an optimal direct draw draft system. Here, the liquid (or beverage) can be stored in kegs, boxes, liter cylinders or the like. It is further contemplated that these items can be stored inside the refrigerator compartment and linked through draft lines to the draft tower and faucet through the above-mentioned draft line tube. Such a draft version of a naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin can be used to store and dispense beer, wine, cocktail or any other beverage served through a draft tower.
In other aspects, a cold plate can be provided on the top of the refrigerator compartment, inside of the ice bin in order to enable the use of a soda system or any other beverage system that utilizes a cold plate cooling design.
In other aspects, a cold water dispenser can be provided in the naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin. It is contemplated that the cold water dispenser comprises a hand pump, a pressure chamber, an in-line filter, a water line and a dispensing means. In a further aspect, the water line is configured to take water from the bottom of the ice bin, filter it through an in-line filter, and dispense the cold water from the top or the side of the ice bin. It is contemplated that a hand pump will provide the necessary pressure to pull the water through the water lines and filter to the dispensing unit.
In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides for a naturally refrigerated cooler with ice bin configured to be an environmentally friendly and energy saving appliance. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of the present disclosure does not utilize power or gas related refrigeration components. In a further aspect, the present disclosure provides an ergonomic, space-saving, multipurpose design such that the naturally refrigerated cooler with ice bin can provide many years of trouble-free service.
In a further aspect, it is contemplated that the naturally refrigerated cooler with ice bin can be provided in many sizes, configurations and designs such as, for example and without limitation, a free standing rolling design, a slip-in design similar to a conventional stove/oven, a drop-in counter design and the like.
In further aspects, it is contemplated that the naturally refrigerated cooler with ice bin can be adapted for many applications such as, for example and without limitation, restaurants, fast food establishments, bars, pubs, coffee houses, concessions, convenience stores, gas stations, kiosks, portable concession carts, recreational vehicles, outdoor kitchens, residential kitchens, poolside, events, tradeshows, convention booths or virtually any place, portable or fixed, that requires refrigeration.
Additional features and advantages of exemplary implementations of the invention will be set forth in the description which follows, and in part will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations. The features and advantages of such implementations may be realized and obtained by means of the instruments and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. These and other features will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of such exemplary implementations as set forth hereinafter.
The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate aspects and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the methods and systems.
The present invention can be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description, examples, drawing, and claims, and their previous and following description. However, before the present devices, systems, and/or methods are disclosed and described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, systems, and/or methods disclosed unless otherwise specified, as such can, of course, vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular aspects only and is not intended to be limiting.
The following description of the invention is provided as an enabling teaching of the invention in its best, currently known aspect. To this end, those skilled in the relevant art will recognize and appreciate that many changes can be made to the various aspects of the invention described herein, while still obtaining the beneficial results described herein. It will also be apparent that some of the desired benefits described herein can be obtained by selecting some of the features described herein without utilizing other features. Accordingly, those who work in the art will recognize that many modifications and adaptations to the present invention are possible and can even be desirable in certain circumstances and are a part described herein. Thus, the following description is provided as illustrative of the principles described herein and not in limitation thereof.
Reference will be made to the drawings to describe various aspects of one or more implementations of the invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are diagrammatic and schematic representations of one or more implementations, and are not limiting of the present disclosure. Moreover, while various drawings are provided at a scale that is considered functional for one or more implementations, the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale for all contemplated implementations. The drawings thus represent an exemplary scale, but no inference should be drawn from the drawings as to any required scale.
In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding described herein. It will be obvious, however, to one skilled in the art that the present disclosure may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known aspects of refrigeration systems and coolers have not been described in particular detail in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the disclosed implementations.
As used in the specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” one particular value, and/or to “about” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another aspect includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another aspect. It will be further understood that the endpoints of each of the ranges are significant both in relation to the other endpoint, and independently of the other endpoint.
“Optional” or “optionally” means that the subsequently described event or circumstance may or may not occur, and that the description includes instances where said event or circumstance occurs and instances where it does not.
Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the word “comprise” and variations of the word, such as “comprising” and “comprises,” means “including but not limited to,” and is not intended to exclude, for example, other additives, components, integers or steps. “Exemplary” means “an example of” and is not intended to convey an indication of a preferred or ideal aspect. “Such as” is not used in a restrictive sense, but for explanatory purposes.
Disclosed are components that can be used to perform the disclosed methods and systems. These and other components are disclosed herein, and it is understood that when combinations, subsets, interactions, groups, etc. of these components are disclosed that while specific reference of each various individual and collective combinations and permutation of these may not be explicitly disclosed, each is specifically contemplated and described herein, for all methods and systems. This applies to all aspects of this application including, but not limited to, steps in disclosed methods. Thus, if there are a variety of additional steps that can be perdefined it is understood that each of these additional steps can be perdefined with any specific aspect or combination of aspects of the disclosed methods.
Implementations described herein are directed toward devices, systems and methods for natural refrigeration. More particularly, the present disclosure is directed to a natural refrigeration system. For example, one or more implementations described herein provide a naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin 100 designed to provide a refrigerated cooler as well as a service ice bin without the use of conventional electrical refrigeration components or gases. In other aspects, the present disclosure is directed to a naturally-refrigerated cooler and ice bin that is configured as an integrated or all-in-one unit that utilizes ice cubes loaded into the ice bin 102 as a coolant.
Referring now to
Referring now to
In other aspect and as shown in
In other aspects and as shown in
In other aspects and as shown in
In other aspects, the refrigerator compartment 108 can be suspended within the bottom portion of the inside of the ice bin 102. When ice is loaded through the top of the ice bin, the ice will fill in the void around the refrigerator compartment from the top, left, right and back side. In further aspects, cold water generated by the melting of the ice can fill the void under the refrigerator compartment. In some aspects, the only portion of the refrigerator compartment not in direct contact with the ice and/or cold water can be at least a portion of the front surface which can, in turn, comprise a refrigerator cooler door 116. In some aspects, the refrigerator compartment can be constructed of a thermally conductive material configured to facilitate heat transfer from the contents inside of the refrigerator compartment to the ice and cold water of the surrounding ice bin. In a further aspect, the thermally conductive material can be, for example and without limitation, aluminum and the like. In operation, the heat drawn from the refrigerator compartment will rise towards the top of the ice bin resulting in colder temperatures at the lower part of the ice bin. In light of the present disclosure, one skilled in the art will appreciate that the cold water convection and heat transfer process described herein provides for natural refrigeration of the refrigerator compartment and the maintenance of that cold temperature for extended periods of time.
In other aspects, support rails 110 can operate to keep the refrigerator compartment 108 suspended from the floor of the ice bin 102. In further aspects, the support rails can be configured as a structural element to further support the weight of the contents of the refrigerator compartment.
In other aspects and as shown in
In other aspects and as shown in
In other aspects and as shown in
In another aspect, the naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin 100 comprise a fresh water assembly disposed inside the ice bin 102 to a dispensing faucet 120 located on top of the naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin. In an aspect, the fresh water assembly further comprises an in-line pickup tube, an in-line water filter, a pumping mechanism (manual, battery operated or electrically operated) and a faucet.
In yet other aspects and as shown in FIGS. 11,12A and 12B, the naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin 100 can further comprise a cold plate configuration that provides a cooling means for soda system delivery. In one aspect, the cold plate 124 can be formed from, for example and without limitation, a ported aluminum plate with copper coils and the like. In this aspect, a separate coil can be provided for each different soda product (i.e. coke, diet coke, sprite, mountain dew, etc.). Each coil can have an inlet and outlet that can be connected on the outside of the ice bin 102. In other aspects, the cold plate can be mounted on top of the refrigerator compartment 108. In other aspects, the coils can be run through the inner ice bin wall 106, insulation 105 and the outer ice bin wall 104 to the exterior of the unit. Here, the coils can then be connected to an external soda delivery system.
In another aspect, the coils comprise a stainless steel coil assembly used to run a variety of liquids for the purpose of in-line cooling.
Accordingly,
The refrigerated cooler and ice bin described herein may be better understood with reference to the Examples set forth below:
ExampleThe duration of time that the refrigerated cooler and ice bin 100 of the present disclosure can maintain refrigerated temperatures under various conditions was tested. The refrigerated cooler and ice bin was stored at room temperature (approximately 74° F.) for the duration of the tests described herein. One load of ice was inserted into the ice bin 102. Additional ice was not added as the ice melted. The temperature was taken at four locations:T1, T2, T3 and T4. The temperature at T1, located at the top of the ice bin, inside of the ice compartment, was measured using a thermometer. The temperature at T2, located at the bottom of the ice bin and inside of the ice compartment, was measured using a digital thermometer. The temperature at T3, located inside the refrigerator compartment 108, was measured using the door thermometer. The temperature at T4, the temperature of the liquid placed within the refrigerator compartment 108, was measured using a hand-held thermometer where applicable. Moreover, the water that was generated as a result of the melting ice was not discharged from the naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin during testing.
The following three tests were performed: (1) the refrigerator compartment 108 did not contain any fluids or any other content; (2) the refrigerator compartment contained a half barrel keg of beer maintained at room temperature prior to placement within the refrigerator compartment; and (3) the refrigerator compartment contained a previously-cooled, half barrel keg of beer.
The present invention can thus be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or essential characteristics. The described aspects are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes that come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.
Claims
1. A naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin, comprising:
- a housing having a top, a bottom, a front, a back and two side walls, wherein each wall is defined at least partially by an insulated wall, wherein the insulated wall further comprises an exterior wall, an interior wall and insulation disposed between the exterior and interior wall and wherein the bottom wall has a drain disposed therein;
- a refrigerator compartment disposed within and dimensioned as to be spaced a predetermined distance from at least the top, bottom, back and two side walls of the housing, wherein the space between a bottom surface of the refrigerator compartment and the bottom wall of the housing is adapted to be filled with at least one of ice and cold water; and
- at least one support rail mounted to the bottom wall of the housing and the bottom surface of the refrigerator compartment, wherein the at least one support rail is adapted to accommodate the flow of at least one of ice and cold water;
- wherein the space between the housing and the refrigerator compartment at least partially defines an ice bin.
2. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the top wall of the housing further comprises an access door adapted to allow a user to access the ice bin.
3. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 2, wherein the access door is insulated.
4. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, further comprising an refrigerator compartment door mounted to at least a portion of the front wall of the housing and communicating with an interior of the refrigerator compartment.
5. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 4, wherein the refrigerator compartment access door is insulated.
6. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the exterior wall of the insulated wall comprises steel.
7. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 6, wherein the exterior wall of the insulated wall further comprises one of 304 stainless steel, galvanized steel, and vinyl lined aluminum.
8. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the interior wall of the insulated wall comprises at least one of 304 stainless steel, and plastic.
9. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 8, wherein the interior wall comprises 304 stainless steel.
10. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the insulation of the insulated wall comprises a polymer.
11. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the refrigerator compartment comprises a thermally conductive material configured to facilitate heat transfer from contents placed within the refrigerator compartment to the at least one of ice and cold water disposed in the housing.
12. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the drain disposed in the bottom wall is adapted to be connected to onsite plumbing.
13. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of wheels, legs, level glides or some other component operably coupled to the bottom wall of the housing.
14. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, further comprising a draft line tube communicating between the interior of the refrigerator compartment and a draft tower disposed on top of the top wall of the housing through an opening defined therein.
15. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 14, further comprising a faucet operably associated with the draft line and draft tower, wherein the faucet is operable to selectively dispense a liquid conducted via the draft line.
16. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, further comprising a cold plate assembly disposed on a top surface of the refrigerator compartment.
17. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, wherein the cold plate assembly further comprises a ported aluminum plate with a plurality of copper coils disposed therein.
18. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, further comprising a coil system assembly disposed inside of the ice bin.
19. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 18, wherein the coil system assembly further comprises a stainless steel coil assembly operable to run a variety of liquids for the purpose of in-line cooling.
20. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 1, further comprising a fresh water dispenser assembly disposed inside the ice bin and operably associated with a dispensing faucet located on top of the naturally refrigerated cooler.
21. The naturally refrigerated cooler and ice bin of claim 20, wherein the fresh water dispenser assembly further comprises an in-line pickup tube, an in-line water filter, a pumping mechanism, all operably associated to conduct water to the dispensing faucet.
Type: Application
Filed: Nov 11, 2014
Publication Date: May 21, 2015
Inventor: Richard Y. Lee (Canton, GA)
Application Number: 14/538,522
International Classification: F25D 3/06 (20060101); F25D 23/06 (20060101); F25D 23/02 (20060101); F25D 17/00 (20060101);