Thermoelectric Insulated Cooler For Motorcycles

Abstract

A thermoelectric cooling apparatus for use with a motorcycle includes a housing having a bottom wall and a wall structure extending upwardly that defines an interior area and an open top providing selective access to the interior area. A conductive lining is situated adjacent to the insulation layer that includes an aluminum cooling plate upwardly displaced from the bottom wall such that the bottom wall, the wall structure and the cooling plate defining a hollow compartment. A thermoelectric assembly is situated in the compartment having a “cool” side coupled to a lower surface of the cooling plate of the lining and an opposed “hot” side, the thermoelectric assembly configured to electrically connect to the battery of the motorcycle such that the thermoelectric assembly conductively cools the cooling plate and the lining when actuated.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to portable cooling devices and, more particularly, to a thermoelectrically powered insulated cooler attachable to a motorcycle for keeping food and beverage items cold while riding.

Insulated coolers filled substantially filled with crushed ice are common for keeping food and beverage items cool during picnics, sporting events, and even long road trips in the car. Unfortunately, filling a traditional ice chest with ice has several disadvantages that make their use undesirable in some circumstances. For instance, the cooler becomes very heavy once filled with ice and makes transporting it from a vehicle to a final location (or the first of several locations) very difficult, especially for children or persons of small stature. Further, the ice eventually melts, despite any degree of insulation, and the cooler remains just as heavy while food items may become soggy or even spoil.

The problems described above are elevated even more if such a cooler is transported on a motorcycle. Persons who ride a motorcycle have a similar desire to carry food and beverage items in a cooled environment for consumption at a destination location, e.g. a picnic, at the beach, etc, or along the way during a long road trip. A large and heavy cooler is not feasible to attach to a motorcycle for space reasons or because of the imbalance it would create while operating the motorcycle.

Therefore, it would be desirable to have a thermoelectric insulated cooler apparatus that is configured for attachment to a motorcycle and which does not upset the natural balance of the motorcycle nor require any ice. Further, it would be desirable to have a thermoelectric insulated cooler apparatus that includes a thermoelectric assembly that produces cold thermal energy when electrically energized by the motorcycles battery.

Various devices have been proposed in the art in which food and beverages may be stored without also storing crushed ice, namely,

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A thermoelectric cooling apparatus for use with a motorcycle according to the present invention includes a housing having a bottom wall and a continuous side wall extending upwardly from the bottom wall that defines an interior area and an open top that provides access to the interior area. A lid is pivotally provides access to the interior area. An insulation layer is coupled to an inner surface of the wall structure of the housing. A conductive lining is situated adjacent to the insulation layer within the housing, the conductive lining having an aluminum cooling plate upwardly displaced from the bottom wall such that the bottom wall, the wall structure and the cooling plate defining a hollow compartment. A thermoelectric assembly is situated in the compartment having a “cool” side coupled to a lower surface of the cooling plate of the lining and an opposed “hot” side, the thermoelectric assembly configured to electrically connect to the battery of the motorcycle such that the thermoelectric assembly conductively cools the cooling plate and the lining when actuated.

Therefore, a general object of this invention is to provide a thermoelectric powered insulated cooling apparatus that is mountable to a motorcycle for keeping food and beverage items cool while riding.

Another object of this invention is to provide a thermoelectric powered insulated cooling apparatus, as aforesaid, that effectively maintains a cool temperature within a housing interior area without the addition of ice.

Still another object of this invention is to provide a thermoelectric powered insulated cooling apparatus, as aforesaid, in which a thermoelectric assembly positioned beneath a cooling plate of a conductive lining transfers cool thermal energy into an insulated interior area of a cooler housing.

Yet another object of this invention is to provide a thermoelectric powered insulated cooling apparatus, as aforesaid, that is easy to attach to a motorcycle and to electrically connect to the motorcycles electrical assembly.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein is set forth by way of illustration and example, embodiments of this invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a thermoelectric insulated cooling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated with a lid in a closed configuration;

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the thermoelectric insulated cooling apparatus as in FIG. 1, illustrated with the lid in an open configuration;

FIG. 3 is another perspective view from a lower elevation of the thermoelectric insulated cooling apparatus as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4a is a side view of the thermoelectric insulated cooling apparatus as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4b is a sectional view taken along line 4a-4a of FIG. 4b;

FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the thermoelectric insulated cooling apparatus as in FIG. 1;

FIG. 6a is a side view of the compartment and electrical components removed from the housing of the thermoelectric insulated cooling apparatus as in FIG. 5;

FIG. 6b is view from another angle of the compartment and electrical components as in FIG. 6a;

FIG. 6c is an exploded view of the compartment and electrical components as in FIG. 6a; and

FIG. 7 is a schematic diagram of the electrical components of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

A thermoelectric cooling apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 7 of the accompanying drawings. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus 10 includes a housing 20 defining an interior area and having an insulated layer 50 and a conductive lining 52. A thermoelectric assembly 60 is situated in a compartment 56 beneath a cooling plate 54 and is configured to cool the cooling plate 54 and conductive lining 52 while heat is exhausted from the housing 20.

The housing 20 includes a bottom wall 22 and a wall structure 24 extending upwardly from peripheral edges of the bottom wall 22. In an embodiment (shown in the accompanying drawings), the wall structure 24 may include a continuous side wall 26 arranged in a cylindrical configuration. In other words, the housing 20 may have a generally cylindrical arrangement that is conveniently strapped onto a rear seat or frame of a motorcycle. Together, the bottom wall 22 and wall structure 24 define a hollow interior area 28 and an open top 30 that allows access to the interior area 28.

The housing 20, however, may include a lid 38 pivotally or loosely coupled to an upper edge of the side wall 26 and movable between an open configuration (FIG. 2) allowing access to the interior area 28 and a closed configuration (FIG. 1) not allowing access to the interior area 28. The lid 38 may be selectively coupled with a fastener 40 such as a zipper (FIG. 1), latch, clasp, buckle, hook and loop combination, magnet combination, or the like. In one embodiment (not shown), a lid may be selectively held in a friction fit engagement and completely removed with gentle lifting force, as is the case in some traditional food and beverage coolers.

The housing 20 includes an insulation layer 50. The insulation layer 50 is coupled to an inner surface of the wall structure 24 of the housing 20 (FIG. 4b). The insulation layer 50 may be constructed of polyurethane foam or polypropylene, or a combination thereof. A portion of the insulation layer 50 may be adhered to a bottom surface of the lid 38 so as to be moved away from the interior area when the lid 38 is at the open configuration (FIG. 2) but to face the interior area 28 at the closed configuration (FIG. 1). The insulation layer 50 has the characteristic of maintaining a temperature within the interior area 28, such as a cooled temperature when the thermoelectric assembly 60 is energized, as will be described later.

A conductive lining 52 is situated adjacent an inner surface of the insulation layer 50 along the side wall within the housing 20. The conductive lining 52 may be a thin aluminum material that is capable of conducting or transferring thermal energy, i.e. a temperature. The conductive lining 52 includes an aluminum cooling plate 54 extending between lower ends of the insulation layer 50 and upwardly displaced from the bottom wall 22 of the housing 20. The cooling plate 54, lower portions of the wall structure 24, and the bottom wall 22 of the housing 20 form a compartment 56 that is substantially hollow (FIG. 4b).

The thermoelectric assembly 60 includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements 62 positioned atop an aluminum heat sink 64. The thermoelectric assembly 60 may be electrically connected to the battery of a motorcycle, such as with an electrical cord and a polarized electrical plug 66 which, in some embodiments may alternatively be an inverter. It is understood that the cord may be held securely to the wall structure 24 of the housing 20 with an elastic cord strap 21. The thermoelectric assembly 60 is configured to become cool on the top side having the plurality of thermoelectric elements 62 and becomes hot on the bottom side at the heat sink 64. Therefore, the thermoelectric assembly 60 is accurately described as having a cool side and an opposed hot side when energized by electrical current. In an embodiment, the cool side of the thermoelectric assembly 60 is coupled to a lower surface of the cooling plate 54 and the hot side extends downwardly therefrom. The entire thermoelectric assembly 60 is situated in the compartment 56 of the housing 20 (FIG. 4b). The thermoelectric elements 62 that become cold when energized cause the conductive (aluminum) material of the cooling plate 54 to become cold, the cold representing thermal energy that is conductively transferred to the rest of the conductive lining and to ambient air within the housing 20. Accordingly, the air within the interior area 28 of the housing 20 is cooled when the thermoelectric assembly 60 is energized—the insulation layer 50 acting to maintain the temperature even when current is terminated, such as if the entire housing 20 is carried away from the motorcycle.

The bottom wall 22 of the housing 20 defines an outlet opening 32 and an inlet opening 34 displaced from the outlet opening 32. The thermoelectric assembly 60 includes a fan 36 positioned in the compartment 56 proximate the outlet opening 32 and configured to direct air heated by the hot side of the thermoelectric assembly 60 out of the compartment 56 and housing 20 via the outlet opening 32. The outlet opening 32, which may also be referred to as an exhaust vent, may be covered by a grate or vent cover to prevent objects from interfering or damaging the fan 36. The inlet opening 34 is configured to allow fresh ambient air from outside the housing 20 to enter the compartment 56 as warm air is exhausted therefrom.

With further reference to the housing 20, the wall structure 24 may be constructed substantially of leather although flexible plastic, vinyl, or fabric would also be suitable. A carrying strap 42 may be coupled to an outer surface of the side wall 26 and configured to be grasped by the hand of a user for carrying the entire housing 20 or positioning it to be strapped to a motorcycle. Further, a plurality of mounting straps may be coupled to the outer surface of the wall structure, each mounting strap 44 including one or more buckles 46 configured to enable the housing 20 to be selectively mounted to a rear seat, backrest, luggage rack, saddlebag, or frame of a motorcycle.

In use, the housing 20 of the thermoelectric cooling apparatus 10 may be mounted to a rear portion of a seat or the frame of a motorcycle. The lid 38 may be opened and food or beverage items may be inserted into the interior area 28. Using the inverter electrical plug 66 or inverter and associated electrical cord, the thermoelectric assembly 60 situated in the compartment 56 of the housing 20 may be electrically connected to the motorcycle's battery 12 or, indirectly, to the ignition switch. Upon being plugged in, the thermoelectric assembly 60 is energized, causing the cool side to become cold and the hot side to become hot. The cold temperature energy is transferred by conduction to the cooling plate 54, conductive lining 52, and air within the interior area, so as to cool items therein. The insulation layer 50 effectively maintains the cooled temperature within the housing 20.

It is understood that while certain forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims and allowable functional equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A thermoelectric cooling apparatus for use with a motorcycle having a battery, comprising:

a housing having a bottom wall and a wall structure extending upwardly from said bottom wall that defines an interior area and an open top that provides access to said interior area;

wherein said housing includes an insulation layer coupled to an inner surface of said wall structure of said housing;

a conductive lining situated adjacent to said insulation layer within said housing, said conductive lining having an aluminum cooling plate upwardly displaced from said bottom wall such that said bottom wall, said wall structure and said cooling plate defining a hollow compartment; and

a thermoelectric assembly situated in said compartment having a “cool” side coupled to a lower surface of said cooling plate of said lining and an opposed “hot” side, said thermoelectric assembly configured to receive electric current from the battery of the motorcycle such that said thermoelectric assembly conductively cools said cooling plate and said lining when energized.

2. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a lid pivotally connected to an upper edge of said wall structure and movable between an open configuration providing access to said interior area and a closed position preventing access to said interior area.

3. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 2, wherein said lid is selectively secured at said closed configuration by a fastener taken from the group including a zipper, a latch, a buckle, a magnet, and a friction fit arrangement.

4. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising a power inverter electrically connected to said thermoelectric assembly and configured to channel current from the motorcycle battery to said thermoelectric assembly via an electrically conductive cable.

5. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 1, wherein:

said bottom wall of said housing defines an outlet opening;

said thermoelectric cooling apparatus further comprises a fan positioned in said compartment proximate said outlet opening, said fan configured to exhaust air heated by said hot side of said thermoelectric assembly outward through said outlet opening.

6. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 5, wherein said bottom wall of said housing defines an inlet opening displaced from said outlet opening and configured to draw fresh air into said compartment when heated air is exhausted out of said compartment via said outlet opening.

7. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 2, wherein a portion of said insulative layer is fixedly attached to a lower surface of said lid and is removed from a remainder of said insulated layer when said lid is moved to said open configuration.

8. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 2, further comprising a carrying strap mounted to an outer surface of said wall structure of said housing and configured to extend partially between said lid and said bottom wall.

9. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said housing has a generally cylindrical configuration such that said wall structure is a continuous side wall.

10. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said wall structure is constructed of a leather material.

11. A thermoelectric cooling apparatus for use with a motorcycle having a battery, comprising:

a housing having a bottom wall and a continuous side wall extending upwardly from said bottom wall that defines an interior area and an open top that provides access to said interior area;

wherein said housing includes: a lid pivotally connected to an upper edge of said side wall and movable between an open configuration providing access to said interior area and a closed position preventing access to said interior area; an insulation layer coupled to an inner surface of said wall structure of said housing; a conductive lining situated adjacent to said insulation layer within said housing, said conductive lining having an aluminum cooling plate upwardly displaced from said bottom wall such that said bottom wall, said wall structure and said cooling plate defining a hollow compartment; and

a thermoelectric assembly situated in said compartment having a “cool” side coupled to a lower surface of said cooling plate of said lining and an opposed “hot” side, said thermoelectric assembly configured to receive current from the battery of the motorcycle such that said thermoelectric assembly conductively cools said cooling plate and said lining when energized.

12. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 11, wherein:

said bottom wall of said housing defines an outlet opening;

said thermoelectric cooling apparatus further comprises a fan positioned in said compartment proximate said outlet opening, said fan configured to exhaust air heated by said hot side of said thermoelectric assembly outward through said outlet opening.

13. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 12, wherein said bottom wall of said housing defines an inlet opening displaced from said outlet opening and configured to draw fresh air into said compartment when heated air is exhausted out of said compartment via said outlet opening.

14. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said lid is selectively secured at said closed configuration by a fastener taken from the group including a zipper, a latch, a buckle, a magnet, and a friction fit arrangement.

15. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising a power inverter electrically connected to said thermoelectric assembly configured to channel current from the motorcycle battery to said thermoelectric assembly via a cable.

16. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 11, wherein a portion of said insulative layer is fixedly attached to a lower surface of said lid and is removed from a remainder of said insulated layer when said lid is moved to said open configuration.

17. The thermoelectric cooling apparatus as in claim 11, further comprising a carrying strap mounted to an outer surface of said wall structure of said housing and configured to extend partially between said lid and said bottom wall.