Thermoelectric device for heating or cooling food and drink containers

Claim 1

A thermostatic apparatus for heating or cooling of a substantially cylindrical container for food and drink, the apparatus comprising a housing made of a heat insulating material and having at least one compartment; a heat transfer member of low heat storage capacity positioned remote from an outer wall of said at least one compartment and having a concave side facing said compartment and an opposite side having a flat portion of an area smaller than that of the concave side, said concave side facing said compartment being constructed to envelope part of a circumference of said container in an inserted position thereof; a thermoelectric device matching the flat portion of said opposite side of the heat transfer member and being connectable to a source of direct electric current via switch means for selecting a direction of current flow, said thermoelectric device having a first face bearing on the flat portion of the opposite side of the heat transfer member and an opposite, second face; a heat exchanger including a radiator section and mounted in intimate contact with the second face of said thermoelectric device, and a blower section holding a blower adapted to pump ambient air through said radiator section; and means for tightening together a container placed within said at least one compartment and said heat transfer member so as to cause intimate contact therebetween whereby said heat transfer member and said tightening means coact to define means to enable the heat transfer member to establish intimate contact with about a half of a side wall of said container for removably receiving and holding said container.