Patent US5659253A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5469708A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5469708A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Water cooler
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1994-09-23
•
Granted: 1995-11-28
•
Expires: 2014-09-23
Abstract
Abstract A water cooler is disclosed suitable for standing on a counter top and to be used with standardized water bottles. The water cooler utilizes a thermoelectric device which cools by means of the Peltier effect. The cooling unit comprises a seat for the water bottle spaced and thermally insulated from a heat sink. The thermoelectric device is connected between the seat and a heat sink. Preferably the thermoelectric device is connected between a spacer block extending downwardly from the seat and the heat sink. A fan dissipates heat from the heat sink.
Inventors
- 👤 Howard R. Harrison
- 👤 Jeffrey R. Brown
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 15:00
CPC Classifications
F; F25; F25B; F25B21/00; F25B21/02; B; B67; B67D; B67D3/00; B67D3/0009; F25D; F25D31/00; F25D31/006; F25B2321/00; F25B2321/02; F25B2321/025; F25B2321/0251
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
166 words
A counter-top cooler for liquid containers having an operable outlet for liquid, the outlet being positioned such that, when the container is oriented for dispensing liquid with the outlet open, liquid in the container flows out to substantially empty the container, the cooler comprising: a thermally conductive support having an upper seat surface which is angled at a front edge about 5 degrees to the horizontal and shaped for intimate contact with at least a substantial part of a bottom surface of the container; thermo electric cooling means connected to a lower surface of the seat to remove heat from the seat; a heat sink for dispersion of heat removed from the seat; insulating screen means to screen an underpart of the set for the heat sink; a reservoir being located at the front edge of the thermally conductive seat for run off of condensation a fan located to direct air flow to evaporate liquid in said reservoir in the heat sink to disperse heat therefrom.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
166 words
A counter-top cooler for liquid containers having an operable outlet for liquid, the outlet being positioned such that, when the container is oriented for dispensing liquid with the outlet open, liquid in the container flows out to substantially empty the container, the cooler comprising: a thermally conductive support having an upper seat surface which is angled at a front edge about 5 degrees to the horizontal and shaped for intimate contact with at least a substantial part of a bottom surface of the container; thermo electric cooling means connected to a lower surface of the seat to remove heat from the seat; a heat sink for dispersion of heat removed from the seat; insulating screen means to screen an underpart of the set for the heat sink; a reservoir being located at the front edge of the thermally conductive seat for run off of condensation a fan located to direct air flow to evaporate liquid in said reservoir in the heat sink to disperse heat therefrom.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 1 in which an insulated housing is provided for the liquid container.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 1 in which the thermoelectric cooling means in a thermoelectric device sealed in an inner layer of closed cell foam and an outer layer of waterproof sealant.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 1 in which the heat sink comprises a finned plate.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
29 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 4 in which fins of the finned plate run from the front to rear of the cooler forming a grating to the front.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
13 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 1 in which the reservoir is sponge.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 1 in which an electric circuit for the thermoelectric cooling means included a transformer, a rectifier and a condenser.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 7 in which at least one of the transformer and rectifier is located in the air flow from the fan for dissipation of heat therefrom.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 1 in which the thermally conductive support is spaced from the heat sink by a layer of insulation, a cold surface of the thermoelectric cooling means is thermally connected to the support through a connecting spacer block extending through the insulation and a hot surface of the thermoelectric cooling means is adhered to a surface of the heat sink.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 8 in which thermally insulated support posts are connected between the support and the heat sink.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A cooler as claimed in claim 7 in which the rectifier is attached to the heat sink for thermal conduction between the heat sink and the rectifier.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
FR1323450A
Cited
US3243965A
Cited
US4274262A
Cited
US4311017A
Cited
US4804118A
Cited
US4757920A
Cited
US4913713A
Cited
US5377878A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1998-11-27 | 1999-05-29 | 1999-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2002-11-27 | 2003-05-29 | 2003-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2006-11-27 | 2007-05-29 | 2007-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |