# US 5,701,754 A · Automobile refrigerator

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- Number: US 5,701,754 A
- Document ID: US5701754A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 08/536,388
- Filed: 1995-09-29
- Granted: 1997-12-30
- Earliest claimed: 1995-09-29
- Inventors: Young Tai Choi; Yeung H. Huh
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US5701754A

## CPC

- B60H 1/00271: {HVAC devices specially adapted for particular vehicle parts or components and being connected to the vehicle HVAC unit}
- B60H 1/00592: {Add-on devices, e.g. heat/cooling boxes, compartment dividers, upgrade sets}
- B60N 3/104: {with refrigerating or warming systems}
- F25D 11/00: Self-contained movable devices, e.g. domestic refrigerators
- F25D 23/061: {with conduit means}
- F25B 5/02: arranged in parallel
- B60H: ARRANGEMENTS OF HEATING, COOLING, VENTILATING OR OTHER AIR-TREATING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PASSENGER OR GOODS SPACES OF VEHICLES
- B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- F25D: REFRIGERATORS; COLD ROOMS; ICE-BOXES; COOLING OR FREEZING APPARATUS NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (refrigerated showcases A47F3/04; thermally-insulated vessels for domestic use A47J41/00; refrigerated vehicles, see the appropriate subclasses of classes B60 - B64; containers with thermal insulation in general B65D81/38; heat-transfer, heat-exchange or heat-storage materials, e.g. refrigerants, or materials for the production of heat or cold by chemical reactions other than by combustion C09K5/00; thermally-insulated vessels for liquefied or solidified gases F17C; air-conditioning or air-humidification F24F; refrigeration machines, plants, or systems F25B; cooling of instruments or comparable apparatus without refrigeration G12B)
- F25B: REFRIGERATION MACHINES, PLANTS OR SYSTEMS; COMBINED HEATING AND REFRIGERATION SYSTEMS; HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS

## Abstract

A new and improved automobile refrigerator comprising, in combination, an automobile dashboard having an exterior surface with a recess formed therein. A door is positioned over the recess to selectively open and close the recess. A hinge couples the lower edge of the door with the lower edge of the recess to allow the pivoting of the door to provide or prohibit access to the space within the recess interior of the dashboard. A box in the recess behind the door has upper and lower walls, side walls and a rear wall in the box-like configuration with an opening in the front of the walls terminating at the dashboard. Thermal insulation is located along all of the walls including the front door to abate the flow of thermal energy to and from the space within the box. A rectangular gasket is formed on the interior surface of the door adapted to contact the dashboard adjacent to the periphery of the opening. Flexible connectors have upper ends coupled to the box at upper extents thereof. The connectors have lower ends coupled to the interior surface of the door interior of the gasket to preclude excessive movement of the door when opened to lower than the horizontal.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A new and improved automobile refrigerator comprising, in combination:
an automobile dashboard having an exterior surface with a recess formed therein;
a door positioned over the recess to selectively open and close the recess;
a hinge coupling a lower edge of the door with the lower edge of the recess to allow the pivoting of the door to provide or prohibit access to a space within the recess of the dashboard;
a box in the recess behind the door having upper and lower walls, side walls and a rear wall in a box-like configuration with an opening in the front of the walls terminating at the dashboard, wherein the box is adapted to hold six beverage containers;
thermal insulation located along all of the walls including the door to abate the flow of thermal energy to and from the space within the box;
a rectangular gasket formed on the interior surface of the door adapted to contact the dashboard adjacent to the periphery of the opening;
flexible connectors having upper ends coupled to the box at upper extents thereof, the connectors having lower ends coupled to the interior surface of the door interior of the gasket to preclude excessive movement of the door when opened to lower than the horizontal;
a serpentine link of tubing with thermally conductive fins secured to the box interior of the insulation on the rear wall of the box to provide coolness to the box, the tubing having an inlet for receipt of a cooling fluid from an evaporator of the automobile and an outlet for the return of cooling fluid to the evaporator of the automobile, the tubing having a valve to stop and start the flow of fluid through the tubing; and
a sensor in the box to sense the temperature therein and to turn on the valve to effect the flow of cooling fluid to the tubing with operator-controlled adjusting switch for varying the temperature within the box, the switch adapted to turn on the valve when an air conditioner of the automobile is running and further adapted to turn on a compressor of the automobile when an air-conditioner of the automobile was not previously running.