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US 6,640,551 B1Granted
Thermal conditioning beverage container holder
AssigneeWhirlpool Corporation
InventorsCarolyn L. Slone, Steven J. Kuehl, Marcus Fischer, Tyree Sampson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A beverage container holder that is adjustable to accommodate various sizes of beverage containers, including containers of different heights and diameters for both tapered-wall containers and straight-wall containers. The beverage container includes a convection air flow generator for supplying conditioned air around the beverage.
Claims41
A thermal conditioning beverage container holder comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber sized to receive a beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber through the housing;
- a movable cover comprising multiple segments movably mounted to the housing and being movable between an opened position and a closed position for selectively closing the access opening;
- a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and delivering thermally conditioned air to the chamber;
- and
- a size-adjustable beverage holder located within the chamber to enable the supporting of cups of differing sizes.
2 more elements
A thermal conditioning cup holder comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber sized to receive a beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber through the housing;
- a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and delivering thermally conditioned air to the chamber;
- a size-adjustable beverage holder located within the chamber to enable the supporting of cups of differing sizes;
- a beverage container support located within the chamber and sized to support a bottom portion of the beverage container, the beverage container support comprising a first recess for receiving the bottom of a beverage container up to a first maximum diameter and a second recess greater in size than the first recess for receiving the bottom of a beverage container of a second maximum diameter that is larger than the first maximum diameter.
1 more element
A thermal conditioning cup holder comprising:
- a housing defining a chamber sized to receive a beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber through the housing;
- a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and delivering thermally conditioned air to the chamber;
- a size-adjustable beverage holder located within the chamber to enable the supporting of cups of differing sizes;
- a beverage container support located within the chamber and sized to support a bottom portion of the beverage container, and
- a resizing element removably mounted within the chamber for reducing the size of the beverage container that can be received within the chamber when the resizing element is mounted within the chamber, the resizing element comprising a plate in which is formed an opening for receiving a beverage container and movable between a first position, where the plate overlies the chamber to reduce the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from the overlying relationship to the chamber, the resizing element reducing the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber which reduces the circumference of the beverage container receivable within the chamber.
2 more elements
A thermal conditioning cup holder comprising:
- a housing defining a console having at least one storage chamber and defining a chamber sized to receive a beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber through the housing;
- the console being sized to fit between the front seats of a motor vehicle;
- a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and delivering thermally conditioned air to the chamber;
- and
- a size-adjustable beverage holder located within the chamber to enable the supporting of cups of differing sizes.
2 more elements
A thermal conditioning cup holder comprising:
- a housing comprising a support wall and defining a chamber sized to receive a beverage container and having an access opening permitting access to the chamber through the housing;
- a convection airflow generator fluidly coupled to the chamber and delivering thermally conditioned air to the chamber;
- the convection airflow generator comprising a thermal conditioner for conditioning the air by altering the temperature, and a blower for recirculating the conditioned air through the chamber;
- the thermal conditioner being a thermoelectric device which comprises a thermoelectric element and first and second heat sinks;
- the thermal electric element being mounted on the support wall and the first heat sink protecting away from one side of the support wall and the second heat sink projecting away from the other side of the wall and in fluid communication with the chamber;
- and
- a size-adjustable beverage holder located within the chamber to enable the supporting of cups of differing sizes.
4 more elements
A reclosable cup holder comprising:
- a housing defining a cup-receiving chamber having an access opening through which a cup can be inserted or removed;
- a cup holder located within the chamber for supporting a cup placed within the chamber;
- and
- a see-through cover movably mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position, where the cover closes the access opening, and an opened position, where the cover is removed from the access opening;
- the movable cover further comprising multiple segments movably mounted to the housing.
2 more elements
A reclosable cup holder comprising:
- a housing defining a cup-receiving chamber having an access opening through which a cup can be inserted or removed;
- a cup holder located within the chamber for supporting a cup placed within the chamber;
- a cup support located within the chamber and sized to support a bottom portion of the cup;
- a resizing element removably mounted within the chamber for reducing the size of the cup that can be received within the chamber when the resizing element is mounted within the chamber, the resizing element comprising a plate in which is formed an opening for receiving a cup and movable between a first position, where the plate extends into the chamber to reduce the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber, and a second position, where the plate is withdrawn from the chamber, the resizing element reducing the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber which reduces the circumference of the cup receivable within the chamber and also reduces the effective depth of the chamber which reduces the height of the cup receivable within the chamber;
- and
- a see-through cover movably mounted to the housing for movement between a closed position, where the cover closes the access opening, and an opened position, where the cover is removed from the access opening.
3 more elements
A method for controlling the temperature of a beverage held by a beverage container temporarily stored in a size-adjustable beverage holder located within a chamber of a housing in a motor vehicle, the method comprising:
- adjusting the size of the size-adjustable beverage holder to accommodate the beverage container to be placed in the chamber by altering the effective cross-sectional area of the chamber by introducing within the chamber a plate having at least one opening with a cross-sectional area less that the cross-sectional area of the chamber and the cup being received within the opening;
- placing the beverage container in the size-adjustable beverage holder;
- and introducing thermally conditioned air into the chamber to control the temperature of the beverage in the beverage container at a temperature above or below the ambient air temperature within the vehicle interior.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.