Combination ice-maker and cooler

Abstract

A compact cooler/ice maker is taught which is capable of maintaining a uniform cooling or freezing temperature using a heat conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and front, rear and side linear walls. Also taught is a means to provide a small forward voltage when the thermoelectric module is turned off, to prevent back flow through the heat sink. Also taught is a cooler with a beverage dispensing door located proximal to the bottom of said front and with inside walls adapted to form a beverage stack.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A compact ice maker and cooler capable of maintaining a uniform freezing or cooling temperature comprising: 
 (a) box having an insulated front compartment, an insulated front compartment lid and a heat conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and front, rear and side liner walls;    (b) a thermoelectric module for cooling the liner, the module being in thermal communication with the liner and with a heat sink to dissipate heat from the liner, the module and heat sink being located behind the rear liner wall, the heat sink projecting into a compartment having air vents to the exterior;    (c) a thermal ballast in thermal communication with the liner; and    (d) a thermistor to monitor operation of the thermoelectric module.    
     
     
         2 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a fan in the rear compartment to supplement dissipation of said heat  
     
     
         3 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module is spaced from the wall of the liner by a spacer block, the spacer block and the module being imbedded in insulation on the rear wall, and sealed to prevent the ingress of condensation.  
     
     
         4 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the liner is formed of ¼ inch aluminum plate or other thermally conductive material of sufficient thermal specification.  
     
     
         5 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising insulation, and wherein the liner is located outside the cooling chamber and inside the insulation.  
     
     
         6 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein a thermal ballast acts as an intermediate heat sink and is placed outside the liner and inside the insulation.  
     
     
         7 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a means to maintain the fan running for a period after the thermoelectric module is turned off to dissipate heat within the heat sink to ambient.  
     
     
         8 . A compact ice maker and cooler capable of maintaining a uniform freezing or cooling temperature comprising: 
 (a) a box having an insulated front compartment, an insulated front compartment lid and a heat conductive liner continuous over a bottom liner wall and front, rear and side liner walls;    (b) a thermoelectric module for cooling the liner, the module being in thermal communication with the liner and with a heat sink to dissipate heat from the liner, the module and heat sink being located behind the rear liner wall, the heat sink projecting into a compartment having air vents to the exterior;    (c) a means to provide a small forward voltage after the thermoelectric module is turned off, to prevent back flow of heat from the heat sink to the cold liner, and,    (d) a thermistor to monitor operation of the thermoelectric module.    
     
     
         9 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a means to provide portable and persistent temporary power once main power is removed, in order that the fan maybe left running temporarily and that said small forward voltage across the thermoelectric module may be applied temporarily when main power is removed.  
     
     
         10 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a beverage dispensing door located proximal to the bottom of said front and wherein said liner walls are adapted to form a beverage stack.  
     
     
         11 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the bottom liner wall is contoured to contact a greater surface area of a bottommost beverage container.  
     
     
         12 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising an indicator means to alert a user when only one or two beverage containers remain in the ice maker or cooler.  
     
     
         13 . The ice maker or cooler as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a can dispensing actuator located proximal to the bottom liner wall and a control arm articulating between said door and said actuator, whereby, upon opening said door, said control arm initially allows for inspection of the bottom beverage container and secondarily, if required, moves said actuator such that said actuator ejects a said bottom beverage container and holds a second bottom beverage container within said stack.  
     
     
         14 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 10 , further comprising a spring fitted to said door for closing said door promptly after release of said door.  
     
     
         15 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a condensate drain configured such that the condensate may be evaporated from a sponge located at the heat sink.  
     
     
         16 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said ice maker and cooler may be placed within a large insulated container.  
     
     
         17 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a dispersion plate may be placed between the spacer block and the liner to accommodate the liners with lesser thermal characteristics.  
     
     
         18 . The ice maker and cooler as claimed in  claim 8 , further comprising a means to provide portable and persistent temporary power once main power is removed, in order that the fan may be left running temporarily and that said small forward voltage across the thermoelectric module may be applied temporarily.