Portable cooler with internal ice maker

Abstract

A portable cooler including a sealable outer container, and a sealable inner container situated within the outer container. A first thermoelectric cooling device having a cooling panel and a heating panel is mounted on the wall of the outer container such that the cooling panel faces the interior of the sealable outer container and the heating panel faces outside of said sealable outer container. A second thermoelectric cooling device, also having a cooling panel and a heating panel, is mounted on the wall of the internal container such that the cooling panel faces the interior of the inner container and the heating panel faces outside of the sealable inner container into the interior of said sealable outer container.

1 . A portable cooler comprising:
 a. a sealable outer container, having an insulated side wall, an insulated base, an insulated top, and an interior therebetween;   b. a sealable inner container situated within said outer container, said inner container having an interior and a wall separating said interior of said sealable inner container from said interior of said sealable outer container;   c. a first thermoelectric cooling device, having a cooling panel and a heating panel, said first thermoelectric cooling device positioned on said sealable outer container such that said cooling panel faces said interior of said sealable outer container and said heating panel faces outside of said sealable outer container;   d. a second thermoelectric cooling device, having a cooling panel and a heating panel, said second thermoelectric cooling device positioned on said sealable inner container such that said cooling panel faces said interior of said sealable inner container and said heating panel faces outside of said sealable inner container into said interior of said sealable outer container.   
   
   
       2 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising an ice maker positioned in said sealable inner container. 
   
   
       3 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said first thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said insulated side wall of said sealable outer container. 
   
   
       4 . The portable cooler of  claim 1 , wherein said second thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said wall of said sealable internal container. 
   
   
       5 . The portable cooler of  claim 2 , further comprising a reservoir for storing water, said reservoir fluidly connected with said ice maker. 
   
   
       6 . The portable cooler of  claim 2 , said ice maker positioned adjacent to said cooling panel of said second thermoelectric cooling device. 
   
   
       7 . The portable cooler of  claim 2 , said ice maker configured to dump ice pieces into an ice storage zone, said ice storage zone positioned in said interior of said sealable internal container. 
   
   
       8 . A portable cooler comprising:
 a. a first sealable container, having an insulated side wall, an insulated base, an insulated top, and an interior therebetween;   b. a second sealable container, having an insulated wall, and an interior, said second sealable container including a separating wall separating said interior of said second sealable container from said interior of said first sealable container;   c. a first thermoelectric cooling device, having a cooling panel and a heating panel, said first thermoelectric cooling device positioned on said first sealable container such that said cooling panel faces said interior of said first sealable container and said heating panel faces outside of said first sealable container;   d. a second thermoelectric cooling device, having a cooling panel and a heating panel, said second thermoelectric cooling device positioned on said second sealable container such that said cooling panel faces said interior of said second sealable container and said heating panel faces outside of said second sealable container into said interior of said first sealable container.   
   
   
       9 . The portable cooler of  claim 8 , further comprising an ice maker positioned in said second sealable container. 
   
   
       10 . The portable cooler of  claim 8 , wherein said first thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said insulated side wall of said first sealable container. 
   
   
       11 . The portable cooler of  claim 8 , wherein said second thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said separating wall. 
   
   
       12 . The portable cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising a reservoir for storing water, said reservoir fluidly connected with said ice maker. 
   
   
       13 . The portable cooler of  claim 9 , said ice maker positioned adjacent to said cooling panel of said second thermoelectric cooling device. 
   
   
       14 . The portable cooler of  claim 9 , said ice maker configured to dump ice pieces into an ice storage zone, said ice storage zone positioned in said interior of said second sealable container. 
   
   
       15 . A portable cooler comprising:
 a. a first insulated sealable container having a first interior;   b. a second insulated sealable container having a second interior, said second sealable container integrated with said first sealable container such that second interior is separated from said first interior;   c. a first thermoelectric cooling device attached to said first insulated sealable container, said first thermoelectric cooling device configured to transfer heat out of said first interior by Peltier effect; and   d. a second thermoelectric cooling device attached to said second insulated sealable container, said second thermoelectric cooling device configured to transfer heat out of said second interior into said first interior by Peltier effect.   
   
   
       16 . The portable cooler of  claim 15 , further comprising an ice maker positioned in said second sealable container. 
   
   
       17 . The portable cooler of  claim 15 , further comprising a separating wall separating said first interior from said second interior, wherein said second thermoelectric cooling device is mounted to said separating wall. 
   
   
       18 . The portable cooler of  claim 16 , further comprising a reservoir for storing water, said reservoir fluidly connected with said ice maker. 
   
   
       19 . The portable cooler of  claim 16 , said ice maker positioned adjacent to said second thermoelectric cooling device. 
   
   
       20 . The portable cooler of  claim 16 , said ice maker configured to dump ice pieces into an ice storage zone, said ice storage zone positioned in said interior of said second sealable container.