Method and apparatus for an electrically cooled pitcher

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to an apparatus that includes a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply and a removable container configured for holding and dispensing a liquid. The thermoelectric cooling unit includes a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate. The thermoelectric cooling plate includes first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other. The first surface expends thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink. The container holds and dispenses a liquid. The container includes a thermally conductive portion that is removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate. The frictional contact is sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the liquid in the container.

1 . An apparatus comprising:
 a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and   a removable container configured for holding and dispensing a liquid, the container including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the liquid in the container.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the liquid is filtered water. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container is a water pitcher. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein volume of the container is at least two times larger than volume of a typical drinking cup. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate is arranged to cool the liquid over a period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1  further including a controller unit, the controller unit detecting whether the container is no longer in contact with the thermoelectric cooling unit and reducing power to the thermoelectric cooling unit in an event the container is no longer in contact with the thermoelectric cooling unit. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the controller is arranged to reduce the power to the thermoelectric cooling unit after a predetermined period of time has lapsed. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the conductive portion is on a base of the container. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the conductive portion is on a side or top of the container. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the container is insulated to preserve temperature of the liquid. 
     
     
         11 . An apparatus comprising:
 a water purification filter coupled to a water source, the water purification filter producing filtered water suitable for drinking;   a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and   a container configured for holding and dispensing the filtered water; the container being in fluid communication with the filtered water produced by the water purification filter and including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the filtered water in the container.   
     
     
         12 . An apparatus comprising:
 a thermoelectric cooling unit coupled to a power supply, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink;   a water purification filter coupled to a water source and the power supply, the water purification filter using power supplied by the power supply to produce filtered water suitable for drinking;   a container configured for holding and dispensing the filtered water; the container being in fluid communication with the filtered water and including a thermally conductive portion removably positioned on the thermoelectric cooling unit by having frictional contact with the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate, the frictional contact being sufficient to result in transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate and effectively cool the filtered water in the container.   
     
     
         13 . A method for cooling a fluid comprising:
 removably coupling a container configured for holding and dispensing the liquid to a thermoelectric cooling unit, the container having a conductive portion, the thermoelectric cooling unit including a heat sink and a thermoelectric cooling plate, the thermoelectric cooling plate having first and second surfaces spaced apart from each other, the first surface arranged to expend thermal energy from the second surface to the heat sink; and   cooling the fluid as a function of being transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate.   
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the liquid is filtered water. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the container is a water pitcher. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 13  wherein volume of the container is at least two times larger than volume of a typical drinking cup. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 13  further including cooling the liquid over a period of time as a function of the transfer of thermal energy from the conductive portion of the container on to the second surface of the thermoelectric cooling plate. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 13  further including detecting whether the container is no longer in contact with the thermoelectric cooling unit and reducing power to the thermoelectric cooling unit in an event the container is no longer in contact with the thermoelectric cooling unit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18  further including reducing the power to the thermoelectric cooling unit after a predetermined period of time has lapsed. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18  further including reducing the power to the thermoelectric cooling unit after a predetermined temperature has been achieved. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the conductive portion is on a base of the container. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the conductive portion is on a side of the container. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 13  further including insulating the container to preserve temperature of the liquid.