Portable cooler and warmer using thermoelectric element

Abstract

A portable cooler and warmer having improving cooling and/or heating performances and an improving assembling characteristic is provided. The portable cooler and warmer includes: a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer; a door to be disposed on a side of the body; a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and an air blower to circulate air inside the insulating space to exchange heat with the thermoelectric module, wherein the air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged in a direction parallel with the door.

1 . A portable cooler and warmer, comprising:
 a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer;   a door to be disposed on a side of the body;   a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and   an air blower to circulate air inside the insulating space to exchange heat with the thermoelectric module,   wherein the air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged in a direction parallel with the door.   
     
     
         2 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module comprises:
 a thermoelectric element to operate as a heat pump when a current is supplied thereto;   an internal heat transfer fin unit to be located in the insulating space, be thermally connected to a first plate of the thermoelectric element, and include a plurality of internal heat transfer fins; and   an external heat transfer fin unit to be located outside the insulating space, be thermally connected to a second plate of the thermoelectric element, and include a plurality of external heat transfer fins,   wherein the plurality of internal heat transfer fins are disposed parallel with the door.   
     
     
         3 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric module further comprises a heat transfer block to be disposed between the first plate of the thermoelectric element and the internal heat transfer fin unit. 
     
     
         4 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the heat transfer block is assembled with the internal heat transfer fin unit through a pair of first tapping screws and assembled with the external heat transfer fin unit through a pair of second tapping screws. 
     
     
         5 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the heat transfer block comprises a pair of slots into which the first and second tapping screws are inserted. 
     
     
         6 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 4 , wherein the heat transfer block comprises:
 a pair of first slots into which the pair of first tapping screws are inserted; and   a pair of second slots into which the pair of second tapping screws are inserted.   
     
     
         7 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising a cover to protect the internal heat transfer fin unit and the air blower. 
     
     
         8 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cover is pressurized toward the internal heat transfer fin unit to snap-fitted to the internal heat transfer fin unit. 
     
     
         9 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the internal heat transfer fin unit comprises guide grooves or guide projections for the snap-fit of the cover,
 wherein the guide grooves or the guide projections extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins.   
     
     
         10 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises first and second divided cover bodies,
 wherein the first and second divided cover bodies slide on the internal heat transfer fin unit in a direction facing the internal heat transfer fin unit to be combined with each other.   
     
     
         11 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein the internal heat transfer fin unit comprises guide grooves or guide projections for the sliding of the first and second divided cover bodies,
 wherein the guide grooves or the guide projections extend parallel with the internal heat transfer fins.   
     
     
         12 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 7 , wherein the cover comprises:
 inlets to allow the air inside the insulating space to come into the cover; and   outlets to be disposed adjacent to both ends of the internal heat transfer fin unit to discharge the air that has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module.   
     
     
         13 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the internal heat transfer fin unit is formed using an extrusion process. 
     
     
         14 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the heat transfer block is formed using an extrusion process. 
     
     
         15 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a shelf to be removably installed in the body,
 wherein holes are formed in the shelf, and the air circulating in the insulating space passes through the holes.   
     
     
         16 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein uneven parts are formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element and the external heat transfer fin unit. 
     
     
         17 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein uneven parts are formed at a junction between the thermoelectric element and the heat transfer block. 
     
     
         18 . A portable cooler and warmer, comprising:
 a body to form an insulating space inside the portable cooler and warmer;   a door to be disposed on a side of the body;   a thermoelectric module to generate a temperature difference between the insulating space and an outside of the body; and   a cover to project the thermoelectric module,   wherein air which has exchanged heat with the thermoelectric module is discharged through outlets of the cover in a direction parallel with the door.   
     
     
         19 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the cover is pressurized toward the thermoelectric module to be snap-fitted to the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         20 . The portable cooler and warmer as claimed in  claim 18 , wherein the cover comprises first and second divided cover bodies,
 wherein the first and second divided cover bodies slide on the thermoelectric module in a direction facing the thermoelectric module to be combined with each other.