Climate controlled container

Abstract

A cooling system comprises a container that is conductively coupled or convectively coupled to a thermoelectric device to selectively cool and/or heat the container. A climate controlled container system for a vehicle includes a container or cavity and a conduction element configured to cool the cavity. In some embodiments, the cooling system comprises a housing, a housing inlet, a fluid passage and one or more thermoelectric devices and fluid transfer devices positioned within the housing.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climate controlled container system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a container comprising walls that define a cavity and a conduction element configured to cool the cavity; and   a cooling system that comprises:
 a housing; 
 an inlet in the housing; 
 a fluid passage defined at least in part by the housing; 
 a thermoelectric device positioned within the housing and having a cold side and a hot side; the cold side of the thermoelectric device being conductively coupled to the conduction element; the hot side of the thermoelectric device being conductively coupled to a heat exchanger that is positioned within the fluid passage; and 
 a fluid transfer device positioned within the housing, the fluid transfer device comprising a fan configured for rotation about an axis, the fluid transfer device configured to transfer air from the inlet to the fluid passage; 
 wherein the fluid transfer device is configured such that the heat exchanger is positioned between the thermoelectric device and the fan of the fluid transfer device. 
   
     
     
         2 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fan is a radial fan. 
     
     
         3 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 1 , wherein the fan is an axial fan. 
     
     
         4 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the fan extends through the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         5 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 1 , wherein the axis of rotation of the fan extends through the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 1 , wherein flow through the fluid passage is initially substantially perpendicular to the flow entering the fan and then turns approximately 180 degrees before entering the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 1 , wherein the container includes at least one opening configured to receive a beverage container. 
     
     
         8 . A climate controlled container system for a vehicle, comprising:
 a container that includes walls that define a cavity, an inlet into the cavity and an outlet out of the cavity;   a thermoelectric device that comprise a cold side and a hot side;   a hot side heat exchanger that is conductively coupled to the hot side of the thermoelectric device;   a cold side heat exchanger that is conductively coupled to the cold side of the thermoelectric device;   a cold side inlet passage that places the cold side heat exchanger in fluid communication with the inlet of the container;   a fluid transfer device having a rotating fan, a cold side inlet, a cold side outlet, a hot side inlet, and a hot side outlet, the fluid transfer device being configured such that fluid entering the cold side inlet is transferred to the cold side outlet and fluid entering the hot side inlet is transferred to the hot side outlet;   a recirculation passage that is in fluid communication with the outlet of the cavity and the cold side inlet of the fluid transfer device;   a cold side fluid passage that is in fluid communication with the cold side outlet of the fluid transfer device and the cold side heat exchanger; and   a hot side fluid passage that is in communication with the hot side outlet of the fluid transfer device and the hot side heat exchanger.   
     
     
         9 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 8 , wherein the container includes at least one opening configured to receive a beverage container. 
     
     
         10 . The climate controlled container system as in  claim 9 , wherein the opening comprises a flexible seal configured to substantially close the cavity when the beverage container is inserted into the at least one opening. 
     
     
         11 . A climate controlled container system, comprising:
 a housing forming at least a first cup holder and a second cup holder, each cup holder defining a cavity having a first open end;   a cooling system that comprises a first thermoelectric device having a first side conductively coupled the first cup holder and a heat exchanger positioned within a passage and a second thermoelectric device having a first side conductively coupled to the second cup holder and a heat exchanger positioned within the passage, and a fluid transfer device configured to transfer air through the passage and to the heat exchangers of the first and second thermoelectric devices.   
     
     
         12 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 11 , further comprising vanes positioned in the passage, the vanes being configured to distribute the air substantially evenly to the heat exchangers of the first and second thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         13 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 11 , further comprising vanes positioned in the passage, the vanes being configured to distribute the air substantially evenly across the heat exchangers of the first and second thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         14 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 11 , wherein the fan is a radial fan. 
     
     
         15 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 11 , wherein the fan is an axial fan. 
     
     
         16 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 11 , wherein each of the first and second cup holders includes means for biasing a cup against a side of the cup holder. 
     
     
         17 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 11 , wherein the first and second thermoelectric devices are positioned directly below the first and second cup holders respectively. 
     
     
         18 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 16 , wherein the fluid transfer device is positioned on the side of the first and second cup holders. 
     
     
         19 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 18 , wherein the fluid transfer device is configured to transmit air to a space in the passage between the first and second heat exchangers such that air flowing through the first and second heat exchangers flow in generally opposite directions. 
     
     
         20 . The cup holder assembly as in  claim 19 , wherein the housing comprises a front wall, a rear wall, and a first and second of side walls extending between the front and rear wall, and wherein at least a first and a second outlet are on the first and second side walls, the first outlet configured to receive air from the first heat exchanger and the second outlet configured to receive air from the second heat exchanger.