Cooling system for container in a vehicle

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.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A climate controlled container holder assembly for conductive and convective heating or cooling of a container, the climate controlled container holder assembly comprising:
 a holder member comprising a generally unitary structure defining an interior cavity configured to receive a container for heating or cooling; and   a climate control system configured to selectively heat or cool the container within the interior cavity of the holder member, the climate control system comprising:
 a first heating or cooling device comprising a first side configured to conduct thermal energy to or from the holder member; 
 a second heating or cooling device comprising a first side configured to heat or cool fluid in fluid communication with the interior cavity; and 
 a fluid transfer system configured to transfer fluid through or near at least a portion of the first heating or cooling device and at least a portion of the second heating or cooling device, 
   wherein the first heating or cooling device is configured to conductively heat or cool the holder member via the first side of the first heating or cooling device, and   wherein the second heating or cooling device is configured to convectively heat or cool the interior cavity via the first side of the second heating or cooling device.   
     
     
         27 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the first side of the first heating or cooling device is directly coupled to the generally unitary structure of the holder member. 
     
     
         28 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 26 , wherein heat transfer between the first heating or cooling device and the interior cavity is configured to occur through substantially an entire periphery of the generally unitary structure of the holder member. 
     
     
         29 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the generally unitary structure comprises a conduction element configured to conduct heat in the holder member to the container. 
     
     
         30 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the holder member comprises an inlet into the interior cavity and an outlet out of the interior cavity, the inlet and outlet in fluid communication with a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the first side of the second heating or cooling device. 
     
     
         31 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the fluid transfer system comprises a fluid transfer device configured to direct fluid through or near the at least a portion of the second cooling and heating device and through the recirculation passage to circulate fluid through the inlet, the interior cavity, the outlet, and the recirculation passage. 
     
     
         32 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 26 , wherein the fluid transfer system comprises a fluid transfer device configured to direct fluid through or near the at least a portion of the first heating or cooling device. 
     
     
         33 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the fluid transfer device is configured to direct fluid through or near the at least a portion of the second heating or cooling device. 
     
     
         34 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 26 , wherein each of the first and second heating or cooling devices comprises a thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         35 . A climate controlled container holder assembly for heating or cooling a container, the climate controlled container holder assembly comprising:
 a holder member comprising a generally unitary structure defining an interior cavity configured to receive a container for heating or cooling; and   a climate control system configured to heat or cool the container within the interior cavity of the holder member, the climate control system comprising:
 a first heating or cooling device comprising a first side thermally coupled to the holder member to heat or cool the container within the interior cavity; 
 a second heating or cooling device comprising a first side thermally coupled to the holder member to heat or cool the container within the interior cavity; and 
 a fluid transfer system configured to transfer fluid through or near at least a portion of the first heating or cooling device and at least a portion of the second heating or cooling device. 
   
     
     
         36 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 35 , wherein the first side of the first heating or cooling device is configured to conduct thermal energy to or from the holder member to conductively heat or cool the holder member via the first side of the first heating or cooling device. 
     
     
         37 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the first side of the first heating or cooling device is directly coupled to the generally unitary structure of the holder member. 
     
     
         38 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 36 , wherein the first side of the second heating or cooling device is configured to heat or cool fluid in fluid communication with the interior cavity to convectively heat or cool the interior cavity via the first side of the second heating or cooling device. 
     
     
         39 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 38 , wherein the holder member comprises an inlet into the interior cavity and an outlet out of the interior cavity, the inlet and outlet in fluid communication with a recirculation passage in fluid communication with the first side of the second heating or cooling device. 
     
     
         40 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 39 , wherein the fluid transfer system comprises a fluid transfer device configured to direct fluid through or near the at least a portion of the second cooling and heating device and through the recirculation passage to circulate fluid through the inlet, the interior cavity, the outlet, and the recirculation passage. 
     
     
         41 . A climate controlled container holder assembly for heating or cooling a container, the climate controlled container holder assembly comprising:
 a holder member comprising a generally unitary structure defining an interior cavity configured to receive a container for heating or cooling;   a climate control system configured to heat or cool the container within the interior cavity of the holder member; and   a resilient assembly configured to at least partially seal the interior cavity around the container and to urge the container within the interior cavity toward a side of the interior cavity.   
     
     
         42 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the resilient assembly comprises bristles extending radially inward into the interior cavity. 
     
     
         43 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 42 , wherein the bristles are arranged substantially around a periphery of the interior cavity to retain the container in the interior cavity. 
     
     
         44 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the resilient assembly comprises a biasing member extending into the interior cavity, the biasing member configured to impose a lateral force against the container to urge the container within the interior cavity toward the side of the interior cavity. 
     
     
         45 . The climate controlled container holder assembly of  claim 41 , wherein the resilient assembly comprises a resilient member configured to deflect with the container in the interior cavity and to return to a resting position without the container in the interior cavity.