Refrigeration and Freezer Pot

Abstract

This present application relates to a portable consumer convenience appliance that uses refrigeration coils to cool or freeze a consumer food product. The appliance of the present invention has an outer supporting base and an inner removable container made from ceramic. The outer base has an integrated refrigeration unit, and the inner container may be filled with a food or beverage. The refrigeration coils of the integrated refrigeration unit are used to chill or freeze the food or beverage stored in the inner container until consumed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A consumer appliance comprising:
 a supporting base comprised of an inner wall, an outer wall and a bottom defining a space, wherein the inner wall defines an inner area that is closed at an inner area bottom and open at a top end;   an inner container sized and configured to fit within the inner area of the supporting base, wherein the inner container is removable from the supporting base.   at least one refrigeration coil positioned in the space for providing refrigeration to the inner container;   a thermostat disposed on the outer wall of the supporting base for adjusting a temperature created by the at least one refrigeration coil; and   a power switch for turning on and off a condenser pump, wherein the condenser pump is in fluid communication with the at least one refrigeration coil.   
     
     
         2 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the consumer appliance operates in one of a cooling range or a freezing range. 
     
     
         3 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the cooling range is between 34° F. and 40° F. 
     
     
         4 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 2 , wherein the freezing range is between 0° F. and 32° F. 
     
     
         5 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the inner container is closed at a bottom end and open at a top end, and further wherein the top end comprises a sealable perimeter. 
     
     
         6 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 1  further comprising a lid sized and configured to fit within the inner area, wherein the lid is comprised of a seal extending around a perimeter of the lid. 
     
     
         7 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 6 , wherein the lid fits on the inner container and the seal is adjacent to the sealable perimeter. 
     
     
         8 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the inner container is comprised of a ceramic. 
     
     
         9 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 8 , wherein the ceramic is comprised of at least one of a bail clay, a China clay, a feldspar, a silica, a dolomite, a talc, a calcite, and a nepheline. 
     
     
         10 . The consumer appliance as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the supporting base comprises a pair of handles disposed along the outer wall, and at least one of a battery or an electric cord to provide power to the consumer appliance. 
     
     
         11 . A portable cooling appliance comprising:
 an outer supporting structure comprising a plurality of coils and a condenser pump for providing refrigeration;   an inner vessel, wherein the inner vessel is removable from the outer supporting structure and the inner vessel is comprised of a wall, a closed end and an open end with the open end having a lip for grasping and removing the inner vessel from the outer supporting structure; and   a power source for providing energy to the condenser pump, wherein the inner vessel is comprised of ceramic and is capable of withstanding temperatures ranging from 0° F. and 40° F.   
     
     
         12 . The portable cooling appliance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the outer supporting structure is comprised of an inner area comprised of a sidewall and a bottom for receipt of the inner vessel. 
     
     
         13 . The portable cooling appliance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the outer supporting structure is comprised of a thermostat and a power switch. 
     
     
         14 . The portable cooling appliance as recited in  claim 11  further comprising a lid which provides a sealing engagement with the open end of the inner vessel. 
     
     
         15 . The portable cooling appliance as recited in  claim 11 , wherein the outer supporting structure comprises at least two handles. 
     
     
         16 . The portable cooling appliance as recited in  claim 14 , wherein the sealing engagement is provided by a flexible seal disposed on a periphery of the lid. 
     
     
         17 . The portable cooling appliance as recited in  claim 11  further comprising a consumer food product disposed within the inner vessel, wherein the consumer food product changes from a first state to a second state while within the inner vessel. 
     
     
         18 . A combination consumer appliance and consumer food product comprising:
 an appliance operating in one of a first operating range or a second operating range, wherein the appliance is comprised of a cylindrical supporting base, a refrigeration coil disposed within the cylindrical supporting base, and a cylindrical inner container sized and configured to fit within the cylindrical supporting base; and   a consumer food product capable of changing from a first state to a second state when placed within the cylindrical inner container.   
     
     
         19 . The combination consumer appliance and consumer food product as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the consumer food product is one of a food or a beverage. 
     
     
         20 . The combination consumer appliance and consumer food product as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first state is a liquid and the second state is a solid.