Battery pack-powered cooler

Abstract

A cooler includes an insulated housing at least partially defining an interior space and an opening to the interior space. A lid is coupled to the housing to selectively close the opening. The cooler further includes a cooling system to cool the interior space and a vacuum system to selectively evacuate air from the interior space. The cooler further includes a battery pack to supply electrical current to both the cooling system and the vacuum system to operate the cooling system and the vacuum system, respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooler comprising:
 an insulated housing at least partially defining an interior space and an opening to the interior space;   a lid coupled to the housing to selectively close the opening;   a refrigeration system including a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and a refrigerant line configured to transport refrigerant, the condenser configured to facilitate heat transfer from the refrigerant to an ambient atmosphere, the evaporator configured to facilitate heat transfer from the interior space to the refrigerant, and the refrigerant line configured to allow the refrigerant to flow in a cycle between the compressor, the condenser, and the evaporator;   a vacuum system including a vacuum pump configured to selectively evacuate air from the interior space; and   a battery pack configured to supply electrical current to both the compressor and the vacuum pump to operate the refrigeration system and the vacuum system, respectively.   
     
     
         2 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller, a temperature sensor configured to output a temperature signal to the controller indicative of a temperature of the interior space, and a pressure sensor configured to output a pressure signal to the controller indicative of a pressure in the interior space, and wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the refrigeration system and the vacuum system based at least in part on the temperature signal and the pressure signal. 
     
     
         3 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 compare the temperature of the interior space to a set point temperature,   operate the refrigeration system when the temperature of the interior space is greater than the set point temperature, and   deactivate the refrigeration system when the temperature of the interior space is less than or equal to the set point temperature.   
     
     
         4 . The cooler of  claim 3 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the vacuum system to create a vacuum within the interior space when the temperature of the interior space is less than or equal to the set point temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The cooler of  claim 2 , wherein the temperature sensor communicates wirelessly with the controller, and wherein the pressure sensor communicates wirelessly with the controller. 
     
     
         6 . The cooler of  claim 1 , wherein the battery pack is a portable power tool battery pack that is interchangeable with at least one power tool other than the cooler. 
     
     
         7 . The cooler of  claim 6 , wherein the battery pack is supported by a battery receptacle on the lid. 
     
     
         8 . The cooler of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an evaporator fan positioned within the cooler and configured to facilitate heat transfer from the interior space to the refrigerant; and   a condenser fan positioned outside the cooler and configured to facilitate heat transfer from the refrigerant to the ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         9 . A cooler comprising:
 an insulated housing at least partially defining an interior space and an opening to the interior space;   a lid coupled to the housing to selectively close the opening;   a cooling system including a Peltier element having a warm side and a cool side, the warm side configured to facilitate heat transfer to an ambient atmosphere and the cool side configured to facilitate heat transfer from the interior space;   a vacuum system including a vacuum pump configured to selectively evacuate air from the interior space; and   a battery pack configured to supply electrical current to both the Peltier element and the vacuum pump to operate the cooling system and the vacuum system, respectively.   
     
     
         10 . The cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising a controller, a temperature sensor configured to output a temperature signal to the controller indicative of a temperature of the interior space, and a pressure sensor configured to output a pressure signal to the controller indicative of a pressure in the interior space, and wherein the controller is configured to control operation of the cooling system and the vacuum system based at least in part on the temperature signal and the pressure signal. 
     
     
         11 . The cooler of  claim 10 , wherein the controller is configured to:
 compare the temperature of the interior space to a set point temperature,   operate the cooling system when the temperature of the interior space is greater than the set point temperature, and   deactivate the cooling system when the temperature of the interior space is less than or equal to the set point temperature.   
     
     
         12 . The cooler of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the vacuum system to create a vacuum within the interior space when the temperature of the interior space is less than or equal to the set point temperature. 
     
     
         13 . The cooler of  claim 10 , wherein the temperature sensor communicates wirelessly with the controller, and wherein the pressure sensor communicates wirelessly with the controller. 
     
     
         14 . The cooler of  claim 9 , wherein the battery pack is a portable power tool battery pack that is interchangeable with at least one power tool other than the cooler. 
     
     
         15 . The cooler of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 an interior fan positioned within the cooler and configured to facilitate heat transfer from the interior space to the cool side of the Peltier element; and   an exterior fan positioned outside the cooler and configured to facilitate heat transfer from the warm side of the Peltier element to the ambient atmosphere.   
     
     
         16 . A method of operating a cooler having an interior space, the method comprising:
 cooling the interior space to a set point temperature with a cooling system; and   creating a vacuum in the interior space with a vacuum system after a temperature of the interior space is less than or equal to the set point temperature.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 sensing the temperature of the interior space;   sensing a pressure of the interior space; and   in response to the pressure of the interior space reaching a set point pressure, deactivating the vacuum system to maintain the interior space at the set point temperature and the set point pressure.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein in response to the temperature in the interior space exceeding the set point temperature, resuming cooling the interior space to the set point temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising selectively increasing the pressure of the interior space to a value greater than the set point pressure to allow a user to access the interior space. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising supplying the cooling system and the vacuum system with electrical current from an onboard portable power tool battery pack.