Apparatus for beverage container temperature control

Abstract

Apparatus for controlling the temperature of a beverage container, for example, by either chilling the beverage container or maintaining the beverage container at a predetermined temperature, the apparatus having a generally cylindrical configuration with a receptacle in its upper portion and cooling components in the lower portion to establish a low center of gravity for the apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . Apparatus for controlling a temperature of a beverage container, the apparatus comprising:
 a housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including a receptacle adapted to receive the beverage container;   a thermoelectric element positioned in the lower portion, the thermoelectric element having a first side at a first temperature and a second side at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the second side being in thermal communication with the receptacle;   a heat sink in thermal communication with the first side, the heat sink having a slanted upper rim; and   at least one battery positioned in the lower portion and electrically connected to the thermoelectric element to provide power to the thermoelectric element.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the lower portion of the housing includes a temperature display. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising at least one temperature sensor for measuring at least one measured temperature in the receptacle. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 3  wherein the lower portion of the housing includes a temperature display displaying the at least one measured temperature. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  wherein the apparatus further comprises a detector arranged to detect a characteristic of a container placed in the receptacle and wherein the apparatus selects the second temperature based on the characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a volume detector arranged to detect a detected volume of liquid in a container inserted into the cradle and an indicator adapted to provide an indication of the detected volume. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a temperature detector arranged to detect a detected temperature of the container and an indicator adapted to provide an indication of the detected temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a communications module arranged to receive control data from an external device. 
     
     
         9 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a touch sensitive sensor for imputing control data. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a sensor for sensing a temperature in the receptacle at a mid-level location. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a sensor provided to sense the temperature of incoming air to the heat sink. 
     
     
         12 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a sensor provided on the housing to measure at least one of ambient temperature, humidity, light intensity, wind speed, and atmospheric pressure. 
     
     
         13 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a phase change material between the receptacle and the housing. 
     
     
         14 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a tip tilt detection sensor arranged to detect tipping or tilting of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The apparatus as claimed in  claim 1  further comprising a gyroscopic stabilizer mechanically coupled to the housing and positioned to cause the housing to tend to remain upright. 
     
     
         16 . The apparatus as in  claim 1  further comprising a communication interface including a device for communicating data to or from the apparatus and an outside device. 
     
     
         17 . Apparatus for controlling a temperature of a beverage container, the apparatus comprising:
 a cylindrical housing having an upper portion and a lower portion, the upper portion including a cylindrical receptacle adapted to receive the beverage container, the cylindrical housing comprising heat sink having a slanted upper rim;   a thermoelectric element positioned in the lower portion, the thermoelectric element having a first side at a first temperature and a second side at a second temperature lower than the first temperature, the second side being in thermal communication with the receptacle, the heat sink being in thermal communication with the first side;   at least one battery positioned in the lower portion and electrically connected to the thermoelectric element to provide power to the thermoelectric element,   wherein the cylindrical housing comprises a plurality of heat radiating fins positioned parallel to an axis of the cylindrical housing.