Cooler with thermoelectric cooling apparatus

Abstract

An apparatus for cooling foodstuffs using a thermoelectric cooling module, which is aided by a heatsink formed from a planer sheet into a corrugated fin. The heatsink has a series of land and grooves, which are spaced apart from each other by a substantially planer intermediate portion. The heatsink further includes indentations on the intermediate portion between the lands and grooves, which create a turbulent airflow through the heatsink. The heatsink further includes a plurality of apertures that are formed into the grooves for allowing water to drain out of the heatsink, if any condenses and collects in the grooves of the heatsink.

1 . A thermoelectric cooling apparatus comprising: 
 a thermoelectric module, a heatsink contiguous with one side of the thermoelectric module and a coldsink contiguous with another side of the thermoelectric module;    at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink configured from a continuous planar element and includes a series of lands and opposing grooves, each defined about a fold line normal to a longitudinal axis of the continuous planar element;    a substantially planar intermediate portion disposed between each adjacent land and groove, wherein each groove is contiguous with the thermoelectric module so that heat is transferred by the Peltier effect when direct current is applied to the thermoelectric module.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the continuous planar element has a thickness less than 0.080 inches.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture formed in at least one of the grooves adjacent the respective fold line.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one aperture formed in at least one of the lands adjacent the respective fold line.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one offset element formed in the intermediate portion and extending along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric module further comprises a flange contiguous with each of the at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink configured from the continuous planar element.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each flange includes a plurality of channels formed therein which are collectively configured complementary to the series of grooves.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein each of the at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink is connected to the flange.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the connection of each at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink to the flange is selected from the group consisting of a thermally conductive adhesive, a threaded fastener, any other suitable connection device or any combination of the aforementioned group elements.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of offset elements formed in each intermediate portion wherein adjacent offset elements space apart adjacent intermediate portions and to provide turbulence to air flowing therebetween, thereby facilitating an increased rate of heat transfer.  
   
   
       11 . A cooler comprising: 
 a cooler having walls which enclose a volume;    a thermoelectric module connected to one of the walls such that a heatsink contiguous with one side of the thermoelectric module is disposed external to the volume and a coldsink is contiguous with another side of the thermoelectric module is disposed within the volume;    at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink configured from a continuous planar element including a series of lands and opposing grooves, each defined about a fold line normal to a longitudinal axis;    a substantially planar intermediate portion disposed between each adjacent land and groove, wherein each groove is contiguous with the thermoelectric module so that heat is transferred by the Peltier effect when direct current is applied to the thermoelectric module.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the thermoelectric module further comprises a flange contiguous with each of at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink configured from the continuous planar element.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each flange includes a plurality of channels formed therein which are collectively configured complementary to the series of grooves.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12 , wherein each of at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink is connected to the flange.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the connection of each at least one of the heatsink and the coldsink to the flange is selected from the group consisting of a thermally conductive adhesive, a threaded fastener, any other suitable connection device or any combination of the aforementioned group elements.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus for  claim 11 , further comprising a ventilation apparatus that facilitates movement of fluid over each of the heatsink and the coldsink to provide an increased rate of heat transfer.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the ventilation apparatus includes a motor, a shaft driven by the motor having a first end and a second end, a fan blade connected to each of the first and second ends of the shaft and a planar element disposed adjacent the heatsink, the coldsink and the motor to define a fluid pathway all to facilitate an increased rate of fluid movement through the fluid pathway.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the continuous planar element has a thickness less than 0.080 inches.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one aperture formed in at least one of the grooves adjacent the respective fold line.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one aperture formed in at least one of the lands adjacent the respective fold line.  
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising at least one offset element formed in the intermediate portion and extending along the longitudinal axis.  
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of offset elements formed in each intermediate portion wherein adjacent offset elements space apart adjacent intermediate portions and to provide turbulence to air flowing therebetween, thereby facilitating an increased rate of heat transfer.