Personal beverage warmers and coolers for vehicle seats

Abstract

Example personal beverage warmers and coolers for vehicle seats are disclosed. A disclosed example apparatus to regulate the temperature of a beverage near a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus includes: a base including a thermally conductive material that conducts heat in a direction that is at least one of to or from a container seated thereon, a thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the base and to be energized to exchange heat with the base, and a heat exchanger thermally coupled with the thermoelectric device and a liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween.

1 . An apparatus to regulate the temperature of a beverage near a seat of a vehicle, the apparatus comprising:
 a base including a thermally conductive material that conducts heat in a direction that is at least one of to or from a container seated thereon;   a thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the base and to be energized to exchange heat with the base; and   a heat exchanger thermally coupled with the thermoelectric device and a liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the liquid medium is air, the apparatus further comprising a fan that blows air in thermal contact with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device is to be energized by a power supply to heat the base. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric device is to be energized by a power supply to cool the base. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a switch that changes a polarity of a power supply that energizes the thermoelectric device, wherein a first state of the switch causes the power supply to cool the base, and a second state of the switch causes the power supply to heat the base. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a lock that mates with a key of an extension insert to secure the extension insert on the base, the extension insert dimensioned to receive a container holding the beverage. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the base further includes a recessed portion dimensioned to receive a container holding the beverage. 
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a power supply; and   a processor to control the power supply to maintain a temperate of the beverage.   
     
     
         9 . A seating area of a vehicle, the seating area comprising a temperature regulating apparatus including:
 a base including a thermally conductive material that conducts heat at least one of to or from a container seated thereon;   a thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the base and to be energized to exchange heat with the base; and   a heat exchanger thermally coupled with the thermoelectric device and a liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween.   
     
     
         10 . The seating area of  claim 9 , further comprising a second temperature regulating apparatus including:
 a second base including second thermally conductive material that conducts heat to or from a second container seated thereon;   a second thermoelectric device thermally coupled with the second base and energized to exchange heat with the second base; and   a second heat exchanger thermally coupled with the second thermoelectric device and a second liquid medium to exchange heat therebetween.   
     
     
         11 . The seating area of  claim 9 , wherein the liquid medium is air, the temperature regulating apparatus further comprising a fan that blows air in thermal contact with the heat exchanger. 
     
     
         12 . The seating area of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric device is to be energized by a power supply to heat the base. 
     
     
         13 . The seating area of  claim 9 , wherein the thermoelectric device is to be energized by a power supply to cool the base. 
     
     
         14 . The seating area of  claim 9 , further comprising a switch that changes a polarity of a power supply that energizes the thermoelectric device, wherein a first state of the switch causes the power supply to cool the base, and a second state of the switch causes the power supply to heat the base. 
     
     
         15 . The seating area of  claim 9 , wherein the base further includes a lock that mates with a key of an extension insert to secure the extension insert on the base, the extension insert dimensioned to receive a container holding the beverage. 
     
     
         16 . The seating area of  claim 9 , wherein the base further includes a recessed portion dimensioned to receive a container holding the beverage. 
     
     
         17 . A method comprising:
 energizing a thermoelectric device at a vehicle seat to a first state to cool a beverage container thermally coupled to the thermoelectric device when a first user input is received; and   energizing the thermoelectric device to a second state to heat the beverage container when a second user input is received.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , further comprising:
 exchanging first heat between the thermoelectric device and a heat exchanger; and   exchanging second heat between the heat exchanger and a liquid medium.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein energizing the thermoelectric device to the first state comprises applying an electrical current to a Peltier device, and energizing the thermoelectric device to second state comprises applying an opposite electrical current to the Peltier device. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the first user input corresponds to a first position of a switch, and the second user input corresponds to a second position of the switch.