Portable Cooler

Abstract

A portable cooler container system is described. The cooler container system includes an insulated container body having a payload chamber, one or more sleeve portions disposed about the payload chamber. The system further includes a cooling system including a thermoelectric module, a first heat sink, and a second heat sink. The portable cooler container system further includes a pump and conduit extending through the sleeve and configured to flow a cooling fluid through the sleeve.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable container system, comprising:
 a container body having an insulated payload chamber,   a sleeve disposed in the container body in thermal communication with the payload chamber and housing a phase change material;   a thermal system, comprising:
 a conduit extending through the sleeve and configured to facilitate flow of a heat transfer liquid through the sleeve, 
 a first heat sink in thermal communication with the conduit and configured to transfer heat to or from the heat transfer liquid, 
 a second heat sink in thermal communication with the environment, 
 a thermoelectric module interposed between and in thermal communication with the first heat sink on a first side of the thermoelectric module and the second heat sink on a second side of the thermoelectric module, 
 a pump configured to flow the heat transfer liquid through the conduit, and 
 circuitry configured to control an operation of the thermoelectric module and the pump to transfer heat to or from the phase change material; and 
   a lid operatively coupled to the container body and operable to access the payload chamber.   
     
     
         2 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the insulated payload chamber is insulated via vacuum insulation. 
     
     
         3 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the lid is vacuum insulated. 
     
     
         4 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the phase change material is configured to freeze based on the flow of the heat transfer liquid through the conduit. 
     
     
         5 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to control the operation of the thermoelectric module and the pump to transfer the heat to the phase change material and heat the payload chamber. 
     
     
         6 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the sleeve disposed in the container body is further disposed in contact with the payload chamber. 
     
     
         7 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the container body further comprises a vent configured to facilitate air flow to the second heat sink. 
     
     
         8 . The portable container system of  claim 7 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to alert a user if the vent is clogged, based on information received from one or more sensors. 
     
     
         9 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is configured to control the operation of the thermoelectric module and the pump to transfer the heat from the phase change material and cool the payload chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The portable container system of  claim 1 , wherein the thermal system further comprises a fan configured to flow air over the second heat sink. 
     
     
         11 . A portable container system, comprising:
 a container body having an insulated payload chamber,   a sleeve disposed in the container body in thermal communication with the payload chamber and housing a phase change material;   a thermal system, comprising:
 a conduit extending through the sleeve and configured to facilitate flow of a heat transfer fluid through the sleeve, 
 a cold side heat sink in thermal communication with the conduit and configured to cool the heat transfer fluid, 
 a hot side heat sink, 
 a thermoelectric module interposed between and in thermal communication with the hot side heat sink on a first side of the thermoelectric module and the cold side heat sink on a second side of the thermoelectric module, 
 a vent formed in the container body configured to allow air to flow to the hot side heat sink, 
 circuitry configured to:
 control an operation of the thermoelectric module to cool the phase change material, and 
 alert a user if the vent is clogged based on information received from one or more sensors; and 
 
   a lid operatively coupled to the container body and operable to access the payload chamber.   
     
     
         12 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the one or more sensors comprise an air flow sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the thermal system further comprises a fan configured to flow the air over the hot side heat sink. 
     
     
         14 . The portable container system of  claim 13 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to run a cleaning operation by operating the fan to exhaust air through the vent. 
     
     
         15 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , further comprising a user interface,
 wherein the circuitry is further configured to alert the user by transmitting, to the user interface, an indication that the vent is clogged.   
     
     
         16 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to alert the user by transmitting, to a remote electronic device, an indication that the vent is clogged. 
     
     
         17 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the vent comprises an intake vent,   the thermal system further comprises an exhaust vent, and   the intake vent and the exhaust vent are oriented about  180  degrees apart with respect to the container body.   
     
     
         18 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein:
 the vent comprises an intake vent,   the thermal system further comprises an exhaust vent, and   the intake vent and the exhaust vent are disposed in a same surface of the container body.   
     
     
         19 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the insulated payload chamber is insulated via vacuum insulation. 
     
     
         20 . The portable container system of  claim 11 , wherein the lid is vacuum insulated.