Refrigeration – Using electrical or magnetic effect – Thermoelectric; e.g. – peltier effect
Reexamination Certificate
2002-01-25
2003-05-06
Esquivel, Denise L. (Department: 3744)
Refrigeration
Using electrical or magnetic effect
Thermoelectric; e.g., peltier effect
C062S003500
Reexamination Certificate
active
06557353
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to cooling an object, and more particularly to an apparatus and method that provides lower than ambient temperatures surrounding an object.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Coolers are typically in the form of an insulated container that has walls upstanding from a base to define a top opening where a removable cover is mounted. These coolers are typically rectangular with two side walls and two end walls, and have a pivotal handle assembly mounted to each end wall for carrying the cooler. The conventional coolers are intended to be disposed solely on the bottom or back wall. The lid whether or not hinged along one edge is simply locked with the container by a friction fit and/or by engagement. There are pivotally mounted locking carrying handles which selectively engage and hold the lid on the container.
Typically coolers of this type are used as chests wherein food is placed within the container and ice is added to it to maintain the food at a cool temperature. The design of the container has its disadvantages when used to store the butchered carcass of a wild game kill or a large object that needs to be kept cool. For example, once a whitetail deer is brought down and dead the hunter must field dress the deer. This includes rolling a deer onto its back, with its head pointed uphill, and then cutting open the deer removing its internal organs from the body cavity. Once the deer's cavity is clear the carcass must be cooled quickly. Typically the hunter will hang the carcass with the hide-on, spreading the ribs with a stick to expose the cavity to ambient temperatures. However, if the ambient temperature is about 45° F. or more the carcass will quickly spoil. Consequently, the hunter must skin and butcher the deer in the field. This is difficult because the deer must be cut into many pieces that allow the meat to fit into the ice chest. Furthermore, to save most of the deer carcass many chests and alot of ice is required.
Most hunters find it to difficult to butcher and store wild game in the field. If the ambient temperature is about 45° F. they either cut short their hunting trip or allow the carcass to spoil. What is needed is an apparatus that is portable and will keep the carcass cool and thereby slowing down the spoilage process of the shot wild game. Furthermore, what is also needed is an apparatus that can conveniently surround any object and keep the object cool.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an aspect of the invention to provide an apparatus that will slow the spoilage of a wild game carcass.
It is another aspect of the invention to provide an apparatus for cooling wild game carcass that is portable, easy to use and lightweight.
It is still another aspect of this invention to provide an apparatus for conveniently cooling any object.
To accomplish these aspects a thermoelectric apparatus includes a power source, a body having a first side and a second with a defined perimeter where the first side and the second side are separated by a gap. It further includes an insulation means for providing a thermal barrier, a cooling means placed between the first side and the second side for cooling an object and a connecting means for securing the body into a defined shape around an object.
A method of operating a thermoelectric apparatus includes wrapping a body around an object, with the body having a first side and a second side, a defined perimeter and the first side and second side separated by a gap containing an insulation means that forms a thermal barrier. Another step is engaging a connecting means for securing said body into a defined shape around the object, engaging a power source and then operating a cooling means placed between the first side and second side of the body in the gap for cooling the object.
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Badalato Todd J.
Fusco Michael A.
Bond Schoeneck & King , PLLC
Esquivel Denise L.
Jones Melvin
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