Icebox with external controls and temperature display

Abstract

An icebox with external controls. The icebox includes an insulated container having one or more compartments. One or more temperature sensors take temperature measurements of the one or more compartments. An externally visible panel displays the temperature measurements and coldness settings corresponding to the temperature measurements. A control mechanism controls a cooling mechanism so as to maintain the temperature of the compartments at a predetermined temperature corresponding to the coldness setting. An externally accessible input allows selective changes of the coldness setting.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION[0001]An icebox is an insulated container having a cooling mechanism, such as a compressor or a thermoelectric device, for cooling its interior. Iceboxes often have a single compartment or two or more compartments. For example, an icebox may have a freezer compartment, the interior maintained at a temperature below 32 degrees Fahrenheit and a refrigerator compartment, the interior of which is maintained at a temperature above 32 degrees Fahrenheit. The refrigerator compartment may include one or more vegetable boxes, which are typically compartments at the bottom of the refrigerator compartment used for storing fruits and vegetables. The interiors of vegetable boxes often are maintained at a different temperature or humidity than the remainder refrigerator compartment in order to store fruits and vegetables in ideal conditions, which may vary from conditions ideal for other items.[0002]Each compartment of an icebox may be cooled by a separate cooling mecha...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0007]In accordance with another embodiment, an icebox is provided, the icebox comprises an insulated compartment, a temperature sensor in the insulated compartment, and a cooling mechanism for cooling the interior of the insulated compartment

Problems solved by technology

The larger the passageway, the more cold air from the freezer compartment passes to the refrigerator compartment and, therefore the colder the refrigerator compartment gets.

Unnecessarily opening the icebox causes cold air to escape from the icebox and therefore the energy spent cooling that air to be wasted.

In addition, opening the icebox to adjust coldness settings is inconvenient, especially when any controls for adjusting the coldness settings are located in the back of the interior of the icebox.

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