Heating and cooling cup holder

Abstract

A heating and cooling cup holder, comprising: a holder body (100) having an upper part which is open to receive a beverage container and which is shaped to at least partially enclose the beverage container, and a blowing opening (120) formed on one side of the holder body (100) through which air flows into the holder body, a heat exchanger (300) having an inner surface mounted on the blowing opening (120) and an inlet opening (320) formed on one side of the heat exchanger (300), a Peltier element (900) having a front surface connected to an outer surface of the heat exchanger, a heating line (400) having a first end portion (410) having a front surface connected to a rear surface of the Peltier element, and a second end portion (440) extending away from the Peltier element in a lateral direction of the Peltier element (900), and a heat dissipation module (500) connected to a rear surface of the first end portion (410) of the heating line, a heat dissipation fan (600) arranged at a rear side of the heat dissipation module away from the heating line, an outer holder (200) having a diameter larger than that of the holder body (100) and forming a ventilation space between the outer holder and the holder body, and a fan (700) provided in the ventilation space for sucking air into the ventilation space and having an outlet opening connected to an inlet opening (320) of the heat exchanger (300), wherein the heat exchanger (300) has a front side connected to an outside of the holder body (100) to cover the blowing opening (120), the inlet opening (320) formed on one side thereof, and heat transfer fins (340) formed therein.

Description

Background of the inventionField of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating and cooling cup holder capable of increasing user convenience by improving instantaneous performance and performance, and also increasing marketability because a beverage for drinking in a vehicle can be cooled or heated in a short time. Description of the technology used

[0002] A cup holder has been provided with a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle) and the like. This cup holder generally has only a simple holding (or receiving) function, but a cup holder with heating and cooling functions in addition to the holding function has been proposed according to some vehicle models.

[0003] However, according to the related art, the cup holder generally performs the heating and cooling functions simply by heat conduction, but cannot perform sufficient heating and cooling functions using only heat conduction.

[0004] The cup holder according to the related art uses a Peltier element, but has assumed the heating and cooling functions of a cup accommodated therein only by performing heat transfer to a body of the cup holder by heat conduction.

[0005] However, according to the above-mentioned technique, the heating and cooling functions due to heat conduction cannot be properly performed if the contact area between the cup and the cup holder is small. That is, the sizes of the cup and the cup holder do not always match, and there is a case where a bottom surface of the cup is depressed. In the case of a paper cup made of paper with low thermal conductivity, heat transfer due to heat conduction is hardly induced, so the temperature of the cup tends to be close to the ambient temperature.

[0006] Therefore, a cup holder capable of properly implementing the actual heating and cooling functions by solving the problems explained above is required.

[0007] Furthermore, the cup holder is also explained in the American patent US 5 720 171 A titled "Device for Heating and Cooling a Beverage", but since this cup holder also implements the heating and cooling functions of the cup holder only by heat conduction, the efficiency of the actual heating and cooling functions may be very low.

[0008] WO 2012 / 169989 A1 discloses a refrigerator for wine bottles, which has a heat exchanger inside and a fan circulating air toward an inlet opening of the heat exchanger. Heat from the heat exchanger is conducted via a thermoelectric element to a heat dissipation module connected to one end of heating lines, the other end of which is arranged opposite a heat dissipation fan. WO 2013 / 074057 A1 discloses a cooling device in which a fluid-cooling heat exchanger is connected to a Peltier element, which is connected to one end of a heating line, the other end of which is arranged opposite a heat dissipation fan. Explanation of the invention

[0009] The object of the present invention is to provide a heating (or heating) and cooling cup holder capable of increasing user-friendliness by improving immediate action property and performance and also increasing marketability because a beverage for drinking in a vehicle can be cooled or heated (e.g., warmed) in a short time.

[0010] This object is achieved by a heating and cooling cup holder according to claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0011] According to the present invention, there is provided a heating and cooling cup holder comprising: a holder body having an upper part open to receive a beverage container and a beverage-enveloping shape, and a blowing port formed on one side thereof through which air is introduced; a heat exchanger having a front or inner surface connected to an outer side of the holder body to cover the blowing port, i.e., having a front or inner surface mounted on the blowing port, and an inlet port formed on one side thereof, thereby allowing the wind (or airflow) introduced into the inlet port to be heat-exchanged and then discharged into the holder body through the blowing port; a Peltier element having a front surface connected to a rear surface of the heat exchanger and a heating line (e.g.,a heating pipe) having a front side of one end portion connected to a rear surface of the Peltier element and having the other end portion extended in a lateral direction; and a heat dissipation module (or heat radiation module) connected to a rear surface of one end portion of the heating pipe, and a heat dissipation fan (or heat radiation fan) arranged at a rear side of the heat dissipation module.

[0012] The heating cable may be configured from one end portion having a flat shape and the other end portion bent toward the back.

[0013] The heat dissipation module may be configured to be longer than the Peltier element, and an end portion of the heating line may be configured to have a length corresponding to the heat dissipation module.

[0014] The Peltier element can be glued tightly to one end of an end section of the heating cable.

[0015] The heat dissipation fan may be arranged on the side and rear of the heat dissipation module to face the other end portion of the heating cable.

[0016] The heating cable may have one end portion connected to the Peltier element, a middle portion glued tightly to the back surface of the heat dissipation module in a flat shape after it (heating cable) is bent to be connected to the back surface of the heat dissipation module, and the other end portion extended to the side.

[0017] The heating cable may have the other end section to which condensation fins (or condensation lamellas) are connected.

[0018] The heat exchanger has a front side connected to an outer side of the holder body to cover the blowing port, an inlet port formed on one side thereof, and heat transfer fins (or heat transfer fins) formed therein to allow the wind (or air flow) introduced into the inlet port to be heat-exchanged by the heat transfer fins and then discharged into the holder body through the blowing port.

[0019] The heating and cooling cup holder further includes an outer holder formed to have a diameter larger than that of the holder body and forming a ventilation space between the outer holder and the holder body as a shape enveloping the side of the holder body.

[0020] The heating and cooling cup holder further includes a fan provided in the ventilation space for sucking air into the ventilation space and having an outlet port connected to the inlet port of the heat exchanger.

[0021] The present device has other features and advantages which will be apparent from the accompanying drawings incorporated herein and the following detailed description, which together serve to explain certain principles of the present invention. Explanation of the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention installed in an armrest. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention. Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention. Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention. Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view schematically showing an exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention. Fig. 6 is a graph comparing the performance of an exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention. Detailed description

[0022] Reference will now be made in detail to the various embodiments of the present invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings and described below. While the invention will be described in conjunction with the exemplary embodiments, it is to be understood that the present description is not intended to limit the invention to these exemplary embodiments. On the contrary, the invention is intended to cover not only the exemplary embodiments, but also various alternatives, modifications, alterations, and other embodiments falling within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

[0023] Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention installed in an armrest. Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention. Fig. 3 to 5 are views showing heating and cooling cup holders according to various embodiments of the present invention, and Fig. 6 is a graph comparing the performance of the exemplary heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] Fig. 1 is first a perspective view of a heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention installed in an armrest 10. The heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention may be installed in the armrest 10 of a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle). For this purpose, the armrest 10 is provided with a cup holder cover 50, a cup is received in an upper part 52 of the cover 50, and the cup holder according to the present invention is installed under the cover.

[0025] Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention, ie Fig. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention.

[0026] The heating and cooling cup holder according to the present invention may comprise: a holder body 100 having an upper part open to receive a beverage container, a shape enveloping the beverage container, and a blowing port 120 formed on a side thereof into which wind (or airflow) is introduced; a heat exchanger 300 having a front or inner surface connected to an outer side of the holder body 100 to cover the blowing port 120, that is, having a front or inner surface mounted on the blowing port 120, an inlet port 320 formed on a side thereof, and heat transfer fins 340 formed therein to thereby allow wind (or airflow) introduced into the inlet port 320 to flow into the heat exchanger.air flow) to be heat-exchanged by the heat transfer fins 340 and then discharged into the holder body 100 through the blowing port 120; a Peltier element 900 having a front side connected to a rear or outer surface of the heat exchanger 300 and a heating line 400 having a front side of one end, i.e., a first end portion 410, connected to a rear surface of the Peltier element 900 and the other end, i.e., a second end portion 440, extended in a lateral direction; a heat dissipation module (or heat radiation module) 500 connected to the rear surface of an end portion 410 of the heating line 400, and a heat dissipation fan (or fan) arranged on a rear side of the heat dissipation module 500.Heat radiation fan) 600; an outer holder 200 formed to have a diameter larger than that of the holder body 100 and forming a ventilation space between the outer holder 200 and the holder body 100 as a shape enveloping the side (e.g., the side surface) of the holder body 100; and a fan 700 provided in the ventilation space to suck air into the ventilation space and having an outlet port connected to the inlet port 320 of the heat exchanger 300.

[0027] The holder body 100 may be formed of a metal material capable of conducting heat, and simultaneously performs convection and heat conduction through the metal material explained above. The holder body 100 has an upper part open to accommodate a beverage container, a shape that at least partially envelops the beverage container, and a blowing port 120 into which wind (or an airflow) is introduced, formed on the side thereof. The conditioned air introduced through the blowing port 120 strikes a cup C, rises upward, and is reintroduced into the fan 700.

[0028] Furthermore, the heat exchanger 300 has a front side connected to an outer side of the holder body 100 to cover the blowing port 120. The heat exchanger 300 has an inlet port 320 formed on one side thereof for introducing the air, and heat transfer fins 340 formed therein to allow the wind (or airflow) introduced into the inlet port to be heat-exchanged by the heat transfer fins 340. Furthermore, the heat-exchanged wind is discharged into the holder body 100 through the blowing port 120 to perform convection heat transfer to the cup (C) side.

[0029] Furthermore, the Peltier element 900 has a front surface connected to the rear surface of the heat exchanger 300, thereby directly cooling or heating the heat exchanger 300. Thus, the air introduced into the heat exchanger 300 and discharged into the holder body 100 is conditioned (or conditioned). Furthermore, since the heat exchanger 300 is directly connected to the holder body 100, it simultaneously cools or heats the entire holder body 100, thereby conducting heat transfer with the cup C. The air between the holder body 100 and the cup C can conduct convection heat transfer with improved, excellent efficiency due to the heat conduction of the holder body 100.

[0030] The heating line 400 has a front side of one end portion 410 connected to a rear surface of the Peltier element 900 and the other end portion 440 extended in a lateral direction. Furthermore, a heat dissipation module 500 is connected to a rear surface of one end portion 410 of the heating line 400, and a heat dissipation fan 600 is disposed at a rear side of the heat dissipation module 500. The heating line 400 and the heat dissipation module 500 may be embedded to be integrated in a casing 800. Furthermore, the casing 800 may have a portion divided into a portion 820 in which the heat dissipation module 500 is disposed and a portion 840 in which the other end portion 440 of the heating line 400 is disposed and to which the heat dissipation fan 600 is connected.

[0031] Thus, evaporation is generated at one end portion 410 of the heating line 400, so that the waste heat of the Peltier element 900 is quickly dissipated and the heat is transferred to the heat dissipation module 500, and a condensation process is generated at the other end portion 440 of the heating line 400, so that the heat transfer of the heating line 400 is carried out. As a result, a heat dissipation area can be utilized even more widely than in the case where the Peltier element 900 is directly connected to the heat dissipation module 500 without having the heating line 400.

[0032] Meanwhile, the heat dissipation fan 600 is arranged at the rear of the heat dissipation module 500 to suck in and exhaust the air, thereby enabling heat dissipation (or heat radiation) to be generated by convection at the heat dissipation module 500.

[0033] As in Fig. As shown in Figure 3, the heating line 400 may be configured with one end portion 410 having a flat shape and the other end portion 440 bent toward the rear. The heat dissipation module 500 may be configured to be longer than the Peltier element 900, and one end portion 410 of the heating line 400 may be configured to have a length corresponding to the radiator module 500. Furthermore, the Peltier element 900 may be tightly bonded to one end of one end portion 410 of the heating line 400.

[0034] With the above-described configuration, the end of one end portion 410 of the heating pipe 400 receives heat, shifts the received heat to the other end portion 440 side, and evenly transfers the heat to the heat dissipation module 500, and condensation is generated at the other end portion 440. Furthermore, the heat dissipation fan 600 is arranged on the side and rear of the heat dissipation module 500 to oppose (in other words, face) the other end portion 440 of the heating pipe 400, thereby facilitating the condensation process. Since the other end portion 440 has a shape slightly curved toward the heat dissipation fan 600 side, it can serve to guide the wind (or airflow) and enable condensation to be generated more effectively.

[0035] Meanwhile, the heating cable 400 - as in Fig. 4 - may have an end portion 410 connected to the Peltier element 900, may have a central portion 420 tightly bonded to the back surface of the heat dissipation module 500 in a flat shape - after this (heating line) is bent to be connected to the back surface of the heat dissipation module 500 - and may have the other end portion 440 extended (or extended) to the side.

[0036] In addition, as in Fig. 5 - condensation fins (or condensation lamellae) 442 may be connected to the other end portion 440 of the heating line 400.

[0037] Fig. 6 is a graph comparing the performance of the heating and cooling cup holder according to various embodiments of the present invention. In an existing radiator, the Peltier element is directly connected to the heat dissipation module without having the heating line. In this case, it can be understood that a heat dissipation amount is significantly reduced by going outside from a heating section (out) where the heat dissipation module contacts the Peltier element. That is, the heat dissipation efficiency is reduced. However, according to various embodiments of the present invention, since the heating line transfers heat, heat is received in both the heating section and the heat dissipation section of the heat dissipation module, so the heat dissipation area is significantly increased, thereby increasing the heat dissipation amount.

[0038] However, as in Fig.2, the outer holder 200 is formed to have a diameter larger than that of the holder body 100, and the outer holder forms a ventilation space between the outer holder 200 and the holder body 100 in a shape enveloping the side (e.g., side surface) of the holder body 100. Furthermore, a fan 700 is provided in the ventilation space to draw air into the ventilation space, and the fan has an outlet port connected to the inlet port of the heat exchanger 300, thereby supplying the drawn air to the heat exchanger 300.

[0039] Thus, the air between the cup C and the holder body 100 passes through the upper part of the holder body 100 from an inside to an outside and is reintroduced between the holder body 100 and the outer holder 200, thereby being transmitted to the heat exchanger 300 by the fan 700. Further, the heat exchanger 300 reconditions (or conditions) the transmitted air to thereby reintroduce it through the blow port 120 between the holder body 100 and the cup C. At the same time, the heat exchanger 300 directly conducts heat to the holder body 100, so that heating and cooling of the cup can be performed by convection heat transfer and conduction (or heat conduction), and the heat-flown air is continuously recirculated and conditioned (or conditioned), thereby increasing the conditioning efficiency (or air conditioning efficiency) and the immediate effect property.This is ultimately possible because the Peltier element 900 cools and heats the heat exchanger 300 and the opposite side (or opposite surface) of the Peltier element 900 is heat dissipated through the heating line to the heat dissipation module, thereby enabling the cup holder to operate safely.

[0040] According to the heating and cooling cup holder having the above-mentioned structure, when maintaining heating and cooling of the beverage container in the heating or cooling state, the heat dissipation capacity of the external radiator is maximized, so that the performance of the heating and cooling cup holder can be maximized compared with the existing cooling device, and the area of ​​the radiator can be reduced and its heat dissipation efficiency can be improved even in the case of using the same external radiator.

[0041] In addition, the thermoelectric element can be miniaturized and the radiator area can be minimized, so that the area where the heating and cooling cup holder is mounted in the vehicle can be expanded and the energy efficiency and control function can be improved.

[0042] In addition, the user-friendliness can be increased by improving the instantaneous effect and performance, and the marketability can also be increased since the beverage container can be cooled or heated in a short time for drinking in the vehicle.

Claims

[1] A heating and cooling cup holder, comprising: a holder body (100) having an upper part which is open to receive a beverage container and which is shaped to at least partially enclose the beverage container, and a blowing opening (120) formed on one side of the holder body (100) through which air flows into the holder body, a heat exchanger (300) having an inner surface mounted on the blowing opening (120) and an inlet opening (320) formed on one side of the heat exchanger (300), a Peltier element (900) having a front surface connected to an outer surface of the heat exchanger, a heating line (400) having a first end portion (410) having a front surface connected to a rear surface of the Peltier element, and a second end portion (440) extending away from the Peltier element in a lateral direction of the Peltier element (900), and a heat dissipation module (500) connected to a rear surface of the first end portion (410) of the heating line, a heat dissipation fan (600) arranged at a rear side of the heat dissipation module away from the heating line, an outer holder (200) having a diameter larger than that of the holder body (100) and forming a ventilation space between the outer holder and the holder body, and a fan (700) provided in the ventilation space for sucking air into the ventilation space and having an outlet opening connected to an inlet opening (320) of the heat exchanger (300), wherein the heat exchanger (300) has a front side connected to an outside of the holder body (100) to cover the blowing opening (120), the inlet opening (320) formed on one side thereof, and heat transfer fins (340) formed therein. [2] The heating and cooling cup holder according to claim 1, wherein one of the first (410) and the second end portions (440) of the heating line (400) is formed in a flat shape and the other of the first and the second end portions is bent toward the back of the Peltier element (900). [3] The heating and cooling cup holder according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the heat dissipation module (500) is longer than the Peltier element (900), and the first end portion (410) of the heating line (400) is as long as the heat dissipation module (500). [4] The heating and cooling cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the Peltier element (900) is glued to the first end portion (410) of the heating line (400). [5] The heating and cooling cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the heat dissipation fan (600) is arranged to oppose the second end portion (440) of the heating pipe (400). [6] The heating and cooling cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first end portion (410) of the heating line is connected to the Peltier element (900) and a middle portion (420) of the heating line is glued to the heat dissipation module (500). [7] The heating and cooling cup holder according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein condensation fins (442) are connected to the second end portion (440) of the heating line.

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