Vacuum Insulated Cooler

Abstract

A vacuum insulated cooler for storing products. The cooler includes a housing and a storage compartment enclosed by the housing for storing products. The storage compartment includes a bottom wall, a top wall, and a side wall extending from the bottom wall to the top wall, the side wall including vacuum insulated glass. The storage compartment further includes a door for providing access to the products in the storage compartment.

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The embodiments described herein relate generally to coolers having vacuum insulation. Specifically, the embodiments described herein relate to coolers that include a storage compartment having side walls that include vacuum insulated glass such that products within the storage compartment are visible from multiple sides of the cooler. Summary of the Invention

[0002] Some embodiments described herein relate to a vacuum insulated cooler that includes a housing and a storage compartment enclosed by the housing for storing a product, the storage compartment including a bottom wall, a top wall, and a number of side walls extending from the bottom wall to the top wall, the multiple side walls including vacuum insulated glass and a door for providing access to the product in the storage compartment.

[0003] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the vacuum insulated glass may include a first panel separated from a second panel by a gap, and a vacuum is formed in the space between the first and second panels. In some embodiments, a spacer may be disposed in the gap between the first and second panels to maintain separation between the first and second panels.

[0004] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the side walls of the storage compartment may not include foam insulation.

[0005] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls may be connected to a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls by a gasket.

[0006] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls can have a convex curvature.

[0007] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the housing can include an outer panel that includes a transparent material, and the outer panel can be disposed exterior to the storage compartment.

[0008] Some embodiments relate to a vacuum insulated cooler including a housing and a storage compartment enclosed by the housing for storing a product, the storage compartment comprising a lower wall, an upper wall, a first side wall extending from the lower wall to the upper wall comprising vacuum insulated glass, a second side wall extending from the lower wall to the upper wall comprising vacuum insulated glass such that the product in the storage compartment is visible through the first side wall and through the second side wall of the storage compartment, a first door for providing access to the product in the storage compartment, and a cooling unit configured to maintain the storage compartment at a predetermined temperature.

[0009] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the first sidewall may be perpendicular to the second sidewall.

[0010] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the storage compartment may include a third sidewall that includes vacuum insulated glass.

[0011] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the first door may include vacuum insulated glass.

[0012] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the first door may include a frame, a vacuum insulated glass panel supported by the frame, and an outer panel including a transparent material disposed on the exterior of the vacuum insulated glass panel.

[0013] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the cooler may further include a second door for providing access to the product in the storage compartment.

[0014] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the lower wall may include a first vent and the upper wall may include a second vent, and the cooling unit circulates chilled air to the storage compartment via the first vent and the second vent.

[0015] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the storage compartment may include shelves, and each of the shelves may include a transparent material.

[0016] Some embodiments described herein relate to a vacuum insulated cooler that includes a housing including a base, a top, and one or more outer panels, each of the outer panels including a transparent material and a storage compartment enclosed within the housing for storing a product, the storage compartment including a bottom wall, a top wall, a number of side walls extending from the bottom wall to the top wall, a door for providing access to the product in the storage compartment, and a cooling unit configured to maintain the storage compartment at a predetermined temperature.

[0017] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the cooling unit may be housed within the base of the housing.

[0018] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the housing may further include a post extending from the base to the top end of the housing, the post supporting the storage compartment.

[0019] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the cooler may further include a digital display disposed on a first outer panel of the one or more outer panels.

[0020] In any of the various embodiments discussed herein, the transparent material of one or more of the outer panels may include polycarbonate. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0021] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate the present disclosure and, together with the description, serve to further explain the principles of the present disclosure and to enable those skilled in the art to make and use the disclosure.

[0022] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0023] [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a rear perspective view of the vacuum insulated glass refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0024] [Diagram 3] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of the vacuum insulated glass cooler of FIG. 1 with the door in an open configuration.

[0025] [Figure 4] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the vacuum insulated glass refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0026] [Diagram 5] FIG. 2 is a partially exploded view of the components of the vacuum insulated glass refrigerator of FIG. 1.

[0027] [Figure 6] FIG. 2 is a top view of the storage compartment of the cooler of FIG. 1.

[0028] [Figure 7] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a vacuum insulated glass panel of the cooler of FIG. 1.

[0029] [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a gasket for connecting the side walls of the cooler of FIG. 1;

[0030] [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional side view of a corner element for connection to the side walls of the cooler of FIG. 1;

[0031] [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of components of a cooling unit of a chiller according to one embodiment.

[0032] [Figure 11] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the cooler of FIG. 1 showing airflow to the storage compartment.

[0033] [Figure 12] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a portion of the cooler of FIG. 1 showing airflow into a storage compartment.

[0034] [Figure 13] FIG. 2 is a partial perspective view of the lower wall of the storage compartment of the cooler of FIG. 1;

[0035] [Figure 14] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0036] [Figure 15] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0037] [Figure 16] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0038] [Figure 17] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0039] [Figure 18] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment.

[0040] [Figure 19] FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of a vacuum insulated glass refrigerator according to one embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0041] Reference will now be made in detail to the exemplary embodiments, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the following description is not intended to limit the embodiments to one preferred embodiment. On the contrary, the intention is to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents that may be included within the spirit and scope of the described embodiments as defined by the appended claims.

[0042] Commercial refrigerators and coolers for storing food and beverage items typically include a cooling unit and a storage compartment maintained at a predetermined temperature by the cooling unit. The storage compartment further includes insulation for maintaining the storage compartment at a predetermined temperature by inhibiting heat transfer to the storage compartment through the walls of the storage compartment.

[0043] Many coolers, refrigerators, and the like use a foam material, such as polyurethane foam, to provide insulation. The walls of the cooler are often formed by injecting the foam material between two thin metal plates. The foam is injected between the metal plates in a liquid state, and then the foam hardens between the plates to form the housing of the refrigerator. Once the foam has hardened, it cannot be removed. The process of injecting the foam and waiting for it to harden can be time consuming. Additionally, the foam can be injected incorrectly, resulting in insufficient insulation and rendering the cooler unusable. In order to properly perform the injection process, the walls of the cooler are generally formed by a skilled artisan. The process of recycling the cooler at the end of its life is difficult, since the injected and hardened foam cannot be removed from the housing. Typically, the cooler must be shredded to separate the foam from the metal plates, which is time consuming and labor intensive.

[0044] The use of foam insulation also imposes constraints on the design of the cooler. Foam insulation is opaque, and as a result, any portion of the cooler that contains foam insulation is opaque. Thus, the interior volume of the cooler is not visible through the portion of the cooler that has the foam insulation. Many existing coolers include a rectangular housing having a back wall and a pair of opposing side walls that contain foam insulation, and the open front wall of the cooler includes a glass door through which the interior of the cooler can be viewed by a consumer. As a result, a consumer can only view the products within such a cooler when standing directly in front of the cooler.

[0045] Some embodiments described herein relate to coolers that include vacuum insulated glass. The use of vacuum insulated glass allows the cooler to be formed with multiple transparent surfaces, such that the storage compartments and products therein can be viewed from multiple sides of the cooler, for example, two or more of the front, left, right, and back sides of the cooler. Furthermore, when the cooler is insulated without the use of foam insulation permanently fixed to the cooler housing, the cooler can be easily assembled and then disassembled to individually replace one or more components of the cooler.

[0046] Some embodiments described herein relate to a cooler 100 including a housing 110 that supports and encloses a storage compartment 120 for storing products 200, as shown, for example, in FIGS. 1-4. The housing 110 of the cooler 100 may include a base 102, an outer panel 118, and a top end 104. The storage compartment 120 of the cooler 100 may include a bottom wall 121, a top wall 122, and a side wall 124 that extends from the bottom wall 121 to the top wall 122. The side wall 124 of the storage compartment 120 may include a vacuum insulating glass panel 140 to provide thermal insulation, which may be transparent such that the products 200 in the storage compartment 120 may be visible from various sides of the cooler 100. The cooler 100 further includes a cooling unit 130 enclosed by the housing 110, such as within the base 102 of the housing 110 below the storage compartment 120. The cooling unit 130 provides chilled air to the storage compartment 120 to maintain the storage compartment 120 at a predetermined temperature.

[0047] The cooler 100 can be installed or positioned for use in a variety of locations, such as shopping malls, grocery stores, airports, lobbies, restaurants, bars, movie theaters, or sporting venues, among other locations. The cooler 100 includes multiple side walls 124 that are transparent, so that the products 200 can be viewed from various sides of the cooler 100, for example, the front, left side, right side, and back side. In some embodiments, the storage compartments 120 can be viewed from 360 degrees around the cooler 100. The cooler 100 may be located in the center of a room or spaced away from the walls so that the products can be viewed from various sides of the cooler 100. As a result, the cooler 100 can be placed in a more prominent location that is more visible by consumers in nearby areas. Additionally, the cooler 100 allows the products 200 to be viewed from multiple angles, enhancing the visibility of the products by consumers, who can view the products from various locations around the cooler.

[0048] Cooler 100 may be used to store a variety of products including canned or bottled beverages such as water, carbonated water, soda, sports drinks, energy drinks, juices, dairy products, coffee, tea, or iced tea, among other beverages, and may further be used to preserve foods such as chips, pretzels, cookies, candy bars, energy bars, protein bars, granola bars, sandwiches, yogurt, fruits, and vegetables, among other foods. Cooler 100 may be maintained at a predetermined storage temperature by cooling unit 130, and as described in more detail herein, cooler 100 is particularly suited for storing perishable products or for storing products at a cooled or refrigerated temperature so that the stored products are ready for consumption. However, one skilled in the art will appreciate that cooler 100 may be used to store any of a variety of types of products, including non-perishable products such as electronics or other goods.

[0049] In some embodiments, the housing 110 of the cooler 100 may include a base 102 and a top 104, as shown in FIG 1. The base 102 and top 104 of the cooler 100 may be formed from an opaque material, such as metal, e.g., aluminum, or a rigid plastic. The base 102 or top 104 of the housing 110 may enclose a cooling unit 130 (see FIG 2) configured to provide chilled air to the storage compartment 120 of the cooler 100 and maintain the storage compartment 120 at a predetermined temperature for storing food and beverage items.

[0050] One or more columns 115 may extend from the base 102 to the top end 104 of the housing 110. The columns 115 may be integrally formed with the base 102 or top end 104 or may be separate components. The columns 115 may be formed of an opaque material, such as metal or hard plastic, as well. The columns 115 serve to provide structural support to the cooler 100. The columns 115 may be hollow and may enclose conduits for conveying cooled air from the cooling units 130 to the vents 191 in the top wall of the storage compartment 120, as described in more detail below. Additionally, the columns 115 may provide structural support for the storage compartment 120 and may be in contact with the vacuum insulated glass panels 140 of the storage compartment 120.

[0051] The housing 110 may further include one or more exterior panels 118. The exterior panels 118 may be secured to the base 102 of the housing 110, the top end 104 of the housing 110, and / or the columns 115 to provide the housing 110 with a smooth, continuous exterior surface. The housing 110, including the exterior panels 118, defines an interior area in which the storage compartment 120 is enclosed. The exterior panels 118 may be formed from a transparent material such that the storage compartment 120 within the housing 110 may be viewed through the exterior panels 118 of the housing 110. The exterior panels 118 may serve to protect the storage compartment 120 and its vacuum insulated glass panel 140 from direct impact or contact, such as by a consumer or object. Thus, if an object impacts the cooler 100, the object will impact a portion of the housing 110 rather than the vacuum insulated glass panel 140 of the storage compartment 120. In some embodiments, the outer panel 118 of the housing 110 is constructed of a strong and durable material, for example, having high impact or tensile strength, and may be constructed of a transparent material such as polycarbonate, polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polyethylene terephthalate glycol (PETG), or glass, among others. The outer panel 118 may be curved to provide the cooler 100 with curves. Thus, the storage compartment 120 may be formed as a rectangular prism or cube, while the housing 110 surrounding the storage compartment 120 may be curved and have a different shape to provide the cooler 100 with a desired aesthetic. In some embodiments, the cooler 100 is shaped as a rectangular prism with generally rounded corners, for example, as shown in FIGS. 1-4. However, the cooler 100 may be formed to have any of a variety of shapes and may be shaped as a portion of a cube, triangular prism, cylinder, or cone, and may have a cross-sectional area that is square, rectangular, circular, triangular, trapezoidal, elliptical, hexagonal, octagonal, or rhombus, among others, as shown, for example, in Figures 14-19.

[0052] The storage compartment 120 of the cooler 100 includes a bottom wall 121, a top wall 122, and a sidewall 124 extending from the bottom wall 121 to the top wall 122, as best shown in Figures 5 and 6, to define a product storage area. In some embodiments, the storage compartment 120 has a rectangular or square cross-sectional area. In such embodiments, the storage compartment 120 includes a first sidewall 124a, a second sidewall 124b parallel to the first sidewall 124a, and a third sidewall 124c connecting the first sidewall 124a and the second sidewall 124b such that the third sidewall 124c is perpendicular to each of the first sidewall 124a and the second sidewall 124b. Each sidewall 124a, 124b, 124c may include a vacuum insulated glass panel 140. The vacuum insulated glass panel 140 is transparent and therefore serves the dual purpose of providing insulation to the storage compartment 120 while simultaneously allowing a user to view the products 200 within the storage compartment 120 from outside the cooler 100 (and without opening the door 160 of the cooler 100). Thus, the storage compartment 120, and the cooler 100 including the storage compartment 120, may be formed without foam insulation.

[0053] Each vacuum insulated glass panel 140 may be formed having a first glass panel 141 that is parallel to and spaced apart from a second glass panel 143 by a gap 145, as shown in FIG. 7. The first glass panel 141 and the second glass panel 143 may be formed using a variety of transparent materials, including borosilicate glass, soda lime glass, tempered glass, or polycarbonate, among others. A vacuum is formed in the gap 145 between the first panel 141 and the second panel 143. In some embodiments, the gap 145 between the first panel 141 and the second panel 143 is a distance d between the first panel 141 and the second panel 143 of 0.1 mm to 1.0 mm, 0.2 mm to 0.6 mm, or 0.3 mm to 0.5 mm, measured in a direction perpendicular to each of the first panel 141 and the second panel 143. 1may be measured. In some embodiments, one or more spacers 148 are positioned within the gap 145 such that each spacer 148 contacts an inner surface 144 of the first panel 141 and an inner surface 146 of the second panel 143. The spacers 148 help maintain separation between the first panel 141 and the second panel 143 along the length or height of the panel 140 and also help provide the panel 140 with improved structural stability. The spacers 148 may be formed from a metal, such as stainless steel or aluminum, or may be formed from glass. Additionally, the first panel 141 and the second panel 143 may be sealed around a peripheral edge 149 such that the gap 145 is sealed and a vacuum is maintained within the gap 145. The peripheral edge 149 may be sealed, for example, by an elastomeric seal or by a lead-free glass solder. The vacuum insulated glass panels 140 are transparent to allow a consumer to view the products in the storage compartment 120, although in some embodiments, one or more of the vacuum insulated glass panels 140 used to form the cooler 100 may be formed from a translucent or opaque material such that vacuum insulation is provided but is not transparent.

[0054] In some embodiments, each vacuum insulated glass panel 140 may be generally planar. Additionally, the vacuum insulated glass panels 140 may have a square or rectangular shape. However, in some embodiments, the vacuum insulated glass panels 140 may have a variety of shapes, including circular, triangular, elliptical, or trapezoidal shapes, among others, to form storage compartments 120 having various shapes. Additionally, the vacuum insulated glass panels 140 may have a curvature, such as a convex or concave curvature. Through the use of curved vacuum insulated glass panels 140, the storage compartments 120 of the cooler 100 may be formed in a wide variety of shapes.

[0055] In some embodiments, each sidewall 124 of the storage compartment 120 may be connected to an adjacent sidewall 124 by a seal or gasket 150, as shown in FIG. 8. The gasket 150 provides insulation and helps minimize heat transfer at the intersection of two or more sidewalls 124 of the storage compartment 120 and at the intersection of the door 160 and the sidewall 124 of the storage compartment 120. The gasket 150 may be formed from an elastomeric material such as natural or synthetic rubber including silicone rubber, ethylene propylene diene monomer (EPDM), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), neoprene, fluoroelastomers such as FKM or Viton®, styrene-butadiene rubber, or nitrile rubber, among others. The gasket 150 may extend from a lower end of each sidewall 124 to an upper end of each sidewall 124 such that it extends along the entire intersection of the first sidewall 124 and the second sidewall 124. The gasket 150 may include a first channel 152 for receiving an end of the first sidewall 124 and may include a second channel 154 for receiving an end of the second sidewall 124. In some embodiments, the gasket 150 may be configured to connect the first and second sidewalls 124 so that they are disposed perpendicular to one another. In some embodiments, the gasket 150 may be configured to connect the sidewalls so that the sidewalls 124 are co-linear or disposed at an acute or obtuse angle. The sidewalls 124 may be inserted into the channels 152, 154 of the gasket 150 by an interference fit, a press fit, or a friction fit. However, in some embodiments, an adhesive may be used to provide additional fixation of the sidewalls 124 within the channels 152, 154 of the gasket 150.

[0056] In some embodiments, each side wall 124 of the storage compartment 120 may be connected to an adjacent side wall 124 by a corner element 155, as shown in FIG. 9, for example. The corner element 155 may include an interior corner 157 having an L-shape such that the first side wall 124a may be connected to a first portion of the interior corner 157 and the second side wall 124b may be connected to a second portion of the interior corner 157 on the interior portion of the storage compartment 120. The interior corner 157 may support the first side wall 124a and the second side wall 124b perpendicular to each other, as shown in FIG. 9. However, the interior corner 157 may be configured to position the first side wall 124a and the second side wall 124b at any of a variety of angles relative to each other. The interior corner 157 may be constructed of a rigid material to provide support and stability to the side walls 124a, 124b. The first sidewall 124a and the second sidewall 124b may be connected to the interior corner 157 via a joint tape, epoxy, glue, adhesive, or sealant, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the corner element 155 may further include an exterior corner 156. The exterior corner 156 may have an L-shape such that the first sidewall 124a may be connected to a first portion of the exterior corner 156 and the second sidewall 124b may be connected to a second portion of the exterior corner 156 on the exterior of the storage compartment 120. The exterior corner 156 may be formed at an angle corresponding to the angle of the interior corner 157. Thus, each sidewall 124a, 124b may be disposed between the interior corner 157 and the exterior corner 156. The exterior corner 156 may be constructed of an insulating material to provide additional insulation to the storage compartment 120 at the intersection of the sidewalls 124a, 124b. Additionally or alternatively, the exterior corners 156 may be constructed of a rigid material to provide structural stability. The exterior corners 156 may be connected to the side walls 124a, 124b via bonding tape, epoxy, glue, adhesive, or sealant, or combinations thereof.

[0057] The cooler 100 further includes a door 160 for accessing the products 200 in the storage compartment 120. The door 160 is movable from a closed configuration (see FIG. 1 ), in which the storage compartment 120 is closed and consumers cannot access the products 200 therein, and an open configuration (see FIG. 3 ), in which the products 200 in the storage compartment 120 can be accessed. The door 160 may be connected to the housing 110 of the cooler 100 by a hinge, or the door 160 may be slidably disposed on a track such that the door 160 is movable from the closed configuration to the open configuration by sliding on the track. The door 160 may function as a wall of the storage compartment 120 to enclose the storage area of ​​the storage compartment 120. Thus, in an embodiment of the storage compartment 120 having a rectangular configuration, when the door 160 is in a closed configuration, the door 160 may function as a fourth side wall and may extend between the first side wall 124a and the second side wall 124b and parallel to the third side wall 124c.

[0058] The door 160 may include a frame 162 supporting a vacuum insulated glass panel 164, as best shown in Figures 4 and 6. The vacuum insulated glass panel 164 of the door 160 may be formed in the same manner as described above with respect to the vacuum insulated glass panel 140, as shown in Figure 7. The vacuum insulated glass panel 164 may have a generally rectangular configuration, with the frame 162 extending along the perimeter or border of the vacuum insulated glass panel 164. The frame 162 may be constructed of a rigid plastic material. The frame 162 may incorporate a hinge for connecting the door 160 to the storage compartment 120. In some embodiments, the door 160 may further include an outer panel 166. The outer panel 166 may be disposed on the frame 162 exterior to the vacuum insulated glass panel 164. The outer panel 166 may be formed in a similar manner as described above with respect to the outer panel 118 of the housing 110. Thus, the outer panel 166 may be constructed of a transparent material such that the door 160 is transparent and allows the consumer to view the products 200 within the storage compartment 120 when the door 160 is in the closed configuration (see FIG. 1). For example, as shown in FIG. 6, the outer panel 166 is curved to match the curvature of the frame 162 and provide rounded corners to the cooler 100. In some embodiments, the outer panel 166 may be molded to have a convex or concave curvature.

[0059] In some embodiments, the cooler 100 may be formed with multiple doors 160. In this manner, the storage compartment 120 and the products 200 therein may be accessible from various sides of the cooler 100. Additionally, the use of multiple doors 160 allows multiple consumers to use the cooler 100 simultaneously. Multiple doors 160 may also provide consumers with easier access to a particular product in the storage compartment 120. Rather than reaching into the storage compartment 120 to retrieve a distant product, the consumer may open the door 160 closest to the desired product 200 to more easily access the product. In one embodiment, for example, the doors 160 may be located on the front and opposing rear side of the cooler 100. Alternatively, the doors 160 may be located on the front of the cooler and adjacent side walls, such as the left or right side of the cooler 100. Additionally, the cooler 100 may include two doors 160 on one side of the housing 110, such as an upper door and a lower door, or a left and right door, rather than a single door (see, e.g., FIG. 18).

[0060] In some embodiments, the cooler 100 further includes a digital display 190, as shown, for example, in FIG. 6. The digital display 190 may be mounted on the outer panel 160 in the space 119 between the outer panel 118 and the side wall 124b of the storage compartment 120. The digital display 190 may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a light emitting diode (LED) display, or an organic LED (OLED) display. The digital display 190 may be used to display advertisements, promotions, images or videos related to the products available for sale, and messages to attract the attention of the consumer. Additionally, the digital display 190 may be a touch screen display such that the digital display 190 may receive user input and function as a user interface for controlling the operation of the product selling operation. In such an embodiment, the digital display 190 may be configured to receive user input to control the operation of the cooler 100, accept payment, and unlock the door 160 of the cooler 100 to provide the consumer with access to the products 200 in the cooler 100 for purchase.

[0061] In some embodiments, the cooler 100 further includes a cooling unit 130 configured to maintain the storage compartment 120 at a predetermined temperature, as shown in the example of FIG. 10. The predetermined temperature may be, for example, 33°F to 45°F degrees. In one embodiment, the cooling unit 130 may be a vapor compression cooling unit, as shown in FIG. 10. The cooling unit 130 may include an evaporator 132 in communication with a compressor 134, a condenser 136, and an expansion valve 138 via a plurality of conduits 139 for circulating a refrigerant. The evaporator 132 supplies cooled air to the storage compartment 120 through a duct 133. The storage compartment 120 may include an air vent 191 through which the cooled air may flow from the evaporator 132 through the duct 133 into the storage compartment 120. The duct 133 may further be connected to a fan 135 for facilitating circulation of the cooled air within the storage compartment 120. In some embodiments, the storage compartment 120 may include one or more temperature sensors 199 to determine the temperature within the storage compartment 120. In alternative embodiments, other types of cooling units 130 may be used, such as thermoelectric cooling units, among others.

[0062] The storage compartment 120 of the cooler 100 includes one or more vents 191 for circulating chilled air from the cooling units 130 to the storage compartment 120, as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12. The vents 191 may be located on the bottom wall 121 of the storage compartment 120. In some embodiments, the vents 191 may alternatively or additionally be located on the top wall 122 of the storage compartment 120. In this manner, chilled air from the cooling units 130 may be circulated to the storage compartment 120 from both the top and bottom ends of the cooler 100. This may help prevent the formation of temperature gradients or "hot spots" within the cooler 100, where different portions of the storage compartment 120 are at different temperatures due to insufficient circulation of chilled air.

[0063] In some embodiments, the pillars 115 of the housing 110 may be hollow to allow the conduits 139 of the cooling unit 130 to extend through the pillars 115 to the top end 104 of the housing 110, as shown in Figures 11 and 12. In this way, the conduits 139 are hidden from view and the conduits 139 do not impede visibility of the products 200 in the storage compartment 120. The conduits 139 may supply chilled air from the cooling unit 130 to the vents 191 located on the top wall 122 of the storage compartment 120, as shown in Figure 12. Thus, chilled air may be supplied to the storage compartment 120 through the vents 191 located on the bottom wall 121 and the top wall 122 of the storage compartment 120. The vents 191 located on the top wall 122 may help ensure that the products 200 at the top end of the storage compartment 120, away from the vents 191 on the bottom wall 121, are properly cooled.

[0064] In some embodiments, as shown in FIGS. 11-13 , the storage compartment 120 may further include one or more shelf supports 170 for supporting shelves 180 within the storage compartment 120. The shelf supports 170 may extend from the bottom wall 121 toward the top wall 122 of the storage compartment 120. A bottom end 171 of the shelf support 170 may be secured to the bottom wall 121 and a top end 173 of the shelf support 170 may be secured to the top wall 122 of the storage compartment 120. The shelf supports 170 may extend parallel to a longitudinal axis X of the storage compartment 120 (see FIG. 12 ) and the cooler 100. The shelves 180 may be removably secured to the shelf supports 170 along a height of the shelf supports 170 such that the shelves 180 may be positioned at different heights within the storage compartment 120.

[0065] In some embodiments, the shelf support 170 comprises an elongated rod having a series of slots 172 spaced along an upper end 173 of the shelf support 170 from a lower end 171 of the shelf support 170 connected to the bottom wall 121. The slots 172 of the shelf support 170 are configured to engage with a connector 186 of the shelf 180 to removably secure the shelf 180 at a desired height along the shelf support 170.

[0066] In some embodiments, a shelf support 170 may be located at each corner of the storage compartment 120, as shown, for example, in FIG. 12. If the storage compartment 120 has a square cross-sectional shape, four shelf supports 170 may be located in the storage compartment 120, one shelf support 170 at each corner. In some embodiments, a single shelf support 170 may be located in the center of the storage compartment 120, as shown, for example, in FIG. 14. In such embodiments, each shelf 180 may include an opening for receiving the shelf support 170 therethrough. The opening may be located in the center of the shelf 180. By fastening the shelf 180 to the shelf support 170, the shelf 180 may be fixed at a desired height along the shelf support 170. As mentioned above, the shelf 180 may include a connector 186 for connecting to the shelf support 170, such as a slot 172 in the shelf support 170. Alternatively, the shelf 180 may be fastened to the shelf support 170 using one or more fasteners, such as screws, bolts, and the like.

[0067] The shelves 180 of the storage compartment 120 facilitate the organization and display of the products 200. The shelves 180 may include panels 182 that are generally planar, as shown in FIG. 13. The panels 182 may be formed of a transparent material, such as glass. Forming the shelves 180 of a transparent material allows consumers to see through the storage compartment 120 and helps facilitate visibility of the products 200. In some embodiments, the shelves 180 may further include a border 184 that extends along one or more peripheral edges of the panels 182. In some embodiments, the border 184 may be the entirety around the perimeter of the panels 182. The border 184 may include connectors 186, such as hooks or protrusions, configured to engage with the shelf supports 170, and in particular, the slots 172 of the shelf supports 170. In contrast, in some embodiments, the shelf supports 170 may include connectors configured to engage with slots on the shelves 180. In some embodiments, the border 184 may extend along two opposing sides of the shelves 180. Additionally, the boundary 184 may include slots 185 configured to facilitate airflow through the shelf 180. The shelf 180 may be provided as a solid panel such that the shelf 180 blocks airflow within the storage compartment 120, and the inclusion of the slots 185 by the shelf 180 helps to facilitate airflow through the shelf 180. In some embodiments, the slots 185 may be included in the panels 182 of the shelf 180 instead of or in addition to the slots 185 in the boundary 184. The shelf 180 may define the slots 185 having any of a variety of shapes, such as a square, a rectangle, a circle, an oval, or a triangle, among others. In some embodiments, the panels 182 may be formed as wire panels to further facilitate airflow through the shelf 180.

[0068] In some embodiments, the shelves 180 may include a stepped configuration such that products may be positioned at different heights on the shelves 180. A shelf 180 having a stepped configuration may help promote visibility of products 200 located behind other products, such as products located toward the center or rear of the storage compartment 120.

[0069] To form the cooler 100, the components of the cooler 100 may be transported in a disassembled state to a desired location for installation of the cooler 100. The components of the cooler 100 may be assembled at the installation site. Because the cooler 100 does not require the injection of foam insulation into the housing, the cooler 100 may be assembled by unskilled personnel. Furthermore, if it is desired to relocate or remove the cooler 100 after it is installed, the cooler 100 may be disassembled because the cooler 100 does not contain hardened foam or other components permanently bonded. As a result, the cooler 100 may be quickly and easily transported from one location to another.

[0070] Additionally, the components of the cooler 100 are not permanently fixed together, and as a result, individual components of the cooler 100 may be replaced if broken or damaged. For example, if the vacuum insulated glass panel 140 cracks, a single vacuum insulated glass panel may be removed and replaced. The ability to replace individual components may allow the cooler 100 to be repaired more quickly and may help extend the usable life of the cooler 100.

[0071] Although the embodiments described herein relate primarily to embodiments of the cooler 100 shaped as a rectangular prism, the cooler 100 and its storage compartment 120 may be formed to have any of a variety of shapes. The use of vacuum insulated glass panels 140 allows the cooler to be formed in any of a variety of shapes and allows the product to be viewed from various sides of the cooler.

[0072] In some embodiments, the cooler 300 may be formed as described herein, for example as shown in FIG. 14, where the cooler 300 has a cylindrical shape. Thus, the housing 310 of the cooler 300 has a circular cross-sectional area. In such embodiments, the storage compartment 320 may include a sidewall formed from vacuum insulation panels curved along the arc of a circle and a door for accessing the storage compartment 320. The storage compartment 320 may be formed from multiple vacuum insulation panels. For example, the storage compartment 320 may include a first sidewall formed as a semicircle and a door formed as a semicircle to complete the circle. The door may be connected to the housing 310 of the cooler 300 on a track so that the door can slide open, or the door may slide by rotating about the longitudinal axis of the cooler 100. Alternatively, the door may be connected to the housing via a hinge such that the door rotates outwardly from the housing 310. Additionally, in embodiments having a cylindrical shape, the cooler 300 may include a single shelf support centrally located with multiple circular shelves positioned along the shelf support. As discussed above with respect to housing 110 of cooler 100, housing 310 of cooler 300 may include a transparent outer panel exterior to and spaced apart from storage compartment 320. A digital display 390 may be disposed on the outer panel of housing 310 to display information and advertising to consumers.

[0073] In some embodiments, the cooler 400 can have a trapezoidal shape when viewed from the front (or rear), as shown, for example, in FIG. 15. The cooler 400 includes a housing 410 that tapers from a bottom end 412 to a top end 414 such that the front and rear sidewalls each have a trapezoidal shape. One or more sidewalls of the cooler 400 can be formed from vacuum insulated glass such that products within the cooler 400 are visible from multiple sides of the cooler 400, such as from the front, back, left, and right side of the cooler 400. The cooler 400 can include a digital display 490 for displaying information and advertising to consumers.

[0074] In some embodiments, the cooler 500 may have a frusto-conical shape, as shown in FIG. 16. Thus, the cooler 500 has a circular cross-sectional area, with the housing 510 of the cooler 500 tapering from the lower end 512 to the upper end 514. Similarly, the storage compartment 520 may taper from the lower end to its upper end. The housing 510 may include a curved transparent outer panel disposed on the exterior of the storage compartment 520. The storage compartment 520 may further include a door to provide access to the storage compartment 520. The door may be molded to form a portion of the frusto-conical housing 510. The shelf 580 within the storage compartment 520 may also have a circular shape, with the shelf 580 decreasing in diameter from the lower end 512 to the upper end 514 of the cooler 500. The shelf 580 may be supported on a central shelf support, similar to the embodiment described with respect to FIG. 14. The cooler 500 may also include a digital display 590 disposed on the housing 510 for displaying information and advertising to the consumer. The digital display 590 may be disposed on an exterior panel of the housing 510. The digital display 590 may have an elongated shape extending from the bottom end 512 toward the top end 514 of the housing 510 on a first side of the housing 510.

[0075] In some embodiments, the cooler 600 may have a storage compartment 620 having a shape different from that of the housing 610, for example as shown in FIG. 17. The storage compartment 620 may have a square or rectangular cross-sectional area, while the housing 610 includes a trapezoidal cross-sectional area, with a portion of the housing 610 extending outwardly from the storage compartment 620. The storage compartment 620 includes one or more vacuum insulated glass panels to provide thermal insulation while allowing products in the storage compartment 620 to be visible to consumers. The cooler 600 may include a digital display 690 for displaying information and advertising. The digital display 690 may be located on a portion of the housing 610 that extends outwardly from the storage compartment 620. Alternatively, the digital display 690 may be located on an outer panel of the housing 610.

[0076] In some embodiments, the cooler 700 can have two doors 760, as shown in FIG. 18 for example. The cooler 700 can be formed as a rectangular prism and can include multiple doors 760 for accessing the products in the storage compartment 720. A pair of doors 760 can be located on a first side of the housing 710 such that a first door 760 is located on the left side and a second door 760 is located on the right side of the first side of the housing 710. When the doors 760 are closed, the doors 760 are flush. The cooler 700 can include a transparent outer panel 718 on a side of the cooler 700 perpendicular to the doors 760 so that the products can be viewed from one or both sides of the cooler 700. Additionally, a rear side of the cooler 700 located opposite the doors 760 can also include a transparent outer panel. The cooler 700 can include a digital display for displaying information and advertising to consumers.

[0077] In some embodiments, the cooler 800 can have a cross-sectional shape with five or more sides, and thus can be a pentagon, hexagon, heptagon, or octagon, among others, as shown in the example of FIG. 19. The cooler 800 includes a storage compartment 820 that includes a vacuum insulated glass panel. The housing 810 of the cooler 800 can include one or more outer panels disposed on the exterior of the storage compartment 820, the outer panels being transparent to allow consumers to view the products from multiple sides of the cooler 800. The cooler 800 can include a rear side, a left side, and a right side, and a front side that is divided into three angular portions, such that the cooler 800 is formed as a pentagon. Each of the angular portions of the cooler 800 can include a transparent outer panel 818. Additionally, columns of the housing 810 can support the outer panels 818, separating each transparent outer panel 818.

[0078] It is understood that the "Description of Embodiments" section, and not the "Summary" and "Abstract" sections, are intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more, but not all, exemplary embodiments of the invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), but are not intended to limit the scope of the invention and the appended claims in any way.

[0079] The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of certain functions and their relationships. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of description. Alternative boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and their relationships are appropriately performed.

[0080] The foregoing description of the specific embodiments makes the general nature of the invention(s) fully clear, and others may, by applying the knowledge of those skilled in the art, easily modify and / or adapt such specific embodiments to various applications without undue trial and error and without departing from the general concept of the invention(s). Such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, and thus the phraseology or terminology used herein should be interpreted by those skilled in the art in light of the teaching and guidance used herein.

[0081] The breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.

Claims

1. A housing, A base and The upper end and a post extending from the base to the upper end; an outer door panel made of a transparent material; a housing including a first outer panel and a second outer panel extending between the base and the upper end, the first outer panel secured to the post; a storage compartment enclosed by said housing for storing products, The lower wall and The upper wall and a plurality of sidewalls extending from the bottom wall to the top wall, each of the plurality of sidewalls comprising vacuum insulating glass, a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls connected to a second sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls by a seal; the first outer panel is disposed outwardly of and spaced from the first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls; a storage compartment, the second exterior panel disposed spaced apart from and exterior to the second side wall of the plurality of side walls; a door for providing access to the products in the storage compartment, a vacuum insulated glass panel having a first glass panel and a second glass panel, the first glass panel separated from the second glass panel by a vacuum gap; a frame for supporting the vacuum insulating glass panel; the door outer panel is spaced from the vacuum insulated glass panel of the door; The frame supports the door outer panel.

2. the vacuum insulating glass of each of the plurality of side walls includes a first panel separated from a second panel by a gap; The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 1 , wherein a vacuum is formed in the gap between the first panel and the second panel.

3. 3. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 2, wherein a spacer disposed in the gap between the first panel and the second panel maintains the first panel and the second panel separated.

4. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 1 , wherein the side walls of the storage compartment are free of foam insulation.

5. The vacuum adiabatic cooler of claim 1 , wherein the first side wall of the plurality of side walls has a convex curvature.

6. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 1 , wherein the seal has a first channel that receives the first side wall and a second channel that receives the second side wall.

7. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 1 , wherein the post is integrally formed with the base of the housing.

8. A housing, a base including a cooling unit; The upper end and a post extending from the base to the upper end; a housing including a curved outer panel made of a transparent material and secured to said post and said base; a storage compartment enclosed by said housing for storing a product, said storage compartment comprising: The lower wall and The upper wall and a first side wall extending from the bottom wall to the top wall; a second side wall extending from the lower wall to the upper wall; the first side wall and the second side wall each comprise vacuum insulating glass; The vacuum insulating glass includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel separated by a gap; the gap is evacuated such that the product within the storage compartment is visible through the first and second side walls of the storage compartment; the post is positioned outside the storage compartment; a storage compartment, the curved outer panel being spaced apart from and positioned outboard of the first side wall of the storage compartment; a first door for providing access to the products in the storage compartment; A vacuum insulation cooler having the above structure.

9. 10. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 8, further comprising a second door for providing access to the product in the storage compartment.

10. the bottom wall has a first vent hole; the top wall has a second vent hole; The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 8 , wherein a pre-cooling unit circulates chilled air to the storage compartment via the first vent and the second vent.

11. the storage compartment having a plurality of shelves; 9. The vacuum adiabatic cooler according to claim 8, wherein each of the plurality of shelves is made of a transparent material.

12. A housing, a base including a cooling unit; The upper end and a post extending from the base to the upper end; a housing having a plurality of outer panels made of a transparent material; a storage compartment enclosed by said housing for storing products, The lower wall and a top wall having a vent hole communicating with the cooling unit through a conduit extending through the post; a plurality of side walls extending from the lower wall to the upper wall; a first sidewall of the plurality of sidewalls having vacuum insulating glass; The vacuum insulating glass includes a first glass panel and a second glass panel, the first glass panel is spaced from the second glass panel by a gap; the gap comprises a vacuum; a storage compartment, the exterior panels being exterior to the side walls; a door for providing access to the product within the storage compartment.

13. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 12 , wherein the columns support the storage compartment.

14. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 12 further comprising a digital display disposed on a first outer panel of the plurality of outer panels.

15. 13. The vacuum insulated cooler of claim 12, wherein the transparent material of the outer panels is made of polycarbonate.

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