Cooler with LED Light Bar and Magnetic Reed Switch Activation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing portable coolers face challenges in providing effective interior illumination without generating excessive heat, using external power sources, and ensuring durability of the lighting system, as traditional light sources like incandescent and fluorescent bulbs are inefficient and fragile.
Innovation Solution
A modular light bar using LEDs is integrated into the cooler, activated by a magnetic reed switch that completes a circuit when the lid is opened, allowing for automatic illumination of the interior and minimizing power consumption, with a secondary switch for additional lid activation, ensuring minimal heat generation and durability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Illumination intensity
If incandescent lights are used for illumination, then the interior can be illuminated, but excessive heat is generated which compromises the cooler's primary function
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the fundamental parameter of light source technology from incandescent to LED. LEDs convert electrical energy to light with minimal heat generation, fundamentally altering the energy conversion parameters to resolve the contradiction between illumination and heat generation.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical/thermal filament-based incandescent lighting system with a solid-state LED system that uses electroluminescence, substituting a heat-driven mechanism with a cold-light emission mechanism.
2Illumination intensity
If fluorescent lights are used for illumination, then cost efficiency is improved, but the ballast takes up volume and generates heat
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the ballast component entirely by using LED technology that does not require a ballast for current regulation. This removes the volumetric penalty and heat generation associated with ballast components.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the electrical parameter requirements from fluorescent (requiring ballast for current limiting) to LED (direct driver compatible), eliminating the need for additional volumetric components.
3Illumination intensity
If traditional light sources are used, then illumination is provided, but durability is compromised due to fragility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adopts LEDs which, while not disposable, represent a transition from fragile short-lived components to durable long-lived components. LEDs have significantly longer operational lifetimes and are resistant to shock and vibration, resolving the durability issue.
4Extent of automation
If a magnetic reed switch is used for automatic activation, then automatic switching is achieved, but the switch mechanism adds complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic reed switch system is activated automatically by the cooler's own lid movement through magnetic field changes. The system uses the cooler's existing mechanical motion (lid opening/closing) to trigger illumination without requiring external control mechanisms.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides efficient, automatic, and durable interior illumination for an extended period without external power, maintaining the cooler's primary function of temperature regulation while maximizing interior space and reducing heat emission.
Implementation Method 1
A magnet is positioned in the lid wherein the magnetic field of the magnet is in an activating location when the lid is in an open state
Implementation Method 2
A modular light bar is positioned along an upper region of the main body and has a plurality of light emitting diodes ("LEDs")
Data Source
AI summary
A cooler with a modular light bar having multiple LEDs and a secondary lid is disclosed herein. The LEDs are preferably automatically activated by a switch positioned in the cooler. When the lid is in an open state, the switch completes a circuit from a battery to the LEDs of the modular light bar thereby allowing the LEDs to illuminate the entire interior chamber of the cooler.