Nested Drink Cooler Storage Shaft for Cooling Food and Liquids

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drink coolers lack the capability to store and keep items like foodstuffs cool alongside potable liquids without requiring additional cooling devices.

Innovation Solution

A drink cooler design featuring an insulated housing with a central cavity that accepts a cylindrical storage shaft, where the storage shaft is cooled by chilled solutions from an interior cavity, allowing for the storage and partitioning of additional items like sandwiches and fruit, with ventilation holes for efficient cooling and a tap for liquid dispensing.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional drink coolers are used to store potable liquids, then liquid cooling is achieved, but additional storage for solid food items is not provided

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestorage capabilityVSAvoiddevice structure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The storage shaft is nested within the central cavity of the drink cooler housing. The shaft can be slidingly inserted into and removed from the central cavity, allowing it to occupy the same space when not in use. This nesting arrangement enables additional food storage capacity without permanently increasing the device's external dimensions or structural complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The storage shaft serves multiple functions: it provides enclosed storage for solid food items, acts as a divider within the central cavity to organize space, and can be removed entirely when additional liquid storage capacity is needed. This multi-functionality allows a single device to handle both liquid and solid food storage requirements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If a storage shaft is added to the central cavity, then additional food storage is enabled, but the cooling efficiency may be reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood storage capabilityVSAvoidcooling efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The storage shaft is divided into multiple segmented portions that can be independently adjusted along the shaft's length. These segments create adjustable compartments that can be positioned to optimize airflow patterns and cooling distribution throughout the stored items, preventing dead zones and improving overall thermal efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The shaft and its segments are designed to be movable rather than fixed, allowing users to dynamically reposition segments based on storage needs. This dynamic configuration enables optimization of cooling airflow paths and ensures that cold air from the interior cavity can effectively reach all stored items regardless of their position or type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Object-affected harmful factors

If the storage shaft is made enclosed to protect food items, then contamination is prevented, but heat dissipation and cooling are hindered

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefood contaminationVSAvoidheat dissipation

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The storage shaft incorporates porous or perforated sections that allow controlled airflow through the enclosed structure. These porous elements maintain the protective enclosure while enabling convective heat transfer and cold air circulation, solving the contradiction between food protection and cooling efficiency.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #31Porous materials

Solution Approach 2:

The segmented shaft structure acts as an intermediary between the enclosed storage need and the cooling requirement. The segments create a semi-enclosed environment that protects food while allowing thermal interaction with the cooling system through controlled gaps and airflow paths between segments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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

Enables the convenient storage and cooling of both liquids and solid food items within a single device, eliminating the need for multiple coolers or storage devices, while maintaining efficient cooling through convective heat transfer.

Implementation Method 1

A plurality of ventilation holes is disposed upon the first and second longitudinal cylinder sections to more efficiently conduct heat convectively from the central cavity and keep items stored therein cool.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectConvection: Convection

Implementation Method 2

an insulated housing including an insulated outer wall

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Insulation: Thermal Insulation

Implementation Method 3

An inner wall, conductive of heat, is disposed circumferentially around a central cavity

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectThermal Conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Data Source

PatentUS8393493B1Drink cooler with cold storage

Publication Date: 2013.03.12 NODAK COOLERS INC

AI summary

A drink cooler with cold storage that includes an inner wall disposed circumferentially around a central cavity, the central cavity configured to releasably receive a cylindrical storage shaft slidingly insertable to, and retracable from, the central cavity, wherein items stored inside the storage shaft are kept cool by means of a chilled solution (such as ice water) stored within, and dispensible from, an interior cavity disposed between the inner wall and an insulated outer wall.