Patent Application
20230264619
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STATEMENT REGARDING PRIOR DISCLOSURES BY THE INVENTOR OR JOINT INVENTOR
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The disclosure relates to temperature control devices and more particularly pertains to a new temperature control device for selectively heating and cooling a beverage positioned in cupholder of a vehicle. The present invention discloses a temperature control device comprising a disc shaped heating and cooling module, which is sized for insertion into a cup holder of an automobile, and which has a controller in its power cord for temperature selection.
The prior art relates to temperature control devices. Prior art temperature control devices may comprise sleeves and cylinders into which cups are positionable for one or more of heating and cooling beverages within the cups. The prior art also may comprise cups having integrated heaters and heaters which are attachable to bottoms of cups. What is lacking in the prior art is a disc shaped heating and cooling module, which is sized for insertion into a cup holder of an automobile, and which has a controller in its power cord for temperature selection.
An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a heating and cooling module, which is configured to be positioned in a cupholder of a vehicle. A power and signal cable is operationally engaged to and extends from the heating and cooling module. A controller is engaged to the power and signal cable distal from the heating and cooling module. The controller is configured to selectively signal the heating and cooling module to execute at least one heating mode and at least one cooling mode. The heating and cooling module thus is configured to selectively heat or to cool a beverage that is positioned in a cup within the cupholder. A power cord is engaged to and extends from the controller. A plug is engaged to the power cord distal from the controller. The plug is configured to be inserted into a power port of the vehicle to power the heating and cooling module.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the disclosure in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the disclosure that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto.
The objects of the disclosure, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the disclosure, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure.
The disclosure will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein:
With reference now to the drawings, and in particular to
As best illustrated in
A power and signal cable 20 is operationally engaged to and extends from the heating and cooling module 12. A controller 22 is engaged to the power and signal cable distal from the heating and cooling module 12. The controller 22 is configured to selectively signal the heating and cooling module 12 to execute at least one heating mode and at least one cooling mode. The heating and cooling module 12 thus is configured to selectively heat or to cool a beverage 24 that is positioned in a cup 26 within the cupholder 14.
The controller 22 comprises a housing 28, which defines an interior space 30. A primary switch 32 and a plurality of secondary switches 34 are engaged to the housing 28. The primary switch 32, which may comprise a toggle switch 36, is configured for switching the heating and cooling module 12 between the at least one heating mode and the at least one cooling mode. The present invention also anticipates the primary switch 32 having an OFF mode. Each secondary switch 34, which may comprise a depressible button 38, is configured for selection of one of a low power mode, a medium power mode, and a high power mode for the heating and cooling module 12. As will be apparent to those skilled in the art of switches, a variety of switching means are available for fulfilling the requirements of the present invention.
A power cord 40 is engaged to and extends from the controller 22. A plug 42 is engaged to the power cord 40 distal from the controller 22. The plug 42 comprises a Universal Serial Bus Plug 44, as shown in
The heating and cooling device 10 also may comprise a first connector 50, which is engaged to the power and signal cable 20 distal the heating and cooling module 12. A second connector 52 is operationally engaged to the controller 22. The second connector 52 is complementary to the first connector 50 and thus is positioned to selectively engage the first connector 50 to operationally engage the controller 22 to the heating and cooling module 12.
The heating and cooling device 10 also may comprise a third connector 54, which is engaged to the power cord 40 distal from the plug 42. A fourth connector 56 is operationally engaged to the controller 22. The fourth connector 56 is complementary to the third connector 54 and thus is positioned to selectively engage the third connector 54 to operationally engage the controller 22 to the plug 42. Each of the second connector 52 and the fourth connector 56 may comprise a Universal Serial Bus Port 58.
In use, the heating and cooling module 12 is positioned in the cupholder 14. The power and signal cable 20 and the power cord 40 are engaged to the controller 22. The plug 42 of the power cord 40 then is inserted into the power port 48 to powering the heating and cooling module 12. A cup 26 containing a beverage 24 can then be inserted into the cupholder 14. A user then uses the controller 22 to select either the heating mode or the cooling mode and one of the low power mode, the medium power mode, and the high power mode for the heating and cooling module 12.
With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of an embodiment enabled by the disclosure, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by an embodiment of the disclosure.
Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the disclosure. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the disclosure to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the disclosure. In this patent document, the word “comprising” is used in its non-limiting sense to mean that items following the word are included, but items not specifically mentioned are not excluded. A reference to an element by the indefinite article “a” does not exclude the possibility that more than one of the element is present, unless the context clearly requires that there be only one of the elements.
