Food product temperature regulation unit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11903098-B2
Application number	US-202017001213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2020
Priority date	Feb 1, 2016
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

A temperature regulation unit includes a housing, an electrical connector, a fan, a thermal element, a cover, and a light. The housing has an upper end and a lower end. The housing defines an internal cavity. The electrical connector extends from the upper end of the housing. The fan is positioned within the internal cavity of the housing and is configured to provide an airflow. The thermal element is positioned within the internal cavity. The thermal element is configured to thermally regulate a temperature of the airflow. The cover at least partially encloses the lower end of the housing. The light is disposed along at least one of the cover or the housing. The housing has an angled portion that extends at an angle from the electrical connector. The angled portion defines a plurality of vents positioned to provide an inlet air flow path from an external environment into the internal cavity.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A temperature regulation unit comprising:
a housing having an upper end and a lower end, the housing defining an internal cavity;
an electrical connector extending from the upper end of the housing;
a bracket positioned within the internal cavity of the housing, the bracket including:
a first flange having a first side and an opposing second side, the first flange defining an aperture; and
a second flange extending perpendicularly from the first flange and longitudinally along a sidewall of the conduit;
a conduit positioned within the internal cavity of the housing and defining a passage, the conduit having a first end and an opposing second end, the conduit extending through the aperture of the first flange such that the first end of the conduit is positioned above the first side of the first flange and the opposing second end is positioned below the opposing second side of the first flange, wherein the second flange extends longitudinally along the conduit from the first flange toward the opposing second end of the conduit;
processing electronics positioned within the internal cavity and disposed on the second flange such that the processing electronics are positioned along the sidewall of the conduit;
a fan positioned within the internal cavity of the housing and external to the passage of the conduit, the fan secured to the first side of the first flange and positioned proximate the first end of the conduit, the fan configured to provide an airflow to the passage of the conduit; and
a thermal element positioned within the passage of the conduit, the thermal element configured to thermally regulate a temperature of the airflow flowing through the conduit and out of the opposing second end of the conduit, the thermal element including at least one of a heater or a thermoelectric cooler.

2. The temperature regulation unit of claim 1 , wherein the electrical connector is a male electrical connector configured to interface with a female electrical connector.

3. The temperature regulation unit of claim 1 , wherein the lower end of the housing defines an outlet, further comprising a cover positioned to at least partially enclose the outlet and a light coupled to an exterior surface of at least one of the cover or the housing.

4. The temperature regulation unit of claim 3 , wherein the light is positioned to illuminate an area being thermally regulated by the airflow.

5. The temperature regulation unit of claim 3 , wherein the light is coupled to the exterior surface of the cover.

6. The temperature regulation unit of claim 3 , wherein the light includes at least one of a light bulb or a light-emitting diode.

7. The temperature regulation unit of claim 3 , wherein the cover defines an aperture that receives the opposing second end of the conduit.

8. The temperature regulation unit of claim 1 , further comprising a body positioned within the airflow passage, wherein the thermal element is wrapped around the body.

Assignees

• Hatco Corp

Inventors

• Scanlon John

Classifications

• H05B3/06 Primary

  Heater elements structurally combined with coupling elements or holders · CPC title

• H05B3/16 Primary

  the conductor being mounted on an insulating base · CPC title

• H05B2203/032

  Heaters specially adapted for heating by radiation heating · CPC title

• H05B2203/022

  Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material · CPC title