阅读说明：本技术 冷却元件和包括该冷却元件的冷却组件 (Cooling element and cooling assembly comprising the same ) 是由 菲利普.罗伯特.因甘姆 史蒂芬.马歇尔-里斯 于 2018-10-18 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于冷却主体的冷却元件,包括与冷却元件的近侧相连的导热层、与冷却元件的远侧相连的阻热层、以及设置在导热层和阻热层之间的散热器体积,所述散热器体积从与导热层的近端边界延伸到与阻热层的远端边界。散热器体积包括包含第一物质的多孔材料；并且导热层包括包含第二物质的多孔材料。第一和第二物质具有热性质,使得第一物质将在小于20℃的第一温度下固化,第二物质在第一温度下处于液态。阻热层具有比导热层低的平均导热率。所述冷却元件被配置成使得当冷却元件的近侧如在使用中接触主体的表面时,导热层将比热量从冷却元件的远侧传导通过阻热层并且进入散热器体积更迅速地将热量从主体传导并且进入散热器体积。(A cooling element for cooling a body, comprising a heat conducting layer connected to a proximal side of the cooling element, a thermal barrier connected to a distal side of the cooling element, and a heat sink volume disposed between the heat conducting layer and the thermal barrier, the heat sink volume extending from a proximal boundary with the heat conducting layer to a distal boundary with the thermal barrier. The heat sink volume comprises a porous material comprising a first substance; and the thermally conductive layer comprises a porous material comprising a second substance. The first and second substances have thermal properties such that the first substance will solidify at a first temperature of less than 20 ℃ and the second substance is in a liquid state at the first temperature. The thermal barrier layer has a lower average thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive layer. The cooling element is configured such that when the proximal side of the cooling element contacts a surface of the body, as in use, the thermally conductive layer will conduct heat from the body and into the heat sink volume more rapidly than heat conducts from the distal side of the cooling element, through the thermally resistive layer and into the heat sink volume.)

1. A cooling element, comprising:

a thermally conductive layer connected to a proximal side of the cooling element,

a thermal barrier connected to a distal side of the cooling element, an

A heat sink volume disposed between the thermally conductive layer and the thermal barrier, the heat sink volume extending from a proximal boundary with the thermally conductive layer to a distal boundary with the thermal barrier; wherein the content of the first and second substances,

the heat sink volume comprises a porous material comprising a first substance;

the thermally conductive layer comprises a porous material comprising a second substance;

the first and second substances have thermal properties such that the first substance will cure at a first temperature of less than 20 ℃, the second substance being in a liquid state at the first temperature; and is

The thermal barrier layer has a lower average thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive layer;

the cooling element is configured such that when the proximal side of the cooling element contacts a surface of the body in use, the thermally conductive layer will conduct heat from the body and into the heat sink volume more rapidly than heat would conduct from the distal side of the cooling element, through the thermal barrier and into the heat sink volume.

2. The cooling element of claim 1 for cooling a body, wherein the cooling element is sufficiently flexible to be capable of bending in any one of a series of arcs in response to being placed against a curved surface of the body.

3. A cooling element according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the heat sink volume comprises a plurality of heat sink elements.

4. The cooling element of any of the preceding claims, wherein the porous material of the heat sink volume comprises a biodegradable and/or compostable material.

5. A cooling element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the porous material of the conductive layer is a biodegradable and/or compostable material.

6. The cooling element of any of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal barrier is a biodegradable and/or compostable material.

7. The cooling element of any of claims 4 to 6, wherein the porous material of the thermally conductive layer and the porous material of the heat sink volume and the thermal barrier are biodegradable and/or compostable.

8. A cooling element according to any of claims 4 to 7, wherein the biodegradable and/or compostable material comprises at least one of paper, cardboard, hemp, bamboo or wood pulp material.

9. The cooling element of any preceding claim, wherein the volume of the second substance is less than the volume of the first substance.

10. The cooling element of any of the preceding claims, wherein the thermal barrier is free of any liquid phase up to 50 ℃.

11. The cooling element of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first substance comprises water.

12. The cooling element of any preceding claim, wherein the second substance comprises an aqueous solution.

13. The cooling element of claim 12, wherein the second substance comprises a solution of sodium chloride in water.

14. A cooling element according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the average thickness of the heat conducting layer is 0.5-3 mm.

15. The cooling element of any preceding claim, wherein the average thickness of the thermal barrier is 1-15 mm.

16. The cooling element of any of the preceding claims, wherein pores of the porous material of the thermally conductive layer are filled with the second substance; or partially filled and including air voids.

17. A cooling assembly for cooling a body, comprising:

one or more cooling elements according to any of the preceding claims, and

a container for housing the body and the cooling element.

18. The cooling assembly of claim 17 comprising a plurality of cooling elements.

19. A cooling assembly according to claim 17 or 18, wherein the container is configured to accommodate more than one body.

20. A method of cooling a body, the method comprising:

providing a cooling assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 16;

reducing the temperature of the heat sink volume to less than a first temperature;

disposing the cooling element between the body and a surface of the container within which the body is housed;

bringing a proximal side of the cooling element into contact with the body.

21. The method of claim 20, comprising:

providing a cooling element such that the heat capacity of the heat sink volume is large enough to reduce the temperature of the body by at least 5 ℃ from an initial temperature of about 20 ℃ to 40 ℃.

Technical Field

The present disclosure relates generally to cooling elements and assemblies and containers including cooling elements; particularly but not exclusively to portable cooling assemblies for cooling frozen or chilled goods.

Background

EP 3054243 a1 discloses a beverage chiller comprising first and second cylinders, each cylinder comprising a respective side wall defined by respective inner and outer surfaces. The diameter of the second cylinder is smaller than the diameter of the first cylinder so as to fit within the first cylinder, with the inner surface of the first cylinder facing the outer surface of the second cylinder, thereby defining a first reservoir between the first and second cylinders for containing the beverage to be refrigerated. The second cylinder also defines a chamber for containing a refrigeration medium.

There is a need for cooling elements and assemblies that can cool goods or maintain refrigerated or frozen goods in their refrigerated state. For example, there is a need for cooling or maintaining cooled, chilled or frozen items, such as consumables or perishable items, including but not limited to food products, beverages, pharmaceutical products, medical products, cosmetic products, healthcare products, and the like. It may be preferred that the cooling element and the cooling assembly are environmentally friendly and/or relatively simple to manufacture and use.

Disclosure of Invention

According to a first aspect, there is provided a cooling element comprising a heat conductive layer connected to a proximal side of the cooling element, a thermal barrier connected to a distal side of the cooling element, and a heat sink volume disposed between the heat conductive layer and the thermal barrier, the heat sink volume extending from a proximal boundary with the heat conductive layer to a distal boundary with the thermal barrier; wherein the heat sink volume comprises a porous material comprising a first substance; the thermally conductive layer comprises a porous material comprising a second substance; the first and second substances have thermal properties such that the first substance will solidify at a first temperature of less than 20 ℃ and the second substance is in a liquid state at the first temperature; and the thermal barrier layer has a lower average thermal conductivity than the thermally conductive layer.

The cooling element of the first aspect is for cooling the body and is configured such that when the proximal side of the cooling element contacts a surface of the body in use, the thermally conductive layer will conduct heat from the body and into the heat sink volume more rapidly than conducting heat from the distal side of the cooling element through the thermal barrier and into the heat sink volume.

Viewed from a second aspect, there is provided a cooling assembly comprising one or more cooling elements as defined in the first aspect, and a container for carrying the body.

Viewed from a third aspect, there is provided a method of cooling a body, the method comprising: providing a cooling element according to the first aspect; the temperature of the heat sink volume of the cooling element is reduced to less than the first temperature, and the cooling element is arranged against a surface of the body, wherein a proximal side of the cooling element is in contact with a side surface of the body.

According to the method of the third aspect, the cooling element may be arranged within the cooling assembly according to the second aspect. The body to be cooled may be accommodated within the container, in which case the cooling element is suitably arranged between the body and the surface of the container in which the body is accommodated.

The term "cooling" is primarily intended to mean reducing the temperature of the body by a desired amount. However, in some embodiments, the term "cooling" may also mean maintaining a previously cooled body at or within 5 ℃ of the temperature, preferably within 2 ℃ of the temperature.

The present disclosure contemplates various compositions and arrangements of cooling elements and containers and methods of using the same, the following are non-limiting and non-exhaustive examples of the present disclosure.

The cooling element may be sufficiently flexible to be able to bend in a series of arcs in response to being placed against the curved surface of the body. In some embodiments, this may be achieved by a heat sink volume formed by a plurality of heat sink elements, which may be arranged discontinuously side by side with each other. For example, the heat sink volume may comprise a plurality of elongated heat sink elements arranged substantially parallel to each other (along their longitudinal axis); the heat sink elements may or may not be in contact with each other. Such an arrangement may permit the cooling element to bend about an axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the heat sink element, thereby allowing the cooling element to be placed against a curved surface, such as a side of a bottle or beverage can, even when the first substance is solidified. In another embodiment, the heat sink volume may comprise a plurality of heat sink elements arranged on a support sheet, e.g. on a heat conductive layer or a heat resistant layer. In such embodiments, the plurality of heat spreader elements may be arranged in a geometric pattern, such as a series of polygonal elements (e.g., triangular, square, pentagonal, hexagonal, or octagonal elements) arranged in a regular array.

The heat sink volume may include any number of heat sink elements depending on the desired application. For example, the heat sink volume may comprise at least about 2, or at least about 5, or at least about 10 heat sink elements. The heat sink volume may comprise at most about 100, or at most about 50 heat sink elements. The heat sink volume may comprise from 2 to 100 heat sink elements, for example from 2 to 50 heat sink elements or from 5 to 15 heat sink elements. In other embodiments, the heat sink volume may comprise a single heat sink element.

In an embodiment comprising a plurality of heat sink elements, the heat sink volume is the sum of the volumes of all heat sink elements.

Suitably, the heat sink volume is sufficient to reduce the temperature of the body from the initial temperature to the desired temperature over a desired period of time.

Suitably, the desired period of time is about 10 minutes or about 20 minutes or about 30 minutes. For example, the desired time period may be from about 10 minutes to about 30 minutes.

The initial and desired temperatures will depend on the particular application and the body to be cooled or to be kept refrigerated. For example, the initial temperature may be about 15 ℃, about 20 ℃, about 25 ℃, about 30 ℃ or about 40 ℃. The desired temperature may be about 30 ℃, about 20 ℃, about 15 ℃, about 10 ℃ or about 5 ℃.

The first substance of the heat sink volume may be solidified. The first substance of the heat sink volume may be partially solidified.

The body to be cooled may be a fluid or solid material or a mixture thereof. If the body is a fluid, it is preferably contained in any suitable vessel or container. The body comprising the solid material may or may not need to be contained in a vessel or container.

The heat sink volume may be determined based on the volume of the body to be cooled and the amount of heat desired to be removed. While not wishing to be bound by a particular theory, the larger the heat sink volume, the greater the maximum amount of heat that can be absorbed by the heat sink volume is expected (all other things being equal). It is expected that the larger the heat sink volume, the larger the volume of the body that can be cooled; and/or the more rapidly the body is cooled; and/or the greater the temperature at which the body can be lowered.

In some embodiments, the heat sink volume and the thermally conductive layer may be configured and arranged such that the area of the proximal boundary between them is sufficiently large that a desired amount of heat may be conducted from the body to the heat sink volume within a desired period of time. In an example in which the heat sink volume comprises a plurality of heat sink elements, the area of the proximal boundary is the total combined area of all proximal boundaries between all respective heat sink elements and the thermally conductive layer. While not wishing to be bound by a particular theory, the larger the area of the proximal boundary, the more rapidly heat is expected to transfer from the thermally conductive layer to the heat sink volume (all other things being equal). It is contemplated that the area of the proximal boundary limits the thermal conductivity from the thermally conductive layer to the heat sink volume.

The thermally conductive layer may comprise a sheet material. The thermal barrier may comprise a sheet material. In some embodiments, the thermally conductive layer and the thermal barrier each comprise or consist of a sheet, wherein the thermally conductive layer is attached to the proximal side of the heat sink element by means of an adhesive material and the thermal barrier is attached to the distal side of the heat sink element by means of an adhesive material. Where the heat sink volume comprises or consists of one or more heat sink elements and the thermally conductive layer and the thermal barrier layer each comprise or consist of a sheet, the thermally conductive layer is attached to a respective proximal side of each of the plurality of heat sink elements by means of an adhesive material and the thermal barrier layer facilitates attachment of the adhesive material to a respective distal side of each of the plurality of heat sink elements. One or more heat sink elements may be said to be sandwiched between a thermally conductive layer and a thermally resistive layer.

The first temperature is less than 20 deg.C, such as less than 18 deg.C, less than 15 deg.C. The first temperature may be as low as 0 ℃.

In some embodiments, the first substance may include water in a liquid state when at a temperature greater than the first temperature, or may include water in a solid state when frozen to ice at a temperature less than the first temperature. In other embodiments, the first substance may consist essentially of water in a liquid state when at a temperature greater than the first temperature, or may consist essentially of water in a solid state when frozen to ice at a temperature less than the first temperature.

In some examples, the first substance may be an aqueous solution, or may include or consist essentially of a substance other than water, such as some gels. For example, the first substance may comprise or consist essentially of a biodegradable (and/or compostable) gel or agar, such as may be derived from certain species of algae.

In some embodiments, the first substance may comprise a combination of water and a gel or agar.

In some examples, the second substance may comprise or consist essentially of an aqueous solution; the aqueous solution is, for example, a solution of sodium chloride in water. In some examples, the salt content in the second material may be substantially at a saturation level, or at a concentration substantially less than the saturation level, when at the first temperature.

The second substance solidifies at the second temperature. The second temperature may depend on the content of salts or other solutes included therein. In some examples, the second substance may establish wetting contact with the body to be cooled when in a liquid state (at a temperature greater than the second temperature). In case the body to be cooled has a contact surface of glass, plastic or metal including aluminium, tin, steel, or paper, or other material, the inclusion of a wetting contact with the second substance suitably has the following effect: the second substance establishes good thermal contact with the body, thereby promoting rapid conduction of heat from the body towards the heat sink volume.

In some embodiments, the volume of the thermally conductive layer may be substantially less than the volume of the heat sink, and/or the volume of the second substance may be substantially less than the volume of the first substance.

In some examples, the thermal barrier may be substantially free of any liquid phase. For example, the thermal barrier layer may be substantially free of any liquid phase at temperatures up to 50 ℃ or 70 ℃ or 100 ℃. In other words, the thermal barrier may be substantially dry up to at least this temperature. The thermal barrier may be sufficiently thick and have a sufficiently low thermal conductivity so that when the second substance in the heat sink is solidified, a user may comfortably hold the thermal barrier in their bare hand while in use.

In some examples, the porous material of the thermally conductive layer and/or the porous material of the heat sink volume and/or the thermal barrier layer may be biodegradable and/or compostable. In various examples, the porous material of the thermally conductive layer and/or the porous material of the heat sink volume and/or the thermal barrier layer may comprise or consist essentially of at least one of paper, paperboard, hemp, bamboo, or wood pulp material.

In some examples, the porous material of the thermally conductive layer and/or the porous material of the heat sink volume and/or the thermal barrier layer may include an enzyme or other material to promote faster degradation of the cooling element upon disposal.

The average thickness of the thermally conductive layer may be at least about 0.5 mm or at least about 1 mm. The average thickness of the thermally conductive layer may be at most about 5mm or at most about 3mm or at most about 2 mm. The average thickness of the thermally conductive layer may be from 0.5 mm to 5mm or from 0.5 mm to 3mm or from 1 mm to 2 mm.

The average thickness of the thermal barrier may be at least about 1 mm or at least about 2 mm. The average thickness of the thermal barrier may be up to about 15mm or up to about 10 mm or up to about 5 mm. The average thickness of the thermal barrier may be from 1 mm to 15mm or from 1 mm to 10 mm or from 2mm to 5 mm.

The holes of the heat conductive layer may be substantially filled with the second substance. Alternatively, the pores of the thermally conductive layer may be partially filled with a second substance and comprise air voids. The amount of the second substance within the porous material may affect the rate at which heat can be conducted from the body to the volume of the heat sink; in other words, the rate at which heat can be conducted from the body can be determined by the amount of the second substance within the pores, and if present, the content of air or other substances within the pores.

The pores of the porous material in the heat sink volume may be substantially filled with the first substance. Alternatively, the pores of the porous material in the heat sink volume may be partially filled with the first substance and comprise air voids.

The porous material included in the heat sink volume and/or in the thermally conductive layer may have an open porosity, or a closed porosity, or a combination of open and closed porosity.

In some examples, the cooling element assembly may be provided in the form of a kit including a thermally conductive layer, one or more heat sink elements, and a thermal barrier in an unassembled form. In some examples, the kit may include a porous material for the heat sink volume, substantially free of the first substance; and/or a porous material for the thermally conductive layer, substantially free of the second substance. The first and/or second substance may be provided as part of a kit in a separate container so that a user may impregnate the porous material for the heat sink volume with the first substance; and/or the user may impregnate the porous material for the thermally conductive layer with the second substance in preparation for use.

In some examples, the body to be cooled may include a volume of a substance, such as a liquid, gas, and/or solid, and the volume of the first substance may be large enough to be able to absorb enough heat from the body to reduce the body temperature by at least 5 ℃ from an initial temperature of 20 ℃ to 40 ℃. Some example methods of using a cooling element may include: the cooling element is provided such that the heat capacity of the heat sink volume is large enough to reduce the body temperature by at least 5 ℃ from an initial temperature of about 20 ℃ to 40 ℃. For example, a cooling element comprising a series of different heat sink volumes may be available, and the cooling element may be selected according to the material included in the body, and/or the volume of one or more materials included in the body, and/or the temperature of the body in use, such that the heat sink volume may absorb a sufficient amount of heat from the body to maintain a desired temperature of the body in use for a desired period of time. For example, the volume of the first substance may be large enough to be able to absorb sufficient heat from a volume of water or a volume of solution comprising water and alcohol to reduce the temperature of the water (or solution) by at least about 5 ℃ from an initial temperature of about 20 ℃ to about 30 ℃; wherein the volume of water (or solution) may be at least about 250 ml or at least about 340 ml or at least about 500 ml; and/or up to about 2000 ml or up to about 1000 ml or up to about 750 ml.

In some examples, the cooling element may be configured and may include a material such that the body may be cooled from about 24 ℃ to about 15 ℃ over a period of about 10 to 20 minutes (e.g., within about 15 minutes).

In some examples of cooling assemblies, the container may be configured to house more than one body, such as one or more bottles and/or cans. The container may include a bracket means, such as one or more handles. Alternatively, the cooling assembly may be provided in a sheet for wrapping around the body to be cooled.

Drawings

Non-limiting example arrangements of a refrigerator appliance will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic exploded view of a portion of an example cooling element and a perspective view of a portion of the cooling element assembled for use;

FIG. 2A shows a perspective view of an example cooling element from the proximal side; and figure 2B shows a perspective view from the far side of the cooling element;

FIG. 3A shows a perspective top view of an example cooling assembly without a beverage present; and fig. 3B shows a perspective view of an example container assembly housing two beverage cans;

fig. 4A shows a schematic top view of an example cooling assembly, where there are two beverage cans; fig. 4B shows a schematic perspective view of an example cooling element wrapped against a beverage can as in use; and figure 4C shows a perspective top view of an example cooling assembly housing two beverage cans; and

5A-5E illustrate various views of various component parts of an example cooling assembly: FIG. 5A illustrates a perspective view of a portion of an example cooling element from the distal side; FIG. 5B shows a schematic top view of an example bottle cooler assembly with bottles present therein; FIG. 5C shows a perspective view of the cooling assembly housing a wine bottle; FIG. 5D illustrates a perspective view of a container assembly with a bottle present therein, with two example cooling elements being removed from or inserted into the container; and fig. 5E shows a perspective view of an example bottle container in a compact state for storage or transport.

Detailed Description

Referring to fig. 1-5E, an example cooling element 100 may include a thermally conductive layer 130, a plurality of elongated heat spreader bars 120, and a thermal barrier layer 110 (which may also be referred to as a thermal barrier layer). With particular reference to fig. 1, the heat conductive layer 130 may be substantially composed of a thin (e.g., 1-2mm thick), substantially flat sheet of paper impregnated with a water-based solution (e.g., saline solution), the proximal (inner) side 130-i of which is intended for contacting a body to be cooled (e.g., a bottle or can containing a beverage, which is not shown). The radiator bar 120 may consist essentially of a paper or cardboard material, or other porous biodegradable (and/or compostable) material, impregnated with water, which may be set or partially set when in use, or which may be liquid water when in storage or transport. In this particular example arrangement, each heat sink bar 120 has a substantially flat proximal (inner) side 120-i that will contact a distal (outer) side 130-o of the thermally conductive layer 130 when assembled, and an opposite distal (outer) side 120-o that includes a flat surface area extending along the length of the heat sink bar 120. The distal (outer) side 120-o of the radiator bar 120 will contact the (proximal) inner side 110-i of the insulation layer 110 when assembled for use. The insulation layer 110 may be a substantially water-free (or dry) paper sheet or paperboard having a corrugated form configured to accommodate a plurality of radiator bars 120.

When the cooling element 100 is assembled as in use, its distal (outermost) side will be at least partially defined by the distal (outer) side 110-o of the thermally insulating layer 110 and its proximal (innermost) side will be defined by the proximal (inner) side 130-i of the thermally conductive layer 130. In some examples, the innermost side of the cooling element 100 will contact a beverage container, such as a beverage can or bottle (or other refrigerated product in general) intended to be cooled (or kept cool), and the outermost side may be held by a user. The poor thermal conductivity of the thermal barrier layer 110 relative to the thermal conductivity of the thermally conductive layer 130 will reduce the heat flux from the ambient environment (including from the user's hand) to the heat sink bar 120, which can make it comfortable for the user to hold the refrigerated beverage container and reduce the rate at which the heat sink bar 120 dissipates heat toward ambient temperature. Generally, the longer the heat sink bar 120 can be maintained below ambient temperature, the longer the cooling assembly 100 can be used to refrigerate a beverage container (and thus any beverage contained therein).

The thermally conductive layer 130 may include a porous matrix, such as a fibrous material; for example, the porous matrix may comprise a fibrous material, such as paper or cardboard, which includes pores between the fibers. The pores may be at least partially filled with an aqueous solution of sodium chloride (NaCl). In some examples, the apertures may include bubbles or unfilled voids that may reduce the rate at which heat may be transferred from the beverage container to the heat spreader bar 120, and which may be desirable to reduce the cooling rate of the beverage container (or other body) and extend the period of time that the beverage container is maintained at a temperature below ambient temperature. It is envisaged that: the volume of unfilled pores (i.e., not filled with aqueous solution), as well as the volume of saline solution within the pores, may vary depending on the desired heat transfer behavior of the thermally conductive layer 130 in use, depending on, for example, the type of beverage in the beverage container or the environment of use.

While not wishing to be bound by a particular theory, the temperature at which the salt solution (at a given pressure) will solidify will generally decrease as the dissolved salt content increases toward the saturation point. The freezing point of pure water is 0 c at one atmosphere pressure and the freezing point of the salt solution with NaCl content can be lowered by about 1-2 c. The infusion of the salt solution in the heat conductive layer 130 is understood to facilitate the transfer of heat from the beverage container or other body to be cooled. In use, the thermally conductive layer 130 may be wrapped at least partially around and against the beverage container (or other body) to be cooled. The saline solution should remain substantially unset in use, be heated by heat transferred from the body and may come into wetting contact with the surface of the beverage container. Heat may diffuse from the body into the saline solution making good thermal contact with the body, through the saline solution impregnated in the pores of the porous matrix of the thermally conductive layer 130 and into the heat sink 120 (some of the saline solution may penetrate the heat sink element to some extent).

The heat spreader bar 120 may include a porous matrix, such as a fibrous material; for example, the porous matrix may comprise a fibrous material, such as paper or cardboard, which includes pores between the fibers. The pores may be impregnated with substantially pure water between the fibers. In use, the water may be solidified or partially solidified. In other examples, the well may contain a saline solution, or some other aqueous solution, or emulsion; or the wells may contain a gel or substantially non-aqueous medium. The porous matrix material and/or the material with which the porous material of the heat spreader bar 120 is impregnated may be selected to enhance the ability of the heat spreader bar 120 (or other configuration) to retain its shape in use as ice melts or other impregnating medium liquefies. The combined water content of the plurality of radiator bars 120 may be about 10 g or 100 g; for example, the water content may be about 50 g to about 500 g. The shape of the heat sink volume may be configured according to the shape of the container or other body to be cooled; and/or the shape of the heat sink volume may be configured to be suitable for wrapping against surfaces having any range of shapes, such as curvatures. In the example illustrated in fig. 1, the heat sink volume is in the form of a plurality of bars, such that the relative arrangement of adjacent bars may vary depending on the shape of the beverage container to be cooled. In certain other examples, the heat sink volume 120 may comprise a single preformed body or flexible sheet. In various examples, the base material included in the heat spreader bar 120 may be substantially the same or a different kind of material included in the thermally conductive layer 130.

The insulating sheet 110 may comprise any of a wide range of materials having sufficiently low thermal conductivity that there is a risk that a user's hand becomes uncomfortably cold when they are holding the cooling element 100 in use; and/or to allow the heat sink apparatus 120 to remain solidified for a sufficient period of time. In the example illustrated in fig. 1, the insulating sheet 110 is formed from a thin layer of paper or paperboard that is corrugated to conform to the shape of the outer side 120-o of the radiator bar 120. In various examples, the type of material included in the thermally insulating layer 110 may be substantially the same as or different from the porous base material included in the heat sink bar 120 and/or the base material included in the thermally conductive layer 130.

Referring to fig. 2A and 2B, an example cooling element 100 may include a thermally conductive layer 110, a plurality of heat sink bars 120, and a thermally insulating layer 130. The layers may be attached to each other by means of an adhesive material and may have the features and characteristics as described with reference to fig. 1.

Referring to fig. 3A and 3B and 4A-4C, an example cooling assembly may include a carrier 200 for receiving and carrying one or two (or more than two) beverage cans 300, and a pair of cooling elements 100A, 100B. The carrier 200 may be formed from paperboard and have a pair of ears that include a through hole as a handle to facilitate a user's handling of the carrier 200 and the beverage container 300 held by the carrier 200. While the carrier 200 in each example has a slightly different configuration, both include a sufficient sized containment volume to accommodate two beverage cans (e.g., a 330 ml capacity beverage can) and a pair of cooling elements 100A, 100A. Each of the cooling elements 100A, 100B can be as described with reference to fig. 1, and can be formed as a semicircular arc, such that the substantially flat proximal (inner) side 130-i of the heat conductive layer 130 can wrap about half of the cylindrical side surrounding the beverage can 300. This is facilitated by the radiator volume 120 being in the form of a separate radiator bar and the insulation layer 110 being corrugated to accommodate the radiator bar 120. In the illustrated example arrangement, each of the cooling elements 100A, 100B may be interposed between a respective end of the carrier 200 and a respective beverage can 300, each having substantially the same semi-circular shape as the cylindrical side of the beverage can 300. Prior to use, the cooling elements 100A, 100B will be processed in a refrigerator or freezer to solidify water or other medium impregnated into the porous matrix included in the radiator bar 120. Each treated cooling element 100A, 100B may be inserted into the carrier 200 between a respective end of the receiving volume of the carrier 200 and the beverage can 300.

In the particular example shown in fig. 3A and 3B, each heat spreader bar 120 includes a plurality of elongated cavities extending from one end of the heat spreader bar 120 to the other. The presence of the cavity may have aspects that reduce the amount of material within the cooling element and/or achieve a desired cooling rate response.

In the particular example shown in fig. 4A-4C, each heat spreader bar 120 has four substantially flat longitudinal sides extending between opposite ends, with the inner and outer sides being substantially parallel to each other and connected to each other by tapered non-parallel sides.

Referring to fig. 5A-5E, an example cooling assembly may include a carrier 200 for receiving and holding a bottle 300, such as a wine bottle, and a pair of cooling elements 100A, 100B. The carrier 200 may be formed from paperboard and have a pair of ears that include through holes to form a handle and facilitate a user's handling of the carrier and a wine bottle potentially received by the carrier. In the illustrated example, the carrier 200 may include a sufficient sized containment volume for containing a bottle 300 (e.g., a 750 ml capacity bottle) and a pair of inserts 100A, 100A. Each of the cooling elements 100A, 100B may be as described with reference to fig. 1-4C and can be formed as a semicircular arc such that the substantially flat inner side of the heat conductive layer 130 may wrap about half of the cylindrical side surrounding the bottle 300. The heat spreader bar 120 may have four substantially flat longitudinal sides extending between the opposing ends, each of which is generally square, rectangular, or tapered when viewed in transverse cross-section (i.e., in a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the heat spreader bar 120). As shown in fig. 5D, each of the two cooling elements 100A, 100B may be interposed between opposite sides of the bottle 300 and corresponding sides of the cradle 200, each having substantially the same semi-circular shape as the cylindrical sides of the bottle 300.

Prior to use, the paperboard carrier 200 may be provided in a compact form as shown in fig. 5E, as it may be more efficient to package and store the carrier 200 in a flat, folded form. The user may open the carrier 200 and place the bottle 300 (or generally some other body to be cooled) into the containment volume. The carrier 200 should be configured such that the containment volume is wide enough to accommodate the bottle and at least one pair of cooling elements 100A, 100B between the respective sides of the bottle 300 and the walls of the containment volume. Each cooling element 100A, 100B may be prepared by: the porous matrices are impregnated with water and then placed in a refrigerator at a temperature below the freezing point of water for a period of time sufficient for substantially all of the water to solidify. If the saline solution impregnated into the heat conductive layer 130 also solidifies, it is expected that the saline solution melts before the water in the heat sink bar 120 due to the lower freezing point of the saline solution, especially when the heat conductive layer 130 is placed in contact with the bottle 300 in use. The cooling elements 100A, 100B may be bent in an arcuate form to match the curvature of the sides of the bottle 300 and inserted between the respective sides of the bottle 300 and the walls of the receiving volume of the cradle 200 such that the proximal (inner) side 130-i of the heat conductive layer 130 is in contact with the respective sides of the bottle 300. In the illustrated example, the heat sink volume 120 is in the form of a plurality of bars (in this example, six bars 120 in each cooling element 100) arranged substantially parallel to each other and connected by a thermally conductive layer 130 on the proximal (inner) side 120-i and by a thermally insulating layer 110 on the distal (outer) side 120-o. This arrangement may allow the cooling elements 100A, 100B to be sufficiently curved to match the curvature of the bottle 300 even when the heat spreader bar 120 is solidified to a solid. In some examples, the wine contained within bottle 300 may be cooled from about 24 ℃ to about 15 ℃ in approximately 15 minutes.

The method of using a cooling assembly for a beverage can described with reference to fig. 3A-4C will be substantially the same as the method described in connection with the wine bottle with reference to fig. 5A-5E. The carton carrier 200 may be configured such that the same cooling element 100A, 100B may be used in combination with a variety of beverage containers, including cans and bottles; and the example cooling elements 100A, 100B may be bent into a series of curvatures for use with various beverage containers. For example, the cooling elements 100A, 100B may be used with a range of beverage cans and bottles.

Certain example cooling elements may contain relatively low levels of water and may have aspects that promote sustainable environments and minimize clean water consumption, particularly in geographical areas where water is relatively scarce. In various examples, it may be desirable that the amount of water or other immersion medium contained within the heat sink and/or within the thermally conductive layer is relatively low or minimized. In some examples, each cooling element may contain less than about 130 milliliters (ml) of water.

Certain example cooling elements may have a relatively low content of salt within the thermally conductive layer, and/or may include a biodegradable (and/or compostable) porous matrix material included in the thermally conductive member and/or the heat sink device and/or the insulating layer, and may have readily compostable, or recyclable and environmentally friendly aspects. In some examples, the cooling element may be substantially fully biodegradable (and/or compostable). Certain example cooling elements may be capable of being reused one or more times; and in some examples, the carrier and/or the radiator arrangement and/or the insulation layer and/or the heat conductive layer may comprise or consist essentially of recycled cardboard (or other biodegradable and/or compostable material).

Various example heat sink devices may be impregnated or may be impregnated with water and have aspects that are readily solidified by means of a household refrigerator. Certain example cooling elements may include relatively few different kinds of materials, as well as relatively few components having relatively simple shapes, and may have aspects that are relatively straightforward to manufacture using simple equipment, potentially consuming relatively little energy in the process.

As used herein, "wetting" refers to the ability of a liquid to maintain contact with the surface of a solid body resulting from intermolecular interactions when the two are bound together. Wettability may be measured by a method that involves placing a drop of liquid on a surface of a body, and determining an angle between the surface and a plane tangential to the surface of the drop, where the surface of the drop intersects the surface of the body. This angle is contained within the droplet and may be referred to as the "contact angle". Generally, the lower the contact angle (that is, the more a droplet tends to spread over the surface of the body), the greater the wettability of the liquid with respect to the body material; and the higher the wetting angle (that is, the more the droplet tends to adopt a shape that reduces the contact area with the body), the lower the wettability. As used herein, "wet contact" corresponds to a contact angle (in air) of less than 90 °.

As used herein, the phrase "consisting essentially of … …" means "consisting of … … in addition to an insubstantial content of virtually unavoidable impurities.