REFRIGERATED CABINET AND COOLING MODULE FOR SAME

The present invention relates to a refrigerated cabinet primarily, but not exclusively, designed for cooling wine bottles and a cooling apparatus for cooling the interior of any cabinet having walls that may be, if not already, equipped with insulation. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

One example of a refrigerated cabinet is disclosed in my prior PCT Published application PCT/CA2005/044060 published 19 ^th May 2005 which discloses a modular system of providing a cooling cabinet primarily for wine bottles where the cabinet and the storage capacity provided thereby can be increased by adding further modules to the construction. In this device the cooling is provided in one embodiment by a conventional cooling system located in the cabinet itself or in a second arrangement, the cooling is provided as separate cooling elements each within a respective one of a plurality of cooling racks located in the cabinet.

In US Patent 6,715,298 (Guo) assigned to Hebei Energy Conservation and issued April 6 ^th 2004 is disclosed a thermo-electric cooling element where a conventional cooling plate uses the thermo-electric effect to form a cooled end and a heated end. A heat dispersing member is connected to the hot end which will cooperate with a fan for discharging heated air from the heated end, and a cool transmitting member is connected to the cool end. The patent disclosure relates to the technique for connecting these components.

In US Patent 6,173,575 (Hall) issued January 16, 2001 is disclosed a food contact machine such as a meat slicer where a modular cooling element using the thermo-electric effect can be inserted into the construction to effect cooling of the machine.

In US Patent 6,581 ,389 (Rudick) issued June 24, 2003 is disclosed a Coca Cola dispensing machine which includes a cooling module which can slide into the machine.

In US Patent 6,463,754 (Matesanz) issued October 15, 2002 is disclosed a cabinet for cooling wine bottles which has a series of vertical panels for supporting the bottles and a refrigeration element using the thermo-electric

effect placed close to and parallel to an inside rear wall of the cabinet.

The thermo-electric effect is the conversion of a heat differential into electric voltage or the conversion of electrical voltage into a heat differential. The production of voltage from a difference in heat is known as the Seebeck effect while the use of electric voltage to produce a heat difference, for example for the purpose of cooling an enclosed space, is known as the Peltier effect. Thermoelectric cooling systems can be used in different thermoelectric orientations as no refrigeration fluids are utilized and have significant lifespans due to a lack of moving parts.

The amount of cool generated through the Peltier effect in currently available units is typically insufficient for many applications such as freezers or air conditioning but can be, and is widely, used in chillers for beverages such as wine coolers. In such chillers, the thermoelectric cooling units are often installed inside walls of the enclosure before the injection of insulation during manufacturing. This may make any necessary repair or maintenance difficult due to accessibility issues. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a cooling module comprising: a casing having top, bottom and side walls and two end faces defining an interior of the casing, the interior of the casing being divided to defined two chambers; a cooling system supported within the casing and having a heat rejection portion and a heat absorption portion, the casing having inlet and discharge openings at a respective one of the two chambers in which the heat rejection portion is disposed, the heat absorption portion being disposed within the other of the two chambers and exposed to an exterior of the casing at one of the walls; and a fan supported within the respective one of the two chambers to discharge air heated by the heat rejection portion of the cooling system from the casing through the discharge openings.

The module allows any cabinet to be cooled simply by placing the

module within the cabinet's interior for exposure of the air therein to the cold end, or heat absorption portion, of the cooling system. The module can therefore be used to replace the cooling system of a previously refrigerated cabinet or provide cooling where there was none previously provided. The module can be transported from one place to another for use with different cabinets.

The cooling system may comprise a thermo-electric cooling cell having hot and cold ends at which the heat rejection and heat absorption portions are respectively defined. Alternatively, the cooling system may comprise a vapour compression refrigeration system having condenser and an evaporator defining the heat rejection and heat absorption portions respectively.

The casing may be divided into top and bottom chambers adjacent the top and bottom walls respectively, the heat rejection and heat absorption portions being disposed in opposite ones of the top and bottom chambers.

Preferably the heat absorption portion is exposed to the exterior of the casing at one of the top and bottom walls.

Preferably there is provided a channel defined within the casing to extend from the inlet openings to the discharge openings with the heat rejection portion and fan disposed in the channel to induce flow of air entering the channel through the inlet openings past the heat rejection portion to the discharge openings.

Preferably the inlet openings are provided in the one of the end faces having the discharge openings therein. Providing the inlet and discharge openings in the same face of the casing means that only that one face requires exposure to the surrounding environment for operation of the module.

There may be provided a set of conductive contacts mounted to and within the casing and arranged for connection to a power source, wherein a respective set of conductive contacts are defined on an electrically powered component that is removably installed within the casing and arranged to cooperate with the cooling system when installed and electrically powered, the set of conductive contacts mounted to the casing being releasably engagable with the respective set of conductive contacts defined on the electrical component by sliding of the electrical component into a designated space within

the casing through an access opening therein. In this instance, preferably the electrically powered component comprises the fan and preferably the access opening in the casing is defined at the same end panel as the discharge openings, in which case this end panel is preferably pivotable between open and closed positions to open and close the access opening.

Preferably the cold end is disposed within the casing and openings are provided in the one of the top and bottom walls at which the cold end is exposed to the exterior of the housing. While the cold end and the cool transmitting member could be supported atop the casing for direct exposure to the surrounding air, positioning them within the casing protects the components from accidental damage and maintains compact and ease of placement in various cabinet designs.

Preferably there is provided a second fan associated with the casing to direct air from the exterior thereof the past the heat absorption portion exposed thereto.

The second fan may be a centrifugal fan.

Preferably the cooling module is provided in combination with a cabinet, the cabinet being formed of insulated panels including a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall connected to define an open front and a front door connected to the cabinet and movable between an open position exposing the open front and a closed position partially covering the open front, wherein the side walls of the casing having slide elements defined at the exterior of the casing for engaging cooperating slide elements defined at the inside surface of the side walls allowing sliding movement of the casing into the cabinet through the open front face to allow cooling to be provided within the cabinet by the heat absorption portion of the cooling system.

The front door may be dimensioned to leave a portion of the open front of the cabinet open below the door when closed, with the casing accordingly located at the bottom of the cabinet with the heat absorption portion exposed to the exterior of the casing at the top wall thereof and the discharge openings aligned with the open portion of the cabinet front. Alternatively, the front door may be dimensioned to leave a portion of the open front of the cabinet open

above the door when closed, with the casing accordingly located at the top of the cabinet with the cold end exposed to the exterior of the housing at the bottom wall thereof and with the discharge openings aligned with the open portion of the cabinet front. As a further alternative, the door may be arranged to span the whole open front and to include an opening which aligns with the front discharge openings in the casing to allow the heated air to escape. Having the module arranged to discharge hot air from the front of the cabinet allows the cabinet to be backed against a wall or other surface or into a corner without worrying about blocking the exhaust. This reduces the space requirement as it is not necessary to leave space between the cabinet and the wall.

Preferably the casing spans the full width between the side walls of the cabinet. The intention is that the casing is shaped and arranged in conjunction with particular components of the cooling system so that the full width is effectively utilized while allowing the height of the casing to be minimized. Different casings can be manufactured to cooperate with different size or different width cabinets. However the width of the casing may be less than the full width and supports or slide members can be provided which take up some of the width, allowing a narrower casing to be used with a wider cabinet. The wide casing allows a full width of the front face to be used as a heated air release area.

Preferably the side walls of the cabinet have rails attached thereto on which the casing slides. These are preferably pre-applied in a kit of parts for assembly into the cabinet. However slots in the side walls can also be used as a simple support for the casing.

The side walls of the cabinet may have rails located for mounting the casing at the top or the bottom as selected by the user. Thus the same kit of parts can be used for different assemblies by the user selecting how to mount the door and where to mount the cooling module, at the top or bottom, and the necessary rails or other mounting elements can be provided at the top and bottom.

As the primary, but not exclusively, proposed use of the refrigerated cabinet is that of wine storage the side walls of the cabinet may have additional rails for sliding into the cabinet at least one bottle storage rack. However the

racking provided may simply sit on the bottom wall or on the cooling module at the bottom.

The panels may be formed from a laminate defined by a layer of an insulating foam material and an exterior cladding material, in which case at least some of the panels may comprise a continuous sheet of the laminate bent between adjacent panels.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a refrigerated cabinet comprising: a cabinet formed of insulated panels including a top wall, a bottom wall, side walls and a rear wall connected to define an open front; a front door connected to the cabinet and movable between an open position exposing the open front and a closed position at least partly covering the open front; wherein the panels are formed from a laminate defined by a layer of an insulating foam material and an exterior cladding material; wherein at least some of the panels are formed from a continuous sheet of the laminate bent between adjacent panels of the at least some of the panels.

Preferably all of the panels are formed from the continuous sheet of the laminate bent between the adjacent panels. Thus the side top and bottom panels may be arranged in a row with parallel spaced bend lines with the rear panel attached to one of the panels with a bend line at right angles to the bend lines of the other panels.

In order to make the bend line neat and effective, preferably the insulating foam material is cut away along edges of the panels to provide a flush fit between the panels formed by the bent laminate. In this instance, preferably the insulating material is cut away from the laminate, before bending thereof, into a 90 degree angle at the corner defining an intended bend line and the panels remain connected by the exterior cladding which is bent at the corner.

Preferably the exterior cladding is a metal sheet which can remain integral when bent through the required 90 degrees but other materials can be used.

According to a third aspect of the invention there is provided a refrigerated cabinet comprising: an enclosure comprising a base, a top wall, a rear wall and side walls and a front door connected to the walls and movable between open and closed positions respectively communicating and separating an interior space defined by the walls and base and an outside environment surrounding the walls; a cooling system supported by the enclosure and comprising a heat rejection portion and a heat absorption portion, the heat absorption portion being in fluid communication with the interior space and the heat rejecting portion being in fluid communication with outside environment; a set of conductive contacts associated with the cooling system and arranged for connection to a power source; and an electrically powered component removably connected to the cooling system and arranged to cooperate therewith when installed and electrically powered, the electrically powered component having a respective set of conductive contacts defined thereon; the set of conductive contacts associated with the cooling system being releasably engagable with the respective set of conductive contacts defined on the electrical component by sliding of the electrical component into a designated space defined on the enclosure through an opening therein.

Preferably the electrically powered component comprises a fan arranged to induce flow of air over one of the heat absorption and heat rejection portions of the cooling system. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Exemplary embodiments of the invention will now be described in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an unassembled perspective view of a cooling cabinet using a pair of thermoelectric cooling modules according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 2 is an assembled front view of the cooling cabinet of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a front isometric view of a thermoelectric cooling module

according to an embodiment the present invention.

Figure 4 is a front isometric view of the thermoelectric cooling module of Figure 3 with a panel removed to show a hot side of the cooling module's interior.

Figure 5 is a front isometric view of the thermoelectric cooling module of Figure 3 with a panel removed to show a cold side of the cooling module's interior.

Figure 6 is a cross sectional view of the thermoelectric cooling module of Figure 3 as taken along line 6 - 6 of Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a front view of a refrigerated cabinet according to one embodiment the present invention.

Figure 8 is an overhead plan view of an unfolded laminate sheet used to form panels of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 7.

Figure 8A is a view of the unfolded laminate sheet as taken along line A - A of Figure 8.

Figure 8B is a partial cross-section view of the unfolded laminate sheet as taken along line B -B of Figure 8.

Figure 8C is a partial cross-section view of the unfolded laminate sheet as taken along line C -C of Figure 8.

Figure 9 is a front isometric view of the laminate sheet of Figure 8 having been folded to form the panels of the refrigerated cabinet of Figure 7.

Figure 9A is a close up of an edge of the folded laminate sheet of Figure 9.

Figure 10 is a partial isometric view of a thermoelectric cooling module illustrating an electrical connection component mounted thereon.

Figure 11 is a partial isometric view of a cooling cabinet illustrating an electrical connection component mounted thereon for cooperation with that of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a front perspective view of an alternate embodiment thermoelectric cooling module according to the present invention.

Figure 12A is a front perspective view of the cooling module of Figure 12 having a flip front face thereof in an open position with a fan module

having been removed from the cooling module through the open flip front face.

Figure 12B is a front perspective view of the cooling module of Figure 12 illustrating the installation and removal of the fan module through the open flip front face.

Figure 13 is a front perspective view of a compression refrigeration module according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 14 is a schematic overhead plan view of the compression refrigeration module of Figure 13 having a top cover removed to illustrate its internal components.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Figures 1 and 2 show a refrigerated cabinet 10 that makes use of slide-in thermoelectric cooling modules. The cabinet 10 features insulated panels forming a top wall 12, bottom wall 14, rear wall 16 and two sides walls 18 assembled and interconnected to define an interior having an open front end. The thermoelectric cooling modules 30 are arranged to slide into the cabinet from the open front end 10 at the top and bottom of the interior. The thermoelectric modules adjacent the top and bottom walls of the cabinet provide cooling from their bottom and top surfaces respectively to cool the air between the thermoelectric modules within the cabinet interior. A door 20 is pivotally mounted on the panels at the open front end to enable opening and closing of the cabinet by pivoting the door between open and closed positions in which the open front end is at least partially unobstructed and fully covered respectively. The thermoelectric cooling modules 30 are easy to install, easy to remove and allow the conversion of essentially any cabinet-like structure into a refrigerated cabinet, for example for use a wine cooler.

Figures 3 to 6 illustrate a thermoelectric cooling module 30 for mounting at the bottom of a cabinet to provide cooling of the air above the thermoelectric module within the cabinet's interior. The thermoelectric cooling module features a casing, or housing, 32 having a top wall 34, a bottom wall 36, two side walls 38, a front face 40 and a rear face. The casing may be made of,

for example, metal or molded plastic. Inside the casing, the thermoelectric module features a cooling system 42 in the form of a thermoelectric cell having a hot end 44 and a cold end 46 with a heat dispersing member 48 provided on the hot end 44 and a cooling transmitting member 50 provided on the cold end. The heat dispersing member may be, for example, a heat sink or a heat pipe. The cooling transmitting member may be, for example, any one of a finned member, a pinboard member, a ribbed member and a needle member. The thermoelectric cell divides the interior of the casing 32 into two portions, one containing the heat dispersing member 48 and the other containing the cool transmitting member 50. Insulating material 52 surrounds the thermoelectric cell 42 to close off these portions from one another such that the casing interior is divided into separate upper and lower compartments. The insulating material 52 resists heat transfer between the two compartments.

As the illustrated thermoelectric module 30 of figures 3 to 6 is intended to cool the air above it from the bottom of the cabinet interior, the top wall 34 is provided with openings 54 which may be defined, for example, by a grate 56. While a single large opening would similarly allow air to enter the thermoelectric module to reach the cool transmitting member 50, smaller openings, as provided by a grate or mesh, help prevent damage to the thermoelectric module or injury to a user by obstructing access to the interior of the casing. While cooling of the cabinet's interior is carried out by the cold end 46 of the thermoelectric cell through the cooling transmitting member 50, warm air heated by the hot end 44 through the heat dispersing member 48 is exhausted from the front face 40 of the casing.

Figure 5 shows the thermoelectric cooling module 30 with the top wall panel 34 removed to illustrate the upper compartment of the casing's interior in which cooling of the cabinet interior's air is carried out. The insulating material 52 extends upward from the area surrounding the thermoelectric cell to the top of the side walls 38 and end faces where the top wall 34 is supported, but a portion of the insulating material 52 is recessed therefrom on opposite sides of the cooling transmitting member 50 to form a channel 58 along which air from above the thermoelectric cooling module, supplied through the openings 54 with the top

wall panel 34 installed, can flow. With this channel 58 so formed by recesses on opposite sides of the thermoelectric cell and extending to a depth from the top of the thermoelectric module passed, the cooling transmitting member 50 lies in the middle of the channel so as to be exposed to airflow therealong. To improve this airflow, a fan 60 is provided in the channel 58 to force air past the cooling transmitting member 50. The use of a centrifugal fan, having its shaft oriented generally vertically and its outlet directed generally horizontally along the channel 58 toward the cooling transmitting member 50, for this purpose forces air drawn downward from above the thermoelectric cooling module 30 across the cooling transmitting member. The floor of the channel 58 slopes upward away from the cooling transmitting member 50 on the side opposite the fan 60 so that air having passed the cooling transmitting member is directed upward into the cabinet interior through the openings 54 in the top wall panel 34.

Figure 4 shows the thermoelectric cooling module 30 with the bottom wall panel 36 removed to illustrate the lower compartment of the casing's interior in which heat is dissipated from the thermoelectric cell 42. As in the upper compartment, airflow is used to effect heat transfer, but the directional source and discharge of air is horizontal rather than vertical, as the thermoelectric module is to be supported at the bottom of a cabinet. The insulating material 52 extends downward from the area surrounding the thermoelectric cell 42 to the bottom of the side walls 38 and end faces where the bottom wall is supported, but a portion of the insulating material 52 is recessed therefrom to form a generally U-shaped channel 62 extending generally horizontally from inlet openings 64 in the front face 40 proximate one of the side walls 38 to discharge openings 66 in the front face proximate the opposite side wall. The heat dispersing member 48 on the hot end 44 of thermoelectric cell 42 is disposed in the channel 62 between the inlet and discharge openings to dump heat to air flowing therebetween. As with the upper chamber, a fan 68 is provided to promote airflow through the channel 62 in one direction. A cross-flow fan or one or more axial fans may be set up to extend across the channel 62 to encourage airflow across the heat dispersing member 48.

It should be appreciated that the depths of the separate chambers

associated with the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric cell are chosen to ensure that a layer of the insulating material remains between them to both prevent the mixture of air from inside and outside the cabinet and to restrict heat transfer back up toward the interior of the cabinet.

The thermoelectric module 30 is provided with temperature monitoring and control systems. In the illustrated embodiment, a user can control the temperature of the cabinet through operation of an up button 70 and a down button 72 used to increase and decrease the desired temperature of the cabinet interior respectively. A digital display 74 is coupled to the thermoelectric cell controller and to a temperature sensor in order to provide a user with a visual indication of both the current temperature of the cabinet interior and the temperature which the thermoelectric module has been set to maintain. The use and connection of such monitoring and control components is known to those of skill in the art, as they have been used in prior art thermoelectric wine cooling cabinets.

The cabinet 10 of Figures 1 and 2 uses two cooling thermoelectric modules 30, one situated at the top of the cabinet's interior adjacent the top wall 12 and one situated at the bottom of the cabinet's interior adjacent the bottom wall 14 at the base of the cabinet. The lower thermoelectric cooling module is of the structure outlined above. The upper thermoelectric cooling module is similar to the bottom thermoelectric module, but flipped over to dispose the cooling side at the bottom of the module so as to expose the cooling transmitting member 50 on the cold end 46 of the thermoelectric cell 42 to the cabinet's interior through openings 54. The upper thermoelectric cooling module is oriented such that the inlet and outlet openings 64, 66 in the end face 42 are disposed at the front of the cabinet 10 just like the lower thermoelectric module. The position and orientation of the control buttons 70, 72 and digital display 74 relative to the grate 56 is changed from that of the lower thermoelectric module to read properly with the upper thermoelectric module in the operational position shown in Figure 1.

On each side wall 38 of the thermoelectric cooling modules 30, there is provided a rail 76 extending along the side wall between the end faces of the casing. The cooling module rails 76 cooperates with respective rails 78 on

the side walls 18 of the cabinet to guide sliding motion of the thermoelectric modules into the cabinet interior and support the thermoelectric modules therein. In other words, the cooling module rails 76 sit atop the cabinet rails 78 extending generally horizontally along the side walls 18 between the front and rear of the cabinet to support the thermoelectric cooling modules and a sliding action between the module rails and cabinet rails allows smooth, easy insertion and removal of the thermoelectric modules from the cabinet interior. It should be appreciated that elements other than rails may be used to provide a similar engagement between the thermoelectric modules and the cabinet. For example, replacement of each rail of either the module or cabinet rail set with horizontally spaced rollers would allow the remaining rail set to roll along the rollers and provide similar slide-like motion of the thermoelectric modules. As another example, one rail set may be replaced with grooves such that the remaining rails slide into and out of grooves. Alternatively, the lower thermoelectric module may simply be slid into and out of the cabinet interior along the bottom wall 14 and sit thereatop during use, thereby eliminating the need for slide members between the casing side walls 38 and cabinet side walls 18.

As shown in Figure 1 , the cabinet side walls 18 may be provided with additional rails 79 in order to support shelves or racking 79A within the cabinet interior, as shown in Figure 2, for storage of the desired cabinet contents, for example wine bottles.

As shown in Figure 2, the door 20 of the cabinet 10 is sized so as not to extend the full height of the interior, but rather to leave a slot-like portion of the cabinet's open front uncovered both above and below the door. In cabinet designs where only one cooling module will be used, the doors would be designed accordingly, for example, extending immediately from the bottom wall up a suitable height to create only a single slot above the door. It is in these slots that the thermoelectric cooling modules are situated for use. The inlet and exhaust openings 64, 66 of the cooling modules are thus unobstructed to allow flow of air to and from the thermoelectric module 30 for removing heat from the heat dispersing member 48 and the hot end 44 of the thermoelectric cell 42. As shown in the upper slot of Figure 2, the thermoelectric cooling module 30, cabinet

rails 78 and door may be positioned to seal against one another to cooperatively close off the interior of the cabinet along the doors edge to prevent loss of cool air to the surrounding environment. Any empty space between a thermoelectric module and the door or side walls of the cabinet that is in communication with the door-covered portion of the cabinet's interior is closed off with insulating material, as shown at 77 in Figure 2. Alternatively, both thermoelectric cooling modules can be configured with the cabinet to fill any such space. For example, movement of the cooperating rails 76, 78 of the lower thermoelectric module of Figure 2 upward to align the module rails 76 with the top wall 34 of the module casing would close off the open spaces between the module and side walls at the door edge, just like the cooperating rails of the upper thermoelectric module. Alternatively, simply extending the height of the module rails 76 of the bottom thermoelectric module to again align them with the top wall 34 without moving the cabinet rails 78 would have the same effect. As another example, eliminating the module rails 76 altogether, increasing the size of the module casing 32 to extend fully between the cabinet side walls 18 and lowering of the cabinet rails 78 from their illustrated positions would allow the bottom wall panel 36 to sit atop the cabinet rails and eliminate gaps between the thermoelectric cooling module 30 and cabinet side walls 18.

A cabinet having a door extending the full height of its interior would require openings to be provided in the door for alignment with the inlet and discharge openings of the cooling modules with the door in the closed position. In such an arrangement, seals extending about the openings with the door in the closed position could prevent leakage of the heated discharge air into the cooled interior of the cabinet.

The walls of the cabinet 10 may be provided with cam locks 86 arranged to connect one wall to another through latching of cam locks of one wall within respective slots 88 provided in another. Other fastening methods to secure cabinet walls together are known to those of skill in the art.

The cabinet 10 of Figures 1 and 2 is merely one example of a cabinet with which the thermoelectric cooling module 30 of the present invention may be used. The slide in thermoelectric cooling modules and cam lock

connections allow easily assembly of the cabinet so that its components may be compactly packaged in a kit to facilitate safe and affordable shipping to a customer or intermediary for final assembly thereby. Such a kit may include a single cooling thermoelectric module 30 and provide the option of adding additional cooling thermoelectric modules as desired. It should be appreciated however, that a single thermoelectric cooling module may be sold on its own, thereby allowing an end user to convert any cabinet or similar openable enclosure into a refrigerated space. For example, a kitchen cabinet may be lined with panels of insulating material and equipped with a thermoelectric cooling module to form a built-in kitchen wine cooler.

Figures 7 to 9 show an affordable, easy to assemble insulated cabinet 100 that can make use of one or two of the thermoelectric cooling modules 30 described above to provide refrigeration, for example for use as a wine cooler. Similar to that of Figure 1 , the cabinet 100 features panels defining a top wall 112, a bottom wall 114, a rear wall 116, two side walls 118 and a door 120. The door 120 does not extend the full height of the cabinet interior, but rather leaves open slots at the front of the cabinet at the top and bottom of the interior where the thermoelectric cooling modules 30 are provided. This eliminates the need to provide openings in the door 120 to allow air to enter and exit the thermoelectric modules 30 through the inlet and discharge openings 64, 66.

The wall panels 112 to 118 of the cabinet 100 are formed by a single flat sheet 130. The sheet has a generally t-shaped or cross-shaped configuration in that it has the appearance of a rectangular sheet with an equally sized rectangular portion removed from each corner thereof. A central rectangular portion of the sheet 130 defines the rear wall panel 116 of the cabinet with each of the other four wall panels extending outward therefrom. The side wall panels 118 extend from opposite sides of the central rear wall panel 116, as do the top and bottom wall panels 112, 114. As shown in Figure 8A to 8C, the sheet 130 is a laminate composed of a layer of insulating material 132 and a layer of cladding material 134. The insulating layer 132 acts to resist heat transfer between the cabinet interior and the surrounding environment while the

cladding material 134 protects the cabinet from damage and adds strength and rigidity.

The cabinet 100 is formed by folding the laminate sheet 130 along the borders between the panels, which together outline the perimeter of the central rear panel 116 as indicated in Figure 8 by broken lines 136. Figured 8A shows that right-angle triangular grooves are formed in the insulating layer 132 along the fold lines 136 such that the right-angle vertex of the triangular cross- section lies on the fold line 136. These grooves allow bending of the panels from the flat sheet configuration without damage to the insulating layer 132 with the walls of each triangular groove meeting after ninety degrees of bending. To form the cabinet, each of the side, top and bottom wall panels of the sheet 130 are bent ninety degrees relative to the central rear wall panel 116 toward the insulating layer 132. In each of the empty corners of the sheet 130, the edges 140 of the outer panels (i.e. the side, top and bottom panels extending outward from the central rear panel 116) feature the insulating layer 132 cut at forty-five degrees to the underlying cladding layer 134 such that the resulting sloped surfaces 142 will fit flush against one another upon the ninety degree bending of the outer panels. The example of one such junction is shown at 144 in Figure 9A.

The grooves 138 of right angle triangular cross-section may be considered similarly formed by forty-five degree sloping of the insulating layer 132 along panel edges, as such sloping along the border of the central rear panel 116 and the edges of the adjacent outer panels integral therewith collectively forms the previously described triangular grooves. The edges of the outer panels opposite the sides of the central rear panel 116 from which they extend need not be shaped this way, as they are disposed at the open front of the cabinet upon folding of the laminate sheet 130, and thus do not mate with other edges of the panels.

As shown in the Figures, the triangular grooves 138 may extend fully through the insulating layer 132 to the cladding layer 134 so that the bending between the panels occurs only in the cladding layer. This may help prevent damage to the insulating layer 132, for example cracking of the insulation during

bending where relatively brittle insulating material is used. With two outer panels bent perpendicular to the central rear panel 116 as shown in Figure 9A, they are secured together for example by adhesive applied along the sloped edges forming the juncture 144 or by suitable fasteners known to those of skill in the art. It should be appreciated that the laminate sheet 130 does not have to be of the cross-shaped or t-shaped configuration shown in which three panels are arranged edge-to-edge in each direction. Four example, a single sheet defining all five wall panels may be arranged four panels (the top, bottom and both side panels) edge to edge in one direction with the remaining panel (the rear panel) extending from a free edge of one of the other four panels.

As shown in the Figures, the laminate sheet 130 may feature rails 178 already installed on the side wall panels 118 thereof before delivery to the end-user to further simplify assembly. A pair of rails installed one on each of the side wall panels 118 in an aligned manner proximate the top wall panel 112 facilitate the sliding installation of a thermoelectric cooling module 30 having rails 76 thereon into the top of the cabinet interior once the walls panels are properly bent from the flat sheet condition and secured together. A pair of rails can similarly be provided on the flat sheet 130 proximate the bottom wall panel 114. Alternatively rails could be provided with the sheet and at least one cooling module as part of a kit and installed by the end-user, for example by means of adhesive or fasteners. Additional rails may be provided on the wall panels to support shelves or racking within the cabinet interior as is known to those of skill in the art. As with the cabinet of Figures 1 and 2, alternative sliding members may be used in place of cooperating rails.

It should be appreciated that the wall panels 112 to 118 may be provided as more than one sheet of laminate. For example, the five wall panels may be provided in two foldable sheets rather than one, or the laminate may be provided in the form of at least one bendable sheet defining more than one panel and other sheets defining respective individual panels. As a further example, conceptualizing the broken lines 138 of Figure 8 as cut lines, it should be appreciated that the wall panels 112 to 118 may be provided as individual sheets of laminate. When the wall panels are provided as individual sheets where

bending is not required, the sheets may be constructed of injection molded plastic panels each provided with an insulating layer.

Regardless of the number of sheets provided in a cabinet-producing kit, providing the wall panels in an unassembled state to an intermediary or end user reduces the volume of the shipping package by eliminating empty space within the package that would normally constitute at least a portion of an assembled cabinet's interior. The result is a package that may be easier to handle and more affordable to ship. Depending on the size of the panels, providing them in the form of one or more multi-panel sheets may not result in improved handling properties and shipping rates, despite reduced volume, due to significant planar dimensions. Reduction of the laminate into sheets of fewer panels allows face-to-face stacking thereof into a low volume package with reduced planar dimensions.

Even when not provided together in a foldable multi-panel sheet, mating panels may be provided with mating edges cut to complementary angles (summing to ninety degrees), for example forty-five degrees each as described above. This can hide the interface between the end of the insulating layer of one panel and the panel mating therewith, except at the front of the cabinet as shown in Figure 9, and aid in proper alignment of the wall panels. Strips of the exterior cladding, or some other material, may be used to cover the exposed ends of the insulating layer at the front face of the cabinet to improve its appearance. Similarly, the planar faces of the insulating layer may be coated or covered by a suitable material to improve the appearance of the cabinet's interior, either during production or by the assembler. A door should be provided as part of any wall panel kit for pivotal mounting to the final cabinet structure by methods known to those of skill in the art, such as pin or hinge mounting.

Although each of the illustrated cabinets features two thermoelectric cooling modules 30, it should be appreciated that a single thermoelectric cooling module may be sufficient to cool a relatively small enclosure and also that more than two thermoelectric modules may be used to cool enclosures of larger size. Modules that extend the full width and depth of the cabinet act to seal of sections of the cabinet's interior by mating with the walls thereof, while smaller modules

allow airflow thereabout within the interior. Modules not extending the full width of an enclosure would of course not be limited to having the cold end, or heat absorbing portion, of the cooling system exposed to the interior space at the top or bottom panels of the module, as they could make use of the side panels for this purpose example. Similarly, a module not extending the full depth of the cabinet's interior could having the cold end communicate with the interior space at the rear panel of the module casing, while leaving the front panel free to establish communication of the hot end, or heat rejecting portion, of the cooling system with the outside environment for ambient air intake and hot air exhaust. Such sealing may be provided by closing any space between the module and the cabinet walls with the rails on which the module may be supported (see the top module of Figure 7). Therefore multiple thermoelectric cooling modules may be used to have a combined cooling effect on a fixed volume or to divide such a volume into a plurality of smaller volumes, each cooled by respective one or more thermoelectric modules. Furthermore, it should be appreciated that more than one thermoelectric cooling cell may be provided within the thermoelectric cooling modules of the present invention.

It should be appreciated that the fans, thermoelectric cell and the control mechanisms of the thermoelectric cooling modules 30 are coupled to a suitable power source connection. This may be done, for example, by providing each module with a conventional power cord extending outward from electrical connections within the casing to feed through an opening provided in one of the cabinet walls for connection to a conventional household electrical outlet. Alternatively, the cabinet may be provided with a power distribution device connected to a conventional household electrical outlet, with each module being plugged into the distribution device. Instead of a built-in power cord, the module may use a removable power cord having a suitable power plug at one end for cooperation with a standard household outlet and a line socket or connector at the other end for insertion into a chassis plug supported on the module, for example at the rear panel thereof, defining a set of conductive pins or prongs recessed into the module casing and wired to the electrical components therein. Such arrangements or IEC connectors featuring of a line socket connector and

panel plug inlet are commonly used in computers, musical instrument amplifiers and professional audio equipment. A transformer may be used to alter the voltage provided by a conventional outlet to an operational voltage of the cooling modules, should these values differ. For example, a step-down transformer would allow the operation of a 12-volt module on electricity provided by a 120-volt outlet. Small electrical components suitable for use in the cooling module, such as the fans and digital display, typically operate at significantly less than household voltage. Those of skill in the art of wine coolers are familiar with the connection of such components. For portable applications, the thermoelectric cooling modules may be adapted to use a battery or solar power source.

Figures 10 and 11 illustrate one possible arrangement for electrical connection of a thermoelectric cooling module 30 mountable in a cabinet. One of the slide rails 76 on the side walls 38 of the module casing 32 is shortened so as not to extend fully along the side wall, but rather to stop short of the rear face panel opposite the front face panel 40. At this rear end of the rail 76 a male electrical connector 80 having prongs 8OA extending rearward therefrom is mounted to the side wall 38 and wired through the casing to the electrical components inside. A respective female electrical connector 82, having slots 82A for receiving the prongs 8OA of the male connector 80, is supported on the side wall 18 of the cabinet atop the rail 78 mounted thereon. The slots 82A face toward the front of the cabinet so that when the thermoelectric module 30 is moved into the cabinet by a sliding action between the module rails 76 and the cabinet rails 78, the prongs 8OA of the male connector slide into the corresponding slots 82A of the female connector 82. The female connector 82 is wired to a power source, distributor or transformer by a cord 84 fed through an opening in the cabinet's rear wall 16. A grommet 86 seals the opening about the cord to prevent leakage of cooled air from the cabinet's interior. In the Figures, the combined length of the female connector 82, male connector 80 and module rail 76 with the connectors mated equal the length of the thermoelectric module's side wall 38 so that the thermoelectric module sits squarely within the cabinet having its rear face flush with the cabinet's rear wall. It should be appreciated that the male and female connectors may be mounted elsewhere on the module

and cabinet while providing the same sliding cooperation.

ALTERNATIVE: POWER CONNECTION

Figure 12 shows an alternate embodiment thermoelectric cooling module 30'. This alternate thermoelectric module 30' is intended for use in place of the upper thermoelectric cooling module of Figures 1 and 2, and thus has the cold end of the thermoelectric cell exposed to the surrounding environment exterior to the module (i.e. the interior of space of the cabinet below the module once installed) at the bottom panel of the module's casing 32'. The alternate thermoelectric module 30' differs from the first embodiment thermoelectric cooling module 30 in that the front face panel 40' is hingedly connected along its top edge to the top wall panel of the casing 32' so as to be pivotal about the top forwardmost edge thereof, thereby defining a flip front face that can be lifted open to allow easy access to the interior of the alternate thermoelectric cooling module 30' as shown in Figure 12A, for example for easy removal and installation of parts to simplify repair or maintenance.

Simple pop-in, pop-out components may be used to further simplify the maintenance or repair process. For example, Figure 12B shows a slide-in fan module 100 containing a cross-flow fan 68' and an electric motor connected to the cross-flow fan 68' for driven operation thereof.

The cross-flow fan 68' is rotatably mounted in a rectangular housing 102 of the fan module 100 for rotation about a vertical axis to draw air into the rectangular housing 102 through an opening 103 in an end face 102A thereof and force it outward from the rectangular housing through an opposite end face. The interior space of the thermoelectric cooling module casing 32' has a ledge or support shelf 104 extending across a front portion of the casing 32' between the side walls 38' thereof approximately half way up these side walls 38', vertically dividing the casing interior into upper and lower compartments 106, 108 in which the hot and cold ends of the thermoelectric cell are respectively disposed. The height of the fan module 100 is approximately equal to or slightly less than the height of the upper compartment 106 so as to be slidable thereinto along the upper surface of the ledge 104, at the comer defined between this upper surface of the ledge 104 and the inside surface of a respective side wall 38' of the

thermoelectric cooling module casing 32'.

A pair of conductive prongs 110 extend rearward from the rear face panel of the fan module housing 102 near the side panel 112 thereof opposite that which slides along the side wall 38' of the thermoelectric module casing 32 and are wired to the fan motor. A pair of sockets 114 defined above the ledge 104 within the upper compartment 106 of the thermoelectric module casing interior are sized and positioned to receive the prongs 110 when the fan module 100 is fully slid into the thermoelectric module casing past the open front thereof so that the flip front face 40' can be lowered back down to close the front of the thermoelectric module. Along with the thermoelectric cell controller and electronic display, the conductors within the fan module receiving sockets 114 are wired to a single electrical connection component for subsequent connection to a suitable power source for operation, examples of such connections and power sources having been presented herein above.

With the fan module 100 so slid into place within the thermoelectric module casing 32' and the flip front face panel 40' lowered back down into the closed position covering the front end of the casing 32', the opening 103 in the fan module housing 102 is positioned adjacent the grill-like inlet openings 64' formed in the flip front panel 40' at a height therealong corresponding to the upper compartment 106 of the thermoelectric module casing interior. Operation of the fan 68' thus draws cooling air into the thermoelectric module 30' through the inlet openings 64' for subsequent discharge from the fan module 100 to flow through a channel passing by the hot end of the thermoelectric cell in fluid communication therewith and final discharge from the thermoelectric module casing 32' through the discharge openings 66' provided in the closed flip front face panel 40' adjacent the end thereof opposite the inlet openings 64'.

Openings in the flip front face 40' provide visibility of the digital display and manual access to the control buttons of the cooling module electrical controller mounted below the horizontal ledge 104 centrally therealong between the side walls 38'. The digital display opening in the front panel 40' may be provided with a transparent covering to protect the screen from dirt and damage when the flip front 40' is closed. Flexible membranes may be provided within

control button openings of the front panel to similarly protect the control buttons.

With the thermoelectric module 30' of Figure 12 installed within a cabinet or enclosure equipped with a door connected its walls to be movable between open and closed positions respectively communicating and separating an interior space of the cabinet with an outside environment surrounding it, its prongs provide a set of conductive contacts associated with its cooling system and arranged for connection to a power source. The fan module is connected to the cooling system and arranged to cooperate therewith when installed and electrically powered by connection of its prongs, defining a respective set of conductive contacts, to the sockets. The cooperative sets of contacts are releasably engagable simply by sliding of the fan module into its designated space at the respective upper corner of the module's interior through the open front of the module casing defined when the flip front is open. Simultaneous removal of the fan module and disconnection from the power source connection is just as easily performed by opening the flip front of the unit and pulling out the fan module.

It will be appreciated that the centrifugal fan used to induce air flow across the cold end of the thermoelectric cell may be similarly arranged with the thermoelectric module casing 32' to provide easy slide-in, slide-out accessibility. Alternatively, one or more fans may be arranged to pop-in and pop-out by sliding in at one or both of the side panels 38' or pushed or pulled in and out at one or both of the top and bottom panels of the thermoelectric module casing 32, by way of movable (e.g. removable or pivotable) casing panels, movable panel portions or suitably sized panel openings. The thermoelectric module casing 32' may similarly be equipped with electrical connection sockets for one or more of its other electrical components, such as the electronic controller and display, to allow for this one-step installation and one-step removal of components, wherein guided or controlled insertion of a component into the casing interior simultaneously establishes the electric connections necessary for operation. The fans however, being the only moving mechanical parts in the thermoelectric cooling module, are the most likely to require maintenance, repair or

replacement. It will also be appreciated that such slide-in electronic components could be similarly used in a refrigerated cabinet structure having a built-in cooling system, as compared to the thermoelectric modules described herein above, thereby similarly simplifying the repair process for units where the cooling system is not a removable module. The fan module 100 illustrated in Figure 12B can be easily removed and reinstalled or replaced via the flip front face 40' of the thermoelectric module casing 32' without having to remove the thermoelectric module 30' from the cabinet in which it is mounted, without having to connect or disconnect wires and without the use of any tools.

Although the thermoelectric cooling modules have been presented in the context of cooling a cabinet, for example for the purpose of storing wine, it should be appreciated that they may be used for other purposes. For example, a cooling module may be used to chill a serving tray for foods best served at reduced temperatures relative to their surrounding environment.

Although the above-described embodiments use thermoelectric cooling, it will be appreciated from the following that a similar cooling module may be able to make use of a compression or absorption based cooling system having its heat absorbing portion, corresponding to the cold end of a thermoelectric cells of the preceding embodiments, exposed to the exterior of the module through the top or bottom panel and its heat rejecting portion, corresponding to the hot end of the thermoelectric cell of the preceding embodiments, dumping heat to air discharged through one of the end panels.

Figures 13 and 14 show a refrigeration module 200 that makes use of a vapour compression refrigeration cycle instead of a thermoelectric cell. The refrigeration module 200 features a casing 202 made up of side walls panels 204, a front end wall panel 206, a rear end wall panel 208, a bottom panel 210 and two top panels 212, 214 enclosing an interior space of the refrigeration module 200. The front end panel 206 is structured to form a grille 216 defining a series of closely spaced openings spread out over the front of the refrigeration module 200.

The interior space of the refrigeration module 200 is divided into two separate chambers, as shown in Figure 14. L-shaped in plan, a hot-side

chamber 218 has a first leg 218A extending the full length of the module's interior along the front end panel 206 of the casing 202 between the side panels 204 thereof and a second leg 218B extending rearward from the first leg 218A to the rear wall panel 208 of the casing along a respective one of the side walls panels 204 thereof. The remainder of the module's interior defines a rectangular cold- side chamber 220, spanning from the first leg 218A of the hot-side chamber 218 to the rear end panel 208 of the casing 202 in one horizontal direction and from the second leg 218B of the hot-side chamber 218 to the one of the side wall panels 204 thereopposite in the other horizontal direction.

The vapour compression refrigeration system within the refrigeration module 200 features a rotary compressor 222, condenser 224, expansion valve and evaporator 226 connected in a closed loop to circulate refrigerant through the system in this listed order to effect cooling in a well-known manner. As is well known to those of skill in the art, heat is rejected from the system at the condenser 224 as the refrigerant condenses and heat while heat is absorbed by the refrigerant during evaporation in the evaporator 226.

The condenser 224 is situated within the L-shaped chamber 218, extending along the first leg 218A thereof over a generally central portion thereof with the compressor 222 mounted within second leg 218B of the L-shaped chamber 218. A centrifugal exhaust fan 228 is mounted at the end of the first leg 218A of the L-shaped chamber 218 opposite the second leg 218B thereof, between the condenser and the respective one of the side wall panels 204. The inlet of the fan faces the front end panel 206 to draw air inward through the hot- side inlet 216A defined by openings of the grille 216 and blow the air along the first leg 218A of the L-shaped chamber 218 over the hot coils of the condenser 222. The air then exits the module casing 202 through the hot-side discharge 216B defined by the openings of the grille spaced from the exhaust fan 228. It will be appreciated that the grill openings centrally positioned along the front panel 206 may be eliminated to more distinctly define the hot side intake 216A and discharge 218A and ensure that air must flow over a significant length of the condenser before exiting the refrigeration module. The L-shaped 218 chamber thus defines a hot-side chamber containing the hot, or heat rejecting portion, of

the vapour compression refrigerant system. The front end panel 206 of the refrigeration module casing 202 is thus intended to communicate with the outside environment surrounding a cabinet in which it is installed to effect cooling thereof so as to draw in ambient air from outside the cabinet to cool the hot-side of the refrigeration system and by carrying away the heat rejected thereby.

Mounted within the rectangular chamber 220 of the refrigeration module's interior on a separating wall 230 running parallel to the front end panel 206 on the opposite side of the first leg 218A of the L-shaped chamber is an electric motor 232 having a double ended driveshaft. The driveshaft extends through the separating wall 230 to drive the exhaust fan 228 in the L-shaped chamber at one end. At the other end of the driveshaft, the motor is connected to a circulation fan 234 within the same rectangular chamber 220 as the motor 232 to simultaneously drive both fans under operation of the motor 232. It will be appreciated that other fan arrangements are possible, for example the use of two or more separately driven fans each having its own dedicated motor. Operation of the circulation fan draws air into the rectangular chamber 220 through a cold- side inlet 236 defined by a series of openings in the rear top panel 214 of the casing 202 at a position along the rear end panel 208 aligning with the circulation fan 234 near the respective one of the side walls 204. A divider wall 238 extends fully across the rectangular chamber 220 from the separating wall 230 to the rear end panel 208, but not over the full height of the rectangular chamber 220, instead depending only partially downward from the rear top panel 214 covering the rectangular chamber 220 to leave a gap between the divider wall 238 and the bottom panel 210. The circulation fan 234 blows the air drawn thereinto from outside the refrigeration module through the gap left between the divider wall 238 and the bottom panel 210 of the casing 202 into a second portion of the rectangular chamber on a side of the divider wall 238 opposite the motor 232 and circulation fan 234.

The second portion 220B of the rectangular chamber 220 nearest the second leg 218B of the L-shaped chamber 218 contains the evaporator. The air drawn into the rectangular chamber 220 by the circulation fan flows past the evaporator for discharge from the module casing 202 through a cold-side

discharge 240 defined by another series of openings defined in the rear top panel 214 of the casing spaced from the cold-side inlet 236 at an end of the rectangular chamber 220 nearest the second leg 218B of the L-shaped chamber 218. With the refrigeration module sitting at the bottom of a cabinet interior it's intended to cool, air above the refrigeration module 200 within the cabinet interior is flows through the rectangular cool-side chamber 220, drawn thereinto by the circulation fan 234 and passed under the divider wall 238 to flow over the evaporator and transfer heat thereto before exiting through the discharge 240 in the top rear panel covering the rectangular chamber 220. As a result of dumping heat to the refrigerant in the evaporator, the air discharged from the refrigerant module back into the surrounding interior of the cabinet is cooler than when it entered the module casing, thus refrigerating the cabinet's interior.

In a known manner, an electronic control and monitoring system 242 is provided, including a front panel display 244 and operational buttons 246 for user-control over the temperature of a cabinet relying on the refrigeration module 200 for cooling of its interior. The cold-side inlet 236 and discharge 240 are provided adjacent the rear wall panel 208 to allow cooperation with vertically extending ductwork that may be installed along the interior back wall of a cabinet to be cooled by the refrigeration module 200 to separate the cooler air stream exiting the discharge 240 from the warmer air being drawn into the inlet 236 to ensure circulation of the cool air through the cabinet interior.

The illustrated refrigeration module 200 features a step-like shape resulting from a greater height of the casing 202 over a rear portion of the module corresponding to the rear top panel 214 covering the cold-side chamber 220 within and extending fully along the unit from one of the two side walls 204 to the other. Adding height to where it is need, for example to accommodate the rotary compressor 222, but keeping the height of the module lower in a least some areas where it is not, helps reduce the volume of the refrigeration module, which nonetheless may still be notably larger than a thermoelectric module taught in other preceding embodiments. The lower height of the front top panel 212 of the refrigeration module 200 covering the first leg 218A of the L-shaped hot-side chamber 218 could allow for a cabinet door to be closed over a front edge of this

lower portion or may just increase storage space at the bottom of the cabinet.

Although illustrated as a unit suitable for installation at the bottom of a space to be cooled, the refrigeration module 200 can be easily adapted for cooling from above, for example by moving the cold-side inlet 236 and discharge 240 to the bottom panel 210, reorienting the circulation fan 234 accordingly and moving the moving the divider wall gap to the top panel. The provision of rails on the side walls 204 for cooperation with corresponding slide-facilitating elements on the side walls of the cabinet to be cooled would also aid in modification of the illustrated refrigeration module, which can simply be slid into the cabinet to sit atop the base or bottom thereof, would further aid in installation in an overhead context.

The thermoelectric and vapour compression based modules each have their interior divided into separate compartments to define separate channels or pathways to separately direct airflow from the cabinet interior over the heat absorbing portion (e.g. cold side/end or evaporator) for return to the surrounding cabinet space at a lower temperature and from the outside environment over the heat rejecting portion (e.g. hot side/end or condenser). Each features discharge of warm exhaust air at an end panel thereof to allow for front-exhaust configurations that allow a cooled or refrigerated cabinet to be placed right up against a wall or other surface and allows conversion of an existing cabinet enclosure into a cooled or refrigerated space. Transported with, but not within, an assembled cabinet, each module reduces the awkwardness of handling the cabinet compared to a heavier conventional cabinet with a built-in cooling system. Either module type can also be sold with the described cabinet panels, rather than a fully or substantially assembled cabinet, to further simplify shipping of the product. Prototypes of the thermoelectric type cooling modules have been found suitable for cooling a 32 bottle wine cooler, and it is conceived that the cooling capacity may be increased with little increase in module size, for example by adding a second thermoelectric cell. A prototype 1500 BTU of the vapour-compressor type cooling module has been constructed and is speculated to be sufficient to maintain a 350-400 bottle wine cooler within a desirable temperature. A walk-in wine cellar or larger cabinet could for example make

additional use of a second similar module, or alternatively use a replacement module with higher cooling capacity.

It should be appreciated that the thermoelectric cells and other components within the modules may be differently positioned or oriented while still cooperating in the manner as described and claimed herein.

Since various modifications can be made in my invention as herein above described, and many apparently widely different embodiments of same made within the spirit and scope of the claims without department from such spirit and scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.