Portable air conditioning apparatus

• US 20030230109A1
• Filed: 03/19/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/01/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: John Link
• Original Assignee: John Link
• Inventors: Link, John
• Granted Patent: US 7,178,357 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00264 Transportable devices
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/3235 using sublimation, e.g. dry ice cooling or melting ice

Abstract

A portable cooling or heating system suitable for use on a vehicle such as a car, plane or boat, that does not have its own air conditioning system. The system is intended to be combined with a portable cooler chest and includes an electric fan unit that can be powered from the power supply on a vehicle. The cooling is provided by ice and the like. The system can also be used to heat a confined space by placing a hot material in the chest.

Claims

1. A portable cooling or heating system comprising:

a portable cooler chest; and

a lid dimensioned to fit the portable cooler chest, the lid having first and second openings therethrough, each of the openings providing for the passage of air;

the first opening being an intake for the passage of air into the cooler chest, and the second opening being a vent for the passage of air out of the cooler chest;

a motor and fan unit connected into and extending inwardly through the first opening for facilitating the passage of air into the cooler chest; and

means for providing electrical power to the motor;

whereby a cold material is placed in the chest, and air forced into the chest by the fan unit is cooled when contacting the cold material, and outlet into the surroundings through the second opening.

2. The portable system of claim 1 further comprising a vent grill, covering the first opening, for the passage of air without permitting large particles to pass through the opening.

3. The portable system of claim 2, wherein the grill comprises a set of louvers that are rotatable about an axis of the opening.

4. The portable system of claim 3, wherein the set of louvers are also tiltable.

5. The portable system of claim 1, further comprising first and second caps for covering each of the first and second openings.

6. The portable system of claim 5 wherein the first and second caps are attached to the lid with hinges.

7. The portable system of claim 6 wherein the lid has an inner and an outer surface, and one of the first and second caps is hingedly connected to the inner surface of the lid at a location intermediate the two openings, thereby permitting the cap to swing inwardly, into the cooler chest from the lid, so as to extend downwardly into the chest, whereby when opened the cap can act as a baffle to direct air between the openings.

8. The portable system of claim 5 wherein the first and second caps are removably attached to the lid.

9. The portable system of claim 1, wherein the means for providing electrical power to the motor comprises a power cord having a plug suitable to electrically connect to the power supply of a vehicle.

10. The portable system of claim 9 further comprising a channel molded into the lid extending around its perimeter for storing the power cord when it is not in use.

11. A lid attachable to a cooler chest and for providing air conditioning to the surrounding environment, comprising:

a housing molded to fit of a cooler chest;

an air intake opening extending through the housing;

an air exhaust opening extending through the housing;

a fan positioned within the air intake opening for pulling air from the surrounding environment into the cooler; and

a means for providing electrical power to the fan;

whereby the housing is placed over the cooler to enclose the cooler, and cold material is placed within the cooler, air is circulated from the surrounding environment by the fan through the air intake opening into the cooler chest, cooling the air by contacting the cold material inside the cooler, the cool air being passed out through the air exhaust opening into the surrounding environment.

12. The lid of claim 11 further comprising a grill covering the air exhaust opening, for the passage of air without permitting large particles to pass through the opening.

13. The lid of claim 11, further comprising first and second caps for covering each of the air intake and air exhaust openings, respectively.

14. The lid of claim 13 wherein the first and second caps are attached to the housing with hinges.

15. The lid of claim 14 wherein the lid has an inner and an outer surface, one of the first and second caps is attached to the inner surface of the lid by a hinge located between the two openings, thereby permitting the cap to swing inwardly, into the cooler chest from the lid, so as to extend downwardly into the chest intermediate the two openings, whereby the cap can act as a baffle when opened to direct air between the openings.

16. The lid of claim 13 wherein the first and second caps are removably attached to the lid.

17. The lid of claim 11, wherein the means for providing electrical power to the motor comprises a power cord having a plug suitable to electrically connect to the power supply of a vehicle.

18. The lid of claim 17 further comprising a channel molded into the lid extending around its perimeter for storing the power cord when it is not in use.

19. A portable cooling or heating system suitable for use on a vehicle, the portable system comprising a plate dimensioned to fit on a ledge surrounding the space within a predetermined sized portable cooler chest and to extend across the entire space, the plate having two openings therethrough;

the first opening being a vent for the passage of air;

an electric motor and fan unit connected into and extending inwardly through the second opening, the unit being disposed to extend into the space within the predetermined cooler chest; and

means for providing electrical power to the electric motor;

wherein when the plate is supported within the cooler chest space and a cold material is placed in the chest, air forced into the chest by the fan unit is cooled and when vented through the first opening, can serve to cool a vehicle.

20. The portable system of claim 19 comprising a vent grill, covering the first opening, for the passage of air without permitting large particles to pass through the opening.

21. The portable system of claim 20, wherein the vent grill comprises a set of louvers that are rotatable about an axis of the opening and are tiltable.