COOLING APPARATUS

• US 20040074250A1
• Filed: 10/22/2002
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Richard Junkins
• Original Assignee: Richard Junkins
• Inventors: Junkins, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 6,715,309 B1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/259.3
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/285 with additional heating or cooling means
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/26 Refrigerating devices for cooling wearing apparel, e.g. garments, hats, shoes or gloves
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/02 using ice, e.g. ice-boxes

Abstract

A cooling apparatus includes a base unit in the form of an insulated tank that defines a refrigerant chamber therein for refrigerant, a discharge unit for discharging a flow of air, and a closed circulation system for transferring coolness from the refrigerant in the refrigerant chamber to the air flow in the discharge unit, the circulation system including a first tube coil in the refrigerant chamber, and second tube coil in the discharge unit, a pump, and hoses for conveying coolant from the first tube coil to the second tube coil and back to the pump. The base unit can be harnessed to a user as a backpack and the discharge unit can be a helmet worn by the user, the hoses connected therebetween being flexible. The refrigerant supplied to the refrigerant chamber can be ice and the coolant flowing through the closed circulation system can be water.

Claims

1. A cooling apparatus which comprises:

a base unit which includes an insulated container that provides a refrigerant chamber therein,

a discharge device which defines an outlet opening and which includes a fan for creating air flowing out of said outlet opening, and

a closed coolant circulation system for transferring coolness from refrigerant in said refrigerant chamber to the air flowing out of said discharge device, said closed coolant circulation system comprising a first tube coil in said refrigerant chamber, a second tube coil in said discharge device, first and second connecting tubes extending between said base unit and said discharge unit, and a pump for circulating coolant through said first tube coil so as to be cooled by refrigerant in said refrigerant chamber, then through said first connecting tube to said second tube coil in said discharge unit so as to cool air flowing from said fan past said second tube coil, and then through said second connecting tube back to said base unit.

2. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base unit defines a pump chamber therein and said pump of said closed coolant transfer system is located in said pump chamber.

3. A cooling apparatus according to claim 2, including a battery in said pump chamber for powering said pump.

4. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second connecting tubes are flexible.

5. A cooling apparatus according to claim 4, wherein said first and second connecting tubes are made of rubber.

6. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first and second tube coils are made of rigid material.

7. A cooling apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said first and second tube coils are made of metal.

8. A cooling apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first and second tube coils are made of copper.

9. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said base unit includes a harness for attaching said insulated container to as user as a backpack.

10. A cooling apparatus according to claim 9, wherein said discharge device comprises a helmet for positioning on a head of a user.

11. A cooling apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said helmet includes a dome having perforations for the inflow of ambient air.

12. A cooling apparatus according to claim 11, wherein said fan includes a battery-operated motor.

13. A cooling apparatus according to claim 12, wherein said helmet includes an internal band having a conical upper portion for directing air flowing from said fan to the peripheral interior of the helmet and over the face, sides and rear of the user'"'"'s head.

14. A cooling apparatus according to claim 9, including a drainage valve in a bottom wall of said insulated container for draining liquid out of said refrigerant chamber.

15. A cooling apparatus according to claim 9, including an opening in a top wall of said insulated container for enabling refrigerant to be supplied into said refrigerant chamber, and a cap for closing said opening.

16. A cooling apparatus according to claim 9, including first and second T-connectors extending through said insulated container and respectively connected to said first and second connecting tubes, said first and second T-connectors including respective side branches with valves to enable coolant to be added to said closed circulation system or drained therefrom.

17. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said refrigerant is ice.

18. A cooling apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said coolant is water.