ICE AIR CONDITIONER

• US 20130233002A1
• Filed: 02/27/2013
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Icybreeze Cooling, LLC (Solo Brands, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: IcyBreeze LLC
• Inventors: Donaldson, Clint, Yonce, David
• Granted Patent: US 9,091,449 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/99
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/032 characterised by heat exchangers
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/035 characterised by the mounting or arrangement of filters
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0021 using phase change material [PCM] for storage
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A device includes a portable chest, a radiator in the chest, a liquid pump in the chest that moves liquid through the radiator, and a fan for providing an airflow across the radiator. The portable chest stores a quantity of chilled water that is pumped through the radiator by the liquid pump to chill the airflow provided by the fan.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a portable chest;

a radiator in the chest;

a liquid pump in the chest that moves liquid through the radiator; and

a fan for providing an airflow across the radiator;

wherein the portable chest stores a quantity of liquid that is pumped through the radiator by the liquid pump to chill the airflow provided by the fan.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable chest is a portable ice-based cooler.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising a remote control that activates the liquid pump and fan.

4. The device of claim 1, further comprising a power supply retained in the chest for powering the pump and fan.

5. The device of claim 4, further comprising a user accessible control panel providing at least controls for turning the liquid pump and fan on and off

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the control panel further provides a control for allowing a user to adjust between at least two operating fan speeds.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the portable chest comprises a lid and an ice reservoir.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the lid is hinged to the ice reservoir and retains the radiator and fan, and the ice reservoir retains the liquid pump.

9. The device of claim 7, wherein the lid defines an airflow path for directing air through the radiator and outside the device.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the airflow path comprises a flexible portion that may be manipulated by a user to at least partially define the airflow path.

11. The device of claim 5, wherein the ice reservoir comprises an outer shell and a liner.

12. The device of claim 7, wherein at least the outer shell is molded to accept an axle attached to a pair of wheels.

13. The device of claim 7, wherein the outer shell provides a tow handle for operation in conjunction with the wheels.

14. A device comprising:

a chest for containing a quantity of liquid;

a lid for the chest defining an airway and having a radiator in the airway for chilling air and a fan that moves the air through the airway and out of the lid; and

a pump in the insulated chest that moves liquid from the chest, through the radiator, and back to the chest.

15. The device of claim 14, further comprising a power supply operatively coupled to the fan and the pump.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a user accessible control panel that allows a user to control at least power to the pump and fan.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the lid comprises an upper shell and a lower shell that connect together to define at least a portion of the airway.

18. The device of claim 15, further comprising a flexible portion of airway that is manipulable by a user to change a location where chilled air exits the lid.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the upper shell and lower shell define two air shafts with a user manipulable flexible vent tube therebetween.

20. A method comprising:

providing an insulated chest with a liquid reservoir and a lid;

defining an air path in the lid;

providing a liquid pump inside the ice reservoir;

providing a radiator and fan in the lid as part of the air path;

pumping chilled water from the insulated chest to the radiator; and

moving air through the air path with the fan, through the radiator, and outside the lid.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising providing a battery inside the lid that selectively powers the pump and fan.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising providing a user control for activating the pump and fan.

23. A device comprising:

a portable chest defining an airway and a liquid reservoir;

a first radiator in the airway;

a second radiator in the liquid reservoir;

a fan that moves air through the airway; and

a pump that moves liquid from the second radiator to the first radiator.