Portable air conditioner/beverage container

• US 6,227,004 B1
• Filed: 11/02/1999
• Issued: 05/08/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cool GUYZ Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cool GUYZ Incorporated
• Inventors: Gerstein, Mark S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doerrler, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHULMAN, MARK S
• Application Number:
  US09/432,349
• Time in Patent Office: 553 Days
• Field of Search: 62/423, 62/421, 62/457.3
• US Class Current: 62/421
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 19/2288 with means for keeping liquid cool or hot
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2331/81 Pitchers
• 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 portable air conditioner/beverage container includes a container having top and bottom ends, a side wall, an air intake opening, and a cool air outlet. Within the container, there is a separation wall. A first space between the separation wall and the side wall defines an air intake region. The air intake region is in fluid communication with the air intake opening. A second space between the side wall and the separation wall defines a cold substance chamber. A blower is in fluid communication with the cool air outlet. A power supply is coupled to the blower. The blower pulls air in through the air intake opening, down through the air intake region, and around the separation wall. Air flows up through the cold substance chamber, through the cool air outlet, where it is expelled onto a user.

Claims

1. A portable air conditioner, comprising:

a container having top and bottom ends, a side wall, an air intake opening, and a cool air opening;

a separation wall within the container, a first space between the separation wall and the side wall defining an air intake region, the air intake region in fluid communication with the air intake opening, a second space between the separation wall and the side wall defining a cold substance chamber;

a blower in fluid communication with the cool air outlet; and

a power supply operatively coupled to the blower.

2. The portable air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the blower is a fan.

3. The portable air conditioner of claim 2, wherein the power supply is a battery.

4. The portable air conditioner of claim 1, further comprising:

a straw in fluid communication with an interior portion of the container.

5. The portable air conditioner of claim 1, further comprising:

an on/off switch between the power supply and the blower.

6. The portable air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the blower is situated so as to pull air through the air intake opening and push it out through the cool air outlet.

7. The portable air conditioner of claim 1, further comprising:

a lid connected to the top end of the container, the blower being housed within the lid, the lid having an air intake vent in fluid communication with the air intake opening, and the lid having a cool air vent in fluid communication with the blower.

8. The portable air conditioner of claim 7, further comprising:

a straw in fluid communication with an interior portion of the container.

9. The portable air conditioner of claim 7, further comprising:

a vent blocking slide piece held in a lip adjacent to the separation wall.

10. The portable air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the separation wall is part of a removable insert, the removable insert fitting inside the container.

11. The portable air conditioner of claim 7, further comprising:

rubber around the top of the container to form a seal between the container and the lid.

12. The portable air conditioner of claim 7 wherein the container is plastic.

13. The portable air conditioner of claim 12 wherein the side wall is insulated.

14. The portable air conditioner of claim 2 wherein the fan is a squirrel cage fan.

15. A portable air conditioner/beverage container, comprising:

a container having a closed bottom, a side wall, a top, an air intake opening, a cool air outlet, and a beverage opening;

a barrier wall in the interior of the container, space between the barrier wall and the side wall defining a beverage compartment;

a separation wall in the interior of the container;

a cold substance chamber in fluid communication with the cool air outlet;

an air intake region in fluid communication with the air intake opening;

a blower in fluid communication with the cool air outlet; and

a power supply operatively connected to the blower.

16. The portable air conditioner of claim 15, further comprising:

a drain hole to allow water to be drained from the cold substance chamber; and

a drain plug in the drain hole.

17. The portable air conditioner of claim 15, further comprising:

a straw in fluid communication with the beverage compartment.

18. The portable air conditioner of claim 15, wherein a space between the barrier wall and separation wall defines the air intake region, a space between the separation wall and side wall defines the cold substance chamber, and a space between the barrier wall and side wall defines the beverage compartment.

19. A portable air conditioner/beverage container, comprising:

a container having a closed bottom, a top, and a side wall, the top having an air intake opening and a cool air outlet;

a lid connected to the top of the container, the lid having an air intake vent and a cool air vent, the air intake vent in fluid communication with the air intake opening;

a separation wall in an interior of the container, the separation wall having holes to allow air to flow through the wall;

a first space between the separation wall and the side wall defining an air intake region, the air intake region in fluid communication with the air intake opening;

a second space between the separation wall and side wall defining a cold substance chamber, the cold substance chamber in fluid communication with the cool air outlet;

a fan housed within the lid, the fan situated to pull air through the cold substance chamber and cool air outlet, and expel it out through the cool air vent; and

a power supply operatively connected to the fan.