Portable cooling device

• US 6,260,201 B1
• Filed: 08/18/2000
• Issued: 07/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Mark J. Rankin
• Original Assignee: Mark J. Rankin
• Inventors: Rankin, Mark J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Calvert, John J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Muromoto, Jr., Robert H.
• Application Number:
  US09/641,857
• Time in Patent Office: 333 Days
• Field of Search: 2 6/9, 2 8/1, 2 9/7, 227/2, 2DI/G 3
• US Class Current: 2/69
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0025 by means of forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0053 Cooled garments
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 2/03 Inflatable garment

Abstract

A portable cooling device for presenting air across the body of a wearer of the device. The portable cooling device includes a shirt portion. The shirt portion comprises a front panel and a back panel securely coupled together. The shirt portion has a neck opening and a pair of sleeves. Each of the panels has an inner and outer surface. A cooling system includes a plurality of tubular members, each of which is elongate and has a first end and a second end. Each of the tubular members is securely attached to the inner surface of the shirt portion. Each of the tubular members has a peripheral wall has a plurality of openings therein. A connector tube has a first end and a second end. The connector tube is securely attached to the inner surface of the vest member. Each of the first and second ends of the tubular members is fluidly coupled to the connector tube. A supply tube supplies air to the tubular members. The supply tube has a first end and a second end. The first end is fluidly coupled to one of the tubular members. An air delivery means delivers air to the supply tube.

Claims

1. A portable cooling device, said device being removably wearable by a person, said device comprising:

a shirt portion, said shirt portion comprising a front panel and a back panel securely coupled together, said shirt portion having a neck opening and a pair of sleeves, each of said panels having an inner and outer surface;

a cooling system, said cooling system comprising;

a plurality of tubular members, each of said tubular members being elongate and having a first end and a second end, each of said tubular members being securely attached to said inner surface of said shirt portion, each of said tubular members having a peripheral wall having a plurality of openings therein;

a connector tube, said connector tube having a first end and a second end, said connector tube being securely attached to said inner surface of said vest member, each of said first and second ends of said tubular members being fluidly coupled to said connector tube;

a supply tube for supplying air to said tubular members, said supply tube having a first end and a second end, said first end fluidly coupled to one of said tubular members; and

an air delivery means for delivering air to said supply tube.

2. The portable cooling device as in claim 1, wherein said shirt portion further comprises:

a pair of inner panels, each of said inner panels being securely coupled to one of said front and back panels such that said tubular members and said connector tube are positioned between said inner panels and said front and back panels, wherein said openings in said tubular members are directed toward said inner panels.

3. The portable cooling device as in claim 2, wherein said shirt portion further comprises:

each of said panels comprising a perforated cloth material such that there is relatively little resistance to air flow through said panels.

4. The portable cooling device as in claim 1, wherein said plurality of tubular members further comprises:

each of said tubular members extending around an inner diameter of said vest portion such that said first and second ends of said tubular members are positioned along a line extending through a sternum portion of said shirt portion, each of said tubular members comprising a generally resiliently flexible material.

5. The portable cooling device as in claim 2, wherein said air delivery means comprises:

a panel, said panel having a hole therethrough, an edge of said hole having a lip thereon, said panel having a peripheral edge having a flange thereon, said flange extending in an opposite direction of said lip, said flange having an elastomeric coating thereon, said second end of said supply tube being removably attachable to said lip, wherein said panel may be positioned over an air conditioning vent such that vent from said air conditioning vent may travel into said supply tube.

6. The portable cooling device as in claim 2, wherein said air delivery means comprises:

an air pump device, said air pump device having an exit conduit thereon, said air pump device being adapted to pump air into said exit conduit, said exit conduit being removably attached to said second end of said supply tube; and

a power supply for supplying power to said air pump device, said power supply being operationally coupled to said air pump device.

7. A portable cooling device, said device being removably wearable by a person, said device comprising:

a shirt portion, said shirt portion comprising a front panel and a back panel securely coupled together, said shirt portion having a neck opening and a pair of sleeves, said shirt portion being adapted for removably coupling a torso, each of said panels comprising a perforated cloth material;

a vest portion, said vest portion being adapted for removable placement over said shirt portion, said vest portion having a neck opening therein, said vest portion having a pair of side openings therein each adapted to receive one of said sleeves, said vest portion having an inner surface and an outer surface;

a cooling system, said cooling system comprising;

a plurality of tubular members, each of said tubular members being elongate and having a first end and a second end, each of said tubular members being securely attached to said inner surface of said vest portion, each of said tubular members extending around an inner diameter of said vest portion such that said first and second ends of said tubular members are positioned along a line extending through a sternum portion of said vest portion, each of said tubular members having a plurality of openings therein, each of said tubular members comprising a generally resiliently flexible material;

a connector tube, said connector tube having a first end and a second end, said connector tube being securely attached to said inner surface of said vest member and extending between said first and second ends of said tubular members, each of said first and second ends of said tubular members being fluidly coupled to said connector tube, said connector tube comprising a resiliently flexible material;

a supply tube for Supplying air to said tubular members, said supply tube having a first end and a second end, said first end fluidly coupled to one of said tubular members, said supply tube comprising a resiliently flexible member;

an air delivery means for delivering air to said supply tube, said air delivery means comprising;

an air pump device, said air pump device having an exit conduit thereon, said air pump device being adapted to pump air into said exit conduit, said exit conduit being removably attached to said second end of said supply tube; and

a power supply for supplying power to said air pump device, said power supply being operationally coupled to said air pump device, said power supply comprising a plug adapted for plugging into an automobile.