Air cooling device

• US 6,971,249 B1
• Filed: 02/27/2003
• Issued: 12/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ralf Blackstone
• Original Assignee: Ralf Blackstone
• Inventors: Blackstone, Ralf
• Primary Examiner(s): Tyler, Cheryl J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zec, Filip
• Application Number:
  US10/375,526
• Time in Patent Office: 1,013 Days
• Field of Search: 624/20, 624/21, 624/25, 624/48, 601/15, 601/16
• US Class Current: 62/421
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0055 by means of dry ice
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A portable air chiller for providing air conditioning in a variety of environmental circumstances. The portable air chiller includes an insulated container capable of effectively containing a endothermic substrate, an in-flow vent and out-flow vent positioned to communicate air flow from the exterior of the container to the interior of the container. A fan located in the out flow vent facilitates conditioned air movement out of the interior of the portable air chiller. The interior of the portable air chiller houses a endothermic substrate holder which practically traverses the length and width of the interior.

Claims

1. A portable air cooling device comprising:

an insulated housing having an interior end having sidewalls and a bottom wall, the bottom wall defining a grate opening;

a base having an interior, the base includes walls, the walls including a bottom wall, side walls and a top wall, the top wall dimension for receipt of a least a portion of the bottom wall of the insulated housing thereon such that the grate opening is below the top wall of the base and above the bottom wall of the base;

a grate for sealing the grate opening, dimensioned to prevent ice chunks resident in the insulated housing, smaller than a predetermined minimum size from passing into the interior of the base; and

, means for drawing air through the grate into the interior housing and out of the insulated housing.

2. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 further including a removable lid for engaging an upper perimeter of the sidewall of the insulated housing.

3. The portable air cooling device of claim 2 wherein the means for drawing air includes a blower engaged with a removable lid.

4. The portable air cooling device of claim 2 further including means to seal the lid to the housing.

5. The portable air cooling device of claim 2 wherein the means for drawing air includes cut outs in the walls of the base.

6. The portable air cooling device of claim 5 wherein the cut outs are in the top wall of the base.

7. The portable air cooling device of claim 5 wherein the cut outs are in the sidewalls of the base.

8. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 wherein the insulated housing further includes means to center an ice mass on the grate opening.

9. The portable air cooling device of claim 8 wherein the means to center an ice mass includes bottom walls, the bottom walls defining a downward slop and wherein the grate is located at the bottom of the downward slope.

10. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 further including means for engaging the insulated housing to the base.

11. The portable air cooling device of claim 10 wherein the means for engaging the insulated the housing to the base includes a bungee cord.

12. The portable air cooling device of claim 11 wherein the bungee cord is adapted to engage the insulated housing and a support surface of the base to urge the insulated housing against the base.

13. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 wherein the interior of the base has a greater water volume capacity than the interior of the housing has ice holding capacity.

14. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 wherein the insulated housing is generally rectangular and the base is generally rectangular, the greatest dimension of either the length of the insulated housing or the width not exceeding 14 inches.

15. The portable air cooling device of claim 14 wherein the base includes four pillars, wherein the pillars are adapted to receive the insulated housing.

16. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 wherein the top wall of the base is adapted to receive the bottom of the insulated housing at a multiplicity of spaced apart contact points.

17. The portable air cooling device of claim 1 wherein the base includes a drain.

18. A system for providing cool air to an individual user, the system comprising:

an insulated housing adapted to contain an endothermic substance therein;

a blower for engaging the insulated housing and adapted to draw air through the housing;

an inflatable member with a receiving port for receiving cool air from the insulated housing, the inflatable member shaped to lay adjacent the body of the user and conduit means for delivering air between the insulated housing and the inflatable member.

19. The system of claim 18 wherein the inflatable member includes a multiplicity of perforations therein, adapted to provide cool air to the user.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the inflatable member includes one of the following:

a blanket;

a mummy bag;

or

a vest.

21. The system of claim 19 wherein the inflatable member is comprised of one of paper or plastic or a combination thereof.

22. The system of claim 19 wherein the inflatable member includes a return port for returning some air from the inflatable member to the insulated housing.