Portable air conditioner

• US 7,155,924 B2
• Filed: 09/07/2004
• Issued: 01/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bradley N. Grossman Revocable Trust
• Original Assignee: Coolwell, Inc.
• Inventors: Zuckerman, Raymond S., Shostack, Ronald N., Falk, Bryan R., Rosenbaum, Thomas M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Melvin
• Application Number:
  US10/935,924
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 847 Days
• Field of Search: 624/06, 624/24, 624/26, 624/34, 624/41, 624/574, 624/579
• US Class Current: 62/424
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/04 Arrangements for portability
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

An apparatus and method for cooling air that utilizes a removable reservoir that may be filled with a consumable beverage or other cooled liquid or solid material. The bottom of the reservoir is made of a thermally conductive material that is placed within an air duct within a base unit that has a battery powered fan capable of drawing in warm air from outside of the base unit and cooling it by passing it over the thermally conductive material in a turbulent fashion and expelling it back into the surrounding environment. An expandable hose may also be included to direct the airflow in a desired direction or location. The unit may also include an alternative path for airflow such that the airflow may be heated. The unit may also be secured to an open air vehicle such as a golf cart to provide cooled or heated air for golf course patrons. Another important feature of the air conditioner is to provide a means to prevent unauthorized access to the contents of the reservoir as to prevent contamination of its contents.

Claims

1. A portable air conditioner for cooling an air temperature outside of the portable air conditioner comprising:

a. a reservoir;

i. said reservoir further comprising a sealed container for storing chilled matter, said matter having a temperature that is lower than the air temperature outside of the portable air conditioner;

said reservoir further comprising a top surface area, a bottom surface area, and an outer surface area said surface areas composed of a thermally conductive material;

b. a power source;

c. a motorized airflow generator coupled to said power source;

d. an air duct;

said air duct further comprising;

i. an air intake chamber;

ii. an exhaust chamber;

iii. a central chamber;

1. said central chamber further comprising a top area;

2. said central chamber located between said air intake chamber and said exhaust chamber such that the top area of said central chamber includes the bottom surface area of said reservoir

e. said motorized airflow generator coupled to said air duct;

f. said motorized airflow generator such that when said airflow generator receives power from said power source, the airflow generator generates an airflow that originates from outside of said portable air conditioner and flows into said air intake chamber;

g. said airflow having a temperature and continuing in motion such that said airflow may come in contact with said bottom surface area of said reservoir such that if said bottom surface area has a temperature that is less than the temperature of the airflow then the bottom surface area reduces the temperature of said airflow;

h. said airflow continuing in motion such that said airflow enters said exhaust chamber and is expelled outside of said portable air conditioner;

i. said bottom surface area of said reservoir further comprises at least one fin wherein said at least one fin is arranged in such a way that said airflow deflects off of said at least one fin in many directions before said airflow is expelled out of said exhaust chamber.

3. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a temperature switch;

i. said temperature switch further comprising a first and second hollow cylinder said first hollow cylinder further including a heating element coupled to said power source;

ii. said temperature switch is located within said exhaust chamber and is secured to a movable guide such that either the first or second hollow cylinders may provide a singular path for said airflow to travel from said central chamber and be expelled outside of said air conditioner.

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

a. a storage area;

Said storage area being coupled to the top surface of said reservoir and is enclosed by a cover;

said cover further including a hinge such that said hinge is coupled to said reservoir such that said cover may pivot to either an open or a closed position said cover can be secured by a locking mechanism.

5. The portable air conditioner of claim 4 wherein said locking mechanism is a spring-loaded lock that secures said container to said air conditioner as well as preventing unauthorized access to said reservoir.

6. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising:

a. an aroma cartridge;

b. a directional air dispenser further comprising a first and second airway;

i. said directional air dispenser is coupled to said exhaust chamber such that said airflow may enter into said dispenser from said exhaust chamber;

ii. said aroma cartridge coupled to said second airway such that when said airflow enters into said dispenser from said exhaust chamber, said airflow may be expelled from either said first or second airway;

iii. said aroma cartridge further comprising a scented insert such that when said airflow enters said second airway, said airflow contacts said scented insert and becomes fragrant as said airflow is expelled from said second airway.

7. The portable air conditioner of claim 6 wherein said aroma cartridge further comprises a variable airflow outlet control such that said control varies the airflow through said second airway ranging from an open position to a closed position.

8. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a noise dampening apparatus;

i. said noise dampening apparatus further comprising;

1. a hollow dampening chamber having curved or bent surface area;

2. said dampening chamber being coupled to said motorized airflow generator such that when said motorized airflow generator is operating said generator creates a sound wave having an amplitude such that said sound wave is impeded by said curved or bent surface area thereby decreasing said amplitude of said sound wave.

9. The portable air conditioner of claim 1 further comprising an open air vehicle having a seating area wherein said portable air conditioner is secured to said vehicle such that said airflow may be directed toward said seating area.

10. The portable air conditioner of claim 9 further comprising an external switch, said switch having an open and a closed position and being secured to the seating area of said open air vehicle such that when said seating area is occupied, said switch is changed to the closed position and triggers said air conditioner to begin ingesting air into said air intake chamber.

2. A portable air conditioner for cooling an air temperature outside of the portable air conditioner comprising:

a. a reservoir;

i. said reservoir further comprising a sealed container for storing chilled matter, said matter having a temperature that is lower than the air temperature outside of the portable air conditioner;

said reservoir further comprising a top surface area, a bottom surface area, and an outer surface area said surface areas composed of a thermally conductive material;

b. a power source;

c. a motorized airflow generator coupled to said power source;

d. an air duct;

said air duct further comprising;

i. an air intake chamber;

ii. an exhaust chamber;

iii. a recessed area for receiving the bottom surface area of said reservoir;

e. said motorized airflow generator coupled to said air duct;

f. said motorized airflow generator coupled to said power source such that when said airflow generator receives power from said power source, the airflow generator generates an airflow that originates from outside of said portable air conditioner and flows into said air intake chamber;

g. said airflow having a temperature and continuing in motion such that said airflow may come in contact with said bottom surface area of said reservoir such that if said bottom surface area has a temperature that is less than the temperature of the airflow then the bottom surface area reduces the temperature of said airflow;

h. said airflow continuing in motion such that said airflow enters said exhaust chamber and is expelled outside of said portable air conditioner

i. said bottom surface area of said reservoir further comprises at least one fin such that said fin is aligned perpendicular to said bottom surface area of said reservoir wherein said at least one fin is arranged in such a way that said airflow is deflected of said at least one fin in many directions before said airflow is expelled out of said portable air conditioner.

11. The portable air conditioner of claim 2 further comprising:

a. a temperature switch;

i. said temperature switch further comprising a first and second hollow cylinder said first hollow cylinder further including a heating element coupled to said power source;

ii. said temperature switch is located within said exhaust chamber and is secured to a movable guide such that either the first or second hollow cylinders may provide a singular path for said airflow to travel from said central chamber and be expelled outside of said air conditioner.

12. The portable air conditioner of claim 2 further comprising:

a. A storage area;

i. Said storage area being coupled to the top surface of said reservoir and is enclosed by a cover;

said cover further including a hinge such that said hinge is coupled to said reservoir such that said cover may pivot to either an open or a closed position so that when said cover is in the closed position said cover can be secured by a locking mechanism.

13. The portable air conditioner of claim 12 wherein said locking mechanism is a spring-loaded lock that secures said container to said air conditioner as well as preventing unauthorized access to said reservoir.

14. The portable air conditioner of claim 2 further comprising:

a. an aroma cartridge;

b. a directional air dispenser further comprising a first and second airway;

i. said directional air dispenser is coupled to said exhaust chamber such that said airflow may enter into said dispenser from said exhaust chamber;

ii. said aroma cartridge coupled to said second airway such that when said airflow enters into said dispenser from said exhaust chamber, said airflow may be expelled from either said first or second airway;

iii. said aroma cartridge further comprising a scented insert such that when said airflow enters said second airway, said airflow contacts said scented insert and becomes fragrant as said airflow is expelled from said second airway.

15. The portable air conditioner of claim 14 wherein said aroma cartridge further comprises a variable airflow outlet control such that said control varies the airflow through said second airway ranging from an open position to a closed position.

16. The portable air conditioner of claim 2 further comprising:

a. a noise dampening apparatus;

i. said noise dampening apparatus further comprising;

1. a hollow dampening chamber having curved or bent surface area;

2. said dampening chamber being coupled to said motorized airflow generator such that when said motorized airflow generator is operating said generator creates a sound wave having an amplitude such that said sound wave is impeded by said curved or bent surface area thereby decreasing said amplitude of said sound wave.

17. The portable air conditioner of claim 2 further comprising an open air vehicle having a seating area wherein said portable air conditioner is secured to said vehicle such that said airflow may be directed toward said seating area.

18. The portable air conditioner of claim 17 further comprising an external switch, said switch having an open and a closed position and being secured to the seating area of said open air vehicle such that when said seating area is occupied, said switch is changed to the closed position and triggers said air conditioner to begin ingesting air into said air intake chamber.