Personal air conditioning system

• US 7,246,505 B2
• Filed: 01/14/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Coleman Company Incorporated (Newell Brands Inc.)
• Inventors: Boenig, James Michael, Navedo, Jose Enrique
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Melvin
• Application Number:
  US10/757,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20050150251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,287 Days
• Field of Search: 624/20, 624/21, 624/19, 624/25, 62/36, 623/71, 625/30, 165/122, 165/47, 165/75
• US Class Current: 62/420
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2005/0064 using solar energy
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A personal air conditioning system that may be used, for example, to cool a tent. The personal air conditioning system includes a cooling lid that fits over a typical insulated cooler. The cooling lid includes a heat transfer tower that is configured to transfer heat from a cold medium, such as ice, that is located within the cooler to an area within the cooling lid. A heat sink is provided at the top of the heat transfer tower and at least partially within the cooling lid. A fan is configured to draw air into the cooling lid, across the heat sink, and out of the cooling lid. The cooled air may then be used for cooling of a tent or other compartment, for example, or may be directed to blow on an individual.

Claims

1. An air conditioning systems comprising:

a container for receiving a cold medium;

a cooling lid for fitting over the container, the cooling lid comprising;

an enclosure comprising an intake vent and an outlet vent;

a heat sink mounted in the enclosure;

a fan for drawing air through the enclosure and across the heat sink; and

at least one heat pipe extending between the heat sink and a first location within the interior of the container.

2. The air conditioning system of claim 1, further comprising a cold block mounted on the heat pipe at the first location.

3. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the container comprises an insulated cooler.

4. The air conditioning system of claim 1, wherein the fan is battery powered.

5. The air conditioning system of claim 4, wherein batteries for powering the fan are mounted in the cooling lid.

18. The air conditioning system of claim 3, wherein the insulated cooler is either a beverage cooler or a water cooler.

6. An air conditioning system, comprising:

a container for receiving a cold medium;

a heat pipe having first and second locations thereon, the first location extending into the container;

a heat sink at the second location; and

a fan mounted to direct air over the heat sink.

7. The air conditioning system of claim 6, wherein the fun and heat sink are mounted in an enclosure.

8. The air conditioning system of claim 7, wherein the enclosure comprises an intake vent and an outlet vent.

9. The air conditioning system of claim 6, wherein the enclosure is formed within a lid that fits on top of the container.

10. The air conditioning system of claim 6, further comprising a cold block mounted on the heat pipe at the first location.

11. The air conditioning system of claim 6, wherein the container comprises an insulated cooler.

19. The air conditioning system of claim 11, wherein the insulated cooler is either a beverage cooler or a water cooler.

12. An air conditioning system, comprising:

a container far receiving a cold medium;

a cooling lid for fitting over the container, the cooling lid comprising;

a heat sink;

a fan for drawing air across the heat sink; and

a heat pipe extending between the heat sink and a first location within the inter or of the container.

13. The air conditioning system of claim 12, further comprising a cold block mounted on the heat pipe at the first location.

14. The air conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the container comprises an insulated cooler.

15. The air conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the fan is battery powered.

16. The air conditioning system of claim 15, wherein batteries for powering the fan are mounted in the cooling lid.

17. The air conditioning system of claim 12, wherein the fan is solar powered.

20. The air conditioning system of claim 14, wherein the insulated cooler is either a beverage cooler or a water cooler.