Portable air-conditioning unit

• US 7,707,840 B1
• Filed: 09/11/2006
• Issued: 05/04/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Mark A. Flores
• Original Assignee: Mark A. Flores
• Inventors: Flores, Mark A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jules; Frantz F
• Assistant Examiner(s): DUKE, EMMANUEL E
• Application Number:
  US11/518,632
• Time in Patent Office: 1,331 Days
• Field of Search: 62/36, 622/593, 622/62, 622/85, 623/04, 624/20, 624/21, 624/44, 542/3, 553/852, 128/400, 135/16
• US Class Current: 62/109
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0025 by means of forced air circulation
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/044 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/0215 with cooling or heating means electric blankets H05B3/34
• CPC Class Codes: A47G 9/086 for outdoor sleeping
• CPC Class Codes: E04H 15/12 Heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0007 Indoor units, e.g. fan coil units self-contained units F24F1/02
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 1/0071 with means for purifying supplied air perfuming or deodorising means F24F1/008
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 30/54 Free-cooling systems

Abstract

A portable air conditioning unit (10) that is designed to produce cooled air without the need for a cooling refrigerant. The unit (10) includes an enclosure (12) that houses an air duct (40) having an air input port (42) attached to a fan (48) that is powered by a rechargeable battery pack (34), and an air exhaust vent (36) that protrudes through an air exhaust opening located on a first panel (24) located on the enclosure (12). The air exhaust vent (36) passes the cooled air through a flexible air passage hose (90) having an air output connector (96) that is attached to a structure air input port (102) located on a cooled-air receiving structure (100). The structure (100) can consist of various structures which include a bed sheet (140), a sleeping bag (148), a tent (178), a field suit (204) or a flexible non-porous drape (230) that is dimensioned to be draped over the back of an animal (304) such as a horse.

Claims

1. A portable air-conditioning unit comprising:

a) an enclosure having an upper panel, a lower panel, a right panel, a left panel, a rear panel and a front panel having an air exhaust opening, wherein each panel has an inner surface and an outer surface,

b) an inner panel attached between the rear panel and the front panel, wherein said inner panel having a substantially centered opening,

c) a battery pack attached to the inner surface of the rear panel,

d) an air exhaust vent inserted through the air exhaust opening on the front

e) an air duet having an air input port and an air exhaust port, wherein the air exhaust port is attached by an attachment means to the air exhaust vent, and wherein the air input port extends through the centered opening on said inner panel,

f) a fan attached by an attachment means to the air input port of said air input port of said air duct, wherein said fan is connected to and powered by said battery pack, and

g) means for attaching said enclosure to a cooled-air receiving structure, comprising;

(1) a tent having a folded upper panel, a lower panel, a right panel, a left panel, a rear panel and a vertically split front panel,

(2) a plurality of adjustable air vents located on at least one of the panels, and

(3) at least one structure air input port is located on one of the tent panels and is attached to the air output connector on said flexible air passage hose, wherein the air input connector on said hose is attached to the air exhaust vent on said enclosure, wherein when said portable air-conditioning unit is operating, a stream of cooled air is applied through said hose into said tent, and h) a water misting assembly having a hose that is attached around the inner perimeter of the upper panel, wherein said hose is supplied water from a water container that is attached to an enclosure panel and that is operated by a water pump powered by said battery pack, wherein said hose having a plurality of water jets that are optimally located to provide a water mist that impinges upon the surface of said air duct.

2. A portable air-conditioning unit comprising:

a) an enclosure having an upper panel, a lower panel, a right panel, a left panel, a rear panel and a front panel having an air exhaust opening, wherein each panel has an inner surface and an outer surface,

b) an inner panel attached between the rear panel and the front panel, wherein said inner panel having a substantially centered opening,

c) a battery pack attached to the inner surface of the rear panel,

d) an air exhaust vent inserted through the air exhaust opening on the front panel,

e) an air duct having an air input port and an air exhaust port, wherein the air exhaust port is attached by an attachment means to the air exhaust vent, and wherein the air input port extends through the centered opening on said inner panel,

f) a fan attached by an attachment means to the air input port of said air input port of said air duct, wherein said fan is connected to and powered by said battery pack,

g) means for attaching said enclosure to a cooled-air receiving structure, comprising;

(1) a field suit having a torso section, a pair of arms, a pair of legs and an integrated head enclosure,

(2) a plurality of adjustable air vents placed on selected portion of said suit

(3) a structure air input port that is centrally located on either the front or the rear of the torso section of said field suit, and that attaches to the air output connector on said flexible air passage hose, wherein when the air input connector on said hose is attached to the air exhaust vent on said enclosure, and said portable air-conditioning unit is operating, a stream of cooled air is applied and distributed through said field suit,

(4) a harness assembly that is designed to fit over the field suit and that has means for attaching said enclosure, and

h) a water misting assembly having a hose that is attached around the inner perimeter of the upper panel, wherein said hose is supplied water from a water container that is attached to an enclosure panel and that is operated by a water pump powered by said battery pack, wherein said hose having a plurality of water jets that are optimally located to provide a water mist that impinges upon the surface of said air duct.

3. A portable air-conditioning unit comprising:

a) an enclosure having an upper panel, a lower panel, a right panel, a left panel, a rear panel and a front panel having an air exhaust opening, wherein each panel has an inner surface and an outer surface,

b) an inner panel attached between the rear panel and the front panel, wherein said inner panel having a substantially centered opening,

c) a battery pack attached to the inner surface of the rear panel,

d) an air exhaust vent inserted through the air exhaust opening on the front panel,

e) an air duct having an air input port and an air exhaust port, wherein the air exhaust port is attached by an attachment means to the air exhaust vent, and wherein the air input port extends through the centered opening on said inner panel,

f) a fan attached by an attachment means to the air input port of said air input port of said air duct, wherein said fan is connected to and powered by said battery pack,

g) means for attaching said enclosure to a cooled-air receiving structure, comprising;

(1) a field suit having a torso section, a pair of arms, a pair of legs and an integrated head enclosure,

(2) a plurality of adjustable air vents placed on selected portion of said suit,

(3) a structure air input port that is centrally located on either the front or the rear of the torso section of said field suit, and that attaches to the air output connector on said flexible air passage hose, wherein when the air input connector on said hose is attached to the air exhaust vent on said enclosure, and said portable air-conditioning unit is operating, a stream of cooled air is applied and distributed through said field suit,

(4) a cradle assembly that is designed to encompass said enclosure, wherein said cradle assembly includes a handle that allows a person wearing said field suit to carry the cradle assembly while the person wearing the field suit is moving, and

h) a water misting assembly having a hose that is attached around the inner perimeter of the upper panel, wherein said hose is supplied water from a water container that is attached to an enclosure panel and that is operated by a water pump powered by said battery pack, wherein said hose having a plurality of water jets that are optimally located to provide a water mist that impinges upon the surface of said air duct.