Ice chest cooler and temporary air conditioner

• US 7,748,235 B1
• Filed: 03/10/2006
• Issued: 07/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Rick Franklin, Sherry Gauntlett
• Original Assignee: Rick Franklin, Sherry Gauntlett
• Inventors: Franklin, Rick, Gauntlett, Sherry
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Melvin
• Application Number:
  US11/373,840
• Time in Patent Office: 1,579 Days
• Field of Search: 624/20, 624/07, 623/27, 624/04, 621/65, 624/54, 623/37, 621/86, 624/19, 624/14
• US Class Current: 62/420
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/12 transportable
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0017 using cold storage bodies, e.g. ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 23/12 Arrangements of compartments additional to cooling compartments; Combinations of refrigerators with other equipment, e.g. stove
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2303/081 using ice cubes or crushed ice
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 2400/38 Refrigerating devices characterised by wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 3/08 portable, i.e. adapted to be carried personally
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/14 Thermal energy storage

Abstract

A portable cooling apparatus and associated method include an ice chest having an inner cavity defined by one or more side walls extending upwardly from a floor forming a lower end of the ice chest and having a lid positioned at an upper end of the ice chest so as to close access to the inner cavity; a manifold removably positioned on the floor of the inner cavity of the ice chest, the manifold having an inlet and an outlet extending through the one or more side walls to outside the ice chest; and an electric fan associated with the manifold outlet for drawing air from the inlet through the manifold so as to blow air through the outlet.

Claims

1. A portable cooling apparatus providing a cooler and a temporary air conditioner, said apparatus comprising:

an ice chest having an inner cavity defined by one or more side walls extending upwardly from a floor forming a lower end of said ice chest and having a lid positioned at an upper end of said ice chest so as to close access to the inner cavity;

a manifold removably lying along the floor of the inner cavity of said ice chest so as to be at a lower end of the inner cavity leaving cold storage space in the inner cavity, said manifold having a plurality of conduits in closed fluid connection between an inlet and an outlet both of which extend through said one or more side walls to outside said ice chest; and

an electric fan associated with the manifold for conveying air from the inlet through said manifold so as to blow the air through the outlet.

2. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a grate overlying said manifold so as to provide support for one or more items stored in the inner cavity of said ice chest.

3. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power source associated with said ice chest, said power source having said electric fan operably connected therewith.

4. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising one or more batteries positioned in a substantially water proof housing associated with said ice chest and operably connected with said electric fan.

5. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein the inlet and outlet of said manifold extend through said one or more side walls of said ice chest in a substantially water proof manner.

6. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, wherein said manifold comprises metal.

7. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a conduit connected to the outlet so as to convey blown air in a desired direction.

8. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a flexible conduit connected to the outlet for conveying blown air in a desired direction.

9. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a filter associated with the inlet for filtering air drawn into said manifold.

10. The portable cooling apparatus, of claim 1, further comprising a filter associated with the outlet for filtering air blown out therethrough.

11. A portable cooling apparatus comprising:

an ice chest having an ice storage inner cavity, a plurality of side walls, and a floor forming a lower end of said ice chest and having a lid so as to close access to the inner cavity;

a manifold positioned having said ice storage inner cavity above and having an inlet and an outlet with a plurality of conduits extending in closed fluid connection therebetween; and

an electric fan associated with the manifold so as to convey outside air from the inlet through said manifold to blow out through the outlet.

12. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, wherein said manifold is positioned in the inner cavity having a grate overlying said manifold so as to provide support for one or more items stored in the inner cavity of said ice chest.

13. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, wherein said manifold is positioned within the floor of the ice chest.

14. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, wherein the manifold comprises metal.

15. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a conduit connected to the outlet so as to convey blown air to a desired location.

16. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising:

a flexible conduit connected to the outlet for conveying blown air in a desired direction.

17. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a filter associated with the inlet for filtering air drawn into said manifold.

18. The portable cooling apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a filter associated with the outlet for filtering air blown out therethrough.