Portable cooling system

Abstract

A personal portable cooling device for facilitating relief from hot environments or conditions, such as those caused by menopausal “hot flashes”, the cooling device having a waterproof plastic pouch with a sealable access port, internal insulation layer to resist heat transfer, waterproof inner liner to resist leakage, fastening device for selectively closing the access port, sealed bladder filled with a freezable agent that provides a cooling medium and absorbent pad to absorb moisture from the bladder.

1 . A portable cooling device for personal cooling in hot conditions, said device comprising: 
 a pouch having an interior surface, exterior surface, interior volume and closeable access port for accessing said interior volume;    means for selectively opening and closing said access port;    an insulating material disposed along at least a portion of said interior surface for minimizing heat transfer from ambient to said interior volume;    means for facilitating the prevention of liquids from leaking from said pouch; and    a bladder filled with a freezable agent, said bladder being removeably insertable into said interior volume of said pouch, said bladder being removable from said pouch for placement in an environment that freezes said agent and insertable in said pouch when frozen.    
   
   
       2 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 lining means, at least partially disposed along said interior surface, for facilitating the prevention of liquids from leaking out of said pouch.    
   
   
       3 . A device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said lining means comprises: 
 a waterproof plastic liner disposed along said interior surface.    
   
   
       4 . A device as recited in  claim 2 , wherein said lining means comprises: 
 a waterproof plastic liner at least partially defined by said pouch and said interior surface.    
   
   
       5 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for selectively opening and closing comprises: 
 a zipper.    
   
   
       6 . A device as recited in  claim 5 , wherein said zipper provides a water-tight seal.  
   
   
       7 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for selectively opening and closing comprises: 
 a tongue and groove fastener that provides a water-tight seal.    
   
   
       8 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for selectively opening and closing comprises: 
 hook and loop fasteners.    
   
   
       9 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said means for facilitating the prevention of liquids leaking comprises: 
 a liquid absorbent pad removably insertable in said interior volume of said pouch, said pad at least partially absorbing condensation from the bladder and any potential leaks from said bladder.    
   
   
       10 . A device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said pad comprises: 
 at least a partial sponge-like material.    
   
   
       11 . A device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said pad comprises: 
 a pocket for removeably placing said bladder.    
   
   
       12 . A device as recited in  claim 9 , wherein said pad comprises: 
 a washable material.    
   
   
       13 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said insulating material at least partially comprises an open cell foam.  
   
   
       14 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said insulating material at least partially comprises a closed cell foam.  
   
   
       15 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said insulating material at least partially comprises cotton or polymer fibers.  
   
   
       16 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said freezable agent at least partially comprises an aqueous gel.  
   
   
       17 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said freezable agent at least partially comprises water.  
   
   
       18 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said freezable agent at least partially comprises a glycol mixture.  
   
   
       19 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , wherein said bladder at least partially comprises a flexible, durable, puncture resistant plastic-based material.  
   
   
       20 . A device as recited in  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a strap extending out from the exterior surface of said pouch; and    a pouch sleeve at least partially comprising a cloth-based material having an interior volume with dimensions adaptable for receiving and storing said pouch, said sleeve being capable of at least partially absorbing any condensation that develops on said exterior surface of said pouch.