Air cooling device

Abstract

An air cooling device includes a thermal core, constructed from a series of interconnected hollow disks containing super-absorbent polymer gel in a frozen state, and a thermal insulating sleeve adapted to operatively enclose the frozen core. The enclosure affords a substantially narrow interior sleeve spacing for air flow. The device also includes a fan blower operatively coupled to the sleeve and adapted to draw ambient air within the interior sleeve spacing and over the outer surface of the enclosed frozen core against gravity for cooling. A plurality of substantially narrow surface air flow channels are formed between the interconnected disks. The narrow surface air flow channels and interior sleeve spacing restrict the ambient air flow over the outer surface of the frozen core to prolong the air cooling period.

1 . An air cooling device, comprising: 
 at least one thermal core constructed from a series of interconnected hollow disks to optimize thermal efficiency, said interconnected hollow disks filled with super-absorbent refrigerant;    at least one thermal insulating sleeve adapted to operatively enclose said at least one thermal core;    means for forcing ambient air to flow within said at least one thermal insulating sleeve and over the outer surface of said enclosed refrigerant-filled disks against gravity for cooling; and    means for restricting ambient air flow over the outer surface of said refrigerant-filled disks to prolong the air cooling period.    
   
   
       2 . An air cooling device, comprising: 
 a thermal core constructed from a series of interconnected hollow disks to optimize thermal efficiency, said interconnected hollow disks filled with super-absorbent refrigerant;    a thermal insulating sleeve adapted to operatively enclose said refrigerant-filled disks, said enclosure affording a substantially narrow interior sleeve spacing for air flow;    a fan blower operatively coupled to said thermal insulating sleeve and adapted to draw ambient air within said interior sleeve spacing and over the outer surface of said enclosed refrigerant-filled disks against gravity for cooling; and    a plurality of substantially narrow surface air flow channels being formed between said interconnected disks, said substantially narrow surface air flow channels and interior sleeve spacing restricting the ambient air flow over the outer surface of said refrigerant-filled disks to prolong the air cooling period.    
   
   
       3 . An air cooling device, comprising: 
 a plurality of interconnected hollow disks being stacked and supported on top of each other via structural ribs, said stacked and interconnected hollow disks being filled with super-absorbent refrigerant, said stacked refrigerant-filled disks providing an optimized thermal mass surface area;    a thermal insulating sleeve adapted to enclose said stacked refrigerant-filled disks while affording substantially narrow interior sleeve spacing for air flow;    a first collar configured to receive the bottom portion of said thermal insulating sleeve;    a second collar configured to receive the top portion of said thermal insulating sleeve;    a front apron adapted to hold said first and second collars together over a lateral portion of said thermal insulating sleeve;    a cap portion removably coupled to said second collar;    a fan blower operatively housed in said cap portion over the top portion of said thermal insulating sleeve, said fan blower adapted to draw ambient air within said interior sleeve spacing and over the outer surface of said enclosed refrigerant-filled disks against gravity for cooling; and    a plurality of substantially narrow surface air flow channels being formed between said stacked disks, said substantially narrow surface air flow channels and interior sleeve spacing restricting the ambient air flow over the outer surface of said stacked refrigerant-filled disks to prolong the air cooling period.    
   
   
       4 . An air cooling device, comprising: 
 a thermal core including hollow disks being stacked and supported on top of each other via integral rib structures, each of said integral rib structures having a fluid conduit connecting a respective pair of hollow disks, said stacked and interconnected hollow disks being filled with refrigerant containing at least one super-absorbent polymer (SAP) substance;    a sleeve made of blended plastic material containing at least one additive enhancing its thermally insulation properties, said sleeve configured to enclose said stacked and interconnected SAP refrigerant-filled disks while affording a substantially narrow interior sleeve spacing for air flow;    a first collar configured to receive the bottom portion of said sleeve;    at least one air filter operatively disposed under the bottom portion of said sleeve within said first collar;    a second collar configured to receive the top portion of said sleeve;    a front apron adapted to hold said first and second collars together over a lateral portion of said sleeve;    a cap portion removably coupled to said second collar;    a fan blower operatively housed in said cap portion over the top portion of said sleeve, said fan blower adapted to draw ambient air through said at least one air filter within said interior sleeve spacing and over the outer surface of said enclosed refrigerant-filled disks against gravity for cooling;    a multi-directional air vent subassembly operatively housed in said cap portion proximate to said fan blower; and    a plurality of substantially narrow surface air flow channels being formed between said stacked disks, said substantially narrow surface air flow channels and interior sleeve spacing restricting the filtered air flow over the outer surface of said stacked refrigerant-filled disks to prolong the air cooling period, said cooled air being discharged to the environment via said multi-directional air vent subassembly.    
   
   
       5 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said at least one air filter is a high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter.  
   
   
       6 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said SAP refrigerant contains potassium polyacrylate gel.  
   
   
       7 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said SAP refrigerant contains sodium polyacrylate gel.  
   
   
       8 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said SAP refrigerant contains polyacrylamide gel.  
   
   
       9 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said stacked and interconnected hollow disks optimize the thermal mass surface area available for air flow.  
   
   
       10 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said substantially narrow channels afford a substantially planar air flow.  
   
   
       11 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein each hollow disk has a substantially concave outer surface area.  
   
   
       12 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said first collar is equipped with a removable drip tray for collecting internal condensation.  
   
   
       13 . The air cooling device of  claim 12 , wherein said drip tray is adapted to slide in/out of said first collar.  
   
   
       14 . The air cooling device of  claim 12 , further comprising a base drain plate operatively disposed within said first collar and configured to drain condensation collected during device operation into said drip tray.  
   
   
       15 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , further comprising a base coupled within said first collar and configured to let incoming ambient air for cooling.  
   
   
       16 . The air cooling device of  claim 15 , further comprising a filter frame.  
   
   
       17 . The air cooling device of  claim 16 , wherein said filter is accommodated within said base.  
   
   
       18 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , further comprising a battery pack subassembly removably coupled to one side of said first collar.  
   
   
       19 . The air cooling device of  claim 18 , wherein said subassembly is configured to accommodate a rechargeable battery adapted to power said fan blower during device operation.  
   
   
       20 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein each of said first and second collars exhibits a substantially circular cross-section.  
   
   
       21 . The air cooling device of  claim 4 , wherein said sleeve has a substantially tubular configuration.  
   
   
       22 . An air cooling device, comprising: 
 a thermal core constructed from a series of interconnected hollow disks to optimize thermal efficiency, said interconnected hollow disks containing super-absorbent polymer (SAP) gel in a frozen state;    a thermal insulating sleeve adapted to operatively enclose said frozen core, said enclosure affording a substantially narrow interior sleeve spacing for air flow;    a fan blower operatively coupled to said thermal insulating sleeve and adapted to draw ambient air within said interior sleeve spacing and over the outer surface of said enclosed frozen core against gravity for cooling; and    a plurality of substantially narrow surface air flow channels being formed between said interconnected disks, said substantially narrow surface air flow channels and interior sleeve spacing restricting the ambient air flow over the outer surface of said frozen core to prolong the air cooling period.    
   
   
       23 . The air cooling device of  claim 22 , wherein said SAP gel contains potassium polyacrylate.  
   
   
       24 . The air cooling device of  claim 22 , wherein said SAP gel contains sodium polyacrylate.  
   
   
       25 . The air cooling device of  claim 22 , wherein said SAP gel contains polyacrylamide.  
   
   
       26 . An air cooling device, comprising: 
 a plurality of interconnected hollow disks being stacked and supported on top of each other via structural ribs, said stacked and interconnected hollow disks containing super-absorbent polymer (SAP) gel in a frozen state;    a thermal insulating sleeve adapted to enclose said frozen disks while affording substantially narrow interior sleeve spacing for air flow;    a first collar configured to receive the bottom portion of said thermal insulating sleeve;    a second collar configured to receive the top portion of said thermal insulating sleeve;    a front apron adapted to hold said first and second collars together over a lateral portion of said thermal insulating sleeve;    a cap portion rotatably coupled to said second collar;    a fan blower operatively housed in said cap portion over the top portion of said thermal insulating sleeve, said fan blower adapted to draw ambient air within said interior sleeve spacing and over the outer surface of said enclosed frozen disks against gravity for cooling; and    a plurality of substantially narrow surface air flow channels being formed between said stacked disks, said substantially narrow surface air flow channels and interior sleeve spacing restricting the ambient air flow over the outer surface of said stacked frozen disks to prolong the air cooling period.    
   
   
       27 . The air cooling device of  claim 26 , further comprising an aroma therapy disk.  
   
   
       28 . The air cooling device of  claim 27 , wherein said aroma therapy disk is operatively coupled to said second collar.  
   
   
       29 . The air cooling device of  claim 3 , further comprising an aroma therapy disk.  
   
   
       30 . The air cooling device of  claim 29 , wherein said aroma therapy disk is operatively coupled to said second collar.