Personal cooling systems and related methods

Abstract

Personal cooling systems and related methods are disclosed. According to an aspect, a personal cooling system comprises a fluid cooling chamber defining an interior for containing cooling fluid. The system also comprises a pump including an output nozzle. The pump is adapted to displace the cooling fluid from the interior of the fluid cooling chamber through the output nozzle. Further, the system includes a fluid delivery and return structure including a heat transfer chamber adapted to be positioned in headgear such that the heat transfer chamber is positioned near one of a head and a neck of a person when the headgear is worn by the person. The structure includes pathways for delivering the cooling fluid to the heat transfer chamber such that heat from the head and neck of the person is transferred to the cooling fluid within the heat transfer chamber.

1 . A personal cooling system comprising:
 a fluid cooling chamber defining an interior for containing cooling fluid;   a pump including an output nozzle, the pump being adapted to displace the cooling fluid from the interior of the fluid cooling chamber through the output nozzle; and   a fluid delivery and return structure including a heat transfer chamber adapted to be positioned in headgear such that the heat transfer chamber is positioned near one of a head and a neck of a person when the headgear is worn by the person, the structure including a first fluid pathway adapted to deliver the cooling fluid from the output nozzle of the pump to the heat transfer chamber such that heat from the one of the head and the neck of the person is transferred to the cooling fluid within the heat transfer chamber, and wherein the structure includes a second fluid pathway to deliver the cooling fluid from the heat transfer chamber to the fluid cooling chamber.   
   
   
       2 . The personal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid cooling chamber comprises a sealed tank adapted to contain a volume of water and ice. 
   
   
       3 . The personal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the pump is positioned within the interior of the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       4 . The personal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the pump is powered by one of a 12 Volt DC power supply, a solar-based power supply, and a battery. 
   
   
       5 . The personal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the fluid delivery and return structure comprises a flexible tube. 
   
   
       6 . The personal cooling system of  claim 5  wherein the flexible tube comprises first and second ends, the first end of the flexible tube being coupled to the output nozzle of the pump for receiving the cooling fluid displaced by the pump, and the second end of the flexible tube being positioned within the interior of the fluid cooling chamber for returning cooling fluid into the interior of the fluid cooling chamber. 
   
   
       7 . The personal cooling system of  claim 5  wherein the flexible tube comprises a head heat transfer portion and a neck heat transfer portion, the head heat transfer portion being positioned in the headgear near placement of the head of the person when the headgear is worn by the person, and the neck heat transfer portion being positioned on the headgear near placement of the neck of the person when the headgear is worn by the person. 
   
   
       8 . The personal cooling system of  claim 1  wherein the cooling fluid is water. 
   
   
       9 . The personal cooling system of  claim 1  comprising an attachment mechanism configured for attaching the fluid cooling chamber to a vehicle. 
   
   
       10 . A method of cooling a person, the method including:
 providing a cooling system comprising:
 a fluid cooling chamber defining an interior for containing cooling fluid; and 
 at least one tube including first and second ends, the first end being fluidly coupled to the cooling fluid, and the second end being positioned for delivering cooling fluid to the interior, and a portion of the at least one tube being connected to headgear and being positioned near one of a head and a neck of a person when the headgear is worn by the person; and 
   pumping the cooling fluid from the interior of the fluid cooling chamber into an interior of the first end of the at least one tube such that the cooling fluid passes through the portion of the at least one tube where heat at the one of the head and neck is transferred to the cooling fluid, and such that the heated cooling fluid returns to the interior of the chamber.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the fluid cooling chamber comprises a sealed tank adapted to contain a volume of water and ice. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the pump is positioned within the interior of the cooling chamber. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 10  comprising powering the pump by one of a 12 Volt DC power supply, a solar-based power supply, and a battery. 
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the at least one tube is a flexible, plastic tube. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plastic tube comprises first and second ends, the first end of the plastic tube being coupled to the output nozzle of the pump for receiving the cooling fluid displaced by the pump, and the second end of the plastic tube being positioned within the interior of the fluid cooling chamber for returning cooling fluid into the interior of the fluid cooling chamber. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 14  wherein the plastic tube comprises a head heat transfer portion and a neck heat transfer portion, the head heat transfer portion being positioned in the headgear near placement of the head of the person when the headgear is worn by the person, and the neck heat transfer portion being positioned on the headgear near placement of the neck of the person when the headgear is worn by the person. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 10  wherein the cooling fluid is water. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 10  comprising providing an attachment mechanism configured for attaching the fluid cooling chamber to a vehicle. 
   
   
       19 . A personal cooling system comprising:
 a fluid cooling chamber defining an interior for containing cooling fluid;   a pump including an output nozzle, the pump being adapted to displace the cooling fluid from the interior of the fluid cooling chamber through the output nozzle; and   a flexible tube comprising first and second ends, the first end of the flexible tube being coupled to the output nozzle of the pump for receiving the cooling fluid displaced by the pump, and the second end of the flexible tube being positioned within the interior of the fluid cooling chamber for returning cooling fluid into the interior of the fluid cooling chamber, wherein the flexible tube comprises a head heat transfer portion and a neck heat transfer portion, the head heat transfer portion being positioned in the headgear near placement of the head of the person when the headgear is worn by the person, and the neck heat transfer portion being positioned on the headgear near placement of the neck of the person when the headgear is worn by the person.   
   
   
       20 . The personal cooling system of  claim 19  wherein the pump is positioned within the interior of the cooling chamber.