Personal Cooling Device

Abstract

A portable personal cooling device comprises a fan housing, a fan motor within the fan housing, and a fan driven by said fan motor to direct a flow of air in a downstream direction. A nozzle is attached to the cooling device and positioned to direct a liquid emerging therefrom into the flow of air. An electrically driven pump and pump motor is coupled to the fan housing for drawing water from a body of water and conducting the water to the nozzle for dispersment into the air flow. The cooling device further includes a clamp for removably attaching the fan housing to a supporting structure without the need for tools. The pump assembly includes a water inlet line for conducting the water from the body of water to the pump. The water inlet line has an inlet end weighted sufficiently to maintain the inlet end below the surface of the water in the water source, and a quantity of buoyant material spaced from the inlet end to maintain the inlet end a predetermined distance below the surface of the water.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A portable personal cooling device comprising
 a housing;   an electrically driven fan motor within the housing, and   a fan driven by said fan motor to direct a flow of air in a downstream direction;   a misting nozzle positioned to direct a liquid emerging therefrom into the flow of air;   a pump assembly comprising an electrically driven pump fixedly coupled to the housing for drawing water from a body of water and conducting the water to the nozzle for dispersment into the air flow; and   a clamp for removably attaching the housing to a supporting structure without the need for tools.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pump assembly includes
 a water inlet line for conducting the water from the body of water to the pump, the water inlet line having an inlet end weighted sufficiently to maintain the inlet end below the surface of the water in the water source, and a quantity of buoyant material spaced from the inlet end to maintain the inlet end a predetermined distance below the surface of the water, and 
 a mesh, screen or filter through which the conducted water flows to the pump. 
 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the water inlet line has a tapered fitting at its inlet end permitting secure connection to the drain of an ice chest or cooler enabling water within the cooler can be pumped to the nozzle. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the water inlet line includes a detachable fitting at its inlet end that enables substitution of fittings adapted to securely communicate with respective water sources. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the quantity of buoyant material is movable towards and away from the inlet end to provide the inlet end with a desired immersion depth. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pump is driven by the same motor as the fan. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  including a safety grill mounted to the housing downstream of the fan to minimize the risk of injury to a user from the rotating fan blades. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 7  wherein the misting nozzle attached to the cooling device, is formed from a plastic or metal bulkhead mounted to the face of the safety grill. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the bulkhead snaps onto the safety grill. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 8  wherein the safety grill and manifold are a molded plastic part. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the pump assembly is located within the fan housing. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the housing is pivotably coupled to the clamp. 
     
     
         13 . The device of  claim 1  including a pump outlet line affixed to the housing and coupled for fluid communication to the nozzle to deliver water from the pump to the nozzle. 
     
     
         14 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the fan is an oscillating fan, and the pump, motor, fan and nozzle oscillate as a single unit. 
     
     
         15 . The device of  claim 14  including a fluid conduit in fluid communication between the pump and nozzle mounted for oscillation with the pump and nozzle. 
     
     
         16 . The device of  claim 1  including a pump motor in addition to said fan motor for driving the pump. 
     
     
         17 . The device of  claim 16  wherein the pump motor is carried by the housing. 
     
     
         18 . The device of  claim 17  wherein the pump motor is positioned within the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the device is configured so that the pump can be activated and deactivated independently of the fan so that a mist is entrained into the air flow only when desired. 
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19  wherein the pump and the fan are electrically coupled in parallel to a source of electricity through at least one switch. 
     
     
         21 . The device of  claim 19  including a clutch arrangement for selectively coupling and decoupling the pump to the fan motor. 
     
     
         22 . The device of  claim 1  including a battery compartment carried by the device for holding a battery,
 connectors carried by the device for electrically coupling the device to the battery so that the device can be operated cordlessly. 
 
     
     
         23 . The device of  claim 1  including a rechargeable electrical storage device mounted within the device so that the device can be operated cordlessly. 
     
     
         24 . The device of  claim 1  wherein the water pump is a vacuum diaphragm pump.