Personal cooling device

Abstract

A personal cooling device for providing a cooling air stream is described herein. In one example, the personal cooling device includes an electric fan disposed in a housing, a stay-in-place extended wing member coupled to the housing at a first end, and a fastening mechanism coupled to a second end of the wing member. The fastening mechanism is configured to removably couple the housing to an object, such as a helmet, garment or other object.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal cooling device comprising:
 a housing;   an electric fan disposed in the housing;   a stay-in-place extended wing member coupled to the housing at a first end; and   a fastening mechanism coupled to a second end of the wing member, the fastening mechanism configured to couple the housing to an object.   
     
     
         2 . The personal cooling device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a battery coupled to the fan. 
 
     
     
         3 . The personal cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the stay-in-place wing member is flexible and bendable. 
     
     
         4 . The personal cooling device of  claim 3 , wherein the stay-in-place wing member is sufficiently rigid enough to hold a desired position under a weight of the fan. 
     
     
         5 . The personal cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, hook and loop fasteners, a clip, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets and mating projections and slots 
     
     
         6 . The personal cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, and a male/female geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature. 
     
     
         7 . The personal cooling device of  claim 1 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a male/female geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature incorporated into a helmet. 
     
     
         8 . The personal cooling device of  claim 1  further comprising:
 a helmet having a lower edge defining an imaginary plane, wherein the wing member is sufficiently bendable to orient an air exhaust port of housing between a direction above the imaginary plane and a direction below the imaginary plane. 
 
     
     
         9 . A personal cooling device configured to removably couple to a lower edge of a helmet, the personal cooling device comprising:
 a housing;   an electric fan disposed in the housing and operable to move air in a direction out an exhaust port of the housing;   a fastening mechanism configured to releasably engage the helmet;   a stay-in-place extended wing member connecting the housing to the fastening mechanism, the wing member having a length sufficient to position the fan below the lower edge of the helmet.   
     
     
         10 . The personal cooling device of  claim 9  further comprising:
 a battery coupled to the fan. 
 
     
     
         11 . The personal cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the stay-in-place wing member is flexible and bendable. 
     
     
         12 . The personal cooling device of  claim 11 , wherein the stay-in-place wing member is sufficiently rigid enough to hold a desired position under a weight of the fan. 
     
     
         13 . The personal cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, hook and loop fasteners, a clip, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets and mating projections and slots 
     
     
         14 . The personal cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, and a male/female geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature of the helmet. 
     
     
         15 . The personal cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the fastening mechanism comprises a male/female geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature incorporated into a helmet. 
     
     
         16 . The personal cooling device of  claim 9 , wherein the wing member is sufficiently bendable to orient air exiting the exhaust port during operation of the fan between a direction above the imaginary plane and a direction below the imaginary plane. 
     
     
         17 . A method of cooling a person, the method comprising:
 providing power to a cooling device removably coupled to a helmet; and   directing air exiting the cooling device below a lower edge of the helmet and into an interstitial space defined between the helmet and a head of a user.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 bending a wing member coupling the cooling device to the helmet to direct air exiting the cooling device in a direction away from the lower edge of the helmet and away from the interstitial space defined between the helmet and the head of the user. 
 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 connecting the cooling device to the helmet without compromising an integrity of the helmet. 
 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17  further comprising:
 connecting the cooling device to the helmet using at least one of lever action jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, a clip, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, and a male/female geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature of the helmet.