Portable Cooling Device

Abstract

A portable system for cooling which includes a Peltier thermoelectric cooler coupled to the garment and utilitarian apparatuses, including wheelchairs, child carriers, and military equipment. The thermoelectric cooler comprises a cold side plate and a hot side plate. The cooling device further comprises a thermal shield. The thermal shield comprises a thermally reflective surface and a thermal conduction sheet coupled to the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler. The portable cooling device further comprises a cold pack thermally coupled to a side of the thermal conduction sheet. The portable cooling device comprises a blower configured to blow air across the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable cooling device comprising:
 a cold pack;   a thermoelectric cooler comprising a cold side and a hot side;   a thermal shield comprising an opening therethrough, through which the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler is exposed, wherein the thermal shield has a thermally reflective surface;   a thermal conduction sheet coupled to the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler;   a blower located adjacent the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler configured to blow air across the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler;   a power source configured to power the thermoelectric cooler and the blower; and   the power source is selected between a battery and an AC/DC input.   
     
     
         2 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold pack is removably coupled to a side of the thermal conduction sheet opposite the side of the thermal conduction sheet to the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler; and
 wherein the cold pack is selected from an isothermal cooling pack and a phase change material cooling pack.   
     
     
         3 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 2 , further comprising an attachment; wherein:
 the portable cooling device is removably coupled to the attachment;   the attachment is selected from:
 a headwear; 
 a neckwear; 
 a body covering; 
 a wheel chair; 
 a child carrier; 
 an animal carrier; 
 a utility garment; 
 a carrier attachment; 
 a mobile aircraft equipment; and 
 a chair. 
   
     
     
         4 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , comprising a supplemental thermal shield, wherein said supplemental thermal shield comprises a second thermally reflective surface. 
     
     
         5 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal shield comprises a layer of thermal insulation coupled to a side of the thermal shield opposite the thermally reflective surface. 
     
     
         6 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to control the cooling power of the thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         7 . The portable cooling device of  claim 5 , wherein the controller comprises a reverse polarity potentiometer configured to reverse the thermal output of the hot side and the cold side of the thermoelectric cooler in response to a temperature of the cold pack falling below a targeted temperature. 
     
     
         8 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the controller is coupled to a user interface configured to enable a user to select the targeted temperature;
 the user interface selected from one of:
 a display screen; 
 an at least one toggle key; 
 an at least one button; 
 an at least one knob; and 
 an at least one switch. 
   
     
     
         9 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable cooling device is coupled to a headwear. 
     
     
         10 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable cooling device is coupled to a vest. 
     
     
         11 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the cold pack is selected from an isothermal cooling pack and a phase change material cooling pack. 
     
     
         12 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the portable cooling device is coupled to a neckwear. 
     
     
         13 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermal shield comprises an insulative material selected from the group consisting of aluminized fiberglass, high temperature silicone, a heat resistant plastic, materials of the like, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         14 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein the thermoelectric cooler is a Peltier thermoelectric cooler. 
     
     
         15 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein an external surface of the hot side of the thermoelectric cooler comprises a plurality of fins. 
     
     
         16 . A portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a flexible polyimide heater plate comprising an adhesive heating film interposed between the thermal shield and the layer of thermal insulation. 
     
     
         17 . A portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 5 , further comprising a flexible polyimide heater plate comprising an adhesive heating film interposed between the thermal shield and the thermal conduction sheet. 
     
     
         18 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein the cold pack is removably coupled to the garment by a fastener selected from the group consisting of a hook and loop fastener, a zipper, and a button. 
     
     
         19 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein the polyimide heater requires a voltage of at least seven volts. 
     
     
         20 . The portable cooling device as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein the polyimide heater requires a voltage of at least seven volts.