Dual Beverage Cooler and Air Conditioner

Abstract

A dual beverage cooler and air conditioner can be used to both contain products in a cool environment, but also function as an air conditioner by using the air cooled in the cooler to cool users or surrounding areas. The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner can include at least two extendable and articulatable tubes designed to be adjusted in length and direction to direct cooled air to a desired location to cool one or more users. It can also include a separate interior container to maximize cool surface area over which air must pass to provide a greater cooling effect in a cooler of reduced size.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A dual beverage cooler and air conditioner for transporting beverages and providing cooling air to users comprising:
 a cooler compartment configured to contain ice, water, and products to be kept in a cool or cold environment;   an air conditioning compartment disposed above said cooler compartment and comprising an upper wall and a lower wall dividing said cooler compartment from said air conditioning compartment;   said cooler compartment comprising at least one air intake vent configured to permit air to enter said cooler compartment from the surrounding environment;   a fan mounted to said lower wall of said air conditioning compartment and configured to draw air through said at least one air intake vent and upwardly from said cooler compartment to said air conditioning compartment;   an air-conducting arrangement disposed in said air conditioning compartment and configured to conduct air from said fan;   said air-conducting arrangement comprising a central tube disposed to project through said lower wall to connect to said fan and at least two branch tubes configured to conduct air in at least two separate directions;   at least two air outlet structures connected to said at least two branch tubes and projecting vertically through and out of said upper wall to supply cooled air to one or more users; and   each of said at least two air outlet structures comprises an extendable and articulatable tube configured to be adjusted in length and direction to direct cooled air to a desired location to cool one or more users.   
     
     
         2 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said dual beverage cooler and air conditioner further comprises an interior container disposed within said cooler compartment and configured to contain ice, water, and products to be kept in a cool or cold environment; and   said interior container is configured to fit in a nesting manner in said cooler compartment with space between the outer surfaces of said interior container and the inner surfaces of said cooler compartment to form air passages therebetween to conduct air drawn through said at least one air intake vent and cool the passing air using the cooled outer surfaces of said interior container.   
     
     
         3 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein said interior container comprises at least one ventilation opening in an upper portion thereof to permit air passing through said air passages to pass into the interior of said interior container and be further cooled by ice, water, and products to be kept in a cool or cold environment in said interior container. 
     
     
         4 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 3 , wherein:
 said cooler compartment comprises a front cooler wall, a back cooler wall, a first side cooler wall, and a second side cooler wall;   said at least one air intake vent comprises a first air intake vent disposed in said first side cooler wall and a second air intake vent disposed in said second side cooler wall; and   each of said first air intake vent and said second air intake vent is disposed at or near the bottom of said cooler compartment such that air drawn by said fan from the external environment must pass upwardly over a substantial portion of the outer surfaces of said interior container to maximize the cooling effect on the air.   
     
     
         5 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 4 , wherein said air conditioning compartment is attached on one side to said cooler compartment in the manner of a hinge to permit said air conditioning compartment to be pivoted away and towards said cooler compartment to permit a user to open and close said cooler compartment. 
     
     
         6 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 5 , wherein:
 said air conditioning compartment comprises a first zipper portion;   said cooler compartment comprises a second zipper portion; and   said first zipper portion is configured to sealingly engage with said second zipper portion to permit a user to connect and disconnect said air conditioning compartment and said cooler compartment.   
     
     
         7 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 6 , further comprising:
 a battery pocket disposed on the outside of said cooler compartment;   a battery disposed in said battery pocket and operatively connected to said fan; and   a manual switch disposed to project out of said air conditioning compartment to permit a user to turn said fan on and off.   
     
     
         8 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 7 , wherein each of said at least two air outlet structures comprises a tapered nozzle to focus the air output. 
     
     
         9 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 8 , further comprising an adjustable carrying strap attached to said first side cooler wall and said second side cooler wall. 
     
     
         10 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 9 , wherein:
 each of said front cooler wall, said back cooler wall, said first side cooler wall, and said second side cooler wall comprises an insulated flexible material; and   said interior container comprises a rigid plastic or metallic material.   
     
     
         11 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cooler compartment comprises a front cooler wall, a back cooler wall, a first side cooler wall, and a second side cooler wall;   said at least one air intake vent comprises a first air intake vent disposed in said first side cooler wall and a second air intake vent disposed in said second side cooler wall; and   each of said first air intake vent and said second air intake vent is disposed at or near the bottom of said cooler compartment such that air drawn by said fan from the external environment must pass upwardly over a substantial portion of the outer surfaces of said interior container to maximize the cooling effect on the air.   
     
     
         12 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein said air conditioning compartment is attached on one side to said cooler compartment in the manner of a hinge to permit said air conditioning compartment to be pivoted away and towards said cooler compartment to permit a user to open and close said cooler compartment. 
     
     
         13 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein:
 said air conditioning compartment comprises a first zipper portion;   said cooler compartment comprises a second zipper portion; and   said first zipper portion is configured to sealingly engage with said second zipper portion to permit a user to connect and disconnect said air conditioning compartment and said cooler compartment.   
     
     
         14 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a battery pocket disposed on the outside of said cooler compartment;   a battery disposed in said battery pocket and operatively connected to said fan; and   a manual switch disposed to project out of said air conditioning compartment to permit a user to turn said fan on and off.   
     
     
         15 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 1 , wherein each of said at least two air outlet structures comprises a tapered nozzle to focus the air output. 
     
     
         16 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable carrying strap. 
     
     
         17 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 2 , wherein:
 said cooler compartment comprises an insulated flexible material; and   said interior container comprises a rigid plastic or metallic material.   
     
     
         18 . A dual beverage cooler and air conditioner for transporting beverages and providing cooling air to users comprising:
 a cooler compartment configured to contain ice, water, and products to be kept in a cool or cold environment;   an air conditioning compartment disposed above said cooler compartment and comprising an upper wall and a lower wall dividing said cooler compartment from said air conditioning compartment;   said cooler compartment comprising at least one air intake vent configured to permit air to enter said cooler compartment from the surrounding environment;   a fan mounted to said lower wall of said air conditioning compartment and configured to draw air through said at least one air intake vent and upwardly from said cooler compartment to said air conditioning compartment;   an air-conducting arrangement disposed in said air conditioning compartment and configured to conduct air from said fan;   at least two air outlet structures connected to air-conducting arrangement and projecting vertically through and out of said upper wall to supply cooled air to one or more users;   an interior container disposed within said cooler compartment and configured to contain ice, water, and products to be kept in a cool or cold environment;   said interior container is configured to fit in a nesting manner in said cooler compartment with space between the outer surfaces of said interior container and the inner surfaces of said cooler compartment to form air passages therebetween to conduct air drawn through said at least one air intake vent and cool the passing air using the cooled outer surfaces of said interior container; and   said at least one air intake vent being disposed at or near the bottom of said cooler compartment such that air drawn by said fan from the external environment must pass upwardly over a substantial portion of the outer surfaces of said interior container to maximize the cooling effect on the air.   
     
     
         19 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 18 , wherein said interior container comprises at least one ventilation opening in an upper portion thereof to permit air passing through said air passages to pass into the interior of said interior container and be further cooled by ice, water, and products to be kept in a cool or cold environment in said interior container. 
     
     
         20 . The dual beverage cooler and air conditioner of  claim 19 , wherein:
 said air-conducting arrangement comprises a central tube disposed to project through said lower wall to connect to said fan and at least two branch tubes configured to conduct air in at least two separate directions;   said least two air outlet structures are connected to said at least two branch tubes; and   each of said at least two air outlet structures comprises an extendable and articulatable tube configured to be adjusted in length and direction to direct cooled air to a desired location to cool one or more users.