Cooler structure for surface cooling

Abstract

A cooler structure for use in cooling a surface (such as a vehicle windscreen) has a backing panel and, supported on the backing panel, cooling medium in heat transfer relationship with the backing panel. The structure may have a displaceable flap or the like through which a target zone of the surface may be accessed. The displaceable flap or the like may carry cooling medium.

1 . A cooler structure for use in cooling a surface, the cooler structure comprising a backing panel and, supported on the backing panel, cooling medium in heat transfer relationship with the backing panel.  
   
   
       2 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooler structure has a zone within the periphery of the structure through which a target zone of the surface may be accessed.  
   
   
       3 . A cooler structure according to  claim 2  wherein the zone is bounded by a cooling zone of the structure having the cooling medium supported on the structure.  
   
   
       4 . A cooler structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the zone comprises a portion of the cooler structure that is at least partially displaceable.  
   
   
       5 . A cooler structure according to  claim 2 , wherein the zone includes a portion of the backing panel and carries cooling medium.  
   
   
       6 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling medium is present over an area of the structure corresponding to one of: 
 at least substantially 60% of the backing panel;    at least substantially 70% of the backing panel; and    at least substantially 80% or more of the backing panel.    
   
   
       7 - 8 . (canceled)  
   
   
       9 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the backing panel is substantially liquid impermeable.  
   
   
       10 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the backing panel comprises at least one of: 
 a plastics material;    flexible sheet material;    material to be hydrated;    hydrated material; and    an absorbent polymer material.    
   
   
       11 - 13 . (canceled)  
   
   
       14 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling medium is in at least one of: 
 a granular form,    a particulate form, and    a hydrogel form.    
   
   
       15 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the cooling medium is contained within pockets present on the structure.  
   
   
       16 . A cooler structure according to  claim 15  wherein the discrete pockets effectively permanently retain dosed quantities of the cooling medium.  
   
   
       17 . A cooler structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the pockets have a panel portion defined by a liquid permeable material.  
   
   
       18 . A cooler structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the pockets have a panel portion defined by the backing panel of the structure.  
   
   
       19 . A cooler structure according to  claim 15 , wherein the pockets are defined by weld seam lines along adjacent sheets comprising the pockets.  
   
   
       20 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , wherein the structure is provided with mounting means for securing the structure in position on the surface.  
   
   
       21 . A cooler structure according to  claim 20  wherein the mounting means comprises at least one suction cups.  
   
   
       22 . A method of cooling a vehicle windscreen, the method comprising 
 proividing a cooler structure comprising a backing panel and, supported on the backing panel, cooling medium in heat transfer relationship with the backing panel; and    positioning the cooler structure in position with the backing panel of the cooler structure adjacent the windscreen.    
   
   
       23 . A method according to  claim 22 , further comprising: 
 after positioning the cooler structure, permitting a period of time to elapse; and    carrying out a repair process on a flaw in the windscreen to thereby repair the flaw.    
   
   
       24 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the cooler structure has a zone within the periphery of the cooler structure which zone is positioned over the flaw in the windscreen and through which zone the flaw of the windscreen may be accessed.  
   
   
       25 . A method according to  claim 23 , wherein the repair process is carried out on the flaw whilst the cooler is in situ, positioned on the windscreen.  
   
   
       26 . (canceled)  
   
   
       27 . A method of manufacturing a cooler structure, the method comprising welding a liquid permeable sheet material to a liquid impermeable backing along weld lines to form a series of pockets containing a cooling medium retained in the pockets.  
   
   
       28 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a carrier container for maintaining the cooling medium in a hydrated state.  
   
   
       29 . A cooler structure according to  claim 1 , further comprising a container for dispensing hydrating liquid to hydrate the cooling medium.