Cooling apparatus

Abstract

A cooling apparatus is provided. The cooling apparatus includes a thermoelectric device having a cool side and a warm side, a cool side fin proximate the cool side of the thermoelectric device, a heat side fin proximate the warm side of the thermoelectric device, cool side gas directing means configured to cause a cool gas to be directed through the cool side fin, and warm side gas directing means configured to cause a warm gas to be directed through the heat side fin and away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device. The cooling apparatus may be employed in any warm environment that may benefit from cooled air delivered to a user from a light, efficient package, including but not limited to medical situations and within clothing such as heavy uniforms or helmets.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cooling apparatus comprising:
 a thermoelectric device having a cool side and a warm side;   a cool side fin proximate the cool side of the thermoelectric device;   a heat side fin proximate the warm side of the thermoelectric device;   cool side gas directing means configured to cause a cool gas to be directed through the cool side fin; and   warm side gas directing means configured to cause a warm gas to be directed through the heat side fin and away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         2 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cool side gas directing means directs the cool gas parallel to the cool side of the thermoelectric device and the warm side gas directing means directs the warm gas perpendicular to the warm side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         3 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the heat side fin is larger than the cool side fin. 
     
     
         4 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cool side gas directing means comprises a low flow, high pressure fan. 
     
     
         5 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 4 , wherein the low flow, high pressure fan comprises a radial blower fan configured to direct the cool gas parallel to the cool side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         6 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the warm side gas directing means comprises a high flow, low pressure fan. 
     
     
         7 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the high flow, low pressure fan comprises an axial fan configured to direct the air gas perpendicular to and away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         8 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cooling apparatus is configured to direct cooled air to a medical patient. 
     
     
         9 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , further comprising a portable power source configured to power the thermoelectric device, the cool side gas directing means, and the warm side gas directing means. 
     
     
         10 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein gas received from the cool side fin is provided within clothing worn by a user. 
     
     
         11 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein gas received from the cool side fin is directed to a patient. 
     
     
         12 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein cool gas received from the cool side fin is directed to a user region and cycled back to the cool side gas directing means. 
     
     
         13 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the cool side gas directing means comprises a fan configured to draw user warmed gas from clothing worn by a user, the clothing worn by the user configured to draw the cool gas from the cool side fin and from a gas inlet. 
     
     
         14 . A cooling apparatus comprising:
 a thermoelectric device having a cool side and a warm side;   a cool side fin proximate the cool side of the thermoelectric device;   a heat side fin proximate the warm side of the thermoelectric device;   a cool side fan configured to cause a cool gas to be directed through the cool side fin; and   a warm side fan configured to cause a warm gas to be directed through the heat side fin and away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         15 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cool side fan directs the cool gas parallel to the cool side of the thermoelectric device and the warm side fan directs the warm gas perpendicular to the warm side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         16 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the cool side fan comprises a radial blower fan configured to direct the cool gas parallel to the cool side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         17 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the warm side fan comprises an axial fan configured to direct the air gas perpendicular to and away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         18 . A cooling apparatus comprising:
 a thermoelectric device having a cool side and a warm side;   a cool side fin proximate the cool side of the thermoelectric device;   a cool side fan configured to cause a cool gas to be directed proximate the cool side fin; and   a warm side fan configured to cause a warm gas to be directed away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device.   
     
     
         19 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cool side fan directs the cool gas parallel to the cool side of the thermoelectric device and the warm side fan directs the warm gas perpendicular to the warm side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         20 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the cool side fan comprises a radial blower fan configured to direct the cool gas parallel to the cool side of the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         21 . The cooling apparatus of  claim 18 , wherein the warm side fan comprises an axial fan configured to direct the air gas perpendicular to and away from the warm side of the thermoelectric device.