Portable air cooler

Abstract

A portable air cooler is provided that includes an openable top that provides access to a chest interior. The chest body also has as air inlet in the chest body through which ambient air can flow into the chest interior, an air outlet in the chest body through which air from the chest interior can flow out of the chest interior, and a fan operable to cause ambient air to flow into the chest interior through the air inlet and to cause air from the chest interior to flow out the air outlet. A chilling member is positionable in the chest interior to define an airflow pathway from the air inlet to the air outlet, wherein when the fan is operated, air is caused to flow from the air inlet through the airflow pathway to the air outlet, and wherein the chilling member comprises a heat exchange facilitating structure that chills air flowing through the airflow pathway so that the air at the air outlet is a lower temperature than the ambient air.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A portable air cooler comprising:
 a chest body having a bottom, sidewalls, and an openable top that together define a chest interior;   an air inlet in the chest body through which ambient air can flow into the chest interior;   an air outlet in the chest body through which air from the chest interior can flow out of the chest interior;   a fan operable to cause ambient air to flow into the chest interior through the air inlet and to cause air from the chest interior to flow out the air outlet; and   a chilling member positionable in the chest interior to define an airflow pathway from the air inlet to the air outlet, the chilling member being chillable to a temperature below the ambient temperature prior to operation of the portable air cooler,   wherein when the fan is operated, air is caused to flow from the air inlet through the airflow pathway to the air outlet, and wherein the chilling member comprises a heat exchange facilitating structure that chills air flowing through the airflow pathway so that the air at the air outlet is a lower temperature than the ambient air.   
     
     
         2 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the heat exchange facilitating structure comprises a structure that defines a tortuous path for the airflow pathway. 
     
     
         3 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 2  wherein the tortuous path comprises one or more of the follow characteristics: the tortuous path (i) causes air to be directed at and caused to bend at a surface of the chilling member, (ii) causes air to flow above and below the chilling member, (iii) causes the air in the airflow pathway to make at least 270 degrees of turns, (iv) causes the air to be redirected away from the air outlet, and/or (v) has a length great than 130 percent of the direct length from the inlet to the outlet. 
     
     
         4 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 2  wherein the tortuous path causes a turbulent air flow and/or increases the residence time of the air in the chest interior. 
     
     
         5 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 2  wherein the heat exchange facilitating structure further comprises a surface area increasing system. 
     
     
         6 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the heat exchange facilitation structure comprises a surface area increasing system. 
     
     
         7 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 6  wherein the surface area increasing system comprises one or more channels that extend into a surface of the chilling member. 
     
     
         8 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the chilling member is removeably insertable into the chest interior. 
     
     
         9 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the chilling member has an interior that can contain an at least partially freezable material. 
     
     
         10 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the chilling member comprises two chilling members that cooperate with one another to form a channel for the airflow pathway. 
     
     
         11 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  further comprising a duct having a first end connectable with the air outlet and a second end having an opening adapted to direct cool air in a desired area. 
     
     
         12 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  further comprising a duct having a first end connectable with the air outlet and a second end having an opening adapted to direct cool towards or into an object. 
     
     
         13 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 12  wherein the object comprises one or more of a chair, seat cushion, sleeping pad, and a tent. 
     
     
         14 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the air inlet is provided in a sidewall of the chest body and the air outlet is in the openable top. 
     
     
         15 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  further comprising a cover for the air inlet and a cover for the air outlet so the chest body can be used as a cooler to keep one or more items cool within the chest interior. 
     
     
         16 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the air inlet is provided by a gap between a sidewall and the openable top and the air outlet is in the openable top. 
     
     
         17 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the openable top comprises a platform, wherein the air inlet is provided in the platform, and wherein the air outlet is provide at an outer edge of the platform or on a sidewall. 
     
     
         18 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the chest body is in the form of a backpack or belt bag. 
     
     
         19 . A portable air cooler according to  claim 1  wherein the chilling member is non-electronic and does not contain a refrigerant that undergoes a phase change in order provide a cooling effect. 
     
     
         20 . An air cooler comprising:
 a chest body having a bottom, sidewalls, and an openable top that together define a chest interior;   an air inlet in the chest body through which ambient air can flow into the chest interior;   an air outlet in the chest body through which air from the chest interior can flow out of the chest interior;   a fan operable to cause ambient air to flow into the chest interior through the air inlet and to cause air from the chest interior to flow out the air outlet; and   a chilling member removeably insertable in the chest interior to define an airflow pathway from the air inlet to the air outlet, the chilling member being chillable to a temperature below the ambient temperature prior to operation of the portable air cooler,   wherein when the fan is operated, air is caused to flow from the air inlet through the airflow pathway to the air outlet, and wherein the chilling member comprises a heat exchange facilitating structure that chills air flowing through the airflow pathway so that the air at the air outlet is a lower temperature than the ambient air.   
     
     
         21 . An air cooler according to  claim 20  wherein the chest body is portable. 
     
     
         22 . An air cooler comprising:
 a chest body having a bottom, sidewalls, and an openable top that together define a chest interior;   an air inlet in the chest body through which ambient air can flow into the chest interior;   an air outlet in the chest body through which air from the chest interior can flow out of the chest interior;   a fan operable to cause ambient air to flow into the chest interior through the air inlet and to cause air from the chest interior to flow out the air outlet; and   a chilling member positionable in the chest interior to define an airflow pathway from the air inlet to the air outlet, the chilling member being chillable to a temperature below the ambient temperature prior to operation of the portable air cooler, the chilling member comprising a chilling member lid that can be removed to provide access to an interior space into which chilling material can be inserted,   wherein when the fan is operated, air is caused to flow from the air inlet through the airflow pathway to the air outlet, and wherein the chilling member comprises a heat exchange facilitating structure that chills air flowing through the airflow pathway so that the air at the air outlet is a lower temperature than the ambient air.   
     
     
         23 . An air cooler according to  claim 22  wherein the chest body is portable.