Abstract:
A personal cooling device for reducing the temperature within an area immediately surrounding a person. The personal cooling device includes at least one heat exchanger that is connected to a supply of water within a home or building. When desired, the water supply flows through the heat exchanger to cool an airflow passing over the heat exchanger. The cooled airflow is directed into the personal space to cool the air within the personal space. The airflow that passes over the heat exchanger is created by a fan assembly that is selectively activated by the user to create the cooled airflow into the personal space. The personal cooling device thus relies upon the water supply within the home or building to cool an airflow.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present application is based on and claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/244,195, filed on Sep. 21, 2009. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present disclosure generally relates to a personal cooling device. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a personal cooling device that can be utilized to cool air around an individual in a heated environment, such as a bathroom or a changing room. 
         [0003]    Although a home may be air conditioned, when an occupant uses heating elements in small, enclosed spaces, such as the use of a hair dryer in a bathroom, the temperature within the enclosed space may exceed the desired temperature at which the remainder of the home is being maintained. As an example, when a hair dryer is used in a bathroom or a changing room, the temperature in the bathroom may rise 10° above the temperature (such as) 75°) in the remainder of the house. Since the remainder of the home remains at the desired temperature, the home air conditioning unit will not respond to the increase in temperature within the enclosed space. Therefore, a need exists for a system that neutralizes the heat created while using heat-producing home appliances within an enclosed environment, such as the bathroom or changing room. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present disclosure generally relates to a small, built-in personal cooling device that is particularly effective in bathrooms and dressing areas to neutralize the heat that builds up while using heat-producing hair appliances and after showering. The second function of the personal cooling device is to disburse unhealthy vapors that result from the user of aerosol and pump spray hair styling products. 
         [0005]    The personal air cooling device functions by blowing ambient air from a remote location via a fan through a filter and radiator that includes one or more a heat exchangers. Activation of the fan energizes a solenoid valve that allows water at a temperature of about 55-60° F. to flow through the one or more heat exchangers in the radiator. The relatively cool water in the heat exchanger cools the ambient air passing over the heat exchanger to approximately 70° F. Cooled air is then delivered through one or more ducts to adjustable, louvered vents in the vanity of the bathroom or dressing area. Since the heated water from the radiator does not contact the ambient air, the heated water can be discharged to drain in the home. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The drawings illustrate the best mode presently contemplated of carrying out the invention. In the drawings: 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration showing the use a cooling device constructed in accordance with the present disclosure; and 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a magnified view of the personal cooling device constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]      FIG. 1  illustrates the personal cooling device  10  of the present disclosure. The personal cooling device  10  directs a supply of cooled air onto an occupant that is located within an enclosed space, such as the changing room  12  shown in  FIG. 1 . The changing room  12  is shown including a vanity  14 , a chair  16  and a mirror  18 . The changing room  12  could a bathroom or any other area where a person may use a heat-producing appliance, such as a hair dryer or curling iron. Since the changing room  12  is typically small and enclosed, heat quickly builds up during use of the heat-producing appliance. 
         [0010]    In accordance with the present disclosure, when the temperature within the changing room  12  exceeds a comfortable level, the occupant can depress an activation switch  20  that turns on the personal cooling device  10 . In the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the personal cooling device  10  is mounted below the floor  22 , such as in the basement area  24 . However, it is contemplated that the personal cooling device  10  could be located at other locations, such as behind a wall of the changing room  12 . 
         [0011]    When the activation switch  20  is depressed, the personal cooling device  10  is activated. When the personal cooling device  10  is activated, ambient air from room  26  is drawn into the personal cooling device  10 . The ambient air from room  26  is cooled and directed from the personal cooling device  10  to a pair of vents  28  located within the changing room  12 . The vents  28  each receive the cooled air from the personal cooling device  10  through one of a pair of ducts  30 . It is contemplated that the vents  28  could each be louvered and adjustable to direct the flow of cooled air from each of the ducts  30 . Since the personal cooling device  10  receives inlet air from the room  26 , the personal cooling device  10  reduces the temperature of the already-cooled air within room  26  of the home and supplies the cooled air to the vents  28  within the changing room  12 . In this manner, the personal cooling device  10  reduces the temperature of the air within the home and directs the cooled air directly at the user when the user is in the changing room  12 . 
         [0012]    Although the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  includes an activation switch  20  that can be depressed by the user to begin operation of the personal cooling device  10 , it is contemplated that the activation switch  20  could be replaced with an automatic sensing circuit. In such an embodiment, the automatic sensing circuit would detect an elevation in the temperature within the changing room  12  and automatically activate the personal cooling device  10  to maintain the temperature within the changing room  12  at or near the temperature that is present within the changing room prior to use of the heat-producing appliance. In such an embodiment, the sensing circuit could either monitor for a change in temperature over a period of time or monitor whether the temperature exceeds a temperature setpoint. When the activations parameters were met, the sensing circuit will then automatically operate the personal cooling device  10 . In such an embodiment, the user could also still manually activate the personal cooling device when desired. 
         [0013]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , a pair of vents  28  and a pair of ducts  30  are shown. However, it is contemplated that only a single vent  28  and a single duct  30  could be utilized while operating within the scope of the present disclosure. Further, the position of the vent  28  can be modified depending upon the specific configuration for the room. 
         [0014]      FIG. 2  illustrates the operational details of the personal cooling device  10  constructed in accordance with the present disclosure. The personal cooling device  10  includes a radiator  32 . In the illustrated embodiment, the radiator  32  includes a pair of heat exchangers  34   a  and  34   b  that each includes a series of fins  35  to enhance heat transfer. Although heat exchangers  34   a  and  34   b  are shown in the embodiment of  FIG. 2 , it should be understood that the radiator  32  could utilize various other similar devices that function to reduce the temperature of air passing through the radiator  32 . As an example, the heat exchangers could be replaced with tubing that winds through the radiator  32  to remove heat from air within the enclosed radiator  32 . 
         [0015]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 2 , the first heat exchange  34   a  receives a supply of water from an inlet pipe  36 . Preferably, the supply of water is an available water supply in the home of the occupant. Typically, the supply of water within the home has an ambient temperature of between 55-60°. The water supply flows into the heat exchanger  34   a  from the inlet pipe  36 , as shown by arrow  38 . After the water passes through the first heat exchanger  34   a,  a connecting pipe  37  directs the water flow through the second heat exchanger  34   b  for further cooling of air passing through the radiator  32 . The flow of water ultimately leaves the radiator  32  through an outlet pipe  40 . The outlet pipe  40  directs the water to a drain contained within the home. 
         [0016]    When the user depresses the activation switch  20 , the activation switch opens a solenoid control valve  42 . Since the water supply in the home is pressurized, when the solenoid valve  42  opens, water flows through the pair of heat exchangers  34   a  and  34   b.  Additionally, when the activation switch  20  is depressed, electric power is supplied to the motor  44  of the fan assembly  46 . The electric motor  44  rotates a fan blade  48  which creates a flow of air over the heat exchangers  34 , as illustrated by arrows  50 . Since the radiator  32  and fan assembly  46  are closed to the outside, the rotation of the fan blade causes air to flow out of the enclosed housing  39  through the ducts  30 . The outflow of air causes additional air to be drawn into the open interior  52  of the radiator  32  through a vent  54 , as illustrated by arrows  56 . The flow of air through the vent  54  passes through an air filter  58  which removes particles and dust from the air within room  26  (see  FIG. 1 ) while also preventing a backflow of air from the open interior  52 . 
         [0017]    As air is drawn into the open interior  52  from the vent  54 , the air passes over the pair of heat exchangers  34   a  and  34   b.  Since the temperature of water within the heat exchangers  34   a  and  34   b  is below the temperature of the air entering the open interior  52 , the air temperature is reduced by the heat exchanger. As an example, if the water supply entering through the inlet pipe  36  has a temperature of 55 to 60° and the ambient air temperature is 75°, the air passing through the open interior  52  can be cooled between 5-10° below ambient. 
         [0018]    The cooled air, after passing over the exchangers  34   a  and  34   b,  exits the radiator housing through one of two ducts  30 . In the embodiment shown, each of the ducts  30  are formed from PVC pipes, although other materials are contemplated as being within the scope of the present disclosure. The air leaving the open interior  52  of the radiator  32 , as shown by arrows  60 , travels through the ducts  30  and is discharged through one of the two vents  28 . As illustrated in  FIG. 1 , the vents  28  are positioned near the vanity  14  and can be adjusted to direct air onto the user. 
         [0019]    As described previously, the personal cooling device  10  operates to cool the temperature of ambient air before the air is directed at the user through one of the two vents  28 . In this manner, the personal cooling device  10  cools ambient air and directs the cooled air at the user in an on demand basis. 
         [0020]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , the personal cooling device  10  draws air into the radiator  32  from a room  26  different from the changing room  12 . It is contemplated that drawing air from the room  26  will allow a cooler supply of air to pass over the heat exchangers contained within the radiator  32 , which will result in a cooler supply of air directed into the changing room  12  through the vents  28 . However, air could be drawn directly from the changing room  12  and cooled within the radiator  32  before being reintroduced into the changing room  12 . In such an embodiment, it is anticipated that the temperature of the air from within the changing room  12  will be higher than the air within room  26  and thus would not result in as cool of an airflow through the vents  28 . However, such an embodiment is contemplated as being within the subject matter of the present disclosure. 
         [0021]    This written description uses examples to disclose the invention, including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope of the invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.