Abstract:
A mobile, attachable, detachable misting cooling apparatus. The apparatus conveys a cooling liquid through a plurality of misting elements removably attached to a portable frame structure. The apparatus may include a reservoir containing a volume of cooling liquid and a pump powered by a battery and rechargeable by power source operable to direct the cooling fluid through the misting elements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. provisional application No. 62/104,991, filed Jan. 19, 2015, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to cooling devices and, more particularly, to a mobile misting cooling apparatus. 
         [0003]    During the course of a hot day, under an open air canopy (i.e. set up at a beach, sports game, corporate or personal event, barbeque or any and all outdoor events) one&#39;s body heats up to uncomfortable and often dangerous levels, especially if there is no wind, dry wind and high humidity. A person becomes aware immediately of the intense heat and does not have a cooling source to cool them down on an ongoing basis that immediately reduces their body temperature. Cooling systems in the art are expensive, burdensome, not mobile and only for corporate brick and mortar use. 
         [0004]    As can be seen, there is a need for a mobile misting cooling apparatus. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In one aspect of the present invention, a mobile cooling apparatus, comprises: a portable liquid reservoir, a pump, having an inlet and an outlet; a battery with rechargeable external power source, a tubing element adapted to be coupled with an outlet of the pump; and a plurality of misters adapted to be operatively coupled to the tubing element. The mobile cooling apparatus may also comprise a portable frame structure, wherein the plurality of misters are removably attached to the portable frame structure in a spaced apart relation. A fastener operable to removably attach the tubing element to the portable frame structure. The fastener may comprise a hook and pile strap or a tie-wrap. A distribution connector may also be included which operatively connects between a plurality of tubing elements. The mobile cooling apparatus may further comprise a cooling fluid contained in the portable liquid reservoir. 
         [0006]    According to aspects of the invention, the pump is adapted to communicate the cooling fluid through the plurality of misters. The pump may be contained in a pump housing along with an electrical source for powering the pump. The electrical source may comprise a battery contained within the pump housing. In some embodiments, the pump housing may include an external power connector, conducting an external electrical source to at least one of the pump or the battery. 
         [0007]    In yet other aspects of the invention a mobile misting cooling apparatus comprises: a reservoir container; a pump connected to the reservoir container; a plurality of misters; and a tube connected to the pump and reservoir container, wherein the tube communicates a liquid from the tube to one of the plurality of misters. The mobile misting cooling apparatus may also comprise a frame structure, wherein the tube is removably attached to the frame structure. The frame structure may also include a canopy covering at least a top portion of the frame structure. A pump housing may contain the pump and an electrical source to operate the pump. A distribution connector may also be provided for operatively connecting a plurality of tubes to allow distribution of the liquid between each of the plurality of tubes. 
         [0008]    These and other features, aspects and advantages of the present invention will become better understood with reference to the following drawings, description and claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the invention shown in use with item  12  tent canopy shown hidden for illustrative clarity. 
           [0010]      FIG. 2  is a perspective detail view of the invention shown in use. 
           [0011]      FIG. 3  is a partial section detail view of the invention along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 2 . 
           [0012]      FIG. 4  is a perspective detail view of the invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 5  is a perspective detail view of the invention shown with item  36  pump/battery container lid omitted for illustrative clarity. 
           [0014]      FIG. 6  is a perspective detail view of the invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 7  is a section detail view of the invention along line  7 - 7  in  FIG. 6 . 
           [0016]      FIG. 8  is a section detail view of the invention along line  8 - 8  in  FIG. 1 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 9  is a section detail view of the invention along line  9 - 9  in  FIG. 6 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0018]    The following detailed description is of the best currently contemplated modes of carrying out exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating the general principles of the invention, since the scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims. 
         [0019]    Broadly, an embodiment of the present invention provides a mobile misting cooling apparatus comprising: a reservoir container; a pump connected to the reservoir container; tubing connected from the reservoir container to a pump inlet, and tubing extending out from a pump outlet upwards, wherein the tubing comprises holes along a surface operable to allow a liquid to extend out from the tubing to a plurality of misters, wherein the tubing is positioned along a mobile structure. 
         [0020]    As is illustrated in  FIG. 1 , an apparatus of the present invention may be adapted to a portable or temporary structure, such as a tent frame  10 . The portable structure  10 , may include a covering, such as a tent canopy  12 . Elements of the system and apparatus of the present invention may be fitted to the structure  10 , which include tubing elements  14 , which may be secured to the frame  10  via a plurality of straps  16 . In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a plurality of tubing elements  14  are attached to each of a plurality of frame members that emanate from an apex of the frame  10 . Alternatively, the tubing elements  14  may be secured to the lateral frame members of the frame  10 . 
         [0021]    A plurality of fittings, such as T-union fittings  18 , interconnect the tubing elements  14  and a distribution connector  20 , such as a cross connector show in reference to  FIG. 8 , that may distribute a cooling liquid, such as water, between legs of tubing elements  14 . The Tubing elements  14  carry the cooling liquid delivered from a reservoir  22 , under pressure provided by a pump  24  and dispersed as a liquid mist  28  to provide a cooling environment. 
         [0022]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the reservoir container  22  may include an opening which receives a reservoir feed tube  44  to convey the cooling liquid  28  to an inlet the pump  24 . The reservoir opening should have a sufficient size to permit the filling of the reservoir container with the cooling liquid  28  for initial operational state and replenishment of the cooling liquid  28  as it is depleted during operation. The reservoir container  22  may be any suitable container for holding a volume of cooling liquid, such as a large bucket, ice chest, and the like. The reservoir feed tube  44  may enter into the opening of the reservoir container  22  and have a first end that extends to a bottom of the reservoir and a second end to connect to a pump inlet. In certain embodiments, the tubing  44  may be approximately ⅝″ in thickness for the portion connecting the reservoir container  22  and the pump  24 . 
         [0023]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 2, 4, and 5 , the pump  24  may be a manual or a powered pump, and may, for example be powered through a battery  26  or the like and may have an activation switch  38 , such as an on/off switch. The pump  24 , battery  26 , and activation switch  38  may be contained within a housing  32 , comprising a housing body  34  and a housing lid  36 , preferably the housing  32  is water proof. An internal tubing  40  may interconnect the pump  24  with a housing coupler  42 . The housing couplers  42  provide for connection of the tubing  14  and the reservoir feed tube  44  when setting up and operating the system. 
         [0024]    The housing  32  may also include an external power connector  50 , which may include a protective cap  52  to prevent exposure to the elements when not in use. The connector  50  may be connectable to a power source to recharge the battery  26 , or alternatively to power the pump  24 . Wiring  54  conducts the external power applied to the connector  50  to the internal wiring  48  of the housing, and may be sealed by an O-ring, or suitable seal  55 . 
         [0025]    As seen in reference to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , the tubing  14  may extend from the pump outlet and is secured to the frame  10  via a plurality of straps  16 . Straps  16  may be any suitable material, such as a tie-wrap, a hook and pile strap, a buckled fabric strap, or the like. Preferably the tubing  14  is secured along the frame members  10 , such that a misting element  46  is directed towards the interior space defined beneath the canopy  12 , as best seen in reference to  FIG. 6 . A plurality of misters  46  may be attached to the tubing  14  at the T-union fittings  18  holes. The plurality of misters  46  may produce a light mist when the pump  24  may be turned on. 
         [0026]    A method of using the apparatus may include the following. A user may fill the reservoir container  22  with a liquid such as water or the like. The user may then place the reservoir container  22  on the ground. The reservoir container  22  may be connected to the pump  24  inlet through the reservoir feed tube  44  and the tubing  14  is connected to the pump  24  outlet. 
         [0027]    The housing  32  (inclusive of the housing body  34  and lid  36 ) may be removably attached to a mobile structure  10  such as a canopy or the like. The housing  32  (inclusive of the housing body  34  and lid  36 ) may be removably attached by straps, a clamp, or the like to a leg of the mobile structure  10 . The tubing  14  may come out of the pump  24  and may be removably connected to the mobile structure  10  by a plurality of fasteners  16 , or the like, such as hook and loop fasteners, and tie-wraps. Tubing  14  from the pump may be approximately ¼″ in thickness along at least one leg of the mobile structure  10 . In a preferred embodiment, the tubing  14  may be reduced to approximately ⅛″ thickness along a top portion of the mobile structure  10 . The tubing  14  may have the misters  46  disposed so that once the pump  24  starts running, the liquid from the reservoir container  22  may move through the tubing  14  exiting through the couplers  18  and liquid may run through the plurality of misters  46  that are attached to the couplers  18  and a light mists of the liquid may exit from the plurality of misters  46  onto anyone within and around the mobile structure  10 . 
         [0028]    It should be understood, of course, that the foregoing relates to exemplary embodiments of the invention and that modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims.