Air cooling apparatus including fan and cooling pack

A cooling pack includes a plurality of thermally conductive shells made of a rigid plastic. Each shell contains a coolant and is securable directly to the protective housing of an electric fan. The shells are sized and shaped to allow the passage of fan air while the fan is operating. Heat is removed from the fan air flowing past the shells, thereby improving the cooling capability of the fan.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
The invention relates to apparatus for cooling air. Such apparatus includes 
air conditioners, evaporative coolers and electric fans. Air conditioners 
and evaporative coolers are generally expensive to purchase and operate. 
They are also bulky and, therefore, not very portable. Electric fans, 
while portable and less expensive, do not have the capability to cool air 
as well as air conditioners and evaporative coolers. 
Cooling capability of an electric fan can be improved by placing a block of 
ice in front of the fan. The ice removes heat from the fan air. However, 
the ice causes problems, especially when it melts. Cooling capability of a 
fan appears to be improved by apparatus disclosed in Hammett U.S. Pat. No. 
4,860,556. A plastic container of "freezable" liquid is suspended several 
inches in front of a fan by a rigid frame. The container has a "multitude" 
of channels for allowing fan air to pass through the container. Heat is 
removed from the fan air passing through the channels. However, Hammett's 
apparatus appears to have problems. The rigid frame and container add to 
the overall bulk of the fan and, therefore, reduce the stability of the 
fan. When the container is filled with water, it tends to tip the fan 
over. The frame and container also add to the size of the fan and, 
therefore reduce the portability of the fan. Additionally, the container 
does not provide a continuous cooling effect. After the liquid has 
absorbed heat for a while, the container must be detached from the fan and 
the liquid must be re-frozen. Once the container is detached, the cooling 
capability of Hammett's apparatus drops to that of an ordinary fan. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
These problems are overcome by the present invention. The invention can be 
regarded as a cooling pack for a fan. The cooling pack comprises a number 
n of thermally conductive shells made of a coolant-impregnable material, 
where n is an integer greater than zero; and means for removably securing 
each shell directly to the fan. Each shell has a size that allows passage 
of a substantial amount of fan air past the shell while the shell is 
secured directly to the fan and the fan is operating. 
The invention can also be regarded as an apparatus comprising a fan having 
a perimeter; a plurality of thermally conductive, coolant impregnable, 
rigid plastic shells; and means for securing each of the shells directly 
to the fan. Each shell has at least one passageway for fan air to flow 
therethrough, and the plurality of shells can be arranged within the 
perimeter of the fan.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
FIG. 1 shows a cooling apparatus 10 including a standard oscillating fan 12 
having fan blades and a protective housing 14 for the fan blades. The 
cooling apparatus 10 further includes a cooling pack 16 secured to the 
protective housing 14 of the fan 12. The cooling pack 16 includes a 
plurality of thermally conductive shells 18 and twist ties 20 for 
removably securing each shell 18 directly to the protective housing 14 of 
the fan 12. Each shell 18 has a size that allows passage of a substantial 
amount of fan air past the shell 18 while the shell 18 is secured directly 
to the fan 12 and the fan 12 is operating. The shells 18 can be secured to 
the suction side of the fan 12, the exhaust side of the fan 12, or 
anywhere else on the fan 12. 
The shells 18 are filled with a non-toxic coolant which absorbs heat from 
the fan air. The coolant can be water or a liquid having a freezing point 
depressant such as the gel used in commercially available gel packs. 
During manufacture, each shell 18 is prefilled with the coolant and 
permanently sealed. 
The shell 18 is made of a rigid plastic that is impregnable to the coolant. 
The plastic shell 18 must be tough and durable to endure constant cycles 
of cooling and thawing. However, the shell 18 must have a wall thickness 
that allows rapid heat transfer to the coolant. Different sizes of shells 
18 could be selected to accommodate fans 12 of different sizes (e.g., ten 
inch oscillating fans, twenty inch floor fans). Or, a single size could be 
selected to fit fans 12 of all sizes. An ideal shell size would allow all 
of the shells 18 to be arranged within the perimeter of the fan's 
protective housing 14 simultaneously. FIG. 1 shows all of the shells 18 
arranged in a circle along the perimeter of the protective housing 14. 
As an alternative to the rigid plastic shells, the coolant and the shells 
can be formed from gel-packs. Each gel pack is shaped to define 
passageways that allow for the passage of fan air, and has a wall 
thickness allowing for rapid heat transfer from the fan air to the gel 
within. 
To secure the shells 18 to the fan, the twist ties 20 are wrapped around 
the wires of the fan's protective housing 14. 
The cooling pack can be used as follows. The shells 18 are placed in a 
freezer for a sufficient amount of time to allow the coolant to freeze. 
One, some or all of the shells 18 are removed from the freezer and secured 
to the protective housing 14 of the fan 12. For example, a single shell 18 
could be secured to the rear of the protective housing 14; or three shells 
18 could be secured to the rear of the protective housing 14; or two 
shells 18 could be secured to the protective housing 14, with one of the 
shells 18 being secured to the rear of the protective housing 14 and the 
other of the shells 18 being secured to the front of the protective 
housing 14 as a counterbalance. If a shell 18 is placed over the fan's 
motor, care must be taken to prevent any condensation from dropping onto 
the fan 12. 
As the fan 12 is turned on and begins to draw air through the rear of the 
protective housing 14, fan air is pulled through and around the shells 18. 
Heat is transferred from the air to the coolant, creating a cooling effect 
as the air blows from the front of the fan 12. 
After a while, the coolant in the shells 18 will absorb an excessive amount 
of heat. Therefore, the shells 18 must be removed periodically removed 
from the fan 12 and placed back into the freezer. After the coolant in a 
shell 18 is re-frozen, that shell 18 can be re-secured to the fan 12. 
Shells 18 can be rotated in and out of the freezer in order for the fan 12 
to maintain a relatively constant cooling effect. Moreover, the amount of 
cooling can be adjusted by varying the number of shells 18 secured to the 
fan 12. 
FIG. 2 shows a shell 18 of a cooling pack 16 in greater detail. The shell 
18 has a front surface and a back surface and a plurality of passageways 
22 extending from the front surface to the back surface. The passageways 
22 increase the surface area of the shell 18 and, therefore, increase the 
amount of heat removed from the fan air. However, the passageways 22 are 
not required. 
The twist ties 20 are hot-glued or integrally formed with the shell 16. The 
twist ties 20 can include a thin-gauge wire normally used in conventional 
twist ties. The wires can be coated with a substance that readily adheres 
to the shell 18. 
Although twist ties 20 are shown as the means for attaching the shell 18 to 
the fan 12, other means can be used. FIG. 3 shows clips 20a for securing 
the shell 18 directly to the fan 12. The clips 20a can be overgrown 
clothes line hanger clips or plastic clips, or they can be spring-loaded 
metal clips. The clips 20a can extend through some of the air passageways 
22a in the shell 18a and attach to the wire of the front or rear of the 
fan's protective housing 14, or the clips 20a can be hot-glued to, or 
formed integrally with, the shell 18a. 
FIG. 4 shows small ceramic magnets 20b for securing the shell 18b directly 
to the fan 12. The magnets 20b can be embedded in the plastic wall of the 
shell 18b, or they can be attached to an inner surface of the shell's 
wall. The magnets 20b work best for a shell 18b that must be secured to a 
flat, metal surface. 
The invention is not limited to twist ties, clips or magnets for securing 
the shells to the fan. For example, hook and loop material such as the 
type sold under the trademark "VELCRO" could be used. Or, metal hooks 
could be used to secure the shells to the fan. 
FIG. 5 shows a cooling pack 116 including only a single shell 118. The 
shell 118 has a front surface and a back surface and a central passageway 
121 extending from the front surface to the back surface. The shell 118 
also has a plurality of additional passageways 122 extending between the 
front surface and the back surface. Each of the additional passageways 122 
is substantially smaller than the central passageway 121. 
The cooling pack 116 also includes a spout 124 for adding coolant to the 
shell 118 and removing coolant from the shell 118. Additionally, the 
cooling pack 116 can include an absorbent wrap surrounding the shell 118. 
The wrap could catch any dew or moisture that might drop off the shell 
118. Portions of the wrap can be cut out in order to expose the 
passageways 121 and 122, or the wrap can be form-fitted to the shell 118, 
whereby the entire surface of the shell 118 (including the walls of the 
passageways 121 and 122) would be covered. 
Thus disclosed is an apparatus including a fan and a cooling pack for 
increasing the cooling capability of the fan. The cooling pack is secured 
directly to the fan, resulting in an apparatus that offers small size, 
light weight and excellent stability. Installation of the cooling pack is 
flexible, since the shells can be attached anywhere on the fan. The 
flexibility of installation also enhances the stability of the fan, since 
the shells can be balanced on the fan, and shells can be added to the fan 
until the fan becomes unbalanced. Cooling capacity is adjustable since 
one, some or all of the shells can be secured to the fan. A constant 
cooling effect can be maintained, since the shells can be rotated between 
the fan and the freezer. 
Use of the cooling pack is not limited to oscillating fans; the cooling 
pack can be adapted for use with fans of different sizes and types. 
Moreover, such adaptability allows the apparatus to do more than simply 
cool a section of a room. FIG. 6 shows a fan 29 attached to the housing 32 
of computer 30, and FIG. 7 shows a fan 39 attached to the housing 42 of a 
stereo 40. Each housing 32 and 42 includes a wall having an air vent 34 
(the air vent on the stereo 30 is not shown). The fan 29 or 39 is mounted 
to an interior surface of the wall, and each shell 18 is securable 
directly to an exterior surface of the housing 32 or 42 at the air vent 
34. Air being drawn into the housing 32 or 42 is cooled by the shells 18. 
The shells 18 are most readily attached to the housing 32 or 42 by the 
small ceramic magnets. 
FIG. 8 shows that the shells 18 can be attached above the grill 52 on the 
dashboard 50 of an automobile. As is conventional in automobiles, a fan 
blows air into the passenger compartment via an air duct 54. One end of 
the air duct 54 terminates in the grill 52. Each shell 18 is securable 
directly above the grill 52 by a hook and loop material 56. The shells 18 
allow cool air to be supplied to an automobile not having an air 
conditioner or, for an automobile having an air conditioner, the shells 18 
allow cool air to be supplied while the air conditioning system is 
starting up. 
It is understood that additional changes and modifications may be made 
without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, 
the invention is not limited to the precise embodiments described 
hereinabove. Instead, it is defined by the claims that follow.