Collapsible misting fan apparatus

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to an evaporative cooling apparatus and, more particularly, to a portable evaporative cooling apparatus that includes a standard food cooler chest and a quick release for removably mounting the fan of the cooling apparatus to the food cooler chest.

2. Background of the Invention

Evaporative coolers are used in a variety of settings including factories, warehouses, workshops and agricultural structures, as well as automobiles, homes, offices, trailers and at the sidelines of sporting events. Evaporative cooling improves workplace productivity by keeping workers cool in the workplace which, in turn, reduces heat-related illness and employee turn-over, particularly in the summer months and/or in hotter climates. It also improves performance of sports players by keeping players cool or preventing heat exhaustion in sports that demand extended periods of physical exertion.

Evaporative coolers require minimal parts and are relatively simple to manufacture and maintain, making them an attractive alternative to conventional air conditioning and mechanical refrigeration systems. Because of their simple construction, the cost of acquiring and operating evaporative coolers is considerably lower than that of conventional air conditioning systems. Moreover, evaporative coolers are especially useful in outside environments, whether open, such as an athletic field, or enclosed, for example, a factory or the like, whereas refrigeration systems in such environments are comparatively inefficient, if not impractical. Evaporative coolers are also economical since they use minimal amounts of energy and environmentally safe since they have no CFCs or HCFCs.

The versatility and other advantages of evaporative coolers have caused manufacturers to explore ways of making them more attractive to a wider range of consumers. One way of doing this is by making evaporative coolers more portable. Heretofore, attempts at improving portability have included, for example, reducing the size of and combining the components of the evaporative cooler into a smaller and more compact system. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,769,620, which is illustrative of a typical portable evaporative cooler. Other attempts have included self-containing certain portions of the evaporative cooler, for example, by providing a water source that is remote from, or a separate component of, the evaporative cooler.

Yet another attempt to provide a portable evaporative cooling system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,613,371 entitled, “Method and Apparatus for Misting Vehicle Occupants.” The '371 patent integrates an evaporative cooling system into a golf cart having the fluid reservoir and other components integrated within the golf cart body. A disadvantage of the system disclosed in the '371 patent is the use of an accumulator system and accompanying solenoid valve. The accumulator is a device which traps air to store energy for supplying water under a substantially constant pressure. The accumulator therefore is implemented to reduce the pulsing of fluid to the mist nozzles caused by the pump. The inclusion of an accumulator and accompanying solenoid further increases the cost and complexity of the system and provides a potential reliability problem since the accumulator reservoir is often an inflatable diaphragm which may puncture or leak during the rugged operation of the golf cart. Alternatively, the accumulator reservoir is a rigid tank which disadvantageously increases the size of the system, making it difficult to incorporate the system into various types or vehicles or applications.

Another attempt to provide an evaporative cooler is illustrated by U.S. Pat. No. 6,182,463. The '463 patent discloses a portable evaporative cooling apparatus having a fan, a water pump, and a water cooler for storing the water. However, the '463 patent has certain disadvantages. First, because the apparatus as disclosed is designed to be mounted in the top opening of a round water cooler, it has a high center of gravity so that the device can easily be tipped over. Second, the fan is permanently mounted to the adapter that connects to the water cooler and therefore cannot be disconnected from the adapter for transport.

There is accordingly a need for an improved evaporative water cooler that addresses the deficiencies discussed above.

A portable, evaporative cooling apparatus, comprising:

(a) a cabinet for storing cooling water, the cabinet having an open top and a lid; (b) a water pump attached to the cabinet for pumping cooling water out of the cabinet; (c) a fan removably mounted on the lid and storable within the cabinet and (d) a spraying system attached to the fan and to the water pump.

A principal object and advantage of the present invention is that the fan is removably mountable on the lid of a cooler cabinet by a quick release mechanism.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is that the fan can be stored within the cooler cabinet.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is that the apparatus has a low center of gravity and therefore has little tendency to tip over.

Another principle object and advantage of the present invention is that the cooler cabinet is mounted on wheels for easy transport.

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is detailed perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a side elevational view of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the interior of the apparatus of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention from the side.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the apparatus of the present invention from the rear.

The portable, evaporative cooling apparatus of the present invention is generally shown in the Figures as reference numeral 10 .

The apparatus 10 comprises a cabinet 12 for storing cooling water, the cabinet having an open top 14 and a lid 16 . A water pump 18 is attached to the cabinet for pumping cooling water out of the cabinet. A fan 20 is removably mounted on the lid 16 . When removed from the lid 16 , the fan 20 may be stored within the cabinet 12 . A spraying system 30 is attached to the fan and to the water pump.

Preferably, the water pump 18 is attached to the underside 16 a of the lid 16 within the cabinet 12 and is connected to the spraying system 30 by a removable connection 32 . Most preferably, the removable connection 32 comprises a first hose 34 from the water pump 18 to the lid 16 , a connector 35 in the lid mating with the first hose 34 , and a second hose 36 from the connector 35 to the spraying system 30 . The second hose 36 is disconnectable from the connector 35 .

Alternatively, the water pump 18 may be attached to the lid 16 at another location such as the outside of the lid 16 . In such a case (not illustrated), the water pump 18 would draw water from the cabinet 12 by an appropriate connection and would in turn be connected to the spraying system 30 by a removable connection 32 .

Preferably, the fan 20 has a base 40 which is attached to the lid 16 by a removable connection 42 between the base 40 and the lid 16 . In the preferred embodiment, the removable connection 42 is a pin 44 that connects the base 40 to a mounting plate 46 on the lid 16 .

Preferably, the fan 20 has a blade housing 50 enclosing the fan blades, and the spraying system 30 is mounted on the blade housing 50 . Although the spraying system 30 is preferably mounted downstream from the air flow of the fan 20 , it will be understood that it could also be mounted upstream from the air flow. In the preferred embodiment, the spraying system 30 comprises at least one misting nozzle 52 and a manifold 54 connecting the second hose 36 to the misting nozzle 52 .

Preferably, the apparatus 10 further comprises at least one wheel 60 on the cabinet adapted to be rolled along a surface such as a floor F and a handle 62 adapted to pull the apparatus 10 as it is rolled along the surface F.

Preferably, the apparatus 10 further comprises an electrical plug 64 on the fan 20 and a mating electrical plug 65 on the lid 16 . A power cord 66 connects to the water pump 18 through the lid 16 through a transformer 68 and also to the electrical plug 64 .

It should be understood that the apparatus 10 can be retrofitted to a standard food cooler 70 , the standard food cooler 70 comprising the cabinet 12 .

Unless otherwise defined, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this invention belongs. Although methods and materials similar to or equivalent to those described herein can be used in the practice or testing of the present invention, suitable methods and materials are described below. All publications, patent applications, patents, and other references mentioned herein are incorporated by reference in their entirety to the extent allowed by applicable law and regulations. In case of conflict, the present specification, including definitions, will control.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof, and it is therefore desired that the present embodiment be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, reference being made to the appended claims rather than to the foregoing description to indicate the scope of the invention.