U.S. patent application number 16/406262 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-21 for personal cooling device.
The applicant listed for this patent is Roger CLEMENTE. Invention is credited to Roger CLEMENTE.
Application Number | 20190350279 16/406262 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68534554 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-21 |
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United States Patent
Application |
20190350279 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
CLEMENTE; Roger |
November 21, 2019 |
PERSONAL COOLING DEVICE
Abstract
A personal cooling device for providing a cooling air stream is
described herein. In one example, the personal cooling device
includes an electric fan disposed in a housing, a stay-in-place
extended wing member coupled to the housing at a first end, and a
fastening mechanism coupled to a second end of the wing member. The
fastening mechanism is configured to removably couple the housing
to an object, such as a helmet, garment or other object.
Inventors: |
CLEMENTE; Roger; (Hazlet,
NJ) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
CLEMENTE; Roger |
Hazlet |
NJ |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68534554 |
Appl. No.: |
16/406262 |
Filed: |
May 8, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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62672885 |
May 17, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A41D 13/0053 20130101;
A41D 13/0025 20130101 |
International
Class: |
A41D 13/005 20060101
A41D013/005; A41D 13/002 20060101 A41D013/002 |
Claims
1. A personal cooling device comprising: a housing; an electric fan
disposed in the housing; a stay-in-place extended wing member
coupled to the housing at a first end; and a fastening mechanism
coupled to a second end of the wing member, the fastening mechanism
configured to couple the housing to an object.
2. The personal cooling device of claim 1 further comprising: a
battery coupled to the fan.
3. The personal cooling device of claim 1, wherein the
stay-in-place wing member is flexible and bendable.
4. The personal cooling device of claim 3, wherein the
stay-in-place wing member is sufficiently rigid enough to hold a
desired position under a weight of the fan.
5. The personal cooling device of claim 1, wherein the fastening
mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, hook and
loop fasteners, a clip, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets
and mating projections and slots
6. The personal cooling device of claim 1, wherein the fastening
mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, cam locks, a
hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, and a male/female
geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating
male/female geometric feature.
7. The personal cooling device of claim 1, wherein the fastening
mechanism comprises a male/female geometric feature that mates with
a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature incorporated
into a helmet.
8. The personal cooling device of claim 1 further comprising: a
helmet having a lower edge defining an imaginary plane, wherein the
wing member is sufficiently bendable to orient an air exhaust port
of housing between a direction above the imaginary plane and a
direction below the imaginary plane.
9. A personal cooling device configured to removably couple to a
lower edge of a helmet, the personal cooling device comprising: a
housing; an electric fan disposed in the housing and operable to
move air in a direction out an exhaust port of the housing; a
fastening mechanism configured to releasably engage the helmet; a
stay-in-place extended wing member connecting the housing to the
fastening mechanism, the wing member having a length sufficient to
position the fan below the lower edge of the helmet.
10. The personal cooling device of claim 9 further comprising: a
battery coupled to the fan.
11. The personal cooling device of claim 9, wherein the
stay-in-place wing member is flexible and bendable.
12. The personal cooling device of claim 11, wherein the
stay-in-place wing member is sufficiently rigid enough to hold a
desired position under a weight of the fan.
13. The personal cooling device of claim 9, wherein the fastening
mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, hook and
loop fasteners, a clip, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets
and mating projections and slots
14. The personal cooling device of claim 9, wherein the fastening
mechanism comprises at least one of lever action jaws, cam locks, a
hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, and a male/female
geometric feature that mates with a complimentary mating
male/female geometric feature of the helmet.
15. The personal cooling device of claim 9, wherein the fastening
mechanism comprises a male/female geometric feature that mates with
a complimentary mating male/female geometric feature incorporated
into a helmet.
16. The personal cooling device of claim 9, wherein the wing member
is sufficiently bendable to orient air exiting the exhaust port
during operation of the fan between a direction above the imaginary
plane and a direction below the imaginary plane.
17. A method of cooling a person, the method comprising: providing
power to a cooling device removably coupled to a helmet; and
directing air exiting the cooling device below a lower edge of the
helmet and into an interstitial space defined between the helmet
and a head of a user.
18. The method of claim 17 further comprising: bending a wing
member coupling the cooling device to the helmet to direct air
exiting the cooling device in a direction away from the lower edge
of the helmet and away from the interstitial space defined between
the helmet and the head of the user.
19. The method of claim 17 further comprising: connecting the
cooling device to the helmet without compromising an integrity of
the helmet.
20. The method of claim 17 further comprising: connecting the
cooling device to the helmet using at least one of lever action
jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets, a clip,
rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, and a male/female geometric
feature that mates with a complimentary mating male/female
geometric feature of the helmet.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application 62/672,885 filed on May 17, 2018, which is incorporated
by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
Field
[0002] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a
personal cooling device, and more specifically, to a portable
battery operated fan that is attachable to objects, such as helmets
among other objects.
Description of the Related Art
[0003] There are many types of helmets for head protection.
Construction workers, military personnel, welders and bicycle
riders are just a few examples. Such helmets when worn in high
environmental temperatures may cause heat stress, fatigue and
vision problems. To help prevent this, personal cooling devices,
such as fans, of different sizes and shapes have been utilized to
provide an evaporated air flow stream between the head and the
inside of the helmet. Such personal cooling devices may require the
fan to be installed in a manner that requires holes in the helmet,
or require fan intake holes disposed through the helmet. However,
holes through the helmet undesirably compromise the structural
integrity and safety features of the helmet.
[0004] Thus, there is a need for an improved personal cooling
device.
SUMMARY
[0005] A personal cooling device for providing a cooling air stream
is described herein. In one example, the personal cooling device
includes an electric fan disposed in a housing, a stay-in-place
extended wing member coupled to the housing at a first end, and a
fastening mechanism coupled to a second end of the wing member. The
fastening mechanism is any attachment device may be configured to
be temporary or permanent that allows the personal cooling device
to be coupled to an object, such as a helmet, garment or other
object.
[0006] In another example, a personal cooling device is provided
that is configured to removably couple to a lower edge of a helmet.
The personal cooling device includes an electric fan disposed in a
housing, a fastening mechanism configured to releasably engage the
helmet, and a stay-in-place extended wing member connecting the
housing to the fastening mechanism. The electric fan is operable to
move air in a direction out an exhaust port of the housing. The
wing member has a length sufficient to position the fan below the
lower edge of the helmet.
[0007] In yet another example, a method of cooling a person is
provided that includes providing power to a cooling device
removably coupled to a helmet, and directing air exiting the
cooling device below a lower edge of the helmet and into an
interstitial space defined between the helmet and a head of a
user.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0008] So that the manner in which the above recited features of
the present disclosure can be understood in detail, a more
particular description of the disclosure, briefly summarized above,
may be had by reference to embodiments, some of which are
illustrated in the appended drawings. It is to be noted, however,
that the appended drawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments
and are therefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, may
admit to other equally effective embodiments.
[0009] FIG. 1 is a schematic depiction of a personal cooling device
according to one or more embodiments.
[0010] FIG. 2 is a front view of the personal cooling device of
FIG. 1.
[0011] FIG. 3 is a side view of the personal cooling device
attached to a helmet.
[0012] FIG. 4 is a side view of the personal cooling device
unattached to a helmet.
[0013] FIGS. 5A-5B are side views of the personal cooling device
moving air flow in different orientations.
[0014] To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals
have been used, where possible, to designate identical elements
that are common to the figures. It is contemplated that elements
and features of one embodiment may be beneficially incorporated in
other embodiments without further recitation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0015] As discussed above, there are many types of helmets for head
protection. Construction workers, military personnel, welders and
bicycle riders are just a few examples. Such helmets when worn in
high environmental temperatures may cause heat stress, fatigue and
vision problems. To help prevent this, personal cooling devices
such as fans have been utilized to provide an evaporated air flow
stream between the head and the inside of the helmet. Undesirably,
such personal cooling devices are installed in a manner that
requires holes in the helmet, or require fan intake holes disposed
through the helmet, which compromise the structural integrity and
safety features of the helmet.
[0016] Disclosed herein is a personal cooling device that
advantageously provides for an improved head and neck cooling
device that may be affixed to headgear, such as a helmet, without
compromising the integrity of the headgear. The personal cooling
device uses a fastening mechanism that both allows the angular
adjustment of the output of the fan, while allowing easy adjustment
and secure attachment to many types of helmets or other types of
head protection gear without the need for holes formed through the
helmet. In one example, the fastening mechanism utilizes lever
action jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop fasteners, or various
temporary or permanent means including but not limited to
adhesives, magnets or mating projections and slots, among others,
to secure the fan to the helmet. Since the personal cooling device
does not utilize holes formed through the helmet, the personal
cooling device will not compromise the structural integrity or
safety features of the helmet, require an air discharge
distribution channel, intake helmet holes or internal placement of
the fan within the helmet.
[0017] In some examples, the personal cooling device of the present
invention includes a portable battery operated fan that is encased
in a housing. The housing includes a flexible stay-in-place wing
member extending from the housing and coupled to the fastening
mechanism. The housing may be flexible, bendable or rigid. The
flexible stay-in-place wing member is adjustable, flexible, and
bendable in a manner that substantially able to retain the fan in
an orientation relative to the fastening mechanism and the helmet
as to direct a cooling air stream generated by the fan to a desired
locations, such as under the helmet or inside the collar of a shirt
or jacket. The rechargeable battery is located remote from the
housing and is coupled to the fan by wire leads. The opposite end
of the flexible stay-in-place wing member is used to attach the fan
housing firmly to the helmet by the fastening mechanism that does
not change the structural integrity or safety features of the
helmet or other types of head protection gear. The stay-in-place
wing member, when adjusted to a desired shape, will hold its
desired shape allowing the fan to be oriented in different
directions when attached to the helmet, head protection gear,
clothing or other objects or surfaces by the fastening means. Thus,
as utilized herein, the modifier "stay-in-place" as applied to the
wing member means the wing member, although flexible and bendable,
the wing member sufficiently rigid to support the weight of the fan
in an given orientation relative to the fastening mechanism
substantially without allowing the position of the fan to sag under
its own weight when suspended cantilevered from the fastening
mechanism (when attached to an object). This allows the personal
cooling device with the flexible-bendable stay-in-place wing member
to position the housing such that the fan is held in a desired
orientation relative to the helmet during the operation of the
fan.
[0018] In other examples where safety and integrity of the helmet
or head gear is not as important or will not be compromised due to
the helmet or head gear design, the fastening mechanism can be
attached to the helmet by screws, rivets, bolts or other fasteners
or with other fastening techniques. In yet other examples, the
fastening mechanism can be permanently attached to the helmet or
head gear during a helmet/head gear manufacturing process, such as
by molding, fusion, welding or other suitable technique.
[0019] In operation once adjusted to a desired position, the
battery operated fan encased in a flexible-bendable or rigid
housing member intakes and exhausts an air flow stream in a desired
direction. During operation, the wing member of the personal
cooling device is securely attached and adjusted to the desired
position on the helmet so as to orientate the exhaust port, and the
battery operated fan is energized, thereby creating an exhaust air
flow stream towards the head, neck or other areas of the body. As
the air passes over the body it creates a cooling affect by
evaporating body moisture. In one example, the personal cooling
device having one end of the flexible-bendable stay-in-place
extended wing member attached securely to the helmet by closing the
snap locking clip or other holding mechanism of the fastening
mechanism, while the other end of the flexible-bendable
stay-in-place extended wing member is coupled to the housing such
that the fan is positioned below the lower edge of the helmet and
in an orientation that directs air flow between the users head and
the lower edge of the helmet to create the cooling affect.
[0020] The personal cooling device described above can be also used
to cool other parts of the body since the adjustable flexible
bendable wing member can be easily attached to other objects such
as shirts, vest, jackets etc.
[0021] The personal cooling device may be utilized to cool various
parts of the body, such as but limited to the head and neck. The
personal cooling device uses a portable battery operated fan
encased in a flexible, bendable or rigid housing that has an
adjustable, flexible-bendable wing member that can easily be
attached to helmets, headgear or other objects such as shirts,
vest, jackets, apparel and the like, among other objects.
[0022] The personal cooling device has a battery operated fan that
uses the exhaust air flow stream to cool the body. The personal
cooling device includes a bendable, adjustable or rigid housing
that has an adjustable, flexible-bendable wing member that can be
attached to a helmet or other objects without compromising their
structural integrity or safety features. Using a holding mechanism
such as an open-closed snap clip attached to the bendable flexible
wing member, the personal cooling device can be removed or
reattached temporarily from a surface or permanently attached by
first coating the open snap clip surfaces with a temporary
adhesive, such as LOCTITE.RTM. or similar compound, then closing
the snap clip on the desired surface.
[0023] FIG. 1 is a side view of the personal cooling device 11. The
personal cooling device 11 includes an electric fan 17 disposed in
a housing 18. The housing 18 includes an intake port 14 and exhaust
port 15 to allow air to be moved by the fan 17 through the housing
18. The orientation of the housing 18, and thus the exhaust port
15, sets the direction of the air flow leaving the housing 18 so
that the stream of cooling air may be directed to a desired
location, such as a head or other body part of a user. The housing
18 is attachable to an object via a gripper 13, such as a fastening
mechanism, via a flexible, bendable wing member 16 that extends
from the housing 18. The wing member 16 may be a metal tab, coated
metal, or other suitable material. In one example, the gripper 13,
hereinafter referred to as fastening mechanism 13, is utilized to
removably secure the personal cooling device 11 to a helmet 12. In
one example, the fastening mechanism 13 is configured to engage and
removably secure the personal cooling device 11 to a lower edge 34
of the helmet 12.
[0024] The wing member 16 has two ends, one end attached to the
housing 18 of the fan 17 and the other end attached to an object,
such as for example a helmet, via the fastening mechanism 13. The
end of the wing member 16 may be attached to the housing 18 of the
fan 17 in a temporary or permanent manner. For example, the wing
member 16 may be attached to the housing 18 using adhesives,
rivets, screws, heat shrink tubing, wrap, hook and loop fastener,
or by other suitable technique. In another example, the end of the
wing member 16 can be attached to an object, such as the helmet,
temporally by using the fastening mechanism 13 or permanently in a
process that allows the wing member 16 to be attached to an object
during manufacture such as integrally molded as part of the helmet.
As describe above, the wing member 16 is then attached to the
housing 18 utilizing temporary or permanent fasteners/fastening
techniques. In the example depicted in FIG. 1, the wing member 16
is permanently coupled to the housing 18 (for example by
fasteners), and removably coupled to the object (via the fastening
mechanism 13).
[0025] FIG. 2 shows the fan 17 installed in a flexible, bendable or
rigid housing 18 attached to helmet 12 by the fastening mechanism
13 in the closed position. Wire leads 19 connect to a power source
92 or a portable rechargeable battery (not shown) that may be
attached to a garment worn by the user. The fastening mechanism 13
may be lever action jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop fasteners, or
various temporary or permanent means including but not limited to
clips, rivets, screws, bolts, adhesives, magnets or mating
projections and slots, among others.
[0026] In the example of FIG. 2, the fastening mechanism 13 is
structurally functional to allow the personal cooling device 11 to
be removably attached and detached to a helmet 12. For example, the
personal cooling device 11 may be lever action jaws, cam locks, a
hook and loop fasteners, snaps, magnets or has a male/female
geometric feature that slidingly or otherwise mates with a
complimentary mating male/female geometric feature incorporated
into helmet 12 or other garment or object.
[0027] FIG. 3 shows the fastening mechanism 13 attached to helmet
12 such that the housing 18, and thus the exhaust port 15, is held
in a position below the lower edge 34 of the helmet 12 to allow air
exiting the exhaust port 15 can be directed between the helmet 12
and the head of a user. The adjustable flexible bendable wing
member 16 can move so that the personal cooling device 11 can
change positions so that exhaust port 15 can discharge an air flow
stream in a desired direction towards a person's head, neck, both
or other location.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows the removable cooling device 11 with the
fastening mechanism 13 in the open position that is attached to
adjustable, flexible-bendable wing member 6. The fastening
mechanism 13 illustrated in FIG. 4 includes a fork having a locking
lever that is actuatable to pinch, and thus releasably secure, an
object, such as the lower edge 34 of the helmet 12, within the
fork. In one example, the locking lever rotates a cam to move the
lobe of the cam into the area between the forks. In another
example, the locking lever squeezes the forks together. It is
contemplated that a wide variety of fastening mechanisms 13 may be
utilized to perform the function of releasably securing the cooling
device 11 to the helmet 12.
[0029] In operation, the fan 17 in FIG. 2 is connected by wire
leads 19 to the power source 92, such as a portable rechargeable
battery (shown in phantom), that may be remotely disposed on the
user. Once energized, exhaust port 15 discharges an air flow
stream. By adjusting the flexible-bendable wing member 16, as shown
in FIGS. 5A-5B, the exhaust air flow stream exiting the exhaust
port 15 can be adjusted towards the area between the head 32 and
the inside of the helmet 12 (as depicted by dashed arrows 98 in
FIG. 5A) or towards the neck 31 (as shown by dashed arrows 96 in
FIG. 5B). As illustrated in FIGS. 5A-5B, the flexible-bendable wing
member 16 allows the positional orientation of the exhaust port 15
to be changed relative to the fastening member 13 and the helmet
12. As the air flow passes over the body, the moving air creates a
cooling affect by evaporating body moisture from the surface of the
body. Since the wing member 16 is bendable (using the lower edge 34
of the helmet 12 to define a horizontal plane), the wing member 16
may orient the exhaust port 15 of the housing 18 between a
direction above the horizontal plane as illustrated by direction of
the dashed arrows 98 indicative of the air flow exiting the housing
18 and a direction below the horizontal plane as illustrated by
direction of the dashed arrows 96 indicative of the air flow
exiting the housing 18. As the air flow passes over the body, the
moving air creates a cooling affect by evaporating body moisture
from the surface of the body.
[0030] In one example, the operation of the cooling device may be
described as a method of cooling a person. The method includes
providing power to a cooling device removably coupled to a helmet,
and directing air exiting the cooling device below a lower edge of
the helmet and into an interstitial space defined between the
helmet and a head of a user.
[0031] In one example, the method may further include bending a
wing member coupling the cooling device to the helmet to direct air
exiting the cooling device in a direction away from the lower edge
of the helmet and away from the interstitial space defined between
the helmet and the head of the user.
[0032] In another example, any of the methods described above may
also include connecting the cooling device to the helmet without
compromising the integrity of the helmet.
[0033] In another example, any of the methods described above may
also include connecting the cooling device to the helmet using at
least one of lever action jaws, cam locks, a hook and loop
fasteners, snaps, magnets, a clip, rivets, screws, bolts,
adhesives, and a male/female geometric feature that mates with a
complimentary mating male/female geometric feature of the
helmet.
[0034] Thus, a personal cooling device has been described above
that advantageously provides improved head and/or neck cooling.
Advantageously, the cooling device may be affixed to headgear, such
as a helmet, without compromising the integrity of the headgear.
Since the personal cooling device does not utilize holes formed
through the headgear, the personal cooling device will not
compromise the structural integrity or safety features of the
headgear, require an air discharge distribution channel, intake
headgear holes or internal placement of the fan within the
headgear.
* * * * *