A cooling device

Abstract

A cooling device (1) for cooling air for inhalation. The cooling device comprises an outer tubular housing (30), an inner tubular housing inside the outer tubular housing, a central tube inside the inner tubular housing, an inner cavity for a cooling medium between the central tube and the inner tubular housing, an outer cavity for a cooling medium between the inner tubular housing and the outer tubular housing, an inlet, an outlet (6), and passageway for directing airflow from the inlet to the outlet. An interior of the central tube defines a first portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a first direction, the inner cavity defines a second portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the outer cavity defines a third portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a third direction opposite the second direction.

Description

[0001] A COOLING DEVICE

[0002] FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a cooling device for enhancing comfort for users in hot environments.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In recent years, rising global temperatures and increasing air pollution have created a heightened demand for personal cooling solutions and air filtration systems. Conventional cooling systems, such as fans and air conditioners, are often bulky, energy-intensive, and unsuitable for outdoor or on-the-go use.

[0006] Additionally, many air filtration devices are designed for indoor environments, with limited portability and functionality in dynamic environments, such as outdoor settings or high-heat industrial workspaces.

[0007] Individuals who work outdoors, engage in sports, or live in areas with high levels of pollution or heat are increasingly seeking portable, effective, and eco-friendly solutions. Current portable cooling devices tend to focus on external cooling, while the filtration options available are often inadequate for individual use in rapidly changing environments.

[0008] An effective method of providing cooling relief to individuals in hot environments is to provide a device that enables the individual to breathe in cool air, thereby cooling the airways and lungs to help regulate body temperature. US 2012 / 0125335 A1 discloses a cool air breathing apparatus for use with a water bottle. Ice is added to the water bottle, and the apparatus has a mouthpiece connected to a tube that passes through the ice. Air that is sucked from the mouthpiece first passes through the tube and becomes cooled by the ice, to allow the user to breathe in cool air. However, the limited length of the tube in contact with the ice limits the amount the air can be cooled by. Increasing the length of the tube is undesirable since it results in the user having to suck harder to draw in air,especially when the increased length necessitates a reduction in the diameter of the tube.

[0009] It is therefore an object of the invention to improve on the known art.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] According to the invention, there is provided a cooling device for cooling air for inhalation, as defined in claim 1. The cooling device comprises an outer tubular housing; an inner tubular housing inside the outer tubular housing; a central tube inside the inner tubular housing; an inner cavity defined between the central tube and the inner tubular housing, the inner cavity for holding an inner cooling medium; an outer cavity defined between the inner tubular housing and the outer tubular housing, the outer cavity for holding an outer cooling medium; an inlet; an outlet; and a passageway for directing an airflow from the inlet to the outlet. An interior of the central tube defines a first portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a first direction, the inner cavity defines a second portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a second direction opposite the first direction, and the outer cavity defines a third portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a third direction opposite the second direction.

[0012] This provides a cooling device which is easily assembled from easily manufactured parts, and which directs airflow along the length of the cooling device at least three times, through at least two separate cooling mediums, to achieve effective cooling of the air.

[0013] The central tube, inner tubular housing and outer tubular housing may be of similar lengths to one another, for example the shortest of those three components may be no less than 80% of the length of the longest of those three components.

[0014] The first second and third portions of the passageway may also be of similar lengths to one another, for example the shortest of those three portions may be no less than 80% of the length of the longest of those three portionsThe inlet may lead into the first passageway and the third portion of the passageway may lead into the outlet, so there are three portions in total for ease of manufacturing, or alternatively further portions of the passageway could be provided between the inlet and the first portion of the passageway and / or between the third portion of the passageway and the outlet.

[0015] The passageway may comprise the second portion of the passageway intermediate of the first and third portions of the passageway, so that the airflow from the inlet passes through the first, then second, then third portions of the passageway in sequence.

[0016] The outer tubular housing may define an exterior of the cooling device for simple manufacturing, or alternatively additional housing(s) may be provided that the outer tubular housing fits within. In an embodiment, the outer tubular housing may comprise two layers of material separated by a vacuum to help thermally insulate the inner and outer cooling mediums from the ambient environment, for example using known manufacturing techniques as typically used for manufacture of hot or cold drinks flasks .

[0017] The outer tubular housing may comprise a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, wherein the second end of the outer tubular housing comprises a base that defines a bottom of the cooling device. The inlet may be located at the base of the outer tubular housing, to minimise any risk of debris falling from above the cooling device and into the inlet. For example, the base may comprise a collar for receiving an end of the central tube at an upper side of the base and base may have a through-hole into the collar, the through-hole defining the inlet.

[0018] The outer tubular housing may comprise a lid that defines a top of the cooling device, and the outlet may be located at the lid for ease of access to a user of the cooling device. For example, the outlet may be a nasal interface for engaging a nose of a user, so that the cooling air can cool the sinuses of the user as well as their airway and lungs when the user draws in a breath from the outlet.The inner tubular housing may also comprise a first end and a second end opposite to the first end, and the central tube may comprise a first end and a second end opposite to the first end. The inner tubular housing may comprise an airtight closure blocking the first end of the inner tubular housing, so that airflow out of the top (first end) of the central tube is directed downwardly by the airtight closure, and flows downwardly between the inside of the inner tubular housing and the outside of the central tube. Accordingly, the passageway may comprise a first transition portion connecting from the first portion of the passageway to the second portion of the passageway, and the first transition portion may be defined through a gap between the first end of the central tube and the first end of the inner tubular housing. The gap may be between the first end of the central tube and the airtight closure.

[0019] The passageway may comprise a second transition portion connecting from the second portion of the passageway to the third portion of the passageway, and the second transition portion may be defined through a gap between the second end of the inner tubular housing and the second end of the outer tubular housing. The gap may be defined between the second end of the inner tubular housing and the base of the outer tubular housing. Thus, air flowing downwardly along the second portion of the passageway may be directed by the base to flow upwardly along the third portion of the passageway.

[0020] The outer tubular housing may comprise a closure blocking the first end of the outer tubular housing, and the closure may comprise a central aperture leading to the outlet. The closure may be defined as part of the lid.

[0021] The inner tubular housing may be positioned inside the outer tubular housing with the first ends of the inner and outer tubular housings adjacent to one another and the second ends of the inner and outer tubular housings adjacent to one another. Further, the central tube may be positioned inside the inner tubular housing with the first ends of the central tube and inner tubular housing adjacent to one another and the second ends of the central tube and inner tubular housing adjacent to one another.The cooling device may be a non-electrical device, to avoid any need for batteries or recharging. Thus, the airflow from the inlet to the outlet may be manually powered by suction applied to the outlet by the user. Alternatively, the device could include a hand-operated air pump or bellows attached to the inlet to help drive airflow through the cooling device.

[0022] The cooling device may comprise an air filter forming part of the passageway, so the device can be used as a filter enabling the user to breathe in clean air. The air filter may be configured to remove particulate matter and / or pollutants from the airflow, making it safer to breathe in polluted or dusty, and / or could also be impregnated with aroma or flavour forming material(s) to impart desired characteristics to the airflow if desired.

[0023] The air filter may be located at the base, and may be formed as a pluggable module that can be plugged into the base and form a portion of the passageway between the inlet and the first portion of the passageway. The filtering of the airflow before it reaches the first portion of the passageway also helps to keep the interior of the cooling device clean.

[0024] The second portion of the passageway may comprise a cross-section extending around a full circumference of the central tube, and so the cross-section of the second portion of the passageway may be large, to minimise resistance to airflow and provide a large area over which the airflow contacts the first cooling medium for efficient cooling of the airflow. Accordingly, the second portion of the passageway, corresponding to the inner cavity, may be a tube-shaped cavity for receiving a tube-shaped inner cooling medium.

[0025] The third portion of the passageway may comprises a cross-section extending around a full circumference of the inner tubular housing, and so the cross-section of the third portion of the passageway may be large, to minimise resistance to airflow and provide a large area over which the airflow contacts the second cooling medium for efficient cooling of the airflow. Accordingly, the third portion of the passageway, corresponding to the outer cavity, may be a tubeshaped cavity for receiving a tube-shaped outer cooling medium.The cooling device may comprise an inner cooling medium within the inner cavity and an outer cooling medium within the outer cavity. The inner and / or outer cooling medium may comprise a tube of absorbent material which is fitted into the second and / or third portion of the passageway, respectively. A coolant liquid may be absorbed in the absorbent material to provide cooling to the airflow flowing over the absorbent material. The coolant liquid may be initially cooled in a fridge or freezer before addition to the absorbent material, or it may be a mix of chemicals that react endothermically. The inner and outer cooling mediums may be made from materials with high thermal conductivity to enhance the air-cooling process.

[0026] The inner cavity may be bounded by an exterior surface of the central tube and an interior surface of the inner tubular housing, and the outer cavity may be bounded by an exterior surface of the inner tubular housing and an interior surface of the outer tubular housing.

[0027] The inner and outer housings and the central tube may be formed of eco-friendly materials such as bamboo or biodegradable polymers. Recyclable materials such as stainless steel could alternatively be used.

[0028] The central tube, and the inner and outer tubular housings may be repeatedly removable and attachable to one another, to allow easy disassembly and replacement of parts, such as the air filter(s) or the cooling mediums, as needed. This modular design extends the product’s lifespan and ensures that it can be easily maintained by users without specialized tools.

[0029] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0030] Embodiments of the invention will now be described by way of non-limiting example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0031] Fig. 1 shows a schematic diagram of a cooling device in accordance with an embodiment of the invention;

[0032] Fig. 2 shows a schematic exploded diagram of the cooling device of Fig. 1 ;Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the cooling device of Fig. 1; and Fig. 4 shows another cross-sectional view of the cooling device of Fig. 1, illustrating airflow through the device.

[0033] The figures are not to scale, and same or similar reference signs denote same or similar features.

[0034] With reference to Fig. 1, a cooling device 1 comprises an outer tubular housing 30. In this embodiment the outer tubular housing 30 comprises a cylindrical body, a lid 5 mounted to a first end 30a of the outer tubular housing and a base 3 mounted to a second end 30b of the outer tubular housing, opposite to the first end 30a. Whilst the cross-section of the outer tubular housing 30 is circular in this embodiment, other embodiments may have other cross-sectional shapes, for example oval or square / rectangular. The outer tubular housing 30 may comprise inner and outer layers of material with a vacuum between them to provide thermal insulation.

[0035] The lid 5 may cover over the first end 30a of the cylindrical body and comprise an outlet 6. The outlet 6 may be a nasal interface comprising two holes 8 for communicating with a user’s nostrils. The lid 5 may be formed of a soft material 7 that squishes in use against the user’s nose, for example a soft silicone material, to help the user’s nose form an airtight seal around the holes 8. The coolant device may be supplied with a variety of lids 5 having different shapes and sizes to one another to accommodate the variety of different nose shapes. It will be appreciated that in alternate embodiments the nasal interface could be replaced by a mouth interface, for example having one larger hole rather than the two holes 8, or providing a tube or straw for the person to place their mouth over. The holes 8 could also be used to fit additional peripherals such as straw shapes, mouthpieces or nostril applicators as used in nasal spray devices. Additional silicone tops could also be provided to fit over the lid 5 to achieve similar effects.

[0036] Fig. 2 shows an exploded diagram of the cooling device 1. As shown, the cooling device 1 further comprises a central tube 10 having a first end 10a and a second end 10b, an inner cooling medium 15 having a first end 15a and a secondend 15b, an inner tubular housing 20 having a first end 20a and a second end 20b, an outer cooling medium 25 having a first end 25a and a second end 25b.

[0037] The central tube 10 may have a circular cross-section and be open at both ends to allow air to flow through the central tube. The inner cooling medium 15 may be shaped as a tube with a circular cross-section and may also be open at both first and second ends 15a and 15b. The inner cooling medium 15 may be sized to receive the central tube 10 inside the tube shape of the inner cooling medium 15. The inner cooling medium 15 may comprise a sponge that is soaked in a coolant liquid, for example a coolant which remains liquid at sub-zero centigrade temperatures, such as Propylene Glycol. This substance is safe and sustainable, and offers excellent cooling performance. Possible alternative coolants include various phase-change materials.

[0038] The sponge may for example be a cellulose sponge, and could be formed by bending a rectangular shaped sponge into a tube shape. The coolant may be water, and the water may be soaked into the sponge and frozen, prior to assembly into the cooling device.

[0039] The inner tubular housing 20 may be a tube having a circular cross-section, which is closed by an airtight closure 21 at the first end 20a, and which is open at the second end 20b. The airtight closure 21 may comprise a rim 22 which extends circumferentially around a top of the airtight closure, as can also be seen in Fig. 3. The inner tubular housing 20 may be sized to receive the tube of inner cooling medium 15 inside the tube shape of the inner tubular housing 20.

[0040] The outer cooling medium 25 may be shaped as a tube with a circular cross-section, and may be open at both first and second ends 25a and 25b. The outer cooling medium 25 may be sized to receive the inner tubular housing 20 inside the tube shape of the outer cooling medium 25. The outer cooling medium 25 may comprise a sponge that is soaked in a coolant liquid, similar to the inner cooling medium 15.The outer tubular housing 30 comprises a closure 35 at the first end 30a, and the closure 35 has a central aperture 36 leading into the outer tubular housing 30. The lid 5 is mounted to the first end 30a, and airflow may travel through the aperture 36 to the holes 8 of the outlet 6 (see Fig. 1 ).

[0041] The base 3 may comprise a central collar 4 which surrounds an aperture through the base 3. To assemble the cooling device 1, the second end 10b of the central tube may be fitted into the collar 4, the first end 10a of the central tube 10 may be slid into the second end 15b of the inner cooling medium, the first end 15a of the inner cooling medium may be slid into the second end 20b of the inner tubular housing, the first end 20a of the inner tubular housing may be slid into the second end 25b of the outer cooling medium, and the first end 25a of the outer cooling medium may be slid into the second end 30b of the outer tubular housing, with the base 3 screwing onto the second end 30b to hold the assembly together. When assembled, the first ends 10a, 15a, 20a and 25a may all be adjacent to one another at the first end 30a of the outer tubular housing 30, and the second ends 10b, 15b, 20b and 25b may all be adjacent to one another at the second end 30b of the outer tubular housing 30.

[0042] Fig. 3 shows a cross-sectional view of the assembled cooling device 1, in which the various housings and cooling mediums are visible. As shown, the inner cooling medium 15 may rest upon an upper end of the collar 4, and the inner tubular housing 20 may rest upon the inner cooling medium 15. A lower side of the closure 35 may have three or more supports 23, which may be circumferentially spaced around the closure 35, and may extend in a direction toward the second end 30b of the outer tubular housing. The supports 23 may rest against and overlap the rim 22 to retain the inner circumferential housing in the correct radial position, with a central axis of the inner circumferential housing 20 aligned with a central axis of the outer circumferential housing 30.

[0043] The base 3 may define an inlet 3a into the collar 4 and the central tube 10, for air to enter the cooling device in use. The cooling device 1 provides a passageway for airflow from the inlet 3a to the outlet 6. An interior of the central tube 10 corresponds to a first portion 10p of the passageway. An inner cavitycorresponding to a second portion 20p of the passageway may be bounded by an exterior surface of the central tube 10 and an interior surface of the inner tubular housing 20. Thus, the second portion 20p of the passageway may comprise a cross-section extending around a full circumference of the central tube 10. The inner cooling medium 15 resides within the inner cavity and second portion 20p of the passageway.

[0044] An outer cavity corresponding to a third portion 30p of the passageway may be bounded by an exterior surface of the inner tubular housing 20 and an interior surface of the outer tubular housing 30. Thus, the third portion of the passageway may comprise a cross-section extending around a full circumference of the inner tubular housing 20. The outer cooling medium 25 resides within the outer cavity and third portion 30p of the passageway.

[0045] Fig. 4 shows a schematic diagram of the airflows through the cooling device 1 in use, and also illustrates an optional air filter 60 which has been mounted into the inlet 3a and may filter out small particulates and / or air pollution before the air enters the central tube 10. The air filter 60 may be impregnated with an aroma or flavour forming material to impart desired characteristics to the airflow. The filter 60 may be replaceable and can be composed of biodegradable or recyclable materials. Depending on the application, additional filtration options, such as activated carbon filters, can be included to enhance air quality for users in heavily polluted areas.

[0046] As shown in Fig. 4, the passageway for airflow through the device guides airflow entering 50 at the inlet 3a and exiting 54 at the outlet 6. Upon the user manually sucking air from the outlet 6, for example using the nasal interface, the airflow may travel in a first direction 51 along the first portion 10p of the passageway, up to the first end 10a, then in a second direction 52 that is opposite to the first direction 51 and along the second portion 20p of the passageway, down to the second end 20b, and then in a third direction 53 that is opposite to the second direction 52 and along the third passageway 30p, up to the first end 20a.As the airflow travels upwardly 51 along the first portion 10p of the passageway through the central tube 10, the air is cooled by the internal surfaces of the central tube 10, those internal surfaces being cooled via heat conduction to the inner cooling medium 15. At the first end 10a the airflow travels through a first transition portion of the passageway, defined through a gap between the first end 10a of the central tube and the closure 21 at the first end 20a of the inner tubular housing, and then into the second portion 20p of the passageway.

[0047] As the airflow travels downwardly 52 along the second portion 20p of the passageway, the air flows around and / or through the inner cooling medium 15, and is cooled further. At the second end 20b the airflow travels through a second transition portion of the passageway, defined through a gap between the second end 20b of the inner tubular housing and the base 3 at the second end 30b of the outer tubular housing, and then into the third portion 30p of the passageway.

[0048] As the airflow travels upwardly 53 along the third portion 30p of the passageway, the air may flow around and / or through the outer cooling medium 25, and is cooled further. The airflow then passes between the supports 23, through the central hole 36 (see Fig. 2), and out of the outlet 6 into the nostrils of the user, producing a cooling effect on the user.

[0049] The various components of the cooling device 1 may be constructed from eco-friendly, biodegradable, or recyclable materials, such as bamboo, bioplastics, or stainless steel. This focus on sustainability helps minimize the device's environmental impact, aligning with growing consumer demand for environmentally responsible products.

[0050] Many other variations of the described embodiments falling within the scope of the invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Claims

CLAIMS1. A cooling device for cooling air for inhalation, the cooling device comprising:an outer tubular housing;an inner tubular housing inside the outer tubular housing;a central tube inside the inner tubular housing;an inner cavity defined between the central tube and the inner tubular housing, the inner cavity for holding an inner cooling medium;an outer cavity defined between the inner tubular housing and the outer tubular housing, the outer cavity for holding an outer cooling medium; an inlet and an outlet; anda passageway for directing airflow from the inlet to the outlet,wherein an interior of the central tube defines a first portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a first direction, wherein the inner cavity defines a second portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a second direction opposite the first direction, and wherein the outer cavity defines a third portion of the passageway for directing the airflow in a third direction opposite the second direction.

2. The cooling device of claim 1 , wherein the inlet leads into the first portion of the passageway and wherein the third portion of the passageway leads into the outlet.

3. The cooling device of claim 1 or 2, wherein the passageway comprises the second portion of the passageway intermediate of the first and third portions of the passageway.

4. The cooling device of claim 1 , 2 or 3, wherein the outer tubular housing defines an exterior of the cooling device.

5. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the outer tubular housing comprises a first end and a second end opposite to the first end.

6. The cooling device of claim 5, wherein the second end of the outer tubular housing comprises a base that defines a bottom of the cooling device.

7. The cooling device of claim 6, wherein the inlet is located at the base of the outer tubular housing.

8. The cooling device of claim 6 or 7, wherein the base comprises a collar for receiving an end of the central tube and wherein the inlet leads into the collar.

9. The cooling device of claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the first end of the outer tubular housing comprises a lid that defines a top of the cooling device.

10. The cooling device of claim 9, wherein the outlet is located at the lid of the outer tubular housing.

11. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the outlet is a nasal interface for engaging a nose of a user.

12. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the inner tubular housing comprises a first end and a second end opposite to the first end.

13. The cooling device of claim 12, wherein the inner tubular housing comprises an airtight closure blocking the first end of the inner tubular housing.

14. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the passageway comprises a first transition portion connecting from the first portion of the passageway to the second portion of the passageway.

15. The cooling device of claim 14 when appended to claims 12 or 13, wherein the first transition portion is defined through a gap between a first end of the central tube and the first end of the inner tubular housing.

16. The cooling device of claim 11 or any claim dependent thereon, when appended to claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the passageway comprises a second transition portion connecting from the second portion of the passageway to the third portion of the passageway, and wherein the second transition portion is defined through a gap between the second end of the inner tubular housing and the second end of the outer tubular housing.

17. The cooling device of claim 5 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the outer tubular housing comprises a closure blocking the first end of the outer tubular housing, and wherein the closure comprises a central aperture leading to the outlet.

18. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the cooling device is a non-electrical device.

19. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the airflow from the inlet to the outlet is manually powered by suction applied to the outlet by the user such that the cooling device does not include any electrical fan.

20. The cooling device of any preceding claim, further comprising an air filter forming part of the passageway.

21. The cooling device of claim 20 when appended to claim 6 or any claim dependent thereon, wherein the air filter is located at the base.

22. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the second portion of the passageway comprises a cross-section extending around a full circumference of the central tube.

23. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the third portion of the passageway comprises a cross-section extending around a full circumference of the inner tubular housing.

24. The cooling device of any preceding claim, further comprising an inner cooling medium within the inner cavity and an outer cooling medium within the outer cavity, wherein each cooling medium preferably comprises a tube of absorbent material, and wherein a coolant liquid is absorbed in the absorbent material.

25. The cooling device of any preceding claim, wherein the inner cavity is bounded by an exterior surface of the central tube and an interior surface of the inner tubular housing, and wherein the outer cavity is bounded by an exterior surface of the inner tubular housing and an interior surface of the outer tubular housing.

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