PORTABLE USER-COOLING CHAMBER

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to cooling chambers shaped and sized for a user to enter and exit therefrom and, more particularly, relates to portable cooling chambers operably configured to generate an internal cooling environment for users.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In many external ambient hot environments (e.g., over 90° F.), the working conditions for many individuals become a safety issue. In particular, heat-related illnesses and injuries such as heat rash, heat cramps, heat exhaustion, and heat strokes are prevalent in many outdoor working environments. The risk of heat-related illnesses and injuries is compounded by a hotter environment. Moreover, there are also many heat-related OSHA regulations and/or worker safety compliance regulations that many individuals and entities are required to comply with. To that end, many structures have been developed to address these above-referenced concerns and few provide an efficient, effective, and portable assembly that can generate and maintain an internal cooled environment.

For example, some known assemblies include a base with an elongated tower and an umbrella-shaped roof structure that is configured to generate an open evaporative cooling environment beneath the roof structure. These structures are generally cumbersome to transport, install, and disassemble, in addition to being cost-and time-intensive to effectuate the same. Moreover, these types of assemblies also do not enable quick cooling in hotter environments.

Many known outdoor cooling systems are also not comfortable, safe, and/or effective for one or more users to enter and egress, typically requiring a user to lay down on a bed or other floor surface. These assemblies are also not conducive for maintaining a cool environment throughout a workday, whereby users are not able to quickly and efficiently enter and egress the cooling environment without experiencing a drop in temperature.

Therefore, a need exists to overcome the problems with the prior art as discussed above.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention provides a portable user-cooling chamber that is operably configured to be effectively and efficiently transported to an external ambient hot environment and generate an internal cooling environment for users in an effective, comfortable, and efficient manner and that overcomes the hereinafore-mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type, wherein U.S. Ser. No. 63/687,442, filed on Aug. 27, 2024, is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a portable user-cooling chamber is disclosed that includes a housing defining a cooling zone for receiving a user therein, having a housing lower end with at least one planar surface configured to maintain the housing in an upright orientation, having an upper housing end opposing the lower housing end, having a door coupled thereto and operably configured to have an open position to provide access to the cooling zone from an ambient environment and a closed position encapsulating the cooling zone, having a floor surface disposed in the cooling zone, and having an elevated stationary bench surface displaced above the floor surface, disposed in the cooling zone, and configured to support at least 100 lbs thereon. The portable user-cooling chamber also includes a cooling assembly coupled to the housing and operably configured to have an active configuration generating a temperature less than 70° F., at least one temperature sensor operably configured to ascertain an actual temperature within the cooling zone and a user temperature of the user within the cooling zone, a battery coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the cooling assembly, and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the cooling assembly and the at least one temperature sensor and operably configured to send a signal to the cooling assembly to initiate the active configuration when the user temperature reaches a first programmed user temperature greater than the actual temperature.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the cooling zone is greater than 54 ft³ and less than 288 ft³.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention includes the housing having a plurality of sidewalls, an upper wall, and a lower wall that each define the cooling zone, wherein the plurality of sidewalls have an insulation configuration with a first layer of a reflective material, with a first frame layer of a polymeric material directly coupled to the first layer, with a second frame layer of a polymeric material opposing the first frame layer, and defining a wall space between the first and second frame layers.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the lower housing end having a plurality of planar surfaces separated by a channel spanning through a width defined by opposing outer surfaces of the housing.

In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes at least one LED communicatively coupled to the electronic controller, wherein the electronic controller is operably configured to send a signal to the at least one LED to emit a first color conditioned on the least one temperature sensor ascertaining the user within the cooling zone and operably configured to send a signal to the at least one LED to emit a second color, different than the first color, conditioned on the least one temperature sensor not ascertaining the user within the cooling zone, thereby providing visual indication of user-occupation within the cooling zone.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the door having a single window coupled thereto and of a transparent material.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the elevated stationary bench surface substantially spans a width defined by two opposing internal sidewalls of the housing.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the cooling assembly having a fan motor rotatably coupled to a fan blade, a water reservoir, a cooling media configured to be saturated with a liquid, and a pump operably configured to pump the liquid from the water reservoir to the cooling media, wherein the fan motor is operably configured to induce an air velocity through a vent defined by the housing, through the cooling media, and into the cooling zone.

In accordance with an exemplary feature of the present invention, the fan motor, the water reservoir, the cooling media, and the pump are disposed within and surrounded by an internal bench housing that defines the elevated stationary bench surface. Further, the internal bench housing defines at least one aperture fluidly coupling an exhaust downstream of the fan blade to the cooling zone.

In accordance with an additional feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes at least one misting nozzle coupled to the housing, directed toward the cooling zone, and configured to emit liquid toward the elevated stationary bench surface. In one embodiment, the at least one misting nozzle is fluidly coupled to the pump and a liquid tank.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the electronic controller being operably configured to send a signal to the cooling assembly to initiate the active configuration when the actual temperature reaches a programmed zone temperature and an inactive configuration when the actual temperature reaches a second programmed zone temperature lower than the programmed zone temperature or when the user temperature reaches a second programmed user temperature lower than the first programmed user temperature, the inactive configuration that is non-operational.

In accordance with another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the housing having an exhaust fan coupled an inner ceiling surface of an internal sidewall of the housing, communicatively coupled to the electronic controller, and operably configured to exhaust air from the cooling zone to an ambient environment when initiated by the electronic controller.

In accordance with yet another feature, an embodiment of the present invention also includes the housing having at least one solar panel defining a plurality of slots therein, coupled to the upper housing end, and electrically coupled to the battery.

Also in accordance with the present invention, a portable user-cooling chamber is disclosed that includes a housing defining a cooling zone for receiving a user therein, having a housing lower end with at least one planar surface configured to maintain the housing in an upright orientation, having an upper housing end opposing the lower housing end, having a door coupled thereto and operably configured to have an open position to provide access to the cooling zone from an ambient environment and a closed position encapsulating the cooling zone, having a floor surface disposed in the cooling zone, and having an internal bench housing with bench sidewalls spanning longitudinally from the floor surface to an upper wall and with a bench upper wall coupled to the bench sidewalls and defining an elevated stationary bench surface displaced above the floor surface, disposed in the cooling zone, and configured to support at least 100 lbs thereon. The chamber also includes a cooling assembly coupled to the housing, at least partially surrounded by the internal bench housing and operably configured to have an active configuration generating an airflow temperature through the internal bench housing less than 70° F. and an inactive configuration when the cooling assembly is non-operational. The assembly further includes at least one temperature sensor operably configured to ascertain an actual temperature within the cooling zone, a battery coupled to the housing and electrically coupled to the cooling assembly, and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the cooling assembly and the at least one temperature sensor and operably configured to send a signal to the cooling assembly to initiate the active configuration when the actual temperature reaches a programmed zone temperature and the inactive configuration when the actual temperature reaches a second programmed zone temperature lower than the programmed zone temperature.

Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a portable user-cooling chamber, it is, nevertheless, not intended to be limited to the details shown because various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims. Additionally, well-known elements of exemplary embodiments of the invention will not be described in detail or will be omitted so as not to obscure the relevant details of the invention.

Other features that are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one of ordinary skill in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting; but rather, to provide an understandable description of the invention. While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. The figures of the drawings are not drawn to scale.

Before the present invention is disclosed and described, it is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. The terms “a” or “an,” as used herein, are defined as one or more than one, wherein the utilization of “a” or “an” does not mean multiple structures with various functions may be utilized to equate to single claimed structure with claimed functionality. The term “plurality,” as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term “another,” as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms “including” and/or “having,” as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term “coupled,” as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The term “providing” is defined herein in its broadest sense, e.g., bringing/coming into physical existence, making available, and/or supplying to someone or something, in whole or in multiple parts at once or over a period of time. Also, for purposes of description herein, the terms “upper”, “lower”, “left,” “rear,” “right,” “front,” “vertical,” “horizontal,” and derivatives thereof relate to the invention as oriented in the figures and is not to be construed as limiting any feature to be a particular orientation, as said orientation may be changed based on the user's perspective of the assembly. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

As used herein, the terms “about” or “approximately” apply to all numeric values, whether or not explicitly indicated. These terms generally refer to a range of numbers that one of skill in the art would consider equivalent to the recited values (i.e., having the same function or result). In many instances these terms may include numbers that are rounded to the nearest significant figure. In this document, the term “longitudinal” should be understood to mean in a direction corresponding to an elongated direction of the chamber, namely from the bottom or lower wall or surface to the upper wall or surface or, where applicable, a direction where a length of an object is greater than the diameter or width of that same object. As used herein, the term “wall” is intended broadly to encompass continuous structures, as well as, separate structures that are coupled together so as to form a substantially continuous external surface.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying figures, where like reference numerals refer to identical or functionally similar elements throughout the separate views and which together with the detailed description below are incorporated in and form part of the specification, serve to further illustrate various embodiments and explain various principles and advantages all in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 1 depicts a front perspective view of a portable user-cooling chamber in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a fragmentary perspective view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 depicts an elevational front view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 depicts a fragmentary elevational front view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5a depicts a cross-sectional view along section line 5-5 and of the housing depicted in FIG. 4;

FIG. 5b depicts a close-up view of a sidewall of the housing depicted in FIG. 5a;

FIG. 6 depicts an elevational side view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 depicts a bottom plan view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1;

FIG. 8 depicts a top plan view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1;

FIG. 9 depicts a rear perspective view of the portable user-cooling chamber in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 10 depicts a schematic block diagram depicting electrical and/or mechanical connections between the components utilized in the portable user-cooling chamber according to one embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION

While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward. It is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms.

Referring now to figures, embodiments of the present invention are shown. For example, FIG. 1 shows several advantageous features of the present invention, but, as will be described below, the invention can be provided in several shapes, sizes, combinations of features and components, and varying numbers and functions of the components. The first example of a portable user-cooling chamber 100 includes a housing 102 that is configured to be effectively and efficiently transported to various outdoor locations in hot climates and effectively and efficiently cool users utilizing the cooling chamber 100.

In particular, with reference to FIGS. 1-2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, the housing 102 includes a plurality of sidewalls 114a-n, an upper wall 516, and a lower wall 518 to define an enclosed cooling zone 200 (or volume) for receiving a user therein desired to be cooled, wherein “n” represents any number greater than one. The housing 102 includes a housing lower end 104 with at least one planar surface 700 configured to maintain the housing 102 in an upright orientation (best exemplified in FIG. 3 and FIG. 7). In preferred embodiments, the sidewalls 114a-n are substantially rigid and made with a polymeric material such as high-density polyethylene (HDPE) or a metallic material such as aluminum. The sidewalls 114a-n are preferably substantially 90° relative to the at least one planar surface 700. In one embodiment, the enclosed cooling zone 200 may be expanded and contracted by, for example, telescopic wall portions of the housing 102 and/or interlocking coupling connections between the wall portions of the housing 102 consistent with the portability requirement of the present invention.

With reference briefly to FIG. 7, the lower housing end 104 includes a plurality of planar surfaces 700a-d separated by a channel 702 spanning through a width defined by opposing outer surfaces 704, 706 (i.e., it spans through opposing ends). This configuration enables a lift member or other external machine to effectively raise and lower the housing 102 for transportation (e.g., on a trailer). In one embodiment, the channel 702 is uniform in width as it spans through the lower housing end 104 and is also at least 50% of the width and includes a recessed height of at least 1-2 in to enable arms or other equipment therein. In preferred embodiments, there are four planar surfaces 700a-d at the corners of the lower end 104 of the housing 102 and the surface(s) 700a-d define a plane that is substantially parallel (+/−5° to the ground surface to which the housing 102 is placed).

Referring back to FIGS. 1-2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, the housing 102 also includes an upper housing end 106 opposing the lower housing end 104 and includes a door 108 coupled thereto that enables the user to enter and leave the chamber 100. The door 108 is preferably coupled to a sidewall of the housing 102 with one or more hinge(s) and is operably configured to rotate and have an open position (exemplified in FIG. 2 with dashed lines and removed in FIG. 4) to provide access to the cooling zone 200 from an ambient environment (outside of the housing). The door 108 is also operably configured to have a closed position (exemplified in FIG. 1) encapsulating the cooling zone 200, i.e., having a wall surface on each side, above, and below the user while inside the chamber 100. The door 108 also preferably includes a single window 110 coupled thereto and is made with a transparent material (e.g., polycarbonate or other insulating glass or polymeric material). Preferably the window 110 is less than 12 in×12 in to minimize heat transfer and yet provide visual confirmation of the user utilizing the chamber 100.

To enable efficient and effective cooling inside of the cooling zone 200 and maintaining the portability of the chamber 100, the cooling zone 200 is preferably greater than 54 ft³ and less than 288 ft³. The preferred dimensions of the housing may be approximately 7.5 ft in height (exemplified in FIG. 4 with numeral 400)×5 ft in width (exemplified in FIG. 3 with numeral 300)×3.5 ft in length (exemplified in FIG. 6 with numeral 600)+/−1 ft, thereby making it portable.

Furthermore, the housing 102 may also include the plurality of sidewalls 114a-n, the upper wall 516, and the lower wall 518 collectively defining the cooling zone 200. With reference to FIGS. 5a-b and to provide a lightweight assembly that also effectively insulates the cooling zone 200, the plurality of sidewalls 114a-n have an insulation configuration with multiple specially configured layers. In particular, the insulation configuration includes a first layer 520 of a reflective material that may form the outermost layer of the housing 102, a first frame layer 522 of a polymeric material (e.g., HDPE) directly coupled to the first layer 520, a second frame layer 524 of a polymeric material (e.g., HDPE) opposing the first frame layer 522, and that defines a wall space 526 between the first and second frame layers 522, 524. The wall space 526 may be unoccupied enabling heat dissipation and promoting airflow, further reducing heat buildup, or may include a polystyrene (XPS) foam or expanded polystyrene (EPS) foam, that is interposed between the first and second frame layers 522, 524.

The housing 102 also includes a floor surface 202 on a bottom wall 518 disposed in the cooling zone 200 where a user may stand and/or rest their feet when sitting on a bench housing 512 also disposed in the cooling zone 200. In one embodiment, the floor surface 202 defines a drain for receiving liquid that may be emitted in the cooling zone 200 from a misting assembly and/or from the user. The drain may be fluidly coupled to a conduit that may be coupled to a liquid reservoir or tank for transporting liquid in the housing 102.

Beneficially, the chamber 100 includes an elevated stationary bench surface 204 displaced above the floor surface 202 (e.g., 25-35 in.), disposed in the cooling zone 200, and configured to support at least 100 lbs thereon. Said another way, the structure of the bench housing 512 is stationary and the elevated stationary bench surface 204 does not plastically deform or fracture upon experiencing the weight of user of at least 100 lbs. In preferred embodiments, the material and surface will support upwards of 500 lbs. To that end, the material is the same as the walls utilized for the housing 102 and may be made with substantially rigid polymeric material such as polyethylene terephthalate (PET), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), and polypropylene (PP). Furthermore, the bench housing 512 includes bench sidewalls that may span longitudinally (and upwardly) from the floor surface 202 to the upper wall 516 and a bench upper wall coupled to the bench sidewalls (preferably at a substantially 90° angle (e.g., +/−10°). The bench upper wall defines the elevated stationary bench surface 204. The elevated stationary bench surface 204 preferably and substantially spans (within 10%) a width defined by two opposing internal sidewalls of the housing 102 to provide adequate seating space and more importantly enable effective heat transfer from the user.

The chamber 100 beneficially includes a cooling assembly 206 coupled to the housing 102 and is operably configured to have an active configuration generating a temperature emitted therefrom, whether through airflow/convection or conduction, that is less than 70° F. In one embodiment, the cooling assembly 206 may include a phase converting refrigerant passing through a closed conduit loop, a compressor, a condenser, an evaporator, and fan motor and fan blade. With the exception of the compressor, each of these components may be beneficially utilized in the housing 102 and enclosed by the bench housing 512 to conserve space and facilitate in generating a portable chamber 100.

In another embodiment, and in addition or in lieu of the refrigerant-based system, the cooling assembly 206 may also include a fan motor 502 rotatably coupled to a fan blade 502, a water reservoir 506, a cooling media 508 (e.g., cellulose and aspen) configured to be saturated with a liquid (e.g., water), and a pump 1002 operably configured to pump the liquid from the water reservoir 506 to the cooling media 508. The cooling media 508 may be disposed proximal to (i.e., next to or within 2 in.) a vent 530 that may include a plurality of louver slats disposed therein. The fan motor 502 is operably configured to induce an air velocity (indicated with arrow 510 in FIG. 5) through a vent 530 defined by the housing 102, through the cooling media 508, and into the cooling zone 200 (through convection and/or conduction).

In one embodiment, the fan motor 502, the water reservoir 506, the cooling media 508, and the pump 1002 are disposed within and surrounded by (at least on three sides and above) the internal bench housing 512. Again, this maximizes space efficiency and enables portability as discussed herein. In one embodiment, the internal bench housing 512 defines at least one aperture fluidly coupling an exhaust downstream of the fan blade 502 to the cooling zone 200. In one embodiment, one or more airflow sensor(s) may be utilized to monitor ventilation efficiency and ensure proper air circulation through the bench 512, which acts as a heat sink for the user seated thereon.

In one embodiment, the chamber 100 also beneficially includes one or more temperature sensor(s) 1006, 1008 (depicted schematically in FIG. 10 with two sensors 1006, 1008 that are preferably infrared sensors). One of the sensors 1006, 1008 may be utilized to detect and/or ascertain the temperature in the cooling zone 200 and another of the 1006, 1008 may be utilized to detect and/or ascertain a user and the user's temperature. The sensor(s) 1006, 1008 may include tracking capability of the user, enabling the sensor(s) 1006, 1008 to know if and how many user(s) are in the cooling zone 200. The one or more sensor(s) 1006, 1008 are preferably operably configured to ascertain an actual temperature within the cooling zone 200 and a user temperature of a user within the cooling zone 200.

Because the chamber 100 is portable, a power source, e.g., a battery 1000, is utilized that is coupled to the housing 102. The battery 1000 is primarily and electrically coupled to the cooling assembly 206 to enable operation of the cooling assembly 206. The battery 1000 may also be electrically coupled to the other electrical components in the assembly 100 (as exemplified in FIG. 10) or some of said electrical components may be self-powered. The cooling assembly 206 generally and problematically requires the highest amperage and power, and thus preferably utilizes its own power source that does not require alternating current (AC), wherein other electrical components may be powered by another direct current (DC) power source. In other embodiments, the power source may include, partially or completely, a solar-generated DC power source (e.g., solar panel), an electrical outlet, AC, coupling connection.

With reference specifically to FIG. 10, the chamber 100 also beneficially includes an electronic controller 1010 communicatively coupled to the cooling assembly 206 and the at least one temperature sensor(s) 1006, 1008, along with other electrical components utilized in the chamber 100. The electronic controller 1010 may be a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) that is configured to emit signals (wirelessly or wired) to components to activate/deactivate or otherwise control of said components. Said another way, the electronic controller 1010 may be configured to not only monitor and track the electrical components utilized in the chamber, but also user(s) entering and exiting, thereby managing and controlling environmental conditions and components in the chamber 100 to effectuate the purposes of the present invention, including but not limited to the duration of user occupancy, water levels and refill alerts, maintenance intervals (replace filters, pumps, etc.), safety features (detecting vandalism, malfunctions), etc. The electronic controller 1010 may use continuous or discrete signals, or employ linear or non-linear algorithms to manage the components in the chamber 100. In one embodiment, the electronic controller 1010 is operably configured to send a signal to the cooling assembly 206 to initiate the active configuration when the user temperature reaches a first programmed user temperature (e.g., in the controller 1010) greater than the actual temperature. For example, the chamber 100 is configured to ascertain the temperature of user (e.g., 95° F.) through a sensor which is compared to a programmed user temperature (e.g., 95° F. or greater), wherein the temperature in the cooling zone 200 is, for example, 75° F. (caused by a reduction in heat transfer from the emitted 70° F. airflow from the cooling assembly 206. In preferred embodiments the cooling zone 200 is maintained at a desired temperature (e.g., 70° F. or less). The programmed temperature range may also be based on the actual temperature in the cooling zone 200. The present invention is different than, for example, a freezer or other assembly that generates extremely low temperatures so as to prevent shock and stress on a user's cardiovascular and respiratory system.

In other embodiments, the chamber 100 may serve to be a heating chamber focused on heating individuals in cool environments where side effects from over-exposure to very low ambient temperatures can be alleviated for individuals working outdoors. In particular, the cooling assembly 206 may be replaced with a heating assembly, wherein the overall structure and heat bench may be utilized to effectively and efficiently warm individual(s) utilizing the chamber.

In one embodiment, the electronic controller 1010 is operably configured to send a signal to the cooling assembly 206 to initiate the active configuration when the actual temperature in the zone 200 reaches a programmed zone temperature (e.g., 75° F. or higher), thereby maintaining a cool area, even when not utilized by a user. The electronic controller 1010 may also be operably configured to send a signal to the cooling assembly 206 to initiate an inactive configuration when the actual temperature reaches a second programmed zone temperature lower than the programmed zone temperature (e.g., 74° F. or lower) or when the user temperature reaches a second programmed user temperature (or range) lower than the first programmed user temperature, i.e., the user's temperature has reached a low temperature where the side effects from heat are alleviated. The inactive configuration is one when the cooling assembly 206 is non-operational, i.e., not generating a lower temperature than the surrounding ambient environment which may include reducing or stopping rotation of the fan blade.

With reference to FIGS. 1-2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, to facilitate removal of heat from the zone 200, the housing 102 may include an exhaust fan 500 coupled an inner ceiling surface of an internal sidewall of the housing 102, that is communicatively coupled to the electronic controller 1010, and operably configured to exhaust air from the cooling zone 200 to an ambient environment (outside of the housing 102) when initiated by the electronic controller 1010. To that end, the electronic controller 1010 may continually monitor the temperatures of the user and/or zone 200 and selectively control operation of the exhaust fan 500 to manage the temperature(s).

In one embodiment, the housing 102 also includes one or more solar panel(s) 112 that may define a plurality of slots therein (for exiting of air from the exhaust fan 500). The solar panel(s) 112 may include a plurality of solar cells thereon, is coupled to the upper housing end 106, and is also electrically coupled to the battery 1000, for charging the battery 1000. The battery 1000 may also be electrically coupled to one or more LED(s) 1012.

The one or more LED(s) 1012 are preferably communicatively coupled to the electronic controller 1010. The electronic controller 1010 may be operably configured to send a signal to the LED(s) 1012 to emit a first color (e.g., red, signaling occupied of the chamber 100) conditioned on the least one temperature sensor 1006, 1008 ascertaining the user within the cooling zone 200 and operably configured to send a signal to the LED(s) 1012 to emit a second color (e.g., green, signaling occupied of the chamber 100), different than the first color, conditioned on the least one temperature sensor 1006, 1008 not ascertaining the user within the cooling zone 200. As such, the chamber 100 is configured to provide visual indication of user-occupation within the cooling zone 200.

In one embodiment and referring to FIGS. 1-2, FIG. 5, and FIG. 7, the chamber 100 includes one or more misting nozzle(s) 514 coupled to the housing 102, that is directed toward the cooling zone 200, and is configured to emit liquid toward the elevated stationary bench surface 204. The misting nozzle(s) 514 may be configured to provide an evaporative cooling effect in combination with or in lieu of the cooling assembly 206. The one or more misting nozzle(s) 514 may be fluidly coupled to the pump 1002 and a liquid tank 1004. In some embodiments, the liquid tank 1004 may be same structure as the liquid reservoir 506, but is otherwise configured to house a liquid, e.g., water. Conduit may be utilized with one or more valve(s) to transport liquid/water to the nozzle(s) and/or to the cooling media 508, wherein the conduit may also be coupled to a water hookup or external water source that is configured to supply water to the conduit for delivery to the applicable components utilized in the chamber 100. Furthermore, a liquid/water alert system/sensor may be utilized that indicates when the tank 1004 and/or reservoir 506 needs to be refilled or is getting low. Preferably, the water emitted from the nozzle(s) 514 is provided from a separate liquid source from the source utilized from the cooling assembly 206 to minimize contamination.

As such, a portable user-cooling chamber is disclosed that includes insulated sidewalls defining an internal cooling zone shaped and sized to receive at least one individual and preferably configured to be encapsulated by the housing, a bench located within the internal cooling zone, a door providing access to the internal cooling zone, an air treatment assembly (evaporative cooler, air conditioning unit, etc.) operably configured to lower the temperature within the internal cooling zone, one or more ventilation/exhaust fan assemblies for dispelling heat within the internal cooling zone to an ambient environment, one or more sensor(s) configured to ascertain the temperature within the internal cooling zone and/or the individual(s) within the internal cooling zone, and an electronic controller communicatively coupled to the devices therein for modulating the temperature within the internal cooling zone based on or more of the sensed data from said sensor(s). The assembly may also include a plurality of solar cell(s) configured for powering the electrical devices on the cooling assembly.

Although a specific order of executing operational steps has been disclosed, the order of executing the steps may be changed relative to the order shown in certain embodiments. Also, two or more steps shown or described as occurring in succession may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence in some embodiments. Certain steps may also be omitted for the sake of brevity. In some embodiments, some or all of the process steps included can be combined into a single process.