Solar powered portable personal cooling system with dual modes of operation

#The present invention provides a device that provides the wearer a personal zone of cooling effect. Specifically, a headwear is provided that incorporates a stabilizing and aerating platform to house and support an array of photo-voltaic cells that in turn power strategically placed and positionable personal variable speed fans. The present invention also anticipates and counters the power decreases typically encountered by photo-voltaic cells when operating in elevated temperatures. The present invention also provides dual modality of use to provide a smaller photo-voltaic cell array in situations where a sacrifice in power is an acceptable trade off for a smaller footprint.

#For centuries, mankind has looked to provide solutions to personal overheating. Modern air conditioning is quite sophisticated, but is only applicable in confined quarters such as an office, a home or a car. Moreover, despite its efficiencies, modern air conditioning still requires significant power consumption.

#Hand held fans have been utilized for ages. Any large leaf or other flat, lightweight surface could suffice. Expanding paper or silk hand fans became popular for their ease of carrying and instantly unfolding into a suitable surface for the user to waft back and forth.

#FIG. 1 depicts a typical headwear (1) suitable for use in one embodiment of the present invention.

#FIG. 2 depicts one embodiment of the device showing a stabilizing mounting platform (2) supported by mounting struts (3) attached to the headwear (1).

#FIG. 3 depicts one embodiment of the device with a photo-voltaic cell array (4) mounted onto the stabilizing mounting platform (2) that is of a size sufficient to fully support the photo-voltaic cell array (4) and may thus extend outward in any direction as indicated by the extension lines (2a) and supported by mounting struts (3) attached to the headwear (1). Additionally, in one embodiment, the stabilizing mounting platform may have attached any number of mounting tabs (5) for supporting and attaching personal cooling fan assemblies (not shown). In one embodiment, the photo-voltaic cell array may also contain a hinge (6) to allow for folding.

#For clarity of disclosure, and not by way of limitation, the detailed description of the invention is divided into the following subsections that describe or illustrate certain features, embodiments or applications of the present invention.

#“Photo-voltaic cell” as used herein means a device that converts the energy of light directly into electricity by the photo voltaic effect through the absorption of light generating either electron-hole pairs or excitons, the separation of charge carriers of opposite types and the separate extraction of those charge carriers to an external circuit.

#“Cooling fan and motor assembly” as used herein means any self contained propelled fan blade assembly powered by an electric motor capable of being powered by electric charge generated by a photo-voltaic cell.