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A portable evaporative cooling apparatus includes a primary passage for delivering a primary air stream to an induction nozzle. A secondary passage that is substantially unobstructed extends from an ambient air inlet to the induction nozzle. A secondary air stream is induced through the secondary pa

A portable evaporative cooling apparatus includes a primary passage for delivering a primary air stream to an induction nozzle. A secondary passage that is substantially unobstructed extends from an ambient air inlet to the induction nozzle. A secondary air stream is induced through the secondary passage by the primary air stream and the primary and secondary air streams are ejected from the induction nozzle into the ambient air. An atomizer in the secondary passage, proximate the ambient air inlet, emits a fine spray of water into the secondary air stream. The mixing of the water spray and induced air flow is performed inside the induction nozzle, which also provides a physical and thermal barrier, and makes a completely cooled air stream available immediately outside the user, so the apparatuses may be placed close to the user's face, for example.

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1. A portable evaporative cooling apparatus comprising: an induction nozzle; a primary passage for delivering a primary air stream to the induction nozzle; a secondary passage that is unobstructed and extends from an ambient air inlet to the induction nozzle, wherein a secondary air stream is induce

1. A portable evaporative cooling apparatus comprising: an induction nozzle; a primary passage for delivering a primary air stream to the induction nozzle; a secondary passage that is unobstructed and extends from an ambient air inlet to the induction nozzle, wherein a secondary air stream is induced through the secondary passage by the primary air stream, and the primary and secondary air streams are ejected from the induction nozzle into ambient air; an atomiser in the secondary passage, proximate the ambient air inlet, for emitting a spray of water into the secondary air stream; electrical contacts connected to the atomiser for supplying electrical power to the atomizer; and a fan for impelling the primary air stream in the primary passage. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the primary and secondary passages are bounded by impermeable walls of a first housing. 3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein at least a first portion of the primary passage extends from the induction nozzle, lengthwise, adjacent the secondary passage, and is separated from the secondary passage by a shared wall separating the primary and secondary passages. 4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the first portion of the primary passage converges toward the induction nozzle. 5. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the induction nozzle and the atomiser are disposed proximate longitudinally opposing ends of the secondary passage, and the ambient air inlet is disposed transversely of a centerline of the secondary passage, between the induction nozzle and the atomiser. 6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein a second portion of the primary passage joins the first portion of the primary passage, the first portion of the primary passage is curved and the second portion of the primary passage is linear, the secondary passage is curved along a longitudinal direction, and the portion of the secondary passage adjacent the induction nozzle has a constant cross section. 7. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the induction nozzle and the ambient air inlet are disposed proximate longitudinally opposing ends of the secondary passage, and the atomiser is disposed transversely of a centreline of the secondary passage extending between the induction nozzle and the ambient air inlet. 8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the secondary passage comprises an inlet throat portion extending in a longitudinal direction from the ambient air inlet, the inlet throat portion joins an enlarged outlet portion that extends to the induction nozzle, and the enlarged outlet portion has a constant cross section. 9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the secondary passage comprises an inlet throat portion extending in the longitudinal direction from the ambient air inlet,the inlet throat portion joins an enlarged outlet portion that extends to the induction nozzle, andthe enlarged outlet portion diverges in a longitudinal direction toward the induction nozzle. 10. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the secondary passage is bounded in part by the shared wall and in part by an external wall, andthe external will has an outer surface which is exposed to the ambient air. 11. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the secondary passage is bounded completely by the shared wall,the shared wall is tubular and disposed within an external wall, andthe primary passage surrounds the shared wall. 12. The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising: a water tank demountable from the apparatus, wherein the atomiser is mounted at a lower end of the tank, anda vented lid disposed in an upper end of the water tank. 13. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a motor-driven oscillatory vane mounted to the first housing and projecting into an outlet stream from the induction nozzle so as to sweep the outlet stream back and forth. 14. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a second housing demountably coupled to the first housing, wherein the second housing comprises the fan for impelling the primary air stream and a battery pack for supplying electrical power to the atomiser via the contacts and to the fan. 15. The apparatus of claim 2 further comprising a second housing demountably coupled to the first housing, wherein the second housing comprises latches for securing the fan for impelling the primary air stream. 16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second housing comprises a hollow body that tapers from a broad end to a narrow end which is located in registration with a supply port, the hollow body defines an air passage that narrows in an axial direction between the broad end and the narrow end, and the latches are disposed at the broad end. 17. A cordless personal evaporative cooling apparatus comprising: a first housing assembly having walls defining an induction nozzle, a primary passage for delivering a primary air stream to the induction nozzle, and a secondary passage extending from an ambient air inlet to the induction nozzle, wherein a secondary air stream is induced through the secondary passage by the primary air stream, and mixed primary and secondary air streams are ejected from the induction nozzle into ambient air; a water tank demountable from the first housing assembly; an ultrasonic atomiser mounted at a lower end of the water tank and disposed in the secondary passage, proximate the ambient air inlet, for emitting a spray of water into the secondary air stream, and a second housing assembly demountably coupled to the first housing assembly, wherein the second housing assembly comprises a fan for impelling the primary air stream and a battery pack for supplying power to the ultrasonic atomiser and to the fan. 18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the walls are a polymeric material and are substantially impermeable, andat least a first portion of the primary passage extends from the induction nozzle, lengthwise, adjacent the secondary passage, and is separated from the secondary passage by a shared wall separating the primary and secondary passages. 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the first portion of the primary passage converges toward the induction nozzle. 20. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the induction nozzle and the ultrasonic atomiser are disposed proximate longitudinally opposing ends of the secondary passage, and the ambient air inlet is disposed transversely of a centreline of the secondary passage, between the induction nozzle and the ultrasonic atomiser. 21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein a second portion of the primary passage joins the first portion of the primary passage, the first portion of the primary passage is curved and the second portion of the primary passage is linear and extends adjacent the water tank, the secondary passage is curved in a longitudinal direction, and the portion of the secondary passage adjacent the induction nozzle has a constant cross section. 22. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the induction nozzle and the ambient air inlet are disposed proximate longitudinally opposing ends of the secondary passage, and the ultrasonic atomiser is disposed transversely of a centreline of the secondary passage extending between the induction nozzle and the ambient air inlet. 23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the secondary passage comprises an inlet throat portion extending in a longitudinal direction from the ambient air inlet, the inlet throat portion joins an enlarged outlet portion that extends to the induction nozzle, and the enlarged outlet portion has a constant cross. 24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the secondary passage comprises an inlet throat portion extending in a longitudinal direction from the ambient air inlet,the inlet throat portion joins an enlarged outlet portion that extends to the induction nozzle, andthe enlarged outlet portion diverges in the longitudinal direction toward the induction nozzle. 25. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the secondary passage is bounded in part by the shared wall and in part by an external wall, wherein the external wall has an outer surface which is exposed to the ambient air. 26. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the secondary passage is bounded completely by the shared wall, andthe shared wall is tubular and disposed within an external wall, such that the primary passage surrounds the shared wall. 27. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising a motor-driven oscillatory vane mounted to the first housing assembly and projecting into an outlet stream from the induction nozzle so as to sweep the outlet stream back and forth.