Patent Application
20250043990
The embodiments described herein relate to brackets for air conditioning (“AC”) units, with particular embodiments shown for a window AC unit.
Typical window AC unit brackets include one or more horizontal outdoor bracket components on which the external portion of the AC unit sits, as well as one or more angled components that anchor against the exterior wall of the building or room in which the window AC unit is to be used. Some installations, however, involve a window that has a larger than standard outside ledge or some other object that interferes with the angled support leg of standard window AC brackets, and prevents it from making proper contact with the wall, preventing proper installation and support the unit. Other installations involve a roof section (either horizontal or slanted) that is located immediately below the window ledge. Standard AC brackets are not suited for these installations because either there is an object or obstacle associated with the window sill, or the angled support component has insufficient amount of vertical wall beneath the window ledge against which to anchor.
The herein-described embodiments address these and other problems associated with the art by providing a window AC unit bracket that is adjustable in both length and height. The bracket includes a vertical support that allows the angled support to move incrementally up and down, allowing it to move below any large window ledge or obstruction. In the case of a roof or other surface directly below the window opening on the outside, the installer would have the option to use the roof as the supporting structure in place of an outside wall by removing the angled support leg from the assembly entirely, leaving the vertical support leg to contact the roof or other surface.
In some embodiments, a window air conditioner bracket is provided that includes a horizontal support bracket having an indoor portion and an outdoor portion; a vertical leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the vertical leg is configured to be removably coupled to the outdoor portion of the horizontal support bracket at varying locations along a length of the outdoor portion of the horizontal support bracket; an angled leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the angled leg is configured to be selectively rotatably and removably coupled to either the second end of the vertical leg or to the outdoor portion of the horizontal support bracket; and a foot that is configured to be selectively and removably coupled to either of the second end of the vertical leg or to the second end of the angled leg.
In some embodiments a window air conditioner bracket is provide that includes a horizontal support bracket having an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, wherein the indoor portion is configured to be fastened to a portion of a window opening and the outdoor portion extends outwardly from the window opening for receiving thereon an outdoor portion of an air conditioner, and wherein the outdoor portion has a plurality of openings therealong configured to receive a pin in any of the plurality of openings; a vertical leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the vertical leg is configured to be removably coupled via the pin to the outdoor portion of the horizontal support bracket at varying locations along a length of the outdoor portion of the horizontal support bracket; an angled leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the angled leg is configured to be rotatably and removably coupled to the second end of the vertical leg; and a foot that is configured to be selectively removably coupled to either of the second end of the vertical leg or to the second end of the angled leg.
In some embodiments a method of installing an air conditioner on a window bracket is provided, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a window bracket, wherein the window bracket has a horizontal support having an interior portion and an exterior portion; a vertical leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is adjustably coupled along a length of the exterior portion of the horizontal support; an angled leg having a first end and a second end, wherein the first end of the angled leg is rotatably and removably coupled to either the second end of the vertical leg or to the horizontal support; and a foot configured to be selectively coupled to either the vertical leg or to the angled leg; placing the window bracket in a window opening above a sill, such that at least a portion of the exterior portion of the horizontal support extends outwardly from the window opening; fastening a portion of the interior portion of the horizontal support to a portion of the window opening; and placing a window air conditioner atop the horizontal support.
These and other advantages and features are set forth in the claims annexed hereto and forming a further part hereof. However, for a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the figures, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.
Turning now to the drawings, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views,
In some embodiments, such as one embodiment depicted in the figures, the outdoor portion 130 can additionally include an outdoor end brace 132. The outdoor end brace 132 can be coupled to the outdoor portion 130 at or near the end of the outdoor portion 130 farthest from the window opening 5. The outdoor end brace 132 can include one or more upstanding portions 133. The upstanding portion 133 serves as a backstop or block to prevent the AC unit 1 from being able to slide off the terminal end of the horizontal support member 110, which would obviously be a dangerous situation. The outdoor portion 130 can also include, if desired, upstanding flanges 135 that can alternatively serve as a backstop either with or without use of upstanding portion 133.
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In standard window AC unit brackets, angled supports such as angled leg 200 are typically coupled directly to horizontal members such as horizontal support member 110. As discussed previously, however, this arrangement does not accommodate many non-standard types of window installations. In one example, depicted in
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With continuing reference to the figures, various methods of installing the bracket 100 are possible. First, the user decides whether the AC unit 1 and bracket 100 will be supported against the exterior vertical wall beneath the window opening 5 (for typical installations), or whether it will need to be supported on a horizontal surface (e.g., a roof) beneath the window 2. For installations using the exterior vertical wall beneath the window opening 5, the angled leg 200 is used, with or without the vertical leg 300. For installations not using the exterior vertical wall beneath the window opening 5, the angled leg 200 is omitted and, instead, the vertical leg 300 is used.
The various steps described herein are not required to be followed in the specific order discussed. In typical installations, however, it is often helpful to inspect the window opening 5 and decide whether either or both of the vertical leg 300 and angled leg 200 will be needed. Once the user determines that, the user will couple the desired legs (either angled leg 200, vertical leg 300, or both) to the horizontal support member 110 by inserting one or more pins 400 into desired openings in the various components that appear to provide an appropriate spacing and arrangement of the bracket 100. Once these preliminary positions of the various legs are made, the window 2 of the window opening 5 is opened. The bracket 100 is placed in the window opening 5 such that the outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110 extends exteriorly away from (perpendicular to) the window 2 and the indoor portion 120 extends into the room 7. The interior cross support 121 is placed on the sill 6. The first arm 122 and second arm 123 are extended to the desired width, such that the first arm 122 and second arm 123 can be secured to either or both of the sill 6 or other structures associated with the window opening 5 (e.g., the vertical casing of the window opening 5).
For installations using the vertical wall as support, as stated, the user decides (based on dimensions and spacing needed for the installation) whether the angled leg 200 should be connected directly to outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110, or whether it should be connected to the vertical leg 300. For installations where the angled leg 200 is connected directly to the outdoor portion 130, the vertical leg 300 is not required for the installation. In this case, the angled leg 200 is positioned such that the foot 500 that is coupled to the second end 202 of the angled leg 200 is resting against the exterior vertical wall below the window opening 5. If necessary, the angled leg 200 is moved horizontally along the outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110 and the opening 206 near the first end 201 of the angled leg 200 is aligned with the appropriate fastener opening 131 of the outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110. A pin 400 is inserted through the openings 206, 131 (and, if included, through the through-hole 402 of the pin carrier 401) and appropriately secured with a securing lock 134. The securing lock 134 can be a removable locking structure that allows the pin 400 to be removed if desired, and can include all commonly known devices to temporarily retain a mechanical structure in a desired location, including but not limited to, a nut, a cotter pin, a ring for a ring pin, other forms of locking pins, and the like to keep the pin 400 secured in the openings 206, 131.
As stated above, some installations have an enlarged sill 6 or some other obstacle that would interfere with the foot 500 of the angled leg 200 if the angled leg 200 were connected directly to the outdoor portion 130. Such installations still might use the exterior vertical wall beneath the window opening 5 for support, but they require additional vertical distance between the foot 500 and the horizontal support member 110. For such installations the vertical leg 300 is coupled to the outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110 by aligning either one or more of openings 312 or opening 306 (depending on the embodiment) with the desired fastener openings 131 and inserting a pin 400 through same (and, if included, through the through-hole 402 of the pin carrier 401). The angled leg 200 is connected to the vertical leg 300 by bringing foot 500 into contact with the exterior vertical wall below the window opening 5 and aligning the opening 206 at first end 201 of angled leg 200 with the opening 307 (or the desired opening 313, depending on the embodiment) in the vertical leg 300. A pin 400 is inserted through the openings 206, 307 (or 313) (and, if included, through the through-hole 402 of the pin carrier 401) and secured therein with a securing lock 134. Again, as stated, if horizontal movement of the vertical leg 300 along the outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110 is required in order for foot 500 to be located against the vertical wall below the window opening 5, that is easy to do by removing pin 400, sliding vertical leg 300 to the desired location, aligning opening 306 with the desired opening 131, and inserting pin 400 (with or without pin carrier 401) therethrough, and securing with a securing lock 134.
Alternatively, for installations having a horizontal roof or other structure beneath the window opening 5 such that the exterior vertical wall cannot be used to support the bracket 100, the user will remove the foot 500 from the angled leg 200 and place the foot 500 on the vertical leg 300. Specifically, the user removes the pin 400 from the opening 207 of the second end of the angled leg 200 and opening 503 of the foot 500 to de-couple the foot 500 from the angled leg 200. The user then couples the foot 500 to the vertical leg 300 by aligning opening 503 with opening 307 (or 313) and inserting a pin 400 therethrough (and, if included, through the through-hole 402 of the pin carrier 401) and securing with a securing lock 134. Again, horizontal relocation of the vertical leg 300 with respect to the outdoor portion 130 of the horizontal support member 110 is possible as discussed above, in order to locate the vertical leg 300 in the desired position and locating the foot 500 in its desired position resting on a horizontal (or non-vertical) exterior surface below the window opening 5.
Once the bracket 100 has been installed and the vertical leg 300 and foot 500 are in their desired locations, the AC unit 1 can be placed atop the bracket 100 and moved (by sliding, lifting, or otherwise positioning) into its proper location atop the bracket 100. The upstanding portion 133 prevents the AC unit 1 from sliding off the back of the bracket 100.
As stated above, the figures depict some particular embodiments of the bracket 100, but do not depict all the various alterations and modifications that can be employed. For example, additional brackets or bracing may be employed in various locations based on need. The sizes, shapes, sections, and materials for all components may vary depending on factors such as strength, manufacturability, cost, and so forth. More or fewer components than those depicted in the figures can be used for the various items referenced with reference numerals. The connections of the various elements described and depicted can be altered in ways that are commonly understood by persons skilled in the art. As but one example of the latter, the locations of the various openings and fastener pairs (e.g., opening 131 and pin 400) can be swapped. For example, instead of including a multitude of openings 131, outdoor portion 130 might include a multitude of pins 400. These pins 400 could receive openings in the first end 201 of angled leg 200, or first end 301 of vertical leg 300. Substitutions such as these and others that are commonly known by artisans skilled in the art are not outside the scope and content of this disclosure and the claims appended hereto.
While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.
All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.
The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”
The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.
As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.
It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.
In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.
It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.
