Patent Grant
9084503
Many people use window air-conditioning units to keep their home or apartment cool when it's hot outside. When using these types of air conditions, however, people have to either remove their curtains or constantly have them open, as to not block the front of the unit and/or the conditioned air emanating therefrom. Without any type of curtain on the window, the room may lack a sense of style and/or privacy. Additionally, without curtains blocking sun from shining in, the air-conditioner may have to work harder to cool the room. This can increase a person's utility bill and is inefficient. An effective solution is necessary.
The present invention provides users with a way to hang curtains or drapes around windows with air-conditioning units or window fans. Also, the air conditioning curtain device resembles a curtain or drape with a hole in the middle, revealing the face of the air-conditioning unit. Additionally, by using this device, users increase privacy and add style to the décor, as well as prevent sunlight from shining into the room and raising the temperature while the air conditioning unit is running. Moreover, this device is ideal for homeowners, renters, and possibly small-business owners who have air-conditioning units or window fans in their windows.
The following presents a simplified summary in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosed innovation. This summary is not an extensive overview, and it is not intended to identify key/critical elements or to delineate the scope thereof. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
The subject matter disclosed and claimed herein, in one aspect thereof, comprises an air conditioning curtain device that allows users to hang curtains or drapes over windows with air conditioning units without blocking the air conditioning units. The air conditioning curtain device comprises at least one piece of material with at least one continuous opening therein for receipt of a window air conditioning unit. More specifically, the at least one piece of material is secured around a perimeter of the window air conditioner output vent. Any number of openings can be positioned on the piece of material as needed by the user, depending on the number and size of the air conditioning units being used. Further, the openings can be positioned on any suitable position on the piece of material, depending on the wants and needs of a user. Typically, the openings can be any suitable shape, such as a slit or a rounded, through-hole.
In a preferred embodiment, the opening is secured around a perimeter of an air conditioner output vent via elastic or any other suitable elastomeric material. Further, the air conditioning curtain device can comprise a flap component attached to an edge of the opening for covering the opening. The flap component can be removably or fixedly attached to the edge of the opening depending on the wants and needs of a user. The flap component is typically constructed of the same material as the piece of material, and can vary in size depending on the wants and needs of a user, as well as the size and shape of the air conditioning unit the flap component is covering.
To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, certain illustrative aspects of the disclosed innovation are described herein in connection with the following description and the annexed drawings. These aspects are indicative, however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principles disclosed herein can be employed and is intended to include all such aspects and their equivalents. Other advantages and novel features will become apparent from the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the drawings.
The innovation is now described with reference to the drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to refer to like elements throughout. In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding thereof. It may be evident, however, that the innovation can be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to facilitate a description thereof.
The present invention provides users with a way to hang curtains or drapes around window air-conditioning units or window fans. Further, the air conditioning curtain device resembles a curtain or drape with a continuous opening therein to accommodate the face of the air-conditioning unit. Additionally, by using this device, users may increase privacy and add style to their décor, as well as prevent sunlight from shining into the room and raising the temperature while the air conditioning unit is running. Moreover, this device is ideal for homeowners, renters, and possibly small-business owners who have air-conditioning units or window fans in their windows.
The disclosed air conditioning curtain device comprises a piece of material with a continuous opening therein for receipt of a window air conditioning unit or window fan. Typically, the opening is secured around a perimeter of an air conditioner output vent or window fan via elastic. Further, the air conditioning curtain device can comprise a flap component attached to an edge of the opening for covering the opening and the air conditioner unit when the same is not in use. The flap component can be removably or fixedly attached to the edge of the opening depending on the wants and needs of a user. The flap component is typically constructed of the same material as the piece of material, and can vary in size.
Referring initially to the drawings,
The piece of material 102 comprises a first end portion 112, a second end portion 114, and opposing sides 116. Typically, the piece of material 102 can be any suitable shape as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, such as rectangular, square, oval, circular, etc., and the edges can be scalloped, pointed, curved, etc. The piece of material 102 would generally be constructed of cotton, silk, rayon, denim, suede, leather, fur, embroidered/crewel, matelasse, sheers, lace, tapestries, velvet, upholsteries, polyesters, chenille, linen, satin, base cloth, vinyl, felt, nylon, tulle, flax, etc., or any other suitable textile material may be used to manufacture the piece of material 102 as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention.
The piece of material 102 can also comprise a variety of colors and designs to suit user and manufacturing preference. While the shape and size of the piece of material 102 may vary greatly depending on the wants and needs of a user, as well as the size and shape of the window the material 102 is covering, the piece of material 102 can be approximately between 10 and 40 inches long as measured from the first end portion 112 to the second end portion 114, and approximately between 10 and 40 inches wide as measured from opposing sides 116, and approximately between 12 and 36 inches thick as measured from a front surface 118 to a back surface (not shown). Further, any number of pieces of material 102 can be used as needed by the user, depending on the amount and size of the windows needing to be covered.
The air conditioning curtain device 100 further comprises at least one continuous opening 104 therein (as shown in
Typically, the continuous opening 104 can be any suitable shape as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, such as rectangular, square, oval, circular, a slit, or a rounded, through-hole, etc. Further, the shape and size of the opening 104 may vary greatly depending on the wants and needs of a user, as well as depending on the size and shape of the air conditioning unit 110 the material 102 is being secured around.
Furthermore, the material 102 is secured around a perimeter 106 of an air conditioner output vent 108. Typically, the material 102 is secured around the perimeter 106 via elastic or any other suitable elastomeric material as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention, such as nylon, Lycra®, etc. (as shown in
Additionally, the air conditioning curtain device 100 further comprises a flap component 120 attached to an edge 122 of the opening 104 for covering the opening 104, for example, when the air conditioning unit is not in use and the user desires to conceal the same. The flap component 120 can be removably or fixedly attached to the edge 122 of the opening 104 depending on the wants and needs of a user.
If the flap component 120 is fixedly or permanently attached to the edge 122 of the opening 104, the flap component 120 would be sewn on or secured via any other suitable securing means, such as gluing, etc. The flap component 120 could then be held in an open position via hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), or any other suitable securing means as is known in the art.
If the flap component 120 is removably attached to the edge 122 of the opening 104, the flap component 120 would be secured via hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), or secured via any other suitable securing means, such as snaps, etc. The flap component 120 could then be held in an open position via the hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), or just removed during use and stored elsewhere.
The flap component 120 is typically constructed of the same material as the piece of material 102. For example, the flap component 120 would generally be constructed of cotton, silk, rayon, etc., or any other suitable textile material as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The flap component 120 can also comprise a variety of colors and designs to suit user and manufacturing preference. Further, the shape and size of the flap component 120 can vary greatly depending on the wants and needs of a user, as well as the size and shape of the air conditioning unit 110 the flap component 120 is covering.
The air conditioning unit 110 used with the air conditioning curtain device 100 is typically a window unit air conditioner, but any other air conditioning unit or window fan can be used as is known in the art, such as a stand-alone indoor unit, etc.
Once in place, the user can attach the flap component 120 to cover the face of the air conditioning unit 110 when the air conditioning unit 110 is not in use or the user wished to conceal the same. Thus, by using this device 100, users may increase privacy and add style to their décor, as well as prevent sunlight from shining into the room and raising the temperature while the air conditioning unit 110 is running.
If the flap component 120 is fixedly or permanently attached to the edge 122 of the opening 104, the flap component 120 would be sewn on or secured via any other suitable securing means, such as gluing, etc. The flap component 120 could then be held in an open position via hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), or any other suitable securing means as is known in the art.
If the flap component 120 is removably attached to the edge 122 of the opening 104, the flap component 120 would be secured via hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), or secured via any other suitable securing means, such as snaps, etc. The flap component 120 could then be held in an open position via the hook and loop fasteners (i.e., Velcro®), or just removed during use and stored elsewhere.
The flap component 120 is typically constructed of the same material as the piece of material 102. For example, the flap component 120 would generally be constructed of cotton, silk, rayon, etc., or any other suitable textile material as is known in the art without affecting the overall concept of the invention. The flap component 120 can also comprise a variety of colors and designs to suit user and manufacturing preference. Further, the shape and size of the flap component 120 can vary greatly depending on the wants and needs of a user, as well as the size and shape of the air conditioning unit 110 the flap component 120 is covering.
What has been described above includes examples of the claimed subject matter. It is, of course, not possible to describe every conceivable combination of components or methodologies for purposes of describing the claimed subject matter, but one of ordinary skill in the art may recognize that many further combinations and permutations of the claimed subject matter are possible. Accordingly, the claimed subject matter is intended to embrace all such alterations, modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Furthermore, to the extent that the term “includes” is used in either the detailed description or the claims, such term is intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “comprising” as “comprising” is interpreted when employed as a transitional word in a claim.
This application claims priority from Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/701,255 filed Sep. 14, 2012.
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