AIR CONDITIONER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority from Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0157384, filed on Nov. 12, 2014 in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

Apparatuses and methods consistent with the present invention relate to an air conditioner and more particularly to an air conditioner in which a lower portion of a stand type indoor unit is supported by a frame structure and a main body is inclined backward at a predetermined angle so as to increase an air-blast distance of discharged cool air.

2. Description of the Related Art

In general, an air conditioner is configured with a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator. An air conditioner cools or warms indoor air using a refrigeration cycle of a refrigerant or purifies indoor air in order to promote a pleasant indoor environment for a user, and is largely classified into a separation type air conditioner and an integration type air conditioner.

The separation type air conditioner is configured by installing a cooling device/heat sink in an indoor unit, installing a heat sink/cooling device and a compressor in an outdoor unit, and connecting the indoor unit and the outdoor unit that are separated from each other through a refrigerant pipe. The integration type air conditioner is configured by integrating cooling and heat-dissipating functions in a single body and is disposed in a hole formed in a wall of a house or in a window by using a fixture.

Recently, a stand type air conditioner configured by installing an indoor unit on the floor so as to discharge air sucked in through a suction port via rotation of a fan through a heat exchanger has been largely used.

Such a conventional stand type indoor unit is put in the form of a vertical cabinet on the floor, and a lower portion of stand type indoor unit is mainly used to suck in air, used to accommodate an air cleaner, or used for assembly of internal components.

Accordingly, the conventional stand type indoor unit has a large volume such that indoor spaces of a building may not be effectively used and also does not provide a fine view due to uniform designs.

In addition, the conventional stand type indoor unit has a problem in terms of a short air-blast distance of cool air since a main body is approximately vertically put on the floor and sends cool air squarely. To overcome this, wind is adjusted in an upward direction using a blade of a discharge port. However, a discharging direction of cool air and a direction of the blade do not match each other, and resistance is generated in air current that reduces intensity of the air blast, and thus there is a limit to sending cool air far.

In addition, for installation of the conventional stand type indoor unit, the connection pipe extends from the indoor unit to a wall surface and also a surface of the connection pipe is wrapped by a tape or the like, thereby degrading an outer appearance.

SUMMARY

Exemplary embodiments of the present invention overcome the above disadvantages and other disadvantages not described above. Also, the present invention is not required to overcome the disadvantages described above, and an exemplary embodiment of the present invention may not overcome any of the problems described above.

The present invention provides an air conditioner that reduces a room of a lower portion of the air conditioner so as to use the lower space of the air conditioner in various ways and maintains a state in which a main body is inclined at a predetermined angle backward so as to increase an air-blast distance of cool air.

The present invention also provides an air conditioner for enhancing visibility by hiding a connection pipe so as not to be shown in front of the air conditioner in order to prevent the overall outer appearance from being adversely affected.

According to an aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a main body including a housing having a front surface with an opening, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing, and at least one fan disposed in front of the heat exchanger and configured to discharge air that exchanges heat through the heat exchanger through the opening, and a frame disposed below the main body and configured to support the main body, wherein the main body is disposed to be inclined backward at a preset angle.

The frame may support the main body when it is inclined.

The frame may include a cabinet including a pipe configured to accommodate a drain hose configured to drain condensation liquid water generated in the heat exchanger and a refrigerant pipe, and a pipe hole formed through the pipe, and a support coupled to a lower portion of the cabinet.

The support may include a front frame coupled to a front portion of the cabinet, and a rear frame coupled to a rear portion of the cabinet, and the rear frame may be disposed in such a way that an upper portion of the rear frame is inclined toward a rear surface of the cabinet.

The front frame may include a case frame forming a frame of the front frame, a reinforcing member accommodated in the case frame, and a cover coupled along an external side of the front frame.

The rear frame may include a pair of vertical frames having upper ends coupled to the cabinet.

The rear frame may further include a horizontal frame having opposite ends connected to lower ends of the pair of vertical frame.

The rear frame may further include a cover plate for hiding a rear portion.

The pipe may extend behind the cover plate through the cover plate.

The support may further include a pair of connection members for connection between the front frame and the rear frame.

The pair of vertical frames may have spaces formed therein in a longitudinal direction of the vertical frames, and the pipe may extend along any one of spaces of the pair of vertical frames.

The support may include a pair of vertical frames coupled to opposite sides of a front portion of the cabinet and extending downward, a pair of horizontal frames coupled to lower ends of the pair of vertical frames and extending backward from a lower end of each of the vertical frame, and a connection frame for connection between opposite ends of the pair of horizontal frames at one end of the horizontal frames.

The support may include a pair of covers coupled along an external side of the pair of vertical frames, and a pair of reinforcing members accommodated in the pair of vertical frames, respectively.

The pipe may extend along an internal portion of the support.

The support may further include a reinforcing member extending toward the connection frame behind the cabinet.

The pipe may extend along internal portion of the reinforcing member and the connection frame.

The support may include a pair of lateral frames coupled to opposite sides of the cabinet and extending downward, and each of the lateral frames may have an outer appearance with a triangular shape.

The pair of lateral frames may further include a connection frame having opposite ends connected to lower ends of the lateral frames.

The support may include four vertical frames disposed at four corners of a lower surface of the cabinet, respectively.

The pipe may extend along an internal portion of any one of two vertical frames disposed behind the cabinet.

The support may be formed with a column form with a cross section that is gradually narrowed and then increased downward.

The air conditioner may further include a flexible tube behind the cabinet, and pipe may extend along an internal portion of the flexible tube and may be formed through a wall surface adjacent to a rear portion of the air conditioner.

An angle at which the main body may be inclined is equal to or greater than 1 degree or equal to or less than 9 degrees from an imaginary vertical line with respect to the ground.

According to another aspect of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a main body including a housing having a front surface with an opening, a heat exchanger disposed in the housing, and at least one fan disposed in front of the heat exchanger and configured to discharge air that exchanges heat through the heat exchanger through the opening, and a frame disposed below the main body and configured to support the main body to be inclined backward at a preset angle, wherein the frame includes a cabinet and a support configured to support the main body and the cabinet, and a front portion of the support supports the main body to be inclined backward at an angle that corresponds to or is the same as an inclination angle of the main body.

Additional and/or other aspects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be obvious from the description, or may be learned by practice of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and/or other aspects of the present invention will be more apparent by describing certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1A is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to a first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is a side view of the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2A is an exploded perspective view of the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 2B is an exploded perspective view of a front frame of the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 1A;

FIG. 3A is a perspective view illustrating a first modification example of a support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3B is a perspective view illustrating a second modification example of a support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3C is a perspective view illustrating a third modification example of a support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4A is a perspective view illustrating a fourth modification example of a support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4B is a perspective view illustrating a fifth modification example of a support according to the first embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5A is a perspective view of an air conditioner according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5B is a rear view illustrating a rear portion of the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 5C is a side view illustrating the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6A is an exploded perspective view illustrating the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 6B is an exploded perspective view illustrating a front frame of the air conditioner illustrated in FIG. 5A;

FIG. 7A is a perspective view illustrating a first modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7B is a perspective view illustrating a second modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7C is a perspective view illustrating a third modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8A is a perspective view illustrating a fourth modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8B is an exploded perspective view illustrating a support illustrated in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 8C is a perspective view illustrating a fifth modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9A is a perspective view illustrating a sixth modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 9B is a perspective view illustrating a seventh modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view illustrating an eighth modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIGS. 11A and 11B are perspective views illustrating a ninth modification example of the support according to the second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 12A a perspective view illustrating the case in which a cover plate installed at the support illustrated in FIGS. 5A, 7A, and 7B to hide a pipe;

FIG. 12B is a perspective view illustrating the case in which a pipe is hidden by the support illustrated in FIG. 8A;

FIG. 12C is a perspective view illustrating the case in which a pipe is hidden by the support illustrated in FIG. 8C; and

FIGS. 13A and 13B are perspective views illustrating the case in which a pipe is hidden when the pipe extends directly from a cabinet or a main body.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure may be diversely modified. Accordingly, specific exemplary embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and are described in detail in the detailed description. However, it is to be understood that the present disclosure is not limited to a specific exemplary embodiment, but includes all modifications, equivalents, and substitutions without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure. Also, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the disclosure with unnecessary detail. Further, dimensions of various elements in the accompanying drawings may be arbitrarily increased or decreased for assisting in a comprehensive understanding.

The terms used in the present application are only used to describe the exemplary embodiments, but are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. The singular expression also includes the plural meaning as long as the meaning does not differ in the context. In the present application, the terms “include” and “consist of” designate the presence of features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or a combination thereof that are written in the specification, but do not exclude the presence or possibility of addition of one or more other features, numbers, steps, operations, components, elements, or a combination thereof.

In the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a “module” or a “unit” performs at least one function or operation, and may be implemented with hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. In addition, a plurality of “modules” or a plurality of “units” may be integrated into at least one module except for a “module” or a “unit” which has to be implemented with specific hardware, and may be implemented with at least one processor (not shown).

Hereinafter, an air conditioner including a main body and a frame will be described in detail with regard to exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings.

With reference to FIGS. 1A to 2B, an air conditioner 100 according to a first embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 1A and 2A, the air conditioner 100 includes a main body M1 and a frame F1.

The main body M1 includes a housing 110, a fan unit 120 including at least one fan formed therein, and a heat exchanger 129 and a suction port 130 that are installed in the housing 110.

The housing 110 includes a front panel 111 with a plurality of openings 111a formed therein so as to expose a discharge port 121a of a fan unit 120 through a front portion of the housing 110, and a rear panel 113 coupled to a rear portion of the front panel 111. The fan unit 120 is disposed between the front panel 111 and the rear panel 113, and the heat exchanger 129 is disposed at a rear portion of the fan unit 120.

The plurality of openings 111a may be formed in a circular form and at least one opening 111a may be disposed in upward and downward directions of the front panel 111.

At least one suction port 130 may be formed in the rear panel 113.

The fan unit 120 includes the discharge port 121a, a driving motor (not shown), a fan 125, and a duct 124.

The discharge port 121a is formed between a disk plate 121b and a grill (not shown) and is formed in the form of a ring so as to externally discharge air passing through the fan 125. In the present invention, although not shown, needless to say, an interval between the disk plate 121b and the grill (not shown) may be adjusted or the number or shape of a wing plate (not shown) of the grill (not shown) may be adjusted so as to adjust the amount of air volume discharged through the discharge port 121a.

The fan 125 sends air introduced into the housing 110 out of the air conditioner 100, is rotatably coupled to the driving motor, and is surrounded by the duct 124.

At least one duct 124 is formed in a circular form so as to surround the fan 125 and forms an air path such that air sucked in by the fan 125 flows toward the discharge port 121a.

The heat exchanger 129 is disposed between the fan unit 120 and the suction port 130 and evaporates (or condenses) refrigerants to adsorb heat from air introduced through the suction port 130 or to transfer heat to air introduced from the suction port 130. The heat exchanger 129 is fixed to the main body M1 by a fixture (not shown) disposed at one side of upper and lower ends of an internal portion of the housing 110.

A drain hose 161 for draining condensation liquid water generated in the heat exchanger 129 and a refrigerant pipe for connection between the indoor heat exchanger 129 and an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) are connected to one end of the heat exchanger 129.

The suction port 130 is disposed in a rear portion of the air conditioner 100 so as to guide outdoor air to be introduced into the air conditioner 100. At least one suction port 130 may be formed in a rear portion, a lateral portion, or the like of the rear panel 113.

The frame F1 is disposed below the main body M1 so as to support the main body M1 with respect to the ground and includes a cabinet 160 coupled to the main body M1, a support B1 for supporting the main body M1 and the cabinet 160, and a pipe 170.

The cabinet 160 is disposed below the main body M1 and connected to and supported by the support B1. The cabinet 160 is configured in the form of substantial rectangular parallelepiped in order to couple a front frame 140 and a rear frame 150 to a front portion and a rear portion, respectively and includes the drain hose 161, the refrigerant pipe 163, a cabinet cover 165, a pipe hole 167, a main body coupler 168, and a front frame coupler 169.

The drain hose 161 is used to externally discharge condensation liquid water formed by condensing and dropping moisture in air out of the air conditioner 100 during air cooling in the heat exchanger 129 when the air conditioner 100 performs a cooling operation for cooling air and is connected to the pipe 170 inside the cabinet 160.

The refrigerant pipe 163 is used for connection between the indoor heat exchanger 129 and the outdoor heat exchanger (not shown), is accommodated by the pipe 170 together with the drain hose 161 in the cabinet 160, and extends out of the air conditioner 100.

The cabinet cover 165 may cover lateral and rear surfaces of the cabinet 160. In addition, the pipe hole 167 to pass the pipe 170 therethrough is formed in the rear surface of the cabinet cover 165, and an upper end of the rear frame 150 is fixedly coupled to the rear surface of the cabinet cover 165.

The pipe hole 167 may allow the pipe 170 that is formed to pass through an internal portion of the cabinet 160 and accommodates the drain hose 161 and the refrigerant pipe 163 therein to extend out of the air conditioner 100 and may be formed at an arbitrary position of the rear surface of the cabinet cover 165 according to a shape of the rear frame 150.

The main body coupler 168 may be formed at an upper portion of the cabinet 160 so as to fixedly couple the main body M1 and the cabinet 160 and may be coupled to the main body M1 with a screw coupling structure or a male and female coupling structure, but are not limited thereto.

The front frame coupler 169 may fixedly couple a front portion of the cabinet 160 and the front frame 140 and may be coupled to the front frame 140 with a screw coupling structure, but is not limited thereto.

The support B1 includes the front frame 140 coupled to a front portion of the cabinet 160 and the rear frame 150 coupled to a rear portion of the cabinet 160.

The air conditioner 100 according to the present invention is configured in such a way that the support B1 supports the main body M1 with a frame structure. Accordingly, although the same height as a conventional air conditioner is maintained, an open space may be formed in a portion below the air conditioner 100 so as to use a lower space, to easily clean the floor, to achieve an excellent outer appearance, and to also allow an indoor space to look big.

Referring to FIGS. 2A and 2B, the front frame 140 is coupled to the front portion of the cabinet 160 to support the main body M1 and the cabinet 160, and may further include a front frame cover 141. The front frame 143 includes a case frame 143a, a reinforcing member 143b, a lateral surface cover 143c, a lower surface cover 143d, a reinforcing frame 143e, and a front frame coupler 143f.

The front frame cover 141 is coupled to an upper portion of the front frame 140 to cover the front frame 140 and the cabinet 160, thereby forming an external appearance of the air conditioner 100. The front frame cover 141 may be coupled to the front frame 140 by a male and female coupler 141a or a screw 141c but is not limited thereto. An outer appearance 141b of the front frame cover 141 may be shaped like a quadrangle but is not limited thereto.

The case frame 143a forms a basic frame of a front frame 143 and is coupled to a front portion of the cabinet 160. A lateral surface and lower surface of the case frame 143a may be curved so as to accommodate the reinforcing member 143b.

The reinforcing member 143b is inserted into the case frame 143a so as to reinforce the intensity of the case frame 143a. Accordingly, load of the main body M1 and the cabinet 160 may be sufficiently supported by the support B1 that is thinned compared with a prior art, and also a stable structure may be formed with respect to bending, shear, and distortion. The reinforcing member 143b may be formed as an iron bracket but is not limited thereto.

The lateral surface cover 143c and the lower surface cover 143d cover the case frame 143a and the reinforcing member 143b and form external surfaces of the lateral and lower surfaces of the front frame 143.

The reinforcing frame 143e may be formed at a portion corresponding to the middle of the height of the front frame 143 so as to fix the front frame cover 141 or reinforce the front frame 143 with respect to bending and distortion.

The front frame couplers 143f are formed at opposite sides of the upper portion of the front frame 143 so as to fixedly couple the front frame 143 to the cabinet 160.

Referring to FIG. 2A, the rear frame 150 includes a pair of vertical frames 151a and 151b, a horizontal frame 151c, a rear frame cover 151d, a rear frame coupler 151e, and a rear frame pipe hole 151f.

The pair of vertical frames 151a and 151b is fixedly coupled to the rear portion of the cabinet cover 165 by the rear frame coupler 151e and is inclinedly disposed toward the rear surface of the cabinet 160. In addition, the rear frame 150 may not include the horizontal frame 151c for connecting lower ends of the pair of vertical frames 151a and 151b. When the rear frame 150 does not include the horizontal frame 151c, the pair of vertical frames 151a and 151b support the main body M1 and the cabinet 160 with a column form. The rear frame cover 151d forms the rear frame pipe hole 151f through which the pipe 170 passes.

In the air conditioner 100 according to the present invention, the front frame 140 is inclined backward by as much as a preset angle α, and as the front frame 140 is inclined backward, the main body M1 is also inclined backward by as much as an angle at which the front frame 140 is inclined. Accordingly, the air conditioner 100 according to the present invention may discharge cool air upward by as much as an angle β that corresponds to or is the same as the inclination angle α based on an axis that is parallel to the ground so as to send the discharged air farther than a vertically oriented conventional air conditioner, and a discharging direction of air corresponds to an inclination direction of the air conditioner 100, thereby minimizing friction of air.

An angle at which the air conditioner 100 is inclined backward may be equal to or greater than 1 degree or equal to or less than 9 degrees. For example, the inclination angle may be 3 degrees but is not limited thereto.

FIGS. 3A to 3C are diagrams illustrating first to third modification examples of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The first to third modification examples are almost the same as the basic configuration of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 2B except for a portion of the rear frame 150. In the first to third modification examples, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral.

FIG. 3A illustrates the first modification example of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The rear frame 153 includes a pair of vertical frames 153a and 153b. An upper end of each of the pair of vertical frames 153a and 153b may be coupled to the cabinet 160 and inclined toward a rear surface of the cabinet 160 at a preset angle in order to prevent the air conditioner 100 from falling down.

FIG. 3B illustrates the second modification example of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The rear frame 155 according to the second modification example further includes a horizontal frame 155c and connection members 145b and 145e in addition to the components of the first modification example.

A front frame 145 is configured in such a way that a pair of vertical frames 145a and 145d are inclined backward at the same angle as that of the main body M1 based on the ground and an end of each of the vertical frames 145a and 145d is connected to one vertical frame 145c. A rear frame 155 may be inclined toward a rear surface of the cabinet 160 at a predetermined angle and may include a pair of vertical frames 155a and 155b and one horizontal frame 155c for connecting respective lower ends of the vertical frames 155a and 155b.

Respective opposite ends of the horizontal frames 145c and 155c are connected to and reinforced by the pair of connection members 145b and 145e. Accordingly, the support B1 according to the second modification example of the present invention may contact the ground with a wide contact area so as to stably support the air conditioner 100.

FIG. 3C illustrates a third modification example of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The rear frame 157 according to the third modification example may further include cover plates 157b and 157c for hiding the pipe 170. The third modification example may also be applied to the first modification example and the second modification example as well as the rear frame 150 according to the exemplary embodiment.

The rear frame 157 includes a pair of vertical frames 157a, at least one cover plate, i.e., the cover plates 157b and 157c for covering an upper portion and a lower portion of the vertical frames 157a, a pipe cover 157d, and a pipe hole 157e.

The cover plates 157b and 157c covers the whole rear frame 157 to hide pipes such that the pipes are not shown in the front of the air conditioner 100. The pipe hole 157e is formed in any one of the cover plates 157b and 157c so as to externally extend the pipe 170. The pipe 170 may extend from a lower surface of the cabinet 160, and in this case, the pipe cover 157d may also be formed between a lower portion of the cabinet 160 and the rear frame 157 such that the pipe 170 is not shown in front of the air conditioner 100.

FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate fourth and fifth modification examples of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fourth and fifth modification examples are almost the same as the basic configuration of the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 2B except for a portion of the rear frame 150. In the fourth and fifth modification examples, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral.

FIG. 4A illustrates the fourth modification example of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. A support 147 is configured without the rear frame 150 so as to support the air conditioner 100. The support 147 includes a pair of vertical frames 147a, a pair of horizontal frames 147b, and a connection frame 147c.

The pair of vertical frames 147a is coupled to opposite sides of a front portion of the cabinet 160 and configured to incline the main body M1 backward at the same angle as a preset angle. The pair of vertical frames 147a are formed at the front portion of the support B1 and configured by extending downward such that respective lower ends of the pair of vertical frames 147a are connected to the pair of horizontal frames 147b.

The pair of horizontal frames 147b is connected to the lower ends of the pair of vertical frames 147a, respectively and extends backward from the lower end of each of the vertical frames 147a. The pair of horizontal frames 147b extends with a sufficient length so as to stably support the air conditioner 100. A rear end of each of the horizontal frames 147b is connected to the connection frame 147c.

The connection frame 147c is configured in such a way that respective opposite ends of the connection frame 147c are connected to respective ends of the pair of horizontal frames 147b so as to reinforce the intensity of the support 147 and to also stably support the air conditioner 100 with respect to the ground.

FIG. 4B illustrates the fifth modification example of the support B1 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. The fifth modification example further includes a reinforcing member 147e in addition to components of the fourth modification example.

The reinforcing member 147e may extend toward the connection frame 147c according to the fourth modification example from a rear portion of the cabinet 160 and may effectively support load concentrated on the rear portion of the cabinet 160. In addition, an internal portion of the reinforcing member 147e may be formed as a hollow so as to hide the pipe 170.

Hereinafter, an operation of the above configured air conditioner 100 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

In response to power being applied to the air conditioner 100, a controller (not shown) may transmit a control command according to a driving mode selected by a user so as to drive the air conditioner 100.

Along with rotation of the fan 125 formed in a fan unit 124, external air is introduced through a suction port 113 formed in a rear portion of the air conditioner 100. In this case, the external air becomes cool air by adsorbing heat from the external air through the heat exchanger 129, and the cool air is discharged toward the front portion of the air conditioner 100 through the fan 125.

Since the main body M1 is inclined backward by as much as a preset angle, cool air is discharged upward based on an axis in parallel to the ground at an angle corresponding to the above angle or at the same angle as the above angle. Accordingly, cool air is discharged farther than the conventional air conditioner so that the efficiency of the air conditioner 100 is increased.

The heat exchanger 129 generates condensation liquid water during heat absorption, and the condensation liquid water is collected by a drain hose 129 and externally discharged through the pipe 170.

Referring to FIGS. 5A to 13B, components of a second embodiment are almost the same as those of the first embodiment, except that a frame F2 is perpendicularly put to the ground. In addition, the second embodiment may have various configurations of a support B2, and thus a pipe 270 may be configured in various ways. In the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral.

In the second embodiment, the frame F2 is perpendicularly configured to the ground and supports a main body M2 to be inclined. The main body M2 is inclined backward by as much as a preset angle α. Accordingly, like the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment, cool air may be discharged upward by as much as an angle β that corresponds to or is the same as the inclination angle α based on an axis in parallel to the ground so as to send the discharged cool air farther than a vertically put conventional air conditioner. In addition, a discharging direction of air corresponds to an inclination direction of an air conditioner 200, thereby minimizing friction of air.

The angle α at which the air conditioner 200 is inclined backward may be equal to or greater than 1 degree or equal to or less than 9 degrees. For example, the inclination angle may be 3 degrees but is not limited thereto.

With reference to FIGS. 5A to 6B, the air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention will be described.

Referring to FIGS. 5A and 5C, an air conditioner includes the main body M2 and the frame F2.

The main body M2 includes a housing 210, a fan unit 220 including at least one fan formed therein, and a heat exchanger 229 and a suction port 230 that are installed in the housing 210.

The housing 210 includes a front panel 211 including a plurality of openings 211a formed therein so as to expose a discharge port 221a of the fan unit 220 through a front portion of the housing 210, and a rear panel 213 coupled to a rear portion of the front panel 211. The fan unit 220 is disposed between the front panel 211 and the rear panel 213, and the heat exchanger 229 is disposed at a rear portion of the fan unit 220.

The plurality of openings 211a may be formed in a circular form and at least one opening 211a may be disposed in upward and downward directions of the front panel 211.

At least one suction port 230 may be formed in the rear panel 213.

The fan unit 220 includes the discharge port 221a, a driving motor (not shown), a fan 225, and a duct 224.

The discharge port 221a is formed between a disk plate 221b and a grill (not shown), and is formed in the form of a ring so as to externally discharge air passing through the fan 225. In the present invention, although not shown, needless to say, an interval between the disk plate 221b and the grill (not shown) may be adjusted or the number or shape of a wing plate (not shown) of the grill (not shown) may be adjusted so as to adjust the amount of air volume discharged through the discharge port 221a.

The fan 225 sends air introduced into the housing 210 out of the air conditioner 200, is rotatably coupled to the driving motor, and is surrounded by the duct 224.

At least one duct 224 is formed in a circular form so as to surround the fan 225 and forms an air path such that air sucked in by the fan 225 flows toward the discharge port 221a.

The heat exchanger 229 is disposed between the fan unit 220 and the suction port 230 and evaporates (or condenses) refrigerants to absorb heat from air introduced through the suction port 230 or transfers heat to air introduced from the suction port 230. The heat exchanger 229 is fixed to the main body M2 by a fixture (not shown) disposed at one side of upper and lower ends of an internal portion of the housing 210.

A drain hose 261 for draining condensation liquid water generated in the heat exchanger 229 and a refrigerant pipe for connection between the indoor heat exchanger 229 and an outdoor heat exchanger (not shown) are connected to one end of the heat exchanger 229.

The suction port 230 is disposed in a rear portion of the air conditioner 200 so as to guide outdoor air to be introduced into the air conditioner 200. At least one suction port 230 may be formed in a rear portion, a lateral portion, or the like of the rear panel 213.

The frame F2 is disposed below the main body M2 so as to support the main body M2 with respect to the ground and includes a cabinet 260 coupled to the main body M2, a support B2 for supporting the main body M2 and the cabinet 260, and the pipe 270.

The cabinet 260 is disposed below the main body M2 and connected to and supported by the support B2. The cabinet 260 is configured in the form of substantial rectangular parallelepiped in order to couple a front frame 240 and a rear frame 250 to a front portion and a rear portion, respectively and includes the drain hose 261, a refrigerant pipe 263, a cabinet cover 265, a pipe hole 267, a main body coupler 268, and a front frame coupler 269.

The drain hose 261 is used to externally discharge condensation liquid water formed by condensing and dropping moisture in air out of the air conditioner 200 during air cooling in the heat exchanger 229 when the air conditioner 200 performs a cooling operation for cooling air and is connected to the pipe 270 in an internal portion of the cabinet 260.

The refrigerant pipe 263 is used for connection between the indoor heat exchanger 229 and the outdoor heat exchanger (not shown), is accommodated by the pipe 270 together with the drain hose 261, and extends out of the air conditioner 200.

The cabinet cover 265 may cover lateral and rear surfaces of the cabinet 260. In addition, an upper end of the rear frame 250 is fixedly coupled to the rear surface of the cabinet cover 265, and the pipe hole 267 through which the pipe 270 passes is formed in the rear surface of the cabinet cover 265.

The pipe hole 267 may allow the pipe 270 that accommodates the drain hose 261 and the refrigerant pipe 263 to extend out of the air conditioner 200 from the internal portion of the cabinet 260, and may be formed at an arbitrary position of the rear surface of the cabinet cover 265 according to a shape of the rear frame 250.

The main body coupler 268 may be formed at an upper portion of the cabinet 260 so as to fixedly couple the main body M2 and the cabinet 260 and may be coupled to the main body M2 with a screw coupling structure or a male and female coupling structure, but are not limited thereto.

The front frame coupler 269 may fixedly couple a front portion of the cabinet 260 and the front frame 240, and may be coupled to the front frame 240 with a screw coupling structure, but is not limited thereto.

The support B2 includes the front frame 240 coupled to a front portion of the cabinet 260 and the rear frame 250 coupled to a rear portion of the cabinet 260.

The air conditioner 200 according to the present invention is configured in such a way that the support B2 supports the main body M2 with a frame structure. Accordingly, although the same height as a conventional air conditioner is maintained, an open space may be formed in a portion below the air conditioner 200 so as to use a lower space, to easily clean the floor, to achieve an excellent outer appearance, and to also allow an indoor space to look big.

Referring to FIGS. 6A and 6B, the front frame 240 is coupled to the front portion of the cabinet 260 to support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260, and may include a cover 241 and a front frame member 243. The front frame member 243 includes a case frame 243a, a reinforcing member 243b, a lateral surface cover 243c, a lower surface cover 243d, a reinforcing frame 243e, and a front frame coupler 243f.

The cover 241 is coupled to an upper portion of the front frame 240 to cover the front frame 240 and the cabinet 260, thereby forming an external appearance of the air conditioner 200. The cover 241 may be coupled to the front frame member 243 by male and female couplers 241a and screws 241c but is not limited thereto. An outer appearance 241b of the cover 241 may be shaped like a quadrangle but is not limited thereto.

The case frame 243a forms a basic frame of the front frame member 243, and is coupled to a front portion of the cabinet 260. A lateral surface and lower surface of the case frame 243a may be bent so as to accommodate the reinforcing member 243b.

The reinforcing member 243b is inserted into the case frame 243a so as to reinforce the intensity of the case frame 243a. Accordingly, load of the main body M2 and the cabinet 260 may be sufficiently supported by the support B2 that is thinned compared with a prior art, and also a stable structure may be formed with respect to bending, shear, and distortion. The reinforcing member 243b may be formed as an iron bracket but is not limited thereto.

The lateral surface covers 243c and the lower surface cover 243d cover the case frame 243a and the reinforcing member 243b, and form external surfaces of the lateral and lower surfaces of the front frame 250.

The reinforcing frame 243e may be formed at a portion corresponding to the middle of the height of the front frame member 243 so as to fix the cover 241 or reinforce the front frame member 243 with respect to bending and distortion.

The front frame couplers 243f are formed at opposite sides of the upper portion of the front frame member 243 so as to fixedly couple the front frame member 243 to the cabinet 260.

Referring to FIG. 6A, the rear frame 250 includes a pair of vertical frames 251a and 251b, a horizontal frame 251c, a rear frame cover 251d, a rear frame coupler 251e, and a rear frame pipe hole 251f.

The pair of vertical frames 251a and 251b is fixedly coupled to the rear portion of the cabinet cover 265 by the rear frame coupler 251e, and is inclinedly disposed toward the rear surface of the cabinet 260. In addition, the rear frame 250 may not include the horizontal frame 251c for connecting lower ends of the pair of vertical frames 251a and 251b. When the rear frame 250 does not include the horizontal frame 251c, the pair of vertical frames 251a and 251b support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260 with a column form. The rear frame cover 251d forms the rear frame pipe hole 251f through which a pipe 271 passes.

FIGS. 7A to 7C are diagrams illustrating first to third modification examples of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The first to third modification examples are almost the same as the basic configuration of the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 6B except for a portion of the rear frame 250. In the first to third modification examples, the same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral.

FIG. 7A illustrates the first modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The rear frame 250 includes a pair of vertical frames 253a and 253b. An upper end of each of the pair of vertical frames 253a and 253b may be coupled to the cabinet 260 and inclined toward a rear surface of the cabinet 260 at a preset angle in order to prevent the air conditioner 200 from falling down.

FIG. 7B illustrates the second modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The rear frame 250 according to the second embodiment of the present invention further includes a horizontal frame 255c and connection members 245b and 245e in addition to the components of the second modification example.

A front frame 245 is configured in such a way that a pair of vertical frames 245a and 245d are inclined backward at the same angle as that of the main body M2 based on the ground and respective opposite ends of the vertical frames 245a and 245d are connected to one horizontal frame 245c. A rear frame 255 may be inclined toward a rear surface of the cabinet 260 at a predetermined angle, and may include a pair of vertical frames 255a and 255b and one horizontal frame 255c for connecting both lower ends of the vertical frames 255a and 255b.

Respective opposite ends of the horizontal frames 245c and 255c are connected to and reinforced by the pair of connection members 245b and 245e. Accordingly, the support B2 according to the second modification example of the present invention may contact the ground with a wide contact area so as to stably support the air conditioner 200.

FIG. 7C illustrates a third modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The rear frame 250 according to the third modification example may further include cover plates 257b and 257c for hiding the pipe 270. The third modification example may also be applied to the first modification example and the second modification example as well as the structure of the rear frame 250 according to the exemplary embodiment.

A rear frame 257 includes a pair of vertical frames 257a, at least one cover plate, i.e., the cover plates 257b and 257c for covering an upper portion or a lower portion of the vertical frames 257a, a pipe cover 257d, and a pipe hole 257e.

The cover plates 257b and 257c covers the whole rear frame 257 to hide pipes such that the pipes are not shown in front of the air conditioner 200. The pipe hole 257e is formed in any one of the cover plates 257b and 257c so as to externally extend pipes of the pipe 270. The pipe 270 may extend from a lower surface of the cabinet 260, and in this case, the pipe cover 257d may also be formed between a lower portion of the cabinet 260 and the rear frame 257 so that the pipe 270 is not shown in front of the air conditioner 200.

FIGS. 8A and 8C illustrate fourth and fifth modification examples of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The fourth and fifth modification examples are almost the same as the basic configuration of the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 6B except for a portion of the rear frame 250. In the fourth and fifth modification examples, the same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral.

FIG. 8A illustrates the fourth modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. A support 247 is configured without the rear frame 250 so as to support the air conditioner 200. The support 247 includes a pair of vertical frames 247a, a pair of horizontal frames 247b, and a connection frame 247c.

The pair of vertical frames 247a is coupled to opposite sides of a front portion of the cabinet 260 and configured to be perpendicular to the ground. The pair of vertical frames 247a is formed at the front portion of the support 247 and configured to extend downward. The lower ends of the pair of vertical frames 247a are connected to the pair of horizontal frames 247b.

The pair of horizontal frames 247b is connected to lower ends of the pair of vertical frames 247a, respectively and extend backward from the lower end of each of the vertical frames 247a. The pair of horizontal frames 247b extends with a sufficient length so as to stably support the air conditioner 200. A rear end of each of the horizontal frames 247b is connected to the connection frame 247c.

The connection frame 247c is configured in such a way that respective opposite ends of the connection frame 247c are connected to respective ends of the pair of horizontal frames 247b so as to reinforce the intensity of the support 247 and to also stably support the air conditioner 200 with respect to the ground.

FIG. 8B illustrates an exploded perspective view of the support 247. The support 247 further include covers 247a′, 247b′, and 247c′ and a reinforcing member 247d in addition to components of the fourth modification example of the present invention.

The covers 247a′, 247b′, and 247c′ cover the pair of vertical frames 247a, a pair of horizontal frames 247b, and the connection frame 247c to form an outer appearance of the support 247. The reinforcing member 247d is accommodated in a curved portion of each frame to reinforce the support 247. Accordingly, the support 247 may stably support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260 with respect to the ground. The reinforcing member 247d may be formed as an iron bracket but is not limited thereto.

FIG. 8C is a diagram illustrating a fifth modification example of the support B2 of the second embodiment of the present invention. The fifth modification example of the present invention further includes a reinforcing member 247e in addition to the fourth modification example of the present invention.

The reinforcing member 247e may extend toward the connection frame 247c according to the fourth modification example from a rear portion of the cabinet 260 and may effectively support load concentrated on the rear portion of the cabinet 260. In addition, an internal portion of the reinforcing member 247e may be formed as a hollow so as to hide the pipe 270.

FIGS. 9A and 11B are diagrams illustrating sixth to ninth modification examples of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The sixth to ninth modification examples are almost the same as the basic configuration of the second embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 5A to 6B except for a portion of the support B2. In the sixth to ninth embodiments, the same components as those of the second embodiment are denoted by the same reference numeral.

FIG. 9A illustrates the sixth modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The sixth modification example of the present invention is configured in such a way that the support B2 is not configured with the front frame 240 or the rear frame 250 and includes a pair of lateral surface frames 249.

The pair of lateral surface frames 249 may be coupled to respective opposite sides of the cabinet 260 and extend downward, and each lateral surface frame 249 may have an outer appearance with a triangular shape, and an internal portion of which is a hollow. In this case, the pair of lateral surface frames 249 may include two inclination frames 249a and 249b. Lower ends of the two inclination frames 249a and 249b are connected by a shoe 249c so as to support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260 with respect to the ground.

FIG. 9B illustrates a seventh modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. Components of the seventh modification example are almost the same as those of the sixth embodiment except for a coupling position and portion of a support 248.

The support 248 may be coupled to a lower surface of the cabinet 260 but is not limited thereto. Needless to say, the support 248 may be coupled to opposite sides of the cabinet 260.

The support 248 includes an accommodation 248d coupled to the lower surface of the cabinet 260, a pair of lateral frames 248a coupled to opposite sides of the accommodation 248d to extend downward, shoes 248b for supporting lower surfaces of the lateral frames 248a, and a connection frame 248c for connection between the shoes 248b.

FIG. 10 illustrates an eighth modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The eighth modification example is configured by four vertical frames 244a, 244b, 254a, and 254b.

The four vertical frames 244a, 244b, 254a, and 254b are coupled to four respective corners of the cabinet 260 and extend downward so as to support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260. The four vertical frames 244a, 244b, 254a, and 254b may contact the ground with predetermined inclination in order to stably support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260.

FIG. 11A illustrates a ninth modification example of the support B2 according to the second embodiment of the present invention. The ninth modification example is configured with a column shape.

A support 290 includes an accommodation 291, a column shape 293, and a shoe 295.

The accommodation 291 is coupled to a lower surface of the cabinet 260, and the column shape 293 extends below the accommodation 291. The column shape 293 is shaped like a column with a cross section that is gradually narrowed and then increased downward but is not limited thereto. A lower end of the column shape 293 is coupled to the shoe 295 with a circular plate shape so as to stably support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260 with respect to the ground.

FIG. 11B is the same as the ninth modification example except for a shape of a shoe 297. The shoe 297 has a square plate shape in order to more stably support the main body M2 and the cabinet 260.

FIG. 12A illustrates a structure of the pipe 270 of FIG. 7C. In the second embodiment (FIG. 5A), the first modification example (FIG. 7A), and the second modification example (FIG. 7B) of the present invention, the rear frame 250 may be configured like in FIG. 12A.

The pipe 271 may accommodate the refrigerant pipe 263 and the drain hose 261 for draining condensation liquid water generated in the heat exchanger 229, and may be formed through the cabinet 260 so as to externally extend through a pipe hole 253e of a rear frame 253. Accordingly, the pipe 271 is not shown in front of the air conditioner 200 and thus indoor design as well as an outer appearance of the air conditioner 200 is not adversely affected.

Needless to say, in the second embodiment (FIG. 5A), the first modification example (FIG. 7A), and the second modification example (FIG. 7B) of the present invention, the above hiding structure is used, and also the pipe 271 may be inserted into any one of internal spaces of a vertical frame of the rear frame 250 or the pipe 271 may be attached to a rear surface of the vertical frame so as to be hidden. The inserted or attached pipe 271 may externally extend from a lower end of the vertical frame.

FIG. 12B illustrates the pipe 271 that is formed in the support 247 of FIG. 8A.

The pipe 271 may extend along an internal portion of any one of two vertical frames 247a at one side of a rear portion of the cabinet 260 and then may externally extend from one end of the connection frame 247c.

FIG. 12C illustrates the pipe 271 that is formed in the support 247 of FIG. 8C.

The pipe 271 may extend downward along an internal portion of the reinforcing member 247e at a rear portion of the cabinet 260 and then may externally extend from one end of the connection frame 247c.

Although not shown, in FIGS. 9A to 10, the pipe 271 may extend along an internal portion of any one of frames. In addition, needless to say, the pipe 271 may extend along an internal portion of the column shape 293 of FIGS. 11A and 11B.

FIGS. 13A and 13B illustrate structures configured in such a way that the pipe 270 extends directly from a rear surface of the cabinet 260 to a wall surface 280 adjacent to the rear surface of the cabinet 260 without passing through the support B2, and extends through the wall surface 280.

As shown in FIG. 13A, a pipe 273a may be configured to extend directly from an upper portion of the cabinet 260 or the main body M2 so as to be hidden in front of the air conditioner 200. As shown in FIG. 13B, although the pipe 273a is exposed in front of the air conditioner 200, the pipe 273a is covered by a flexible tube 273b so as to prevent indoor design from being adversely affected.

Hereinafter, an operation of the above air conditioner 200 according to the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the attached diagrams. An operation of the air conditioner 200 according to the second embodiment of the present invention is the same as the operation of the air conditioner 100 according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In the second embodiment, the same components as those of the first embodiment are denoted by the corresponding reference numerals.

In response to power being applied to the air conditioner 200, a controller (not shown) may transmit a control command according to a driving mode selected by a user so as to drive the air conditioner 200.

Along with rotation of the fan 225 formed in a fan unit 224, external air is introduced through a suction port 213 formed in a rear portion of the air conditioner 200. In this case, the external air becomes cool air by absorbing heat from the external air through the heat exchanger 229, and the cool air is discharged toward the front portion of the air conditioner 200 through the fan 225.

Since the main body M2 is inclined backward by as much as a preset angle, cool air is discharged upward based on an axis in parallel to the ground at an angle that corresponds to or is the same as the above angle. According to properties whereby cool air moves relatively downward in a space, when cool air is discharged upward at a predetermined angle, cool air may be discharged farther than the conventional air conditioner.

The heat exchanger 229 generates condensation liquid water during heat absorption, and the condensation liquid water is collected by the drain hose 229 and externally discharged through the pipe 270.

The foregoing exemplary embodiments and advantages are merely exemplary and are not to be construed as limiting the present invention. Also, the description of the exemplary embodiments of the present invention is intended to be illustrative, and not to limit the scope of the claims, and many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

AIR CONDITIONER

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CPC

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Priority Claims (1)