Patent Application
20250146685
The present invention relates generally to protective enclosures, and more particularly to an enclosure for protecting air conditioning units.
The statements in this section merely provide background information related to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.
A central air conditioning unit functions by removing heat and humidity from indoor air, thus making it cooler and more comfortable for building occupants. These systems include an air handling unit that is positioned inside the building, and an air condenser unit that is positioned outside the building. Both units are connected by pipes having a refrigerant inside to form a closed system. The air condenser unit is essentially a heat exchanger that uses a fan to blow air over a series of coils containing the refrigerant to dissipate heat into the outdoor environment. As such, it is important that the unit is able to receive fresh air when operating.
Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for individuals to place objects next to or against the condenser units. When this happens, the objects block the flow of air, and thus greatly reduce the efficiency of the unit. Additionally, condenser units must be electrically insulated as they are extremely susceptible to damage from power surges and lightning strikes. Finally, it is well known that the efficiency of the air condenser unit is directly related to the outside air temperature. In this regard, condenser units operating in hot climates are less efficient compared to identical condenser units operating in cold climates. This is because the higher temperature of the outside air circulating over the coils removes far less heat from the refrigerant as cold air does.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide a protective enclosure for air conditioning systems that can alleviate the drawbacks described above.
The present invention is directed to an air condenser enclosure device. One embodiment of the present invention can include a main body having a plurality of walls and a roof that defines an interior space for encompassing an air condenser unit. The main body can be constructed to include louvers along each of the roof and walls to permit airflow to the condenser unit while providing shade and preventing direct contact with sunlight.
A plurality of vertical posts are provided along each wall of the main body. Each of the posts can be connected to a post anchor that is configured to secure the main body onto the ground about the air condenser unit. In one embodiment, two vertical posts on the front wall are hingedly connected to two post anchors to permit the main body to rotate 90 degrees so as to transition between a closed upright position and an open position. In one embodiment, two vertical posts on the back wall are connected to post anchors via latches to permit the device to be locked in the closed upright position.
One embodiment of the device can include a lightning rod and ground cable that diverts lightning to the ground. The ground cable can be routed along one of the hinged posts to maintain ground when the device is in each of the closed position and the open position. One embodiment of the device can include a mesh screen that prevents debris and animals from passing through the louvers to contact the air condenser unit.
This summary is provided merely to introduce certain concepts and not to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter.
Presently preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings. It should be appreciated, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the description in conjunction with the drawings. As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the inventive arrangements in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.
As described herein, a “unit” means a series of identified physical components which are linked together and/or function together to perform a specified function.
As described throughout this document, the term “about” “approximately” “substantially” and “generally” shall be used interchangeably to describe a feature, shape, or measurement of a component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.
As described herein, the term “removably secured,” and derivatives thereof shall be used to describe a situation wherein two or more objects are joined together in a non-permanent manner so as to allow the same objects to be repeatedly joined and separated.
As described throughout this document, the term “complementary shape,” and “complementary dimension,” shall be used to describe a shape and size of a component that is identical to, or substantially identical to the shape and size of another identified component within a tolerance such as, for example, manufacturing tolerances, measurement tolerances or the like.
As described herein, the term “connector” includes any number of different elements that work alone or together to repeatedly join two items together in a nonpermanent manner. Several nonlimiting examples of connectors include, but are not limited to, latches such as catch latches, toggle latches, draw latches and the like, thread-to-connect, twist-to-connect, and push-to-connect type devices, attractively oriented magnetic elements or magnetic and metallic elements, buckles such as side release buckles, clamps, sockets, clips, and compression fittings for example. Each illustrated connector and complementary connector can be permanently secured to the illustrated portion of the device via a permanent sealer such as glue, adhesive tape, or stitching, for example.
As shown and described below, the device 10 can function to enclose and protect any type of outdoor equipment while providing complete and unobstructed airflow to the unit, along with electrical isolation, and providing a convenient means for accessing the equipment. Although shown and described for use with an air condensing unit of a central air conditioning system, this is for illustrative purposes only, as the inventive device may be utilized to protect any type of equipment in an outdoor environment.
As shown in the drawings, the device 10 can include a main body 11 having a front wall 11a, a back wall 11b, a pair of side walls 11c and 11d, and a roof 12 that defines a hollow interior space. In the preferred embodiment, a plurality of vertical posts 13, 14, 15 and 16 can be provided to secure the walls in a generally square shape, and the roof can include a front section 12a, back section 12b, and side sections 12c and 12d that form a generally A-shaped member.
Although illustrated and described with regard to a particular shape, the main body may be constructed to include any number of different shapes and sizes. In this regard, the main body will be sized to encompass any number of commercially available air conditioning units and/or may be shaped and sized so as to accommodate multiple AC units as is common with larger homes.
In the preferred embodiment, the roof and each of the walls can be formed by a plurality of individual horizontal slats that are suspended by the posts. Each of the slats can ideally be provided at an angle and can be separated by openings O to form louvers that allow air and light to reach the interior space while preventing rain and direct sunlight from reaching the same. Of course, other construction techniques are contemplated wherein each of the walls are solid members and include a plurality of elongated openings extending through the material.
In either instance, the main body 11 may be formed from materials that are, for example, relatively strong and stiff for their weight. Several nonlimiting examples include, but are not limited to various metals or metal alloys (e.g., aluminum, steel, titanium, or alloys thereof), plastic/polymers (e.g., high-density polyethylene (HDPE), rigid polyvinyl chloride (PVC), malleable polyethylene terephthalate (PET)), and/or various composite materials (e.g., carbon fibers in a polymer matrix, fiberglass, etc.).
In one embodiment, a plurality of post anchors 21, 22, 23 and 24 are provided. As shown, each of the anchors can include elongated members having a tapered first end 21a-24a, respectively, for penetrating the ground. Once positioned, each of the post anchors may also be permanently secured into the ground with cement to prevent removal.
In one embodiment, two post anchors 21 and 22 can be positioned beneath the bottom ends of the vertical posts 13 and 14, respectively, located along the front wall 11a of the main body. The post anchors can each be connected via a hinge 25 so as to allow the main body to rotate (see arrow a) 90 degrees to selectively cover an AC unit 1 as shown at
Post anchors 23 and 24 can be connected to the bottom ends of the vertical posts 15 and 16, respectively, located along the back wall 11b of the main body. The post anchors can each be connected via latches 26 or other type of connector so as to allow the posts to be removably secured to the respective anchors. In this regard, when the main body is in the closed and upright position shown at
In one embodiment, the latches can include or receive a physical locking mechanism 27 to allow a user to secure the main body in the closed position and prevent movement of the device. Such a feature advantageously protects the AC unit from unauthorized access, vandalism, or theft.
In one embodiment, a lightning rod 30 can be positioned along the main body so as to extend upward from the roof 12. As is known, the lightning rod can be constructed from an electrically conductive material such as copper, aluminum, brass, or galvanized iron, for example, and can be connected to a grounding cable. In one embodiment, the grounding cable 31 can be routed along either of the front wall posts 13 or 14, and the respective anchor 21/22, so that the end of the cable remains underground and maintains an electrical ground when the housing is in both the open and closed positions.
Although not specifically illustrated, the device 10 can also include a surge protector that is positioned between the electrical supply panel and the AC unit 1. The surge protector can include, comprise, or consist of any type of transient voltage surge protection device that functions to divert excess voltage to the ground. In some embodiments, the surge protector can be mated to the cable 31 of the lightning rod; however other embodiments are contemplated wherein a separate grounding component is provided.
In operation, the device 10 is positioned so as to completely encompass an air conditioning unit 1. When the housing is in the closed and upright position, the roof, walls and louvers allow complete and uninhibited airflow to the AC unit while protecting the unit from impacts with foreign objects, adverse weather conditions (e.g., rain, snow, dust) and exposure to direct sunlight. Likewise, the screen protects the unit from debris and animal infestations, and the lightning system prevents electrical damage. As such, the inventive device provides continuous shade and protection to the unit, thus lowering the operating temperature of the AC system and increasing the efficiency of the same while reducing electrical expenses.
In instances where a user needs to access the unit directly, the housing 11 can be rotated to allow unfettered access to the unit along all sides.
As to a further description of the manner and use of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided.
As described herein, one or more elements of the device 10 can be secured together utilizing any number of known attachment means such as, for example, screws, glue, compression fittings and welds, among others. Moreover, although the above embodiments have been described as including separate individual elements, the inventive concepts disclosed herein are not so limiting. To this end, one of skill in the art will recognize that one or more individually identified elements may be formed together as one or more continuous elements, either through manufacturing processes, such as welding, casting, or molding, or through the use of a singular piece of material milled or machined with the aforementioned components forming identifiable sections thereof.
The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises” and/or “comprising,” when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. Likewise, the term “consisting” shall be used to describe only those components identified. In each instance where a device comprises certain elements, it will inherently consist of each of those identified elements as well.
The corresponding structures, materials, acts, and equivalents of all means or step plus function elements in the claims below are intended to include any structure, material, or act for performing the function in combination with other claimed elements as specifically claimed. The description of the present invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description but is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the invention in the form disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The embodiment was chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the invention and the practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the invention for various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Application Ser. No. 63/596,884 filed on Nov. 7, 2023, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63596884 | Nov 2023 | US |
