TECHNICAL FIELD
The funnel system pertains to air conditioning so that one can redirect cool air to a different room than where the a/c unit is window mounted. This facilates conmform given that temperatures are rising due to inclimate weather.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is customary to have a central a/c unit in many houses or big buildings. Usually, ducts are branched out from the central a/c unit and directed to separate rooms or separate sections of a room. In many apartments or lofts, a window a/c unit is utilized but sometimes that cool air doesn't not reach other sections of a room or a room where people for instance sleep or gather as the cool air is much stronger near the a/c unit, which is closest to the window.
Normally, people usually purchase a portable a/c unit but the hassle of draining collected dew or moisture is greater as compared to a window-mounted unit where the dew is automatically drained from the back of the a/c unit to outside the building.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is a funnel system that is mountable to a window mounted, a/c unit. The system allows for cool air to be redirected to another room than where the window a/c unit is located. The funnel system is adjustable to compensate for different sized a/c units. The funnel system incorporates border seals to reduce air leakage once the funnel system is against the a/c unit. The funnel system slides on support rails that are bonded to the face of a/c unit, which acts a primary connection. To substantiate the primary connection, a set of J-threaded fasteners retain the funnel system against a grill on the a/c unit.
A key element is that one can use the funnel system to redirect some of the cold air to a specific room, while providing comfort while people sleep or gather in a different room than where the a/c unit is located, normally farther away from the room wanted to be cooled.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a scenario application of the present invention.
FIG. 2 is a front view of the funnel system mounted to an a/c unit.
FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the present invention.
FIG. 4 shows cross-sectional view 4-4 as shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 shows cross-sectional view 5-5 shown in FIG. 3.
FIG. 6 is a side view of the funnel system shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 shows detail view 7-7 in FIG. 6.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
FIG. 1 shows air-conditioned system 1. A building 1a includes at least one room 1c. An a/c window unit 2 is, as customary, mounted to a window opening 1b to cool the room in which the a/c unit is located. For simplicity, windows in the window opening 1b are not shown. A funnel system 20 is incorporated to the a/c unit to redirect cold air from the a/c unit to the one room 1c through a conduit 6 snaked through a door opening 1d into the one room 1c. The conduit 6 is held in place using two straps 6a, 6b. Of course while only two are shown, more than two straps can be use to suspend the conduit 6. For purposes of simplicity, the conduit has been drawn as a simple pipe but the intent of the invention is to use a collapsible and expandable conduit used in ordinary dryers. The conduit can be from any diameter, preferably 3 to 4 inches.
FIG. 2 shows a front view of the funnel system 20 mounted to the a/c unit 2. The conduit 6 is clamped down using an ordinary clamp 17. As shown in FIG. 3, the funnel system 20 is shown in an exploded view. The funnel system 20 comprises an outer compartment 22 and an inner compartment 24, which telescope relative to each other. The two compartments 22 and 24 form a funnel that is adjustable to fit different sized a/c units. These compartments 22 and 24 ride on channel rails 10 that are adhesively bonded to a front face 2b of the a/c unit 2 using double sticky tape 8.
As shown in FIG. 4, it shows the relative components to allow for telescoping and riding on the channel rails 10. The outer compartment 22 comprises a back wall 22a and two parallel walls 22b, 22c that extend from the back wall 22a. The two parallel walls 22b, 22c each include a riding tab 22e that is extending at 90 degrees relative to the parallel walls 22b, 22c and extending in opposite directions relative to each riding tab 22e. The outer compartment 22 terminates with an end wall 22d that extends between the two parallel walls 22b, 22c and the back wall 22a. The end wall 22d includes an opening 22f to redirect cold air into the conduit 6 that is affixed to the end wall 22d via a pipe connector 16 and the ordinary clamp 17 as shown in FIG. 2. The inner compartment 24 comprises a back wall 24a and two parallel walls 24b, 24c that also extend from the back wall 24a. The two parallel walls 24b, 24c also each include a riding tab 24e extending at 90 degrees relative to the parallel walls 24b, 24c, extending towards each riding tab 24e, and extending opposite to the riding tabs 22e of the outer compartment 22. The inner compartment 24 also terminates with an end wall 24d that extends between the two parallel walls 24b, 24c and the back wall 24a. When the two compartments 22, 24 are fitted telescopingly to each other will form an adjustable funnel.
Engagement of the riding tabs 22e, 24e of both compartments 22, 24 will be described. As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the channel rails 10 each comprise a base wall 10a. Opposite sides of the base wall 10a include bridge walls 10b extending perpendicular to the base wall 10a. At the end of the bridge walls 10b perpendicularly extends retaining tabs 10b that face each other and are parallel to the base walls. The base wall 10a in conjunction with both the bridge wall 10b and retaining tabs 10b form pockets 10c for the riding tabs 22e, 24e to fit and slide therein, best shown in FIG. 7.
As best shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the funnel system 20 is best applied to an a/c unit 2 in a location where the a/c unit 2 normally has a rotatable and adjustable grill 2a. One of the rails 10 is adhesively bonded adjacent to an upper location of the grill 2a on the front face 2b. Another rail 10 is also adhesively bonded adjacent to a lower location of the grill 2a on the front face 2b. The double sticky tape 8 is affixed to the base wall 10a of the rail 10 and to the front face 2b of the a/c unit 2. The double sticky tape 8 serves as the primary connection.
FIGS. 3-5 shows a secondary connection to optionally substantiate the primary connection. The secondary connection comprises a set of J-threaded hooks 7 that pass through holes 12 in both the outer compartment 22 and the inner compartment 24 and are fastened with wing nuts 14 and a soft washer 12. The J-threaded hooks 7 engage portions of the grill 2a as best shown in FIG. 5. It is envisioned that the washer 12 is made from an elastomeric material or spongy material.
It is envisioned that while the conduit 6 could be a flexible vent duct, the conduit 6 can be non-flexible and placed permanent. The funnel system 20 is removable from the a/c unit 2 and can be stored for the winter months. It is envisioned that the invention can be sold as a kit to include the conduit 6 or bought separately from a hardware store. The conduit 6 is slipped over a pipe connector 16, which comprises a base 16a and a cylindrical wall 16b extending from the base 16a and the clamped down with an ordinary clamp 17. The pipe connector 16 is affixed to the outer compartment using fasteners 18. It is envisioned that the pipe connector 16 can be homogenously integrated to the outer compartment 22 by merely projecting the cylindrical wall 16b from the end wall 22d instead of being a separate piece affixed with the fasteners 18. It is envisioned that the compartments 22, 24, the pipe connector 16, and the rails 10 can be formed from metal or plastic. The straps 6a, 6b can be made from plastic or metal as well.
Patent Application
20200064013
