AU2015101818A4

AU2015101818A4 - Filter frame for air conditioners

Info

Publication number: AU2015101818A4
Application number: AU2015101818A
Authority: AU
Inventors: Ross Seminara
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2015-12-18
Filing date: 2015-12-18
Publication date: 2016-02-11
Anticipated expiration: 2023-12-18

Abstract

Abstract A rectangular air filter frame for air conditioners where said frame includes components to form the frame, said components including four frame length pieces and four corner pieces having corresponding interconnecting tabs, so that the length pieces and corner pieces can be connected to form a rectangular frame, where said connected pieces form a filter track along the internal perimeter of the frame for securing an air filter within the frame, and a flange is formed along the external perimeter of the frame, where said flange is of a thickness to be able to interlock with cavities of an existing air conditioner grille, characterised in that said flange includes a means to extend the width of the flange thereby increasing the overall dimensions of the frame. p. Sr

Description

1 AIR FILTER FRAME FOR AIR CONDITIONERS DRAFT TECHNICAL FIELD. The invention relates to an air filter frame for air conditioners that can fit in a variety of return air conditioner grilles, providing an inexpensive, quick and effective means for replacing the air filters on air conditioners when required. BACKGROUND ART The following descriptions are provided to assist the reader to understand the relevance of the invention. However the background art is not intended and do not of themselves provide any admission by the applicant that they are published as may be required for an assessment of novelty or obviousness or are common general knowledge according to the laws of and in any particular country in the world. Reverse cycle air conditioners in both residential and commercial settings have an air filter for filtering air before it enters the air conditioning unit. The filter is usually located within an air return box having a grille. Quite often the filter is located directly behind the grille. The filter must cover the entirety of the grille so that all the air that passes through the grille, only passes through the filter. Usually the grille is of a rectangular shape with peripheral grooves on three sides to form a filter track where a filter may slide into, the edges of the filter being secured by the filter track of the grille. In domestic situations at least, these filter tracks are normally about 9-10mm thick and the filter that slides in is normally of the same thickness. Unfortunately the size of the air filters vary between brands and models of air conditioners.

2 The inventor wanted a high quality, cost effective, disposal air filter for air conditioners that could be simply installed using the same securing filter tracks found in grilles for existing air filters for a myriad of air conditioners. However the problems the inventor found were, that the most cost efficient filter elements that were desirable to use were much thicker than the existing 9-10mm thick air filter elements currently being used, and that the dimensions of grilles and thus the dimensions of the air filter frames, were quite variable. The inventor therefore wanted an air filter frame assembly for air conditioners that at least met the following criteria; 1) Was inexpensive, so could be disposable but strong enough to not flex buckle or warp during normal use, as known disposable card board framed filters had been known to do. 2) Where the frame consisted of several components that could be assembled easily without the need for complex tools or machinery. 3) Where the frame could hold an air filter of thickness of at least 20-25mm yet still be held within the existing 9-10mm filter tracks of current grilles. 4) Where the dimensions of the frame could be quickly varied on site if needed, to match the various dimensions of existing grilles. To overcome these problems the inventor ingenuously created an air filter frame for air conditioners as described below. SUMMARY OF INVENTION In one form of this invention although this need not be the only or indeed the broadest of this, there is a rectangular air filter frame for air conditioners where said frame includes components to form the frame, said components including four frame length pieces and four corner pieces having corresponding interconnecting tabs, so that the length pieces and corner pieces can be connected to form a rectangular frame, where said connected pieces form a filter track along the internal perimeter of the frame for securing an air 3 filter within the frame, and a flange is formed along the external perimeter of the frame, where said flange is of a thickness to be able to interlock with cavities of an existing air conditioner grille, characterised in that said flange includes a means to extend the width of the flange thereby increasing the overall dimensions of the frame. It is to be understood that in this specification that a rectangle may also include a square. In a preferred embodiment, the means for extending the length of the flange, includes an insert that is attachable to the flange. Preferably the insert is attachable to the flange by means of a dovetail located along the length of the insert and corresponding groove located along the length of the flange located on the length pieces and corner pieces. Optionally, the insert may further include a corresponding dovetail groove for attachment of at least one additional insert. The inserts may have a width of 5 or 10 mm. The components of the air filter frame may be made of any suitable material. Preferably the material is a polymer, more preferably the polymer is a recyclable PVC. The filter track may have a width to contain a suitable filter element. One suitable filter element that has been used is a filter with a filter medium that is 100% Polyester with a 3mm thickness consistency. The filter medium has an EN779:2012 classification of G4 with an initial pressure drop of 22pa. Preferably the filter track has a width of at least 20mm, more preferably at least 25mm. A filter track of a 25mm width allows for a V pleated filter element which can increase the surface area of the filter up to 2.5 times. The greater the filter surface area, the greater the particulate catching area. The edges of the filter element can be hot glued to the filter track to form a seal preventing the flow of air from bypassing the filter.

4 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION For a better understanding of the invention, further description will now be given, with reference to drawings in which: Figure 1 illustrates an exploded perspective view of the air filter frame showing how the various components interconnect to form the frame. Figure 2 illustrates a detailed view of the frame length piece. To form a rectangle there will be two different lengths for the four pieces. Figure 3 illustrates a detailed view of the corner piece. Figures 4A and 4B illustrate detailed views of the inserts Figure 1 shows the air filter frame having four corner pieces (1), two frame length pieces of a short length (6), two frame length pieces of a long length (5), one insert of a short width (7) and one insert of a long width (8). Figure 2 shows the frame length piece (6) having a flange (10) and dovetail groove (2) Figure 3 shows the corner piece (1) having the dovetail groove (2), flange (10) tapered interlocking nub (3) and wedging tabs (4) 5 Figure 4A shows the insert (7) and figure 4B shows the insert (8) where the insert (7) has a smaller width than insert (8) where both inserts have a dovetail (9) and dovetail grooves (2). In operation the air filter frame would be assembled substantially as shown in figure 1. The corner pieces (1) would be attached the the frame length pieces (5, 6) using the tapered nubs (3) and wedge tabs 4 as shown in figure 3, being inserted into corresponding hollow spaces at the ends of the frame length pieces. A filter element (not shown) would be fitted within the filter track and glued to the frame to create a seal on either side of the air filter frame. The flange (10) of the air filter frame can then be inserted into the filter track of an existing air conditioner grille. If the dimensions of the air conditioner grille is greater than that of the air filter frame, the inserts can be attached to the flanges by means of the dovetails and dovetail grooves, effectively increasing the widths of the flange, until the dimensions of the air filter frame match the dimensions of the filter tracks of the grille. The inserts can be measured and easily cut on site, to form a flange of suitable dimensions. It is important that the dimensions of the air filter frame match the dimensions of the filter track of the grille, so that there are no gaps where the air flow could bypass flowing through the filter. The flange is designed to fit into 90% of egg crate grilles.

Claims

1. A rectangular air filter frame for air conditioners, where said frame includes components to form the frame, said components including four frame length pieces and four corner pieces having corresponding interconnecting tabs, so that the length pieces and corner pieces can be connected to form a rectangular frame, where said connected pieces form a filter track along the internal perimeter of the frame for securing an air filter within the frame, and a flange is formed along the external perimeter of the frame, where said flange is of a thickness to be able to interlock with cavities of an existing air conditioner grille, characterised in that said flange includes a means to extend the width of the flange thereby increasing the overall dimensions of the frame.

2. The air filter frame of claim 1, where the means for extending the length of the flange, includes an insert that is attachable to the flange.

3. The air filter frame of claim 2, where the insert is attachable to the flange by means of a dovetail located along the length of the insert and corresponding groove located along the length of the flange located on the length pieces and corner pieces.

4. The air filter frame of claim 3, where the insert may further include a corresponding dovetail groove for attachment of at least one additional insert.

5. The air filter frame of claim 1, where the filter track was a width of at least 20mm, more preferably 25mm.

6. An air filter frame for air conditioners, substantially as shown in figure 1. 2

7. An air filter frame for air conditioners substantially as shown in figure 1, having the interlocking tabs and nubs as shown in figures 2 and 3.