US3006498A

US3006498A - Air-conditioner cover

Info

Publication number: US3006498A
Application number: US787008A
Authority: US
Inventors: Albert B Thiede; David C Gafvert
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1959-01-15
Filing date: 1959-01-15
Publication date: 1961-10-31
Anticipated expiration: 1978-10-31

Description

Oct. 31, 1961 A. B. THIEDE ETAL AIR-CONDITIONER COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 15, 1959 INVENTORS. Alfi'kr 3. 719/595 BYMMM W Oct. 31, 1961 A. B. THIEDE ETAL AIR-CONDITIONER COVER Filed Jan. 15, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS. 4135:?7 51 7/9/504 DAV/0 C. GAFVFfI' WMJM U ified Sm P t t Filed Jan. 15, 1959 Ser. No. 787,008 3 Claims. (Cl. 22036) The present invention relates to a cover for an air conditioner and is concerned primarily with a cover designed to afford adequate protection for the air conditioner during periods of nonuse, but which may be readily operated or shifted into an open position during those periods when the air conditioner is in use.

At the present time, the conventional air-conditioner unit that is installed in a window or similar opening has a large extent which projects exteriorly of the building. This outwardly extending portion includes an end wall and side walls that are ordinarily formed with louvers or vents through which air is admitted into the air conditiOneI.

An air conditioner is, of course, used only during the warmer seasons; yet, as a practical matter they remain in stalled the entire year around. Thus during the periods of nonuse there is no protection for the outwardly projecting portion, and there is danger of dirt, rain, sleet, or other foreign matter entering into the air ports.

With the foregoing conditions in mind, the present invention has in view as its foremost objective the provision of a cover for an air conditioner which consists essentially of a skeleton framework designed to be fitted over the projecting part of the conditioner and which framework has a top wall, an open bottom, an open outer-"end wall, and open sides. Means for anchoring the cover in position preferably takes the form of an upwardly extending flange mounted on the inner edge of the top wall which engages the window sash, which has been partially opened to accommodate the air condit'ioner'.

An important object of the invention is to provide an air-conditioner cover of the character aforesaid with movable protective panels for the outer-end wall and side walls, together with operating mechanism accessible from the interior which may be operated to move the panels into or out of open position as occasion demands.

A somewhat more detailed object of the invention is to provide a common operating member for all of the movable panels whereby they all may be opened or closed by a single operation.

Another object of the invention is to provide, in an air conditioner cover of the type indicated, protective panels for the end and side walls each of which is piyotally mounted at the opposite ends of its top edge, with the operating member taking the form of a star wheel that is pivotally mounted in a horizontal plane beneath the top of thecover. This star wheel presents four arms. Three of these arms are connected by push rods to the three pivotally mounted panels below the axis of the pivotal mounting thereof, while a link is connected to the fourth arm and extends inwardly through an opening in the flange aforesaid, with the inner end thereof terminating in a grip. It is evident that by exerting a pull on the link the star Wheel is rotated to cause the other arms to exert a thrust on the push rods to move the panels into open position.

Another detailed yet important object of the invention is to provide the link and flange aforesaid with cooperating elements of a disengageable detent. Thus, after the link has been pulled inwardly to open the panels,.the dete'nt is engaged to maintain the open position. However, iipo'n releasing the detent and relieving the force on the link, the panels will fall down into closed position.

Various other more detailed objects and advantages of the invention, such as arise in connection with carrying out the above-noted ideas in a practical embodiment, will in part become apparent and in part be hereinafter statedas the description of the invention proceeds.

The invention therefore comprises an air-conditioner cover consisting essentially of a framework designed to encompass the projecting partof an air conditioner and which framework includes atop wall having an anchoring' flange on its inner edge and movable panels constituting the end and side walls of the cover, together with a common operating member accessible from the interior to move the panels into or out of open position.

For a full and more complete understanding. of the invention, reference may be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of an air-conditioner cover designed in accordance with the precepts of this invention and depicting the panels in closed position;

FIGURE 2 is another perspective similar to FIGURE 1, illustrating the cover with the panels opened;

FIGURE 3 is a perspective looking at the rear or inner end of the cover;

FIGURE 4 is a horizontal section taken on an enlarged scale just beneath the top, and is taken about on the plane represented by the line 4-4 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 5 is a vertical section taken about on the plane represented by the line 5-5 of FIGURE 4;

FIGURE 6 is a view similar to FIGURE 4, but depicting the position of the parts with the panels opened;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary section similar to FIG- URE 5, with the end panel in opened position;

FIGURE 8 is a detailed vertical section at one corner, depicting the pivotal mounting that is common to all the panels, and is taken about on the plane represented by the line 88 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 9 is another detailed section, taken about on the planes represented by the lines 99 of FIGURE 1; and

FIGURE 10 is a detail of the operating link.

Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the air-conditioner cover of this invention is illustrated in closed position in FIGURES 1 and 3, and is referred to in its entirety by the reference character C.

The cover C comprises a fixed framework made up of a top wall 10 and from which depends structure defining an open frame for the outer-end wall and the side walls. Thus, four columns, designated 11, 12, 13, and 14, each has its upper end permanently secured to the top wall 10 in any preferred manner, such as by welding or soldering. Each of these columns 11-14, inclusive, is hollow and of angular formation.

The construction of one of the columns 1114, inclu sive, is more clearly shown in FIGURE 9, wherein the column 13 is shown as comprising outer faceplates 15 and '16 arranged normal to one another and integrally joined at a corner 17. An end wall 18 is arranged normal to the faceplate 15 and is integrally joined thereto at the corner 19. Another end wall 20 is arranged normal to the face 16 and is integrally joined thereto at the corner 21. Inner faceplates 22 and 23 are arranged normal to one another and are integrally joined at a corner 24. The faceplate 22 is joined to the end Wall 20 at the inner edge of the latter, as :by welding, along the line 25, and projects or extends beyond this line of joinder, the projecting portion being indicated at 26. Likewise, the inner faceplace 23 is joined to the inner edge of the end wall 18 along the line indicated at 27, and includes a portion 28 which projects inwardly therebeyond.

It will be understood that this basic construction described above in detail in connection with the pillar 13 is repeated in each the pillars 1 1, 12, 13, and 14. In the construction illustrated, the end Walls 20 of the

pillars

12 and 13 are in confronting relation, and closely adjacent to their top ends are formed with openings 29 which are in alignment and which constitute bearings for pivots to be later described. So far as the pillars '13 and 14 are concerned, the end walls 18 of these pillars are arranged in confronting relation and are formed with pivot-bearing openings comparable to the openings 29. This is also true of the

piilars

11 and 12.

Upon referring more particularly to FIGURE 3, it will be noted that the pillars 11.-and 14 are connected at their lower ends by an angle member 30 which presents a flange 31 that is designed to fit over the sill of a window in which the air'con'ditioner to be protected is mounted. Moreover, the top 10, which is preferably made of sheet metal, is formed with a double-thickness flange at 32 which projects above the inner edge and constitutes an anchoring flange. Thus the [flanges 31 and 3-2 cooperate in securing the cover C in position about an air conditioner, such as depicted in phantom outline in FIGURES 5 and 7, anddesignated A. In order to install the air conditioner A, it is essential that the window sash be raised from the sili. Thus, with the flange 31 engaging the sill and the flange 32 the sash, and the remaining framework fitted over the air conditioner A, it is evident that the cover is securely held in position.

A protective panel for the outer-end wall is designated P, and protective panels for the two side walls are designated P1 and P2. The panels P1 and P2 are substantial duplicates, while the panel P is somewhat longer than the side panels in that it is designed to accommodate the end wall, which is longer than the side wall.

The panel P is pivotally mounted within a frame defined by the outer-end edge of the top 10,

pillars

12 and 13, and a bottom crosspiece 33. The panel P1 is pivotally mounted in a frame defined by a side edge of the top 10,

pillars

11 and 12, and a bottom end piece 34. The panel P2 is mounted in a frame defined by the other side edge of the top 10,

pillars

13 and 14, and a bottom end piece 35.

Each of the panels P, P1, and P2 may be of any con- Operation It is evident that the cover C may be permanently positioned over that portion of the air conditioner A which projects outwardly of the building at a window,

with the flanges 3'1 and 32 anchoring the cover in position.

Assuming that the cover is in the closed position depicted in FIGURE 1 and it is desirable to open the panels P, P1, and P2, the operator grasps the handle 62 and exerts a pull on the link 58. This causes the star wheel S to rotate in a clockwise direction (speaking with reference to the showing of FIGURES 4 and 6). This movement of the star wheel causes each of the

arms

45, 46, and 47 to exert a thrust on the push rods 49 52, and 55. This outward thrust is transmitted to the panels 'P, P1, and P2 below the axes of their pivotal mountings as determined by the pins 29. Thus, the panels are moved outwardly into the opened position depicted in FIGURE 2. When this opened position has been achieved, the link 58 is laterally moved to cause the notch 61 to engage an edge of the opening 60 to establish a detent holding the panels opened.

JWhen it is desired to restore the panels to closed position, all that is necessary is to disengage the notch-61 from the edge of the opening 60 and relieve any stress or pull from the link 58. The weight of the panels P will now cause them to swing downwardly into closed position. If desired, -a final-push may be exerted on the link 58 to insure that a completely closed position is struction providing the desired protective effects. In a preferred embodiment, each is shown as comprising four frame members; namely, a top frame member 36, a bottom frame member 37, and

side frame members

38 and 39. These members are joined at mitered corners in a well-known manner, such as illustrated at 40. The frame established. If desired, the link 58 may be provided with a second notch comparable to that shown in 61 for the closed position.

While a preferred specific embodiment of the invention is hereinbefore set forth, it is to be clearly under stood that the invention is not to be limited to the exact constructions, mechanisms, and devices illustrated and described, because various modifications of these details may be provided in putting the invention into practice a within the purview of the appended claims.

members carry a sheet 41 of any protective material such as Fiberglas, fiberboard, mesh, or just about any material which will afford the desired protective effects.

The top frame member 36 of each of the panels P, P1, and P2 carries on its upper edge a bracket 42 which includes as an integral part an outwardly extending pivot pin 43. Each of these pivot pins 43 is received in one of the pivot-bearing openings 29 to pivotally mount the respective panels in a suspended position.

A star wheel is illustrated in FIGURES 4 and 6 and is referred to in its entirety by the reference character S. The star wheel S is pivotally mounted on the underside of the top 10 by a pivot pin 44. The star wheel S includes four

arms

45, 46, 47, and 48. A link 49 has one end pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 45, as indicated at 50; and its other end is pivotally connected to a tab 51 that is secured to the top framemember 36 on the panel P1 below the pivotal axis as defined by thepins43.

Likewise, another push rod 52 has one end pivotally connected to the outer end of the arm 46, as indicated at-53, and its other end pivotally connected to a tab 54 that is secured to the top frame member 36 on the panel P. Still another thrust rod 55 has one end pivotally attached to the outer end of the arm 47 as indicated at 56, and its other end pivotally connected to a tab 57 that is mounted on the top frame member 36 of the panel P2.

What is claimed is:

1. In an air-conditioner cover, a fixed framework comprising a top wall, an end frame, and side frames depending from said top wall; a protective panel pivotally mounted on each of said frames at its top edge, a star wheel pivotally mounted on the underside of said top wall and including four arms, a thrust rod connecting each of said panels to one of said arms below the axis of the pivotal mounting of that panel, a link connected.

7 to the other of said-arms and extending inwardly of said fixed framework to an accessible position, and cooperating elements of a detachable detent on said link and fixed framework.

2. In an air-conditioner cover, a fixed framework com-J prising a top wall, an end frame, and side frames depending from said top wall; an anchoring flange on the edge of said top wall remote from said end frame, a second anchoring flange connecting the lower inner ends of said end frames, a protective panel pivotally mounted in each of said frames at its upper edge, a star wheel pivotallymounted on the underside of said top wall and including four arms, a push rod connecting each of said panels to one arm of said star wheel at a point below the axis of the pivotal mounting of that panel, a link having one 'end connected to the other of said arms, passing through an opening in the first said anchoring flange and formed with a handle at its free end, 7

3. In an air-conditioner cover, a fixed framework comprising a top Wall or" rectangular formation, a pillar depending from each corner of said top Wall, each pillar being of a hollow angular construction providing end walls with each of said end walls being formed with a bearing opening adjacent to its upper end, bottom members connecting the lower ends of said pillars to provide an end frame and side frames, a protective panel in each of said frames, each of said panels having a bracket at each upper corner including a pivot pin received in one of said bearing openings, a star wheel pivotally mounted on the underside of said top wall and including four arms, a push rod connecting each of said panels to one of said arms below the axis of the pivotal mounting of that panel as defined by said pivot pins, and an operating link connected to the other of said arms.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS