Abstract: Apparatus for preventing the unwanted changing of the temperature range setting of an air conditioner unit. The shaft of a unit's thermostat is passed through a first panel and a control knob is mounted upon the distal end of the shaft. A raised second panel is placed over the first panel having an opening for rotatably receiving the body of the control knob. A radially extended arm is mounted upon the control knob so that it swings over an arcuate path of travel between the panels as the shaft turns. Spaced apart holes are formed in one of the panels along the arcuate path of travel and stop pins are removably mounted in said holes on either side of the arm to control the range of movement of the shaft and thus the operating range of the air conditioner.

Abstract: Apparatus for removably supporting a front cover upon an air conditioning unit. The cover includes a top wall and a bottom wall that are separated by a given distance at the rear opening of the cover. The top wall includes a hanger for rotatably mounting the top wall of the cover at the rear opening upon the top edge of a support member mounted upon the unit. A horizontally disposed rib is mounted upon the base pan of the unit beneath the top edge of the support member and the bottom surface of the rib is located a given distance from the top edge of the support member that is substantially equal to the given distance between the top and bottom walls of the cover at the rear opening so that the cover can be secured over the support member and rib when it is brought to a closed position. A stop is provided to locate the cover in the closed position and magnets are employed to latch the cover in the closed position.

Abstract: An air filter unit for use in an air conditioner having an outside air duct through which air passes through a divider wall separating the outdoor section and indoor section of the air conditioner. The air filter unit includes a filter frame containing an air filter and a connector for removably supporting the frame upon the divider wall so that the air filter covers substantially all of the duct entrance. A hinge is located along one side edge of the frame and a door is mounted upon the hinge between an open position wherein outside air can move through the filter into the duct and a closed position wherein outside air is prevented from moving through the filter into the duct. Controls for selectively positioning the door are provided inside the front cover of the unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for removably supporting a front cover upon an air conditioning unit. The cover includes a top wall and a bottom wall that are separated by a given distance at the rear opening of the cover. The top wall includes a hanger for rotatably mounting the top wall of the cover at the rear opening upon the top edge of a support member mounted upon the unit. A horizontally disposed rib is mounted upon the base pan of the unit beneath the top edge of the support member and the bottom surface of the rib is located a given distance from the top edge of the support member that is substantially equal to the given distance between the top and bottom walls of the cover at the rear opening so that the cover can be secured over the support member and rib when it is brought to a closed position. A stop is provided to locate the cover in the closed position and magnets are employed to latch the cover in the closed position.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing the removal of control knobs from the control section of a machine. Each knob includes a body section and a radially expanded flange at the lower end of the body section. The knob engages a control shaft of a controllable machine component that passes upwardly through a first panel so that the flange is positioned adjacent to the panel. A second panel having an opening for rotatably containing the body section of the knob is passed over the knob and, when secured in place over the first panel, captures the flange between the panels.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit having an indoor section and an outdoor section separated by dividing wall. The outdoor heat exchanger and fan are enclosed within a housing that is split into a stationary lower wall section and a removable upper wall section which, when removed, provides ready access to the outdoor heat exchanger. A hole is placed in the bottom of the lower wall section in front of the fan so that condensate can be drawn into the unit by the fan and distributed over the heat exchanger surfaces. Vanes are placed on the inside wall of the housing to enhance the distribution of the condensate.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit having an indoor section and an outdoor section that are separated by a dividing wall. A fan motor is mounted in a support housing within the outdoor section. The housing has a front panel containing an opening for supporting the motor so that the front section of the motor is positioned within the housing and the rear section of the motor extends outwardly from the front panel. A protective baffle is secured to the front panel that extends outwardly over the rear section of the motor. The housing and the baffle combine to shield the motor from the outside elements so that ice and snow cannot build up on the motor.

Abstract: Apparatus for distributing condensate over an outdoor heat exchanger of an air conditioner unit wherein the outdoor heat exchanger and an outdoor fan are enclosed within a housing. An orifice is located in the bottom of the housing adjacent to the fan and condensate produced in the unit is brought to the entrance of the orifice. The orifice is connected to a reservoir that directs condensate passing through the orifice to a point beneath the outdoor fan where the condensate can be picked by the fan and distributed over the heat exchanger surfaces. The size and shape of the orifice is matched to the pressure differential produced over the fan so that condensate is drawn rapidly into the housing and distributed by the fan over the outdoor heat exchanger.

Abstract: Apparatus for supporting the components of an air conditioner unit having an indoor section and an outdoor section, each of which contain a heat exchanger and a fan. A base pan is provided to support the components of the unit and an auxiliary pan is mounted inside the base pan beneath the indoor fan and the indoor heat exchanger. A shroud surrounds the indoor fan that contains a scroll for directing conditioned air into a horizontally disposed passage that distributes the air uniformly across the unit. The auxiliary pan contains a trough that forms part of the scroll. Both the shroud and the auxiliary pan are cast from light-weight styrene.

Abstract: An air conditioning unit having an indoor section and an outdoor section separated by a dividing wall. The outdoor heat exchanger and fan are enclosed within a housing that is split into a stationary lower wall section and a removable upper wall section which, when removed, provides ready access to the outdoor heat exchanger. A hole is placed in the bottom of the lower wall section in front of the fan so that condensate can be drawn into the unit by the fan and distributed over the heat exchanger surfaces. Vanes are placed on the inside wall of the housing to enhance the distribution of the condensate.

Abstract: In an air conditioning unit having a base pan and a vertical divider wall mounted upon the base pan. The unit further includes a fan motor having an annular bolting flange surrounding the motor casing. The motor is supported in a motor mount having a vertically disposed front panel with a hole for receiving the motor casing. The motor flange is bolted to the panel. The mount further includes a pair of side walls and a top wall. A vertically disposed mounting strip is mounted along the outer edge of the top wall and is secured to the divider wall of the unit. A horizontally disposed mounting strip is mounted along the bottom edge of the panel and is secured to the base pan of the unit.

Abstract: Apparatus for radially distributing the flow leaving a centrifugal blower wheel and discharging the flow of conditioned air over the top of the indoor coil of an air conditioner unit back into the comfort region. A housing is positioned adjacent to the coil that contains a blower wheel having radially or rearwardly curved blades within a blind opening that passes inwardly from the vertical front wall of the housing. The opening has an upper section that extends across the top of the coil and a lower section that surrounds the blower wheel. The lower section includes a spiral shaped wall that connects to a linear wall that are arranged to coact with the blower to distribute air from the blower uniformly across the upper section of the opening.