Condenser cover
A flexible covering for preventing the accumulation of dirt and debris inside an outdoor air conditioning condenser is provided. One edge of the covering is attached to the surface of the condenser. One or more flexible tethers connect an opposite end of the covering to the condenser such that the covering lifts from the top surface of the condenser due to the flow of exhaust when the condenser operates, and descends back onto the condenser over the exhaust opening when the condenser ceases operating. The covering prevents debris from entering the condenser, and the condenser can operate efficiently without prior removal of the covering.
The present invention relates to a protective covering for an outdoor air conditioning condenser.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONOutdoor condensers used in connection with air conditioning systems are configured with an exhaust opening in the top surface of the condenser housing. During operation, a fan within the housing creates a flow of air through a set of coils within the housing containing hot, high pressure refrigerant. The air absorbs heat from the coils, thereby cooling the refrigerant, and is thereafter exhausted from the condenser through the exhaust opening. In order for the condenser to operate efficiently, the exhaust opening at the top of the condenser should be unobstructed so that this heated air can be easily released. However, an unobstructed exhaust opening on the top of the condenser allows water, leaves, insects, dirt, debris, and the like to enter into the condenser and accumulate inside the condenser's outer housing. This collection of dirt and debris inside the condenser blocks air flow, clogs drains, and lowers the efficiency of the heat exchange process.
Currently, outdoor condensers are manufactured and sold without a protective covering over the exhaust opening. Because of the resulting accumulation of debris, owners of outdoor condensers either have to pay for frequent servicing, repairs and/or early replacement of the condenser or have to maintain the condenser themselves by periodically opening the condenser's outer housing and clearing out the debris that has collected inside. Protective covers are available for use in the winter, but these covers must be removed prior to operating the condenser in the warmer months.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,815,530 discloses a rigid cap that is permanently attached to the top of an outdoor air conditioning unit. The cap pivots upwardly to an open position when the exhaust fan of the air conditioning unit operates, and then drops down to a closed position when the fan stops. The rigid cap additionally requires a hinge piece and a shoulder piece to securely attach the cap to the air conditioning unit. This apparatus requires many pieces and has few options for where and how it is attached to the air conditioning unit. It is not easy to remove, as it may be assembled with nuts, bolts, rivets, and secure adhesives, and it is not easily customizable. The rigid cap may be twisted out of shape by the flow of exhaust air, so that when it pivots closed the cap leaves gaps and openings around the exhaust opening where debris can once again enter. In order to prevent this deformation, extra reinforcements are necessary to increase the rigidity of the apparatus. The apparatus is complicated, expensive, and difficult to install, repair, and remove.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn accordance with the present invention, there is provided a low cost, easy to install, protective covering system for an outdoor air conditioning condenser. The system comprises a generally flat, flexible panel that lies on the top surface of an outdoor condenser. The panel is preferably made of a water impermeable, light-weight material such as vinyl. It is sized so that it covers the exhaust opening of the condenser and preferably covers substantially all of the top surface of the condenser. The panel preferably has at least one edge portion that is attached, preferably releasably attached, to the top surface of the condenser. The apparatus further comprises one or more flexible tethers, which may be a strap of a light-weight material such as vinyl, or may be a rope, cord, or other suitable tether construction. One end of the tether is attached to the panel, preferably along an edge portion opposite the edge portion attached to the top surface of the condenser. The other end of the tether is attached to the top or a side surface of the condenser. The attachment of the tether to the condenser is preferably a releasable attachment. The length of the tether is preferably adjustable. The length of the tether is selected to allow the panel to lift off of the top surface of the condenser when the condenser fan is operating and to allow the panel descend onto the top surface of the condenser when the condenser fan ceases operating. The flexible panel prevents the accumulation of debris into the condenser by covering the exhaust opening when the condenser is not operating. The panel lifts up and away from the exhaust opening to thereby minimize any obstruction of the flow of exhaust air from the exhaust opening when the condenser is operating. Thus the condenser can operate efficiently without requiring prior removal of the covering.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThese and other features and advantages of the present invention will be better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:
In the following description, for purposes of explanation, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. It will be evident to those with ordinary skill in the art that the invention can be practiced without these specific details and can be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential character of the invention. The embodiments described below should be considered to be illustrative and not restrictive.
With reference to
The cover 100 includes means for attaching the covering 101 and the tethers 102 and 103 to the condenser. If releasable attachments are desired, the means for attaching may comprise a hook and loop construction (e.g., Velcro®), buckles, snaps, clasps, buttons, tape, screws, knots, magnets, zip-ties, twist-ties, clamps, glue, wires, pins, clips, hooks, or any other suitable means for releasable attachment. Alternatively, if permanent attachment is desired, the means for attaching may comprise rivets, screws, bolts, or any other suitable means for permanent attachment. In one embodiment, at least one of the means for attaching provides for releasable attachment so that the tethers 102 and 103 and/or the covering 101 may be completely detached from the condenser or at least moved away from the exhaust opening when the condenser needs to be serviced or repaired. In a preferred embodiment, the means for attaching both the covering and the tethers provide for releasable attachment.
With reference to
The means for connecting the tethers 102 and 103 are also shown as a hook strip 110 and a loop strip 111. One of the hook strip 110 and the loop strip 111 is attached to second ends 112 and 113 of the tethers 102 and 103, preferably by sewing. The other of the hook strip 110 and loop strip 111 is backed with an adhesive layer and covered by a release paper 114. The release paper 114 is removed as the strip 110 or 111 is secured to the surface of the condenser as described below.
The means for attaching the tethers 102 and 103 may provide for adjustment of the length of the tethers 102 and 103; for example the means for attaching the tethers 102 and 203 may include a plurality of snaps or buttons, a strip of Velcro®, a clasp or buckle through which the tethers 102 and 103 can slide to a particular length, or any other suitable means for adjusting the length of the tethers 102 and 103. For example, in the embodiment shown in
With reference to
The means for attaching the covering 101 to the condenser 200 is adjacent an edge portion 120 of the covering 101, creating a hinge relationship between the cover and the condenser 200 that allows the portion of the covering 101 over the exhaust opening to be lifted from the surface 202 of the condenser 200 while the edge portion 120 of the covering 101 remains attached to the condenser 200.
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When the condenser 200 ceases to operate, the exhaust air ceases to exit from the exhaust opening 204. The cover 100 then returns to the rest position as shown in
The exemplary embodiments of the present invention demonstrate advantages over the prior art. The covering is light-weight, flexible, easy to install, and easy to remove. It is therefore convenient to transfer the covering to another condenser or to remove it for maintenance. The covering can be made in many sizes and shapes to fit a variety of condensers. It is thin, lying flat on the condenser when the condenser is not operating. It is adjustable, as the covering can be tethered at a desired length. It has few parts, and is simple and low-cost to manufacture, install, and maintain.
Claims
1. A cover for the exhaust opening of an outdoor air conditioning condenser comprising:
- a flexible panel configured to cover the exhaust opening of the condenser, the panel having a first edge portion and a second edge portion remote from the first edge portion;
- means for hingedly connecting the first edge portion of the panel to a surface of the condenser;
- at least one flexible tether having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the second edge portion of the panel; and
- means for attaching the second end of the tether to the condenser,
- wherein the flow of exhaust through the exhaust opening of the condenser lifts the cover from the surface of the condenser when the condenser is operating, and
- wherein the cover descends onto the surface of the condenser and covers the exhaust opening of the condenser when the flow of exhaust ceases;
2. A cover according to claim 1 wherein at least one of the means for attaching the covering to the condenser and the means for attaching the second end of the tether to the condenser provides for releasable attachment.
3. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the panel comprises vinyl.
4. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the panel is substantially impermeable to water.
5. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the panel is configured to cover substantially an entire top surface of the condenser.
6. A cover according to claim 5 wherein the panel overlaps edges of the top surface of the condenser by up to approximately 1 inch.
7. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the at least one tether comprises at least a first tether and a second tether, wherein the first tether is shorter than the second tether.
8. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the at least one tether has a length of between 8 inches and 10 inches.
9. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the at least one tether is formed of an elastic material.
10. A cover according to claim 1 wherein the at least one tether is adjustable in length.
11. A cover assembly for an outdoor condenser comprising:
- a flexible covering configured to cover an exhaust opening of the condenser, the covering having a first edge portion and a second edge portion remote from the first edge;
- at least one means for attaching the first edge portion of the covering to the condenser, the covering being positioned over the exhaust opening of the condenser;
- at least one flexible tether having a first end and a second end, the first end being attached to the second edge portion of the covering; and
- at least one fastener for attaching the second end of the at least one tether to the condenser,
- wherein the covering is movable between a first position lying over the exhaust opening of the condenser when the condenser is not operating and a second position lifted away from the exhaust opening when the condenser is operating.
12. The cover assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one of the means for attaching comprises means for releasably attaching the first edge portion of the covering to the condenser.
13. The cover assembly of claim 11 wherein at least one fastener provides for releasable attachment of the second end of the at least one tether to the condenser.
14. A cover assembly according to claim 11 wherein the covering comprises vinyl.
15. A cover assembly according to claim 11 wherein the covering is substantially impermeable to water.
16. A cover assembly according to claim 11 wherein the covering is configured to cover substantially a top surface of the condenser.
17. A cover assembly according to claim 16 wherein the covering overlaps the edges of the top surface of the condenser by up to approximately 1 inch.
18. A cover assembly according to claim 7 wherein at least one tether comprises at least a first tether and a second tether, wherein the first tether is shorter than the second tether.
19. A cover assembly according to claim 11 wherein the at least one tether is formed of an elastic material.
20. A cover assembly according to claim 11 wherein the at least one tether is adjustable in length.
21. A method of preventing the accumulation of debris in an outdoor condenser through an exhaust opening of the condenser, the method comprising:
- placing a flexible cover over the exhaust opening;
- attaching a first edge portion of the cover to a surface of the condenser;
- attaching a first end of at least one tether to a second edge portion of the cover at a location remote from the first edge; and
- attaching a second end of the at least one tether to the condenser;
- wherein the lengths of the tethers are sufficient to allow the cover to lift away from the exhaust opening due to the flow exhaust when the condenser is operating and to settle over the exhaust opening when the condenser ceases operating.
Type: Application
Filed: Mar 3, 2006
Publication Date: Sep 6, 2007
Inventor: Jon Ross (Monrovia, CA)
Application Number: 11/367,268
International Classification: B65D 65/02 (20060101); B65D 85/00 (20060101);