Air conditioner cover

Abstract

An aesthetically pleasing decorative air conditioner cover and a method for associating the air conditioner unit cover with an air conditioner unit is provided, wherein the air conditioner cover includes a front cover panel configured to associate with an end portion of an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit is at least partially disposed external to a structure. The air conditioner cover further includes a top cover panel configured to associate with a top portion of the air conditioning unit, a bottom cover panel configured to associate with a bottom portion of the air conditioning unit and a plurality of side cover panels, wherein each of the plurality of side cover panels are configured to associate with at least one side of the air conditioning unit.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 61/007,107, filed Dec. 11, 2007 and entitled “Air Conditioner Cover” the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to an article for covering an apparatus and more particularly to an easily configurable article for decoratively covering the external portion of an air conditioner disposed in a window or wall of a building.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Window and through-wall air conditioning units are well known and are used in a large number of buildings across the United States. In general, these air conditioning units typically have a front portion, which houses the unit control panel and air outlets, and a rear portion which houses the unit motor and compressor and which is typically covered by a metal covering which includes vents to ventilate the motor and compressor. When these air conditioning units are disposed in the window or wall opening, the front portion of the conditioning unit is disposed in an interior portion of the building and the rear portion of the air conditioning unit is sticking out of the window or wall through-hole and thus, is disposed exterior to the building.

Unfortunately, this has several undesirable characteristics which need to be overcome. One undesirable characteristic involves the appearance of the unit, which is aesthetically unpleasing. For example, because the back of the conditioning unit sticks out of the window or wall through-hole, an eyesore is created which detracts from the aesthetics of the building or property. A second undesirable characteristic involves the exposure of the unit to the elements. This is undesirable because the rear portion of the unit is exposed to the outside elements, such as rain, which may cause rusting of the unit. Additionally, the rear portion includes vent openings to ventilate the motor and compressor compartment. Accordingly, debris such as leaves, bugs and other materials can enter and accumulate within the motor and compressor compartment, possibly interfering with the operation and/or ventilation of the air conditioning unit motor and compressor. A third undesirable characteristic involves unwanted ventilation to the building. Because these types of units are never completely sealed, cold air (in the summer) and warm air (in the winter) vents out into the environment through the unit casing resulting in a waste of energy and money.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An aesthetically pleasing decorative air conditioner cover is provided and includes a front cover panel configured to associate with an end portion of an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit is at least partially disposed external to a structure. The air conditioner cover further includes a top cover panel configured to associate with a top portion of the air conditioning unit, a bottom cover panel configured to associate with a bottom portion of the air conditioning unit and a plurality of side cover panels, wherein each of the plurality of side cover panels are configured to associate with at least one side of the air conditioning unit.

An aesthetically pleasing decorative air conditioner cover is provided and includes a front panel configured to associate with an end portion of an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit is at least partially disposed external to a structure. The air conditioner cover further includes a plurality of cover panels rotatably connected to the front panel, wherein each of the plurality of cover panels are configured to associate with at least one of the top portion, side portions, and bottom portion of the air conditioner unit, and wherein at least one of the front panel and plurality of cover panels are configured to receive and securingly associate with a decorative element.

A method for associating an air conditioner unit cover with an air conditioner unit which is disposed at partially external to a structure is provided, wherein the air conditioner unit cover includes a front cover panel, a top cover panel, a bottom cover panel and a plurality of side cover panels. The method includes associating the front cover panel with an end portion of the air conditioning unit, the end portion being disposed external to the structure, associating the top cover panel with a top portion of the air conditioning unit and associating the bottom cover panel with a bottom portion of the air conditioning unit. The method further includes associating one of the plurality of side cover panels with one side of the air conditioning unit and the other of the plurality of side cover panels with the other side of the air conditioning unit.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully understood from the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like elements are numbered alike:

FIG. 1 is an open configuration front view of an air conditioning unit cover in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 illustrating the axis of rotation of the top panel relative to the face panel.

FIG. 2B is a side view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 illustrating the axis of rotation of the bottom panel relative to the face panel.

FIG. 3 is a sectional side view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 showing the face panel, top panel and bottom panel associated with a rear portion, a top portion and a bottom portion of an air conditioning unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 4A is a top down view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 illustrating the axis of rotation of the first side panel relative to the face panel.

FIG. 4B is a top down view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 illustrating the axis of rotation of the second side panel relative to the face panel.

FIG. 5 is a sectional top down view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 showing the face panel, first side panel and second side panel associated with a rear portion, a first side portion and a second side portion of an air conditioning unit in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of a typical air conditioning unit disposed in the window of a building in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 being associated with the rear portion, top portion and bottom portion of an air conditioning unit disposed in the window of a building, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 8 is a top down view of the air conditioning unit cover of FIG. 1 being associated with the rear portion, first side portion and second side portion of an air conditioning unit disposed in the window of a building, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 9 is an open configuration front view of an air conditioning unit cover in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention illustrating sealing devices.

FIG. 10A is side view of the air conditioning unit cover illustrating a decorative element associated with the top panel, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 10B is side view of a panel of the air conditioning unit cover in FIG. 1 and FIG. 9 illustrating a pocket for containing a decorative sheet, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11A is a side view of a housing containing a panel of the air conditioning unit cover, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11B is top down cross-sectional view of a housing with a panel of the air conditioning unit cover contained therein, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 11C is a side view of a panel of the air conditioning unit cover being removed from a housing, in accordance with the present invention.

FIG. 12 is a block diagram illustrating a method for implementing the air conditioning unit cover with an air conditioning unit, in accordance with the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As disclosed herein with regards to an exemplary embodiment, an easy to use, esthetically pleasing air conditioning unit cover is provided in accordance with the present invention, wherein the air conditioning unit cover allows for the ventilation and protection of the air conditioning unit during the summer and the sealing and protection of the air conditioning unit during the winter. The air conditioning unit cover is configurable to include esthetically pleasing attachments, such as a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional panel (element) of flowers to enhance its appearance, which attachments are easily attachable/detachable via an attachment means, for example a pocket integrated with the panel, Velcro®, magnet, snaps, zipper, clips and/or adhesives. It is contemplated that the panels of the air conditioning unit cover may be constructed, at least partially, via at least one of a waterproof or breathable material and each may be configured to be pliable or rigid as desired. For example, the side and bottom panels may be pliable, while the top and front panels may be rigid.

Referring to FIG. 1, one embodiment of the air conditioning unit cover 100 in accordance with the present invention is shown and includes a face panel 102, a top panel 104, a bottom panel 106, a first side panel 108 and a second side panel 110. Top panel 104 is rotatably associated with face panel 102 such that top panel 104 rotates about an axis X₁, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2A, and bottom panel 106 is rotatably associated with face panel 102 such that bottom panel 106 rotates about an axis X₂, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2B. As such, when the face panel 102 of air conditioning unit cover 100 is associated with the rear portion 112 of an air conditioning unit 114, the top panel 104 is associated with the top portion 116 of the air conditioning unit 114 and the bottom panel 106 is associated with the bottom portion 118 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in FIG. 3. It is contemplated that all or some of the panels 102-110 may be pliable or rigid as desired and may include venting means, such as breathable material and/or vent openings. Alternatively, at least a portion of the air conditioning unit cover may be constructed, at least in part, from a waterproof, weather proof and/or sound proof insulative material.

It should be appreciated that although not shown in FIG. 3, the air conditioning unit cover 100 may be configured to provide a gap or space between the air conditioning unit cover 100 and the air conditioning unit 114. This may be accomplished via any method or device suitable to the desired end purpose, such as via spacers to separate the air conditioning unit cover 100 and the air conditioning unit 114 and/or via magnets whose function would be to secure the panels of the air conditioning unit cover 100 to the metal air conditioning unit 114 and maintain a space between the air conditioning unit cover 100 and the air conditioning unit 114. Additionally, some or all of the panels, such as bottom panel 106 and/or top panel 104, may be configured to be angled so as to allow water run off.

Similarly, the first side panel 108 is rotatably associated with face panel 102 such that first side panel 108 rotates about an axis Y₁, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4A, and the second side panel 110 is rotatably associated with face panel 102 such that second side panel 110 rotates about an axis Y₂, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4B. As such, when the face panel 102 of air conditioning unit cover 100 is associated with the rear portion 112 of an air conditioning unit 114, the first side panel 108 is associated with a first side portion 120 of the air conditioning unit 114 and the second side panel 110 is associated with a second side portion 122 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in FIG. 5. It should be appreciated that the ability of the top panel 104, bottom panel 106, first side panel 108 and second side panel 110 to rotate about face panel 102 allows for easy installation of the air conditioning unit cover 100 and also allows for easy storage and shipping of the air conditioning unit cover 100.

Accordingly, when the air conditioning unit cover 100 is associated with the air conditioning unit 114, all four sides of the air conditioning unit cover 100 is covered by the air conditioning unit cover 100. This can be seen in FIGS. 6-8. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the face panel 102 of the air conditioning cover 102 is associated with the rear portion 112 of the air conditioning unit 114 and the top panel 104 is rotated to be associated with the top portion 116 of the air conditioning panel 114. The bottom panel 106 is also rotated to be associated with the bottom portion 118 of the air conditioning panel 114. Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 8, the first side panel 108 is then associated with the first side portion 120 of the air conditioning unit 114 and the second side panel 110 is rotated to be associated with the second side portion 122 of the air conditioning unit 114. At this point, all four sides 116, 118, 120, 122 and the rear portion 112 of the air conditioning unit 114 are covered by a panel of the air conditioning unit cover 100.

It should be appreciated that each of the face panel 102, top panel 104, bottom panel 106, first side panel 108 and second side panel 110 may include at least one associating device 124 (See FIGS. 1 and 9) which allows the respective panel to securingly adhere to its respective portion of the air conditioning unit. In accordance with the present invention, this associating device 124 may be any associating device 124 suitable to the desired end purpose, such as a magnet, a clip, a snap, an adhesive and/or a Velcro® attachment device.

Referring to FIG. 9, a second embodiment of the air conditioning unit cover 200 is shown and includes a face panel 202, a top panel 204, a bottom panel 206, a first side panel 208 and a second side panel 210, wherein the top panel 204, bottom panel 206, first side panel 208 and second side panel 210 include a connecting device 212 to connect the panels adjacent to each of the top panel 204, bottom panel 206, first side panel 208 and second side panel 210 together. For example, when the air conditioning unit cover 200 is associated with the air conditioning unit 114 as described hereinabove, the top panel 204 and bottom panel 206 would be sealingly connected with the first side panel 208 and second side panel 210 via the connecting device 212. This allows the air conditioning unit cover 200 to sealingly associate with the air conditioning unit 114 to help prevent air leaks and to help prevent moisture, weather and/or sound from entering the air conditioning unit cover 200 or the structure via the air conditioning unit cover 200.

It should be appreciated that some or all of the panels of the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 may include a decorative feature on the external portion of the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 to help make the air conditioning unit 114 more esthetically pleasing. For example, as shown in FIG. 10A, top panel 104, 204 may include or be configured to securingly associate with a decorative addition, such as flowers that adhere to top panel 104, 204, via any method and/or device suitable to the desired end purpose, such as an adhesive, magnet, Velcro®, snaps, clips and/or zipper. It should also be appreciated that the rotatability of each of the panels of air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 allows the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 to be configured into a flat configuration to allow the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 to be easily storable. Alternatively, if the panels of air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 are flexible, they may be rolled into a cylinder shaped element for easy storage.

As shown in FIG. 10B, it is further contemplated that some or all of the panels (for illustration purposes only face panel 102 is shown) of the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 may also include a pocket 300 for containing a decorative panel insert 302, wherein the pocket has a translucent or see through portion 304 to help make the air conditioning unit 114 more esthetically pleasing. Similarly, this pocket 300 may also be configured to contain a filtering device for filtering the air being drawn into the air conditioning unit 114 during use in the summer or an insulation device for preventing heat loss from the building during the winter months. Furthermore, pocket 300 may also be configured to contain a decorative filtering device for ventilation to help ventilate the air conditioning unit case. Moreover, some or all of the panels of the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200 may also include an attachment device (not shown), such as a snap, clip, magnet or Velcro®), for securely retaining a decorative panel to help make the air conditioning unit 114 more esthetically pleasing.

Referring to FIGS. 11A, 11B and 11C, a third embodiment of the air conditioning unit cover 500 is shown and may include at least one housing 502 for retractably retaining the panels of the air conditioning unit cover 500 (two housings are shown for simplicity). The housing 502 may include a spring like device 504 that allows the panels to be pulled out of and rotatably retracted back into the housing 502 as desired via springing action of the spring like device 504, similar to a normal window shade. For example, referring to FIG. 11C a force F₂ would be required to pull and unroll the panel from the housing 502. Once the panel has been unrolled from the housing 502, the panel would lock into place (similar to a window shade). To insert the panel back into the housing 502, the spring like device 504 (or alternatively a hand crank device) would produce a force F₁, opposite to F₂, which would cause the panel to rotatingly retract back into the housing 502. As briefly mentioned above, in an alternative embodiment the housing 502 may include a crank like device that allows the panels to be pulled out of and rotatably retracted back into the housing by manually actuating a retraction device. This would allow the panels of the air conditioning unit cover 500 to be safely and securely stored within the housing for future use.

Referring to FIG. 12, a block diagram illustrating a method 400 for implementing an air conditioning unit cover 100, 200, 500 is shown and includes obtaining an air conditioning unit cover 100, 200, 500 as shown in operational block 402 and associating the face panel 102, 202 with the rear portion 112 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in operational block 404. The top panel 104, 204 is associated with the top portion 116 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in operational block 406 and the bottom panel 106, 206 is associated with the bottom portion 118 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in operational block 408. In a similar fashion, the first side panel 108, 208 is associated with the first side portion 120 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in operational block 410 and the second side panel 110, 210 is associated with the second side portion 122 of the air conditioning unit 114, as shown in operational block 412. Decorative elements may be associated with the air conditioning cover 100, 200, 500 as desired. In is contemplated that method 400 may be conducted in any order suitable to the desired end purpose.

It should be appreciated that while the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200, 500 is disclosed herein as including a top panel, a bottom panel, a front panel and two side panels, the air conditioning unit cover 100, 200, 500 may only include a portion of select panels as desired, such as a top panel or a top and front panel or a front and two side panels, etc. Moreover, it is contemplated that some or all of top panel 104, bottom panel 106, first side panel 108 and second side panel 110 may be removably connected to the face panel 102 via a connection device, such as a zipper, Velcro®, snap or compressible sleeve. This would allow a user to add and/or remove panels as desired.

While the invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, omissions and/or additions may be made and equivalents may be substituted for elements thereof without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from the scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. Moreover, unless specifically stated any use of the terms first, second, etc. do not denote any order or importance, but rather the terms first, second, etc. are used to distinguish one element from another.

Claims

1. An aesthetically pleasing decorative air conditioner cover, comprising:

a front cover panel configured to associate with an end portion of an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit is at least partially disposed external to a structure;

a top cover panel configured to associate with a top portion of the air conditioning unit;

a bottom cover panel configured to associate with a bottom portion of the air conditioning unit; and

a plurality of side cover panels, wherein each of the plurality of side cover panels are configured to associate with at least one side of the air conditioning unit.

2. The air conditioner cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top cover panel, bottom cover panel and plurality of side cover panels is configured to securingly associate with a decorative element via a securing means.

3. The air conditioner cover of claim 2, wherein said securing means includes at least one of a pocket, an adhesive, a magnet, a Velcro® structure, a snap, a clip and a zipper.

4. The air conditioner cover of claim 2, wherein said decorative element is at least one of a filtering device and a decorative panel, wherein the decorative panel includes a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional element.

5. The air conditioner cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top cover panel, bottom cover panel and plurality of side cover panels are removably connected to the front cover panel via a connection device.

6. The air conditioner cover of claim 5, wherein the connection device includes at least one of a zipper, Velcro®, snap and compressible sleeve.

7. The air conditioner cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the top cover panel, bottom cover panel, front cover panel and plurality of side cover panels includes a pocket for containing a decorative element, said decorative element being at least one of a filtering device and a decorative panel.

8. The air conditioner cover of claim 1, wherein the top cover panel and the bottom cover panel are configured to sealingly associate with the plurality of side cover panels.

9. The air conditioner cover of claim 1, wherein at least one of the front cover panel, top cover panel, bottom cover panel and plurality of side cover panels are at least partially constructed from at least one of a waterproof, weatherproof and sound proof insulative material.

10. An aesthetically pleasing decorative air conditioner cover, comprising:

a front panel configured to associate with an end portion of an air conditioning unit, wherein the air conditioning unit is at least partially disposed external to a structure; and

a plurality of cover panels rotatably connected to the front panel, wherein each of the plurality of cover panels are configured to associate with at least one of the top portion, side portions, and bottom portion of the air conditioner unit, and wherein at least one of the front panel and plurality of cover panels are configured to receive and securingly associate with a decorative element.

11. The air conditioner cover of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of cover panels is configured to securingly associate with a decorative element via a securing means.

12. The air conditioner cover of claim 11, wherein said securing means includes at least one of a pocket, an adhesive, a magnet, a Velcro® structure, a snap, a clip and a zipper.

13. The air conditioner cover of claim 11, wherein said decorative element is at least one of a filtering device and a decorative panel, wherein the decorative panel includes a 2-dimensional or 3-dimensional element.

14. The air conditioner cover of claim 10, wherein at least one of the plurality of cover panels are removably connected to the front panel via a connection device.

15. The air conditioner cover of claim 14, wherein the connection device includes at least one of a zipper, Velcro®, snap and compressible sleeve.

16. The air conditioner cover of claim 10, wherein at least one of the front panel and plurality of cover panels includes a pocket for containing a decorative element, said decorative element being at least one of a filtering device and a decorative panel.

17. The air conditioner cover of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of cover panels are configured to sealingly associate with each other.

18. The air conditioner cover of claim 10, wherein at least one of the front panel and plurality of cover panels are at least partially constructed from at least one of a waterproof, weatherproof and sound proof insulative material.

19. A method for associating an air conditioner unit cover with an air conditioner unit which is disposed at partially external to a structure, wherein the air conditioner unit cover includes a front cover panel, a top cover panel, a bottom cover panel and a plurality of side cover panels, the method comprising:

associating the front cover panel with an end portion of the air conditioning unit, said end portion being disposed external to the structure;

associating the top cover panel with a top portion of the air conditioning unit;

associating the bottom cover panel with a bottom portion of the air conditioning unit; and

associating one of the plurality of side cover panels with one side of the air conditioning unit and the other of the plurality of side cover panels with the other side of the air conditioning unit.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising associated decorative elements with at least one of the front cover panel, top cover panel, bottom cover panel and plurality of side cover panels.