Tent – canopy – umbrella – or cane – Portable shelter – Framework
Reexamination Certificate
1999-07-22
2001-02-13
Chin-Shue, Alvin (Department: 3634)
Tent, canopy, umbrella, or cane
Portable shelter
Framework
Reexamination Certificate
active
06186158
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to permanent air conditioners, and more particularly to apparatus for protecting an exposed permanent air conditioner component from external contamination. The apparatus comprises a readily erected shelter which surrounds and covers the air conditioner component at all sides except that resting on the ground. The contemplated application of the invention is the condensing unit of a split system air conditioner for residential, commercial, institutional, agricultural, and industrial buildings.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When buildings are to be artificially heated cooled by air conditioners and heat pumps, a heat exchange component of the system is usually located outdoors near or on the building. In air conditioners, the heat exchange component is a condensing coil usually accompanied by a refrigeration compressor. In heat pumps, the function of the outdoor heat exchanger is that of absorbing ambient heat, although the apparatus is similar to that for air conditioners.
Regardless of whether the function is that of dissipating or collecting heat, the apparatus typically includes a working medium-to-air heat exchanger, which will hereinafter be termed the condenser for convenience. The condenser usually has a fan for forcing ambient air across the coils and fins, or corresponding heat exchange structure. In operation, air is continuously passed across the coils and fins. Operation may be obstructed should foreign matter become entrapped on or in the coils and fins, thereby reducing air flow.
In many applications, such occurrence is frequently encountered. In residential yards, leaves, grass, plant clippings, loose leaves, twigs, insects and pests, and other contaminants abound, and threaten proper operation of the air conditioner or heat pump. The usual response of those charged with maintenance of the air conditioner or heat pump system is to periodically clean the exposed component. The prior art has not proposed shelters specifically adapted for condensers, although such shelters are known for other applications.
An example is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,967,533, issued to Virgil R. Ballinger on Jan. 10, 1961, which illustrates a five sided, screened enclosure. The device of Ballinger lacks a permanent small opening for allowing passage of refrigerant conduits and control cables, and is not associated with an air conditioning or heat pump condenser. Also, the peripheral frame members are not described as being entirely angle channel joined by screws.
Other examples are seen in U.S. Pat. No. 2,989,967, issued to Kenneth D. Lee on Jun. 27, 1961, U.S. Pat. No. 3,744,500, issued to Robert S. Briggs on Jul. 10, 1973, U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,892, issued to Daniel T. Osmonson et al. on May 22, 1990, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,622,198, issued to Raymond A. Elsinger on Apr. 22, 1997. Each of the subjected devices of these patents differs from the present invention in the manner of Ballinger.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides a readily erected, portable shelter suitable for covering and protecting the outdoor condenser of a split system air conditioner or heat pump. The shelter comprises five rectangular panels which are joined to one another to form a parallelepiped covering the condenser. One panel has a relief which passes refrigerant conduits and control and power electrical cables. The relief opening is located proximate the ground, and opens downwardly so that the panel including the relief opening, and also the assembled shelter, may be lowered over the condenser and set into a final position without causing interference between the conduits and the shelter.
Each panel of the shelter is of mesh construction, so that air flows readily to the condenser, but leaves, trash, and other debris are excluded from access to the condenser. To a certain degree, the condenser is protected from weather and sun. And to the extent that contact with the condenser could be dangerous to children and pets, the shelter protects children and pets from the condenser.
Benefits to the condenser include reduced cleaning and maintenance. Also, operating temperature is reduced due to the cooling effect of air flow, which reduces energy consumption and extends the useful life of the compressor serving the air conditioner or heat pump.
The shelter further improves aesthetics of the condenser by partially concealing the same.
Accordingly, it is one object of the invention to provide a protective shelter for excluding leaves and other debris from the condenser of an air conditioning system.
It is another object of the invention that the shelter be readily erected.
It is a further object of the invention to improve efficiency and life expectancy of components of the air conditioning system.
Still another object of the invention is to protect animals and children from incidental contact with the condenser.
An additional object of the invention is to improve aesthetics of the condenser.
Yet another object of the invention is to enable the shelter to be lowered into place over the condenser while avoiding interference with refrigerant conduits and electrical cables serving the condenser.
It is an object of the invention to provide improved elements and arrangements thereof in an apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2967533 (1961-01-01), Ballinger
patent: 2989967 (1961-06-01), Lee
patent: 3744500 (1973-07-01), Briggs
patent: 3908393 (1975-09-01), Eubank
patent: 4926892 (1990-05-01), Osmonson et al.
patent: 5097678 (1992-03-01), Aubuchon
patent: 5622198 (1997-04-01), Elsinger
patent: 5655382 (1997-08-01), Chen
Chin-Shue Alvin
Purol Sarah
Siemens Patent Services LC
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