WO2008104700A2 - Device for camouflaging air-conditioning equipment - Google Patents

Abstract

Camouflage device intended to hide and change the visual appearance of air-conditioning equipment attached to a wall or a partition, comprising at least one frontal front panel (1) that is at least partially perforated to allow the conditioned air through when the said air-conditioning equipment is in operation, said device being fixed removably to said wall or partition without being in contact with said air-conditioning equipment.

Description

 Camouflage device for air conditioning apparatus

The present invention relates to a camouflage device of an air conditioning unit, in particular of the wall type.

The air conditioning unit installed on the interior walls of residential and / or professional premises is an unsightly addition and visible on the walls. Its nature and its technical peculiarity make it an object that can not be modulated to the arrangements of each one.

The present invention aims to provide a device that overcomes the disadvantages of the state of the art.

In particular, the present invention aims to provide a camouflage device simple, effective, does not interfere with the operation of the air conditioning unit, flexible and / or inexpensive to manufacture and assemble.

The present invention therefore relates to a camouflage device for masking and transforming the visual appearance of an air conditioning device fixed to a wall or a wall, comprising at least one front panel at least partially perforated adapted to let pass the air conditioning in operation of said air conditioning apparatus, said device being removably attached to said wall or wall, without contact with said air conditioning apparatus. Advantageously, the device comprises two hinged lateral panels and a hinged lower panel, the lower panel including folding on the front front panel, the two side panels including folding on the lower panel.

Advantageously, the device comprises connecting means, such as screws, located at the bottom of the side panels for fixing the lower panel.

Advantageously, the device comprises fixing means located on the side panels, allowing the attachment of the device on supports fixed to the wall. Advantageously, at least one of the two side panels and the lower panel is perforated to retain the physical characteristics of the air flow from the air conditioner.

Advantageously, the front panel is perforated with horizontal slats, the side panels are perforated with vertical slats, and the lower panel is perforated with horizontal slats.

Advantageously, the device comprises notches on the edges of the side panels and a notch on the edge of the lower panel, to allow the passage of any electrical cables or ducts. Advantageously, the device comprises a wall fixing device, assisted by a pre-marking paper template facilitating the wall drilling for fixing the supports.

Advantageously, said front front panel has a removable front. Advantageously, the device comprises a plurality of panels assembled to each other removably.

The device according to the invention therefore makes it possible in particular to improve the visual appearance of the air conditioning apparatus, without modifying their modes of operation. The removable facades allow in particular to adapt the device according to the wishes of users. The dimensions of the device advantageously allow to surround on each side, from bottom to top the air conditioning unit. Its fasteners, which can be located at the rear of its side edges, advantageously allow it a simple interlocking, secure and removable. Its folding and / or disassembly makes this device according to the invention particularly suitable for transport and storage.

These features and advantages of the invention, and others, will emerge more clearly from the following detailed description of several embodiments of the invention, with reference to the accompanying drawings, given by way of non-limiting examples, and in which: - Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view from the front of a device according to an advantageous embodiment of the present invention, FIG. 2 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, on the side, illustrating the fixing of the device on a wall to disguise an air conditioning apparatus,

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of FIG. 2, showing an exemplary embodiment of the fixing means allowing the device to be releasably attached to a wall,

FIGS. 4 to 8 diagrammatically show in perspective and seen from the rear the various folding steps of a device according to an advantageous embodiment of the invention; FIGS. 9 and 10 are views similar to those of FIGS. 2 and

3, showing another embodiment of the fastening means,

FIG. 11 is a view similar to that of FIG. 1, showing another advantageous embodiment of the invention, with an interchangeable facade, FIG. 12 is a view similar to that of FIG. 4, showing another embodiment of the invention, wherein the device is removable, and

FIG. 13 is a detailed view of FIG. 12, showing an exemplary embodiment of the assembly means of the dismountable device of FIG. 12.

According to the invention, the camouflage device comprises at least one frontal front panel 1 at least partially perforated to let the conditioned air, generally cold air, of the air conditioning unit when it operates. In order not to hinder the proper functioning of the apparatus, and to be able to adapt simply to all types of air conditioning apparatus, the camouflage device of the invention is removably attached to the wall or wall receiving the apparatus air conditioning, without contact with said air conditioning unit.

Figures 1 to 8 show an advantageous embodiment of the invention.

In this embodiment, the camouflage device comprises four panels. The front panel 1 openwork is advantageously of substantially rectangular shape as visible in the figures, but any other suitable form would also be usable. This front panel 1 is firstly connected on each side to a respective side panel 3C, 3D, and secondly connected on its lower side to a lower panel 2. These side and bottom panels can also be openwork, or full and any combination of solid panels and / or openwork is possible. The four panels of this embodiment are hingedly mounted to each other, as more clearly illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 8. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 5 and 6, the bottom panel 2 can fold back to the inside the front panel 1, for example around appropriate hinges (5B1 and 5B2 for the bottom panel, 5C1 and 5C2 for the first side panel 3C, and 5D1 and 5D2 for the second side panel 3D), as illustrated by the arrow of Figure 5. Of course, all types of joints between the panels are conceivable. Then, the side panels 3C and 3D can also fold inward as shown by the arrows in Figure 7. This allows to significantly reduce the size of the device when not in use, for example during transport or during storage, as shown in Figure 8.

The device may include notches or the like for the passage of electrical cables. In particular, the side panels 3C and

3D and the lower panel 2 may comprise on their slices notches 9B, 9C, 9D of a few millimeters in thickness and a few centimeters in length, for example:

a notch 9C for the side panel 3C situated at the bottom of the panel;

a notch 9D for the 3D side panel located at the bottom of the panel;

- A notch 9B for the lower panel 2 located in the central part, wall fixing side. The device can be made to the appropriate dimensions to camouflage the indoor units of the various air conditioning units, in particular those with a power of 7000 btu to 36000 btu, and the units indoor heat pumps. By way of non-limiting example, the camouflage device of the indoor unit of a 9000 BTU air conditioner may have dimensions of 85 cm for the length, 22.5 cm for the depth and 35 cm for the height. Once folded, the depth will be only about 6 cm. The securing of the lower panel 2 on the side panels 3C and 3D can be provided by connecting means, such as screws or the like.

The four panels may be perforated, as shown in Figures 1 to 8. For example, spaced bars, which may be of different materials, may be fixed inside a solid frame of each of the four panels, allowing to best camouflage the air conditioning unit while respecting the flow of air necessary for proper operation both in suction and air discharge. For example, the front panel 1 and the lower panel 2 may have horizontal blades, and the two side panels 3C and 3D may have vertical blades. Throughout the entire length of the lower part of the front panel 1, a spacing of a few centimeters in height, for example 8 or 10 cm, can be established at the air extraction mouth of the apparatus.

The device can be fixed to the wall or wall using a hooked system for holding and quick release for the maintenance of the air conditioning unit. The wall mounting device may be composed of two parts, one of which is integral with the side panels 3C and 3D and the other fixed on the wall. FIGS. 2 and 3 show a first exemplary embodiment, in which the wall receives supports 10 of the hook type, two in number for each side panel in this example, adapted to cooperate with openings 7C and 7D provided in the slices of the panels. 3C and 3D side. FIGS. 9 and 10 show another exemplary embodiment, in which the wall receives a support 10 for each lateral panel, the support 10 being in the form of a projection adapted to cooperate with fixing means 7C and 7D, in the form of receiving housing. projection between two moving elements, such as balls. Other fastening means and other supports are also conceivable, which make it possible to mount the camouflage device around the air conditioner, directly on the wall, and therefore without contact with the air conditioner, and removably.

An advantageous embodiment is shown in FIG. 11, where the front front panel may comprise a removable and therefore interchangeable front panel 11. This allows to customize the camouflage device at will, and to adapt it to the wishes of each user. This also makes it possible to modify the general appearance of the device without having to replace the entire device. This also facilitates in some cases the maintenance of the air conditioner, removing only the removable front and not the device as a whole. FIG. 11 shows a front panel 11 which is inserted into the front panel 1 from above in grooves provided for this purpose, but other embodiments can be envisaged, for example a lateral or bottom insertion (with in this case appropriate restraining means). The front panel 1 could also be pivoted, to tilt forward to change the facade.

Figures 12 and 13 show another embodiment, where the device is not foldable as in Figures 1 to 8, but removable, the various panels being assembled to each other by appropriate assembly means, for example clipping or latching means similar to those shown in Figures 9 and 10 for wall mounting. Figures 12 and 13 show an example of these assembly means 18C and 8C between the front panel 1 and the side panel 3C. This also minimizes the size of the device when it is not used (transport, storage). The examples described in the figures show a device comprising four panels, but any number of panels could be envisaged, provided to have the front panel at least partially openwork.

The device of the invention may be made of any suitable material, including exotic wood, and several different materials may be associated to achieve the various component parts of the device, for example aluminum, plexiglass, rattan, etc. The device of the invention is also usable with air conditioners of the inverter type, adapted to blow air conditioning that is cold or hot depending on the season.

Other modifications are also conceivable without departing from the scope of the present invention defined by the appended claims.

Claims

claims 1.- Camouflage device for masking and transforming the visual appearance of an air conditioning device fixed to a wall or a wall, characterized in that it comprises at least one frontal front panel (1) at least partially perforated adapted passing air conditioning during operation of said air conditioning apparatus, said device being removably attached to said wall or wall, without contact with said air conditioning apparatus. 2. camouflage device according to claim 1, comprising two articulated side panels (3C, 3D) and a lower panel (2) hinged, the lower panel (2) in particular to fold on the front front panel (1), the two side panels (3C) and (3D) including folding on the lower panel (2). 3. Camouflage device according to claim 1 or 2, comprising connecting means, such as screws, located at the bottom of the side panels (3C, 3D) for fixing the lower panel (2). 4. Camouflage device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, comprising fixing means (7C) and (7D) located on the side panels (3C) and (3D), allowing the attachment of the device on brackets (10) attached to the wall. 5. Camouflage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the two side panels (3C) and (3D) and the lower panel (2) is perforated, to retain the physical characteristics of the air flow from the air conditioner. 6. A camouflage device according to claim 5, wherein the front panel (1) is perforated with horizontal slats, the side panels (3C) and (3D) are perforated with vertical slats, and the lower panel (2). is perforated with horizontal slats. 7. Camouflage device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, having notches (9D) and (9C) on the edges of the side panels and a notch (9B) on the edge of the lower panel, to allow the passage possible electrical cables or ducts. 8. Camouflage device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising a wall fixing device, assisted by a pre-marking paper template facilitating the wall drilling for fixing the supports (10). 9. Camouflage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said front front panel (1) has a removable front (11). 10. Camouflage device according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the device comprises a plurality of panels (1, 2, 3C, 3D) removably assembled to each other.