US3583175A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal air distribution plenum for air-conditioning unit
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1969-05-26
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Granted: 1971-06-08
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Expires: 1989-05-26
Abstract
Abstract A universal air distribution plenum, for use with a vertically stacked self-contained air-conditioning unit requiring a minimal amount of floor space and having an air-cooled condenser means characterized by an enclosure separated into a suction chamber and a discharge chamber by an internal partition that can be oriented and at least one external panel having a second intake aperture and having a second discharge aperture that can be oriented individually or collectively along any of the axes of the air-conditioning unit. Because of its flexibility, the universal air distribution plenum can be manufactured and assembled right into the air-conditioning unit, yet with only a minor adjustment; such as, changing an external panel and without requiring space-consuming, expensive, custom-built duct turns within the minimal floor space; enable taking in cool air from a source and discharging hot air into a sink in any direction; such as, through the ceiling, beneath the floor, or through any wall of a home in which the air-conditioning unit is installed. Also disclosed are the specific elements allowing the completed unit to function, and specific preferred embodiments; such as, having a cabinet that is square in cross-sectional shape housing the air-conditioning unit, and having a plurality of interchangeable external panels containing, together or separately, the second intake aperture and the second discharge aperture for achieving flexibility in adapting the air-conditioning unit to a small space in the home and effecting connection with a source of cool air and a sink for hot air regardless of direction thereto.
Inventors
- 👤 Marcus P Eubank
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 22:23
CPC Classifications
F; F24; F24F; F24F5/00; F24F5/0007; F24F5/001
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
297 words
In a vertically stacked self-contained air-conditioning unit having a cabinet requiring minimal floor space and having an aircooled condenser means and a circulation means for circulating air in heat exchange relationship with said condenser means, the improvement comprising a universal air distribution plenum for effecting intake of cool air from a source and discharge of hot air to a sink along either the vertical axis, the front-to-rear axis, or the side-to-side axis of said air-conditioning unit with a multidirection plenum, said universal air distribution plenum consisting essentially of: a. an enclosure defined by a framework having cross-sectional external dimensions conforming to the cross-sectional dimensions of said cabinet; b. a fluid-impermeable partition separating said enclosure into two chambers, one for serving as a suction chamber and one for serving as a discharge chamber; c. an intake aperture at a vertical end of said cabinet and communicating between said suction chamber and the suction side of said circulation means; d. a discharge aperture at said vertical end of said cabinet communicating between said discharge chamber and the discharge side of said circulation means; and e. a plurality of panel means adapted to be fixed to said framework defining said enclosure, including at least one panel means containing a second intake aperture and lip extension for communicating between said source of cool air and said suction chamber, and at least one panel means containing a second discharge aperture and lip extension for communicating between said discharge chamber and said sink for hot air; said intake aperture, said discharge aperture, said partition and said plurality of panel means being interchangeably positionable for orientation to effect, individually and respectively, intake of said cool air and discharge of said hot air along either said vertical axis, said front-to-rear axis, or said side-to-side axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
297 words
In a vertically stacked self-contained air-conditioning unit having a cabinet requiring minimal floor space and having an aircooled condenser means and a circulation means for circulating air in heat exchange relationship with said condenser means, the improvement comprising a universal air distribution plenum for effecting intake of cool air from a source and discharge of hot air to a sink along either the vertical axis, the front-to-rear axis, or the side-to-side axis of said air-conditioning unit with a multidirection plenum, said universal air distribution plenum consisting essentially of: a. an enclosure defined by a framework having cross-sectional external dimensions conforming to the cross-sectional dimensions of said cabinet; b. a fluid-impermeable partition separating said enclosure into two chambers, one for serving as a suction chamber and one for serving as a discharge chamber; c. an intake aperture at a vertical end of said cabinet and communicating between said suction chamber and the suction side of said circulation means; d. a discharge aperture at said vertical end of said cabinet communicating between said discharge chamber and the discharge side of said circulation means; and e. a plurality of panel means adapted to be fixed to said framework defining said enclosure, including at least one panel means containing a second intake aperture and lip extension for communicating between said source of cool air and said suction chamber, and at least one panel means containing a second discharge aperture and lip extension for communicating between said discharge chamber and said sink for hot air; said intake aperture, said discharge aperture, said partition and said plurality of panel means being interchangeably positionable for orientation to effect, individually and respectively, intake of said cool air and discharge of said hot air along either said vertical axis, said front-to-rear axis, or said side-to-side axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
85 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein said intake aperture and said discharge aperture are fixed in relation to said cabinet, said partition is oriented to separate said intake aperture and said discharge aperture and one of said plurality of panel means contains both said second intake aperture and its lip extension and said second discharge aperture and its lip extension and is positionable at one end of said partition such that said partition also separates said second intake aperture and said second discharge aperture.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
59 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 2 wherein said second intake aperture is adopted to take in cool air from said source of cool air at an external wall of a home in which said air-conditioning unit is installed and said second discharge aperture is adopted to discharge said hot air into said sink for hot air through said wall.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
64 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein said intake aperture and said discharge aperture are fixed in relation to said cabinet, said partition is oriented to separate said intake and discharge apertures and one of said plurality of panel means contains both said second intake aperture and said second discharge aperture and is positioned at the vertical end of said enclosure opposite said cabinet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
56 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 4 wherein said second intake aperture is adopted to receive cool air from said source of cool air beneath a floor of a home in which said air-conditioning unit is installed and said second discharge aperture is adopted to discharge hot air into said sink for hot air beneath said floor.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
43 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein said cabinet is equidimensional in cross section, said plurality of panel means comprise four removable panels that are interchangeable, and said partition is removably fixed for orientation along either the front-to-rear axis or the side-to-side axis.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein said cabinet has a square cross section and said plurality of panel means comprise six panels, the panels being one-half as wide as they are long, said panels are interchangeable on the side and on the vertical end opposite said cAbinet; and two of said panels contain a single aperture each for use as said second intake aperture and said second discharge aperture.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
69 words
The air-conditioning unit of claim 1 wherein said cabinet has a square cross section and said plurality of panel means comprise six panels, the panels being one-half as wide as they are long, said panels are interchangeable on the sides and on the vertical end opposite said cabinet; and wherein one of said panels contains two apertures for use as both said second intake and said second discharge apertures.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-06-07 | 1974-12-07 | 1975-06-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-06-07 | 1978-12-07 | 1979-06-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-06-07 | 1982-12-07 | 1983-06-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |