Absorbent bezel for air conditioner

Claim 2

A front panel for an automobile air conditioner comprising: a frame of rigid material having top, bottom and side walls, the front edges of said walls having rearwardly extending flanges to provide a louver receiving opening; a formed layer of resilient material secured around the outer surfaces of said frame walls and a portion of the surfaces of said flanges, said layer of resilient material having a portion that is spaced from the front edges of said frame to provide an air cushion therebetween; and a cover of flexible material extending over said resilient material and securing said resilient material in place, the edges of said cover extending around the rear edges of said frame and being secured intermediate said frame and a locking member; said locking member being secured to the back of said frame.

Claim 3

The front panel of claim 1 wherein said locking member is secured to the back of said frame by fastening means that also define a plurality of stations for positioning a control plate and a louver mount, and wherein said louver mount and said control plate are fastened at respective and preselected ones of said plurality of stations between the edges of said flanges.

Claim 4

A front panel for an automobile air conditioner comprising: a frame of rigid material having top, bottom and side walls, the front edges of said walls having rearwardly extending flanges to provide a louver receiving opening; a formed layer of resilient material secured around the outer surfaces of said frame walls and on a portion of the surfaces of said flanges, said layer of resilient material haviNg a portion that is spaced from the front edges of said frame to provide an air cushion therebetween; and at least one louver mount and a control plate bonded between the edges of said flanges at selected positions relative to the sidewalls of said frame.

Claim 5

A front panel for an automobile air conditioner comprising: a frame of rigid material having top, bottom and side walls, the front edges of said walls having rearwardly extending flanges to provide a louver receiving opening; a formed layer of resilient material secured around the outer surfaces of said frame walls and on a portion of the surfaces of said flanges, said layer of resilient material haviNg a portion that is spaced from the front edges of said frame to provide an air cushion therebetween; and at least one louver mount and a control plate bonded between the edges of said flanges at selected positions relative to the sidewalls of said frame.

Claim 6

A front panel for an automobile air conditioner comprising: a molded rigid frame having top, bottom and side walls defining a louver receiving opening and having a predetermined outer contour that includes a front edge portion; and a premolded, resilient shock absorbing cover having a first portion of its interior surface that is premolded to conformingly fit said predetermined outer contour, and having a second portion of its interior surface that is premolded to protrude forwardly of said front edge portion; said premolded shock absorbing cover having its first portion bonded to substantially the entire said outer contour of said molded rigid frame except said front edge portion, and having its second portion protruding forwardly of said front edge portion to trap a volume of air and form a compressible air cushion forwardly of said front edge portion; said shock absorbing cover thereby forming a second external contour.

Claim 7

A front panel for an automobile air conditioner comprising: a molded rigid frame having top, bottom and side walls defining a louver receiving opening and having a predetermined outer contour that includes a front edge portion; and a premolded, resilient shock absorbing cover having a first portion of its interior surface that is premolded to conformingly fit said predetermined outer contour, and having a second portion of its interior surface that is premolded to protrude forwardly of said front edge portion; said premolded shock absorbing cover having its first portion bonded to substantially the entire said outer contour of said molded rigid frame except said front edge portion, and having its second portion protruding forwardly of said front edge portion to trap a volume of air and form a compressible air cushion forwardly of said front edge portion; said shock absorbing cover thereby forming a second external contour.