Refrigerating unit having heat exchanger-mounting shroud

Abstract

A refrigerating unit including a base, a heat exchanger, and a shroud attached to the base, the shroud provided with integrally formed means for gripping the heat exchanger and mounting the heat exchanger to the base. More particularly, a condensing unit including a base, a heat exchanger having opposite side edges defined by a pair of substantially cylindrical headers, at least one of the headers having an inlet tube or an outlet tube extending from a side surface thereof near one end of the header, and a substantially rectangular shroud attached to the base and being provided with notched corners forming notched corner edges. The shroud has a top surface which is provided with at least one elongate boss, and a plurality of integrally-formed resilient gripping portions which surround and capture the heat exchanger headers. The heat exchanger is mounted to the base through the engagement of the heat exchanger and the shroud, clearance is provided between a shroud notched corner edge and the heat exchanger inlet or outlet tube, and the boss provides a means for supporting the shroud when placed upside down prior to the shroud being attached to the base.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . A refrigerating unit comprising: 
 a base;    a heat exchanger through which air passes;    an air-directing shroud having an aperture attached to said base, said heat exchanger being engaged with said shroud, said heat exchanger being mounted to said base through the engagement of said heat exchanger and said shroud wherein said heat exchanger has a bottom edge, said bottom edge abutting said base, said base having at least one recess, said shroud having at least one projection engaging said at least one recess in a snap-fit manner.    
   
   
       26 . The refrigeration unit of  claim 25 , said at least one projection including a first ledge, said base including a second ledge projecting over a portion of said at least one recess, said first ledge engageable with said second ledge to retain said shroud to said base.  
   
   
       27 . The refrigeration unit of  claim 25 , said at least one projection including an L-shaped hook, said L-shaped hook including a first leg extending from said shroud and a second leg extending from said first leg, said at least one recess including a L-shaped cavity, said L-shaped cavity including a first cavity extending substantially perpendicular from a surface of said base into said base and a second cavity extending substantially perpendicular to said first cavity and substantially parallel to said surface, said second leg engageable with said second cavity to retain said shroud to said base.  
   
   
       28 . A method of assembling a refrigeration unit, comprising the steps of: 
 mounting an air-conducting shroud to a heat exchanger, said shroud having at least one elastically deformable gripping portion; and    deforming said at least one gripping portion to a first configuration while mounting said shroud to said heat exchanger, said at least one gripping portion resiliently assuming a second configuration after said shroud has been fully mounted to said heat exchanger.    
   
   
       29 . The method of  claim 28 , said mounting step including the step of pressing said heat exchanger and shroud together, said at least one gripping portion having a tip, said tip in sliding contact with said heat exchanger during said pressing step.  
   
   
       30 . The method of  claim 28 , said shroud having a top surface with at least one elongate boss, said method further including the step of supporting said shroud with said at least one boss when said shroud is placed upside down.