Air diverter for evaporator and heating units

Abstract

A snap-on downwardly deflecting air diverter for freeblow evaporator and/or heating units. The diverter includes a hood having a closed upper section and an open bottom section defined by a front panel and two side panels that extend generally perpendicularly from the front panel. The free edge of-each side panel has at least one fastening element for removably securing the diverter to the outlet grille of the evaporator and/or heating unit. With the diverter in place, air exiting the evaporator and/or heating unit passes through the grille and, in that area covered by the diverter, strikes the inner surface of the hood and is directed downwardly through the open bottom section.

1 . A diverter for deflecting air exiting through a louvered grille of an evaporator unit comprising:
 a hood having a front panel with a closed top section and two opposed side panels extending from said closed top section to form an open bottom section with said front panel; and   a coupling component integral with said hood for removably coupling said diverter to the louvered grille.   
   
   
       2 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein said diverter is made as a single molded construction of a plastic material. 
   
   
       3 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a free edge of each side panel has a plurality of cutouts with a spacing from one another that corresponds with the spacing of the grille louvers. 
   
   
       4 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein said cutouts are generally triangular in shape to correspond with an angled edge of the grille louvers. 
   
   
       5 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the coupling component includes at least one fastening element projecting from each of said side panels. 
   
   
       6 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the fastening elements on the two side panels are aligned with one another, each being adjacent the bottom edge. 
   
   
       7 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the coupling component further includes a fastening element on the closed top section that extends from and is generally centered on an uppermost free edge thereof. 
   
   
       8 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein each of said fastening elements includes a hook member that is flexibly engaged with a section of said grille. 
   
   
       9 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said section is one of said louvers. 
   
   
       10 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein said section is a reinforcement member extending transversely to said louvers. 
   
   
       11 . In combination, an evaporator unit and a diverter for deflecting air exiting said evaporator unit, said combination comprising:
 an evaporator unit having a grille with generally horizontal louvers and generally vertical reinforcement members;   a diverter removably mounted on said grille to deflect a section of air exiting from said evaporator unit through said grille, said diverter including:
 a hood having a front panel with a closed top section and two opposed side panels extending from said closed top section to form an open bottom section with said front panel, said open bottom section having a greater depth than said closed top section; 
 two side panels oriented generally perpendicularly to said front panel; and 
 a coupling component for removably coupling said diverter to said grille, said coupling component including at least two fastening elements each having a hook member, said fastening elements being flexibly engaged with two of said louvers or two of said reinforcement elements. 
   
   
   
       12 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein said diverter is made as a single molded construction of a polymeric material. 
   
   
       13 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein a free edge of each side panel has a plurality of cutouts with a spacing from one another that corresponds with the spacing of the grille louvers. 
   
   
       14 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 13 , wherein said cutouts are generally triangular in shape to correspond with an angled edge of the grille louvers. 
   
   
       15 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the coupling component includes at least one fastening element projecting from each of said side panels. 
   
   
       16 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 15 , wherein the fastening elements on the two side panels are aligned with one another, each being adjacent the bottom edge. 
   
   
       17 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each of said side panel fastening elements includes a hook member that is flexibly engaged with a section of said grille. 
   
   
       18 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein said section is one of said louvers. 
   
   
       19 . The diverter as set forth in  claim 16 , wherein each of said side panel fastening elements includes a flexible leg and a hook member with a sloped surface that facilitates snap-on connection with said grille.