Air conditioner cover with opening and closing feature

Abstract

An air conditioner cover for an outside air conditioner is provided. The cover may include a shutter that has a plurality of slats. The shutter can have a side wall, and the slats may be pivotally mounted to the side wall. The slats can be capable of pivoting from a closed position to an open position.

1 . An air conditioner cover, comprising:
 a shutter that has a plurality of slats, wherein the shutter has a side wall and wherein the slats are pivotally mounted to the side wall, wherein the slats are capable of pivoting from a closed position to an open position.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the shutter has a second side wall, and wherein the slats extend from the side wall to the second side wall and are pivotally mounted to the second side wall, wherein when the slats are in the closed position the shutter is closed and wherein when the slats are in the open position the shutter is open to allow greater airflow therethrough as opposed to when the shutter is closed. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 2 , further comprising:
 a frame that is attached to the shutter, wherein the frame and the shutter are located adjacent a side of an outside air conditioner;   a second shutter that has a plurality of slats capable of pivoting from a closed position to an open position, wherein the second shutter has a first side wall and a second side wall and wherein the slats of the second shutter extend between and are pivotally mounted to the first and second side walls of the second shutter, wherein when the slats of the second shutter are in the closed position the second shutter is closed and wherein when the slats of the second shutter are in the open position the second shutter is open to allow greater airflow therethrough as opposed to when the second shutter is closed; and   a second frame that is attached to the second shutter, wherein the second frame and the second shutter are located adjacent a top of the outside air conditioner.   
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 3 , further comprising:
 a third shutter that has a plurality of slats capable of pivoting from a closed position to an open position, wherein the third shutter has a first side wall and a second side wall and wherein the slats of the third shutter extend between and are pivotally mounted to the first and second side walls of the third shutter, wherein when the slats of the third shutter are in the closed position the third shutter is closed and wherein when the slats of the third shutter are in the open position the third shutter is open to allow greater airflow therethrough as opposed to when the third shutter is closed;   a third frame that is attached to the third shutter, wherein the third frame and the third shutter are located adjacent a second side of the outside air conditioner;   a fourth shutter that has a plurality of slats capable of pivoting from a closed position to an open position, wherein the fourth shutter has a first side wall and a second side wall and wherein the slats of the fourth shutter extend between and are pivotally mounted to the first and second side walls of the fourth shutter, wherein when the slats of the fourth shutter are in the closed position the fourth shutter is closed and wherein when the slats of the fourth shutter are in the open position the fourth shutter is open to allow greater airflow therethrough as opposed to when the fourth shutter is closed; and   a fourth frame that is attached to the fourth shutter, wherein the fourth frame and the fourth shutter are located adjacent a third side of the outside air conditioner;   wherein the frame contacts the second frame, the third frame, and the fourth frame, and wherein the second frame contacts the third frame and the fourth frame, and wherein the third frame and the fourth frame do not contact one another.   
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 1 , further comprising an outside air conditioner, wherein when the outside air conditioner turns on to cause heat transfer the slats pivot from the closed position to the open position and remain in the open position while the outside air conditioner continues to run, and wherein when the outside air conditioner turns off the slats pivot from the open position back to the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the slats are pivoted from the closed position to the open position via airflow generated by the outside air conditioner when the outside air conditioner turns on. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a mechanical linkage that is attached to all of the slats; and   a linear solenoid actuator that is attached to at least one of the slats, wherein the linear solenoid actuator is capable of being actuated in order to cause the at least one attached slat to pivot with respect to the side wall, and wherein pivoting of the at least one attached slat causes the mechanical linkage to move such that the slats attached to the mechanical linkage also pivot with respect to the side wall.   
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a linear solenoid actuator;   a mechanical linkage attached to the linear solenoid actuator such that movement of the linear solenoid actuator causes the mechanical linkage to move in a linear direction, wherein the mechanical linkage is attached to each of the slats such that movement of the mechanical linkage in the linear direction causes the attached slats to pivot with respect to the side wall; and   a spring attached to the mechanical linkage, wherein the spring urges the mechanical linkage in the linear direction so as to urge the slats into the closed position.   
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 8 , wherein the linear solenoid actuator receives an electrical signal from the outside air conditioner to cause the linear solenoid actuator to actuate and to deactivate. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein ends of the slats opposite from pivotally mounted connections of the slats are located farther from the outside air conditioner when the slats are in the open position than when the slats are in the closed position, and wherein the slats are made of a non-corrosive material. 
     
     
         11 . An air conditioner cover, comprising:
 a shutter that has a plurality of slats, wherein the shutter is oriented vertically so as to extend adjacent to a side of an outside air conditioner, wherein the slats are located in an open position when the outside air conditioner is running, and wherein the slats are located in a closed position when the outside air conditioner is not running.   
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the shutter has a first side wall and a second side wall, wherein the slats extend between the first and second side walls and are pivotally mounted to the first and second side walls, wherein the slats pivot between the open position and the closed position, wherein when the slats are in the open position greater airflow is capable through the shutter than when the slats are in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a frame that is attached to the shutter;   a second shutter that has a plurality of slats, wherein the slats of the second shutter are located in an open position when the outside air conditioner is running, and wherein the slats of the second shutter are located in a closed position when the outside air conditioner is not running;   a second frame that is attached to the second shutter, wherein the second frame and the second shutter are oriented horizontally so as be located above and extend adjacent a top of the outside air conditioner, wherein the first frame engages the second frame.   
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a third shutter that has a plurality of slats, wherein the slats of the third shutter are located in an open position when the outside air conditioner is running, wherein the slats of the third shutter are located in a closed position when the outside air conditioner is not running;   a third frame that is attached to the third shutter, wherein the third frame and the third shutter are oriented vertically so as to extend adjacent to a second side of an outside air conditioner, wherein the third frame engages the first and second frames;   a fourth shutter that has a plurality of slats, wherein the slats of the fourth shutter are located in an open position when the outside air conditioner is running, wherein the slats of the fourth shutter are located in a closed position when the outside air conditioner is not running;   a fourth frame that is attached to the fourth shutter, wherein the fourth frame and the fourth shutter are oriented vertically so as to extend adjacent to a third side of an outside air conditioner, wherein the fourth frame engages the first and second frames and does not engage the third frame.   
     
     
         15 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the slats are moved between the closed position and the open position via airflow generated by the outside air conditioner when the outside air conditioner is running. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a mechanical linkage that is attached to all of the slats; and   a linear solenoid actuator that is attached to at least one of the slats, wherein the linear solenoid actuator is capable of being actuated in order to cause the at least one attached slat to change from the closed position to the open position, and wherein movement of the at least one attached slat causes the mechanical linkage to move such that the slats attached to the mechanical linkage also move from the closed position to the open position.   
     
     
         17 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 11 , further comprising:
 a linear solenoid actuator;   a mechanical linkage attached to the linear solenoid actuator such that movement of the linear solenoid actuator causes the mechanical linkage to move in a linear direction, wherein the mechanical linkage is attached to each of the slats such that movement of the mechanical linkage in the linear direction causes the attached slats to pivot; and   a spring attached to the mechanical linkage, wherein the spring urges the mechanical linkage in the linear direction so as to urge the slats into the closed position.   
     
     
         18 . The air conditioner as set forth in  claim 17 , wherein the linear solenoid actuator receives an electrical signal from the outside air conditioner to cause the linear solenoid actuator to actuate. 
     
     
         19 . An air conditioner cover, comprising:
 a shutter that has a plurality of slats, wherein the shutter is oriented horizontally so as be located above and extend adjacent a top of an outside air conditioner, wherein the slats are located in an open position when the outside air conditioner is running so that exhaust air from the outside air conditioner can flow through the shutter, and wherein the slats are located in a closed position when the outside air conditioner is not running so that airflow through the shutter to the outside air conditioner is hindered.   
     
     
         20 . The air conditioner cover as set forth in  claim 19 , further comprising:
 a linear solenoid actuator;   a mechanical linkage attached to the linear solenoid actuator such that movement of the linear solenoid actuator causes the mechanical linkage to move in a linear direction, wherein the mechanical linkage is attached to each of the slats such that movement of the mechanical linkage in the linear direction causes the attached slats to pivot; and   a spring attached to the mechanical linkage, wherein the spring urges the mechanical linkage in the linear direction so as to urge the slats into the closed position;   wherein the linear solenoid actuator receives an electrical signal from the outside air conditioner to cause the linear solenoid actuator to actuate.