Condenser Cover

Abstract

An enclosure for protecting an air conditioning condenser unit is provided. The enclosure includes a cover for enclosing an outdoor condenser unit, the cover including (1) a metal frame for folding around and over the outdoor condenser unit, the metal frame including a plurality of panels, interconnected to at least one other panel and each panel having a plurality of metal edges, each panel sized for a corresponding section of the outdoor condenser unit, and each panel also includes a metal mesh extending between the metal edges, and (2) a metal security bar for interconnecting opposite panels via extension of the security bar underneath the outdoor condenser unit, whereby when folded around the outdoor condenser unit, the cover substantially approximates the shape of the outdoor condenser unit and prevents access to the outdoor condenser unit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A cover for enclosing an outdoor condenser unit, said cover comprising:
 a metal frame configured for folding around and over the outdoor condenser unit, said metal frame including a plurality of panels, each panel interconnected to at least one other of said plurality of panels, each panel having a plurality of metal edges, wherein each panel is sized for a corresponding section of the outdoor condenser unit, and wherein each panel further includes a metal mesh extending between said plurality of metal edges; and   a metal security bar operable for interconnecting opposite panels via extension of the security bar underneath the outdoor condenser unit;   whereby when folded around the outdoor condenser unit, the cover substantially approximates the shape of the outdoor condenser unit.   
     
     
         2 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein respective interconnected panels are adjoined via hinges. 
     
     
         3 . The cover of  claim 1 , said metal security bar further including a hook portion and a fastener portion at opposite ends of said metal security bar, said fastener portion including a hole. 
     
     
         4 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein said fastener portion includes a tongue portion wherein said hole is in the tongue portion, said fastener portion further including an offset portion perpendicular to a main bar portion of said metal security bar, so that said tongue portion is offset from said main bar portion. 
     
     
         5 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein at least one panel further includes a first aperture adjacent one of said metal edges, said first aperture sized for receiving said hook portion of said metal security bar. 
     
     
         6 . The cover of  claim 4 , wherein at least one other panel further includes a second aperture adjacent one of said metal edges, said second aperture sized for receiving said tongue portion. 
     
     
         7 . The cover of  claim 3 , wherein said metal security bar has a length exceeding that of the outdoor condenser unit. 
     
     
         8 . The cover of  claim 5 , wherein said hook portion of said metal security bar further includes a lip portion for insertion into said first aperture to secure said hook portion to said at least one panel. 
     
     
         9 . The cover of  claim 1 , wherein said metal mesh is formed from expanded metal. 
     
     
         10 . A cover for enclosing an outdoor condenser unit, said cover comprising:
 a metal frame configured for folding around and over the outdoor condenser unit, said metal frame including a plurality of panels, each panel having a plurality of metal edges, and wherein each panel further includes a metal mesh extending between said plurality of metal edges, the plurality of panels including:
 a first panel, said first panel sized for a corresponding first side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
 a second panel, said second panel adjoined to a first metal edge of said first panel, wherein said second panel is sized for a corresponding second side of the outdoor condenser unit, wherein said second panel is foldable to cover the second side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
 a third panel, said third panel adjoined to a second metal edge of said first panel, wherein said second metal edge is opposite said first metal edge, wherein said third panel is sized for a corresponding third side of the outdoor condenser unit opposite the second side of the outdoor condenser unit, wherein said third panel is foldable to cover the third side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
 a fourth panel, said fourth panel adjoined to a third metal edge of said first panel, said third metal edge between said first metal edge and said second metal edge of said first panel, wherein said fourth panel is sized for a corresponding fourth side of the outdoor condenser unit, wherein said fourth panel is foldable to cover the fourth side of the outdoor condenser unit, said fourth panel being adjacent to said first panel, said second panel, and said third panel; and 
 a fifth panel, said fifth panel adjoined to said fourth panel opposite said first panel, wherein said fifth panel is sized for covering a portion of a fifth side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
   said first panel including a first aperture adjacent to a fourth metal edge of said first panel, said fourth metal edge opposite said third metal edge;   said fifth panel including a second aperture adjacent to a metal edge opposite said fourth panel;   a metal security bar, said metal security bar including a hook end and a fastener end, said fastener end offset from said hook end, said metal security bar operable for interconnecting said first panel and said fifth panel, wherein said hook end is inserted into said first aperture, said metal security bar is extended underneath the outdoor condenser unit, and said fastener end is inserted into said second aperture;   whereby when folded around the outdoor condenser unit, the cover substantially approximates the shape of the outdoor condenser unit and prevents access to the outdoor condenser unit.   
     
     
         11 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein said panels are adjoined via hinges. 
     
     
         12 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein said metal mesh is formed from expanded metal. 
     
     
         13 . The cover of  claim 10 , wherein said metal security bar has a length exceeding that of the outdoor condenser unit. 
     
     
         14 . A cover for enclosing an outdoor condenser unit, said cover comprising:
 a metal frame configured for folding around and over the outdoor condenser unit, said metal frame including a plurality of panels, each panel having a plurality of edges, the plurality of panels including:
 a first panel, said first panel sized for a corresponding first side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
 a second panel, said second panel adjoined to a first edge of said first panel, wherein said second panel is sized for a corresponding second side of the outdoor condenser unit, wherein said second panel is foldable to cover the second side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
 a third panel, said third panel adjoined to a second edge of said first panel, wherein said second edge is opposite said first edge, wherein said third panel is sized for a corresponding third side of the outdoor condenser unit opposite the second side of the outdoor condenser unit, wherein said third panel is foldable to cover the third side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
 a fourth panel, said fourth panel adjoined to a third edge of said first panel, said third edge between said first edge and said second edge of said first panel, wherein said fourth panel is sized for a corresponding fourth side of the outdoor condenser unit, wherein said fourth panel is foldable to cover the fourth side of the outdoor condenser unit, said fourth panel being adjacent to said first panel, said second panel, and said third panel; and 
 a fifth panel, said fifth panel adjoined to said fourth panel opposite said first panel, wherein said fifth panel is sized for covering a portion of a fifth side of the outdoor condenser unit; 
   said first panel including a first aperture adjacent to a fourth edge of said first panel, said fourth edge opposite said third edge;   said fifth panel including a second aperture adjacent to an edge opposite said fourth panel;   a security bar, said security bar including a hook end and a fastener end, said fastener end offset from said hook end, said security bar operable for interconnecting said first panel and said fifth panel, wherein said hook end is inserted into said first aperture, said security bar is extended underneath the outdoor condenser unit, and said fastener end is inserted into said second aperture;   whereby when folded around the outdoor condenser unit, the cover substantially approximates the shape of the outdoor condenser unit and prevents access to the outdoor condenser unit.   
     
     
         15 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein said edges are metal edges. 
     
     
         16 . The cover of  claim 15 , wherein each panel further includes a metal mesh extending between said metal edges. 
     
     
         17 . The cover of  claim 14 , wherein said security bar is a metal security bar.