Mounting clamp

Abstract

During a manufacturing process of an air conditioning system, different components of the air conditioning system may be mounted to a frame or an attachment panel of the air conditioning system. A mounting clamp that is configured to facilitate mounting of a component of the air conditioning system is described. The mounting clamp may have an “E” shaped profile that includes a plurality of finger grips to latch onto an edge of the components. It may also have ribs and wall structures to help enhance the structural strength of the mounting clamp while maintaining a relatively small profile and/or weight of the mounting clamp.

What claimed is: 
     
         1 . A mounting clamp for mounting a component to a panel of an air conditioning system comprising:
 a front face, a back face, a top surface and a bottom surface; and   a plurality of protrusions extending out of the front face, each of the plurality of protrusions including a finger grip extending downwardly toward the bottom surface, wherein the finger grips and the front face form a plurality of grip arches that are configured to latch on an edge of a component;   wherein the top surface includes a first pocket and the bottom surface includes a second pocket,   wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are concentric, and   wherein a center of the first pocket and a center of the second pocket are positioned are a middle position between a first end and a second end of the mounting clamp.   
     
     
         2 . The mounting clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are configured to accommodate a fastener and a nut. 
     
     
         3 . The mounting clamp of  claim 2 , wherein at least one of the first pocket or the second pocket is configured to include at least one crush rib. 
     
     
         4 . The mounting clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the top surface includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs and latitudinal ribs that are raised from the top surface of the mounting clamp. 
     
     
         5 . The mounting clamp of  claim 1 , wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality of cavities forming wall structures between the front face and the back face. 
     
     
         6 . The mounting clamp of  claim 5 , further comprising a transition surface between the bottom surface and the front face along the length of the mounting clamp. 
     
     
         7 . The mounting clamp of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of finger grips includes a bottom portion that is configured to have a grip surface. 
     
     
         8 . The mounting clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the grip surface is coated with a material that is different from a material forming the mounting clamp. 
     
     
         9 . The mounting clamp of  claim 7 , wherein the grip surface is configured to include anti-skid treads. 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioning system comprising:
 an attachment panel that includes an installation hole;   a blower that includes a raised edge;   a nut and a fastener; and   a mounting clamp, wherein the mounting clamp includes a finger grip configured to latch onto the raised edge, the mounting clamp including a first pocket and a second pocket, the first pocket configured to receive the nut and the second pocket configured to receive the fastener, and wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are concentric;   wherein the nut is configured to be positioned in the first pocket,   wherein the fastener is configured to pass through the installation hole of the attachment panel and the second pocket, and   wherein the fastener engages the nut in the first pocket.   
     
     
         11 . A mounting clamp for mounting a component to an attachment panel of an air conditioning system comprising:
 a front face, a back face, a top surface and a bottom surface; and   a plurality of protrusions extending out of the front face, each of the plurality of protrusions including a finger grip extending downwardly toward the bottom surface, wherein the finger grips and the front face form a plurality of grip arches;   wherein the top surface includes a plurality of longitudinal ribs and latitudinal ribs raised from the top surface,   wherein the bottom surface includes a plurality of cavities forming wall structures between the front face and the back face,   wherein the top surface includes a first pocket and the bottom surface includes a second pocket,   wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are concentric, and   wherein a center of the first pocket and a center of the second pocket are positioned are a middle position between a first end and a second end of the mounting clamp; and wherein a transition surface between the bottom surface and the front face along a length of the mounting clamp.   
     
     
         12 . The mounting clamp of  claim 11 , wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are configured to accommodate a fastener and a nut. 
     
     
         13 . The mounting clamp of  claim 11 , wherein each of the finger grips includes a bottom that is configured to include a grip surface. 
     
     
         14 . The mounting clamp of  claim 13 , wherein the grip surface is coated with a material that is different from a material forming the mounting clamp 
     
     
         15 . The mounting clamp of  claim 14 , wherein the grip surface is configured to include anti-skid treads.