Air Deflector For Packaged Thermal Air Conditioner And Method For Energy Conversation

Abstract

An energy saving device comprising a semi-rigid polycarbonate deflector being a rectangular panel bent into two longitudinal sectors by a lengthwise bend forming an interior angle ranging from one hundred twenty degrees to one-hundred fifty degrees. The bend is designed with an optimum ergonomic angle of the two sectors such as to allow the directing of airflow emanating from the grilles of a Packaged Thermal Air Conditioner (PTAC). Attachment of the deflector to the top surface of the PTAC provides a more efficient and energy-conserving means to direct the flow of cool (or warm) air produced by the PTAC. Environmentally-friendly push-tab fasteners further enhance durability of the attachment of one sector of the deflector to the top surface of the PTAC.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A semi-rigid elastomeric deflector for re-directing the airflow produced by a Packaged Thermal Air Conditioner (PTAC), comprising a substantially longitudinal rectangular of length dimension A, a width dimension of B, and a thickness dimension of C, said panel bent at a straight line parallel to the lengthier sides of said panel, the bend forming an interior angle ranging from one hundred twenty degrees to one hundred fifty degrees, and thereby defining two longitudinally-oriented rectangular sectors, being an upper sector having a windward face and a rear face, and an attaching sector having an upper surface and an inner surface;
 further, said attaching sector comprising a plurality of linearly-spaced pre-drilled holes arranged at varying intervals along the length, A of said attaching sector so as to provide for the securing of the attaching sector atop the front of the PTAC, said pre-drilled holes of a diameter permitting the insertion of specific multi-ribbed push-tab fasteners of a length enabling the insertion of said push-tab fasteners through said pre-drilled holes and continuing into corresponding apertures drilled in the top surface of any of a variety of specific brand-name PTAC's, said PTAC apertures drilled at intervals corresponding to the intervallic separation of the pre-drilled holes in the attaching sector of the deflector.   
     
     
         2 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 1 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         3 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 1 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate, and further comprising an A dimension of two (2) inches, a B dimension of four (4) inches, a C dimension of ⅛ inch, and a D dimension in the range of seventeen and one-quarter inches to forty-two inches. 
     
     
         4 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 1 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate, and further comprising an A dimension of two inches, a B dimension of four inches, a C dimension of ¼ inch, and a D dimension of in the range of seventeen and one-quarter inches to forty-two inches. 
     
     
         5 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 1 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate, and further comprising an A dimension of two inches, a B dimension of four inches, a C dimension of ⅛ inch, and a D dimension of twenty-nine and one-half inches. 
     
     
         6 . A semi-rigid elastomeric deflector for re-directing the airflow produced by a Packaged Thermal Air Conditioner (PTAC), comprising a substantially longitudinal rectangular of length dimension A, a width dimension of B, and a thickness dimension of C, said panel bent at a straight line parallel to the lengthier sides of said panel, the bend forming an interior angle of one hundred forty degrees, and thereby defining two longitudinally-oriented rectangular sectors, being an upper sector having a windward face and a rear face, and an attaching sector having an upper surface and an inner surface;
 further comprising a first protective cover of plasticized material attached by means of a non-permanent adhesive, to both the windward face and the inner surface of said deflector and a second protective cover of plasticized material attached by means of a non-permanent adhesive, to both the rear face and the outer surface of said deflector   and further, said attaching sector comprising a plurality of linearly-spaced pre-drilled holes arranged at varying intervals along the length of said attaching sector so as to provide for the securing of the attaching sector atop the front of the PTAC, said pre-drilled holes of a diameter permitting the insertion of specific multi-ribbed push-tab fasteners of a length enabling the insertion of said push-tab fasteners through said pre-drilled holes and continuing into corresponding apertures drilled in the top surface of any of a variety of specific brand-name PTAC's, said PTAC apertures drilled at intervals corresponding to the intervallic separation of the pre-drilled holes in the attaching sector of the deflector.   
     
     
         7 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 6 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate. 
     
     
         8 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 6 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate, and further comprising an A dimension of two (2) inches, a B dimension of four (4) inches, a C dimension of ⅛ inch, and a D dimension in the range of seventeen and one-quarter inches to forty-two inches. 
     
     
         9 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 6 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate, and further comprising an A dimension of two inches, a B dimension of four inches, a C dimension of ¼ inch, and a D dimension of in the range of seventeen and one-quarter inches to forty-two inches. 
     
     
         10 . A semi-rigid, elastomeric deflector as in  claim 6 , said deflector constructed of polycarbonate, and further comprising an A dimension of two inches, a B dimension of four inches, a C dimension of ⅛ inch, and a D dimension of twenty-nine and one-half inches. 
     
     
         11 . A method for (a) establishing energy savings and (b) the efficient distribution of warm or cool air emanating from the output grille or fins of any of a variety of Packaged Thermal Air Conditioners (PTAC) installed in a defined interior space, the method comprising the steps of:
 obtaining a primarily longitudinal rectangular panel constructed of semi-rigid polycarbonate material;   bending said semi-rigid rectangular panel at a straight line parallel to the longitudinal sides of said panel to form an interior angle between one-hundred twenty and one-hundred fifty degrees, the bend thereby defining two longitudinally-oriented rectangular sectors, being an upper sector having a windward face and a rear face and an attaching sector having an upper surface and an inner surface;   attaching, by means of a non-permanent adhesive, a first protective cover comprising a plasticized material having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of said rectangular panel, to both the rear face and the outer surface of said panel;   attaching, by means of a non-permanent adhesive, a second protective cover comprising a plasticized material having dimensions corresponding to the dimensions of said rectangular panel, to both the windward face and the inner surface of the panel;   measuring, and marking in a linear orientation along the surface of the first protective cover, a plurality of locations for holes compatible with the configuration and profile of the front of the selected PTAC to which the panel will be attached;   providing a plurality of multi-ribbed fasteners, comprising two sets of horizontally-oriented ribbed projections, the two sets of ribbed projections oriented perpendicularly to each other and integral to the stem of said fastener;   drilling a plurality of holes into the pre-measured and marked locations on the surface of said first protective cover, the diameter of each of said holes corresponding to the stem diameter of specific multi-ribbed push-tab fasteners;   removing the frame front of the selected PTAC;   clamping the attaching sector of said panel to the uppermost surface of said front of the PTAC;   drilling holes, using as a guide, the pre-drilled holes, through the front of the PTAC;   releasing the clamps and subsequently peeling the plasticized covers from the deflector;   re-aligning the deflector with the previous position abutting the front of the PTAC and thereupon, pushing a multi-ribbed fastener through each pre-drilled hole and on through the corresponding aperture on the front of the PTAC.