Bulkhead assemblies for air conditioner units

Abstract

Air conditioner units and bulkhead assemblies for air conditioner units are provided. A bulkhead assembly includes a bulkhead which includes a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall along a lateral direction, and a rear wall extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The rear wall includes an indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface. The bulkhead assembly further includes a vent aperture defined in the rear wall. The bulkhead assembly further includes a filter chute extending from one of the indoor facing surface or the outdoor facing surface, the filter chute defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the second end disposed proximate the vent aperture.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit, comprising:
 an outdoor heat exchanger;   an indoor heat exchanger;   a bulkhead disposed between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger along a transverse direction, the bulkhead comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall along a lateral direction, and a rear wall extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the rear wall comprising an indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface;   a vent aperture defined in the rear wall;   a filter chute extending from one of the indoor facing surface or the outdoor facing surface, the filter chute defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the second end disposed proximate the vent aperture; and   a filter, the filter comprising a filter body positionable in alignment with the vent aperture and movable through the passage of the filter chute.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chute comprises a top wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 2 , wherein the filter chute further comprises a bottom wall. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the bottom is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chute is formed from a metal. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the first end of the filter chute is disposed proximate a top end of the bulkhead. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a bracket assembly disposed proximate the vent aperture, the filter body positionable within the bracket assembly when in alignment with the vent aperture. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the filter further comprises a handle extending from the filter body. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 8 , wherein the handle is extendable through the passage of the filter chute when the filter body is positioned in alignment with the vent aperture such that a first end of the handle protrudes from the first end of the filter chute. 
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chute extends from the outdoor facing surface. 
     
     
         11 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the filter chute extends from the indoor facing surface. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the filter is formed from a plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the bulkhead further comprises an air diverter extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a blower fan and a heating unit each disposed at least partially within an interior of the bulkhead. 
     
     
         15 . A bulkhead assembly for an air conditioner unit, the bulkhead assembly comprising:
 a bulkhead, the bulkhead comprising a first sidewall, a second sidewall spaced apart from the first sidewall along a lateral direction, and a rear wall extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall, the rear wall comprising an indoor facing surface and an opposing outdoor facing surface;   a vent aperture defined in the rear wall; and   a filter chute extending from one of the indoor facing surface or the outdoor facing surface, the filter chute defining a passage extending between a first end and a second end, the second end disposed proximate the vent aperture.   
     
     
         16 . The bulkhead assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the filter chute comprises a top wall, a first sidewall, and a second sidewall. 
     
     
         17 . The bulkhead assembly of  claim 16 , wherein the filter chute further comprises a bottom wall. 
     
     
         18 . The bulkhead assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the first end of the filter chute is disposed proximate a top end of the bulkhead. 
     
     
         19 . The bulkhead assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a bracket assembly disposed proximate the vent aperture. 
     
     
         20 . The bulkhead assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising an air diverter extending laterally between the first sidewall and the second sidewall.