Weather guard for fan on air conditioner/heat pump condenser unit

Abstract

An apparatus for protectively shielding the fan opening on the top of an outdoor air conditioner/heat pump condenser unit includes a dome-shaped cover that is sized to completely cover the fan opening. An arrangement of vertical guide posts positioned about the fan opening on the top of the condenser unit guides movement of the cover through a rising and lowering movement. When the condenser fan motor is not operating, the cover is seated against the top surface of the condenser unit to prevent entry of rain, sprinkler water, leaves, dirt and other debris into the condenser unit housing. Upon operation of the condenser fan motor, the cover rises vertically, on the guide posts, to allow escape of forced airflow in a radially outward flow between the cover and the top of the condenser unit, while still shielding the fan opening from falling rain and leaves.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for protectively shielding a fan opening on a top of an outdoor HVAC condenser unit, said apparatus comprising:
 a plurality of vertically oriented guide posts secured to the top of the condenser unit at spaced intervals around the fan opening;   a cover including a top and an annular side wall extending downwardly from the top to a bottom annular rim, and the cover being sized and configured to allow the bottom annular rim to rest in seated engagement on the top of the condenser unit in a fully lowered position with the cover completely covering the fan opening so that the fan opening is concealed under the cover; and   a plurality of tabs extending outwardly from the annular side wall of the cover, adjacent to the bottom annular rim, and the plurality of tabs being positioned to align with the plurality of guide posts so that each one of the plurality of tabs is aligned with a corresponding one of the plurality of guide posts, and each of the plurality of tabs including at least one hole for passage of the corresponding aligned guide post therethrough, to thereby allow the cover to move vertically up and down on the guide posts and relative to the fan opening between the fully lowered position and a raised position with the bottom annular rim spaced above the top of the condenser unit.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the cover is caused to be moved from the fully lowered position to the raised position by a force of fan exhaust airflow exiting the fan opening. 
     
     
         3 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 2  further including at least one stop member on each one of the plurality of guide posts for limiting upward rising movement of the cover. 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 3  wherein the at least one stop member on each one of the plurality of guide posts is adjustably positionable on the guide post throughout a range of adjusted fixed positions. 
     
     
         5 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 4  wherein each one of the plurality of guide posts includes two of the stop members thereon, including a first one of the stop members positioned above the corresponding aligned tab of the cover and a second one of the stop members positioned below the corresponding aligned tab of the cover to limit up and down movement of the cover on the plurality of guide posts. 
     
     
         6 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 5  wherein the at least one hole through each of the plurality of tabs of the cover includes a bushing for promoting smooth uninterrupted upward and downward movement of the cover on the plurality of guide posts. 
     
     
         7 . The apparatus as recited in  claim 1  wherein the bottom annular rim of the cover includes a gasket thereon for sealed engagement with the top of the condenser unit when the cover is in the fully lowered position.