Air conditioning flashing hood

Abstract

An air conditioning flashing hood adapted to be connected to the wall structure and extend through the exterior wall of the structure to provide a passage through which a refrigerant line and an electrical control line may extend to communicate with an external compressor. The air conditioning flashing hood includes an internal sealing element which compresses against the outer surface of the refrigerant line and the electrical control line to form a substantially weather-tight seal therebetween to mitigate fluid migration along the lines into the structure, as well as to provide a barrier for any bugs, debris or animals to keep such undesirable objects from entering the structure.

1 - 20 . (canceled). 
     
     
         21 . A flashing hood kit, comprising:
 a plate member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a plate opening extending between the first and second surfaces;   a hood member coupled to the plate member and extending from the first surface of the plate member, the hood member defining an internal hood opening in communication with the plate opening;   a sealing element coupled to the hood member, the sealing element having a sealing element opening sized to receive the line, the sealing element being transitional relative to the hood member between a relaxed configuration and a compressive configuration in response to insertion of a line through the sealing element opening;   a first sheet having a first opening extending therethrough, the first sheet being placeable adjacent the panel body and about a peripheral portion of the hood member; and   a second sheet placeable in opposed relation to the first sheet adjacent the panel body.   
     
     
         22 . The flashing hood kit recited in claim  38 , wherein the line includes either or both of a refrigerant line and an electrical control line. 
     
     
         23 . The flashing hood kit recited in claim  38 , further comprising a sealing plate having a sealing plate opening extending therethrough, the sealing plate being coupled to the hood member and the sealing element, the sealing element opening being in communication with the sealing plate opening. 
     
     
       What is claimed is: 
     
     
         1 . A flashing hood configured for use with a utility line the flashing hood comprising:
 a plate member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a plate opening extending between the first and second surfaces;   a hood member coupled to the plate member and extending from the first surface of the plate member, the hood member defining an internal hood opening in communication with the plate opening; and   a sealing element coupled to the hood member, the sealing element having a sealing element opening sized to receive and engage with the utility line for exerting a compressive force thereon, the sealing element being transitional relative to the hood member between a relaxed configuration and a compressive configuration in response to insertion of the utility line through the sealing element opening.   
     
     
         2 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , further comprising a sealing plate having a sealing plate opening extending therethrough, the sealing plate being coupled to the hood member and the sealing element, the sealing element opening being in communication with the sealing plate opening. 
     
     
         3 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 2 , wherein the sealing plate opening is approximately 4 inches in diameter. 
     
     
         4 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is formed from a polymer material. 
     
     
         5 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is formed from an elastomeric material. 
     
     
         6 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hood is of a quadrangular configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the plate opening defines a quadrangular configuration. 
     
     
         8 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 7 , wherein the plate opening is approximately 5 inches×7 inches. 
     
     
         9 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hood member and plate member form a unitary structure. 
     
     
         10 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the hood member extends from the plate member in a non-orthogonal orientation. 
     
     
         11 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , wherein the sealing element is biased toward the relaxed configuration. 
     
     
         12 . The flashing hood recited in  claim 1 , the hood member having a proximal end coupled to the plate member and an opposed distal end, the sealing element being spaced from the proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
         13 . A flashing hood kit comprising:
 a plate member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a plate opening extending between the first and second surfaces;   a hood member coupled to the plate member and extending from the first surface of the plate member, the hood member defining an internal hood opening in communication with the plate opening;   a sealing element coupled to the hood member, the sealing element having a sealing element opening sized to receive the utility line, the sealing element being transitional relative to the hood member between a relaxed configuration and a compressive configuration in response to insertion of the utility line through the sealing element opening;   a first sheet having a first opening extending therethrough, the first sheet being placeable adjacent the panel body and about a peripheral portion of the hood member; and   a second sheet placeable in opposed relation to the first sheet adjacent the the panel body.   
     
     
         14 . The flashing hood kit recited in  claim 13 , wherein the first and second sheets are formed from a paper material. 
     
     
         15 . The flashing hood kit recited in  claim 13 , wherein the hood member and plate member form a unitary structure. 
     
     
         16 . The flashing hood kit recited in  claim 13 , wherein the hood member extends from the plate member in a non-orthogonal orientation. 
     
     
         17 . The flashing hood kit recited in  claim 13 , wherein the sealing element is biased toward the relaxed configuration. 
     
     
         18 . The flashing hood kit recited in  claim 13 , the hood member having a proximal end coupled to the plate member and an opposed distal end, the sealing element being spaced from the proximal and distal ends. 
     
     
         19 . The flashing hood kit recited in  claim 13 , further comprising a sealing plate having a sealing plate opening extending therethrough, the sealing plate being coupled to the hood member and the sealing element, the sealing element opening being in communication with the sealing plate opening. 
     
     
         20 . A method of installing a utility line through a flashing hood, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a flashing hood comprising:
 a plate member having a first surface, an opposing second surface, and a plate opening extending between the first and second surfaces; 
 a hood member coupled to the plate member and extending from the first surface of the plate member, the hood member defining an internal hood opening in communication with the plate opening; and 
 a sealing element coupled to the hood member, the sealing element having a sealing element opening sized to receive the utility line, the sealing element being transitional relative to the hood member between a relaxed configuration and a compressive configuration in response to insertion of the utility line through the sealing element opening; and 
   inserting the utility line through the sealing element opening, the sealing element exerting a compressive force upon the utility line to create a substantially fluid tight seal therebetween.