Cover assembly for disinfecting an air conditioner

Abstract

A cover assembly is configured for disinfecting an air conditioning unit. The assembly includes a cover made of a pliable material that is shaped to be installed on the inside portion of an air conditioning unit. The assembly also includes an ozone generator configured to direct ozone into the air conditioning unit. When assembled on the air conditioning unit, such as a window AC unit or an evaporator of a mini-split system, the cover assembly can be operated to disinfect the air conditioner.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of disinfecting an air conditioning unit having an inside portion inside an enclosed structure with air to be cooled, the method comprising:
 providing a cover assembly that includes a cover sized and configured to be installed on the inside portion of the air conditioning unit, the cover having a front panel, a top panel, a bottom panel, a left side panel, and a right side panel wherein the front panel is connected to the top panel, the bottom panel, the left side panel, and the right side panel to define an open box shape with a principal opening sized to receive the inside portion of the air conditioning unit;   providing an ozone generator;   installing the cover on the inside portion of the air conditioning unit by inserting the inside portion of the air conditioning unit into the principal opening of the cover;   directing ozone from the ozone generator into the air conditioning unit; and   operating the ozone generator to deliver ozone to an inside of the air conditioning unit.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 fixing a mounting plate to a housing of the air conditioning unit; and 
 attaching the ozone generator to the mounting plate. 
 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein fixing the mounting plate includes adhering the mounting plate to the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein the adhesive is disposed on the mounting plate and includes a release sheet, the method further including removing the release sheet and pressing the mounting plate to adhere the mounting plate to the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein fixing the mounting plate to the housing includes fixing the mounting plate to a bottom surface of the air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein fixing the mounting plate includes mechanically fastening the mounting plate to the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein fixing the mounting plate includes spacing the mounting plate from the wall by a distance from 0.5″ to 2″. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein attaching the ozone generator to the mounting plate is performed using one or more of a hook-and-loop fastener, magnets, one or more fasteners, a hook, a channel and mating clip received in the channel, or a suction cup. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising placing a rim of the cover along the principal opening in contact with a wall surface adjacent the air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising installing a catalyst assembly over a vent opening in the cover, the catalyst assembly including a catalyst effective to convert ozone to oxygen. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the cover assembly includes a controller in communication with the ozone generator and one or more sensors in communication with the controller, the method further comprising:
 detecting, by the one or more sensors, an ozone concentration outside of the cover;   communicating the ozone concentration from the one or more sensors to the controller;   comparing, by the controller, the ozone concentration to a threshold value; and   terminating operation of the ozone generator if the ozone concentration exceeds the threshold value.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising:
 detecting, by the one or more sensors, one or more sensed conditions of (i) a temperature, (ii) a capacitance, (iii) a humidity, and (iv) a motion; and 
 adjusting, by the controller, operation of the ozone generator based on the one or more sensed conditions. 
 
     
     
         13 . A cover assembly for disinfecting an air conditioning unit, the cover assembly comprising:
 a cover made of a pliable material, the cover having a front panel connected to a top panel, a bottom panel, and side panels and generally defining an open-box shape with a principal opening sized to receive the air conditioning unit;   an ozone generator having an outlet and operable to generate ozone; and   a mounting plate having a first face and an opposite second face;   a first mounting feature on the first face of the mounting plate, the first mounting mechanism for securing the mounting plate to the housing of the air conditioning unit; and   a second mounting feature configured for retaining the ozone generator retained against the second face of the mounting plate.   
     
     
         14 . The cover assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the first mounting feature and the second mounting feature each comprises one or more of an adhesive strip, a fastener, a magnet, a channel, a hook-and-loop fastener, a suction cup, a hook, or a ring. 
     
     
         15 . The cover assembly of  claim 14 , wherein the mounting plate comprises a magnetic material and the second mounting feature includes at least one magnet such that the ozone generator is configured to attach to the mounting plate via magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         16 . The cover assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a conduit configured to be coupled to the outlet of the ozone generator and to direct ozone into the air conditioning unit when the cover assembly is installed on the air conditioning unit. 
     
     
         17 . The cover assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a catalyst for converting ozone to oxygen. 
     
     
         18 . The cover assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a shut-off switch on the ozone generator, wherein when the ozone generator is attached to the mounting plate, the shut-off switch is in a first position and when the ozone generator is separated from the mounting plate the shut-off switch is in a second position. 
     
     
         19 . The cover assembly of  claim 13 , further comprising a closure on the cover, the closure configured to draw the cover against an outside of the air conditioning unit and the closure comprising one or more of (i) a magnet, (ii) a drawstring, (iii) a cinch, or (iv) an elastic band. 
     
     
         20 . The cover assembly of any of  claim 13 , further comprising:
 a controller electrically coupled to the ozone generator and configured to control operation of the ozone generator; and   one or more sensors in communication with the controller, the one or more sensors configured to detect an ozone concentration at a location outside of the cover.