End cap assembly and window air conditioner

Abstract

An end cap assembly includes an end cap having an accommodation cavity and including first and/or second limit structure, a lock shaft, a reset member configured to push the lock shaft from an unlocked position to a locked position, and an operation member connected to the lock shaft and configured to pull the lock shaft from the locked position to the unlocked position. When the lock shaft is pushed to the locked position, the first limit structure engages with the operation member in limiting manner to limit the operation member in an accommodated state in which the operation member is accommodated in the accommodation cavity. When the lock shaft is pulled to the unlocked position, the second limit structure engages with the operation member in limiting manner to limit the operation member is limited in a pulled-out position at which the operation member is partially outside the accommodation cavity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An end cap assembly comprising:
 an end cap having an accommodation cavity;   a lock shaft configured to be pushed or pulled relative to the end cap between a locked position and an unlocked position;   a reset member configured to push the lock shaft to move from the unlocked position to the locked position; and   an operation member connected to the lock shaft and configured to pull the lock shaft to move from the locked position to the unlocked position;   wherein the end cap includes at least one of:
 a first limit structure configured to, in response to the lock shaft being pushed to the locked position, engage with the operation member in a limiting manner, to limit the operation member in an accommodated state in which the operation member is accommodated in the accommodation cavity; or 
 a second limit structure configured to, in response to the lock shaft being pulled to the unlocked position, engage with the operation member in a limiting manner, to limit the operation member in a pulled-out position at which at least part of the operation member is outside the accommodation cavity. 
   
     
     
         2 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first limit structure includes a snap configured to stop the operation member and block the operation member from moving out of the accommodation cavity. 
     
     
         3 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein:
 the end cap includes an end plate and a surrounding plate arranged around the end plate;   the accommodation cavity is formed between the end plate and the surrounding plate;   the lock shaft extends through the end plate;   the snap is connected to the surrounding plate and spaced apart from the end plate, a latching space being formed between the snap and the end plate; and   a part of the operation member is configured to move into the latching space to be stopped by the snap.   
     
     
         4 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 3 , wherein:
 the operation member is rotatable relative to the lock shaft; and   an end of the operation member away from the lock shaft is configured to move into the latching space to be stopped by the snap.   
     
     
         5 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein the first limit structure includes a magnetic structure and is configured to engage with the operation member in a magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         6 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the operation member includes an elastic protrusion; and   the first limit structure includes an engagement slot, an engagement hole, or an engagement block, and is configured to snap with the elastic protrusion.   
     
     
         7 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the end cap includes an end plate, the lock shaft extending through the end plate, and the operation member being located at one side of the end plate; and   the second limit structure includes a protrusion protruding from the one side, the protrusion being configured to stop against a side of the operation member close to the end plate in response to the operation member moving to the pulled-out position.   
     
     
         8 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein:
 the protrusion is one of two protrusions of the second limit structure that are spaced apart from each other, a clearance space being formed between the two protrusions;   the lock shaft has a mounting end corresponding to the clearance space;   the operation member is configured to rotatably extend through the mounting end and is rotatable between a lay-flat angle and an upright angle; and   the lock shaft is rotatable around an axis of the lock shaft between a first angle and a second angle with respect to the end cap; and   the operation member is configured to:
 be partially located in the clearance space and in the accommodated state in response to the lock shaft rotating to the first angle and the operation member rotating to the lay-flat angle; and 
 be supported by the two protrusions and limited in the pulled-out position in response to the lock shaft rotating to the second angle and the operation member rotating to the upright angle. 
   
     
     
         9 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 each of the two protrusions is of a shape with a middle part depressed away from another one of the two protrusions; and   the operation member is of a shape of a pull tab, a root of the operation member that is connected to the lock shaft is caught at depressed regions of the two protrusions when the operation member is supported by the two protrusions.   
     
     
         10 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 8 , wherein:
 the end cap further includes a surrounding plate arranged around the end plate;   the accommodation cavity is formed between the end plate and the surrounding plate;   one of the two protrusions is located in the accommodation cavity and spaced apart from the surrounding plate; and   another one of the two protrusions is formed by a part of the surrounding plate.   
     
     
         11 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein:
 the end cap includes a mounting structure having a through hole;   the lock shaft passes through the through hole in an axis direction of the lock shaft and includes a shoulder;   the reset member includes a spring arranged in the through hole and arranged around the lock shaft, the spring being sandwiched between the shoulder and the mounting structure in a compression direction of the spring; and   two ends of the lock shaft in the axis direction of the lock shaft extend out of the mounting structure, one of the two ends of the lock shaft being connected to the operation member, and another one of the two ends of the lock shaft being configured for locking.   
     
     
         12 . The end cap assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein the mounting structure includes:
 a bolt extending through the end cap and having the through hole; and   a nut configured to engage with the bolt to lock the end cap.   
     
     
         13 . A window air conditioner comprising:
 an indoor unit component configured to be arranged at an indoor side;   an outdoor unit component configured to be arranged at an outdoor side; and   a connection component connecting the indoor unit component to the outdoor unit component;   wherein:
 the outdoor unit component is rotatably connected to the connection component around a pivot axis; and 
 at least one of two ends of a connection where the outdoor unit component is rotatably connected to the connection component along the pivot axis is provided with an end cap assembly including:
 an end cap having an accommodation cavity; 
 a lock shaft configured to be pushed or pulled relative to the end cap between a locked position and an unlocked position; 
 a reset member configured to push the lock shaft to move from the unlocked position to the locked position; and 
 an operation member connected to the lock shaft and configured to pull the lock shaft to move from the locked position to the unlocked position; 
 wherein:
 the end cap includes at least one of:  a first limit structure configured to, in response to the lock shaft being pushed to the locked position, engage with the operation member in a limiting manner, to limit the operation member in an accommodated state in which the operation member is accommodated in the accommodation cavity; or  a second limit structure configured to, in response to the lock shaft being pulled to the unlocked position, engage with the operation member in a limiting manner, to limit the operation member in a pulled-out position at which at least part of the operation member is outside the accommodation cavity; and 
 the lock shaft is configured to:  allow for a relative rotation between the outdoor unit component and the connection component when the lock shaft is in the unlocked position; and  engage with one of the outdoor unit component and the connection component in a locking manner when the lock shaft is in the locked position to prevent the relative rotation between the outdoor unit component and the connection component. 
 
 
   
     
     
         14 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the end cap is fixed to one of the outdoor unit component and the connection component; and   another one of the outdoor unit component and the connection component has a locking hole offset from the pivot axis, the locking hole being configured to be engaged with the lock shaft in a locking manner.   
     
     
         15 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the first limit structure includes a snap configured to stop the operation member and block the operation member from moving out of the accommodation cavity. 
     
     
         16 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 15 , wherein:
 the end cap includes an end plate and a surrounding plate arranged around the end plate;   the accommodation cavity is formed between the end plate and the surrounding plate;   the lock shaft extends through the end plate;   the snap is connected to the surrounding plate and spaced apart from the end plate, a latching space being formed between the snap and the end plate; and   a part of the operation member is configured to move into the latching space to be stopped by the snap.   
     
     
         17 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 16 , wherein:
 the operation member is rotatable relative to the lock shaft; and   an end of the operation member away from the lock shaft is configured to move into the latching space to be stopped by the snap.   
     
     
         18 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein the first limit structure includes a magnetic structure and is configured to engage with the operation member in a magnetic attraction. 
     
     
         19 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the operation member includes an elastic protrusion; and   the first limit structure includes an engagement slot, an engagement hole, or an engagement block, and is configured to snap with the elastic protrusion.   
     
     
         20 . The window air conditioner according to  claim 13 , wherein:
 the end cap includes an end plate, the lock shaft extending through the end plate, and the operation member being located at one side of the end plate; and   the second limit structure includes a protrusion protruding from the one side, the protrusion being configured to stop against a side of the operation member close to the end plate in response to the operation member moving to the pulled-out position.