Apparatus and method for sealing window air conditioner

Abstract

A method or apparatus for sealing a window air conditioner in a window assembly. The sealing mechanism may include one or more members. The sealing mechanism may include one or more sealing members. The sealing mechanism may include one or more ribs. The sealing mechanism may include one or more grooves.

1 . A window air conditioner comprising:
 an indoor portion;   an outdoor portion;   a bridge connecting the indoor portion and the outdoor portion;   a collar configured to seal between the bridge and the window assembly, wherein the collar includes one or more members surrounding the bridge having an inner periphery adjacent the bridge and an outer periphery; and   wherein at least one of the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery of the one or more members include one or more ribs projecting therefrom.   
     
     
         2 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  further comprising one or more sealing members positioned between the one or more members and the window assembly, and wherein the one or more ribs engage the one or more sealing members. 
     
     
         3 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  wherein the one or more ribs project from the one or more members in one or more planes perpendicular to a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         4 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  wherein the one or more members include a sloped surface decreasing in elevation in a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         5 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  wherein the one or more members include one or more grooves extending in a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         6 . The window air conditioner of  claim 5  wherein the one or more grooves intersect the one or more ribs. 
     
     
         7 . The window air conditioner of  claim 5  wherein the one or more members define one or more outlets in downstream fluid communication with the one or more grooves adjacent the outdoor portion. 
     
     
         8 . The window air conditioner of  claim 7  wherein the one or more members include a sleeve having an inner periphery adjacent the bridge, and wherein the inner periphery of the sleeve is positioned above the one or more outlets. 
     
     
         9 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  wherein the inner periphery and the outer periphery includes the one or more ribs. 
     
     
         10 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  wherein the collar defines a through opening receiving the bridge. 
     
     
         11 . The window air conditioner of  claim 1  is a saddle-type window air conditioner. 
     
     
         12 . A collar for sealing a window air conditioner comprising:
 a first member having an outer periphery and an opposing inner periphery between an indoor side and an outdoor side; and   one or more ribs projecting outwardly away from at least one of the outer periphery and/or the opposing inner periphery, wherein the one or more ribs are positioned in one or more planes substantially perpendicular to a direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side.   
     
     
         13 . The collar of  claim 12  further comprising one or more sealing members engaged by the one or more ribs adjacent at least one of the outer periphery and/or the opposing inner periphery of the first member. 
     
     
         14 . The collar of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery is a sloped surface, wherein the sloped surface decreases in elevation from the indoor side to the outdoor side, and wherein the one or more ribs project from the sloped surface. 
     
     
         15 . The collar of  claim 12  further comprising one or more grooves intersecting the one or more ribs in a direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side. 
     
     
         16 . The collar of  claim 15  wherein the one or more grooves are downwardly sloped from the indoor side to the outdoor side. 
     
     
         17 . The collar of  claim 15  wherein the first member includes one or more outlets in downstream fluid communication with the one or more grooves adjacent the outdoor side. 
     
     
         18 . The collar of  claim 17  wherein the first member includes a sleeve adjacent the outdoor side positioned above the one or more outlets. 
     
     
         19 . The collar of  claim 12  further comprising a second member, wherein the first member and the second member define a though opening configured to seal a window air conditioner with a window assembly defining a window opening. 
     
     
         20 . The collar of  claim 19  wherein the second member includes an outer periphery and an opposing inner periphery, wherein the second member includes one or more ribs projecting from at least one of the opposing inner periphery and/or the outer periphery. 
     
     
         21 . The collar of  claim 19  wherein the first member is substantially U-shaped and the second member is substantially planar, wherein opposing ends of the first member and the second member are adjacent to each other, respectively. 
     
     
         22 . A method of reducing fluid from transferring through a window opening into an inside of a room relative to a window air conditioner positioned therein comprising:
 providing a window air conditioner having a bridge connecting an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;   providing a collar having one or more members;   positioning the one or more members about the bridge, wherein the one or more members include an outer periphery and an inner periphery, and wherein at least a portion of the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery includes a plurality of ribs projecting away from the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery;   positioning one or more sealing members adjacent the outer periphery and adjacent the inner periphery; and   engaging the plurality of ribs to the one or more sealing members.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising draining fluid from at least one of the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery at a downward angle from an indoor side towards an outdoor side of the one or more members. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising shielding fluid from one or more outlets of at least one of the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery adjacent an outdoor side of the one or more members. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 22  further comprising channeling fluid between the plurality of ribs from an indoor side towards an outdoor side of the one or more members. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22  wherein positioning the one or more sealing members includes positioning the one or more sealing members substantially 360 degrees about the inner periphery and the outer periphery of the one or more members.