Air conditioner unit having a built-in light assembly

Abstract

A single-package air conditioner unit may include a cabinet, an outdoor heat exchanger, an indoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and a light assembly. The cabinet may extend along a vertical direction between a top end and a bottom end. The cabinet may define an outdoor portion and an indoor portion. The outdoor heat exchanger may be disposed in the outdoor portion. The indoor heat exchanger may be disposed in the indoor portion. The compressor may be in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger. The light assembly may include an electrical light source. The light assembly may be attached to the cabinet and directed therebelow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A single-package air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion;   an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the indoor portion;   a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and   a light assembly comprising an electrical light source, the light assembly being attached to the cabinet and directed therebelow.   
     
     
         2 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the light assembly is configured to project one or more illuminated messages on a ground surface below the single-package air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         3 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the cabinet comprises a base pan supporting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and wherein the light assembly is disposed below the base pan. 
     
     
         4 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller attached to the cabinet in operative communication with the lighting assembly, the controller being configured to activate the light assembly in response to a user-input signal received by the controller.   
     
     
         5 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a control panel attached to the cabinet in operative communication with the controller, the control panel comprising a user input,   wherein the user-input signal is received from the user input.   
     
     
         6 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with a remote device spaced apart from the cabinet, and
 wherein the user-input signal is received from the remote device.   
     
     
         7 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a motion sensor in operative communication with the controller, the motion sensor being configured to detect a movement action proximal to the cabinet,   wherein the user-input signal is received from the motion sensor in response to detection of the movement action proximal to the cabinet.   
     
     
         8 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 a photoelectric light sensor in operative communication with the controller, the photoelectric light sensor being configured to detect an illumination threshold proximal to the cabinet,   wherein the user-input signal is received from the photoelectric light sensor in response to an absence of detection of the illumination threshold proximal to the cabinet.   
     
     
         9 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller attached to the cabinet in operative communication with the lighting assembly, the controller being configured to activate the light assembly according to a predetermined schedule.   
     
     
         10 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a controller attached to the cabinet in operative communication with the lighting assembly, the controller being configured to activate the light assembly based on a received occupancy signal.   
     
     
         11 . A single-package air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet extending along a vertical direction between a top end and a bottom end, the cabinet defining an outdoor portion and an indoor portion;   an outdoor heat exchanger disposed in the outdoor portion;   an indoor heat exchanger disposed in the indoor portion;   a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger;   a light assembly comprising an electrical light source, the light assembly being attached to the cabinet proximal to the bottom end and directed therebelow; and   a controller attached to the cabinet in operative communication with the lighting assembly direct a lighting operation to activate the lighting assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the cabinet comprises a base pan supporting the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger, and wherein the light assembly is disposed below the base pan. 
     
     
         13 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the light assembly is configured to project one or more illuminated messages on a ground surface below the single-package air conditioner unit. 
     
     
         14 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the light assembly in response to a user-input signal received by the controller. 
     
     
         15 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a control panel attached to the cabinet in operative communication with the controller, the control panel comprising a user input,   wherein the user-input signal is received from the user input.   
     
     
         16 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , wherein the controller is in wireless communication with a remote device spaced apart from the cabinet, and
 wherein the user-input signal is received from the remote device.   
     
     
         17 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a motion sensor in operative communication with the controller, the motion sensor being configured to detect a movement action proximal to the cabinet,   wherein the user-input signal is received from the motion sensor in response to detection of the movement action proximal to the cabinet.   
     
     
         18 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , further comprising:
 a photoelectric light sensor in operative communication with the controller, the photoelectric light sensor being configured to detect an illumination threshold proximal to the cabinet,   wherein the user-input signal is received from the photoelectric light sensor in response to an absence of detection of the illumination threshold proximal to the cabinet.   
     
     
         19 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the light assembly according to a predetermined schedule. 
     
     
         20 . The single-package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the controller is configured to activate the light assembly based on a received occupancy signal.