U.S. patent application number 16/390185 was filed with the patent office on 2019-11-21 for air conditioning guard.
The applicant listed for this patent is Jeff Bush. Invention is credited to Jeff Bush.
Application Number | 20190353394 16/390185 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 68534451 |
Filed Date | 2019-11-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20190353394 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Bush; Jeff |
November 21, 2019 |
AIR CONDITIONING GUARD
Abstract
Disclosed is a cage created to protect outdoor items, e.g.,
appliances. The cage has panels that are assembled, and two of the
panels are secured to a supporting surface. Upwardly extending pins
exist inside of each lateral edge of two opposed panels. Two other
side panels are installable by sliding them onto the pins. A back
panel includes a hinged top that flips over to complete the cage.
The top is also able to be locked to the tops of the panels.
Inventors: |
Bush; Jeff; (Lawson,
MO) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Bush; Jeff |
Lawson |
MO |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
68534451 |
Appl. No.: |
16/390185 |
Filed: |
April 22, 2019 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
62673321 |
May 18, 2018 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 1/58 20130101; F24F
13/32 20130101; F24F 13/20 20130101; F24F 2221/44 20130101 |
International
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20060101
F24F013/20; F24F 1/58 20060101 F24F001/58 |
Claims
1. A system for guarding an outdoor item against theft, the system
comprising: a front panel; first and second side panels; a rear
panel; a lockable top cover hingedly attached at the top of the
rear panel; the side panels each having lateral edges configured to
be connected onto lateral edges of the front and rear panels; the
top panel, when rotated to rest on top of the front, side, and rear
panels completing an enclosing cage; and a fastening arrangement
enabling securement of the front and rear panels onto a supporting
surface below the cage, thus securing all of the front, rear, and
side panels against removal.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein the lateral edges of the front and
rear panels include upwardly extending pins configured to receive
corresponding receiving collars formed on the lateral edges of each
of the side panels.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein the pins extend upward from
blocks, the blocks being mounted inside angled upright members at
the lateral edges of each of the front and rear panels.
4. The system of claim 3 wherein a clearance between the pins and
the inside surfaces of the angled upright members is substantially
the same as a thickness of at least a portion of each collar.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein the top cover is made to be
lockable to the top of the front panel thus containing the side
panels against removal without first unlocking the top cover.
6. The system of claim 5 wherein: (i) the top cover has outer edges
defined by a horizontally outwardly extending abutment portion and
a downwardly extending lip; (ii) the lip is received inside, and
the abutment surface rests atop each of the front, side, and rear
panels; and (iii) the top cover is made lockable onto the top cover
by aligning an outside hole made through the downwardly extending
lip, and aligned with an inside hole made the top of the front
panel.
7. The system of claim 6 comprising a tab extending out and over
the outside hole for the purpose of preventing cutting of a
lock.
8. The system of claim 1 wherein only the front and rear panels are
configured for fastening to the supporting surface.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein the side panels, after
installation, are configured to be lifted up and removed when the
top cover is opened while the front and rear panels remain
fastened.
10. A cage for the protection of outdoor appliances, the cage
comprising: first and second end panels opposing one another and
configured for securement to a supporting surface; upwardly
extending pins on the inside of each lateral edge of the first and
second panels; first and second side panels having forward and
rearward edges adapted to be lowered onto and slid downward on the
pins to be secured thereto; a top being securable onto the tops of
the first and second end panels and the first and second side
panels to complete the cage; at least one of the first and second
side panels being removable upon the top being removed for
maintenance.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional
Application No. 62/673,321 filed on May 18, 2018, the contents of
which are herein incorporated by reference.
BACKGROUND
1. Field
[0002] The disclosed embodiments related generally to the field of
securing devices against theft. More specifically, the disclosed
system relates to securing outdoor equipment from being removed
from an installed position.
2. Related Art
[0003] It is desirable to guard against the theft of outdoor
personal property. It is known to protect outdoor appliances,
including air conditioner compressor units, from theft using chains
and locks. Further, it is known to weld together cages for
installation around the unit for the purpose of preventing removal
of the unit from an installed location.
SUMMARY
[0004] Disclosed is a system for guarding an outdoor item against
theft. The system, in embodiments, includes a front panel; first
and second side panels; a rear panel; a lockable top cover hingedly
attached at the top of the rear panel; the side panels each having
lateral edges configured to be connected onto lateral edges of the
front and rear panels; the top panel, when rotated to rest on top
of the front, side, and rear panels completing an enclosing cage;
and a fastening arrangement enabling securement of the front and
rear panels onto a supporting surface below the cage, thus securing
all of the front, rear, and side panels against removal. In
embodiments, the lateral edges of the front and rear panels include
upwardly extending pins configured to receive corresponding
receiving collars formed on the lateral edges of each of the side
panels. The pins can extend upward from blocks, the blocks being
mounted inside angled upright members at the lateral edges of each
of the front and rear panels. In embodiments the clearance between
the pins and the inside surfaces of the angled upright members is
substantially the same as a thickness of at least a portion of each
collar so that there is a snug fit.
[0005] The top cover can be made to be lockable to the top of the
front panel thus containing the side panels against removal without
first unlocking the top cover. In embodiments: (i) the top cover
has outer edges defined by a horizontally outwardly extending
abutment portion and a downwardly extending lip; (ii) the lip is
received inside, and the abutment surface rests atop each of the
front, side, and rear panels; and (iii) the top cover is made
lockable onto the top cover by aligning an outside hole made
through the downwardly extending lip, and aligned with an inside
hole made the top of the front panel.
[0006] In embodiments a tab extends out and over the outside hole
for the purpose of preventing cutting of a lock.
[0007] In embodiments the front and rear panels are configured for
fastening to the supporting surface. Also, the side panels, after
installation, can be lifted up and removed when the top cover is
opened while the front and rear panels remain fastened.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0008] FIG. 1 shows an exploded view of the cage before
assembly;
[0009] FIG. 2 shows the cage after assembly with the lid open;
[0010] FIG. 3 shows the cage after full assembly after
installation.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0011] FIG. 1 Shows exploded view of the cage prior to assembly.
The assembly includes a back panel with a hinged top, a front
panel, and two identically configured side panels. Because each
component is substantially sized (in terms of length and width)
like the others, the panels can be laid over one another and easily
boxed, shipped, and marketed. As can be seen in FIG. 1, the cage
100 includes a front 102, back 104, and sides 106 and 108 are shown
in an exploded view, and each includes an access barring
cross-member arrangement 109. The top 110 is secured to the top 132
of the back panel 104 using hinges 112, and like the panels,
includes a cross-member arrangement 111.
[0012] Each of side panels 106 and 108 has four truncated square
tubing portions 114 which form internal receiving channels. These
receiving channels--defined by the internals of the square tube
portions 114--are used to receive each of a reciprocating group of
upwardly-extending pins 116 from below. The pins 116 are each
secured by welding into supporting square tube blocks 118 which are
nested into the insides of opposing angle iron vertical members
120. The total of eight male pins 116 existing of the front and
back of the will be used to allow for assembly. During assembly,
the male pins 116 are received from below into each female
square-tube member on each of the side panels to secure the cage in
place.
[0013] At the bottom of the legs of the front and back panels,
footers 122 are provided. The footers 122 exist at the base of each
of the vertical angle-iron members 120 as shown. These footers have
holes 124 bored through them in them which receive fasteners (not
shown) that will be secured into anchors formed into the concrete
or whatever surface the cage is being mounted on top of. E.g.,
normally air-conditioning units are installed atop concrete pads or
other supporting arrangements where fasteners can be received.
[0014] As can be seen from the figures, all front 102, back 104,
and sides 106 and 108 are approximately equally sized in terms of
length and width, and this makes them easily packaged unlike the
prior art devices. Thus, the panels are able to be boxed, shipped
and marketed.
[0015] In order to assemble and install the system 100, the top
panel 110 is initially folded backward over the back of the back
panel 104 (see FIG. 1, the top 110 is dropped from the position
shown to rest against the back of the back panel 104). This enables
the back panel 104 to be propped up. Since the lid and back panel
are already hinged together before assembly, the aggregation of the
two comprises the heaviest component having been removed from the
box. Thus, it being propped up as shown enables the user to easily
begin assembling the other panels.
[0016] Next, the receiving members 114 on one of the side panels
(e.g., panel 106) are matched up with and secured onto the male
pins 116 on the inside of the back panel. The clearance existing
between each pin 116 and the insides of the vertical angle iron
members 120 are such that when they accept from above the square
tube receptacles 114, a tight secure fit is formed. Thus, the
clearance between the pins and the thickness of the square tubes
are substantially equal to accomplish this. Thus, the side panel
106 is locked onto back panel 104, and the two can be stood up.
[0017] Next, the forwardmost upwardly-extending pins 116 on front
panel 102 are brought up through the square-tube receiving collars
114 at the front of panel 106 (using substantially the same
process).
[0018] Now, with the back 104, side 106, and front 102 panels
standing up, the user is able to slide the outer square-tube
receiving collars 114 on both vertical supports 121 on final side
panel 108 over the remaining upwardly-extending pins 116 on the
left-hand sides of each of the front panel 102 and the back panel
104.
[0019] FIG. 2 shows that after the panels 102, 104, 106, and 108
are assembled by bringing the receiving members 114 over the
upwardly-extending pin members116, that all four top corners of the
cage (see FIG. 2) will be substantially flush, so that the cage is
formed into a substantially rectangular shape (alternatively
cubical, or any other similar geometric shape).
[0020] FIG. 3 shows that the lid 110 is rotated back over to rest
on top of the final side panel being locked in to complete the
substantially rectangular cage.
[0021] In embodiments, each of the lid portions 126 are comprised
of angle iron cut and welded such that they define a
downwardly-extending lip portions 128 and an abutment surface 130.
The lip portions 126 will be vertical once the lid it closed, and
the abutment surfaces will engage the top edges 132 of each of the
panels 102, 104, 106, and 108. In embodiments, each of the top
edges are formed using angle-iron shaped members such that when the
lid angle iron members 128 are closed down onto them, there is a
nesting arrangement. The cage lid can be rotated down to be secured
inside the inner edges of at the top opening defined by the panels.
When the lid is flipped down (moving from the position in FIG. 2 to
the one shown in FIG. 3) the lips 126 are sized such that in inner
portion of each angle iron is received down into the top opening of
the cage, it will fit inside the square opening defined by the tops
132 of each of the panels, and the abutment surfaces 130 will rest
on top of each panel top 132. And again, the angle iron tops of the
panels 132 are nested outside the outwardly oriented angle iron
portions 128 of the lid.
[0022] Once assembled as shown in FIG. 3, the front panel and lid
can be locked together to secure the cage against removal and
prevent disassembly. To accomplish this, a hole 134 is drilled
through the downwardly-extending portion of angle iron member 126
on the lid 110, and caused to match up with corresponding hole 136
formed through the vertical portion of angle iron at the top 132 of
the front panel.
[0023] A vertical outwardly extending V-shaped tab 138 (shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2) is an inwardly extending portion of angle iron that
is welded in place such that it forms a roof over the two holes 134
and 136 are drilled in positions such that they line up when the
angle iron members 128 on the lid 110 are nested in the angle iron
top edges 132 of the panels. The two holes are able to receive a
lock (not shown), and the tab/roof 138 above the holes (and now
lock) prevents removal of the lock with, e.g., bolt cutters.
[0024] When the cage 100 is assembled as shown in FIG. 3, it can be
placed over an air conditioning unit. Alternatively, the cage is
able to be assembled around the air conditioning unit depending on
the user's preference. Regardless, fasteners can be screwed into
the holes 124 in the footers 122 to complete the securement.
[0025] It should be noted that for routine maintenance, oftentimes
the user may need to remove the lock and rotate open the lid 110.
But it should also be noted that by reversing the assembly process,
e.g., by removing lock, lifting up the lid, and sliding one (or
both) of the side panels up, it is possible to remove either side
member to give access for the purpose of gaining access to further
clean, service, or replace the air conditioning unit. And this full
side access given with panels 106 and 108 removed can be done
without removing the fasteners. Many different arrangements of the
various components depicted, as well as components not shown, are
possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present
disclosure. Embodiments of the present disclosure have been
described with the intent to be illustrative rather than
restrictive. Alternative embodiments will become apparent to those
skilled in the art that do not depart from its scope. A skilled
artisan may develop alternative means of implementing the
aforementioned improvements without departing from the scope of the
present disclosure.
[0026] It will be understood that certain features and
subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without
reference to other features and subcombinations and are
contemplated within the scope of the claims. Not all operations
listed in the various figures need be carried out in the specific
order described.
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