APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SEALING WINDOW AIR CONDITIONER

Description

BACKGROUND

The present embodiments relate to a device and method of sealing an appliance within a window assembly, more specifically a saddle-type window air conditioner.

Typical saddle-type window air conditioners are installed by passing at least the outdoor portion/unit through the window opening and subsequently straddling the outdoor portion/unit and indoor portion/unit relative to the window assembly, or portions thereof (e.g. window sill). However, sealing such a window air conditioner with the window assembly may be difficult. Thus, there is a need to improve sealing the window air conditioner relative to the window assembly.

SUMMARY

In some embodiments, for example, a window air conditioner may include an indoor portion. In various embodiments, the window air conditioner may include an outdoor portion. In some embodiments, the window air conditioner may include a bridge connecting the indoor portion and the outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the window air conditioner may include a collar, or portions thereof, configured to seal between the bridge and the window assembly. In some embodiments, the collar may include one or more members surrounding the bridge having an inner periphery adjacent the bridge and an outer periphery. In various embodiments, 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.

In some embodiments, the window air conditioner may include one or more sealing members positioned between the one or more members and the window assembly. In various embodiments, the one or more ribs may engage the one or more sealing members. In some embodiments, the one or more ribs may project from the one or more members in one or more planes perpendicular to a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the one or more members may include a sloped surface decreasing in elevation in a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. In some embodiments, the one or more members may include one or more grooves extending in a direction from the indoor portion to the outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the one or more grooves may intersect the one or more ribs. In some embodiments, the one or more members may define one or more outlets in downstream fluid communication with the one or more grooves (e.g. adjacent the outdoor portion). In various embodiments, the one or more members may include a sleeve having an inner periphery adjacent the bridge. In some embodiments, the inner periphery of the sleeve may be positioned above the one or more outlets. In various embodiments, the inner periphery and the outer periphery includes the one or more ribs. In some embodiments, the collar, or portions thereof, may define a through opening receiving the bridge. In various embodiments, the window air conditioner may be a saddle-type window air conditioner.

In some embodiments, a collar for sealing a window air conditioner may include a first member having an outer periphery and an opposing inner periphery between an indoor side and an outdoor side. In various embodiments, the collar may include one or more ribs projecting outwardly away from at least one of the outer periphery and/or the opposing inner periphery. In some embodiments, the one or more ribs may be positioned in one or more planes substantially perpendicular to a direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side.

In addition, in some embodiments, the collar may include 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. In various embodiments, at least one of the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery may be a sloped surface. In some embodiments, the sloped surface may decrease in elevation from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In various embodiments, the one or more ribs may project from the sloped surface. In some embodiments, the collar may include one or more grooves intersecting the one or more ribs in a direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In various embodiments, the one or more grooves may be downwardly sloped from the indoor side to the outdoor side. In some embodiments, the first member may include one or more outlets in downstream fluid communication with the one or more grooves adjacent the outdoor side. In some embodiments, the first member may include a sleeve adjacent the outdoor side. In various embodiments, the sleeve may be positioned above the one or more outlets. In some embodiments, the collar may include a second member. In various embodiments, the first member and/or the second member may define a though opening, or portions thereof, configured to seal a window air conditioner with a window assembly defining a window opening. In various embodiments, the second member may include an outer periphery and an opposing inner periphery. In some embodiments, the second member may include one or more ribs projecting from at least one of the opposing inner periphery and/or the outer periphery. In various embodiments, the first member may be substantially U-shaped and/or the second member may be substantially planar. In some embodiments, opposing ends of the first member and the second member may be adjacent to each other, respectively.

In some embodiments, 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 may include providing a window air conditioner having a bridge connecting an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. In various embodiments, the method may include providing a collar having one or more members. In some embodiments, the method may include positioning the one or more members about the bridge. In various embodiments, the one or more members may include an outer periphery and an inner periphery. In some embodiments, at least a portion of the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery may include a plurality of ribs projecting away from the outer periphery and/or the inner periphery. In various embodiments, the method may include positioning one or more sealing members adjacent the outer periphery and adjacent the inner periphery. In some embodiments, the method may include engaging the plurality of ribs to the one or more sealing members.

In addition, in some embodiments, the method may include 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. In various embodiments, the method may include 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. In some embodiments, the method may include channeling fluid between the plurality of ribs from an indoor side towards an outdoor side of the one or more members. In some embodiments, positioning the one or more sealing members may include positioning the one or more sealing members substantially 360 degrees about the inner periphery and/or the outer periphery of the one or more members.

These and other advantages and features, which characterize the invention, are set forth in the claims annexed hereto. For a better understanding of the invention, and of the advantages and objectives attained through its use, reference should be made to the Drawings, and to the accompanying descriptive matter, in which there is described example embodiments of the invention. This summary is merely provided to introduce a selection of concepts that are further described below in the detailed description, and is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in limiting the scope of the claimed subject matter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a top perspective view from an indoor viewing angle of an embodiment of a seal mechanism from a window air conditioner.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view from an outdoor viewing angle of the embodiment of FIG. 1, with the one or more sealing members removed.

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view from an indoor viewing angle of a first member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view from an outdoor viewing angle of a first member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the first member taken along line 6-6 of FIG. 4.

FIG. 7 is a bottom perspective view from an outdoor viewing angle of a second member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8 is a top perspective view from an indoor viewing angle of a second member of FIG. 3.

FIG. 9 is a sectional view of the first member taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a top perspective view from an outdoor viewing angle of an embodiment of a saddle-type window air conditioner inserted into the window opening, illustrating the sealing mechanism of FIG. 1 sealingly engaging the window assembly and the window air conditioner.

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 10.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Turning now to the Figures, wherein like numbers denote like parts throughout the several views, the overall configuration of various embodiments of a sealing mechanism 20 for a window A/C unit will be described. The type, size, and shape of the window air conditioner 10 may be varied while remaining within the scope of the present disclosure. In general, the Figures depict one or more sealing mechanisms 20 for a window air conditioner 10, wherein the window air conditioner 10 has three primary sections or portions: a connector/bridge or member 11, an indoor portion 12 and an outdoor portion 13. Together the connector 11, indoor portion 12, and outdoor portion 13 make up a generally inverted U-shaped, or “saddle-type” window air conditioner 10, having an open space/channel 14 between the indoor portion 12 and the outdoor portion 13. Although not shown, the window air conditioner may be a U-shaped unit. The bridge 11 may be disposed between of connect the outdoor portion 13 and the indoor portion 12. The open space 14 is bounded at the top by the bridge 11 (e.g. bottom surface). In an installed position with the window assembly 1 as shown in FIGS. 10-12, the open space 14 is configured to be place over or receive a window sill 2, such that the indoor portion 12 is situated indoors of and downwardly depending with respect to the window sill 2, and the outdoor portion 13 is situated outdoors of and downwardly depending with respect to the window sill 2. In this manner, the open space 14 can receive the window sill 2 therewithin when the saddle-type window air conditioner 10 is installed in a window opening 3 as shown in the one embodiment in FIG. 10.

In some embodiments, as best shown in FIGS. 10-12, the window assembly 1 may include a vertically operable window sash 4, a horizontal window sill 2, and a pair of vertical side window tracks 5 for slidably receiving the vertical side faces of the window sash 4. Thus, the window sash 4 may be vertically slid up and down by a user.

With reference now to FIGS. 1-12, one embodiment of the sealing mechanism 20 is shown. The one or more sealing mechanisms close off the remaining gap (e.g. remainder of window opening 3) between the window assembly 1, or portions thereof, (e.g. the lowered window sash 4, the horizontal window sill 2, vertical side window tracks 5) and the installed window air conditioner 10, or portions thereof. The sealing mechanism 20 may reduce or prevent fluid (e.g. air, water, etc.) from entering the indoors from the outdoors relative to the installed window air conditioner 10. The sealing mechanism may be installed to the window air conditioner before installation of the window air conditioner, during installation of the window air conditioner to the window assembly 1, and/or after installation of the window air conditioner in the window assembly 1. FIGS. 10-12 illustrate the sealing mechanism 20 in an installed position.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20 and/or window air conditioner 10 may include one or more collars 30, or portions thereof. The collar 30, or portions thereof, may be configured to seal the window air conditioner 10, or portions thereof, and/or window assembly 1, or portions thereof. The collar 30 may be configured to seal (e.g. 360 degrees) about the bridge 11 and/or between the bridge 11 and the window assembly 1, or portions thereof. The collar 30 may include an indoor side 30a facing or adjacent the indoor portion 12 and/or an outdoor side 30b facing or adjacent the outdoor portion 13. The collar 30 may include one or more members 31 (e.g. upper/first collar/member 31a, lower/second collar/member 31b, first, second, etc.) surrounding the bridge 11. The collar 30 and/or member(s) 31 may include an inner periphery 32 adjacent the bridge 11 and an outer periphery 33. The inner periphery 32 may be opposing the outer periphery 33. The inner periphery 32 and outer periphery 33 may be positioned between the indoor side 30a and outdoor side 30b of the collar/member. The inner periphery 32 defined by the collar 30 and/or members 31 may define a through opening 34. Although the inner/outer periphery 32, 33 may be 360 degrees about the bridge 11 as shown, the inner/outer periphery may be less than 360 degrees in some embodiments. The through opening 34 may receiving the bridge 11. The collar 30 may be made of a variety of materials, such as, but is not limited to, plastic or metal, or combinations thereof.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, and/or collar 30, or portions thereof, may include one or more sealing members 40. The one or more sealing members 40, if used, may be positioned between the collar 30, or portions thereof, (e.g. member(s) 31) and the bridge 11 and/or window assembly 1. As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 10-12, the sealing members 40 may be positioned adjacent one or more portions of the inner periphery 32 (e.g. with ribs, without ribs) and/or one or more portions of the outer periphery 33 (e.g. with ribs, without ribs) of the member(s) 31/collar 30. The one or more sealing members 40 may close off the remaining gap (e.g. remainder of window opening 3) between the window assembly 1, or portions thereof, (e.g. the lowered window sash 4, the horizontal window sill 2, vertical side window tracks 5) and the installed collar 30, or portions thereof (e.g. members, outer periphery). The one or more sealing members may close off the remaining gap (e.g. remainder of window opening 3, between collar and bridge/conditioner) between the window air conditioner 10, or portions thereof, (e.g. bridge 11) and the installed collar 30, or portions thereof (e.g. members, inner periphery). The member(s) 31 and/or one or more portions of the inner periphery 32 and/or outer periphery 33 may engage or receive one or more sealing members 40. The sealing members 40 may be positioned substantially 360 degrees about the inner periphery 32 and/or the outer periphery 33 of the collar 30/member(s) 31. Other degrees of coverage or portions of the collar/members are contemplated. The sealing members may be of a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, constructions, and positions relative to the collar and still be within the scope of the invention. The sealing members may be made of a variety of materials such as, but is not limited to, foam and/or rubber, or combinations thereof. Further, the one or more sealing members may have a variety of different compression characteristics. For example, one sealing member may be more compressible than another sealing member. Further, for example, two different types of sealing members may be used that have different compression characteristics.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, member(s) 31, and/or collar 30 may include one or more ribs 50. The ribs 50, if used, may be positioned on one or more members 31 and/or collar 30, or portions thereof. The rib(s) 50 may project (e.g. inwardly, outwardly, away from, towards the sash, sill, tracks or portions of the window, towards the bridge or portions of the conditioner) from one or more surfaces of the member 31 or collar 30. The inner periphery 32 may include one or more ribs 50. The ribs 50, if any, on the inner periphery may project radially inward. The outer periphery 33 may include one or more ribs 50. The ribs 50, if any, on the outer periphery may project radially outward. The inner and outer periphery 32, 33, or portions thereof, may include one or more ribs 50. The ribs may project substantially perpendicular to a direction or plane from indoor portion/side 12, 30a to the outdoor portion/side 13, 30b of the window air conditioner 10 from the collar 30/member 31, or portions thereof. The rib(s) 50 may be positioned in one or more planes perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening 34. The plurality of ribs 50 may be parallel to each other in different planes (e.g. perpendicular planes to the axis A). The rib 50 may be rectangular in cross section. The one or more ribs 50 may engage and/or compress one or more of the sealing members 40, or portions thereof. The channels 51 defined between adjacent ribs (e.g. adjacent parallel planes of the ribs) may not compress or may compress less of the sealing member 40 than the rib(s) 50 may compress the sealing member 40. Alternatively stated, the adjacent ribs intermittent/discontinuous contact/position does not compress the entire sealing member or varies the compression across the surface of the sealing member in at least one direction. The ribs 50/channels 51 and/or pattern of compression/non compression of the sealing member 40 (e.g. along the axis A, along a direction) may prevent or reduce capillary action of fluid between the indoor and outer spaces/sides/portions.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, member(s) 31, and/or collar 30, or portions thereof, may include one or more ribs 50, if used, projecting from one or more surfaces 35/members 31. One or more of the surface(s) 35 may circumscribe the bridge 11 and face inwardly and/or outwardly therefrom. Although the rib(s) are shown positioned substantially 360 degrees about the inner periphery of the collar/member(s)/surface(s), the rib(s) may be positioned less than 360 degrees of coverage or portions of the collar/members/surfaces. Although the rib(s) are shown positioned substantially less than 360 degrees about the outer periphery of the collar/member(s)/surface(s), the rib(s) may be positioned of coverage or portions of the collar/members/surfaces. As shown, the second member 31b surface or outer periphery 33 may not include ribs 50 in some embodiments. In some embodiments as shown, the width of the distal free end 53 of the ribs may vary or be different from each other. For example, the distal free end 53 of the ribs 50 projecting from the top surface 35 or outer periphery 33 of the first member 31a or member 31 may have a larger width in the direction along the axis A than the distal free end 53 of the ribs 50 projecting from the bottom surface 35 or inner periphery 32 of the first member 31a or member 31. The one or more surfaces 35 may be sloped in some embodiments. The inner periphery 32 and/or outer periphery 33 of the collar 30/member(s) 31, or portions thereof, may include the one or more sloped surfaces 35a. The sloped surface 35a may have projecting rib(s) 50 therefrom. Although the proximal end 52 of the ribs 50 may be adjacent the sloped surface 35a, the distal free end 53 of the rib(s) 50 may project to the same elevation/distance and/or plane (e.g. horizontal). For example, the length of ribs 50 projecting may decrease in the direction towards the outdoor portion/side. Alternatively, the distal free ends 53 of a plurality of ribs 50 may not extend to the same plane in some embodiments. The sloped surface 35a and/or collar 30 may decrease in elevation or narrow in a direction from the indoor portion 12/side 30a to the outdoor portion 13/side 30b. In the one embodiment shown, a top wall of the collar/member/mechanism may include both a top sloping surface and an opposing bottom sloping surface. Although the top wall/member 36a of the collar 30/member 31/mechanism 20 may include the slope wall/surfaces 35a (e.g. top surface, outer periphery, bottom surface, inner periphery) as shown in at least FIG. 6, it should be understood that other walls or portions of the collar/member/mechanism may include one or more sloped surfaces. For example, as shown in FIG. 9, a bottom wall/member 36c and/or one or more side walls 36b of the collar/member/mechanism may include one or more sloped surfaces 35a alone or in combination with the top wall 36a. Although the sloped surface 35a and/or ribs 50 (e.g. in a plurality of planes) may extend or be positioned from the indoor side 30a to the outdoor side 30b of the collar/member/surface as shown, it should be understood that a portion of the surface 35 may be sloped in the direction from the indoor side to the outdoor side in some embodiments. The rib(s) may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, member(s) 31, and/or collar 30, or portions thereof, may include one or more grooves 60. Further, the inner periphery 32 and/or outer periphery 33 may include one or more grooves 60. The one or more grooves 60 may funnel or direct fluid in one or more desired directions to control fluid movement, fluid discharge, and/or sealing. The one or more grooves 60, if used, may extend along a direction from the indoor side 30a/portion 12 towards the outdoor side 30b/portion 13 and/or along the axis A. The grooves 60 may be included on sloped surfaces/walls 35a or non-sloped surfaces/walls 35 of the members/collar. A plurality of grooves 60 may be parallel to each other in planes parallel to the axis A in some embodiments. The one or more grooves 60 may intersect the one or more ribs 50, if used. In the one embodiment shown, the top wall 36a of the collar/member/mechanism may include a top surface (e.g. sloping, sloped surface) or outer periphery 33 having one or more grooves 60. The one or more grooves 60 (e.g. bottom wall) may be sloped. The one or more grooves 60 may be downwardly sloped in a direction from the indoor side 30a/portion 12 to the outdoor side 30b/portion 13. In the one embodiment shown, the bottom wall 36c of the collar/member/mechanism may include a top surface (e.g. non sloping) or inner periphery 32 having one or more grooves 60. As shown in the one embodiment of the member 31/surface 35 with rib(s) 50, the bottom wall 61 of the groove 60 may be adjacent or in the same plane as the surface 35 (e.g. sloped surface 35a, non sloped surface) of the member. Although not shown, in members/surfaces that do not include rib(s) projecting therefrom, the groove(s), if used, or bottom wall may be at a depth below or within the member or surface. Although the both the top wall 36a and bottom wall 36c of the collar/member/mechanism may include the groove(s) 60 (e.g. top surface, outer periphery, inner periphery), it should be understood that other walls or portions of the collar/member/mechanism may include one or more grooves. For example, one or more side walls 36b may include one or more grooves.

In some implementations, the sloped surfaces 35a of the surfaces 35 and/or the groove bottom wall 61, if used, may be orientated at a variety of angles. In some embodiments, the one or more sloped surfaces may be angled between 5 degrees to about 15 degrees from the horizontal.

In some implementations, the one or more grooves 60, if used, may intersect or define the one or more ribs 50. The groove(s) 60 may intersect or define adjacent ribs 50 in at least one plane and/or adjacent ribs in a plurality of parallel planes. As shown in the one embodiment, the top wall 36a/member 31 (e.g. top surface, outer periphery) and the bottom wall 36c/member 31 (e.g. top surface, inner periphery) includes a plurality of ribs 50 intersected/defined by one or more grooves 60 in a single plane and/or a plurality of planes (e.g. parallel to each other) perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening 34. As shown in the one embodiment, the opposing side walls 36b/members 31 (e.g. inner periphery, outer periphery, inner surface, outer surface) may include a single rib in each plane of a plurality of planes (e.g. parallel to each other) perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening without one or more grooves intersecting them. Further, the bottom surface of the top wall 36a may include a single rib in each plane of a plurality of planes (e.g. parallel to each other) perpendicular to the axis A of the through opening without one or more grooves intersecting them.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, member(s) 31, groove(s) 60, and/or collar 30, or portions thereof, may include one or more outlets 70. The one or more outlets 70, if used, may be downstream of or downstream fluid communication with one or more grooves 60. The outlets 70 may be adjacent one or more ends of the groove(s) 60. The outlets 70 may be adjacent the indoor side 30a/portion 12 and/or outdoor side 30b/portion 13 of the collar/member/conditioner and/or opposing ends of the through opening 34. As shown in the one embodiment, a first outlet 71 may be positioned adjacent the one or more ends of the groove(s) 60 adjacent the outdoor side 30b positioned on the bottom wall 36c/member 31 of the collar 30. Further as shown in the one embodiment, a first outlet 71 may be positioned adjacent one end of the groove 60 adjacent the outdoor side 30b positioned on the top wall 36a/member 31 of the collar 30. The groove 60 and/or outlet 70 may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. For example, the groove may be of a variety of depths and/or shapes (e.g. linear, nonlinear, arcuate bottom, flat bottom). Further, for example, a second outlet may be adjacent the indoor side 30a in some embodiments. Further, one or more grooves may not be angled in some embodiments. The grooves may be in a horizontal plane. In some embodiments, the grooves may be shapes other than linear as shown.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, member(s) 31, and/or collar 30, or portions thereof, may include one or more sleeves 80. The one or more sleeves 80, if used, may be one or more flanges extending from the outdoor side 30b of the sealing mechanism/collar/member(s). The sleeve 80 may include an inner periphery 81 adjacent the bridge 11 of the window air conditioner 10. The sleeve 80 may extend (e.g. horizontally) from the top wall 36a/member 31 towards the outer portion 13 and/or substantially parallel to the bridge and/or along the axis A. The sleeve 80 may extend from the top wall 36a and/or the side walls 36b. As shown in the one embodiment, the sleeve 80 extends from the top wall 36a and the opposing side walls 36b. The outlet(s) 70 may be positioned inside or within the inner periphery 81 of the sleeve 80, or portions thereof. The inner periphery 81 of the sleeve(s) (e.g. projecting from surface 53 or top wall 36a) may be positioned above the outlet(s) 70 (e.g. 71), if used. The sleeve may narrow in the direction along the axis A. The sleeve may be positioned above the outlet(s) 70 adjacent the outdoor side 30b. The sleeve may shield the through aperture 34 and/or outlets 70 (e.g. 71), if used, from fluid (e.g. rain, etc.). The sleeve may be a variety of shapes, sizes, quantities, positions, and constructions and still be within the scope of the invention. Although the sleeve projects from each of the side walls 36b and top wall 36a, it should be understood that the sleeve, or portions thereof, may project from one or more members 31 or walls 36a, 36b, 36c. For example, the sleeve may project only from the top wall 36a in some embodiments.

In some implementations, the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, and/or collar 30 may include one or more members 31. The one or more members 31 define one or more portions of the collar 30 or sealing mechanism 20. At least one member may define the collar 30 or sealing mechanism 20. In the one embodiment shown, the collar may include the first member 31a and the second member 31b. In some embodiments, at least one member 31 (e.g. first, second, etc.) may include one or more ribs 50, one or more sloped surfaces 35a, the inner periphery 32, the outer periphery 33, the one or more grooves 60, one or more outlets 70, and/or one or more sleeves 80, etc. The member 31 (e.g. first) may be substantially U-shaped or an inverted U-shaped member. Another member 31 (e.g. second) may be substantially planar. The first and second members 31a, 31b may define the through opening 34. The second member 31b or bottom wall 36c may have at least one or more ribs 50 projecting from the inner periphery thereof. The second member 31b or bottom wall 36c may also include grooves in the inner periphery 32 thereof. The bottom surface or outer periphery 33 of the bottom wall 36c may not include grooves and/or ribs in some embodiments. The first and second members 31a, 31b and/or through opening 34 may be configured to seal the window air conditioner 10 with the window assembly 1. The opposing ends 31bb of the second member 31b may couple, respectively, to the opposing ends 31aa of the upside down U-shaped first member 31a. The first member 31a may include the top wall 36a and depending side walls 36b. The second member 31b may include the bottom wall 36c. The first member 31a and the second member 31b may be coupled to each other in a variety of structures and ways. One or more attachment mechanisms 90 may couple or connect the members 31 or collar 30, or portions thereof. The attachment mechanisms 90 may be adjacent the opposing ends 31aa, 31bb of the first member 31a and/or second member 31b. Although a biased clip fastener 91 and catch 92 between the two members 31a, 31b releasably couple the two members to compress the sealing members to the bridge 11, the attachment mechanisms 90 may be of a variety of constructions, shapes, sizes, quantities, and positions. For example, a screw or fastener may be used to couple the members to each other in the installed position. In some embodiments, the collar, or portions thereof, may include a flange 37 projecting radially inward and/or radially outward to create one or more receiving channels to hold one or more sealing member 40. As shown in the one embodiment, a flange 37 may project radially outwardly/inwardly of perpendicular to the axis A from one or more of the members 31, or portions thereof (e.g. surfaces, inner periphery, outer periphery, indoor side, outdoor side). Although the top member may include a radial flange 37 adjacent the indoor side 30a as shown, the top member may not include a radial flange projecting upwardly from the outdoor side.

In use, the sealing mechanism 20, or portions thereof, may reduce or prevent fluid from transferring through the window opening 3 into the inside of the room relative to the window air conditioner 10 positioned in the window assembly 1 in the installed position. The collar 30, or portions thereof, and/or one or more members 31 of the collar 30 may be positioned about the bridge 11 of the installed or preinstalled window air conditioner. One or more sealing members 40 may be held or positioned between the one or more members 31 and the bridge 11. The one or more sealing members 40 may be positioned (e.g. about 360 degrees, less than 360) about the through opening 34, member(s) 31 (e.g. inner periphery) and/or bridge 11, or portions thereof. For example, the sealing members 40 about the inner periphery of the collar may include a lower seal member 41 (e.g. planar seal member) and an upper seal member 42 (e.g. upside down U-shaped seal member). The two or more members may be coupled to each other (e.g. via one or more attachment mechanisms 90, clips 91, catch 92, screws). The members(s) and/or rib(s) 50, if used, on the inner periphery 32 of the one or more members 31 may engage or compress portions of the sealing member(s) 40 against the bridge 11. One or more sealing members 40 may be held or positioned between the one or more members 31 (e.g. outer periphery) and the window assembly 1, or portions thereof (e.g. sash, tracks, sill). The one or more sealing members 40 may be predetermined and/or cut to size or fit relative to the sealing mechanism 20, window air conditioner 10, and/or window assembly 1, or portions thereof. The one or more sealing members 40 may be positioned (e.g. about 360 degrees, less than 360) about the collar 30 and/or member(s) 31 (e.g. outer periphery). For example, the sealing members 40 about the outer periphery 33 of the collar 30 may include a bottom seal member 43, opposing side seal members 44, and/or a top seal member 45. The members(s) 31 and/or rib(s) 40, if used, on the outer periphery 33 of the one or more members 31 may engage or compress portions of the sealing member(s) 40 against the window assembly 1, or portions thereof. When the sealing mechanism 20 is installed, the sealing mechanism (e.g. groove, outlet, sloped surface, planar surface, channels) may drain fluid from (e.g. away) the inner periphery and/or outer periphery in one or more directions (e.g. towards the indoor portion, towards the outdoor portion, axially along axis A, radially from axis A). The draining may be at a downward angle from the indoor side 30a/portion 12 towards the outdoor side 30b/portion 12 of the collar/members/conditioner (e.g. along sloped surface or sloped groove). The downward angle may be along the sloped surface 35a of at least one member and/or sloped groove 60 in some embodiments. Fluid may be channeled (e.g. via grooves) or directed between adjacent or a plurality of ribs within a plane and/or surface 35. The fluid may be channeled/drained in a direction from the indoor side 30a/portion 12 to the outdoor side 30b/portion 13 of the collar/members/conditioner. Further, in some embodiments, the sleeve 80 may shield one or more outlets 70, though opening 34 adjacent at least one of the inner periphery 32, and/or the outer periphery 33 adjacent the indoor side 30a and/or outdoor side 30b. As shown in the one embodiment, the sleeve 80 may shield one or more outlets 70 and/or though opening 34 adjacent the inner periphery 32/81 adjacent the outdoor side 30b.

While several embodiments have been described and illustrated herein, those of ordinary skill in the art will readily envision a variety of other means and/or structures for performing the function and/or obtaining the results and/or one or more of the advantages described herein, and each of such variations and/or modifications is deemed to be within the scope of the embodiments described herein. More generally, those skilled in the art will readily appreciate that all parameters, dimensions, materials, and configurations described herein are meant to be exemplary and that the actual parameters, dimensions, materials, and/or configurations will depend upon the specific application or applications for which the teachings is/are used. Those skilled in the art will recognize, or be able to ascertain using no more than routine experimentation, many equivalents to the specific embodiments described herein. It is, therefore, to be understood that the foregoing embodiments are presented by way of example only and that, within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereto, embodiments may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described and claimed. Embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to each individual feature, system, article, material, and/or method described herein. In addition, any combination of two or more such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods, if such features, systems, articles, materials, and/or methods are not mutually inconsistent, is included within the scope of the present disclosure.

All definitions, as defined and used herein, should be understood to control over dictionary definitions, definitions in documents incorporated by reference, and/or ordinary meanings of the defined terms.

The indefinite articles “a” and “an,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, should be understood to mean “at least one.”

The phrase “and/or,” as used herein in the specification and in the claims, should be understood to mean “either or both” of the elements so conjoined, i.e., elements that are conjunctively present in some cases and disjunctively present in other cases. Multiple elements listed with “and/or” should be construed in the same fashion, i.e., “one or more” of the elements so conjoined. Other elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified by the “and/or” clause, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, a reference to “A and/or B”, when used in conjunction with open-ended language such as “comprising” can refer, in one embodiment, to A only (optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to B only (optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to both A and B (optionally including other elements); etc.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, “or” should be understood to have the same meaning as “and/or” as defined above. For example, when separating items in a list, “or” or “and/or” shall be interpreted as being inclusive, i.e., the inclusion of at least one, but also including more than one, of a number or list of elements, and, optionally, additional unlisted items. Only terms clearly indicated to the contrary, such as “only one of” or “exactly one of,” or, when used in the claims, “consisting of,” will refer to the inclusion of exactly one element of a number or list of elements. In general, the term “or” as used herein shall only be interpreted as indicating exclusive alternatives (i.e. “one or the other but not both”) when preceded by terms of exclusivity, such as “either,” “one of,” “only one of,” or “exactly one of.” “Consisting essentially of,” when used in the claims, shall have its ordinary meaning as used in the field of patent law.

As used herein in the specification and in the claims, the phrase “at least one,” in reference to a list of one or more elements, should be understood to mean at least one element selected from any one or more of the elements in the list of elements, but not necessarily including at least one of each and every element specifically listed within the list of elements and not excluding any combinations of elements in the list of elements. This definition also allows that elements may optionally be present other than the elements specifically identified within the list of elements to which the phrase “at least one” refers, whether related or unrelated to those elements specifically identified. Thus, as a non-limiting example, “at least one of A and B” (or, equivalently, “at least one of A or B,” or, equivalently “at least one of A and/or B”) can refer, in one embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, with no B present (and optionally including elements other than B); in another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, B, with no A present (and optionally including elements other than A); in yet another embodiment, to at least one, optionally including more than one, A, and at least one, optionally including more than one, B (and optionally including other elements); etc.

It should also be understood that, unless clearly indicated to the contrary, in any methods claimed herein that include more than one step or act, the order of the steps or acts of the method is not necessarily limited to the order in which the steps or acts of the method are recited.

In the claims, as well as in the specification above, all transitional phrases such as “comprising,” “including,” “carrying,” “having,” “containing,” “involving,” “holding,” “composed of,” and the like are to be understood to be open-ended, i.e., to mean including but not limited to. Only the transitional phrases “consisting of” and “consisting essentially of” shall be closed or semi-closed transitional phrases, respectively, as set forth in the United States Patent Office Manual of Patent Examining Procedures, Section 2111.03.

It is to be understood that the embodiments are not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Unless limited otherwise, the terms “connected,” “coupled,” “in communication with,” and “mounted,” and variations thereof herein are used broadly and encompass direct and indirect connections, couplings, and mountings. In addition, the terms “connected” and “coupled” and variations thereof are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.

The foregoing description of several embodiments of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise steps and/or forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching.