Indoor device for cassette type air conditioner

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10047972-B2
Application number	US-201414504823-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2014
Priority date	Oct 2, 2013
Publication date	Aug 14, 2018
Grant date	Aug 14, 2018

Abstract

An indoor device for a cassette type air conditioner is provided. In the indoor device, a suction grill restricter to couple the suction grill to a panel to prevent outer edges of the suction grill from drooping may be provided to maintain a more stable coupling state, preventing dew condensation and noise from occurring.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An indoor device for a cassette type air conditioner, the indoor device comprising:
a cabinet, in which a heat exchanger and a blower fan are mounted, the cabinet being configured to be installed on a ceiling in an indoor space;
a panel that defines a bottom surface of the cabinet, the panel having at least one suction hole and at least one discharge hole;
a suction grill mounted to cover the at least one suction hole;
at least one fixing member disposed at a first side of the suction grill, the at least one fixing member being fixed to a first side of the panel to restrict movement of the first side of the suction grill;
at least one switching member disposed on a second side of the suction grill and facing the at least one fixing member, the at least one switching member being selectively fixed to a second side of the panel to restrict movement of the second side of the suction grill; and
a suction grill restricter disposed on each of third and fourth sides of the suction grill between the at least one fixing member and the at least one switching member, the suction grill restricters being coupled to each of third and fourth sides of the panel to restrict movement of the third and fourth sides of the suction grill, wherein at least one connection member is disposed between the panel and the suction grill, wherein the suction grill is rotated by the at least one connection member to open the suction hole, wherein the at least one connection member is disposed closer to the at least one fixing member than the at least one connection member is to the at least one switching member, wherein the at least one connection member is disposed closer to the suction grill restricters than the at least one connection member is to the at least one switching member, and wherein the at least one switching member includes:
a fixed portion fixed to the suction grill;
a manipulation portion that extends from the fixed portion to move the fixed portion; and an elastic portion, having a plate shape which is inclined or curved, that extends to each of both sides of the manipulation portion and contacts a support wall when the manipulation portion is manipulated, wherein the support wall protrudes from the upper surface of the suction grill, and wherein the elastic portion is elastically deformed when manipulated to be in contact with the support wall.

2. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixing member and the at least one switching member comprises a plurality of fixing members and a plurality of switching members disposed to be laterally spaced apart from each other, respectively.

3. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the at least one switching member is exposed through a suction hole defined in the suction grill to allow a user to perform opening and closing operations of the suction grill.

4. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one fixing member comprises a fixed piece that extends outwardly and is inserted into the panel.

5. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein the panel further comprises a panel bracket mounted along a circumference of the suction hole, the suction grill restricters being coupled with the panel bracket to restrict movement of the suction grill.

6. The indoor device according to claim 5 , wherein each of the suction grill restricters is in the form of a hook, and wherein the panel bracket comprises a pair of inwardly recessed coupling portions, on which the hooks are hooked.

7. The indoor device according to claim 6 , wherein each of the coupling portions and the pair of suction grill restricters are disposed at a middle portion of the side of the suction grill and panel.

8. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein each suction grill restricter comprises:
an extension that extends upward from the suction grill; and
a hook that protrudes laterally from an end of the extension, the hook being hooked on the panel, wherein the hook has an inclined upper surface.

9. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein at least one panel-side mount, on which the at least one connection member is slidably mounted, is disposed on at least one of the first and second sides of the panel, and wherein at least one grill-side mount, to which the at least one connection member is rotatably coupled, is disposed on at least one of the first and second sides of the suction grill.

10. The indoor device according to claim 9 , wherein the at least one panel-side mount comprises a pair of panel-side mounts provided on each of the first and second sides of the panel and disposed symmetrical with respect to each other, and wherein the at least one connection member is selectively mounted on one of the pair of panel-side mounts according to an opening direction of the suction grill.

11. The indoor device according to claim 1 , wherein a filter guide, on which a filter case to accommodate an air filter is mounted, is disposed on each of the third and fourth sides of the suction grill, and wherein the suction grill restricters are integrated with the filter guide.

12. An indoor device for a cassette type air conditioner configured to be installed on a ceiling in an indoor space, the indoor device comprising:
a panel exposed through the ceiling, the panel having at least one suction hole and at least one discharge hole;
a vane rotatably mounted in each of the at least one discharge hole to guide a flow direction of discharged air;
a suction grill openably mounted on a bottom surface of the panel, the suction grill being disposed to cover the at least one suction hole; and
a suction grill restricter that protrudes from each of first and second sides of the suction grill, the suction grill restricters being inserted into the suction hole and hooked on the panel, wherein an outer edge of the suction grill includes at least one concave portion that corresponds to an inner line of the at least one discharge hole, wherein a fixing member is disposed at a third side of the suction grill, the fixing member being fixed to a third side of the panel to restrict movement of the third side of the suction grill, wherein a switching member is disposed on a fourth side of the suction grill and facing the fixing member, the switching member being selectively fixed to a fourth side of the panel to restrict movement of the fourth side of the suction grill, wherein a connection member is disposed between the panel and the suction grill, wherein the suction grill is rotated by the connection member to open the suction hole, wherein the at least one connection member is disposed closer to the at least one fixing member than the at least one connection member is to the at least one switching member, wherein the at least one connection member is disposed closer to the suction grill restricters than the at least one connection member is to the at least one switching member, and wherein the at least one switching member includes:
a fixed portion fixed to the suction grill;
a manipulation portion that extends from the fixed portion to move the fixed portion; and an elastic portion, having a plate shape which is inclined or curved, that extends to each of both sides of the manipulation portion and contacts a support wall when the manipulation portion is manipulated, wherein the support wall protrudes from the upper surface of the suction grill, and wherein the elastic portion is elastically deformed when manipulated to be in contact with the support wall.

13. The indoor device according to claim 12 , wherein each suction grill restricter is disposed at a middle portion of the

Assignees

• Lg Electronics Inc

Inventors

• Jeong Changhoon

Classifications

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title

• F24F1/0047

  mounted in the ceiling or at the ceiling · CPC title

• F24F13/084 Primary

  with mounting arrangements, e.g. snap fasteners for mounting to the wall or duct · CPC title

• F24F1/00 Primary

  Room units for air-conditioning, e.g. separate or self-contained units or units receiving primary air from a central station · CPC title

• F24F13/085 Primary

  including an air filter · CPC title