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Air conditionerRelated Patent Categories: Refrigeration, CombinedAir conditioner description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060185382, Air conditioner. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to an air conditioner, and more particularly, to an indoor unit of an air conditioner for allowing pictures or photographs displayed at the front thereof to be easily interchanged, thus providing the functional benefits of an air conditioner with an added aesthetic factor for interior decoration. [0003] 2. Description of the Related Art [0004] Refrigerants circulating inside air conditioners undergo compression, condensing, expansion, and evaporation stages of a refrigeration cycle. In an air conditioner, refrigerant is first compressed to become high in temperature and pressure, and loses heat to the outside in a condenser, after which it passes through an expansion valve, gradually cooling and depressurizing. The cooled and depressurized refrigerant flows through an evaporator, absorbing heat along the way, and is then recycled to the compressor. [0005] Here, the compression, condensing, and expansion stages occur in an outdoor unit of an air conditioner; and the evaporation stage occurs in an indoor unit by virtue of a blower fan and a heat exchanger. [0006] Air conditioners are grouped into two basic types: single unit air conditioners that consist of a single unit which performs the entire refrigeration cycle, installed in a wall opening such as a window, and split system air conditioners that have a separate indoor and outdoor unit that are respectively installed indoors and outdoors. [0007] Such air conditioner indoor units according to the related art have front portions that function only as covers. That is, a front cover installed at the front of an indoor unit functions to prevent components, such as a blower fan, heat exchanger, etc., from being exposed to the outside, as well as preventing electrocution or injury of children who may otherwise stick their hands inside the unit. Accordingly, the front of an indoor unit has a monotonous and stoic feel, and does not harmonize well with an interior. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an air conditioner that substantially obviates one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art. [0009] An object of the present invention is to provide an air conditioner indoor unit with a structure that allows easy installation and removal of pictures or photographs to and from its blank front cover, so that the unit fulfills its air conditioning duties, as well as complements the decor of an interior space. [0010] Additional advantages, objects, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those having ordinary skill in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by the structure particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof as well as the appended drawings. [0011] To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, an air conditioner according to the present invention includes: a front frame including a discharge port formed on at least one side thereof; a base coupled at a rear of the front frame and forming at least one intake port for suctioning indoor air; a blower fan installed between the front frame and the base for suctioning the indoor air through a rear thereof and discharging the indoor air through a front thereof; and a panel assembly installed at a front of the front frame for allowing an interchanging of an image. [0012] It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0013] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this application, illustrate embodiment(s) of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention. In the drawings: [0014] FIG. 1 is a frontal perspective view of an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present invention; [0015] FIG. 2 is rear perspective view of the indoor unit in FIG. 1; [0016] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view showing the interior structure of the indoor unit in FIG. 1; [0017] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the first embodiment of the present invention; [0018] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the second embodiment of the present invention; [0019] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the third embodiment of the present invention; [0020] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a panel assembly according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention; [0021] FIG. 8 is a perspective view showing an indoor unit of an air conditioner with a panel assembly according to the fifth embodiment of the present invention; and Continue reading about Air conditioner... Full patent description for Air conditioner Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Air conditioner patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Air conditioner or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Air conditioner Next Patent Application: Heat recycling system with nighttime cooling recovery Industry Class: Refrigeration ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Air conditioner patent info. IP-related news and info Results in 0.46507 seconds Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories: Tyco , Unilever , Warner-lambert , 3m 174 |
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