| Indoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unit -> Monitor Keywords |
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Indoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unitRelated Patent Categories: Refrigeration, With Repair, Assembly Or Disassembly MeansIndoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unit description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20060201184, Indoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unit. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
TECHNICAL FIELD [0001] The present invention relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner and a method for manufacturing thereof. BACKGROUND ART [0002] Recently, the design of the front panel of an indoor unit of an air conditioner has been improved by painting thereon and the like. However, if painting is simply applied on the front surface of the front panel of an indoor unit, there is a risk that its design may be hampered by a scratch on painting during installation of the indoor unit. Consequently, a technique that painting is applied on the reverse side of a transparent front panel has been suggested (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application 2002-355175). [0003] Incidentally, a front panel is typically integrally molded with a mounting portion (such as a clip and/or a hinge) attached to the main body. However, when a transparent front panel is molded in this manner and the panel is given a color scheme or pattern on the reverse side surface and the mounting portion thereof, it often creates a difference in visual effects between a portion of the front side corresponding to the mounting portion and the remaining flat portion of the front side. In addition, when this difference in visual effects is excessively large, the design of the front panel as a whole may be hampered. DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION [0004] An object of the present invention is to obviate a risk that the design of the front panel and the like of an indoor unit may be hampered by a mounting portion and the like attached to the main body. [0005] An indoor unit of the air conditioner according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises a main body, a front panel, and a design panel. The front panel is opaque and is integrally molded with a mounting portion. Note that this mounting portion is provided for mounting the front panel to the front portion of the main body, and comprises, for example, a hinge (which enables the front panel to open and close) and/or a clip. The design panel is transparent and is attached to the front panel. Additionally, this design panel is provided with a design layer on the reverse side thereof. Note that this design layer is at least given a color scheme. Additionally, this design layer may further be given a pattern. [0006] Here, the design panel is attached to the front panel. Additionally, the front panel is opaque as in conventional panels. Consequently, the mounting portion cannot be seen from the front of indoor unit. Thus, it is possible to obviate a risk that the design of the front panel of the indoor unit and the like may be hampered by the mounting portion and the like attached to the main body. [0007] An indoor unit of the air conditioner according to a second aspect of the present invention is the indoor unit of the air conditioner according the first aspect of the present invention, wherein the design panel is attached to the front panel at a peripheral portion of the design panel. Note that, in this case, the design panel is attached to the main body by a method as fitting with a clip, screwing, fusion, bonding, adhesion, and the like. [0008] Here, the design panel is attached to the front panel at a peripheral portion of the design panel. Therefore, it is possible to maintain the design of at least the main portion of the design panel. [0009] An indoor unit of the air conditioner according to a third aspect of the present invention comprises a main body, a front panel, and a mounting portion. The front panel is transparent and is disposed at the front portion of the main body. Additionally, this front panel is provided with a design layer on the reverse side thereof. Note that this design layer is at least given a color scheme. Additionally, this design layer may further be given a pattern. The mounting portion is provided for mounting the front panel to the front portion of the main body, and comprises, for example, a hinge (which enables the front panel to open and close) and/or a clip. A part of this mounting portion is attached onto the design layer. Note that, in this case, the mounting portion is attached onto the design layer by a method as bonding, adhesion, or the like. [0010] Here, the design layer is provided on the reverse side of the front panel. And, a part of this mounting portion is attached onto the design layer. Consequently, the mounting portion cannot be seen from the front of the indoor unit. Thus, it is possible to obviate a risk that the design of the front panel of the indoor unit and the like may be hampered by the mounting portion and the like attached to the main body. [0011] A method for manufacturing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fourth aspect of the present invention is the method to manufacture the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first aspect of the present invention, and the method comprises a first step and a second step. In the first step, a design layer is formed on a portion or the entirety of the reverse side of the transparent design panel. In the second step, the design panel is attached to the main body such that the reverse side of the design panel and a part of the front portion of the main body face each other. [0012] Here, when the indoor unit of the air conditioner is manufactured according to this method for manufacturing, the design layer is formed on a portion or the entirety of the reverse side of the transparent design panel in the first step. Then, in the second step, the design panel is attached to the main body such that the reverse side of the design panel and a part of the front portion of the main body face each other. Consequently, the mounting portion cannot be seen from the front of the indoor unit. Thus, it is possible to obviate a risk that the design of the front panel of the indoor unit and the like may be hampered by a mounting portion and the like attached to the main body. [0013] A method for manufacturing an indoor unit of an air conditioner according to a fifth aspect of the present invention is the method to manufacture the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the third aspect of the present invention, and the method comprises a first step and a second step. In the first step, a design layer is formed on a portion or the entirety of the reverse side of the transparent front panel. In the second step, a part of the mounting portion is attached onto the design layer. [0014] Here, when the indoor unit of the air conditioner is manufactured according to this method for manufacturing, the design layer is formed on a portion or the entirety of the reverse side of the transparent front panel in the first step. Then, in the second step, a part of the mounting portion is attached to the design layer. Consequently, the mounting portion cannot be seen from the front of the indoor unit. Thus, it is possible to obviate a risk that the design of the front panel of the indoor unit and the like may be hampered by the mounting portion and the like attached to the main body. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS [0015] FIG. 1 is a general view of an air conditioner. [0016] FIG. 2 is a system diagram of a refrigerant circuit of the air conditioner. [0017] FIG. 3 is a side cross section of an indoor unit according to a first embodiment. [0018] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing constituent parts of an indoor unit casing according to the first embodiment. [0019] FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing a method for manufacturing the indoor unit of the air conditioner according to the first embodiment. [0020] FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing steps for manufacturing the indoor unit casing according to the first embodiment. Continue reading about Indoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unit... Full patent description for Indoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unit Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Indoor unit of air conditioner and method of manufacturing the indoor unit 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. 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