AIR CONDITIONER FRONT PANEL WITH TWO-LAYER STRUCTURE

An air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure for increased structural strength and cosmetic durability includes a support frame and a protective cover. The support frame has a mounting bracket. The mounting bracket has a front surface and a rear surface. The protective cover is made of a transparent material. The protective cover has a front surface and a rear surface. The rear surface of the protective cover is painted. The protective cover covers the front surface of the mounting bracket, and the rear surface of the protective cover faces the front surface of the mounting bracket. The color on the rear surface of the protective cover does not fade and is protected against scratches and abrasions.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to devices used in environmental engineering, and more particularly to an air conditioner.

BACKGROUND

A conventional air conditioner includes a body, a filter, and a front panel. The filter is detachably mounted on the body. The front panel is a single-skin structure, usually formed in a single injection molding operation, and a paint is applied to the front surface of the front panel. The front panel is pivotally mounted on the body. The front panel can be pivoted to a closed position to cover the filter, and can be pivoted to an open position to uncover the filter so as to allow a user to remove and clean the filter. However, the paint or other cosmetic addition to the front surface of the front panel fades due to conditions of the working environment, and may be scratched or abraded during manipulation of the front panel.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, an exemplary embodiment of an air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure includes a support frame1and a protective cover2.

The support frame1has a mounting bracket11. With reference toFIG. 3, the mounting bracket11has a front surface111, a rear surface112, an outer flange113, a plurality of openings114, a plurality of inner flanges115, and a recess116. The outer flange113extends from the front surface111around a periphery of the front surface111. The openings114are formed from the front surface111to the rear surface112. Each inner flange115extends from the front surface111around one of the openings114. The recess116is defined between the outer flange113and the inner flanges115. A hot melt adhesive3is applied in the recess116, and the outer flange113and the inner flanges115prevent leakage of the hot melt adhesive3.

The protective cover2is made of a bright transparent material. The protective cover2has a front surface21and a rear surface22. The front surface21is bright and transparent. The rear surface22can be painted with different colors according to different requirements. The color on the rear surface22can be clearly seen through the front surface21. The protective cover2covers the front surface111of the mounting bracket11. The rear surface22of the protective cover2faces the front surface111of the mounting bracket11. The support frame1and the protective cover2are bonded by the hot melt adhesive3.

The color on the rear surface22of the protective cover2does not fade due to environmental conditions, and not be scratched or abraded during manipulation of the air conditioner front panel. Thus, the color shown by the air conditioner front panel lasts longer. In addition, the air conditioner front panel with two-layer structure including the support frame1and the protective cover2provides high structural strength.

In the present exemplary embodiment, a thickness T of the outer flange113of the mounting bracket11is 1.5 mm and a thickness T1of the inner flange115is also 1.5 mm. The mounting bracket11has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view. The protective cover2includes a front wall23and a peripheral wall24extending rearward from the front wall23. The front wall23has a rectangular shape in front view and a curved shape in side view. The shape of the front wall23corresponds to the shape of the mounting bracket11.

The support frame1further has two pivot members12disposed at upper ends of two sides of the rear surface112of the mounting bracket11. The air conditioner front panel can thus be pivoted relative to an air conditioner body (not shown) to an open position.

The support frame1further has two hook members13disposed at lower ends of the two sides of the rear surface112of the mounting bracket11. The air conditioner front panel can thus be engaged with the air conditioner body to a closed position.