Abstract:
A device is disclosed which provides a skirting system for preventing the entry of pests, including insects and rodents, to the inner area/parts of air conditioners. Further, methods of using the device/system are also disclosed.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    This invention is in the field of devices for excluding pests from voids created between surfaces of a device and the surfaces upon which the device rests. 
         [0003]    2. Background Information 
         [0004]    Typically air conditioners, whether indoor or out, do not provide for any means to exclude infestation of pest, which can gain entry through the bottom surface on which the air conditioner sits. In general, the tolerance of fitted parts is the only means to exclude such pests from entering such devices from ground level. As a result, pests, including rodents and insects, gain entry through separations created by such fittings, thereby obtaining access to, inter alia, the inner workings of air conditioner. 
         [0005]    Disclosed herein is a skirting system which provides a barrier for the external surfaces of the air conditioner by blocking the void created between the external surfaces of the air conditioner and any surface upon which it sits. The system provides a physical barrier, where pests cannot gain access to the inner working of the air conditioner. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention relates to a skirting system for preventing the entry of pests, including insects and rodents, to the inner area/parts of air conditioners. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, a device is disclosed including a first regular planar surface, where said first regular planar surface comprises first inner surfaces which delimit an open space, at least two second regular planar surfaces, where said at least two second regular planar surfaces are perpendicular and operably coupled to length delimiting ends of said first regular planar surface, and a first flat surface-area matrix operably coupled to said first planar surface, where said matrix occupies the open space created by the inner surfaces of said first planar surface, and which flat surface-area extends at right angles away from parallel second inner surfaces comprising said at least two second regular planar surfaces along a length of said first regular planar surface, where one or more top-surfaces of said first and said at least two second regular planar surfaces are adapted to be releasably coupled to one or more third surfaces which delimit one or more ends of a separate device, where said ends of said separate device create a void between an opposing fourth surface and said ends of said separate device, and wherein one or more bottom-surfaces of said first and said at least two second regular planar surfaces are adapted to contact said fourth opposing surface to cause said void to be inaccessible. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment, a device is disclosed including conformable surfaces, where said conformable surfaces are adapted to be releasably coupled to one or more second surfaces of a separate device, wherein said second surfaces create a void between a third surface and said second surfaces of the separate device, and where one or more bottom surfaces of conformable surfaces are adapted to contact said third surface, whereby said contact causes the void to be inaccessible. 
         [0009]    In still another embodiment, a method of excluding a pest from entering or escaping from a void created between an outer surface of a first device and a first surface upon which the first device rests is disclosed including releasably coupling a second device where the second device includes a first regular planar surface, where said first regular planar surface comprises first inner surfaces which delimit an open space, at least two second regular planar surfaces, where said at least two second regular planar surfaces are perpendicular and operably coupled to length delimiting ends of said first regular planar surface, and a first flat surface-area matrix operably coupled to said first planar surface, where said matrix occupies the open space created by the inner surfaces of said first planar surface, and which flat surface-area extends at right angles away from parallel second inner surfaces comprising said at least two second regular planar surfaces along a length of said first regular planar surface, where one or more top-surfaces of said first and said at least two second regular planar surfaces are adapted to be releasably coupled to one or more third surfaces which delimit one or more ends of said first device, where said ends of said first device create a void between an opposing fourth surface and said ends of said first device, and where one or more bottom-surfaces of said first and said at least two second regular planar surfaces are adapted to contact said fourth opposing surface to cause said void to be inaccessible. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  shows an isometric view of the skirt. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  shows an exploded view of one edge of the skirt. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  shows an exploded view of the skirt in relation to an indoor air conditioning unit. 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  shows a skirt comprising conformable surfaces releasably attached to an indoor air conditioning unit. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0014]    Before the present composition, methods, and treatment methodology are described, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to particular compositions, methods, and experimental conditions described, as such compositions, methods, and conditions may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used herein is for purposes of describing particular embodiments only, and is not intended to be limiting, since the scope of the present invention will be limited only in the appended claims. 
         [0015]    As used in this specification and the appended claims, the singular forms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Thus, for example, references to “the method” includes one or more methods, and/or steps of the type described herein which will become apparent to those persons skilled in the art upon reading this disclosure and so forth. 
         [0016]    For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates. 
         [0017]    Referring now more particularly to  FIG. 1 , there is shown the skirt  10  having a first regular planar surface  103 , wherein said first regular planar surface comprises first inner surfaces which delimit an open space  105 . The figure further shows two second regular planar surfaces  102 , where the at least two second regular planar surfaces  102  are perpendicular and operably coupled to length delimiting ends of said first regular planar surface  103 . Also shown is a first flat surface-area matrix  101  operably coupled to said first planar surface  103 . 
         [0018]    Referring now to  FIG. 2 , which shows one of the two second regular planar surfaces  102  and releasable coupling which allows the first regular planar surface  103  to interface with the second regular planar surfaces  102 . Further, the figure shows the coupling  104 , which may be provided by magnetic interaction or mechanical fixing. In one aspect, the mechanical fixing  104  includes, but is not limited to fasteners, screws, Velcro, interlocking appendages or grooves, and a combination thereof. 
         [0019]    In another aspect, matrix  101  includes, but is not limited to metal mesh, plastic mesh, and a combination thereof. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , one or more top-surfaces of said first  103  and said at least two second regular planar surfaces  102  are adapted to be releasably coupled to one or more third surfaces  106  which delimit one or more ends of a separate device  20 , where said ends of said separate device  106  create a void between an opposing fourth surface and said ends of said separate device, and wherein one or more bottom-surfaces of said first  103  and said at least two second regular planar surfaces  102  are adapted to contact said fourth opposing surface to cause said void to be inaccessible. 
         [0021]    Many variations are contemplated and, referring to  FIG. 4 , include a skirt  30  which includes all conformable surfaces  302 , where said conformable surfaces  302  are adapted to be releasably coupled  301  to one or more second surfaces of a separate device  20 , where said second surfaces create a void between a third surface and said second surfaces of the separate device  20 , and wherein one or more bottom surfaces of conformable surfaces  303  are adapted to contact said third surface, whereby said contact causes the void to be inaccessible.