Patent Description:
As disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>, for example, an indoor unit apparatus for air conditioners is configured such that an indoor unit constituting a main body section of the indoor unit is attached to an installation plate fixed to an indoor wall surface. As disclosed in Patent Literature <NUM>, a lower side of the installation plate includes a linear section projecting on an indoor side and linearly extending in the horizontal direction. Also, it is possible to curb deformation of a lower surface of a cover section and wave-like distortion and to improve an appearance by attaching the indoor unit to the linear section such that a lower surface of the cover section follows the linear section.

According to the configuration of Patent Literature <NUM>, a configuration in which the cover section of the indoor unit is in contact with the linear section of the installation plate only from the lower side is employed. Therefore, in a case in which an upward force acts on the cover section of the indoor unit, it is possible to curb the force with the linear section. It is thus possible to sufficiently curb deformation of the lower surface of the cover section and wave-like distortion. However, in a case in which a downward force acts on the cover section of the indoor unit due to influences of piping or the like accommodated in a lower portion of a rear portion of the indoor unit, for example, it is not possible to curb the force with the linear section. Therefore, it is not possible to sufficiently curb deformation of the lower surface of the cover section and wave-like distortion.

Thus, according to the present embodiment, an indoor unit apparatus for air conditioners capable of curbing deformation and distortion and improving appearance is provided, not only in a case in which an upward force acts on the indoor unit but also in a case in which a downward force acts on the indoor unit.

An indoor unit apparatus for air conditioners according to the present embodiment includes: an installation plate that is fixed to an indoor wall surface; and an indoor unit that is attached to the installation plate, the installation plate includes a linear section projecting on an indoor side and linearly extending in a horizontal direction. The indoor unit includes clamping sections that clamp the linear section in a vertical direction, a unit main body section that is secured to the installation plate, and a unit cover section that covers a surface of the unit main body section on the indoor side. The clamping section includes a first clamping section that is provided at the unit main body section, and a second clamping section that is provided at the unit cover section. The first clamping section and the second clamping section face each other in the vertical direction. The indoor unit comprises a clamped state maintaining section that maintains a state in which the linear section is clamped with the first clamping section and the second clamping section in the vertical direction, by inserting a claw portion provided on the unit cover section into a claw hole portion provided on the unit main body section.

Hereinafter, an embodiment related to an indoor unit apparatus for air conditioners will be described with reference to the drawings. An indoor unit apparatus <NUM> for air conditioners illustrated as an example in <FIG> constitutes an air conditioner along with an outdoor unit, which is provided outdoors and is not illustrated in the drawing, and includes an installation plate <NUM> and an indoor unit <NUM>. The installation plate <NUM> is made of metal and is strongly fixed to an indoor wall surface with bolts, for example. The indoor unit <NUM> is attached to a front surface side, in other words, an indoor side of the installation plate <NUM> fixed to the indoor wall surface with screws and bolts, for example.

Next, a configuration example of the indoor unit <NUM> will be described. The indoor unit <NUM> includes a unit main body section <NUM> and a unit cover section <NUM>. The unit main body section <NUM> constitutes a main body section of the indoor unit <NUM> and is fixed directly to the front surface side of the installation plate <NUM> with screws and bolts, for example. The unit cover section <NUM> is configured as a cover section with substantially a box shape covering surfaces on the indoor side of the unit main body section <NUM> fixed to the front surface side of the installation plate <NUM>, in this case, a front surface, an upper surface, a lower surface, a left side surface, and a right side surface.

An air inlet port <NUM> is provided at an upper portion of the indoor unit <NUM>, and an air outlet port <NUM> is provided at a lower portion of the indoor unit <NUM>. Also, a blowing passage <NUM> is provided from the air inlet port <NUM> to the air outlet port <NUM> inside the indoor unit <NUM>. An air filter <NUM>, a heat exchanger <NUM>, a cross flow fan <NUM>, a louver <NUM>, and the like are provided from an upstream side, which corresponds to the side of the air inlet port <NUM>, toward a downstream side, which corresponds to the side of the air outlet port <NUM>, inside the blowing passage <NUM>.

The air filter <NUM> captures foreign matters included in air suctioned from the air inlet port <NUM>. The heat exchanger <NUM> performs heat exchange with the air suctioned from the air inlet port <NUM> and heats or cools the air. The cross flow fan <NUM> suctions indoor air from the air inlet port <NUM> and forms a flow of the air blown out from the air outlet port <NUM> to the indoor space through the blowing passage <NUM>. The louver <NUM> adjusts a direction of the air blown out from the air outlet port <NUM>.

Next, a configuration example of the installation plate <NUM> will be described. As illustrated as an example in <FIG> and <FIG>, the installation plate <NUM> has an elongated substantially rectangular plate shape. In this case, the installation plate <NUM> has a shape with a longer dimension in the left-right direction than the dimension in the vertical direction in a state in which the installation plate <NUM> is fixed to the indoor wall surface. Notch portions <NUM> into which piping and the like can be inserted are provided at lower portions of both left and right end portions of the installation plate <NUM>. Also, a linear section <NUM> is provided at a lower portion of the installation plate <NUM> at a position between the notch portions <NUM> on both the left and right ends. The linear section <NUM> includes a plurality of, in this case, two sub-linear sections 102A and 102B.

Both the sub-linear sections 102A and 102B have shapes projecting on the indoor side and linear extending in the horizontal direction, that is, the left-right direction. Also, the sub-linear sections 102A and 102B have shapes folded to be gradually inclined downward from the lower side of the installation plate <NUM> toward the indoor side. Moreover, distal end portions of the sub-linear sections 102A and 102B have shapes folded back from the upper side toward the rear side.

A length LA of the sub-linear section 102A and a length LB of the sub-linear section 102B are different lengths, and in this case, the length LA of the sub-linear section 102A is shorter than the length LB of the sub-linear section 102B. Note that the length LA of the sub-linear section 102A and the length LB of the sub-linear section 102B may be the same length. Also, a total length of the length LA of the sub-linear section 102A and the length LB of the sub-linear section 102B is preferably configured to secure at least a length that is at least <NUM>% or more of the entire length of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction or the entire length of the indoor unit apparatus <NUM> in the left-right direction.

Also, in this case, the entire sub-linear section 102A is located on the left side beyond a center line CL of the installation plate <NUM> when seen from the front side, which is the indoor side. On the other hand, the sub-linear section 102B is located with the left end side thereof located on the left side beyond the center line CL of the installation plate <NUM> and with the center portion and the right end side thereof except for the left end side located on the right side beyond the center line CL of the installation plate <NUM> when seen from the front side, which is the indoor side. Therefore, the installation plate <NUM> is configured to include at least a part of the linear section <NUM> at the center portion thereof in the left-right direction, in this case, the left end part of the sub-linear section 102B. Moreover, the installation plate <NUM> is configured to include the entire sub-linear section 102A and a part of the sub-linear section 102B on the left side beyond the center portion in the left-right direction and include the other portions of the sub-linear section 102B on the right side beyond the center portion in the left-right direction.

Also, the installation plate <NUM> includes a plurality of, in this case, two through-hole portions 103A and 103B. Both the through-hole portions 103A and 103B have elongated substantially oval shapes extending in a longitudinal direction of the installation plate <NUM>. Also, the length of the through-hole portion 103A in the left-right direction is shorter than the length of the through-hole portion 103B in the left-right direction. Note that the length of the through-hole portion 103A in the left-right direction and the length of the through-hole portion 103B in the left-right direction may be the same length. Moreover, the length of the through-hole portion 103A in the vertical direction and the length of the through-hole portion 103B in the vertical direction are the same length. Note that the length of the through-hole portion 103A in the vertical direction and the length of the through-hole portion 103B in the vertical direction may be different lengths.

Also, in this case, an opening area of the through-hole portion 103A is smaller than an opening area of the through-hole portion 103B. Note that the opening area of the through-hole portion 103A and the opening area of the through-hole portion 103B may be the same. In addition, the through-hole portion 103A is located above the sub-linear section 102A. In this case, the center portion of the through-hole portion 103A in the left-right direction substantially or completely conforms to the center portion of the sub-linear section 102A in the left-right direction. Also, the through-hole portion 103B is located above the sub-linear section 102B. In this case, the center portion of the through-hole portion 103B deviates from the center portion of the sub-linear section 102B on the left side by a predetermined amount, and the left end portion of the through-hole portion 103A is located on the left side beyond the left end portion of the sub-linear section 102B. Note that this can be implemented with the amount of deviation between the center portion of the through-hole portion 103B and the center portion of the sub-linear section 102B appropriately changed.

Also, the installation plate <NUM> includes a plurality of, in this case, three screw-fastening sections 104A, 104B, and 104C. The screw-fastening sections 104A, 104B, and 104C are configured such that distal end portions thereof are folded downward and the folded distal end portions include screw holes. The unit main body section <NUM> constituting the main body section of the indoor unit <NUM> is strongly fixed with screws, which are not illustrated, via the screw-fastening sections 104A, 104B, and 104C.

Also, the screw-fastening sections 104A, 104B, and 104C are disposed as follows, for example, at lower portions of the installation plate <NUM>. In other words, the screw-fastening sections 104A and 104B are separately included at both end portions of the sub-linear section 102A in the left-right direction. Also, the screw-fastening sections 104B and 104C are separately included at both end portions of the sub-linear section 102B in the left-right direction. Also, the screw-fastening sections 104A and 104C are separately included at both end portions of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction when the entire linear section <NUM> is seen. Moreover, the screw-fastening section 104B is included to be located at an intermediate portion of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction, in this case, between the sub-linear section 102A and the sub-linear section 102B. Note that the screw-fastening section 104B may be included at the center portion of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction, or may be included on the left side or the right side beyond the center portion of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction, for example, as long as the screw-fastening section 104B is included at an intermediate portion of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction.

Also, the installation plate <NUM> includes a plurality of, in this case, four narrowed portions 105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D. The narrowed portions 105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D are disposed as follows, for example, at lower portions of the installation plate <NUM>. In other words, the narrowed portions 105A and 105B are separately included at both end portions of the sub-linear section 102A in the left-right direction. Also, the narrowed portions 105C and 105D are separately included at both end portions of the sub-linear section 102B in the left-right direction. Moreover, the screw-fastening section 104A is included on the left side, which is an outer side beyond the narrowed portion 105A. In addition, the screw-fastening section 104B is included to be located between the narrowed portion 105B and the narrowed portion 105C. Also, the screw-fastening section 104C is included on the right side, which is an outer side beyond the narrowed portion 105D.

The indoor unit <NUM> configured as described above further includes clamping sections <NUM> as illustrated as an example in <FIG>. Next, a configuration example of the clamping sections <NUM> will be described. As illustrated as an example in <FIG>, each clamping section <NUM> forms a structure for clamping the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> in the vertical direction, and in this case, each clamping section <NUM> includes an upper clamping section <NUM> and a lower clamping section <NUM>. The plurality of clamping sections <NUM> are included at lower portions of the rear portion of the indoor unit <NUM> along the indoor unit <NUM> in the left-right direction. Note that this can be implemented with the number of clamping sections <NUM> appropriately changed. Also, this can be implemented with intervals of the plurality of clamping sections <NUM> appropriately changed.

The upper clamping section <NUM> is an example of the first clamping section, and in this case, the upper clamping section <NUM> is provided to project downward at a lower portion of a rear portion of the unit main body section <NUM>. In this case, the upper clamping section <NUM> is provided integrally with a rear portion of a member of the unit main body section <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> constituting a rear wall surface of the air outlet port <NUM>. Also, an inclined portion 301a that is linearly inclined to be gradually elevated from the front side toward the rear side is provided at a lower portion of the rear portion of the upper clamping section <NUM>. Note that the inclined portion 301a is not limited to the linear shape and may be inclined in a curved shape, for example.

The lower clamping section <NUM> is an example of the second clamping section, and in this case, a rear end portion of a lower surface of the unit cover section <NUM> functions as the lower clamping section <NUM>. Both the upper surface and the lower surface of the lower clamping section <NUM> are substantially horizontal planes.

In a state in which the unit cover section <NUM> is attached to the unit main body section <NUM>, the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> face each other in the vertical direction. Also, a clearance is formed by the inclined portion 301a provided between the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM>. Also, in a state in which the indoor unit <NUM> is attached to the installation plate <NUM> on the front side, the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> is pinched between the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM>. In other words, the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> is brought into a state in which it is pinched by the clamping section <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> in the vertical direction.

Also, as illustrated as an example in <FIG>, the indoor unit <NUM> further includes clamped state maintaining sections <NUM>. As illustrated as an example in <FIG>, each clamped state maintaining section <NUM> is included on the front side beyond the clamping section <NUM> in this case. Also, the plurality of clamped state maintaining sections <NUM> are included at lower portions of the rear portion of the indoor unit <NUM> along the indoor unit <NUM> in the left-right direction. Note that this can be implemented with the number of clamped state maintaining sections <NUM> appropriately changed in accordance with the number of clamping sections <NUM>, for example. Also, this can be implemented with intervals of the plurality of clamped state maintaining sections <NUM> appropriately changed in accordance with the intervals of the plurality of clamping sections <NUM>, for example. The clamped state maintaining sections <NUM> are preferably provided in the vicinity of the clamping sections <NUM>. Also, the number and the intervals of the clamped state maintaining sections <NUM> may be the same as or different from the number and the intervals of the clamping sections <NUM>.

Each clamped state maintaining section <NUM> includes a claw hole portion <NUM> provided on the side of the unit main body section <NUM> and a claw portion <NUM> provided on the side of the unit cover section <NUM>. In this case, the claw hole portion <NUM> is provided integrally with the rear portion of the member of the unit main body section <NUM> of the indoor unit <NUM> constituting the rear wall surface of the air outlet port <NUM>. Also, the claw hole portion <NUM> is a rectangular hole portion opened on the front side in the front-back direction. The claw portion <NUM> is provided integrally with an upper surface of the rear end portion of the lower surface of the unit cover section <NUM>. In addition, the claw portion <NUM> is a claw portion linear extending on the rear side in the front-back direction.

In a state in which the unit cover section <NUM> is attached to the unit main body section <NUM>, the claw portion <NUM> is inserted into the claw hole portion <NUM> from the front side toward the rear side. In this manner, the rear end portion of the lower surface of the unit cover section <NUM>, that is, a part where the lower clamping section <NUM> is provided is strongly fixed to the lower portion of the rear portion of the unit main body section <NUM>, that is, a part where the upper clamping section <NUM> is provided. It is thus possible to stably maintain the state in which the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> face each other in the vertical direction and thus to stably maintain the state in which the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> is clamped with the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> in the vertical direction.

According to the indoor unit apparatus <NUM> for air conditioners according to the present embodiment, the indoor unit <NUM> is configured to clamp the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> with the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> of the clamping section <NUM> in the vertical direction. With this configuration, it is possible to suppress an upward force with the linear section <NUM> by the lower clamping section <NUM> abutting on the lower surface of the linear section <NUM> in a case in which the upward force acts on the indoor unit <NUM>. On the other hand, in a case in which a downward force acts on the indoor unit <NUM>, it is possible to suppress the downward force with the linear section <NUM> by the upper clamping section <NUM> abutting on the upper surface of the linear section <NUM>. Therefore, it is possible to sufficiently curb deformation and distortion of the lower surface of the unit cover section <NUM> and to improve an appearance not only in a case in which the upward force acts on the indoor unit <NUM> but also in a case in which the downward force acts on the indoor unit <NUM>.

Also, according to the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>, the linear section <NUM> is included at least at the center portion of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction. With this configuration, it is possible to sufficiently curb occurrence of deformation and distortion at the center portion of the indoor unit <NUM> in the left-right direction where deformation and distortion of the lower surface of the unit cover section <NUM> are likely to occur.

Also, according to the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>, the linear sections <NUM> are further included both on the left side and on the right side of the center portion of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction. With this configuration, it is possible to sufficiently curb occurrence of deformation and distortion not only at the center portion of the lower surface of the unit cover section <NUM> in the left-right direction but also in a wide range including the left side and the right side thereof.

Also, according to the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>, the installation plate <NUM> includes, in a dispersed manner, the screw-fastening sections 104A, 104B, and 104C at the intermediate portion of the linear section <NUM> and the end portions of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction. With this configuration, it is possible to attach the indoor unit <NUM> to the installation plate <NUM> at an accurate position by performing screwing at the plurality of screw-fastening sections 104A, 104B, and 104C. Therefore, it is possible to position the unit cover section <NUM> at a further accurate position relative to the installation plate <NUM> and thus to further curb occurrence of deformation and distortion of the appearance of the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>.

Also, according to the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>, the installation plate <NUM> includes, in a dispersed manner, the narrowed portions 105A, 105B, 105C, and 105D at the end portions of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction. With this configuration, it is possible to improve strength of the linear section <NUM> and a part in the vicinity thereof and to sufficiently curb occurrence of deformation and distortion of the linear section <NUM> and thus occurrence of deformation and distortion of the appearance of the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>.

Also, according to the indoor unit apparatus <NUM>, the clamped state maintaining section <NUM> that maintains the state in which the linear section <NUM> is clamped with the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> in the vertical direction is included. With this configuration, it is possible to stably maintain the state in which the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> is clamped with the clamping section <NUM> in the vertical direction and to further effectively curb occurrence of deformation and distortion of the appearance of the indoor unit <NUM>.

Also, it is possible to stably maintain, with the clamped state maintaining section <NUM>, the state in which the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> face each other in the vertical direction and thus the state in which the linear section <NUM> of the installation plate <NUM> is clamped with the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> even with the configuration in which the upper clamping section <NUM> is provided on the side of the unit main body section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> is provided on the side of the unit cover section <NUM>, that is, with the configuration in which the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> are provided in mutually different members. Therefore, it is possible to further effectively curb occurrence of deformation and distortion of the appearance of the indoor unit <NUM>.

Note that the present embodiment is not limited to the aforementioned embodiment, and various modifications and expansions can be made without departing from the scope of the appended claims.

For example, the number of sub-linear sections constituting the linear section <NUM> is not limited to two and may be one or another plural number like three or more. Also, this can be implemented with the projection length and the inclination angle of the linear section <NUM> from the lower side of the installation plate <NUM> appropriately changed. Moreover, the plurality of sub-linear sections may have mutually the same projection length and the same inclination angle or may have different projection lengths and different inclination angles.

In addition, although the linear section <NUM> is preferably included at least at the center portion of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction, the indoor unit <NUM> may be configured not to include the linear section <NUM> at the center portion of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction. Also, the linear section <NUM> may be configured to be included on any one side of the left part and the right part of the center portion of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction.

In addition, the number of screw-fastening sections is not limited to three and may be one, two, or another plural number like four or more. Also, the numbers of screw-fastening sections may be the same or different on the left side and the right side of the installation plate <NUM>. Moreover, the plurality of screw-fastening sections may have mutually the same shape and the same size or may have different shapes and different sizes.

Also, the number of narrowed portions is not limited to four and may be one, two, three, or another plural number like five or more. In addition, the numbers of narrowed portions may be the same or different at the left part and the right part of the center portion of the installation plate <NUM> in the left-right direction. Also, the plurality of narrowed portions may have mutually the same shape and the same size or may have different shapes and different sizes. In addition, the narrowed portions may be provided at both end portions of the linear section <NUM> in the left-right direction or may be provided only on one end side.

In addition, the clamped state maintaining section <NUM> may be configured such that the claw hole portion <NUM> is provided on the side of the unit cover section <NUM> and the claw portion <NUM> is provided on the side of the unit main body section <NUM>. Also, the clamped state maintaining section is not limited to the configuration including the claw hole portion <NUM> and the claw portion <NUM>, and it is possible to apply various configurations as long as the configurations enable the state in which the linear section <NUM> is clamped with the upper clamping section <NUM> and the lower clamping section <NUM> in the vertical direction to be maintained, such as pins and pin holes, for example.

Claim 1:
An indoor unit apparatus (<NUM>) for air conditioners including:
an installation plate (<NUM>) that is secured to an indoor wall surface; and
an indoor unit (<NUM>) that is attached to the installation plate (<NUM>),
wherein the installation plate (<NUM>) includes a linear section (<NUM>) projecting on an indoor side and linearly extending in a horizontal direction, and
wherein the indoor unit (<NUM>) includes a clamping section (<NUM>) that clamps the linear section (<NUM>) in a vertical direction, a unit main body section (<NUM>) that is secured to the installation plate (<NUM>), and a unit cover section (<NUM>) that covers a surface of the unit main body section (<NUM>) on the indoor side,
characterized in that the clamping section (<NUM>) includes
a first clamping section (<NUM>) that is provided at the unit main body section (<NUM>), and
a second clamping section (<NUM>) that is provided at the unit cover section (<NUM>), and
the first clamping section (<NUM>) and the second clamping section (<NUM>) face each other in the vertical direction,
the indoor unit (<NUM>) comprises a clamped state maintaining section (<NUM>) that maintains a state in which the linear section (<NUM>) is clamped with the first clamping section (<NUM>) and the second clamping section (<NUM>) in the vertical direction, by inserting a claw portion (<NUM>) provided on the unit cover section (<NUM>) into a claw hole portion (<NUM>) provided on the unit main body section (<NUM>).