Protective cover for ductless mini split air conditioners

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Ductless mini split air conditioners are vulnerable to damage from ice and snow buildup during winter months, and existing protective covers are expensive, bulky, difficult to install, and ineffective.

Innovation Solution

A protective cover designed for ductless mini split air conditioners, featuring a sloping top section to prevent water accumulation, optional sound deadening pads, and support members with rubber pads for secure installation, made from steel cold-rolled sheet metal and powder coated for durability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If commercially available covers are used to protect heat pumps from ice and snow, then protection is provided, but the covers are expensive, bulky, and very difficult to install

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidinstallation difficulty

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The cover is divided into multiple sections (front section, back section, left section, right section, and top section) that can be assembled together to form the complete protective structure. This segmentation makes the cover easier to manufacture, transport, and install while maintaining comprehensive protection coverage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of using a flat horizontal cover design that causes water accumulation, the invention inverts the design by creating a sloping top surface that slopes downward from the back section to the front section. This inversion prevents water accumulation and eliminates the need for complex drainage systems, simplifying installation while improving protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Ease of operation

If a flat horizontal cover is used, then installation is simple, but rainwater, snow, and ice accumulate on the surface causing damage to the air conditioner

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation simplicityVSAvoidwater accumulation damage

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The invention inverts the conventional flat horizontal cover design by creating a sloping top surface that slopes downward from the back section to the front section at a specific angle. This inversion causes rainwater, snow, and ice to naturally slide off the surface due to gravity, preventing accumulation and water damage while maintaining installation simplicity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The top section is designed with a curved sloping surface rather than a flat plane, creating a smooth inclined plane that facilitates the natural flow and shedding of water, snow, and ice. This curvature design ensures efficient drainage while maintaining structural integrity and aesthetic appearance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

3Reliability

If a sloping top section is designed to prevent water accumulation, then protection effectiveness is improved, but manufacturing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection effectivenessVSAvoidmanufacturing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sloping cover is segmented into multiple planar sections (front section, back section, left section, right section, and top section) that can be manufactured using standard sheet metal forming processes. Each section is relatively simple to manufacture, and they are assembled together to create the overall sloping structure, reducing manufacturing complexity while maintaining protection effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple flat or gently curved sections are merged together through joining operations to create the complete sloping protective structure. This approach allows each component to be manufactured separately using simple processes, then combined to achieve the desired sloping geometry that prevents water accumulation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The cover effectively protects air conditioners from ice and snow damage, is easy to install, and is cost-effective, while also providing sound insulation and aesthetic matching with the air conditioner.

Implementation Method 1

the height of the back section is larger than the height of the front section causing the top section to slope gradually downwards from the back section to the front section thereby ensuring that rainwater, snow, ice or other liquids do not accumulate on the cover's surface

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Implementation Method 2

the cover can include a sound deadening pad disposed on the interior of the top section. The sound deadening pad can be comprised of self-adhesive sound insulation foam.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectSound absorption: Acoustic Absorption

Data Source

PatentUS12222132B2Protective cover for ductless mini split air conditioners

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 LACROIX IND INC

AI summary

A protective cover for ductless mini split air conditioners is disclosed. The cover includes a front section, a back section, a left section, a right section, and a top section that define a cavity sized for receiving at least a portion of the air conditioner; wherein the top section is sloping gradually downwards from the back section to the front section thereby ensuring that rainwater, snow, ice or other liquids do not accumulate on the cover's surface and cause damage to the air conditioner.