Mounting Bracket for Window Air Conditioner and Window Air Conditioner Assembly

This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/CN2024/143696, filed Dec. 30, 2024, which claims priority to Chinese Patent Application No. 202420652250.2, filed on Mar. 29, 2024, and Chinese Patent Application No. 202410659990.3, filed on May 24, 2024. The entire disclosures of the above-identified applications are hereby incorporated herein by reference.

The present disclosure relates to the technical field of air conditioners, and more particularly to a mounting bracket for a window air conditioner and a window air conditioner assembly.

A window air conditioner is a compact air conditioner that can be installed on a window. It is generally divided into indoor unit and outdoor unit to meet the demands of noise reduction and heat dissipation. The indoor unit and outdoor unit need to be installed at the same horizontal level. However, since windows are generally equipped with a window frame, the installation of the window air conditioners needs to cross the window frames.

In the related art, the window air conditioner is provided with a mounting bracket during installation, and the mounting bracket can help to raise the height of the outer side of the window air conditioner so as to keep it level with the indoor unit.

There are provided a mounting bracket for a window air conditioner and a window air conditioner assembly according to embodiments of the present disclosure. The technical solution is as below:

According to an aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a mounting bracket for a window air conditioner. The mounting bracket is configured to be disposed on at least one of a window sill and a window frame, and the mounting bracket is configured to support the window air conditioner. The mounting bracket includes a support member and a base. The support member extends in a length direction of the window air conditioner, the support member and the window air conditioner are connected. The base is disposed on the window sill, the base mates with the support member, and the distance between the support member and the base is adjustable. The mounting bracket further comprises an adjustment member, a lower end of the adjustment member is connected to the base, a first adjustment portion is provided on the adjustment member, a second adjustment portion is provided on the support member. The first adjustment portion and the second adjustment portion mate with each other and are used for adjusting the distance between the support member and a surface of the window sill.

According to another aspect of embodiments of the present disclosure, there is provided a window air conditioner assembly. The window air conditioner assembly includes a window air conditioner and the mounting bracket described above, and the window air conditioner is supported on the mounting bracket.

Hereinafter, some embodiments of the present disclosure will be clearly and completely described with reference to the accompanying drawings, and it is obvious that the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present disclosure, but not all embodiments. Based on the embodiments provided by the present disclosure, all other embodiments obtained by those ordinarily skilled in the art fall within the scope of protection of the present disclosure.

Unless the context requires otherwise, throughout the description and claims, the term “comprise” and other forms thereof, such as the third-person singular form “comprises” and the present participle form “comprising” are construed in an open, inclusive meaning, that is, “comprising, but not limited to.” In the description, the terms “one embodiment,” “some embodiments,” “exemplary embodiments,” “example,” “specific example,” or “some examples,” etc. are intended to indicate that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic related to the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the present disclosure. The schematic illustration of the above terms does not necessarily refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the specific features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be included in any one or more embodiments or examples in any suitable manner.

Hereinafter, the terms “first” and “second” are for descriptive purposes only, and are not to be understood as indicating or implying relative importance or as implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, the use of terms like “first” and “second” to describe features can explicitly or implicitly encompass one or more of such features. In the description of embodiments of the present disclosure, unless otherwise specified, “a plurality” means two or more.

In describing some embodiments, the expressions “coupled” and “connected” and extensions thereof may be used. The term “connected” is to be understood in a broad sense, for example, “connected” may refer to a fixed connection, may also refer to a detachable connection, or an integral connection; and it may refer to a direct connection or an indirect connected through an intermediate medium. The term “coupled” indicates that two or more components are in direct physical or electrical contact. The term “coupled” or “communicatively coupled” may also indicate that two or more components are not in direct contact with each other, but still cooperate or interact with each other. The embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited to the contents herein.

“At least one of A, B, and C” has the same meaning as “at least one of A, B, or C”, encompassing the following combinations of A, B, and C: only A, only B, only C, a combination of A and B, a combination of A and C, a combination of B and C, as well as a combination of A, B, and C.

“A and/or B” includes three combinations of only A, only B, and a combination of A and B.

The use of “suitable for” or “configured to” herein means open and inclusive language that does not exclude devices suitable for or configured to perform additional tasks or steps.

As used herein, “about,” “approximately,” or “approximately” includes a stated value as well as an average within an acceptable range of deviation from a particular value, where the acceptable range of deviation is determined by one of ordinary skill in the art taking into account the measurement in question and the error associated with the measurement of a particular amount (i.e., limitations of the measurement system).

As used herein, terms such as “parallel,” “perpendicular,” and “equal” encompass both the stated conditions and conditions that are approximate to the stated ones, with the range of approximation falling within an acceptable deviation, where the acceptable range of deviation is as determined by a person of ordinary skill in the art taking into account the measurement in question and the error associated with the measurement of a particular quantity (i.e., limitations of the measurement system). For example, “parallel” encompasses both absolute parallelism and approximate parallelism, where the acceptable deviation range for approximate parallelism can be, for instance, within 5° of deviation; similarly, “perpendicular” includes both absolute perpendicularity and approximate perpendicularity, with an acceptable deviation range for approximate perpendicularity that can also be, for example, within 5° of deviation. “Equal” encompasses both absolute equality and approximate equality, where the acceptable deviation range for approximate equality can be, for example, a difference between the two quantities being compared that is less than or equal to 5% of either quantity.

The window air conditioner is provided with a mounting bracket during installation, and the mounting bracket can help to raise the height of the outer side of the window air conditioner so as to keep it level with the indoor unit. However, the traditional mounting brackets are generally large in size, high in production cost and transportation cost, and unattractive in appearance when exposed to outside of window air conditioners.

As shown in, a mounting bracketfor a window air conditioneris provided according to some embodiments of the present disclosure. The mounting bracketis configured to be disposed on at least one of a window sill and a window frame, and the mounting bracketis configured to support the window air conditioner.

It should be noted that the window air conditioneris usually installed at a window, and a part of the window air conditioner is located indoors and a part of the window air conditioner is located outdoors. The window sill of the window is generally provided with a window frame, and there is a height difference between the window frame and the window sill, which is not a flat plane. Directly installing the window air conditionerwill cause the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the window air conditionerto be unable to be on the same horizontal plane, which is extremely unstable and easy to shake. The mounting bracketis installed on at least one of a window sill and a window frame, the base of the mounting bracketis disposed on the window sill, and the window air conditioneris installed on the mounting bracket, so that the window air conditionercan be kept horizontal and stable, vibration and noise generated during operation can be reduced, and the comfort of the living environment can be improved.

In some embodiments, as shown in, at least two mounting bracketsmay be provided. At least two mounting bracketsmay be arranged on the window sill and/or the window frame at intervals. At least two mounting bracketsmay be provided at intervals in the left-right direction (i.e., the length direction) of the window air conditioner. Since the window air conditionerhas a large weight, the window sill can be avoided from being deformed or damaged by providing at least two mounting bracketsto support the window air conditioner. The two mounting bracketsspaced apart in the left-right direction increase the support area of the mounting bracketsfor the window air conditioner, can distribute the weight of the window air conditionerevenly, reduces the localized pressure exerted by the window air conditionerto the window sill structure, improves the stability and safety of the installation, and also mitigates the vibration and noise generated by the window air conditionerduring operation, thereby enhancing the comfort of the living environment.

It should be noted that in some other embodiments, the number of mounting bracketsmay be three, four, or more depending on the weight of the window air conditionerand the specific situation of the mounting environment. The heavier the window air conditioneror the more unstable the installation environment, the more mounting bracketsare required.

In some other embodiments, the number of mounting bracketsmay be one depending on the weight of the window air conditionerand the specific situation of the mounting environment.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the mounting bracketmay include a support member. The support membermay extend in the front-rear direction (i.e. a length direction) of the window air conditioner. The support memberand the window air conditionerare fixedly connected. The bottom surface of the window air conditionermay be supported on the top surface of the support member.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the mounting bracketmay include a base. The basemay be disposed on the window sill. The basemay mate with the support member, and the support membermay be supported on the window sill by the base.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the mounting bracketmay include an adjustment member. The adjustment memberis configured to adjust the distance between the support memberand the base. The lower end of the adjustment membermay be fixedly connected to the base. A first adjustment portionmay be provided on the adjustment member. A second adjustment portionmay be provided on the support member. The first adjustment portionmay mate with the second adjustment portion, and may be configured to adjust the distance between the support memberand the surface of the window sill.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the support memberis a part that can be secured to the bottom of the window air conditioner. The support membermay be a plate-like structure. The support memberextends in the front-rear direction of the window air conditioner, and the surface of the support memberin contact with the bottom of the window air conditioneris flat. The support memberis fitted to the bottom surface of the window air conditionerto ensure stable support of the window air conditioner and minimize wobbling of the window air conditioner.

In some embodiments, the support membermay be sheet metal. The sheet metal is simple to form and has high strength, which can enhance the structural strength of the support member.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the dimension of the support memberin the front-rear direction may be smaller than the dimension of the window air conditionerin the front-rear direction. That is, in the front-rear direction, the dimension of the support memberis smaller than the dimension of the window air conditioner. This allows for a more streamlined size of the mounting bracketon the one hand, and on the other hand allows the support memberto not be exposed relative to the window air conditionerin the front-rear direction, thereby making the support memberless likely to scratch the user.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the basemay be of a cylindrical structure. The baseof the cylindrical structure disposed on the window sill provides stable support for the support memberand the window air conditioner. The contact area between the baseof the cylindrical structure and the window sill is large, and the support area of the baseof the cylindrical structure is continuous and uniform, which can reduce the risk of deformation or damage to the window sill caused by excessive local pressure. The baseof the cylindrical structure is simple in structure, which is convenient for subsequent cleaning and maintenance, and helps to prolong the service life of the mounting bracket.

In some embodiments, the basemay be made of a plastic material, such as PC (Polycarbonate), ABS (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), or the like.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the adjustment membermay be disposed between the baseand the support member. The lower end of the adjustment membermay be fixedly connected to the base. The upper end of the adjustment membercan be movably connected to the second adjustment portionof the support memberthrough the first adjustment portion. By the first adjustment portionon the adjustment memberand the second adjustment portionof the support membermating with each other, the distance between the support memberand the basecan be adjusted, thereby adjusting the distance between the window air conditionerand the window sill. In addition, the bottom of the window air conditionermay be raised to a position flush with the window frame by the adjustment member. In this way, the indoor unit and the outdoor unit of the window air conditionercan be located on the same horizontal plane, and can be stably installed on the window, thereby reducing vibration and noise generated during operation, further helping to improve the comfort of the living environment.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the adjustment membermay be a screw. The first adjustment portionmay have a threaded structure. The second adjustment portionmay be a screw hole, and the inner wall of the screw hole is provided with a screw thread. The mating of the first adjustment portionand the second adjustment portionmay be a screw mating. By rotating the base, the basedrives the adjustment memberto move, and the screw rotation between the first adjustment portionand the second adjustment portionproduces a spiral upward or downward movement, which drives the support memberto move up and down, thereby realizing the adjustment of the height of the window air conditioner.

Additionally, the mounting bracketfeatures a compact structure with a shorter length and a reduced footprint, leading to lower production and transportation costs, while also offering convenient storage. Moreover, the mounting bracketis entirely located below the window air conditioner, which is relatively concealed, and can make the installed window air conditioneraesthetically pleasing and streamlined appearance.

The compact mounting bracketenables height adjustment of the window air conditionerat a lower cost through the use of a compact design, ensures that the window air conditionercan be stably installed on the window, reduces vibration and noise generated during operation, improves the comfort of the living environment, and the window air conditionerinstalled with the mounting bracketis aesthetically pleasing and streamlined appearance.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the basemay include a first base body. The adjustment membermay be provided on the first base body.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the basemay include a second base body. The second base bodyand the first base bodymay be snap-fitted to each other. The second base bodymay be disposed on the window sill. The basemay be composed of two parts: the first base bodyand the second base body. The first base bodymay be located above the second base bodyand partially within the second base body. The first base bodyand the second base bodyare snap-fitted to each other to form a stable structure for supporting the weight of the support memberand the window air conditioner.

When the baserotates, the support memberand the adjustment membermove relative to each other. Since the adjustment memberis fixed on the first base body, the first base bodyand the second base bodyare snap-fitted, the second base bodyis arranged on the window sill, and the second base bodyis fixed on the window sill by the action of gravity of the window air conditionerabove. Consequently, the support membermoves vertically, altering the distance between the support memberand the base, thereby achieving height adjustment of the window air conditioner.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the outer periphery of the first base bodymay be provided with a first limiting portion. A second limiting portionmay be provided on the inner wall of the second base body. The first limiting portionand the second limiting portionare in limiting fit with each other, allowing the second base bodyand the first base bodyto be snap-fitted to each other, and preventing the first base bodyfrom moving relatively in the circumferential direction in the second base body.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the first limiting portionmay be a raised portion located on the outer periphery of the first base body. The second limiting portionmay be a recessed portion located on the inner wall of the second base body. The raised portion and the recessed portion correspond to each other. When the first base bodyand the second base bodyare snapped together, the raised portion can be embedded in the recessed portion so that both sides of the raised portion are blocked. As a result, the first base bodycannot move relatively in the circumferential direction in the second base body. When the operator rotates the second base body, the first base bodycan rotate along with the second base body, which drives the adjustment memberto rotate relative to the support member, thereby realizing the adjustment of the height of the window air conditioner.

In some embodiments, as shown in, an accommodating groovemay be provided at the side of the first base bodyfacing the second base body. A third limiting portionmay be provided on the bottom wall of the second base body. The third limiting portionmay be a boss structure protruding from the bottom wall of the second base body. The third limiting portionmay be in limiting fit with the accommodating groove. The lower end of the adjustment membermay be abutted with h the third limiting portion.

For example, the accommodation grooveis disposed below the first base bodyfor accommodating the third limiting portionof the second base body. The third limiting portionof the second base bodymay be located at a central region of the bottom wall of the second base body, while the space for accommodating the side wall of the first base bodyis left at inner side of the edge of the bottom wall of the second base body. When the first base bodyand the second base bodyare snap-fitted into each other, the side wall of the first base bodycan be snap-fitted with inner side of the edge of the bottom wall of the second base body, thereby restricting the relative positions of the first base bodyand the second base body, ensuring that the first base bodyand the second base bodyare tightly snapped into each other, and improving the reliability of the mounting bracket.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the dimension of the support memberin the left-right direction of the window air conditionermay be h. The dimension of the basein the left-right direction of the window air conditionermay be h. hand hmay satisfy the relation: h>h. As described above, the dimension of the basein the left-right direction of the window air conditioneris greater than the dimension of the support memberin the left-right direction of the window air conditioner, that is, the width of the baseis greater than the maximum width of the support member. In this way, the basecan be made to protrude from both sides of the support memberin the left-right direction of the window air conditioner. When mounting the mounting bracket, the operator can come into contact with a part of the baseexposed outside the support member, thereby improving the convenience of operation of the mounting bracketand improving the operability of the mounting bracket.

In some embodiments, as shown in, a plurality of the second adjustment portionson the support membermay be provided. The plurality of second adjustment portionsmay be provided at intervals in the front-rear direction of the window air conditioner. The first adjustment portionmay be mated with any one of the second adjustment portions. For example, in some embodiments of the present disclosure, there are four second adjustment portionson the support member.

It should be noted that in some other embodiments, the number of second adjustment portionson the support membermay also be two, three, five, or more. Since the plurality of second adjustment portionsare provided, the adjustment effect of the window air conditioneris different depending on the position of the second adjustment portions. According to the installation situation of the window air conditioner, the first adjustment portioncan be optionally mated and connected to any one of the second adjustment portions, so that the practicality of the mounting bracketis improved and the operation is more flexible.

In some embodiments, as shown in, a clearance grooveis provided on the upper surface of the support member. One or more second adjustment portionsmay be provided in the clearance groove. The upper end of the adjustment membermay not exceed the upper end of the clearance groove. The position of the second adjustment portionmay be lower than the contact surface of the support memberwith the bottom surface of the window air conditioner. By providing the clearance groove, a space can be left between the second adjustment portionand the bottom of the window air conditioner, to prevent the adjustment memberfrom touching the bottom of the window air conditioneras it exceeds the upper end of the clearance groove, thereby preventing the contact surface of the window air conditionerwith the support memberfrom being uneven and affecting the stability of the installation.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the support membermay include a support portion. The support portionand the adjustment membermay be mated with each other. The second adjustment portionon the support portioncan mate with the adjustment memberto adjust the height of the window air conditioner.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the support membermay include a fixed portion. The fixed portionand the support portionmay be provided at intervals in the front-rear direction of the window air conditioner. The fixed portionmay be fixedly connected to the window air conditioner, and the fixed portionmay be fixedly connected to the window frame. The fixed portionis configured to be fixedly connected to the bottom of the window air conditionerand the window frame, so that the mounting bracket, the window air conditionerand the window frame can be fixed together, and the mounting stability can be improved.

In some embodiments, as shown in, a portion of the support membernear the front end in the front-rear direction of the window air conditionermay be the fixed portion, and a portion of the support membernear the rear end may be the support portion. The fixed portionmay be connected to the front end of the support portion.

In some embodiments, as shown in, a first mounting portionmay be provided on the fixed portion. The first mounting portionmay be configured to be fixedly connected to the window air conditioner. For example, the first mounting portionmay be a mounting hole. The first mounting portionand the window air conditionermay be connected by bolts. There may be a plurality of first mounting portions, and the plurality of first mounting portionsmay be distributed at intervals on the fixed portion, thereby ensuring that the support memberand the window air conditionerare firmly connected.

In some embodiments, as shown in, the fixed portionmay be provided with a mounting flangethat folds toward the lower side. The mounting flangemay be provided at one end of the fixed portionaway from the support portion. The mounting flangemay be provided with a second mounting portion. The second mounting portionmay be configured to be fixedly connected to the window frame. The mounting flangemay correspond to the position of the window frame. The second mounting portionon the mounting flangemay be a mounting hole, and the second mounting portionand the window frame may be connected by bolts. At least two second mounting portionsmay be provided, and the at least two second mounting portionsmay ensure that the support memberand the window frame are firmly connected.