Air conditioning system for a reduced space area of a room

Abstract

An air conditioning (“A/C”) system for conditioning the air primarily within a partitioned space in which one or more persons reside within a room or structure, where the A/C system does not condition the air outside of the partitioned space within the room or structure. Such a partitioned space within a room or structure may be a portion of the room or structure in which a sleeping bed is positioned, and a portion of the living space lying over the sleeping bed. The A/C system may replace an existing ceiling fan, and be installed in place thereof. A canopy is draped over the partitioned space to enclose the area being air conditioned.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method comprising:
 mounting an air conditioning (“A/C”) unit in proximity to a ceiling of a room; and   installing a canopy so that the canopy encloses a reduced space area within the room, wherein the canopy is configured relative to the A/C unit so that the A/C unit in operation conditions air contained within the reduced space area enclosed by the canopy.   
     
     
         2 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting of the A/C unit comprises replacing a ceiling fan with the A/C unit. 
     
     
         3 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the reduced space area contains a volume that is less than all of the volume of the room. 
     
     
         4 . The method as recited in  claim 3 , wherein the canopy substantially encloses an article of furniture located within the room. 
     
     
         5 . The method as recited in  claim 4 , wherein the article of furniture is a sleeping bed. 
     
     
         6 . The method as recited in  claim 5 , wherein the canopy is configured relative to the A/C unit so that the A/C unit substantially conditions the air contained within the reduced space area residing over the sleeping bed when the canopy is positioned to enclose a top surface of the sleeping bed. 
     
     
         7 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the canopy is configured relative to an air inlet and air outlet of the A/C unit so that the A/C unit substantially exchanges and conditions only the air contained within the reduced space area enclosed by the canopy. 
     
     
         8 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting of the A/C unit comprises:
 removing a ceiling fan previously installed within the room;   mounting the A/C unit in a location vacated by the ceiling fan; and   utilizing existing wiring that had been powering the previously installed ceiling fan to power the mounted A/C unit.   
     
     
         9 . The method as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the A/C unit in operation cools the air contained within the reduced space area enclosed by the canopy so that a temperature level of the air contained within the reduced space area is less than a temperature level of air residing in the room outside of the reduced space area. 
     
     
         10 . An A/C system for a room comprising:
 an A/C unit suitable for mounting to a ceiling of a room; and   a canopy suitable for enclosing a reduced space area of the room, wherein during operation the A/C unit cools the air contained within the reduced space area enclosed by the canopy so that a temperature level of the air contained within the reduced space area is less than a temperature level of air residing in the room outside of the reduced space area.   
     
     
         11 . The A/C system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the A/C unit is configured to mount to a ceiling fan rod after removal of the ceiling fan from the rod. 
     
     
         12 . The A/C system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the A/C unit is configured to connect to existing power wiring that had been previously powering a ceiling fan after removal of the ceiling fan from the ceiling. 
     
     
         13 . The A/C system as recited in  claim 10 , wherein the reduced space area contains a volume that is less than all of the volume of the room. 
     
     
         14 . The A/C system as recited in  claim 13 , wherein the canopy is suitable for enclosing a top surface of a sleeping bed. 
     
     
         15 . A method comprising:
 substantially enclosing a first volume of a room with a flexible canopy, wherein the first volume is less than an entire volume of the room; and   operating a first A/C unit so that it cools air contained within the first volume of the room to a first temperature that is lower than a second temperature of air contained within a second volume of the room not substantially enclosed by the flexible canopy.   
     
     
         16 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , wherein the A/C unit is mounted to a ceiling of the room. 
     
     
         17 . The method as recited in  claim 16 , wherein the A/C unit is connected to already existing power or control wiring utilized for a ceiling fan previously mounted to the ceiling. 
     
     
         18 . The method as recited in  claim 15 , further comprising operating a second A/C unit so that it cools the second volume of the room to the second temperature. 
     
     
         19 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first A/C unit is mounted to a ceiling of the room, and wherein the second A/C unit is mounted within a wall of the room. 
     
     
         20 . The method as recited in  claim 18 , wherein the first A/C unit is mounted to a ceiling of the room, and wherein the second A/C unit is a central A/C system, wherein the flexible canopy is configured so that an air outlet of the first A/C unit is substantially enclosed within the first volume.