Adjustable top cover for split-system hvac units

Abstract

An air conditioning unit that includes an interior unit, an exterior unit comprising a top face, a front face and a pair of opposing sidewalls, and a top cover.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioning unit comprising:
 an interior unit disposed at a window within an indoor area of a building below a horizontal level of a sill of the window, the window separating the indoor area within the building and an exterior area external to the building, the interior unit comprising a fan disposed behind a heat exchanger that is proximate to an external face of the interior unit;   an exterior unit disposed at the window in the exterior area below the horizontal level of the sill, the exterior unit comprising a top face, a front face and a pair of opposing sidewalls;   a bracket disposed over the sill of the window, the bracket extending through the window and below the sill of the window in both the indoor area within the building and the exterior area external to the building with the interior unit and exterior unit coupled to and hanging from the bracket, the bracket configured to slidably widen and narrow to correspond to a width of the sill of the window and defining a distance between the interior unit and the exterior unit;   one or more connectors between the interior unit and the exterior unit that extend through the window and over the sill, the one or more connectors including a circulation hose that extends through the window and over the sill to connect the exterior unit and the interior unit; and   a top cover comprising a first portion and a second portion that are slidably nested together such that a length of the top cover can be changed to adapt to the distance between the interior unit and the exterior unit defined by the bracket,   wherein the first portion extends between an external first portion end and an internal first portion end with a pair of first portion flanges extending from opposing sides of the first portion, the first portion flanges comprising respective coupling pins and defining respective guide slots,   wherein the second portion extends between an external second portion end and an internal second portion end with a pair of second portion flanges extending from opposing sides of the second portion, the second portion flanges comprising respective guide pins that are configured to travel in the respective guide slots defined by the first portion flanges to generate a slidable coupling of the first and second portions,   wherein the first portion of the top cover is disposed over the top face of the exterior unit with the external first portion end disposed at the front face of the exterior unit, the external first portion end contoured to match a curved profile of the top face of the exterior unit at the front face, and   wherein the first portion flanges engage the sidewalls of the exterior unit and extend past faces of the sidewalls into or about a cavity between the interior unit and the exterior unit, the second portion of the top cover slidably disposed over the first portion with the external second portion end of the second portion engaging a top face of the interior unit.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the exterior unit comprises respective coupling slots defined by the sidewalls of the exterior unit proximate to the top face, the coupling slots comprising:
 an opening defined by the top face and one of the sidewalls, and   a linear slot portion;   wherein installation of the top cover on the exterior unit includes the respective coupling pins at an end of the top cover being:   inserted into the opening,   moved downward to the linear slot portion, and   moved toward the front face of the exterior unit within the linear slot portion, wherein the top cover and coupling pins are sized such that the coupling pins can move within the coupling slots, but are prevented from leaving the coupling slots once inserted aside from back out the openings.   
     
     
         3 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the top cover is disposed on the exterior unit at least at a 3.0° slant from the interior unit to the front face of the exterior unit to reduce rain collecting on a surface of the top cover. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein the top cover obscures the one or more connectors between the interior unit and the exterior unit that extends through the window and over the sill in the cavity between the interior unit and the exterior unit. 
     
     
         5 . An air conditioning unit comprising:
 an interior unit;   an exterior unit comprising a top face, a front face and a pair of opposing sidewalls; and   a top cover comprising a first portion and a second portion that are slidably nested together such that a length of the top cover can be changed to adapt to a distance between the interior unit and the exterior unit,
 wherein the first portion extends between an external first portion end and an internal first portion end with a pair of first portion flanges extending from opposing sides of the first portion, the first portion flanges comprising respective coupling pins and defining respective guide slots, 
 wherein the second portion extends between an external second portion end and an internal second portion end with a pair of second portion flanges extending from opposing sides of the second portion, the second portion flanges comprising respective guide pins that are configured to travel in the respective guide slots defined by the first portion flanges to generate a slidable coupling of the first and second portions, 
 wherein the first portion of the top cover is disposed over the top face of the exterior unit with the external first portion end disposed at the front face of the exterior unit, and 
 wherein the first portion flanges engage the sidewalls of the exterior unit and extend past faces of the sidewalls into or about a cavity between the interior unit and the exterior unit, the second portion of the top cover slidably disposed over the first portion with the external second portion end of the second portion engaging a top face of the interior unit. 
   
     
     
         6 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the exterior unit comprises respective coupling slots defined by the sidewalls of the exterior unit proximate to the top face, the coupling slots comprising:
 an opening defined by the top face and one of the sidewalls, and   a linear slot portion;   wherein the top cover is configured for the respective coupling pins at an end of the top cover being:   inserted into the opening,   moved downward to the linear slot portion, and   moved toward the front face of the exterior unit within the linear slot portion, wherein the top cover and coupling pins are sized such that the coupling pins can move within the coupling slots, but are prevented from leaving the coupling slots once inserted, aside from back out the openings.   
     
     
         7 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , further comprising a bracket with the interior unit and the exterior unit coupled to the bracket, the bracket configured to slidably widen and narrow to define the distance between the interior unit and the exterior unit. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein the interior unit is disposed at an opening within an indoor area of a building below a horizontal level of the opening, the opening separating the indoor area within the building and an exterior area external to the building, and wherein the exterior unit is disposed at the opening in the exterior area below the horizontal level of the opening. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 8 , further comprising: one or more connectors between the interior unit and the exterior unit that extends through the opening, the one or more connectors including a circulation hose that extends through the opening to connect the exterior unit and the interior unit. 
     
     
         10 . An air conditioning unit comprising:
 an interior unit;   an exterior unit comprising a top face, a front face and a pair of opposing sidewalls; and   a top cover.   
     
     
         11 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 10 , wherein the top cover comprises a first portion and a second portion that are slidably nested together such that a length of the top cover can be changed to adapt to a distance between the interior unit and the exterior unit. 
     
     
         12 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion extends between an external first portion end and an internal first portion end with a pair of first portion flanges extending from opposing sides of the first portion, the first portion flanges comprising respective coupling pins and defining respective guide slots. 
     
     
         13 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 12 , wherein the first portion flanges engage the sidewalls of the exterior unit and extend past faces of the sidewalls into or about a cavity between the interior unit and the exterior unit. 
     
     
         14 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion extends between an external second portion end and an internal second portion end with a pair of second portion flanges extending from opposing sides of the second portion, the second portion flanges comprising respective guide pins that are configured to travel in guide slots defined by the first portion to generate a slidable coupling of the first and second portions. 
     
     
         15 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 11 , wherein the first portion of the top cover is disposed over the top face of the exterior unit with an external first portion end disposed at the front face of the exterior unit. 
     
     
         16 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 11 , wherein the second portion of the top cover is slidably disposed over the first portion with an external second portion end of the second portion engaging the interior unit. 
     
     
         17 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 10 , wherein the exterior unit comprises respective coupling slots defined by the sidewalls of the exterior unit proximate to the top face, wherein the top cover is configured for respective coupling pins at an end of the top cover being inserted into and coupled within the coupling slots. 
     
     
         18 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 17 , wherein the coupling pins of the top cover being inserted into and coupled within the coupling slots includes:
 the coupling pins being inserted into respective openings of the coupling slots, and   the coupling pins being moved toward the front face of the exterior unit within a linear slot portion.   
     
     
         19 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 10 , further comprising a bracket with the interior unit and the exterior unit coupled to the bracket, the bracket configured to slidably widen and narrow to define a distance between the interior unit and the exterior unit. 
     
     
         20 . The air conditioning unit of  claim 10 , wherein the interior unit is disposed at an opening within an indoor area below an opening of a structure, the opening separating the indoor area and an exterior area, and wherein the exterior unit is disposed at the opening in the exterior area below the opening.