Window frame for air conditioner unit

Abstract

Disclosed herein is a method of installing an air conditioner unit into a window frame, the method comprising: inserting the air conditioner unit into an opening in the window frame; extending left and right adjustable side curtains until the left and right adjustable side curtains contact jarbs of the window frame; recording a left measurement of an extent at which the left adjustable side curtain extends from a left reference point of the air conditioner unit and recording a right measurement of an extend at which the right adjustable side curtain extends from a right reference point of the air conditioner unit; cutting to size a left and right outer panel by cutting along a cut line identified by indicia that matches the recorded left and right measurements; and snap-fittingly installing the cut left and right outer panel onto a frame of the left and right adjustable side curtain respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A window air conditioner unit comprising:
 an air conditioner housing;   an adjustable outer frame coupled to and extending around the air conditioner housing and configured for insertion into a window, the adjustable outer frame including:
 a main frame body fixedly attached to the air conditioner housing; and 
 a pair of adjustable window side curtains that are slidingly coupled to the main frame body for filling an open window space; each adjustable side curtain moving between: (1) a retracted position in which the adjustable side curtain is retracted within upper and lower internal channels that are formed within the main frame body and are open along opposite sides of the main frame body and (2) an extended position in which the adjustable side curtain extends outwardly from the side of the main frame body a distance greater than when the adjustable side curtain is in the retracted position; and 
 wherein each adjustable side curtain includes a window side curtain frame, an accordion filler part that is disposed within and carried by the window side curtain and an outer panel that is snap-fittingly coupled to the window side curtain frame and covers the accordion filler part when the adjustable side curtain is in the extended position. 
   
     
     
         2 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the air conditioner housing has four rounded corners. 
     
     
         3 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein each of the window side curtain frames includes an upper horizontal rail that slidingly travels within the upper internal channel formed along a top of the air conditioner housing; a lower horizontal rail that slidingly travels within the lower internal channel formed along a bottom of the air conditioner housing and a vertical end rail that extends between and is coupled to the upper and lower horizontal rails, with a first open space being formed between the upper and lower horizontal supports and vertical end support, the accordion filler part being disposed within the first open space. 
     
     
         4 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein an inner end of each accordion filler part is attached to one of a first and second side adapter that is fixed to the air conditioner housing along a respective side wall thereof. 
     
     
         5 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , wherein an opposite outer end of each accordion filler part is attached to the vertical end rail of one respective window side curtain frame. 
     
     
         6 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein each accordion filler part is slidingly captured within the window side curtain frame. 
     
     
         7 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the window side curtain frame includes first measurement indicia that identifies an extent by which the adjustable side curtain extends from the air conditioner housing and the outer panel includes second measurement indicia that matches the first measurement indicia and allows the outer panel to be cut to an optimal size. 
     
     
         8 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 7 , wherein the first measurement indicia is formed along an upper horizontal rail of the window side curtain frame and the second measurement indicia is formed along a rear face of the outer panel. 
     
     
         9 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 8 , wherein the first measurement indicia and second measurement indicate are calibrated relative to an inner edge of the upper horizontal rail and an inner edge of the outer panel, respectively, and are measured relative to an end edge of the main frame body. 
     
     
         10 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 8 , wherein the first measurement indicia comprises consecutive numbers spaced apart at set first intervals and the second measurement indicia comprises consecutive numbers spaced apart at the set first intervals. 
     
     
         11 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 3 , wherein the vertical end rail of each window side curtain frame include female locking features that snap-fittingly mate with male locking features formed as part of the outer panel. 
     
     
         12 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the female locking features comprise locking slots that face forward along the vertical end rail and the male locking features comprise a plurality of cantilever beams with catches formed at ends thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the main frame body defines a slot in which inner ends of the outer panels are received and captured while outer ends of the outer panels are snap-fittingly coupled to respective window side curtain frames. 
     
     
         14 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the main frame body includes a top rail, a bottom rail, a first side adapter and a second side adapter, one accordion filler part of one adjustable side curtain being coupled to the first side adapter and the other accordion filler part of the other adjustable side curtain being coupled to the second side adapter. 
     
     
         15 . The window air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the outer panel comprises a foam body with an outer decorative film on an outer surface of the foam body and a trim piece attached to an inner surface of the foam body, the trim piece including first snap-fitting members that interlockingly mate with second snap-fittingly members that are part of the window side curtain frame. 
     
     
         16 . A method of installing an air conditioner unit into a window frame, the method comprising the steps of:
 inserting the air conditioner unit into an opening defined in the window frame;   extending left and right adjustable side curtains until the left and right adjustable side curtains contact jambs of the window frame;   recording a left measurement of an extent at which the left adjustable side curtain extends from a left reference point of the air conditioner unit and recording a right measurement of an extend at which the right adjustable side curtain extends from a right reference point of the air conditioner unit;   cutting to size each of a left outer panel by cutting along one of: 1) a first cut line identified by indicia that matches the recorded left measurement and 2) a second cut line that is immediately adjacent the first cut line and cutting to size a right outer panel buy cutting along one of: 1) a third cut line identified by indicia that matches the recorded left measurement and 2) a fourth cut line that is immediately adjacent the third cut line; and   snap-fittingly installing the cut left outer panel onto a frame of the left adjustable side curtain and snap-fittingly installing the cut right outer panel onto a frame of the right adjustable side curtain.   
     
     
         17 . A window air conditioner frame for installation on a window air conditioner unit comprising:
 an adjustable outer frame for coupling to and for extending around the window air conditioner unit and configured for insertion into a window, the adjustable outer frame including:
 a main frame body for being fixedly attached to the window air conditioner unit; and 
 a pair of adjustable window side curtains that are slidingly coupled to the main frame body for filling an open window space; each adjustable side curtain moving between: (1) a retracted position in which the adjustable side curtain is retracted within upper and lower internal channels that are formed within the main frame body and are open along opposite sides of the main frame body and (2) an extended position in which the adjustable side curtain extends outwardly from the side of the main frame body a distance greater than when the adjustable side curtain is in the retracted position; and 
 wherein each adjustable side curtain includes a window side curtain frame, an accordion filler part that is disposed within and carried by the window side curtain and an outer panel that is snap-fittingly coupled to the window side curtain frame and covers the accordion filler part when the adjustable side curtain is in the extended position. 
   
     
     
         18 . The window air conditioner frame of  claim 17 , wherein each of the window side curtain frames includes an upper horizontal rail that slidingly travels within the upper internal channel; a lower horizontal rail that slidingly travels within the lower internal channel and a vertical end rail that extends between and is coupled to the upper and lower horizontal rails, with a first open space being formed between the upper and lower horizontal supports and vertical end support, the accordion filler part being disposed within the first open space, wherein an inner end of each accordion filler part is attached to one of a first side adapter and a second side adapter that are part of the main frame body are for fixed attachment to the air conditioner housing along respective side walls thereof; and wherein an opposite outer end of each accordion filler part is attached to the vertical end rail of one respective window side curtain frame. 
     
     
         19 . The window air conditioner frame of  claim 17 , wherein the outer panel comprises a foam body with an outer decorative film on an outer surface of the foam body and a trim piece attached to an inner surface of the foam body, the trim piece including first snap-fitting members that interlockingly mate with second snap-fittingly members that are part of the window side curtain frame. 
     
     
         20 . The window air conditioner frame of  claim 17 , wherein the window side curtain frame includes first measurement indicia that identifies an extent by which the adjustable side curtain extends from a reference point of the air conditioner housing and the outer panel includes second measurement indicia formed on a rear surface thereof that matches the first measurement indicia and allows the outer panel to be cut to an optimal size.