Handling structure for air conditioner unit

Abstract

An air conditioner unit is provided including a cabinet. The cabinet includes a front opening including an upper portion and a lower portion each forming a portion of a perimeter of the front opening. The lower portion includes a lower face. A lower handle extends from the lower portion at the lower face. A bulkhead is mounted within the cabinet to form an indoor portion and an outdoor portion. A refrigeration loop includes an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion. A compressor is operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and is configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An air conditioner unit defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a front opening, wherein the front opening comprises an upper portion and a lower portion each forming a portion of a perimeter of the front opening, wherein the lower portion comprises a lower face, and wherein a lower handle extends from the lower portion at the lower face;   a bulkhead mounted within the cabinet to form an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;   a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion; and   a compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         2 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the handle extends along the vertical direction from the lower face. 
     
     
         3 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 2 , wherein the lower portion and the upper portion each extend along the lateral direction. 
     
     
         4 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , wherein the upper portion comprises an upper handle extending from a lower face of the upper portion. 
     
     
         5 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , wherein the upper handle extends along the transverse direction co-directional to a flow of air into the front opening. 
     
     
         6 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , wherein the upper handle comprises a hemmed edge of the upper portion extending along the transverse direction co-directional to a flow of air into the front opening. 
     
     
         7 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 4 , wherein the upper portion comprises a front portion extending along the lateral direction and a side portion extending along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         8 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 7 , wherein the upper handle extends along the lateral direction from the side portion. 
     
     
         9 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 1 , comprising:
 a base pan extending beneath the cabinet.   
     
     
         10 . The air conditioner unit of  claim 9 , wherein the base pan comprises a base pan handle positioned beneath the lower handle. 
     
     
         11 . A single package air conditioner unit defining a vertical, a lateral, and a transverse direction, the single package air conditioner unit comprising:
 a cabinet comprising a front opening, wherein the front opening comprises an upper portion and a lower portion each forming a portion of a perimeter of the front opening, wherein the upper portion comprises an upper handle extending from a lower face of the upper portion;   a bulkhead mounted within the cabinet to form an indoor portion and an outdoor portion;   a refrigeration loop comprising an outdoor heat exchanger positioned within the outdoor portion and an indoor heat exchanger positioned within the indoor portion; and   a compressor operably coupled to the refrigeration loop and being configured for urging a flow of refrigerant through the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger.   
     
     
         12 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the upper handle extends along the transverse direction co-directional to a flow of air into the front opening. 
     
     
         13 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 12 , wherein the upper handle comprises a hemmed edge of the upper portion extending along the transverse direction co-directional to a flow of air into the front opening. 
     
     
         14 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 12 , wherein the upper portion comprises a front portion extending along the lateral direction and a side portion extending along the transverse direction. 
     
     
         15 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 14 , wherein the upper handle extends along the lateral direction from the side portion. 
     
     
         16 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the lower portion comprises a lower face, and wherein a lower handle extends from the lower portion at the lower face. 
     
     
         17 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 16 , wherein the lower handle extends along the vertical direction from the lower face. 
     
     
         18 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 16 , comprising:
 a base pan extending beneath the cabinet.   
     
     
         19 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 18 , wherein the base pan comprises a base pan handle positioned beneath the lower handle. 
     
     
         20 . The single package air conditioner unit of  claim 11 , wherein the lower portion and the upper portion each extend along the lateral direction.