Hybrid window air conditioning unit

Abstract

A hybrid window air conditioning unit is disclosed. The hybrid window air conditioning unit may include an indoor unit and an outdoor unit operatively connected by a connection unit. The connection unit may have an interior channel containing refrigerant piping and electrical wiring connecting between the indoor unit and the outdoor unit. In some embodiments, the hybrid air conditioning may include a height-adjustable outdoor unit mounting assembly to allow the outdoor unit to be disposed substantially flush with or below a window.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A hybrid window air conditioning unit, comprising:
 an indoor unit configured for installation on an interior wall of an air-conditioned space, having an indoor housing with a front panel and a back panel, and an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan housed within said indoor housing;   an indoor unit installation plate removably coupled to said back panel of said indoor unit housing to fasten said indoor unit to the interior wall of the air-conditioned space;   an outdoor unit configured for installation exteriorly of the air-conditioned space, having an outdoor housing, and an outdoor heat exchanger, a compressor, and an outdoor fan housed within said outdoor housing;   an outdoor unit mounting assembly separate from said indoor unit installation plate and mounted on a window sill of a window; and   a connection unit coupled between said indoor unit and said outdoor unit, wherein said connection unit has an interior channel containing refrigerant piping and electrical wiring connecting between said indoor unit and said outdoor unit, such that said indoor heat exchanger of said indoor unit is operatively connected with said compressor and said outdoor heat exchanger of said outdoor unit through said connection unit.   
     
     
         2 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said indoor unit is mounted to the interior wall adjacent a ceiling of the air-conditioned space spaced away from the window sill of the window. 
     
     
         3 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said indoor unit installation plate is physically spaced away from said outdoor unit mounting assembly. 
     
     
         4 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said indoor unit installation plate is mounted at a higher elevation on the interior wall of the air-conditioned space than said outdoor unit mounting assembly mounted on the window sill of the window. 
     
     
         5 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said outdoor unit mounting assembly is height-adjustable. 
     
     
         6 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein said outdoor unit mounting assembly further includes a damping mechanism. 
     
     
         7 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 5 , wherein said outdoor unit disposed on said height-adjustable outdoor door unit mounting assembly includes an installed position substantially flush with or below the level of the window sill of the window. 
     
     
         8 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said connection unit further includes condensate drain piping for conveying condensate from said indoor unit. 
     
     
         9 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 8 , wherein said outdoor unit includes a condensate drain port, and said condensate drain piping within said connection unit is connected to said condensate drain port of said outdoor unit. 
     
     
         10 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , further comprising an outdoor unit cover, wherein said outdoor unit cover covers only a first end of both said refrigerant piping and said electrical wiring connecting between said indoor unit and said outdoor unit. 
     
     
         11 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 10 , wherein said outdoor unit cover includes at least one of a prefabricated piping gap, a prefabricated wiring gap, and/or a prefabricated securing tab. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said connection unit is made of plastic. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said connection unit further comprises an interior sleeve. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , further comprising a variable speed inverter for said compressor of said outdoor unit. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid window air conditioning unit of  claim 1 , wherein said refrigerant piping within said connection unit includes a quick no-leak connection port. 
     
     
         16 . A hybrid window air conditioning unit comprising:
 a first unit;   a first unit installation plate adapted to mount said first unit thereon;   a second unit;   a second unit mounting assembly separate and spaced away from said first unit installation plate and adapted to mount said second unit thereon; and   a connection unit operatively connecting said first unit away from said second unit, wherein said first unit is disposed inside a room on said first unit installation plate, said second unit is disposed outside a building and substantially flush with or below a window of the room on said second unit mounting assembly, and said connection unit extends through the window and has an interior channel containing refrigerant piping, electrical wiring, and condensate drain piping connecting between said first unit and said second unit, such that said first unit is operatively connected with said second unit through said connection unit.   
     
     
         17 . A method of installing a hybrid window air conditioning unit, wherein said hybrid window air conditioning unit includes an indoor unit, an outdoor unit, a connection unit, an indoor unit installation plate, and an outdoor unit mounting assembly, the method comprising:
 installing said outdoor unit mounting assembly at a window;   positioning said outdoor unit on said outdoor unit mounting assembly at the window;   installing said indoor unit installation plate on an interior wall separated and spaced away from said outdoor unit mounting assembly;   mounting said indoor unit on said indoor unit installation plate; and   connecting said connection unit between said indoor unit and said outdoor unit through the window.   
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said outdoor unit mounting assembly is height-adjustable, and the method further comprises adjusting said outdoor unit disposed thereon to an installed position substantially flush with or below the level of the window. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein said hybrid window air conditioning unit further comprises an outdoor unit cover, and the method further comprises placing said outdoor unit cover over said outdoor unit. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the order of installing said indoor unit and said outdoor unit is reversed.