Safety float device for air conditioning units

• US 6,362,742 B1
• Filed: 11/17/2000
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Raoul Serenil Jr
• Original Assignee: Raoul Serenil Jr
• Inventors: Serenil, Raoul Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wu, Daniel J.
• Application Number:
  US09/714,924
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 340/604, 340/605, 340/618, 340/625, 340/623, 733/05, 733/08, 200/84.A, 200/61.2, 200/DIG.41
• US Class Current: 340/625
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 11/30 for purposes related to the operation of the system, e.g. for safety or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2110/00 Control inputs relating to air properties
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2140/30 Condensation of water from cooled air
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 200/41 Liquid contact

Abstract

A safety float device for air conditioning units for providing easy and convenient installation of a switch to air conditioning systems. The safety float device for air conditioning units includes a switch assembly having a housing, a switch disposed in the housing, and wires extending from the switch; and also includes a float assembly having an arm member movably connected to the switch, and further having a float support member securely attached to an end of the arm member, and also having a float member securely and removably attached to the float support member; and further includes a fastening assembly being securely attached to the housing of the switch assembly for removably fastening to an air conditioning unit.

Claims

1. A safety float device for air conditioning units comprising:

a switch assembly having a housing, a switch disposed in said housing;

a float assembly having an arm member movably connected to said switch, float support member attached to an end of said arm member, and a float member removably attached to said float support member; and

a fastening assembly attached to said housing of said switch assembly;

wherein said fastening assembly includes a fastening support member attached to said housing and a fastening member attached to said fastening support member; and

wherein said fastening member includes opposed first and second jaw members having first ends which are attached to said fastening support member, and biasing means for biasing said jaw members together.

2. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, wherein said float support member includes a main wall, a pair of side walls extending from longitudinal sides of said main wall and being spaced apart thus forming a slot therebetween, and also includes an arm attachment member being securely disposed upon said main wall and being securely attached to said end of said arm member.

3. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, wherein said float member is removably engaged in said slot defined by said side walls of said float support member, said float member being essentially made of a foam material.

4. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, additionally comprising a stopper being disposed upon said second jaw member and extending between said jaw members for setting said fastening member at a selected height upon an air conditioning unit.

5. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 4, wherein said stopper is disposed upon and protruding from said wall of said second jaw member and is essentially a rib-like member extending along a length of said fastening member.

6. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, wherein said fastening member also includes pad members being attached to said jaw members near second ends thereof and being disposed between said jaw members.

7. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, wherein said fastening member extends along a length of said housing of said switch assembly.

8. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, wherein each of said jaw members is essentially a plate-like member having a wall.

9. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 1, additionally comprising a lever attached to said first end of said first jaw member for moving said first jaw member away from said second jaw member.

10. A safety float device for air conditioning units comprising:

a switch assembly having a housing, a switch disposed in said housing, and wires extending from said switch;

a float assembly having an arm member movably connected to said switch, and further having a float support member securely attached to an end of said arm member, and also having a float member securely and removably attached to said float support member; and

a fastening assembly being securely attached to said housing of said switch assembly for removably fastening to an air conditioning unit;

wherein said float support member includes a main wall, a pair of side walls extending from longitudinal sides of said main wall and being spaced apart thus forming a slot therebetween, and also includes an arm attachment member being securely disposed upon said main wall and being securely attached to said end of said arm member;

wherein said float member is removably engaged in said slot defined by said side walls of said float support member, said float member being essentially made of a foam material;

wherein said fastening assembly includes a fastening support member which is attached to said housing, and also includes a fastening member being securely attached to said fastening support member;

wherein said fastening member includes opposed first and second jaw members having first ends which are attached to said fastening support member, and also includes a spring being mounted at said first ends of said first and second jaw members for biasing said jaw members together, and further includes a lever being attached to said first end of said first jaw member for moving said first jaw member away from said second jaw member, and also includes a stopper being disposed upon said second jaw member and extending between said jaw members for setting said fastening member at a selected height upon the air conditioning unit.

11. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 10, wherein said fastening member also includes pad members being attached to said jaw members near second ends thereof and being disposed between said jaw members.

12. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 10, wherein said fastening member extends along a length of said housing of said switch assembly.

13. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 10, wherein each of said jaw members is essentially plate-like members having a wall.

14. A safety float device for air conditioning units as described in claim 10, wherein said stopper is disposed upon and protruding from said wall of said second jaw member and is essentially a rib-like member extending along a length of said fastening member.

15. A safety float device for air conditioning units comprising:

a switch assembly having a housing, a switch disposed in said housing, and wires extending from said switch;

a float assembly having an arm member movably connected to said switch, and further having a float support member securely attached to an end of said arm member, and also having a float member securely and removably attached to said float support member, said float support member including a main wall, a pair of side walls extending from longitudinal sides of said main wall and being spaced apart thus forming a slot therebetween, and also including an arm attachment member being securely disposed upon said main wall and being securely attached to said end of said arm member, said float member being removably engaged in said slot defined by said side walls of said float support member, said float member being essentially made of a foam material; and

a fastening assembly being securely attached to said housing of said switch assembly for removably fastening to an air conditioning unit, said fastening assembly including a fastening support member which is attached to said housing, and also including a fastening member being securely attached to said fastening support member, said fastening member including opposed first and second jaw members having first ends which are attached to said fastening support member, and also including a spring being mounted at said first ends of said first and second jaw members for biasing said jaw members together, and further including a lever being attached to said first end of said first jaw member for moving said first jaw member away from said second jaw member, and also including a stopper being disposed upon said second jaw member and extending between said jaw members for setting said fastening member at a selected height upon the air conditioning unit, said fastening member also including pad members being securely attached to said jaw members near second ends thereof and being disposed between said jaw members, said fastening member extending essentially along a length of said housing of said switch assembly, each of said jaw members being essentially plate-like members having a wall, said stopper being disposed upon and protruding from said wall of said second jaw member and being essentially a rib-like member extending along a length of said fastening member.