Pivotal and removable door for an air handler
AssigneeAmerican Standard Inc.
InventorsDavid J. Rosenthal, Timothy J. Lawlor, Sr., Thomas F. Byrne, James T. Vershaw, Timothy W. Storm
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An air handler enclosure having a pivotal door panel covers an access opening leading to a blower inside the enclosure. The door panel is held in engagement with the enclosure when the panel is fully open or closed. The panel can completely disengage the enclosure if the panel is first pivoted to an intermediate position between the fully open and fully closed positions. However, the weight of the panel itself urges the panel to remain engaged with the enclosure as the panel pivots through the intermediate position, which helps prevent the panel from disengaging the enclosure unintentionally.
Claims20
An air handler, comprising:
- an enclosure defining an inlet, an outlet, and an access opening;
- a blower disposed within the enclosure and being adapted to move air from the inlet to the outlet;
- and
- a door panel being selectively pivotal to a fully closed position where the door panel substantially covers the access opening, a fully open position where the door panel appreciably uncovers the access opening, and a range of intermediate positions where the door panel is between the fully closed position and the fully open position, the door panel is further moveable between an engaged relationship with the enclosure and a disengaged relationship with the enclosure, wherein the door panel is able to be moved between the engaged relationship and the disengaged relationship when the door panel is within the range of intermediate positions, but is inhibited from being moved between the engaged relationship and the disengaged relationship when the door panel is beyond the range of intermediate positions.
An air handler, comprising:
- an enclosure defining an inlet, an outlet, and an access opening;
- a blower disposed within the enclosure and being adapted to move air from the inlet to the outlet;
- a catch extending from the enclosure;
- a flange disposed along a perimeter of the access opening;
- a door panel being selectively pivotal to a fully closed position where the door panel substantially covers the access opening, a fully open position where the door panel appreciably uncovers the access opening, and a range of intermediate positions where the door panel is between the fully closed position and the fully open position, the door panel is further moveable between an engaged relationship with the enclosure and a disengaged relationship with the enclosure, wherein the door panel is able to be moved between the engaged relationship and the disengaged relationship when the door panel is within the range of intermediate positions, but is inhibited from being moved between the engaged relationship and the disengaged relationship when the door panel is beyond the range of intermediate positions;
- and
- a lip extending from the door panel, wherein:
- i. the lip is captured between the catch and the flange when the door panel is in the engaged relationship,
- ii. the lip includes a first surface and a second surface that are spaced apart from each other,
- iii. the catch engaging the first surface inhibits the door panel from disengaging the enclosure when the door panel is in the fully open position,
- iv. the flange engaging the second surface inhibits the door panel from disengaging the enclosure when the door panel is in the fully closed position, and
- v. the weight of the door panel urges the door panel to the engaged relationship as the door panel moves between the fully closed position and the fully open position.
A method of manipulating a door panel to selectively cover and uncover an access opening of an enclosure, comprising:
- pivoting the door panel to a fully closed position where the door panel substantially covers the access opening;
- pivoting the door panel to a fully open position where the door panel appreciably uncovers the access opening;
- pivoting the door panel through a range of intermediate positions where the door panel is between the fully closed position and the fully open position;
- selectively moving the door panel between an engaged relationship with the enclosure and a disengaged relationship with the enclosure;
- and
- inhibiting the door panel from moving from the engaged relationship with the enclosure to the disengaged relationship with the enclosure without first pivoting the door panel to within the range of intermediate positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.