# US 8,783,309 B2 · Outdoors air conditioner cover > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,309 B2 - Document ID: US8783309B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/931,531 - Filed: 2011-02-03 - Published: 2011-08-04 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2010-02-03 - Applicants: James R. Betlem - Inventors: James R. Betlem - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783309B2 ## CPC - B65D 65/02: Wrappers or flexible covers - B65D: CONTAINERS FOR STORAGE OR TRANSPORT OF ARTICLES OR MATERIALS, e.g. BAGS, BARRELS, BOTTLES, BOXES, CANS, CARTONS, CRATES, DRUMS, JARS, TANKS, HOPPERS, FORWARDING CONTAINERS; ACCESSORIES, CLOSURES, OR FITTINGS THEREFOR; PACKAGING ELEMENTS; PACKAGES ## Abstract The present invention comprises a cover for wintertime protection of an outdoor air conditioning unit (OACU). The cover provides a rigid top piece to provide protection from falling objects and a semi-permeable side skirt to reduce dirt and debris entering the unit while still allowing moisture to evaporate from the unit and means to attach the cover to the unit. The cover may also be equipped with foam padding for the underside of the rigid top piece which provides for abrasion resistance for the OACU and will also provide for tilting of the cover when an unevenly distributed weight load is applied to the upper surface of the cover; the tilting facilitates runoff of ice and snow from the unit reducing the weight load bearing on the OACU. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A protective cover for an outdoor air conditioning unit, said outdoor air conditioning unit comprising a top face with a length and width and a grill guard, comprising: a panel possessing a top face with a length and width, a side edge, and a bottom face and a semi-permeable skirt, wherein the length and width of the panel top face are each longer than the respective length and width of the outdoor air conditioning unit top face. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The protective cover recited in claim 1, wherein the panel and skirt are resistant to ultraviolet light. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The protective cover recited in claim 2, wherein the panel is lightweight. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The protective cover recited in claim 3 further comprising a lip along the lower portion of the panel side edge. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The protective cover recited in claim 4 wherein the panel top face possesses a center portion and edges; wherein said center portion is thicker than said edges. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The protective cover recited in claim 1, wherein the semi-permeable skirt has a length of no more than 75% the height of the outdoor air conditioning unit's grill guard. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The protective cover recited in claim 6, wherein the semi-permeable skirt has a length of at least 50% the height of the outdoor air conditioning unit's grill guard. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The protective cover recited in claim 6, wherein the bottom surface of the panel is non-abrasive. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The protective cover recited in claim 6 further comprising at least one cushion resting upon the top of the outdoor air conditioning unit wherein the bottom face of the panel rests atop the cushion to dissipate the downward force due to a falling object impacting the top face of the protective cover. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The protective cover recited in claim 9 further comprising at least three cushions resting upon the top of the outdoor air conditioning unit. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the outdoor air conditioning unit rests on a pad, said pad possessing a length and a width, wherein the length and width of the protective cover are approximately the same respectively as the length and width of the pad. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The protective cover of claim 1 wherein the semipermeable skirt comprises a polypropylene mesh. ### Claim 13 A protective cover for an outdoor air conditioning unit, said outdoor air conditioning unit comprising a top face with a length and width and a grill guard, comprising: a panel possessing a top face with a length and width, a side edge, and a bottom face; a semi-permeable skirt; at least one cushion; and stretch cords each possessing a first and second end wherein the first end of each stretch cord is connected to the grill guard and the second end of each stretch cord is connected to the semi-permeable skirt and the stretch cord tension is set such that as an object striking or resting on the panel top face will cause the panel to tilt allowing said object to slide off the panel top face causing the panel to return to level. ### Claim 14 A protective cover for an outdoor air conditioning unit, said outdoor air conditioning unit comprising a top face with a length and width and a grill guard, comprising: a panel possessing a top face, a side edge, and a bottom face, wherein the panel top face has a center portion and side edges, a semi-permeable skirt, and a lip along the lower portion of the panel side edge; wherein the panel is lightweight and center portion of said top face is thicker than said side edges of said panel top face.