Air conditioner

Abstract

 An air conditioner of the present invention includes a body (2) having an air inlet (4) formed in a front side thereof, and a side air outlet (6,6A,6B) formed at least one of a left side and a right side thereof, a side discharge vane (20,20A,20B) for controlling a wind direction of air from the side air outlet (6,6A,6B), a front panel (30) for covering the air inlet (4), and a front panel drive mechanism (40) for moving the front panel (30) back and forth, wherein the front panel (30) includes a front body (31) positioned in front of the body, and a side body (32) for being spaced from the side discharge vane (20,20A,20B) when the front body moves forward, and covering at least a portion of the side discharge vane (20,20A,20B) when the front body (31) moves backward, thereby permitting the side body (32) of the front panel (30) to protect the side discharge vane (20,20A,20B), and making the side appearance of the air conditioner neat and tidy.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to an air conditioner. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air conditioner which has a movable front panel.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0002] In general, the air conditioner is a machine for cooling or heating a room by using a refrigerating cycle having a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator for forming a comfortable room environment, or cleaning room air by using a filter.

[0003] The air conditioner has an air inlet for drawing air from the room, and an air outlet for discharging air conditioned thereby to an outside of the air conditioner. The air conditioner may be provided with a heat exchanger mounted therein for making the air to heat exchange with refrigerant. The air conditioner may have a filter mounted thereto for removing foreign matter from the air.

[0004] It is a current trend that a side air outlet is formed in a side of the air conditioner and a discharge vane is mounted to the side of the air conditioner for controlling a wind direction of the air being discharged through the side air outlet.

[0005] The Korea Laid Open Patent No. KR 10-2007-0078261 A (Jul. 31, 2007) discloses an air conditioner having a discharge vane mounted to a side of the air conditioner.

[0006] A related art air conditioner has a problem in that the discharge vane, always exposed to a side of the air conditioner, is vulnerable to damage and makes an outer appearance of the side of the air conditioner not neat and tidy.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Technical Problem

[0007] Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the aforementioned problems, and it is an object of the present invention to provide an air conditioner which is not vulnerable to damage and has a neat and tidy outer appearance of the side of the air conditioner.

[0008] To achieve the object of the present invention, an air conditioner includes a body having an air inlet formed in a front side thereof, and a side air outlet formed at least one of a left side and a right side thereof, a side discharge vane for controlling a wind direction of air from the side air outlet, a front panel for covering the air inlet, and a front panel drive mechanism for moving the front panel back and forth, characterized in that wherein the front panel includes a front body positioned in front of the body, and a side body for being spaced from the side discharge vane when the front body moves forward, and covering at least a portion of the side discharge vane when the front body moves backward.

[0009] The front panel drive mechanism may move the side body to a front position of the side discharge vane when the air conditioner is turned on, and may move the side body to a side position of the side discharge vane when the air conditioner is turned off.

[0010] The side body may be formed at a side edge of the front body.

[0011] The front panel may have opened upper side, lower side and rear side.

[0012] The side discharge vane may include a first plate for guiding the air from the side air outlet, and a second plate continuous from the first plate for guiding the air from the side air outlet to a side of the side body.

[0013] The side discharge vane may further include a rotation shaft positioned in the body, and a rotation shaft connection connected between the rotation shaft and one side of the first plate.

[0014] The second plate may have a slope angle of an obtuse angle from the first plate.

[0015] The side body may include a left side body formed on a left side of the front body, and a right side body formed on a right side of the front body, wherein an air draw-in passage is formed between the left side body and the right side body when the front panel moves forward.

[0016] The side discharge vane may include a left side discharge vane mounted to a left side of the body, and a right side discharge vane mounted to a right side of the body, wherein the left side body covers at least a portion of the left side discharge vane, and the right side body covers at least a portion of the right side discharge vane.

[0017] The front panel drive mechanism may be driven in a first mode in which the side body is spaced from the side discharge vane or in a second mode in which the side body is brought into contact with the side discharge vane.

[0018] The air conditioner may further include a discharge vane drive motor for turning the side discharge vane, and a control unit for controlling the discharge vane drive motor in an air outlet open mode after controlling the front panel drive mechanism in a moving forward mode when the air conditioner is in operation, and controlling the front panel drive mechanism in a moving backward mode after controlling the discharge vane drive motor in an air outlet close mode when the air conditioner is not in operation.

[0019] The air conditioner may further include a filter to be mounted/dismounted to/from the body slidably, and the front panel may further include a panel body which has the front panel drive mechanism connected thereto, and forms an air draw-in passage with the body when the panel body moves forward, wherein the front body is coupled to the panel body.

[0020] The side body may move to a first position at which the side body is spaced from the side discharge vane and covers the filter when the front body moves forward, and the side body may move to a second position at which the side body covers at least a portion the side discharge vane and the filter when the front body moves backward.

[0021] The side body may be positioned in a front position of the side discharge vane when the air conditioner is in operation, and the side body may be positioned at least a portion of a side of the side discharge vane when the air conditioner is in not in operation.

[0022] The filter may have a side edge covered by the side body when the front body is coupled to the panel body, and exposed to an outside of the air conditioner through a gap between the panel body and the body when the front body is separated from the panel body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principle of the invention.

[0024] In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not in operation;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in operation;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, not in operation;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in operation;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, not in operation;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, in operation;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a filter is mounted /dismounted to/from the air conditioner; and

FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a filter is mounted /dismounted to/from the air conditioner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] In what follows, an air conditioner according to preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the appended drawings.

[0026] FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention not in operation, FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation, FIG. 3 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention not in operation, and FIG. 4 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, in operation.

[0027] The air conditioner includes a body 2 for drawing, conditioning, and discharging room air. As shown in FIG. 4, the body 2 has an air inlet 4 formed therein for drawing the room air thereto. The body 2 may have at least one air outlet formed therein for discharging the air conditioned in the body 2 to an outside of the body 2. The air inlet 4 may be formed in a front of the body 2. The body 2 may have a side air outlet 6 formed at least one of a left side and a right side of the body 2. The body 2 may have side air outlets 6 formed on the left side and the right side of the body 2, respectively. The body 2 may have the left side air outlet 6A formed on the left side thereof and the right side air outlet 6B formed on the right side thereof. Hereinafter, if the left side air outlet 6A and the right side air outlet 6B are described distinguishing one from the other, the air outlets will be called as the left side air outlet 6A and the right side air outlet 6B respectively, otherwise the left side air outlet 6A and the right side air outlet 6B will be called as the side air outlet 6. The body 2 may have a lower air outlet (Not shown) formed in a bottom of the body 2, additionally.

[0028] The body 2 may include a rear case 12 and a front case 13 mounted in front of the rear case 12. The rear case 12 and the front case 13 may form an outside appearance of the body 2. The body 2 may have a fan unit 14 and a heat exchanger 15 mounted thereto. The fan unit 14 and the heat exchanger 15 may be mounted between the rear case 12 and the front case 13.

[0029] The rear case 12 may form an air passage. The air from the fan unit 14 may flow to the air outlet guided by the rear case 12. The rear case 12 may form a back side appearance of the body 2. The rear case 12 may form outside appearances of four circumferential sides of upper, lower, left, and right sides of the body 2. The rear case 12 may have the left side air outlet 6A formed on a left side thereof, and the right side air outlet 6B formed on a right side thereof. The left side air outlet 6A may be formed on a left side of the rear case 12 opened in a left/right direction. The right side air outlet 6B may be formed on a right side of the rear case 12 opened in the left/right direction. The rear case 12 may have a lower air outlet formed in a bottom of the rear case 12. The lower air outlet may be formed in the bottom of the rear case 12 opened in an up/down direction.

[0030] The front case 13 may form a frontal outside appearance of the body 2. The front case 13 may have the air inlet 4 formed therein. The air inlet 4 may be formed in the front case opened in a front/rear direction of the front case 13. The front case 13 may have a suction grill 13a formed thereon for protecting an inside of the body 2. The suction grill 13a may be formed to be positioned at the air inlet 4. The suction grill 13a may be formed to cross the air inlet 4.

[0031] The fan unit 14 may draw the air through the air inlet 4, and discharge the air through the air outlet after making the air passed through the heat exchanger 15. The fan unit 14 may be a centrifugal type fan which draws air in front thereof and blows in a circumferential direction thereof. The fan unit 14 may include a motor 16 mounted to the rear case 12, and a blower 17 mounted to a rotation shaft of the motor 16. The fan unit 14 may further include an orifice 18 for guiding the air to the blower 17. The motor 16 may have the rotation shaft mounted to direct a front direction. The blower 17 may be a centrifugal fan, such as a turbofan, for drawing air in front thereof, and blowing the air in a circumferential direction thereof. The orifice 18 may form an air flow passage of the air from the blower 17, together with the rear case 12. The rear case 12 may have an air guide formed thereon for guiding the air from the blower 17. The rear case 12 may function as a fan housing which surrounds the motor 16 and the blower 17. The orifice 18 may have an air hole 19 formed therein for pass of the air. The air hole 19 may be formed at a position between the blower 17 and the heat exchanger 15.

[0032] The heat exchanger 15 may be mounted to face the air inlet 4. The heat exchanger 15 may be mounted to be positioned between the front case 13 and the orifice 18. The heat exchanger 15 may be mounted perpendicular to at least one of the front case 13 and the orifice 18.

[0033] The air conditioner may include at least one discharge vane mounted thereto for controlling a wind direction of the air being discharged to an outside of the body. The discharge vane may include a side discharge vane 20 for controlling the wind direction of the air being discharged to an outside of the body through the side air outlet 6. If the lower air outlet is formed in the body 2 additionally, the discharge vane may include a lower discharge vane (Not shown) for controlling the wind direction of the air being discharged through the lower air outlet, additionally.

[0034] The side discharge vane 20 may turn in a left/right direction centered on a vertical center shaft for controlling the wind direction of the air being discharged from the side air outlet 6 in a lateral direction. The side discharge vane 20 may be turned to be projected to a side of the body 2 when the air conditioner is in operation, or may be turned so as to be close to a side 3 of the body 2 tightly when the air conditioner is not in operation. The side discharge vane 20 may be formed larger than the side air outlet 6. The side discharge vane 20 may close the side air outlet 6 while covering the side air outlet 6 from an outside of the side air outlet 6. The side discharge vane 20 may have a height higher than a height of the side air outlet 6. The side discharge vane 20 may have a front/rear direction width formed longer than a front/rear direction width of the side air outlet 6. There may be a discharge vane drive motor 23 mounted to the body 2 connected to the side discharge vane 20. The discharge vane drive motor 23 may turn the side discharge vane 20 to be projected to the side of the body 2 when the air conditioner is turned on, and may turn the side discharge vane 20 so as to be close to the side 3 of the body tightly when the air conditioner is turned off. The side discharge vane 20 may include a left side discharge vane 20A mounted to the left side of the body 2, and a right side discharge vane 20B mounted to the right side of the body 2. Hereinafter, if the left side discharge vane 20A and the right side vane 20B are described distinguishing one from the other, the discharge vane 20 will be called as the left side discharge vane 20A and the right side vane 20B, otherwise the left side discharge vane 20A and the right side vane 20B will be called as the discharge vane 20. The body 2 may have a left side discharge vane drive motor 23A for turning the left side discharge vane 20A and a right side discharge vane drive motor 23B for turning the right side discharge vane 20B. Hereinafter, if the left side discharge vane drive motor 23A and the right side discharge vane drive motor 23B are described distinguishing one from the other, the side discharge vane drive motor 23 will be called as the left side discharge vane drive motor 23A and the right side discharge vane drive motor 23B, otherwise the left side discharge vane drive motor 23A and the right side discharge vane drive motor 23B will be called as the side discharge vane drive motor 23.

[0035] The side discharge vane 20 may include a first plate 25 for guiding the air from the side air outlet 6, and a second plate 26 continuous from the first plate 25 for guiding the air from the side air outlet 6 to a side of the front panel 30. The second plate 26 may guide the air from the side air outlet 6 to a side of a side body 32 to be described later of the front panel 30. The side discharge vane 20 may include a rotation shaft 27 positioned in the body 2, and a rotation shaft connection 28 connected between the rotation shaft 27 and one side of the first plate 25, additionally. The first plate 25 may have a size larger than the side air outlet 6, and the side discharge vane 20 can open/close the side air outlet 6 with the first plate 25. The second plate 26 may have an obtuse angle θ from the first plate 25. The rotation shaft 27 may be a rotation center of the side discharge vane 20. The rotation shaft 27 may be connected to the discharge vane drive motor 23 and may be positioned at the body 2. The rotation shaft connection 28 may be projected from one of two sides of the first plate 25 facing the side air outlet 6. The rotation shaft connection 28 may function as a link which turns the first plate 25 when the rotation shaft 27 is rotated by the discharge vane drive motor 23.

[0036] If the air conditioner includes the lower discharge vane additionally, the lower discharge vane may control an up/down direction wind direction of the air from the lower air outlet while turning in an up/down direction centered on a horizontal center shaft. Mounted to the body 2, there may be a lower discharge vane drive motor (Not shown) having the lower discharge vane connected thereto.

[0037] The air conditioner may include a front panel 30 for covering the air inlet 4. The air conditioner may include a front panel drive mechanism 40 for moving the front panel 30 back and forth. The front panel 30 may move backward closer to the body 2, or may move forward away from the body 2. The front panel 30 may have a size larger than the air inlet and shade the air outlet 4 invisible from the front side of the air conditioner. The front panel 30 may have opened upper side, lower side and rear side. The front panel 30 may have closed front, left side, and right side. The moving back and forth of the front panel 30 may include, not only back and forth translation of an entire front panel 30, but also turning centered on a lower side of the front panel 30, and turning centered on an upper side of the front panel 30.

[0038] The front panel 30 may include a front body 31 and a side body 32.

[0039] The front panel 30 may include a panel body 33 having the front panel driving mechanism 40 connected thereto, and a front cover 34 detachably mounted to the panel body 33. The front cover 34 may include the front body 31 and the side body 32. The panel body 33 may have at least one LED (Not shown) mounted thereto, and the panel body 33 may function as an ornament tool for enhancing ornamental beauty, or a display for displaying information on the air conditioner. The panel body 33 may have at least a portion thereof exposed to an outside of the air conditioner. If the front panel 30 includes both the panel body 33 and the front cover 34 altogether and the panel body 33 includes at least one LED, the front cover 34 may have a light pass hole formed therein for passing a light from the LED. The front panel 30 may have a rear side thereof spaced from the front of the body 2 to form an air draw-in passage P therebetween. The panel body 33 may have a size to shade the air inlet 4, and may function as an inlet panel for opening/closing the air inlet 4. When the front panel 30 moves forward, the air draw-in passage P may be formed among the front of the body 2, the right side of the left body 32A of the front panel 30, the left side of the right body 32B of the front panel 30, and the rear side of the panel body 33.

[0040] In the meantime, the front panel 30 may include the front body 31 and the side body 32 without the panel body 33, and the front panel drive mechanism 40 may be connected to the front body 31. The front body 31 of the front panel 30 may have a rear side spaced from the front of the body 2 to form the air draw-in passage P therebetween. When the front panel 30 moves forward, the air draw-in passage P may be formed among the front of the body 2, a right side of the left body 32A of the front panel 30, a left side of the right side body 32B of the front panel 30, and a rear side of the front body 31.

[0041] The front body 31 may be mounted to be positioned in front of the body 2. The front body 31 may move forward or backward by the front panel drive mechanism 40. The front body 31 may move forward when the air conditioner is in operation, and may move backward when the air conditioner is not in operation. The front body 31 may form an entire frontal outside appearance of the air conditioner, or a portion thereof. If the front panel 30 includes both the panel body 33 and the front cover 34 altogether, the front body 31 may be coupled to the panel body 33. The front body 31 may be coupled to the panel body 33 with fastening members, such as screws, or with a magnetic force detachable device, such as a magnet.

[0042] The side body 32 may be spaced from the side discharge vane 20 when the front body 31 moves forward. The side body 32 may close at least a portion of the side discharge vane 20 when the front body 31 moves backward. The side body 32 may move to a front position of the side discharge vane 20 when the air conditioner is turned on. The side body 32 may move to at least a portion of a side of the side discharge vane 20 when the air conditioner is turned off. The side body 32 may be formed at an edge of the front body 31. The side body 32 may be formed perpendicular to the front body 31. The side body 32 may be constructed of a plate. The side panel 32 may be a rectangle having a long side in up/down direction. The side body 32 may close a gap between the panel body 33 and the body 2, may cover a portion of the side discharge vane 20, and may form the air draw-in passage P. The side body 32 may include a left side body 32A formed on a left side of the front body 31, and a right side body 32B formed on a right side of the front body 25, and may form the air draw-in passage P between the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B when the front panel 30 moves forward. The room air may be drawn into the air inlet 4 through the air draw-in passage P between the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B. The left side body 32A may cover at least a portion of the left side discharge vane 20A. The right side body 32B may cover at least a portion of the right side discharge vane 20B. Hereinafter, if the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B are described distinguishing one from the other, the side body 32 will be called as the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B, otherwise the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B will be called as the side body 32. The side body 32 may cover a front portion of the side discharge vane 20 when the side body 32 moves backward. The side body 32 moves to a side of the second plate 26 to cover the second plate 26 when the side body 32 moves backward.

[0043] The front panel drive mechanism 40 may includes a motor 42, a pinion 44, and a rack 46. A plurality of the front panel drive mechanisms 40 may be mounted to the front panel 30 and the body 2. It is possible that the front panel drive mechanism 40 may have the motor 42 mounted to the body 2, the pinion 44 mounted to a rotation shaft of the motor, and the rack 46 mounted to the front panel 30. If the front panel 30 includes the panel body 33, the rack 46 may be mounted to the panel body 33, and if the front panel 30 does not include the panel body 33, the rack 46 may be mounted to the front body 31. It is possible that the front panel drive mechanism 40 may have the motor 42 mounted to the front panel 30, the pinion 44 mounted to the rotation shaft of the motor, and the rack 46 mounted to the body 2. If the front panel 30 includes the panel body 33, the motor 42 may be mounted to the panel body 33, and if the front panel 30 does not include the panel body 33, the motor 42 may be mounted to the front body 31. The front panel drive mechanism 40 may move the side body 32 to a front position of the side discharge vane 20 when the air conditioner is turned on. The front panel drive mechanism 40 may move the side body 32 to at least a portion of a side of the side discharge vane 20 when the air conditioner is turned off. The front panel drive mechanism 40 may be driven in a first mode in which the side body 32 is spaced from the side discharge vane 20, and a second mode in which the side body 32 is in contact with the side discharge vane 20. In this case, the first mode may be a moving forward mode in which the front panel drive mechanism 40 makes the front panel 30 to move forward, and the second mode may be a moving backward mode in which the front panel drive mechanism 40 makes the front panel 30 to move backward.

[0044] The air conditioner may include a control unit for controlling the discharge vane drive motor 23 and the front panel drive mechanism 40. When the air conditioner is turned on, the control unit may control the discharge vane drive motor 23 in an air outlet open mode after controlling the front panel drive mechanism 40 in the moving forward mode. When the air conditioner is turned off, the control unit may control the front panel drive mechanism 40 in the moving backward mode after controlling the discharge vane drive motor 23 in an air outlet close mode.

[0045] The operation of the air conditioner having the foregoing structure will be described.

[0046] When the air conditioner is in operation, the control unit may control the front panel drive mechanism 40 in the first mode. While the front panel drive mechanism 40 is driven in the first mode, the control unit may make the discharge vane drive motor 23, not to drive, but to standby. When the front panel drive mechanism 40 is in the first mode, the front panel 30 may move forward, when the side body 32 may move forward from the portion of the side of the side discharge vane 20. The side body 32 may move from a side of the second plate 26 to a position at which the second plate 26 is exposed to an outside of the side body 32. As the side body 32 moves forward gradually together with the front body 31, the side body 32 is spaced from the side discharge vane 20 to form the air draw-in passage P having opened upper side and lower side between the front panel 30 and the body 2.

[0047] After the front panel 30 is moved forward, the control unit may control the discharge vane drive motor 23 in the air outlet open mode. The control unit may control both the left side discharge vane drive motor 23A and the right side discharge vane drive motor 23B in the air outlet open mode. The side discharge vane 20 may turn centered on the rotation shaft 27, and the side discharge vane 20 may turn from a position the side discharge vane 20 is in close contact with the side 3 of the body 2 toward a lateral direction of the body 2 to be projected therefrom. When the side discharge vane 20 is turning, the side discharge vane 20 does not interference with the side body 32, but can turn, smoothly.

[0048] When the air conditioner is in operation, the control unit may drive the motor 16 of the fan unit 14, and the air above the air draw-in passage P and the air below the air draw-in passage P may be drawn into the air draw-in passage P. The air above the air draw-in passage P may be introduced between the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B of the front panel 30 through an opened upper side of the front panel 30, and therefrom to the air inlet 4. The air below the air draw-in passage P may be introduced between the left side body 32A and the right side body 32B of the front panel 30 through an opened lower side of the front panel 30, and therefrom to the air inlet 4. The air drawn to the air inlet 4 may make heat exchange at the heat exchanger 15, and may be discharged to the side air outlet 6. The air discharged to the side air outlet 6 may be guided by the first plate 25 and the second plate 26 of the side discharge vane 20, so as to be discharged to the side of the side body 32 of the front panel 30. The air guided by the side discharge vane 20 may not be introduced to the air draw-in passage P blocked by the side body 32, but may be introduced to the room.

[0049] When the air conditioner is not in operation, the control unit may turn off the motor 16. And, control unit may control the discharge vane drive motor 23 in the air outlet close mode. The control unit may control both of the left side discharge vane drive motor 23A and the right side discharge vane drive motor 23B in the air outlet close mode. The side discharge vane 20 may be turned in a direction opposite to a direction when the air outlet is opened, and may be turned to a position at which the side discharge vane 20 is in close contact with the side 3 of the body 2. The control unit may make the front panel drive mechanism 40, not to operate, but to standby, while the control unit controls the discharge vane drive motor 23 in the air outlet close mode.

[0050] After the side discharge vane 20 is turned to be in close contact with the side 3 of the body 2, the control unit may control the front panel drive mechanism 40 in the second mode. When the front panel drive mechanism 40 is in the second mode, the front panel 30 may move backward, when the side body 32 may move to the portion of the side of the side discharge vane 20. The side body 32 may be brought into contact with the second plate 26 and may move to the side of the second plate 26 as the side body 32 moves backward together with the front body 31, gradually. Since the second plate 26 is in close contact with the side 3 of the body 2 before the front panel 30 is moved, the second plate 26 does not interfere with movement of the side body 32, and the side body 32 may cover the second plate 26 at a side of the second plate 26. When the front panel 30 moves backward, the side body 32 may shade the gap between the front body 31 and the body 2, and the second plate 26 can be protected by the side body 32.

[0051] FIG. 5 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention not in operation, FIG. 6 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention in operation, FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a filter is mounted /dismounted to/from the air conditioner, and FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating an air conditioner in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention, when a filter is mounted /dismounted to/from the air conditioner.

[0052] The air conditioner of the embodiment includes a filter 50 slidably mounted /dismounted to/from the body 2, and the front panel 30 may include a panel body 33 and a front cover 34. Configurations and operation of the embodiment other than the filter 50 and the front panel 30 are the same or similar to the air conditioner in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and use the same reference numerals and detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0053] The panel body 33 may be connected to the front panel drive mechanism 40. The panel body 33 may form the air draw-in passage P with the body 2 when the panel body 33 is moved forward.

[0054] The front cover 34 may include the front body 31, and the side body 32. The side body 32 may move to a first position at which the side body 32 covers the filter 50 as the side body 32 is spaced from the side discharge vane 20 when the front body 31 is moved forward. In this case, of the filter 50 and the side discharge vane 20, the first position may be a position at which the filter 50 is covered and the side discharge vane 20 is exposed. The side body 32 may move to a second position at which the side body 32 covers at least a portion of the side discharge vane 20 and the filter 50 when the front body 31 is moved backward. In this case, the second position may be a position at which the side body 32 covers both the filter 50 and the side discharge vane 20.

[0055] The front cover 34 may be mounted/dismounted to/from the panel body 33. The front cover 34 may be mounted/dismounted to/from the panel body 33 with a magnetic device. The magnet (Not shown) may be mounted to one of the front cover 34 and the panel body 33, and a magnet holder 62 which is to be detached/attached to/from the magnet may be mounted to the other one of the front cover 34 and the panel body 33. One of the magnet and the magnet holder 62 may be mounted to the front body 31, and the other one may be mounted to the panel body 33. The magnet holder 62 may be formed of a metal of a ferromagnetic material. If the magnet is mounted to a rear side of the front body 31, the magnet holder 62 may be mounted to the panel body 33, and vice versa.

[0056] When the front cover 34 is mounted to the panel body 33, the side body 32 may cover a side of the panel body 33.

[0057] The filter 50 may be mounted to the body 2 such that the filter 50 is positioned in front of the air inlet 4. The filter 50 may be slidably mounted /dismounted to/from the front case 13. The front case 13 may have a sliding guide (Not shown) formed thereon for guiding the filter 50 in a lateral direction, slidably. The filter 50 may be a pre-filter which filters foreign matter from the air. When the front body 31 and the panel body 33 couple, the filter 50 may have a side edge 51 covered by the side body 32. When the front body 31 is separated from the panel body 33, the side edge 51 of the filter 50 may be exposed to an outside of the air conditioner through a gap S between the panel body 33 and the body 2.

[0058] The operation of the air conditioner of the present invention having the foregoing configuration will be described.

[0059] At the time of separation of the filter 50 from the air conditioner, the user or a service man (Hereafter, called as the user) may pull the front cover 34 forward to separate the front cover 34 from the panel body 33. Once the front cover 34 is separated, the gap S between the body 2 and the panel body 33 is visible from a side of the air conditioner. The user may put a hand in the gap S between the body 2 and the panel body 33, hold the filter 50, and pull the filter 50 in the lateral direction. The filter 50 is slidable in the lateral direction of the body 2, and may be pulled out of the gap S between the body 2 and the panel body 33, and may be washed.

[0060] The user may place the filter 50 in the gap S between the body 2 and the panel body 33, and slidably mount the filter 50 in the body 2 in the lateral direction. After mounting the filter to the body 2, the user may mount the front cover 34 to the panel body 33, such that the side body 32 of the front cover 34 covers the gap S between the body 2 and the panel body 33, to enable to cover a portion of the side discharge vane 30 and the side 51 of the filter 50, altogether.

[0061] The air conditioner may be operated in a state the front cover 34 is mounted to the panel body 33, and, alike the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the front panel drive mechanism 40 may move the front panel 30 forward. When the front panel 30 is moved forward, the side body 32 may be moved forward to a position at which the side body 32 covers the side edge 51 of the filter 50, but not the side discharge vane 20. After the front panel 30 is moved forward, the discharge vane drive motor 23 may turn the side discharge vane 20 such that the side discharge vane 20 is projected to a side of the body 2.

[0062] Alike the preferred embodiment of the present invention, when the air conditioner is turned off, the discharge vane drive motor 23 may turn the side discharge vane 20 to be in close contact with the side 3 of the body 2. Alike the preferred embodiment of the present invention, after driving the discharge vane drive motor 23, the front panel drive mechanism 40 may move the front panel 30 backward. When the front panel 30 is moved backward, the side body 32 may be moved backward from a position at which the side body 32 covers the side edge 51 of the filter 50, but not the side discharge vane 20, or to a position at which the side body 32 covers a portion of the side discharge vane 20 and the side edge 51 of the filter 50, altogether.

[0063] As has been described, the air conditioner of the present invention has the following advantages.

[0064] The front panel can protect the side discharge vane, and the side appearance of the air conditioner becomes neat and tidy.

[0065] And, infiltration of the foreign matter through a gap between the side discharge vane and the body can be minimized to enable to maintain a clean air conditioner.

[0066] And, no additional outside door or outside cover is required for covering the discharge vane, enabling to protect the discharge vane with a simple structure.

[0067] And, since the front panel does not interfere with the side discharge vane from turning when the air conditioner is in operation, and the side discharge vane does not interfere with the front vane from moving backward when the air conditioner is not in operation, the front panel and the side discharge vane can be operated securely without being damaged.

[0068] Although the air conditioner according to the present invention has been described with reference to the illustrated drawings, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not intended to be limited to the above-described embodiment and drawings, and various changes or modifications may be made therein without departing from the scope and the technical sprit of the present invention.

Claims

1. An air conditioner comprising:

a body (2) having an air inlet (4) formed in a front side thereof, and a side air outlet (6, 6A, 6B) formed in at least one of a left side and a right side thereof;

a side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) for controlling a wind direction of air from the side air outlet (6, 6A, 6B);

a front panel (30) for covering the air inlet (4); and

a front panel drive mechanism (40) for moving the front panel (30) back and forth with respect to the body (2),

characterized in that the front panel (30) includes;

a front body (31) positioned in front of the body (2), and

a side body (32) for being spaced from the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) when the front body (31) is moved forward, and covering at least a portion of the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20b) when the front body (31) is moved backward.

2. The air conditioner of claim 1, wherein the front panel drive mechanism (40) is configured to move the side body (32) to a front position of the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) when the air conditioner is turned on, and to move the side body (32) to a side position of the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) when the air conditioner is turned off.

3. The air conditioner of claim 1 or 2, wherein the side body (32) is formed at a side edge of the front body (31).

4. The air conditioner of claim 1, 2, or 3, wherein the front panel (30) has an opened upper side, lower side and rear side.

5. The air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) includes:

a first plate (25) for guiding the air from the side air outlet (6, 6A, 6B), and

a second plate (26) continuous with the first plate (25) for guiding the air from the side air outlet (6, 6A, 6B) to a side of the side body (32).

6. The air conditioner of claim 5, wherein the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) further includes:

a rotation shaft (27) positioned in the body (2), and

a rotation shaft connection (28) connected between the rotation shaft (27) and one side of the first plate (25).

7. The air conditioner of claim 5, wherein the second plate (26) has an obtuse slope angle, θ, with respect to the first plate (25).

8. The air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the side body (32) includes;
a left side body (32A) formed on a left side of the front body (31), and
a right side body (32B) formed on a right side of the front body (31),
wherein an air draw-in passage (P) is formed between the left side body (32A) and the right side body (32B) when the front panel (31) is moved forward.

9. The air conditioner of claim 8, wherein the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) includes:

a left side discharge vane (20A) mounted to a left side of the body (2), and

a right side discharge vane (20B) mounted to a right side of the body (2),

wherein the left side body (32A) covers at least a portion of the left side discharge vane (20A), and the right side body (32B) covers at least a portion of the right side discharge vane (20B).

10. The air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the front panel drive mechanism (40) is configured to be driven in a first mode in which the side body (32) is spaced from the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) or in a second mode in which the side body (32) is brought into contact with the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B).

11. The air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 10, further comprising:

a discharge vane drive motor (23, 23A, 23B) for turning the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B); and

a control unit for controlling the discharge vane drive motor (23, 23A, 23B) in an air outlet open mode after controlling the front panel drive mechanism (40) in a moving forward mode when the air conditioner is in operation, and controlling the front panel drive mechanism (40) in a moving backward mode after controlling the discharge vane drive motor (23, 23A, 23B) in an air outlet close mode when the air conditioner is not in operation.

12. The air conditioner of any one of claims 1 to 11, further comprising a filter (50) to be slidably mounted to or dismounted from the body (2), and
wherein the front panel (30) further includes a panel body (33) which has the front panel drive mechanism (40) connected thereto, and forms an air draw-in passage (P) with the body (2) when the panel body (30) moves forward,
wherein the front body (31) is coupled to the panel body (33).

13. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the side body (32) is configured to move to a first position at which the side body (32) is spaced from the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) and to cover the filter (50) when the front body (31) moves forward, and
the side body (32) is configured to move to a second position at which the side body (32) covers at least a portion the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) and the filter (50) when the front body (32) moves backward.

14. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the side body (32) is positioned in a front position of the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) when the air conditioner is in operation, and
the side body (32) is positioned at least a portion of a side of the side discharge vane (20, 20A, 20B) when the air conditioner is in not in operation.

15. The air conditioner of claim 12, wherein the filter (50) has a side edge covered by the side body (32) when the front body (31) is coupled to the panel body (33), and exposed to an outside of the air conditioner through a gap (S) between the panel body (33) and the body (2) when the front body (31) is separated from the panel body (33).

Drawing