US 11,719,448 B2
Air conditioner unit having a sterilization light assembly
Michael Robin Blackwood, Louisville, KY (US); Timothy Scott Shaffer, La Grange, KY (US); John Huguenard, Louisville, KY (US); and Stephen Budelsky, Louisville, KY (US)
Assigned to Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed by Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc., Wilmington, DE (US)
Filed on Jan. 14, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/148,726.
Prior Publication US 2022/0221167 A1, Jul. 14, 2022
Int. Cl. F24F 3/16 (2021.01); F24F 1/0018 (2019.01); A61L 9/20 (2006.01); F24F 1/32 (2011.01)
CPC F24F 3/16 (2013.01) [A61L 9/20 (2013.01); F24F 1/0018 (2013.01); F24F 1/32 (2013.01); A61L 2209/12 (2013.01); A61L 2209/16 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An air conditioner unit for conditioning an indoor space, the air conditioner unit comprising:
a housing defining an indoor portion and an outdoor portion, the housing further defining an exhaust outlet downstream from the indoor portion to exhaust air therefrom;
an outdoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the outdoor portion and comprising an outdoor heat exchanger;
an indoor heat exchanger assembly disposed in the indoor portion and comprising an indoor heat exchanger and an indoor fan;
a compressor in fluid communication with the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger to circulate a refrigerant between the outdoor heat exchanger and the indoor heat exchanger; and
a sterilization light assembly disposed within the indoor portion and directed at the indoor fan to transmit an ultraviolet light emission thereto,
wherein the indoor fan is disposed along an airflow path between an intake segment of the indoor portion and an exhaust segment of the indoor portion upstream from the exhaust outlet,
wherein the air conditioner unit further comprises a cutoff panel separating the intake segment from the exhaust segment, and
wherein the air conditioner unit further comprises a mounting bracket attached to the cutoff panel and supporting the sterilization light assembly, the mounting bracket having a back face disposed opposite the sterilization light assembly and facing an upstream portion of the intake segment to receive a cooling airflow cooling the sterilization light assembly.