DESCRIPTION
FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
[See section 10, Rule 13]
INDOOR UNIT FOR AIR CONDITIONER
MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION, A CORPORATION ORGANISED AND
EXISTING UNDER THE LAWS OF JAPAN, WHOSE ADDRESS IS 7-3,
MARUNOUCHI 2-CHOME, CHIYODA-KU, TOKYO 100-8310, JAPAN
THE FOLLOWING SPECIFICATION PARTICULARLY DESCRIBES THE
INVENTION AND THE MANNER IN WHICH IT IS TO BE PERFORMED.
2
[DESCRIPTION]
[Technical Field]
[0001]
The present disclosure relates to an indoor unit of an air conditioner.
5 [Background Art]
[0002]
An indoor unit of an air conditioner described in Patent Document 1 includes a
lid that opens and closes a wire passing portion that passes an electric cable or the like.
The lid has a notch portion and is fixed using a screw. When opening and closing the
10 lid, the screw is loosened using a tool such as a driver or the like to cause the lid to slide.
[Citation List]
[Patent Document]
[0003]
[Patent Document 1]: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application, First Publication No.
15 2018-159525
[Summary of Invention]
[PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION]
[0004]
In a typical indoor unit of an air conditioner, when opening and closing a lid,
20 there is room to improve workability, since the use of a tool such as a driver or the like
for loosening and tightening operations of a screw is needed.
[0005]
The present disclosure has been made in order to address the problem above,
and an object is to provide an indoor unit of an air conditioner that makes it easier to
25 carry out the opening and closing operation of a wire passing portion.
3
[MEANS TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM]
[0006]
An indoor unit of an air conditioner according to the present embodiment
includes a wire passing portion that passes a cable, a covering member that is movable
5 between a covering position where the covering member covers at least a portion of the
wire passing portion and an opening position where the wire passing portion is opened, a
sliding member that is movable along a sliding direction between a restricting position
that restricts a movement of the covering member and a releasing position that allows the
movement of the covering member, and a first support member that has a head that
10 supports the sliding member in the restricting position from a bottom side and a shoulder
portion with a diameter that is smaller than the head. The covering member has a first
locking portion in which a first insertion hole that passes the shoulder portion through is
formed, the first locking portion is positioned in a top side more than the sliding member,
and in an up-down direction, when a dimension of the shoulder portion is La1, a
15 thickness of a portion supported by the head out of thicknesses of the sliding member is
Ta1, and a thickness of the first locking portion is Tb1, La1>Ta1+Tb1 is satisfied.
[EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION]
[0007]
According to the present disclosure, it is possible to provide an indoor unit of an
20 air conditioner that makes it easier to carry out an opening and closing operation of a
wire passing portion.
[Brief Description of Drawings]
[0008]
FIG. 1 is a view that shows an example of a configuration of an air conditioner in an
25 embodiment.
4
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state where a decorative panel is attached to an indoor
unit in the embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state where the decorative panel is removed from the
indoor unit of FIG. 2.
5 FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a vicinity of an opening and closing mechanism in the
embodiment.
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the opening and closing mechanism in the embodiment.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view as seen from a bottom side of a sliding member in the
embodiment.
10 FIG. 7 is a view as seen from a top side of a sliding member in the embodiment.
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the opening and closing mechanism when a covering
member is in a covering position in the embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the opening and closing mechanism when the sliding
member is in a restricting position in the embodiment.
15 FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the opening and closing mechanism when the sliding
member is in a releasing position in the embodiment.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the opening and closing mechanism when the covering
member is inclined to the bottom side in the embodiment.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the opening and closing mechanism when the covering
20 member of FIG. 11 is moved to an opening position.
[Description of Embodiments]
[0009]
Hereinafter, an embodiment is explained with reference to drawings. In
explanations below, terms that define directions (for example, up, down or the like) are
25 used where appropriate to facilitate understanding. In drawings, an up-down direction
5
is represented by a Z axis. The +Z side is a top side, and the –Z side is a bottom side.
[0010]
First Embodiment
FIG. 1 is a view that shows an example of a configuration of an air conditioner
5 A according to a present embodiment. The air conditioner A includes an indoor unit
100, an outdoor unit 200, a gas refrigerant pipe 300, and a liquid refrigerant 400. Each
of the gas refrigerant pipe 300 and the liquid refrigerant pipe 400 are connected to the
indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200. The outdoor unit 200 has a compressor 210, a
four-way valve 220, an outdoor heat exchanger 230, and an expansion valve 240.
10 [0011]
The compressor 210 compresses and discharges a coolant that is absorbed. For
example, it is possible for the compressor 210 to change a capacity of the compressor
210 (an amount of the coolant being transported per unit time) by optionally changing an
operational frequency using an inverter circuit or the like. The four-way valve 220 is a
15 valve that switches the flow of the coolant between a cooler operation and a heater
operation.
[0012]
The outdoor heat exchanger 230 conducts heat exchange between the coolant
and the air (outdoor air). For example, when in heater operation, the outdoor heat
20 exchanger 230 functions as an evaporator, evaporating the coolant of a liquid phase.
When in cooler operation, the outdoor heat exchanger 230 functions as a condenser to
condense the coolant of a vapor phase.
[0013]
The expansion valve 240 is a flow amount control means to control the amount
25 of the coolant flow. The expansion valve 240 expands the coolant by decompressing
6
the coolant. For example, in a case where the expansion valve 240 is electronic, the
expansion valve 240 conducts an adjustment of a degree of opening, based on a
command from a control device (not shown) or the like. An interior heat exchanger 110
conducts heat exchange between inside air and the coolant. When in heater operation,
5 the interior heat exchanger 110 functions as the condenser, and condenses the coolant.
When in cooler operation, the interior heat exchanger 110 functions as the evaporator,
and evaporates the coolant.
The air conditioner A is configured as described above, and it is possible to
realize the heater operation and the cooler operation by switching the flow of the coolant
10 using the four-way valve 220.
[0014]
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a state where a decorative panel 50 is attached to
the indoor unit 100 in the embodiment. FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a state where the
decorative panel 50 is removed from the indoor unit 100. As an example of the indoor
15 unit 100, a four-directional cassette type indoor unit that sends air indoors from each of
four air outlets 52 is shown. However, it is possible to apply the indoor unit 100 that is
not a four-directional cassette type to a present disclosure.
[0015]
As shown in FIG. 3, the indoor unit 100 includes a housing 8 that opens towards
20 the bottom side. The housing 8 is formed of a heat insulator for example. The
decorative panel 50 is square shaped, and covers an opening portion of a bottom end of
the housing 8. The indoor unit 100 is installed to an indoor ceiling in a state where the
decorative panel 50 is disposed in an indoor space, and most of the housing 8 or the like
is disposed on a back side of the ceiling (a top side from a ceiling surface). As shown in
25 FIG. 2, the decorative panel 50 has an air inlet 51, and four air outlets 52. The air inlet
7
51 is provided in a center of the decorative panel 50, and is used to draw air into the
indoor unit 100. The four air outlets 52 are disposed along each side (four sides) of the
square shaped decorative panel 50, on a circumference of the air inlet 51. Each of the
air outlets 52 is used to blow out air of which a temperature is adjusted to an indoors.
5 [0016]
As shown in FIG. 3, when the decorative panel 50 is removed from the housing
8 an opening and closing mechanism 1 is exposed. FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of a
vicinity of the opening and closing mechanism 1 seen from the top side. A wiring
opening 10 is provided right underneath the gas refrigerant pipe 300 and the connection
10 pipe 9 of the liquid refrigerant pipe 400 to insert a cable C through. The opening and
closing mechanism 1 is provided further in the bottom side of the wiring opening 10.
The cable C is for example a power cable or the like to supply electric power to the
indoor unit 100. The cable C may be a transmission cable to conduct transmission
between the indoor unit 100 and the outdoor unit 200. In the figure, although a number
15 of the cable C is one, a case where a plurality of cables C are bundled may exist.
[0017]
FIG. 5 is an exploded view of the opening and closing mechanism 1 in the
embodiment. The opening and closing mechanism 1 is configured to make opening and
closing of a wire passing portion 5 that the indoor unit 100 has possible. The wire
20 passing portion 5 is provided to pass the cable C, extending from an inside of the indoor
unit 100 to the outside. Although the view of the wiring opening 10 is omitted from
FIG. 5, the cable C is drawn out from the inside of the indoor unit 100 to the outside
passing the wire passing portion 5 and the wiring opening 10. The wire passing portion
5 in the present embodiment is a depression that sinks to the top side from a bottom
25 surface of the housing 8. Further, the wire passing portion 5 may be formed in a
8
configuration element other than the housing 8 out of the configuration elements of the
indoor unit 100.
[0018]
As shown in FIG. 5, the opening and closing mechanism 1 has a covering
5 member 2, a fixing member 3, a sliding member 4, a first support member 6 and a second
support member 7. The first support member 6 has a head 6a, a shoulder portion 6b,
and a thread portion 6c. The second support member 7 has a head 7a, a shoulder
portion 7b, and a thread portion 7c.
In other words, the first support member 6 and the second support member 7 is a
10 shoulder bolt. The first support member 6 and the second support member 7 may have
the same shape, and in such a case, and it is possible to commonly use parts in such case.
[0019]
The covering member 2 is disposed so as to cover the wire passing portion 5
from the bottom side. The covering member 2 has a cover main body 2a and locking
15 portions 2b. The cover main body 2a is a plate shape that extends along a flat surface
that is orthogonal to an up-down direction. Two connection portions 2g that protrude
towards the up-down (+Z side) are formed on ends out of ends of the cover main body 2a.
Each of the locking portions 2b extends farther away from the cover main body 2a from a
top end portion of each of the connection portions 2g. In other words, each of the
20 connection portions 2g connects each of the locking portions 2b to the cover main body
2a. Both of the locking portions 2b are positioned in the top side more so than the
sliding member 4. When the sliding member 4 is supported by the first support member
6 and the second support member 7 from the bottom side, two locking portions 2b are
supported from the bottom side by the sliding member 4. In other words, the two
25 locking portions 2b are indirectly supported by the first support member 6 and the second
9
support member 7.
[0020]
The two locking portions 2b are located on the top side more than the cover
main body 2a. Guide walls 2e are formed in each of the locking portions 2b. Each of
5 the guide walls 2e protrudes towards to the bottom side from an end of an opposite side
of the connection portions 2g in each of the locking portions 2b. Each of the guide
walls 2e faces each of the connection portions 2g. A first insertion hole 2c is formed on
one out of the two locking portions 2b, while a second insertion hole 2d is formed on the
other of the two locking portions 2b. In the explanation below, a locking portion 2b
10 having the first insertion hole 2c formed is referred to as a “first locking portion 2b1”,
while the locking portion 2b having the second insertion hole 2d formed is referred to a
as “second locking portion 2b2”. A guide groove 2f is formed on a guide wall 2e of the
first locking portion 2b1. The guide groove 2f penetrates the guide wall 2e, and has a
long thin shape that extends along a direction the two locking portions 2b are arranged in.
15 A sliding direction of the sliding member 4 coincides with a longitudinal direction of the
guide groove 2f. In the present description, an inner diameter of the first insertion hole
2c is represented as an “inner diameter Db1”. An inner diameter of the second insertion
hole 2d is represented as an “inner diameter Db2”. The inner diameter Db1 is larger
than the inner diameter Db2.
20 [0021]
The fixing member 3 is fixed to the housing 8. In the present embodiment, the
fixing member 3 is formed by working a sheet metal and insert molding the fixing
member 3 into the housing 8. However, the fixing member 3 may be fixed to the
housing 8 by methods other than insert molding (for example, thread fastening or
25 adhesive fixing). A first thread hole 3a and a second thread hole 3b are formed in the
10
fixing member 3. The first thread hole 3a is disposed in a location that overlaps with
the first insertion hole 2c, and the second thread hole 3b is disposed in a location that
overlaps with the second insertion hole 2d. The first support member 6 that passes
through the first insertion hole 2c in the first thread hole 3a is tightened. The second
5 support member 7 that passes through the second insertion hole 2d in the second thread
hole 3b is tightened.
[0022]
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the sliding member 4 as seen from the bottom
side, and FIG. 7 is a view of the sliding member 4 as seen from the top side. As shown
10 in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the sliding member 4 has a notch portion 4a that passes the
shoulder portion 6b of the first support member 6, and a long hole 4b that passes the
shoulder portion 7b of the second support member 7 through. The sliding member 4 is
slidably movable along the sliding direction shown in FIG. 6. The sliding direction in
FIG. 6 or the like is represented by a Y axis. A direction orthogonal to both the
15 up-down direction (Z axis) and the sliding direction (Y axis) is referred to as an
“orthogonal direction”, and is represented by an X axis in FIG. 6 or the like.
[0023]
The sliding direction is also a direction in which the notch portion 4a and the
long hole 4b are arranged. Out of directions of the sliding direction, a direction from
20 the long hole 4b towards the notch portion 4a is referred to as a “locking direction”, a
direction from the notch portion 4a towards the long hole 4b is referred to as an “opening
direction”. In FIG. 6 or the like, a +Y side is the opening direction, and a -Y side is the
locking side. A viewing portion that shows the locking direction and the opening
direction is provided on a bottom surface of the sliding member 4. Specifically, along
25 with letters “OPEN” and “LOCK”, arrows indicating each direction are formed as the
11
viewing portion. By having the sliding member 4 slide with respect to the fixing
member 3, it is possible for the sliding member 4 to switch between a state where a
movement of the covering member 2 is restricted, and a state where the movement of the
covering member 2 is allowable. A location of the sliding member 4 in a state where
5 the movement of the covering member 2 is restricted is referred to as a “restricted
location”. The location of the sliding member 4 in a state where the movement of the
covering member 2 is allowable is referred to as a “releasing position”.
[0024]
The sliding member 4 has the notch portion 4a that has a first area 4c, the long
10 hole 4b that has a second area 4d, and a transition portion 4e that connects the first area
4c and the second area 4d. A first restricting surface 4d1 and a second restricting
surface 4d2 are provided towards the bottom side in the second area 4d. The second
restricting surface 4d2 is located so as to be more in the bottom side than the first
restricting surface 4d1. The second restricting surface 4d2 is provided so as to be more
15 on the opening direction opening direction (+Y side) than the first restricting surface 4d1.
The long hole 4b is formed so as to straddle across the first restricting surface 4d1 and
the second restricting surface 4d2. In other words, the long hole 4b is formed so as to
straddle a step of the up-down direction provided in the second area 4d.
[0025]
20 As shown in FIG. 7, the notch portion 4a opens towards the -Y side (locking
direction). Protrusions 4f are formed on each surface of a pair of side surfaces that the
long hole 4b has. A “side surface of the long hole 4b” is a surface that extends along
the sliding direction on the inside of the long hole 4b. The pair of protrusions 4f are
disposed in a location where the pair of protrusions 4f mutually face one another in the
25 orthogonal direction to the sliding direction. In the present description, a width of the
12
notch portion 4a in the orthogonal direction (X axis) is represented as a “width W1”. A
gap between the pair of side surfaces of the long hole 4b in the orthogonal direction is
represented as a “width W2”. A gap between the pair of protrusions 4f in the
orthogonal direction is represented as a “width Wt2”. An outer diameter of the shoulder
5 portion 7b of the second support member 7 is represented as an “outer diameter Dc2”
(refer to FIG. 9). In the present embodiment Wt2 < Dc2 < W2.
[0026]
The pair of protrusions 4f have a function of restricting the sliding member 4
from unintentionally moving (due to vibrations or the like) in the sliding direction with
10 respect to the second support member 7, in a state where the shoulder portion 7b of the
second support member 7 is passed through the inside of the long hole 4b. When an
operator moves the sliding member 4 to a space between the restricting position and the
releasing position, the protrusions 4f go over the second support member 7 in the sliding
direction. At this time, the protrusions 4f and surrounding parts elastically deform the
15 width W1 of the long hole 4b so that the width W1 expands. By having both of the
protrusions 4f provided so as to face one another, it is possible to make an amount of the
above elastic deformation be small. However, even if a number of the protrusions 4f is
one, it is possible to demonstrate the function of restricting the sliding member 4 from
unintentionally moving.
20 [0027]
As shown in FIG. 6, an operation portion 4g is provided on each of both ends of the
sliding member 4 in the sliding direction. The operation portion 4g is utilized by the
operator when moving the sliding member 4 in the sliding direction. For example,
when moving the sliding member 4 to the opening direction, the operator pushes in the
25 operation portion 4g located on an end in the locking direction (-Y side). Inversely,
13
when moving the sliding member 4 to the locking direction, the operator pushes in the
operation portion 4g located on the end in the opening direction (+Y). The operation
portion 4g in the present embodiment are both ends of the sliding member 4 in the sliding
direction. However, a shape of the operation portion 4g may be changed appropriately,
5 and may for example be a protruding shape or a ringed shape. When providing a shape
(for example, a protruding shape of a ringed shape) such that it is possible for the
operator to easily push or pull the operation portion 4g, it is possible to make a number of
operation portions 4g the sliding member 4 has be one.
[0028]
10 As shown in FIG. 6, a guide claw 4h is formed on the sliding member 4. The
guide claw 4h forms an L shape when seen from the sliding direction. As shown in FIG.
8, the guide claw 4h is inserted into the guide groove 2f of the covering member 2. A
part of the guide claw 4h protruding to the bottom side is locked to one of the guide walls
2e from the -X side. The guide claw 4h and the guide groove 2f make it possible for the
15 sliding member 4 to move in the sliding direction with respect to the covering member 2,
and make it possible for the covering member 2 and the sliding member 4 to integrally
rotate.
[0029]
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the opening and closing mechanism 1 when
20 the sliding member 4 is in the restricting position. The shoulder portion 6b of the first
support member 6 passes through the notch portion 4a of the sliding member 4 (refer to
FIG. 7) and the first insertion hole 2c of the covering member 2. In this state, the thread
portion 6c of the first support member 6 is tightened to the first thread hole 3a. The
shoulder portion 7b of the second support member 7 passes through the long hole 4b of
25 the sliding member 4 and the second insertion hole 2d of the covering member 2. In
14
this state, the thread portion 7c of the second support member 7 is tightened to the second
thread hole 3b.
[0030]
The first locking portion 2b1 of the covering member 2 and the sliding member
5 4 are sandwiched between the head 6a of the first support member 6 and the fixing
member 3. The second locking portion 2b2 of the covering member 2 and the sliding
member 4 are sandwiched between the head 7a of the second support member 7 and the
fixing member 3. When the sliding member 4 is in the restricting position (FIG. 9), the
head 7a of the second support member 7 overlaps the second restricting surface 4d2 in
10 the up-down direction.
[0031]
Although an outer diameter Da1 of the head 6a of the first support member 6 is
larger than the width W1 of the notch portion 4a of the sliding member 4, the outer
diameter Da1 is smaller than the inner diameter Db1 of the first insertion hole. In other
15 words, Db1>Da1>W1 is satisfied.
Although an outer diameter Da2 of the head 7a of the second support member 7
is larger than the width W2 of the long hole 4b of the sliding member 4, the outer
diameter Da2 is larger than the inner diameter Db2 of the second insertion hole 2d of the
covering member 2. In other words, Da2>W2 and Da2>Db2 are satisfied.
20 [0032]
As shown in FIG. 9, a length in the up-down direction of the shoulder portion 6b
of the first support member 6 is represented by a “dimension La1”. A thickness in the
up-down direction of a part, the sliding member 4, sandwiched between the head 6a of
the first support member 6 and the first locking portion 2b1 is represented by a “thickness
25 Ta1”. In other words, out of thicknesses of the sliding member 4, the thickness Ta1 is
15
the thickness in the up-down direction of a part that is supported from the bottom side by
the head 6a. A thickness (plate thickness) in the up-down direction of the first locking
portion 2b1 is represented by a “thickness Tb1”. The dimension La1 is larger than the
sum of sum total of the thickness Ta1 and the thickness Tb1. In other words,
5 La1>Ta1+Tb1 is satisfied. Due to the above, the first support member 6 is tightened to
the first thread hole 3a, and even in a state where the shoulder portion 6b contacts the
fixing member 3, the covering member 2 and the sliding member 4 are not in a state of
being compressed between the head 6a and the fixing member 3.
[0033]
10 As shown in FIG. 9, a length in the up-down direction of the shoulder portion 7b
of the second support member 7 is represented by a “dimension La2”. A thickness in
the up-down direction of the sliding member 4 of a part sandwiched between the head 7a
of the second support member 7 and the second locking portion 2b2 is represented by a
“thickness Ta2” when the sliding member 4 is in the restricting position. In other words,
15 out of the thicknesses in the sliding member 4, the thickness Ta2 is the thickness in the
up-down direction of a part that is supported from the bottom side by the head 7a. A
thickness (plate thickness) in the up-down direction of the second locking portion 2b2 is
represented by a “thickness Tb2”. The dimension La2 is larger than the sum of sum
total of the thickness Ta2 and the thickness Tb2. In other words, La2>Ta2+Tb2 is
20 satisfied. Due to the above, the second support member 7 is tightened to the second
thread hole 3b, and even in a state where the shoulder portion 7b contacts the fixing
member 3, the covering member 2 and the sliding member 4 are not in a state of being
compressed between the head 7a and the fixing member 3.
[0034]
25 Satisfying La1>Ta1+Tb1 means that play (backlash) of the up-down direction
16
exists between the head 6a of the first support member 6, the sliding member 4, the first
locking portion 2b1, and the fixing member 3. Similarly, satisfying La2>Ta2+Tb2
means that play exists between the head 7a of the second support member 7, the sliding
member 4, the second locking portion 2b2, and the fixing member 3. From such a
5 configuration, even if the sliding member 4 is in the restricting position, the sliding
member 4 is not completely fixed. Therefore, it is possible to move the sliding member
4 that is in the restricting position in the sliding direction. To minimize the backlash of
the opening and closing mechanism 1 when the sliding member 4 is in the restricting
position, it is preferable to have a value of La2-(Ta2+Tb2) and La1-(Ta1+Tb1)) be less
10 than 1mm.
[0035]
When the sliding member 4 is in the restricting position, the protrusions 4f (refer
to FIG. 7) are positioned so as to be more in the locking direction (-Y side) than the
shoulder portion 7b of the second support member 7. As mentioned earlier,
15 Wt2Ta1+Tb1
10 is satisfied.
[0044]
From the configuration above, the sliding member 4 is supported from the
bottom side by the head 6a of the first support member 6 when the sliding member 4 is in
the restricting position. Simultaneously, the first locking portion 2b1 that is positioned
15 more in the top side than the than the sliding member 4 is supported. Therefore,
dangling due to weights of the sliding member 4 and the covering member 2 is
suppressed. By moving the sliding member 4 to the releasing positon, the movement of
the covering member 2 is allowed, and it is possible to move the covering member 2
from the covering position to the opening position. Therefore, it is possible to open the
20 wire passing portion 5 to expose the cable C. By satisfying La1>Ta1+Tb1, no
compression forces in the up-down direction are received by the sliding member 4 and
the first locking portion 2b1 from the head 6a even when the first support member 6 is in
a state of being tightened. Therefore, it is possible to move the sliding member 4 from
the restricting position to the releasing position. Since no tools such as screw drivers or
25 the like are needed to move the sliding member 4, it is possible to improve usability
22
compared to a conventional case.
[0045]
The inner diameter Db1 of the first insertion hole 2c is larger than the outer
diameter Da1 of the head 6a. From such a configuration, it is possible to move the
5 covering member 2 so that the first insertion hole 2c passes through the head 6a in the
bottom side when the sliding member 4 is positioned in the releasing position. From the
above, it is possible to easily move the covering member 2 to the releasing position,
dissolving the state where the first locking portion 2b1 is supported by the head 6a.
[0046]
10 The notch portion 4a that passes the shoulder portion 6b is formed in the sliding
member 4. The notch portion 4a is open towards one side (-Y side) in the sliding
direction. From such a configuration, it is possible to separate the shoulder portion 6b
from the notch portion 4a when the sliding member 4 is slid to the releasing position.
Therefore, it is possible to easily release a support by the head 6a of the sliding member
15 4.
[0047]
The indoor unit 100 further includes the second support member 7 that supports
from the bottom side the sliding member 4 in the restricting position and the releasing
position. The covering member 2 has the second locking portion 2b2 in which the
20 second insertion hole 2d that passes the second support member 7 through is formed.
The second locking portion 2b2 is positioned more in the top side than the sliding
member 4. From such a configuration, the sliding member 4 and the covering member
2 are supported from the bottom side at two locations of the first support member 6 and
the second support member 7. Therefore, it is possible to effectively suppress the
25 sliding member 4 and the covering member 2 from dangling due to the weights thereof.
23
[0048]
In the sliding member 4, the long hole 4b is formed extending along the sliding
direction, and the second support member 7 is passed through the long hole 4b. From
such configuration, it is possible to slide the sliding member 4 by having the long hole 4b
5 and the second support member 7 be slidable with respect to one another.
[0049]
The long hole 4b has the pair of side surfaces that extend in the sliding direction.
At least on a part of the pair of side surfaces, a protrusion 4f that protrudes in the
orthogonal direction (X axis) that is orthogonal to both the sliding direction (Y axis) and
10 the up-down direction (Z axis) is formed. The protrusion 4f goes over the second
support member 7 in the sliding direction when the sliding member 4 is sliding between
the restricting position and the releasing position. From such configuration, the sliding
member 4 is suppressed by the protrusions 4f from unintentionally moving between the
restricting position and the releasing position.
15 [0050]
When the gap between the pair of side surfaces is W2, the width of the portion
of the long hole 4b where the protrusions 4f are formed is Wt2, and the outer diameter of
the portion (shoulder portion 7b) passed through the long hole 4b out of the second
support member 7 is Dc2, Wt2Ta1+Tb1 is satisfied.
[Claim 2]
The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1, wherein
an inner diameter of the first insertion hole is larger than an outer diameter of the
25 head.
27
[Claim 3]
The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
a notch portion that passes the shoulder portion through is formed in the sliding
member, and
5 the notch portion is open towards one side in the sliding direction.
[Claim 4]
The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to any one of claims 1 to 3
further comprising:
a second support member that supports the sliding member in the restricting
10 position and the sliding position from the bottom side; wherein
the covering member has a second locking portion in which a second insertion
hole that passes the second support member through is formed, and
the second locking portion is positioned in a top side more than the sliding
member.
15 [Claim 5]
The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 4, wherein
in the sliding member, a long hole is formed extending along the sliding
direction, and
the second support member is passed through the long hole.
20 [Claim 6]
The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 5, wherein
the long hole has a pair of side surfaces that extend in the sliding direction, and
at least on a part of the pair of side surfaces, a protrusion that protrudes in an
orthogonal direction that is orthogonal to both the sliding direction and the up-down
25 direction is formed,
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the protrusion goes over the second support member in the sliding direction
when the sliding member is sliding between the restricting position and the releasing
position.
[Claim 7]
5 The indoor unit of the air conditioner according to claim 6, wherein
when a gap between the pair of side surfaces is W2, a width of a portion of the
long hole where the protrusions are formed is Wt2, and an outer diameter of the portion
passed through the long hole out of the second support member is Dc2,
Wt2