received by the International Bureau on 01 August 2018 (01.08.2018)

1. An apparatus to facilitate the cleaning with fluids of split system air conditioner indoor units installed on interior walls comprising:

a continuous flat impermeable shield sized to fit behind the indoor unit and extend out from all sides of the unit when the unit is mounted to the wall with said shield sandwiched between said indoor unit and said interior wall, said shield holding said indoor unit a distance away from said wall;

a drain pan having a width at least equal to the width of the bottom of said shield that is detachably interconnected along the bottom of said shield to form a water tight seal between said shield and said drain pan;

wherein said shield forms an impermeable barrier between the indoor unit and the interior wall, protecting the wall from dirt and moisture during cleaning; and

wherein said drain pain, when attached to said shield, collects fluids used during cleaning.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a support means to support said drain pan on said shield while said drain pan is interconnected with said shield during cleaning of said air conditioner indoor unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a hole with nipple formed in the bottom of said drain pan and a flexible hose that attaches to said nipple and extends downwards therefrom.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a receptacle into which the free end of said flexible hose is inserted, said receptacle positioned beneath said unit and drain pan to collect water and debris during cleaning of the air conditional unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the shield is fabricated of material selection from the group comprising plastic, resins, or plexi-glass.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support means comprise pins that are inserted through holes formed in the top side edges of said drain pan and bottom side edges of said shield.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support means comprise a cincture that encircles the top and sides of said shield and attaches to the top side edges of said drain pan.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said support means comprise hangers that extend from the top sides of said shield and attach to the top side edges of said drain pan.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a groove is formed at least along the bottom edge of said shield which groove receives the back top portion of said drain pan to form a watertight seal between said shield and said drain pan.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein a groove is formed at least along the bottom and lower aspects of the side edges of said shield which groove receives the back top portion of said drain pan to form a watertight seal between said shield and said drain pan.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein a groove is formed along all edges of said shield, which groove receives the support cincture along the shield's top edge and upper side edges, while receiving the back top portion of said drain pan along its bottom and lower side edges to form a watertight seal between said shield and said drain pan.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising placing within said groove material selected from the group comprising o-rings, rubber coating, and gaskets, prior to the insertion of the drain pan into said groove, to form a watertight seal between said shield and said drain pan.

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13. A method for cleaning split system air conditioner units installed on walls comprising the steps of :

(a) securing, during installation of said unit, a flat shield between the unit and the wall, said shield sized to fit behind the unit and extend out from all sides of the unit when the unit is mounted to the wall;

(b) mounting to the bottom edge of said shield a drain pan having a width at least equal to the width of the bottom of said shield to form a water tight seal between said shield and said drain pan;

(c) supporting said drain pan on the bottom of said shield using support means;

(d) cleaning said unit by spraying liquids and cleaning fluids into the internal components of said air conditioning unit which liquids and fluids then drain into and are collected within said drain pan;

(d) removing said supporting means and drain pan from said shield and unit; and

(e) disposing of the liquid and fluid in said drain pan.

14. The method for cleaning split system air conditioners of claim 13, further comprising a drain hole formed in the bottom of the drain pan and placing receptacle below said drain hole and wherein said liquids and fluids draining into the drain pan drain further through the hole into and are collected by the receptacle and, later, disposed of fluid from the receptacle.

15. The method for cleaning split system air conditioners of claim 14, further comprising a nipple extending down from said drain hole and a flexible tubing on end of which is inserted over said nipple and the other end of which is inserted into the receptacle, and wherein liquids and fluids draining into the drain pan drain further through the drain hole and flexible tubing into and are collected by the receptacle and, later, disposed of from the receptacle.

16. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of drilling a hole in said flat shield prior to installing said shield between said air conditioning unit and said wall and aligning said hole in said shield with a hole formed in the wall.

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17. The method of claim 13, wherein in step (b) a plastic sheet is secured to the bottom edge of said shield in place of said drain pan to form a water tight seal between said shield and said plastic sheet and wherein the liquids and fluids are collected by and disposed of from said sheet.

18. A kit for cleaning split system air conditioner indoor units installed on interior walls comprising a impermeable flat shield sized to fit behind the unit and extend out from all sides of the unit when the shield is sandwiched between said indoor unit and wall and the unit is mounted to the wall, a drain pan having a width at least equal to the width of the bottom of the shield, the-drain pan detachably interconnected along the bottom of said shield to form a water tight seal between said shield and said drain pan, and a support means to support said drain pan on said shield while interconnected with said shield during cleaning of said air conditioner unit.

19. The kit of claim 18 further comprising a flexible hose and a fluid collection receptacle.

20. The kit of claim 18 further comprising items selected from a group consisting of brushes and cleaning fluids.

21. The kit of claim 18 wherein said support means is selected from a group consisting of a cincture, hangers, and support pins.

22. An apparatus to facilitate the cleaning with fluids of split system air conditioner indoor units installed on interior walls comprising:

a continuous flat impermeable shield sized to fit behind the indoor unit and extend out from all sides of the unit when the unit is mounted to the wall with said shield sandwiched between said indoor unit and said wall;

a plastic sheet detachably secured along the bottom edge of said shield to form a water tight seal between said shield and said plastic sheet;

wherein said shield holds said indoor unit a distance away from said wall interior to form an impermeable barrier between the indoor unit and the wall, protecting the wall from dirt and moisture during cleaning; and

wherein cleaning fluids are collected by and disposed of from said plastic sheet.

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