U.S. patent application number 11/125294 was filed with the patent office on 2006-11-09 for range hood with overlay panels.
Invention is credited to Paul E. Hsu, Sean D. Montag, Jay F. Perkins, Doug S. Rubel, Richard R. Sinur, Brian R. Wellnitz.
Application Number | 20060249141 11/125294 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 37392986 |
Filed Date | 2006-11-09 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060249141 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Sinur; Richard R. ; et
al. |
November 9, 2006 |
Range hood with overlay panels
Abstract
Apparatus and method for a range hood that provides light to a
range top. The apparatus can include a flue, a capture sump coupled
to the flue, and one or more overlay panels coupled to the capture
sump. The range hood can also include one or more lights that shine
light through the overlay panels, through the capture sump, and
onto the range top. The range hood can further include a
circulation/lighting unit for providing light and removing cooking
effluent from the range top.
Inventors: |
Sinur; Richard R.; (Grafton,
WI) ; Wellnitz; Brian R.; (Grafton, WI) ; Hsu;
Paul E.; (Powell, OH) ; Perkins; Jay F.;
(Pickerington, OH) ; Montag; Sean D.;
(Westerville, OH) ; Rubel; Doug S.; (Columbus,
OH) |
Correspondence
Address: |
MICHAEL BEST & FRIEDRICH, LLP
100 E WISCONSIN AVENUE
MILWAUKEE
WI
53202
US
|
Family ID: |
37392986 |
Appl. No.: |
11/125294 |
Filed: |
May 9, 2005 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
126/299R |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24C 15/2064
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
126/299.00R |
International
Class: |
F24C 15/20 20060101
F24C015/20 |
Claims
1. A range hood for providing light to a range top, the range hood
comprising: a flue; a capture sump coupled to the flue; at least
one overlay panel coupled to the capture sump; at least one light
that shines light through the at least one overlay panel, through
the capture sump, and onto the range top.
2. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the at least one overlay panel
is coupled to the capture sump with at least one stand-off.
3. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the capture sump is
constructed of a first glass that is a substantially-transparent,
tempered, heat-resistant glass.
4. The range hood of claim 3 wherein the at least one overlay panel
is constructed of a second glass that is a non-tempered,
decorative, fused glass and that is less heat-resistant than the
first glass of the capture sump.
5. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the at least one overlay panel
is constructed of a removable and interchangeable decorative
glass.
6. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the at least one light
includes a cantilever bar coupled to the flue, a cable coupled to
the cantilever bar, and a shade coupled to the cable.
7. The range hood of claim 1 and further comprising a
circulation/lighting unit that is in communication with a fan that
removes cooking effluent from an area above the range top, the
circulation/lighting unit including at least one recessed light
fixture.
8. The range hood of claim 7 wherein the circulation/lighting unit
has a semi-circular cylindrical shape.
9. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the capture sump has an arched
rectangular shape.
10. The range hood of claim 9 wherein the at least one overlay
panel includes a first overlay panel with a rectangular shape
positioned on a first side of the flue and a second overlay panel
with a rectangular shape positioned on a second side of the
flue.
11. The range hood of claim 10 wherein the at least one light
includes a first light positioned above the first overlay panel and
a second light positioned above the second overlay panel.
12. The range hood of claim 1 wherein at least one of the capture
sump and the at least one overlay panel has a semi-circular shape,
a circular shape, a polygonal shape, or an oval shape.
13. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the flue has a cylindrical
shape and includes a first, smaller concentric portion and a
second, larger concentric portion.
14. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the flue includes at least
one flat surface to which the at least one light is coupled.
15. The range hood of claim 1 wherein the at least one light
includes a shade having a cone shape and at least one concave
edge.
16. A method of installing at least one overlay panel of a range
hood, the method comprising: positioning at least one stand-off on
a capture sump; positioning at least one overlay panel over the at
least one stand-off and between the capture sump and at least one
light; and fastening the at least one overlay panel to the capture
sump.
17. The method of claim 16 and further comprising removing the at
least one overlay from the capture sump and fastening at least one
new overlay panel onto the capture sump.
18. The method of claim 16 and further comprising positioning a
first overlay panel on a first side of a flue and a second overlay
panel on a second side of the flue.
19. The method of claim 18 and further comprising positioning a
first light over the first overlay panel and a second light over
the second overlay panel.
20. The method of claim 16 and further comprising trapping cooking
effluent with the capture sump and removing the cooking effluent
with a fan.
Description
BACKGROUND
[0001] Conventional range hoods are designed to provide light to a
range top and to ventilate air (or cooking effluent) from the
cooking area above the range top. Conventional range hoods
generally cannot be customized to coordinate with their
environment.
SUMMARY
[0002] In one embodiment, the invention includes a range hood that
can provide light to a range top. The range hood can include a
flue, a capture sump coupled to the flue, and one or more overlay
panels coupled to the capture sump. The range hood can also include
one or more lights that shine light through the overlay panels,
through the capture sump, and onto the range top. The range hood
can further include a circulation/lighting unit for providing light
and removing cooking effluent from the range top.
[0003] Some embodiments of the invention provide a method of
installing one or more overlay panels in a range hood. The method
can include providing one or more overlay panels, positioning one
or more stand-offs on a capture sump, positioning the overlay
panels over the stand-offs and between the capture sump and one or
more lights, and fastening the overlay panels to the capture
sump.
[0004] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by
consideration of the detailed description and accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0005] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a range hood having overlay
panels according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0006] FIG. 2 is side view of the range hood of FIG. 1.
[0007] FIG. 3 is a front view of the range hood of FIG. 1.
[0008] FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the range hood of FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0009] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in
detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in
its application to the details of construction and the arrangement
of components set forth in the following description or illustrated
in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other
embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in
various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and
terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not be regarded as limiting. The use of "including,"
"comprising," or "having" and variations thereof herein is meant to
encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as
well as additional items. Unless specified or limited otherwise,
the terms "mounted," "connected," "supported," and "coupled" and
variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and
indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,
"connected" and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or
mechanical connections or couplings.
[0010] FIG. 1 illustrates a range hood 10 according to one
embodiment of the invention. The range hood 10 can include a flue
12, a circulation/lighting unit 14, one or more chandelier lights
16, a capture sump 18, and one or more overlay panels 20.
[0011] The flue 12 can include a bracket 22 that can be used to
attach the range hood 10 to a ceiling. The bracket 22 can include
one or more holes that can allow ducting to pass through. Ducting
or recirculation components (not shown) can be positioned within an
interior portion of the flue 12, along with any suitable fan (not
shown). The fan can be positioned in a lower portion of the flue 12
above the circulation/lighting unit 14. The flue 12 can include a
first, smaller concentric portion 24 and a second, larger
concentric portion 26. A lip 28 can be formed between the first
concentric portion 24 and the second concentric portion 26. The
flue 12 can include one or more flat surfaces 29 that can extend
along at least a portion of the height of the flue 12. In some
embodiments, one or more chandelier lights 16 can be coupled to the
flat surfaces 29. The flue 12 can be at least partially constructed
of a decorative material, such as stainless steel, painted metal,
copper, Corian.RTM., ceramic tile, etc. The flue 12 can be mounted
to a wall for a stand-alone range or a range top adjacent a wall or
to a ceiling for a range located on an island cabinet. In some
embodiments, when the range hood 10 is secured to a wall, the flue
12 can be attached to the ceiling and the capture sump 18 can be
coupled to the wall for additional stability.
[0012] The chandelier lights 16 can include one or more chandelier
connectors 30 that can be coupled to the flue 12. The chandelier
lights 16 can also include one or more cantilever bars 32 that can
be coupled to the chandelier connectors 30. The chandelier lights
16 can further include one or more cables 34 (or tubes), one or
more shade connectors 36, and one or more shades 38. The cables 34
can be coupled to the cantilever bars 32 and the shade connectors
36. The shades 38 can be coupled to the shade connectors 36. The
shades 38 can have any suitable shape, such as a cone-shape with
one or more concave edges 39. The shade connectors 36 can include a
recess (such as a threaded recess or a bi-pin for halogen lights)
to receive any suitable light bulb (such as a low-voltage
chandelier light bulb). The cables 34 can have a suitable length in
order to position the shades 38 an appropriate distance from the
overlay panels 20 (e.g., between one inch and ten inches) in order
to shine an adequate amount of light through the overlay panels 20
and the capture sump 18 onto the range top (not shown). The shades
38 should be positioned far enough from the overlay panels 20 in
order to prevent scorching of the overlay panels 20, but close
enough to the overlay panels 20 to provide an adequate amount of
light to the range top. Also, the type of light bulbs used can
depend on the position of the shades 38, the material of the
overlay panels 20, and/or the material of the capture sump 18.
[0013] The capture sump 18 can be secured between the flue 12 and
the circulation/lighting unit 14 in any suitable manner, such as
with one or more bolts 40. As shown in FIG. 3, external portions 42
of the circulation/lighting unit 14 can also provide support for a
central portion or any other suitable portion of the capture sump
18. The capture sump 18 can be constructed of a material including
glass, such as substantially-transparent, tempered, heat-resistant
glass. The capture sump 18 can also be constructed of other
materials that do not include glass. In some embodiments, as shown
in FIGS. 1-4, the capture sump 18 can have an arched rectangular
shape. In one embodiment, the capture sump 18 can have a
substantially-flat horizontal portion with vertical edges
positioned perpendicular to the horizontal portion. In other
embodiments, the capture sump 18 can have any suitable shape, such
as a semi-circular shape, a polygonal shape, a round shape (e.g.,
suitable for above an island cabinet), an oval shape (e.g., also
suitable for above an island cabinet), etc. Also, any of these
shapes are suitable for an arched configuration, such as an arched
semi-circle, an arched polygon, an arched circle, an arched oval,
etc. In general, the capture sump 18 can have any shape and
configuration in order to trap cooking effluent. The capture sump
18 can also have different overall widths to accommodate different
spaces between cabinets and different sizes of range tops.
[0014] As shown in FIG. 3, the overlay panels 20 can be coupled to
the capture sump 18 by one or more stand-offs 44. Any suitable
fastener, such as bolts 46, can be positioned through the overlay
panels 20, through the stand-offs 44, and through the capture sump
18. In some embodiments, rubber grommets can be used with the
stand-offs 44 and the bolts 46. Other suitable fasteners, such as
heat-resistant adhesives, can be used to secure the overlay panels
20 to the stand-offs 44. In some embodiments, the overlay panels 20
can be coupled directly to the capture sump 18 without the use of
stand-offs 44. In some embodiments, the overlay panels 20 can be
constructed of "art glass" panels having various designs that can
be easily interchanged. For example, the range hood 10 can be sold
with one or more overlay panels 20 that can be chosen by the
customer from several decorative art glass designs according to the
decorative environment of the stand-alone range or range top. The
customer can easily change or replace the overlay panels 20. In
some embodiments, the stand-offs 44 can include spring clips (not
shown) that can temporarily support the overlay panels 20 during
installation. The overlay panels 20 can have an arched rectangular
shape that can correspond to a portion of the capture sump 18 over
which the overlay panels 20 are positioned. In some embodiments,
the overlay panels 20 can be constructed of a non-tempered,
decorative, fused glass that is less heat-resistant than the glass
of the capture sump 18. Light from the chandelier lights 16 can
shine through the overlay panels 20, through the capture sump 18,
and onto the range top. If the overlay panels 20 have a particular
design or coloring, the light from the chandelier lights 16 will be
filtered by the design or coloring.
[0015] The circulation/lighting unit 14 can include a filter 48
through which the fan positioned within the flue 12 can draw the
cooking effluent trapped by the capture sump 18. The filter 48 can
include any suitable number and configuration of louvers. The
circulation/lighting unit 14 can include a control panel 50 that
can include a first face 52 that can extend in a forward direction
from a second face 54. The circulation/lighting unit 14 can include
one or more light fixtures 56 that can be recessed, in some
embodiments. The control panel 50 can include any one or more of
the following: one or more controls, one or more indicator lights,
one or more timers, a digital clock, etc. The controls can be used
to control the fan, the chandelier lights 16, and/or the recessed
light fixtures 56. In some embodiments, the first face 52 and the
second face 54 can each have a semi-circular shape. In some
embodiments, the circulation/lighting unit 14 can include a body
portion 58 that extends the semi-circular shape from the second
face 54 to a third, rearward face 60. The circulation/lighting unit
14 can be coupled to the capture sump 18 with the bolts 40 and/or
to the flue 12 with any suitable fasteners.
[0016] Various features and advantages of the invention are set
forth in the following claims.
* * * * *