Modular kitchen hood

Abstract

 The present invention relates to a kitchen hood (1) comprising an open suction assembly (4) adapted to be secured to a wall and comprising a frame (41) and a suction device (5) secured to said frame (41), a duct element (3) adapted to be secured to a wall and/or to said suction assembly (4) so as to define a suction duct containing said suction device (5), and a body (2) adapted to be secured to said suction assembly (4) and/or to said duct element (3) so as to be located under said suction assembly (4) and said duct element (3) and to convey sucked air towards said suction duct (5).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a kitchen hood.

[0002] A kitchen hood visually consists of two basic elements: a body in the lower part and a chimney in the upper part.

[0003] First of all, the Applicant has noticed that kitchen hood manufacturers design many new models every year. Sometimes a kitchen hood line includes models featuring the same body and different chimneys, or the same chimney and different bodies. At any rate, each model is a distinct one.

[0004] Secondly, the Applicant has noticed that kitchen hoods are sold and delivered to the customer completely assembled.

[0005] From the above considerations it can be easily understood that there are both storage problems, which are related to the need of having many models readily available, and installation problems, which are related to the necessity of securing a rather heavy and bulky object, i.e. the completely assembled hood, to a wall.

[0006] It is the general object of the present invention to overcome the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0007] Said object is achieved through the kitchen hood incorporating the features set out in the appended claims, which are intended as an integral part of the present description.

[0008] The present invention is based on the idea of dividing the hood into three independent basic components, i.e. a suction assembly, a duct element and a body, which can be secured to one another and to a wall; also, the suction assembly comprises a frame and a suction device which can be secured to the frame.

[0009] According to a particularly advantageous aspect of the present invention, the suction device is secured to the frame essentially by simply turning the suction device with respect to the frame.

[0010] The present invention will become more apparent from the following description of an example of embodiment thereof referring to the annexed drawings, wherein:

Fig.1 shows a side view, a front view and a top view of an example of embodiment of a hood according to the present invention,

Fig.2 shows a side view, a front view and a top view of the suction assembly and duct element of the hood of Fig.1,

Fig.3 shows a side view, a front view and a top view of the body of the hood of Fig.1,

Fig.4 is an axonometric view of the duct element of the hood of Fig.1,

Fig.5 is an axonometric view of the frame of the suction assembly of the hood of Fig.1,

Fig.6 is a front view of the frame of the suction assembly of the hood of Fig.1,

Fig.7 shows a perforated flange of the frame of the suction assembly of the hood of Fig.1,

Fig.8 shows a flange of the casing of the suction assembly of the hood of Fig.1, and

Fig.9 shows the frame flange (of Fig.7) and the casing flange (of Fig.8) coupled to each other in two different reciprocal positions.

[0011] Said description and said drawings are to be considered only as non-limiting examples; also, said drawings are schematic and not in scale.

[0012] The drawings show a kitchen hood designated as a whole by reference numeral 1.

[0013] Said hood 1 comprises a body (designated by reference numeral 2) in the lower part and a chimney (designated by reference numeral 3) in the upper part.

[0014] As far as the body of hood 1 is concerned, the drawings only show the skirt 2, which is the external covering of said body.

[0015] As regards the chimney, it comprises a suction duct element 3 and a suction assembly 4; more in particular, it is an open suction assembly, as will become apparent later on.

[0016] As shown in Fig.5 and Fig.6, suction assembly 4 comprises a frame 41 and a suction device 5 (e.g. an electric fan) secured frame 41; in Fig.6, the dashed line only draws the outline of the suction device 5, whereas in Fig.5 the suction device 5 is not shown at all.

[0017] Frame 41 is manufactured by using a cut, perforated and bent metal sheet; it has a rectangular panel 40 adapted to be laid against a wall, a substantially square flange 42 at its upper end, and two lugs 45 at its sides. Flange 42 has a substantially circular, specially-shaped big hole 43 (in Figs. 1 to 6 the special shaper of the hole is not visible); said hole 43 is used as a passage (outlet) for the fluid sucked by hood 1 and for securing suction device 5, in particular the outlet duct thereof. Both lugs 45 have holes for screws, in particular two holes each, for securing duct element 3 on both sides. Panel 40 has two upper engagement elongated holes 46 (for two corresponding wall screw anchors), two lower holes 47 (for two corresponding wall screw anchors), and two bendable tongues 44 (for securing suction device 5).

[0018] As shown in Fig.5 and Fig.6, suction assembly 4 is open, as it does not define a suction duct by itself.

[0019] Suction duct element 3 (see in particular Fig.4) is made from a cut, perforated and bent metal sheet; the horizontal cross-section of element 3 is substantially square. Element 3 has a right side face 3A, a front face 3B and a left side face 3C (the positions indicated are referred to the condition in which element 3 is installed against a wall and the observer is standing in front of the wall). Side walls 3A and 3C have holes for screws used for fastening element 3 to frame 41; in particular, each of these walls has two holes matching the two holes provided in each lug 45. At the lower end of element 3 there is a flange 31; in particular, right side face 3A has its own flange portion 31A, front face 3B has its own flange portion 31B, and left side face 3C has its own flange portion 31C; each flange portion has two holes for screws.

[0020] When element 3 is secured to frame 41, faces 3A, 3B and 3C are in contact with the edge of flange 42, thus forming a (closed) suction duct that contains suction device 5.

[0021] The hood body has a substantially square aperture 23 (see Fig.3C); on the right and left sides of aperture 23 (immediately under the skirt 2) there are two guides 21 adapted to receive flange 31 of element 3, in particular two portions 31A and 31C of flange 31; the hood body is connected to the element 3 by means of screws inserted in the holes of flange 31.

[0022] Suction device 5 can be secured to and released from frame 41 very easily, without requiring any screws, nails, glue, joints or welds. Hole 43 of flange 42 has a special shape with cutouts T, in particular three of them (Fig.7); the casing of device 5 has a flange 52 provided with tongues (or teeth) L, in particular three of them (Fig.8); tongues L are inserted into cutouts T and then the casing is turned by a small angle; in the example shown in Figs. 7 to 9, this angle of rotation is about 20 degrees; in this way the two elements can be secured to each other. Fig.9A shows the position of flange 52 inserted in hole 43 before the rotation takes place (see arrow); Fig.9B shows the position of flange 52 inserted in hole 43 after the rotation has taken place.

[0023] To prevent a possible counter-rotation, e.g. due to vibrations generated by the electric motor of device 5, two tongues 44 are bent outwards so as to lock the casing of device 5.

[0024] It should be noted that hole 43 of flange 42 also includes an elongated hole A, and flange 52 of the casing of device 5 also includes a fairlead pin P (for an electric cable); as the rotation is taking place, pin P slides within elongated hole A.

[0025] It can therefore be easily understood that installing and removing suction device 5 is a very simple task; this is advantageous in view of possible repairs and/or maintenance work to be performed on the device.

[0026] The above-described kitchen hood is very easy to install. Firstly, suction assembly 4 (including suction device 5) is secured to a wall by means of four screw anchors acting upon holes 46 and 47 of frame 41; secondly, element 3 is secured to frame 41 by means of four screws; thirdly, body 2 is secured to element 3 by sliding flange 31 into guides 21 and tightening the respective screws.

[0027] In general, the kitchen hood according to the present invention comprises:

• an open suction assembly, adapted to be secured to a wall and comprising a frame and a suction device secured to said frame,
• a duct element adapted to be secured to a wall and/or to said suction assembly so as to define a suction duct containing said suction device, and
• a body adapted to be secured to said suction assembly and/or to said duct element so as to be located under said suction assembly and said duct element and to convey sucked air towards said suction duct.

[0028] The wall will typically be vertical, but it may also be oblique or horizontal (e.g. a ceiling).

[0029] The hood is thus modular and can be easily assembled and disassembled even by unqualified people.

[0030] The hood according to the illustrated embodiment example falls within this broad definition. However, many variations are still possible, which will be described below.

[0031] The duct element of the hood illustrated in the drawings is obtained from a single metal sheet. Alternatively, said element may be obtained from two or more metal sheets joined or constrained to one another telescopically.

[0032] The illustrated hood comprises two guides mounted to or incorporated in the body thereof. As an alternative, the body may be fitted with either two rails or a rail and a guide; correspondingly, the duct element may be provided with either two guides (for the two rails) or a guide and a rail.

[0033] Guides and rails may be secured by means of screws (as shown in the drawings) or other equivalent fastening means.

[0034] In the drawings, the hood body is secured to the duct element. As an alternative, the hood body may be secured to the suction assembly, in particular to the frame of the suction assembly, more in particular to a lower flange of the frame of the suction assembly.

[0035] The guides may be made of a plastic or metallic material, in particular from a shaped and/or bent metal sheet.

[0036] The rails may be made of a plastic or metallic material, in particular from a shaped and/or bent metal sheet.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the rotation required for securing the suction device to the frame of the suction assembly is 20 degrees; in general, said rotation may range between 5 degrees and 60 degrees, preferably between 10 degrees and 30 degrees.

[0038] For the purposes of the present invention, the hood body must comprise means for securing it to the duct element and/or to the suction assembly.

[0039] The hood body may also comprise other components, such as: a frame and/or a skirt and/or filtering means and/or lighting means and/or an electronic or electromechanic control system and/or a control panel (with respective pushbuttons and/or keys and/or displays) and/or an image display device and/or a sound emitter device and/or an image receiver device and/or a sound receiver device.

[0040] In the light of the above description and of the annexed drawings, it is apparent that the hood according to the present invention achieves the pursued object, i.e. it is modular as well as easy to assemble and disassemble.

Claims

1. Kitchen hood (1) comprising:

- an open suction assembly (4), adapted to be secured to a wall and comprising a frame (41) and a suction device (5)secured to said frame (41),

- a duct element (3) adapted to be secured to a wall and/or to said suction assembly (4) so as to define a suction duct containing said suction device (5), and

- a body (2) adapted to be secured to said suction assembly (4) and/or to said duct element (3) so as to be located under said suction assembly (4) and said duct element (3) and to convey sucked air towards said suction duct (5).

2. Kitchen hood according to claim 1, wherein said duct element (3) is obtained from a bent and/or shaped metal sheet.

3. Kitchen hood according to claim 1, wherein said duct element is obtained from two or more metal sheets joined together.

4. Kitchen hood according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said metal sheets is bent and/or shaped.

5. Kitchen hood according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said duct element (3) comprises a flange (31), in particular located at its lower end, which is adapted to be used for securing said body (2) to said duct element (3).

6. Kitchen hood according to claim 5, wherein said body (2) comprises at least one guide (21) or one rail for coupling it to said flange (31) of said duct element (3).

7. Kitchen hood according to claim 6, wherein said guide (21) or said rail and said flange (31) of said duct element (3) are adapted to be fastened to each other by means of screws.

8. Kitchen hood according to any of the preceding claims 1 to 4, wherein said frame (41) comprises a flange (42), in particular located at its upper end, which is adapted to be used for securing said body (2) to said suction assembly (4).

9. Kitchen hood according to claim 8, wherein said body (2) comprises at least one guide or one rail for coupling it to said flange (31) of said frame (41).

10. Kitchen hood according to claim 9, wherein said guide or said rail and said flange (31) of said frame (41) are adapted to be fastened to each other by means of screws.

11. Kitchen hood according to claim 6 or 7 or 9 or 10, wherein said guide or said rail is made of a plastic or metallic material, in particular from a shaped and/or bent metal sheet.

12. Kitchen hood according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the frame (41) of said suction assembly (4) comprises a flange (42) with a hole (43), in particular located at its upper end, wherein the casing of said suction device (5) comprises a flange (52) adapted to be inserted into said hole (43), and wherein said suction device (5) is secured to said frame (41) by turning said suction device (5) with respect to said frame (41), in particular by 5 to 60 degrees and preferably by 10 to 30 degrees, after said flange (42) of said frame (41) has been inserted in said hole (43).

13. Kitchen hood according to claim 12, wherein said hole (43) is shaped.

14. Kitchen hood according to claim 12 or 13, wherein said suction device (5) is also secured to said frame (41) by a protrusion, in particular a bendable tongue (44), provided on said frame (41), which prevents said suction device (5) from counter-rotating with respect to said frame (41).

15. Kitchen hood according to claim 12 or 13 or 14, wherein said suction device (5) is secured to said frame (41) without using any screw, nail, glue, joint or weld.

16. Kitchen hood according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said body (2) comprises a frame and/or a skirt and/or filtering means and/or lighting means and/or an electronic or electromechanic control system and/or a control panel and/or an image display device and/or a sound emitter device and/or an image receiver device and/or a sound receiver device.

Drawing