EXHAUST HOOD WITH A CHIMNEY HOUSING AND DOUBLE-LAYERED VAPOR-COLLECTING CANOPY

Abstract

An exhaust hood is provided having a chimney housing and a double-layered vapor-collecting canopy secured to the chimney housing. The vapor-collecting canopy is near a suction zone of the exhaust hood and includes an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel has a vapor-collecting surface and the outer panel extending substantially parallel to the vapor-collecting surface. The inner panel and the outer panel are fixed relative to each other in a mounted position by at least one fastening arrangement. A portion of the inner panel and the outer panel are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the vapor-collecting surface forming an accommodation space for circuitry elements of the exhaust hood.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims benefit to German Patent Application No. 10 2006 060 495.4, filed Dec. 19, 2006, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an exhaust hood having a chimney housing and a double-layered vapor-collecting canopy secured to the chimney housing.

BACKGROUND

German Publication DE 94 15 799 U1 describes an exhaust hood having a chimney housing featuring a double-layered vapor-collecting canopy secured thereto which, relative to the suction zone of the exhaust hood, includes an inner and an outer panel. The two panels each have a vapor-collecting surface, the outer panel extending substantially parallel to the vapor-collecting surface of the inner panel. The double panel so formed, and thus the vapor-collecting surface, can be extended to twice its width, as desired. To this end, the two panels are telescopingly supported on each other.

SUMMARY

It is an aspect of the present invention to provide an exhaust hood whose vapor-collecting canopy is not only used for conveyance of cooking vapors, but fulfills at least one additional function.

In an embodiment, the present invention provides an exhaust housing including a chimney housing and a double-layered vapor-collecting canopy secured to the chimney housing. The vapor-collecting canopy is near a suction zone of the exhaust hood and includes an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel has a vapor-collecting surface and the outer panel extending substantially parallel to the vapor-collecting surface. The inner panel and the outer panel are fixed relative to each other in a mounted position by at least one fastening arrangement. A portion of the inner panel and the outer panel are spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the vapor-collecting surface forming an accommodation space for circuitry elements of the exhaust hood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Aspects of the present invention will now be described by way of exemplary embodiments with reference to the following drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partial view showing an exhaust hood with a vapor-collecting canopy opened according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a view showing the exhaust hood of FIG. 1 with the vapor-collecting canopy closed;

FIG. 3 is a view showing a detail of the exhaust hood of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a view showing a detail of the exhaust hood of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

An advantage offered by the present invention is that the vapor-collecting canopy is not only dedicated to convey the cooking vapors rising from a cooktop, or the like, toward the suction zone of the exhaust hood, but also fulfills at least one additional function. Due to the double-layered construction of the vapor-collecting canopy, the space between the two layers can be used as an accommodation space for circuitry elements of the exhaust hood. This also allows the circuitry elements of the exhaust hood to be concealed between the two layers of the vapor-collecting canopy, so that they are invisible to the user.

The circuitry of the exhaust hood located in said space can be selected within wide suitable limits in terms of type, dimensions, and arrangement. The circuitry may be in the form of an electrical controller of the exhaust hood. By design, the vapor-collecting canopy is the lowermost part of an exhaust hood, and is therefore the easiest for the user to access. Therefore, arranging the electrical controller on the vapor-collecting canopy provides considerable advantages with respect to the use of the exhaust hood.

Signal transfer between the electrical controller and, for example, an exhaust hood fan mounted in the chimney housing, can be accomplished wirelessly. However, to make the exhaust hood immune to interference from other radio links, it is advantageous to use wired signal transmission. In order for the wired signal transmission not to disturb the overall aesthetic appearance of the exhaust hood, the accommodation space has at least one enlarged portion which is in the form of a wiring compartment and which extends to the connection area of the vapor-collecting canopy and the chimney housing.

However, the type, dimensions, and arrangement of the accommodation space can be selected within wide suitable limits. It is advantageous for the accommodation space to extend substantially over the entire overlap region, except for the attachment region where the two panels are joined together by a fastenings arrangement. In this manner, the accommodation space is maximized in a direction parallel to the vapor-collecting surface of the inner panel.

In an exemplary embodiment, the cross-sectional profile of the inner panel at the end of the vapor-collecting canopy facing away from the chimney housing has a portion which is set back toward the outer panel and which slopes downward toward the outer panel in any position of the vapor-collecting canopy. Thus, a condensate-collecting channel is created in a very simple way.

In another exemplary embodiment, the two panels each are provided in the attachment region with a three-dimensional profile extending toward the suction zone of the exhaust hood, the profiles of the two panels having corresponding shapes. This allows the two panels to be attached to each other without having to provide openings or additional fastening arrangements in the outer panel on the side facing away from the suction zone. Thus, first of all, the overall aesthetic appearance of the outer panel, and thus of the exhaust hood, is improved. Secondly, this makes it easier to attach cover panels to the outer panel on the side facing away from the suction zone, if desired.

The type, dimensions, and arrangement of the three-dimensional profiles of the two panels can be selected within wide suitable limits. In one advantageous embodiment, the profiles are each triangular in cross-section, because triangular cross-sections are structurally easy to fabricate.

In the two aforementioned exemplary embodiments, at least one of the profiles may be formed as an angularly bent portion of one of the two panels. Thus, the three-dimensional profile is very easy to manufacture and to attach to the associated panel.

It is possible for the double-layered vapor-collecting canopy to be formed in one piece, which is bent along at least one bending line to form the two panels. However, the double-layered vapor-collecting canopy may have a two-piece design, and the two separate panels have a further attachment region; the two attachment regions being located at opposite ends of the vapor-collecting canopy. Thus, two separate panels may be used to produce the double-layered vapor-collecting canopy.

The type, material, and arrangement of the fastening arrangements that attach the two panels to each other can be selected within wide suitable limits. For example, the two separate panels may be separably joined together in one of the attachment regions at least by at least one tongue-and-opening connection. In this manner, a structurally simple form of attachment is achieved in this attachment region.

In FIG. 1, an exhaust hood according to the present invention is shown in a partial view in which the front cover of the hood is not shown for the sake of clarity. The exhaust hood takes the form of an island hood and has a chimney housing 2 which is made from sheet metal and to which are hinged two lateral vapor-collecting canopies 4. The vapor-collecting canopy 4 shown to the left is only partially illustrated, while the vapor-collecting canopy 4 shown to the right is illustrated along with cover panels 6 mounted on said vapor-collecting canopy 4. The two vapor-collecting canopies 4, here shown in the open position, bound a suction zone 8 on both sides. Cooking vapors rising from a cooktop, or the like, are directed by vapor-collecting canopies 4 to suction zone 8, and are extracted by a fan mounted in chimney housing 2. In order to reduce odors, the cooking vapors are passed through filters 9, only the right filter being shown in FIG. 1. The left filter is detachably secured to chimney housing 2 in an analogous fashion. Suction zone 8 is bounded at the front and rear by skirts 10 which are disposed adjacent to the two vapor-collecting canopies 4 and of which only the skirt 10 located at the rear in the plane of FIG. 1 is shown. As can be clearly seen from the vapor-collecting canopy 4 shown to the left, the two vapor-collecting canopies 4 are double-layered, including an inner panel 12 and an outer panel 14 which are joined together in a manner which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. In this case, the two panels 12 and 14 take the form of separate sheet-metal panels 12, 14. Vapor-collecting canopy 4 may also be formed in one piece, in which case the two panels would be produced by making at least one bend in vapor-collecting canopy 4 about an axis normal to the drawing sheet.

Inner panel 12 has a vapor-collecting surface 12.1 and is spaced apart from outer panel 14 in a direction perpendicular to vapor-collecting surface 12.1, except for an attachment region symbolized by a circle 16 and a further attachment region symbolized by a circle 18, so that an accommodation space 20 for circuitry elements of the exhaust hood is formed between the two panels 12 and 14 of each vapor-collecting canopy 4.

An electrical controller 22 of the exhaust hood is disposed in accommodation space 20 of the vapor-collecting canopy 4 shown to the left, said electrical controller being connected in signal communication with the fan mounted in chimney housing 2 via an electrical cable. To this end, the narrower enlarged portion 20.1 of accommodation space 20 extends substantially over the entire overlap region of the two panels 12 and 14, and thus serves as a wiring compartment which extends to the area where vapor-collecting canopy 4 is connected to chimney housing 2.

Accommodation space 20 is also used here to receive fastening elements for fastening cover panels 6 to vapor-collecting canopy 4. The accommodation space 20 of the vapor-collecting canopy 4 shown to the right is used in an analogous manner.

The cross-sectional profile of inner panel 12 has a portion 12.2 which is set back toward outer panel 14 and which slopes downward toward outer panel 14 in any position of vapor-collecting canopy 4, so that any condensate running down the vapor-collecting surface 12.1 of inner panel 12 is reliably collected in the so-formed condensate-collecting channel and prevented from dripping onto the cooktop, or the like.

The two attachment regions 16, 18 mentioned earlier are located at opposite ends of vapor-collecting canopy 4, as can clearly be seen in FIG. 1. In a different exemplary embodiment, relative to the plane of the drawing, the two attachment regions may also be located at the front and rear of the two vapor-collecting canopies 4. In the case of the single-piece design of vapor-collecting canopies 4, also described earlier, one attachment region, for example, attachment region 16, would be sufficient.

FIG. 2 shows the exhaust hood of FIG. 1 with vapor-collecting canopies 4 in the closed position. Even when vapor-collecting canopies 4 are in this position, a reduced-size suction zone 8 can be provided, if desired.

The attachment of the two panels 12, 14 in the further attachment region will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 3. To this end, the exhaust hood is shown exposed in this region 18, and is rotated into a perspective view, with respect to FIGS. 1 and 2. As can clearly be seen when viewing FIGS. 1 and 4 together, vapor-collecting canopy 4 is hinged to chimney housing 2 via outer panel 14. Inner panel 12 is detachably secured to outer panel 14 by a tongue-and-opening connection. To this end, tongues 14.2 in the form of tabs are uniformly distributed along the upwardly bent edge 14.1 of outer panel 14, only the two frontmost tongues 14.2 in the plane of the drawing being shown in FIG. 3. Edge 12.3 of inner panel 12, shown in the lower portion of FIG. 1, is also bent and is provided with openings 12.4 in the form of elongated slots. Tongues 14.2 and openings 12.4 have corresponding shapes. When assembling the two panels 12, 14, lower edge 12.3 of inner panel 12 is brought into proximity with lower edge 14.1 of outer panel 14 in such a manner that tongues 14.2 engage openings 12.4. After that, using the hinged connection created in this way, inner panel 12 is rotated upward into the mounted position shown in FIG. 1.

The further attachment of the two panels 12 and 14 is described with reference to FIG. 4.

When inner panel 12 is in the mounted position mentioned above, it abuts outer panel 14 in attachment region 16; see FIG. 4.To this end, an elongated three-dimensional profile 14.3 extending perpendicularly to the plane of FIG. 4 is fastened to outer panel 14. Profile 14.3 is triangular in cross-section. Inner panel 12 is bent at its upper end in such a way that the upper end has a cross-sectional profile 12.5 which corresponds to profile 14.3. When the two panels 12 and 14 are in the mounted position, the two profiles 14.3 and 12.5 rest against each other as shown in FIG. 4, and are permanently joined together using fastening arrangements in the form of sheet-metal screws, of which only center lines 24 are shown. It is also possible to use other suitable fastening arrangements, such as adhesive-bonded joints, riveted joints, or the like. Moreover, in order to reduce noise and wear, it would be possible to use other known materials or separating layers that are suitable for such purposes.

Outer panel 14 has an angularly bent portion 14.4 formed at the upper end above profile 14.3. Vapor-collecting canopy 4 is engaged with said angularly bent portion to an edge of chimney housing 2 from above in order to provide the above-described hinged connection of vapor-collecting canopy 4 to chimney housing 2.

It is possible to use other suitable materials and fastening techniques with the present invention.

The present invention is not limited to island hoods, but may also be used in wall-mounted hoods or under-cabinet hoods.

In addition to the above-described exemplary embodiments where the accommodation space extends substantially over the entire overlap region of the two panels, the accommodation space may be located only in a portion of the vapor-collecting canopy; the dimensions, shape, and arrangement of the accommodation space is selectable within wide limits.

In addition to the described exemplary embodiment in which two vapor-collecting canopies are mounted to sides of a chimney housing, it is possible for alternative embodiments having only one vapor-collecting canopy or more than two vapor-collecting canopies.

The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment described above.

Claims

1. An exhaust hood, comprising:

a chimney housing;

a double-layered vapor-collecting canopy disposed on the chimney housing, the vapor-collecting canopy including an inner panel and an outer panel, the inner panel having a vapor-collecting surface and the outer panel extending substantially parallel to the vapor-collecting surface,

wherein the inner panel and the outer panel are fixed relative to each other in a mounted position by at least one fastening device, a portion of the inner panel and the outer panel being spaced apart in a direction perpendicular to the vapor-collecting surface forming an accommodation space for circuitry elements of the exhaust hood.

2. The exhaust hood recited in claim 1, wherein the accommodation space is configured to receive an electrical controller of the exhaust hood.

3. The exhaust hood recited in claim 2, wherein the accommodation space includes an enlarged portion forming a wiring compartment and extending to a connection area of the vapor-collecting canopy and the chimney housing.

4. The exhaust hood recited in claim 1, wherein the accommodation space extends substantially over an overlap region that does not include a first attachment region where the inner and outer panels are joined together by the fastening device.

5. The exhaust hood recited in claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the inner panel at an end of the vapor-collecting canopy facing away from the chimney housing includes a portion set back toward the outer panel and sloping downward toward the outer panel, regardless of a position of the vapor-collecting canopy.

6. The exhaust hood recited in claim 1, wherein the inner and outer panels each include, in the first attachment region, a three-dimensional profile extending toward the suction zone, the three-dimensional profiles of the inner and outer panels being similar in shape.

7. The exhaust hood recited in claim 6, wherein the three-dimensional profiles each have a triangular cross-section.

8. The exhaust hood recited in claim 6, wherein at least one of the three-dimensional profiles is formed as an angularly bent portion of at least one of the inner panel and the outer panel.

9. The exhaust hood recited in claim 6, wherein the vapor-collecting canopy is configured as two-pieces and the inner and outer panels have a second attachment region disposed at an opposite end of the vapor-collecting canopy from the first attachment region.

10. The exhaust hood recited in claim 9, wherein the inner and outer panels are separably joined together in the second attachment region by a tongue-and-opening connection.

11. The exhaust hood recited in claim 1, wherein the vapor-collecting canopy is near a suction zone of the exhaust hood.

12. The exhaust hood recited in claim 2, wherein the accommodation space extends substantially over an overlap region that does not include a first attachment region where the inner and outer panels are joined together by the fastening device.

13. The exhaust hood recited in claim 3, wherein the accommodation space extends substantially over an overlap region that does not include a first attachment region where the inner and outer panels are joined together by the fastening device.

14. The exhaust hood recited in claim 2, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the inner panel at an end of the vapor-collecting canopy facing away from the chimney housing includes a portion set back toward the outer panel and sloping downward toward the outer panel, regardless of a position of the vapor-collecting canopy.

15. The exhaust hood recited in claim 3, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the inner panel at an end of the vapor-collecting canopy facing away from the chimney housing includes a portion set back toward the outer panel and sloping downward toward the outer panel, regardless of a position of the vapor-collecting canopy.

16. The exhaust hood recited in claim 4, wherein a cross-sectional profile of the inner panel at an end of the vapor-collecting canopy facing away from the chimney housing includes a portion set back toward the outer panel and sloping downward toward the outer panel, regardless of a position of the vapor-collecting canopy.

17. The exhaust hood recited in claim 2, wherein the inner and outer panels each include, in the first attachment region, a three-dimensional profile extending toward the suction zone, the three-dimensional profiles of the inner and outer panels being similar in shape.

18. The exhaust hood recited in claim 3, wherein the inner and outer panels each include, in the first attachment region, a three-dimensional profile extending toward the suction zone, the three-dimensional profiles of the inner and outer panels being similar in shape.