Abstract: A ventilator for a cooking unit located in a counter has a housing suitable for mounting beneath the counter. A vent member moves in a generally vertical direction with respect to the housing between a retracted position in which said vent member is flush with the counter and an extended position in which the vent extends above the counter adjacent to the cooking unit. The vent member is in fluid communication with said housing. A blower is coupled to said housing for drawing cooking effluents produced at the cooking unit into said vent member, downwardly through said vent member into said housing, and discharging same from said ventilator. A motor is mounted on the housing for moving a roller in an arcuate path. The roller engages a follower surface mounted on the vent such that travel of the roller along the follower surface drives the vent to the extended position.

Abstract: An improved fan of the centrifugal type for bathrooms and the like has a housing with a base wall and four depending side walls. An exhaust outlet fitting in one of the walls has an integral centrifugal fan outlet cutoff. A venturi plate, positioned within the side walls and parallel but spaced from the base wall contains an inlet opening for the fan. The portion of the plate surrounding the opening is formed as a venturi. The inlet opening is spanned by a strut means to support the motor driving the centrifugal impeller. The struts have a generally T-shaped configuration so as to be removed from the portion of the opening adjacent the exhaust outlet fitting, thereby to enhance the efficiency of the fan. The base wall and one of the sidewalls contains reinforced holes for receiving the wiring. A flap in the housing covers the one of the holes not used for wiring connection purposes.

Abstract: A filter (2) for a ductless range hood includes a layer (8) providing an impact barrier for removing coarse particles such as grease spatters from cooking discharges and resisting the heat of incoming discharges, for preserving filtering capacity and service life of downstream layers, a second layer (10) providing absorption of grease remaining in the cooking discharge after passage through the first layer, a third layer (12) for removing noxious gases such as oxides of nitrogen and carbon monoxide from the cooking discharges and for absorbing odors, and a fourth layer (14) for removing fine particles such as smoke from the cooking discharges. Various combinations of layers are disclosed as well as various structural and framing configurations.

Abstract: A ventilation fan structure has a fan blade-motor portion and a shroud portion independently affixable to the ceiling to reduce noise levels, improve aerodynamic efficiency, and facilitate installation. A mounting member is affixable to ceiling joists, one of which spans an opening in the ceiling for the fan structure. The drive motor and associated fan blades are mounted on the mounting member. The shroud surrounds the ceiling opening and embraces the fan blades. The mounting member extends through the shroud in its attachment to the joists.

Abstract: A ventilation fan structure has a fan blade-motor portion and a shroud portion independently affixable to the ceiling to reduce noise levels, improve aerodynamic efficiency, and facilitate installation. Mounting members are affixable to ceiling joists spanning the opening for the fan structure. The drive motor and associated fan blades are mounted on the mounting members. The shroud surrounds the ceiling opening and embraces the fan blades.

Abstract: A mounting device for securing a range hood beneath a soffit having a framing member fastened to a wall. The device has an elongated mounting plate suitable for being secured along and to the framing member. A pair of hangers depend from the mounting plate and are connected thereto at spaced locations along the mounting plate. The hangers secure the range hood to the mounting device.

Abstract: A room ventilating device has an elongated duct mountable on or in the wall. The duct extends from near the ceiling to a blower mounted adjacent the floor. The blower draws hot air from along the ceiling down the duct. The blower is so formed and constructed as to project the hot air well into the room in a laminar flow thereby to induce a highly effective temperature equalizing air circulation in the room with the consumption of small amounts of energy.

Abstract: A conveyor tray is longitudinally tilted downwardly in the direction of the movement with a front stop wall having a center notch to support the back of a load applied to the preceding tray. Each tray is also split or divided longitudinally into two tray members, each extending upwardly from the pivot point to an outer portion projecting outwardly at a significantly more shallow angle to the horizontal. A continuous surface cover in which the central portion overlying the pivot line is readily flexible. The pivot axis may be located vertically on a line between the tray members to provide a specific radius in the flexible cover. Each tray half is held by a latch mechanism including a plate with a latch notch within which a latching roller carried by a lever is disposed. The plate has a curved guide edge which engages the roller to produce a guide movement to a release position.

Abstract: A trash compactor has a rotatable lead screw and stationary nut for raising and lowering the compacting ram by rotation of the screw. A housing surrounds the nut for preventing rotation of the nut with respect to the screw while permitting limited pivotal movement of the nut with respect to the housing responsive to eccentric compaction forces applied to the compacting ram. The housing is distortable for the same reason and to permit absorption of shocks arising from compaction. The nut may be formed of a self-lubricating plastic. The drive mechanism may be used in a trash compactor having an extensible linkage of the scissors jack or lazy tongs type in which the lead screw is journalled in one of the intermediate junction points of the linkage. The housing containing the nut is located at the other of the junction points so that rotation of the screw extends and retracts the linkage.

Abstract: An improved receptacle for a trash compactor is mounted on a drawer for movement into and out of the compactor along rails on the drawer. The receptacle is spaced from the rails so that dents or deformations of the receptacle do not affect the rails. The rear end wall of the compactor may be slanted so as to accommodate the arcuate travel of the ram of the compacting mechanism and the receptacle has a pyramidal shape to facilitate removal of the compacted trash.

Abstract: A deodorizer containing a deodorant material is mounted within the cabinet of a trash compactor for continuously releasing a scent to the air in the cabinet to mask odors emanating from the compacted trash.

Abstract: A latch means for the access door of a household trash compactor incorporates a door position sensing switch directly in the latching mechanism thereby to insure that the compactor may be operated only when the door is fully closed and locked. The latch means includes a catch engageable with a bar to secure the door. The sensing switch is operable by the engagement of the catch with the bar to permit operation of the compactor.

Abstract: An induction rotary loader is mounted between a loader and a sorter for loading of articles onto the sorter, the loader may be tilted with respect to the horizontal preferably a tilting discharge tray unit. Several loading arms are connected for independent pivotal movement about a loader arm pivot unit. A spider plate is provided with a fixed rotating axis radially offset with respect to the pivot unit and includes individual coupling trunnion units which are equicircumferentially spaced and connected one each to the loading arms. As the spider rotates at a constant speed, the couplings carry the arms about their fixed axis with a varying drive position which correspondingly varies the effective length of the pivot radii for the arms with a corresponding variation in the speed of the outer end. Load supports are pivotally mounted on each arm with a support wheel riding on an outer track having a dip to automatically pivot each structure.

Abstract: A cabinet for a household trash compactor incorporates a cutting board on the top to enclose a bag storage compartment. The cutting board is reversible and is both hinged to permit access to the bag storage compactment and removable for cleaning and detached use.