The present invention relates generally to appliances. More specifically, particular embodiments of the invention relate to a system for packing an extractor hood for a cooktop.
Many domestic kitchens include a cooktop in a location that can be benefited by an extractor hood positioned above the cooktop. For example, a cooktop located in the countertop of an island can have an extractor hood that is attached to the ceiling above the island and extends down toward the cooktop. The extractor hood can include a fan that creates an airflow that extracts heat, smoke, steam, and other gases and particles generated by the cooktop away from the cooktop and out of the kitchen.
Many of these extractor hoods include highly polished or otherwise decorative pieces that can be part of a central visual presence in very expensive and attractive kitchens. Effectively protecting these pieces during transportation to the installation site has proven to be a challenging problem.
Accordingly, an improved system is desired for packing, storing, and shipping extractor hoods.
An improved system for packing, storing, and shipping extractor hoods helps protect expensive and decorative finishes and helps protect against denting or other damage. Embodiments of the invention provide this improved system in a cost effective and efficient manner.
In one aspect, a packing holder for portions of an extractor hood, the extractor hood including a main body, a multi-piece chimney cover, and a chimney frame, includes an outer side having an outer surface; an inner side opposite to the outer side in a thickness direction; a first receiving portion in the inner side, the first receiving portion having a first groove configured to receive an edge of a first part of the chimney cover and an edge of a second part of the chimney cover, the first groove having a bottom surface that is configured to contact the edge of the first part of the chimney cover and the edge of the second part of the chimney cover when the first part of the chimney cover and the second part of the chimney cover are installed in the packing holder, the bottom surface being a first distance from the outer surface of the outer side in the thickness direction; a second receiving portion in the inner side, the second receiving portion having a second groove configured to receive an edge of a third part of the chimney cover and an edge of a fourth part of the chimney cover, the second groove having a bottom surface that is configured to contact the edge of the third part of the chimney cover and the edge of the fourth part of the chimney cover when the third part of the chimney cover and the fourth part of the chimney cover are installed in the packing holder, the bottom surface being a second distance from the outer surface of the outer side in the thickness direction; and a central receiving portion located between the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction, and configured to receive the chimney frame. The second distance is smaller than the first distance.
In some embodiments, a plurality of first ribs are located in the first receiving portion, wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of first grooves, each of the first grooves being located in one of the first ribs.
In one aspect a packing system for portions of an extractor hood, the extractor hood including a main body, a multi-piece chimney cover, and a chimney frame, includes two packing holders. Each of the packing holders has an outer side having an outer surface; an inner side opposite to the outer side in a thickness direction; a first receiving portion in the inner side, the first receiving portion having a first groove configured to receive an edge of a first part of the chimney cover and an edge of a second part of the chimney cover, the first groove having a bottom surface that is configured to contact the edge of the first part of the chimney cover and the edge of the second part of the chimney cover when the first part of the chimney cover and the second part of the chimney cover are installed in the packing holder, the bottom surface being a first distance from the outer surface of the outer side in the thickness direction; a second receiving portion in the inner side, the second receiving portion having a second groove configured to receive an edge of a third part of the chimney cover and an edge of a fourth part of the chimney cover, the second groove having a bottom surface that is configured to contact the edge of the third part of the chimney cover and the edge of the fourth part of the chimney cover when the third part of the chimney cover and the fourth part of the chimney cover are installed in the packing holder, the bottom surface being a second distance from the outer surface of the outer side in the thickness direction; and a central receiving portion located between the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction, and configured to receive the chimney frame. The second distance is smaller than the first distance, and the two packing holders are configured to be arranged on opposite sides of the main body, the multi-piece chimney cover, and the chimney frame.
In some embodiments, each of the packing holders further includes a plurality of first ribs located in the first receiving portion, wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of first grooves, each of the first grooves being located in one of the first ribs.
In one aspect, a combination of a packing system and an extractor hood includes an extractor hood main body; a chimney cover having a first part, a second part, a third part, and a fourth part; a chimney frame; and two packing holders. Each of the packing holders has an outer side having an outer surface; an inner side opposite to the outer side in a thickness direction; a first receiving portion in the inner side, the first receiving portion having a first groove that receives an edge of the first part of the chimney cover and an edge of the second part of the chimney cover, the first groove having a bottom surface that contacts the edge of the first part of the chimney cover and the edge of the second part of the chimney cover when the first part of the chimney cover and the second part of the chimney cover are installed in the packing holder, the bottom surface being a first distance from the outer surface of the outer side in the thickness direction; a second receiving portion in the inner side, the second receiving portion having a second groove that receives an edge of the third part of the chimney cover and an edge of the fourth part of the chimney cover, the second groove having a bottom surface that contacts the edge of the third part of the chimney cover and the edge of the fourth part of the chimney cover when the third part of the chimney cover and the fourth part of the chimney cover are installed in the packing holder, the bottom surface being a second distance from the outer surface of the outer side in the thickness direction; and a central receiving portion located between the first receiving portion and the second receiving portion along a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the thickness direction, and receiving the chimney frame. The second distance is smaller than the first distance, and the two packing holders are arranged on opposite sides of the main body, the chimney cover, and the chimney frame.
In some embodiments, each of the packing holders further includes a plurality of first ribs located in the first receiving portion, wherein the first groove comprises a plurality of first grooves, each of the first grooves being located in one of the first ribs.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:
All drawings are schematic and not necessarily to scale. Parts given a reference numerical designation in one figure may be considered to be the same parts where they appear in other figures without a numerical designation for brevity unless specifically labeled with a different part number and described herein.
The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.
In the description of embodiments disclosed herein, any reference to direction or orientation is merely intended for convenience of description and is not intended in any way to limit the scope of the present invention. Relative terms such as “lower,” “upper,” “horizontal,” “vertical,”, “above,” “below,” “up,” “down,” “top” and “bottom” as well as derivative thereof (e.g., “horizontally,” “downwardly,” “upwardly,” etc.) should be construed to refer to the orientation as then described or as shown in the drawing under discussion. These relative terms are for convenience of description only and do not require that the apparatus be constructed or operated in a particular orientation. Terms such as “attached,” “connected,” “coupled,” “interconnected,” and similar refer to a relationship wherein structures are secured or attached to one another either directly or indirectly through intervening structures, as well as both movable or rigid attachments or relationships, unless expressly described otherwise. The term “fixed” refers to two structures that cannot be separated without damaging one of the structures. The term “filled” refers to a state that includes completely filled or partially filled.
As used throughout, ranges are used as shorthand for describing each and every value that is within the range. Any value within the range can be selected as the terminus of the range. In addition, all references cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. In the event of a conflict in a definition in the present disclosure and that of a cited reference, the present disclosure controls.
As stated above, an improved system is desired for packing, storing, and shipping extractor hoods. Embodiments of the invention provide such an improved system.
Extractor hood main body 110 and/or chimney cover 140 can be stainless steel, copper, other metal, or a non-metallic material.
Which
In this example, packing system 200 includes two packing holders 300 (explained in more detail below) spaced apart from one another and holding several pieces of extractor hood 100. Below the lower packing holder 300 is a space for main body 110 of extractor hood 100. In this example, main body 110 is located in a main body box 240 that can be a cardboard box, plastic box, some other material box, or a wrapping such as foam or bubble wrap. Main body box 240 is held in position by, in this example, two end main body box supports 230 and a central main body box support 220. In some embodiments, main body 110 of extractor hood 100, and thus main body box 240, are of a size that one or more spacers 250 are provided to hold end main body box supports 230 in position. In some embodiments, main body 110 of extractor hood 100, and thus main body box 240, is large enough that no spacers 250 are needed. By orienting main body box 240 horizontally and placing it below packing holders 300, the resulting package can tend to be bottom heavy and thus more stable when multiple packages are stacked for shipping and/or storage. The embodiment shown in
In the embodiment shown in
First area 312 has an opening 381 centrally located in first area 312. Central area 314 has an opening 382 centrally located in central area 314. Second area 316 has an opening 383 centrally located in second area 316. Openings 381, 382, 383 reduce the amount of material used in packing holder 300, which reduces the cost and weight of packing holder 300.
In the example shown in
In this embodiment, packing holder 300 is symmetrical relative to a longitudinal axis extending through first receiving portion 160, central receiving portion 150, and second receiving portion 370. In other embodiments, packing holder 300 is asymmetrical relative to the longitudinal axis.
Shown in
In the embodiment shown in
In this example, grooves 363, 365, 367, 369 are elevated relative to a floor surface 361 of first receiving portion 360. This is in contrast to the elevation of the groove 375 in second receiving portion 370 (discussed further below). Differing groove elevations provide secure holding of chimney cover parts having different lengths.
In the embodiment shown in
In this example, groove 375 is bordered by ribs 374 on the outside and a plateau 376 on the inside. In this example, groove 375 is at the same elevation as a floor surface 371 of second receiving portion 370 (see
Grooves 363, 365, 367, 369 provide secure holding of two L-shaped pieces in first receiving portion 360. Groove 375 provides secure holding of two L-shaped pieces in second receiving portion 370. The exemplary formation of the various ribs and grooves allow for L-shaped pieces of various leg dimensions (those dimensions along the legs of the “L”) up to the length of the grooves (and the space in the corner areas). This flexibility is advantageous because it allows one size packing holder 300 to be used with various differently sized extraction hoods.
Central receiving portion 350, in this example, is sized to receive chimney frame 150 and transition piece 160. In some embodiments, transition piece 160 fits inside chimney frame 150 and is held in place by chimney frame 150. Because the inside of chimney frame 150 and the outside of transition piece 160 are not seen by the user in the final installation, in some cases these two parts can contact each other without concern over marring their finishes.
While the foregoing description and drawings represent exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure, it will be understood that various additions, modifications and substitutions may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope and range of equivalents of the accompanying claims. In particular, it will be clear to those skilled in the art that the present invention may be embodied in other forms, structures, arrangements, proportions, sizes, and with other elements, materials, and components, without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. In addition, numerous variations in the methods/processes described herein may be made within the scope of the present disclosure. One skilled in the art will further appreciate that the embodiments may be used with many modifications of structure, arrangement, proportions, sizes, materials, and components and otherwise, used in the practice of the disclosure, which are particularly adapted to specific environments and operative requirements without departing from the principles described herein. The presently disclosed embodiments are therefore to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. The appended claims should be construed broadly, to include other variants and embodiments of the disclosure, which may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope and range of equivalents. In addition, all combinations of any and all of the features described in the disclosure, in any combination, are part of the invention.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20200180839 A1 | Jun 2020 | US |