Patent Application
20170227237
This application relates generally to kitchen appliances. More specifically, this application relates to an apparatus for the ventilation of smoke and odor in the kitchen.
The drawings, when considered in connection with the following description, are presented for the purpose of facilitating an understanding of the subject matter sought to be protected.
While the present disclosure is described with reference to several illustrative embodiments described herein, it should be clear that the present disclosure should not be limited to such embodiments. Therefore, the description of the embodiments provided herein is illustrative of the present disclosure and should not limit the scope of the disclosure as claimed. In addition, while the following description often references a flexible hose as the main retrofit conduit for ventilation of cooking generated gases and steam, it will be appreciated that the disclosure may include other types of channels, pipes, and ducts for this purpose. In this disclosure, only flexible hoses are discussed for simplicity.
In most kitchen environments ventilation systems are used for removal of cooking fumes, such as grease, smoke and/or odors laden air, which are unavoidably produced from cooking processes and combustion of cooking gas. A widely practiced ventilation system (e.g., ventilation ceiling or range hood) generally comprises an extraction device for extracting (and filtering) the cooking fumes from the kitchen environment, an exhaust duct system for exhausting air resulting from filtering of the extracted cooking fumes outside the building, and one or more motorized blowers providing forced ventilation for promoting the extraction and exhaustion processes. This practice is important for sanitary and safety considerations among other factors such as the reduction of offensive odors. If airborne grease is not vented out of the kitchen it will readily result in a conflagration which will readily destroy the kitchen if not the entire building in which the kitchen is located.
A typical implementation comprises a fixed-in-place extraction device and a filter assembly. In operation, the forced ventilation induced by a blower causes the cooking fumes to pass through the filter(s) and the corresponding discard air is exhausted/expelled outside to the ambient atmosphere exterior to the building, through an exhaust duct system.
The typical hoods over cooking stations such as stoves are at a distance of higher than three (3) feet from the surface of the cooking stations, which allow some of the smoke and odor laden air to escape from the ventilation system and enter and remain in the kitchen. There is a need for more efficient ventilation system in almost all kitchens.
Briefly described, methods and articles of manufacture are disclosed for more efficient ventilation of fumes and odors in the kitchen. Flexible or three dimensionally moveable auxiliary ducts are used to further connect the kitchen ventilation system to the pots and pans and other cookware during the boiling, bakink or frying processes to suck the fume or odor laden air while leaving the cooking containers. In various embodiments the auxiliary ducts are permanently, semi-permanently, or detachably connected to the kitchen's permanent/existing ventilation system and/or to the pots and pans. In some embodiments the auxiliary ducts may have their own active suction apparatus and/or filter(s). In other embodiments the auxiliary duct may be motorized and/or equipped with odor and/or smoke sensors enabling it to discover the source of the odor/smoke and autonomously move the auxiliary duct inlet toward the source.
In various embodiments the auxiliary ducts are configured to extended in length during use and to return to a shorter length while not in use. In some embodiments the auxiliary ducts have characteristics similar to those of extension coil springs.
Changes can be made to the claimed invention in light of the above Detailed Description. While the above description details certain embodiments of the invention and describes the best mode contemplated, no matter how detailed the above appears in text, the claimed invention can be practiced in many ways. Details of the system may vary considerably in its implementation details, while still being encompassed by the claimed invention disclosed herein.
Particular terminology used when describing certain features or aspects of the invention should not be taken to imply that the terminology is being redefined herein to be restricted to any specific characteristics, features, or aspects of the invention with which that terminology is associated. In general, the terms used in the following claims should not be construed to limit the claimed invention to the specific embodiments disclosed in the specification, unless the above detailed description section explicitly defines such terms. Accordingly, the actual scope of the claimed invention encompasses not only the disclosed embodiments, but also all equivalent ways of practicing or implementing the claimed invention.
The above specification, examples, and data provide a complete description of the manufacture and use of the composition of the invention. Since many embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention, the invention resides in the claims hereinafter appended. It is further understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
While the present disclosure has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is understood that this disclosure is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but is intended to cover various arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and equivalent arrangements.
