RANGE HOOD WITH TRIM ATTACHMENT

Abstract

A range hood includes a hood canopy configured to collect and exhaust effluents from a cook top and a hood skirt coupled to an outer edge of the hood canopy. The hood skirt has a front surface that faces outwardly away from an interior effluent-collection region defined by the hood canopy and the hood skirt. A removable trim is coupled to the hood skirt.

Description

BACKGROUND

The present disclosure relates to a range hood, and particularly to a range hood that is positioned over a cook top and configured to capture and ventilate the particulates from the cooktop. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a decorative range hood.

SUMMARY

According to the present disclosure, a range hood includes a hood canopy configured to collect and exhaust effluents from a cook top, a hood skirt coupled to an outer edge of the hood canopy and having a front surface that faces outwardly away from an interior effluent-collection region defined by the hood canopy and the hood skirt, and a removable trim coupled to the hood skirt.

In illustrative embodiments, the range hood further includes a removable trim configured to change an overall appearance of the range hood when installed on the hood skirt. The removable trim includes a front panel and a trim attachment unit configured to retain the front panel to the hood skirt.

In some embodiments, the trim attachment unit includes a plurality of flexible attachment clips coupled to a rear surface of the front panel arranged to face the front surface of the hood skirt when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt. In some embodiments, the hood skirt includes a front skirt panel, a first side skirt panel, and a second side skirt panel opposite the first side skirt panel, and the removable trim covers the front skirt panel, the first side skirt panel, and the second side skirt panel. In some embodiments, the trim attachment unit includes an attachment bracket and a plurality of fasteners configured to mount the attachment bracket to the hood skirt. In some embodiments, the removable trim slides onto the hood skirt. In some embodiments, the hood skirt is formed to include a window and the front panel closes the window.

Additional features of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon consideration of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode of carrying out the disclosure as presently perceived.

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

The detailed description particularly refers to the accompanying figures in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a range hood in accordance with the present disclosure including a hood canopy, a hood skirt coupled to an outer and lower end of the hood canopy, and a removable trim configured to couple to the hood skirt to change an outer appearance of the range hood so that the range hood can be customized to a user's preferences without replacing the entire range hood;

FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of the range hood from FIG. 1 showing the removable trim separated from the hood skirt in an uninstalled position;

FIG. 3 is a cross sectional view of the range hood from FIG. 1 showing the removable trim coupled to the hood skirt in an installed position;

FIG. 4 is a top perspective view of the range hood from FIG. 1 showing the removable trim coupled to the hood skirt in the installed position;

FIG. 5 is a bottom perspective view of the range hood from FIG. 1 showing the removable trim coupled to the hood skirt in the installed position;

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of a removable trim installed on the hood skirt;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the removable trim uninstalled from the hood skirt;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the removable trim uninstalled from the hood skirt;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the second embodiment of the removable trim installed on the hood skirt;

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of a removable trim installed on the hood skirt;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the removable trim partially separated from the hood skirt;

FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the removable trim installed on the hood skirt;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of the third embodiment of the removable trim partially separated from the hood skirt;

FIG. 14 is a cross sectional view of the third embodiment of the removable trim installed on the hood skirt;

FIG. 15 is a cross sectional and perspective view of the range hood and the fourth embodiment of the removable trim installed on the range hood;

FIG. 16 is a cross sectional and perspective view of the range hood and the fourth embodiment of the removable trim installed on the range hood;

FIG. 17 is a perspective view of the fourth embodiment of a removable trim installed on a hood skirt of a range hood; and

FIG. 18 is an exploded assembly view of the range hood and the fourth embodiment of the removable trim.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A range hood 10 in accordance with the present disclosure includes a hood canopy 12 configured to collect effluents from a cook top (not shown) and a hood skirt 14 coupled to an outer edge 16 of the hood canopy 12 as shown in FIG. 1. The hood skirt 14 extends downwardly from the hood canopy 12 and cooperates with the hood canopy 12 to define an interior effluent-collection region 18 above the cook top. The hood skirt 14 has a front surface 20 that faces outwardly away from the interior effluent-collection region 18 defined by the hood canopy 12 and the hood skirt 14.

The range hood 10 in the illustrative embodiment further includes a removable trim 22 that is configured to be coupled to the hood skirt 14 as shown in FIG. 1. The removable trim 22 includes a decorative, front panel 24 arranged to overlie the front surface 20 of the hood skirt 14 and a trim attachment unit 26 coupled to the front panel 24 and configured to mount the removable trim 22 to the hood skirt 14. The hood skirt 14 itself may be decorative and used without the removable trim 22. The removable trim 22 can have an appearance that is different than the hood skirt 14 such that a user can change an overall appearance of the range hood 10 by attaching the removable trim 22 to the hood skirt 14 and covering all or a portion of the hood skirt 14, the hood canopy 12, and/or other portions of the range hood 10. It should be noted that in some embodiments, the removable trim 22 may also cover other portions of the range hood 10 such as the hood canopy 12.

For example, the hood skirt 14 includes a first material having a first appearance and the removable trim 22 includes a second material having a second appearance different than the first appearance. The appearance of the hood skirt 14 and the removable trim 22 may include at least one of color, texture, pattern, accents, lighting, accessories, etc. In one example, the hood skirt 14 includes a stainless steel material and the removable trim 22 includes a glass material. The removable trim 22 may be attached to the hood skirt 14 to cover the front surface 20 so that an overall appearance of the range hood 10 matches other features or appliances in a kitchen area without having to replace the entire range hood 10.

The removable trim 22 may include various mechanical and/or electrical accessories to add or maintain functional features that the range hood 10 included prior to attachment of the removable trim 22 on the hood skirt 14. For example, the hood skirt 14 may include a control panel 25 (i.e. on front panel 24) including a first plurality of buttons 27 to operate one or more of lights, an exhaust fan, or another feature of the range hood 10. The control panel 25 may be covered by the removable trim 22 when the removable trim 22 is installed on the hood skirt 14. The removable trim 22 may include a separate control panel 29 with a same or similar interface (i.e. a second plurality of buttons 31) as the control panel 25 on the hood skirt 14. The control panel 29 on the removable trim 22 may be different from or an upgrade (i.e. more features or more ergonomic) compared to the control panel 25 on the hood skirt 14. The removable trim 22 may further include a wireless (via one or more transceivers and antennas, for example) or wired connection to the range hood 10 to link the control panel 29 of the removable trim 22 to the range hood 10. The removable trim 22 may further include its own standalone power source, such as a battery, or may receive power via a wired connection to the range hood 10 or an outlet near the range hood 10 or via wireless power means such as inductive charging coils.

The trim attachment unit 26 of the removable trim 22 is configured to attach the removable trim 22 to the hood skirt 14 while remaining hidden from view when the removable trim 22 is installed as shown in FIGS. 3-5. The trim attachment unit 26 includes a base 28 and a plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 extending from the base 28. The base 28 is a plate or bracket that is fixed to a rear surface 32 of the front panel 24 that faces the front surface 20 of the hood skirt 20 when the removable trim 22 is installed. In some embodiments, the base 28 may be omitted and each of the plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 may be attached directly to the front panel 24. At least one flexible attachment clip 30 may be used to attach the removable trim 22 to the hood skirt 14.

Each of the plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 extends from a bottom end 32 of the base 28 and has a free end 34 pointing upward away from the bottom end 32. The hood skirt 14 is formed to define a plurality of corresponding openings 36 in a bottom edge or dock 38 of the hood skirt 14. Each of the plurality of openings 36 may receive one of the plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 when the removable trim 22 is attached to the hood skirt 14 in an installed position. The plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 extend around at least a portion of the hood skirt 14 and engage a respective retainer pad 40 coupled to a rear surface 42 of the hood skirt 14 such that the flexible attachment clips 30 grip and apply an compressive force on the hood skirt 14 to retain the removable trim 22 to the hood skirt 14. The dock 38 is located in the collection region 18 so as to be hidden from view from a person standing in front of the range hood 10. As such, the openings 36 are also hidden from view. In some embodiments, the dock 38 is omitted and the plurality of flexible attachment clips extend around the hood skirt 14

In the installed position, the front surface 20 of the hood skirt 14 is located between the front panel 24 and the plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 of the removable trim 22. Each of the plurality of flexible attachment clips 30 is at least partially spaced apart from the base 28 and the front panel 24 to provide a gap 44 that receives at least a portion of the hood skirt 14 in the installed position. The gap 44 also receives a retainer pad 40. Each retainer pad 40 has a shape that matches the gap 44. In the illustrative embodiment, each retainer pad 40 is thicker at a lower end compared to an upper end of the retainer pad 40. The free end 34 of each flexible attachment clip flares outwardly away from the front panel 24 to provide clearance for receiving the hood skirt 14 when being installed.

The hood skirt 14 in the illustrative embodiment includes a front skirt panel 50, a first side skirt panel 52, and a second side skirt panel 54 opposite the first side skirt panel 52 as shown in FIGS. 1-5. The removable trim 22 covers the front skirt panel 50, but may include corresponding portions that also cover the first side skirt panel 52 and the second side skirt panel 54 in other embodiments. It should be noted that each portion of the removable trim 22 may include a respective front panel 24 and trim attachment unit 24.

A second embodiment of a removable trim 222 for a range hood 210 is shown in FIGS. 6-9. The second embodiment of the removable trim 222 is substantially similar to the removable trim 22 shown in FIGS. 1-5. Similar reference numbers in the 200 series are used to describe similar features between removable trim 22 and removable trim 222. Accordingly, the disclosure above for removable trim 22 is incorporated herein for removable trim 222 except for the differences described below.

The removable trim 222 is configured to be attached to a hood skirt 214 and cover all or a portion of the hood skirt 214. The removable trim 222 includes a decorative, front panel 224 arranged to overlie a front surface 220 of the hood skirt 214 and a trim attachment unit 226 coupled to the front panel 224 and configured to mount the removable trim 222 to the hood skirt 214. The hood skirt 214 itself may be decorative and used without the removable trim 222. The removable trim 222 has an appearance that is different than the hood skirt 214 such that a user can change an overall appearance of the range hood 210 by attaching the removable trim 222 to the hood skirt 214 and covering all or a portion of the hood skirt 214, the hood canopy 212, and/or other portions of the range hood 210.

The trim attachment unit 226 includes an attachment bracket or base 228 coupled to a rear surface 232 of the front panel 224 and a plurality of fasteners 230 configured to engage and mount the attachment bracket 228 to the hood skirt 214. The attachment bracket 228 and the hood skirt 214 are each formed to include a plurality of openings 234, 236, respectively. The plurality of fasteners 230 are arranged to extend through the plurality of openings 234, 236 of both the attachment bracket 230 and the hood skirt 214 to retain the removable trim 222 to the hood skirt 214.

A third embodiment of a removable trim 322 for a range hood 310 is shown in FIGS. 10-14. Similar reference numbers in the 300 series are used to describe similar features between removable trim 22 and removable trim 322. The disclosure above for removable trim 22 is incorporated herein for removable trim 322 except for the differences described below.

The removable trim 322 is configured to be attached to a hood skirt 314 and cover all or a portion of the hood skirt 314. The removable trim 322 includes a decorative, front panel 324 arranged to overlie a front surface 320 of the hood skirt 314 and a trim attachment unit 326 coupled to the front panel 324 and configured to mount the removable trim 322 to the hood skirt 314. The hood skirt 314 itself may be decorative and used without the removable trim 322. The removable trim 322 can have an appearance that is different than the hood skirt 314 such that a user can change an overall appearance of the range hood 310 by attaching the removable trim 322 to the hood skirt 314 and covering all or a portion of the hood skirt 314, the hood canopy 312, and/or other portions of the range hood 310.

The trim attachment unit 326 includes front skirt section 328, a first side skirt section 330, and a second side skirt section 332. Each side skirt section 330, 332 includes an upper lip 360 and a lower lip 362 spaced apart from the upper lip 360. The front skirt section 328 may also include upper and lower lips 360, 362, however, these may be omitted in some embodiments.

The first and second side skirt sections 330, 332 are adapted to slide onto corresponding side panels 364, 366 of the hood skirt 314. In an installed position on the hood skirt 314, the upper lip 360 of each side skirt section 330, 332 rests above an upper surface 368 of the hood skirt 314 and the lower lip 362 rests below a bottom surface 370 of the hood skirt 314 to retain the removable trim 322 to the hood skirt 314. The removable trim 322 can hang from the hood skirt 314. Alternatively, the first and second side skirt sections 330, 332 could pinch the hood skirt 314 to create a compressive force there between to hold the removable trim 322 to the hood skirt 314. In yet another alternative, the upper and lower lips 360, 362 of one or more of the side skirt sections 330, 332 could create a compressive force there between to hold the removable trim 322 to the hood skirt 314. In some embodiments, the range hood 310 may further include a rear skirt panel (not shown). Accordingly, the removable trim 322 may also include a corresponding skirt section for the rear skirt panel.

A fourth embodiment of a removable trim 422 for a range hood 410 is shown in FIGS. 15-18. The fourth embodiment of the removable trim 422 is substantially similar to the removable trim 22 shown in FIGS. 1-5. Similar reference numbers in the 400 series are used to describe similar features between removable trim 22 and removable trim 422. Accordingly, the disclosure above for removable trim 22 is incorporated herein for removable trim 422 except for the differences described below.

The removable trim 422 is configured to be attached to a hood skirt 414. The removable trim 422 includes a decorative, trim panel 424 arranged to integrate with a front surface 420 of the hood skirt 414 and a trim attachment unit 426 coupled to the front panel 424 and configured to mount and retain the removable trim 422 to the hood skirt 414. The hood skirt 414 itself may be decorative and used without the removable trim 422. The removable trim 422 may have an appearance that is different than the hood skirt 414. A user can change an overall appearance of the range hood 410 by attaching the removable trim 422 to the hood skirt 414 to provide a different overall appearance of the range hood 410 depending on the appearance of the removable trim 422.

The range hood 410 includes a hood canopy 412 configured to collect and exhaust effluents from a cook top (not shown), a hood skirt 414 coupled to an outer edge of the hood canopy 412 and the removable trim 422 coupled to the hood skirt. The hood skirt 414 has a front surface 420 that faces outwardly away from an interior effluent-collection region 418 defined by the hood canopy 412 and the hood skirt 414. The hood skirt 414 is formed to define a window 421 through the front surface 420.

The trim panel 424 is configured to be coupled to the hood skirt 414 to close the window 421. The removable trim 422 includes a trim attachment unit 426 coupled to the trim panel 424 and configured to urge the trim panel 424 toward a rear surface 423 of the skirt 414 at the window 421.

The trim attachment unit 426 includes at least one retainer clip 430 configured to bias the trim panel 424 into engagement with the rear surface 423 to retain the trim panel 424 to the hood skirt 414 closing the window 421. In the illustrative embodiment, the trim attachment unit 426 includes a plurality of the retainer clips 430 spaced along a length of the hood skirt 414. Illustratively, each of the retainer clips 430 is embodied as a leaf spring having a curved profile such that ends 480, 482 engage a portion of the hood skirt 414 while a mid-section 484 engages the front panel 424 and urges the front panel 424 against the rear surface 423 of the hood skirt 414 at the window 421. However, in other embodiments, the arrangement of the ends 480, 482 and the mid-section 484 relative to the hood skirt 414 and the trim panel 424 may be reversed.

The trim attachment unit 426 may further include a panel foot 488 coupled to the hood skirt 414 adjacent to the window 421 as shown in FIG. 17. The panel foot 488 is configured to provide a platform for the trim panel 424 to rest on to position the trim panel 424 in the window 421.

The hood skirt 414 includes a front panel 490, upper and lower side panels 491, 492, and upper and lower retainer flanges 493, 494 as shown in FIG. 17. The front panel 490 includes the front surface 420 and the rear surface 423. The upper and lower side panels 491, 492 extend rearwardly from the front panel 490 at upper and lower ends thereof. The upper and lower retainer flanges 493, 494 extend toward one another from distal ends of the upper and lower side panels 491, 492, respectively. A gap 495 is defined between the upper and lower retainer flanges 493, 494.

The gap 485 is sized to allow the trim panel 424 to be inserted therethrough and then reoriented between the retainer flanges 493, 494 and the front pane 490 to rest on the foot 488 in position relative to the window 421. Each of the retainer clips 430 may also be inserted through the gap 495 and positioned so that the ends 480, 482 of each retainer clip engage the retainer flanges 493, 494 and the mid-section 484 engages the trim panel 424.

The hood skirt 414 also includes side skirt panels 460, 462. Each of the side skirt sections may be formed to include a window and receive a removable trim like removable trim 422. The range hood 410 may further include a rear skirt section with a window and a corresponding removable trim like removable trim 422.

The present disclosure includes methods and design features that result in the ability to change the aesthetics (color accents, trim, etc.) of a kitchen hood in a completely reversible manner. The present disclosure allows the user to interchange between multiple trim options (including the “no trim” option) on an installed hood which contains the necessary design features.

These design features, located within/on the hood, may be referred to as the dock and provide mechanical attachment and, optionally, control and power connections for the interchangeable trim options. It should be noted that the dock is hidden and thereby allowing for a hood that is aesthetically pleasing (and fully functional) when a trim option is not installed (docked).

The interchangeable trim has a corresponding set of mating features that engage the dock. The set of mechanical and electrical (including wireless power transfer) connecting features, located on/within the trim, may be defined as the blade. The blade can be provided as part of a trim offering or as a component to be used within a custom trim.

The present disclosure may provide a method to exactly or closely match the multitude of customer's/designer's design aesthetics with a limited number of hood offerings. It also may allow the customer/designer to modify the aesthetic and/or function (e.g. receptacle for smart phone within the trim-changing, hood control APP, IAQ APP, entertainment, etc.). The present disclosure may allow a kitchen hood platform to be continuously updated throughout the product life cycle to provide current design and feature athletics and/or features. The present discloser may allow an existing platform to meet current design and feature trends.

Claims

1. A range hood comprising a hood canopy configured to collect and exhaust effluents from a cook top,a hood skirt coupled to an outer edge of the hood canopy and having a front surface that faces outwardly away from an interior effluent-collection region defined by the hood canopy and the hood skirt, anda removable trim coupled to the hood skirt, the removable trim including a front panel arranged to overlie the front surface of the hood skirt and a trim attachment unit coupled to the front panel and configured to mount the removable trim to the hood skirt.

2. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the trim attachment unit includes a plurality of flexible attachment clips coupled to a rear surface of the front panel when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt, and wherein the hood skirt is formed to include a plurality of openings in a lower edge of the hood skirt, each of the plurality of openings is arranged to receive one of the plurality of flexible attachment clips when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt to locate the front surface of the hood skirt between the front panel and the plurality of flexible attachment clips.

3. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the hood skirt includes a front skirt panel, a first side skirt panel, and a second side skirt panel opposite the first side skirt panel, and wherein the removable trim covers the front skirt panel, the first side skirt panel, and the second side skirt panel.

4. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the trim attachment unit includes an attachment bracket coupled to a rear surface of the front panel arranged to face the front surface of the hood skirt when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt and a plurality of fasteners, and wherein the attachment bracket and the hood skirt are each formed to include a plurality of openings, and the plurality of fasteners are arranged to extend through the plurality of openings of both the attachment bracket and the hood skirt to retain the removable trim to the hood skirt.

5. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the attachment unit includes front skirt section, a first side skirt section, and a second side skirt section, each skirt section including an upper lip and a lower lip spaced apart from the upper lip, and wherein the first and second side skirt sections are adapted to slide onto corresponding side panels of the hood skirt such that the upper lip rests on an upper surface of the hood skirt and the lower lip rests on a bottom surface of the hood skirt to retain the removable trim to the hood skirt.

6. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the hood skirt includes a first control panel and the removable trim includes a second control panel.

7. The range hood of claim 6, wherein the first control panel includes a first plurality of control buttons and the second control panel includes a second plurality of control buttons different than the first plurality of control buttons.

8. The range hood of claim 6, wherein removable trim is configured to cover the first control panel when the removable trim is installed on the hood skirt.

9. The range hood of claim 1, wherein the hood skirt is made from a first material having a first appearance and the removable trim is made from a second material having a second appearance different than the first appearance.

10. A range hood comprising a hood canopy configured to collect and exhaust effluents from a cook top,a hood skirt coupled to an outer edge of the hood canopy and having a front surface that faces outwardly away from an interior effluent-collection region defined by the hood canopy and the hood skirt, the hood skirt being formed to include a window through the front surface, anda removable trim coupled to the hood skirt, the removable trim including a trim panel coupled to the hood skirt and arranged to lie against a rear surface of the hood skirt opposite the from surface to close the window and a trim attachment unit coupled to the trim panel.

11. The range hood of claim 10, wherein the trim attachment unit includes at least one retainer clip configured to bias the trim panel into engagement with the rear surface to retain the trim panel to the hood skirt closing the window.

12. The range hood of claim 10, wherein the hood skirt includes a first control panel and the removable trim includes a second control panel.

13. The range hood of claim 12, wherein the first control panel includes a first plurality of control buttons and the second control panel includes a second plurality of control buttons different than the first plurality of control buttons.

14. The range hood of claim 10, wherein the hood skirt is made from a first material having a first appearance and the removable trim is made from a second material having a second appearance different than the first appearance.

15. A range hood comprising a hood canopy configured to collect and exhaust effluents from a cook top,a hood skirt coupled to an outer edge of the hood canopy, anda removable trim coupled to the hood skirt,wherein the hood skirt includes a first control panel and the removable trim includes a second control panel separate from the first control panel.

16. The range hood of claim 15, wherein the first control panel includes a first plurality of control buttons and the second control panel includes a second plurality of control buttons different than the first plurality of control buttons.

17. The range hood of claim 16, wherein removable trim is configured to cover the first control panel when the removable trim is installed on the hood skirt.

18. The range hood of claim 15, wherein the trim attachment unit includes a plurality of flexible attachment clips coupled to a rear surface of the front panel when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt, and wherein the hood skirt is formed to include a plurality of openings in a lower edge of the hood skirt, each of the plurality of openings is arranged to receive one of the plurality of flexible attachment clips when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt to locate the front surface of the hood skirt between the front panel and the plurality of flexible attachment clips.

19. The range hood of claim 15, wherein the hood skirt includes a front skirt panel, a first side skirt panel, and a second side skirt panel opposite the first side skirt panel, and wherein the removable trim covers the front skirt panel, the first side skirt panel, and the second side skirt panel.

20. The range hood of claim 15, wherein the trim attachment unit includes an attachment bracket coupled to a rear surface of the front panel arranged to face the front surface of the hood skirt when the removable trim is attached to the hood skirt and a plurality of fasteners, and wherein the attachment bracket and the hood skirt are each formed to include a plurality of openings, and the plurality of fasteners are arranged to extend through the plurality of openings of both the attachment bracket and the hood skirt to retain the removable trim to the hood skirt.