Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6276358
-
Patent Number
6,276,358
-
Date Filed
Monday, November 15, 199925 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, August 21, 200123 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
- Diederiks, Jr.; Everett G.
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 126 299 D
- 126 299 R
- 454 63
- 108 17
- 108 20
- 108 5013
- 108 5018
- 108 106
- 108 14719
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International Classifications
-
Abstract
A ventilation system for a cooking appliance includes one or more slidable vent hoods arranged in a tabletop extending above a heating surface of a cooking appliance to exhaust gaseous byproduct developed during a cooking operation performed on the heating surface. The tabletop is vertically adjustable relative to the heating surface in order to alter the distance between each vent hood and the heating surface. Each vent hood can be retracted within the tabletop or extended to a position disposed directly, vertically above at least a portion of the heating surface. Preferably, a pair of adjacent vent hoods are provided, with each vent hood opening into a common exhaust manifold formed in the tabletop. The tabletop is preferably mounted through multiple pillars which are connected to a vertical adjusting mechanism. One of the pillars is preferably provided with an elongated duct for directing exhaust gases from the manifold to a remote exhaust location.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to the art of cooking appliances and, more particularly, to an appliance ventilation system incorporating a vertically adjustable vent hood arrangement.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
Many different types of cooking appliances produce smoke, steam or other gaseous byproducts during use. Often, it is considered beneficial to utilize some type of ventilation system to evacuate the gaseous byproducts, either upwards through a venting hood or downward into a draught flue. In typical household kitchens, most known venting arrangements take the form of a hood which is fixed above a cooking surface and which can be selectively activated to evacuate the gaseous byproducts. Downdraft vent arrangements are also widely known in the art wherein a cooking surface will incorporate a vent opening that is positioned between different sections of the cooking surface or extends along a back of the cooking surface. These downdraft vents can either be fixed relative to the cooking surface or can be raised slightly relative to the cooking surface to an in-use position.
With known vent hood arrangements, a vertical distance between the cooking surface and the vent hood is fixed. At least when in an operating position, downdraft vent arrangements known in the art are also limited in this respect. Depending upon the food being cooked and even the particular height of the individual doing the cooking, it may be desired to vary the distance between the cooking surface and the vent hood. For instance, when frying fish on a cooking surface, it may be considered beneficial to arrange a vent hood vertically closer to the cooking surface in order to increase the percentage of gaseous byproducts which are evacuated. On the other hand, it may be desired to raise a vent hood relative to a cooking surface in order to more easily access different portions of the cooking surface.
In any event, there is considered a need in the art for an improved ventilation system for use with a cooking appliance. More particularly, there is a need in the art for a ventilation system incorporating a vent hood which can be selectively, vertically adjusted relative to a heating surface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention pertains to a ventilation system for a cooking appliance having a heating surface. More specifically, the ventilation system incorporates at least one vent hood which is integrated into a vertically adjustable support that is position ed above the cooking appliance. Preferably, the vent hood is movable between an extended, in-use position wherein it projects at least partially over a portion of the heating surface, and a retracted, non-use position wherein the vent hood is recessed in the support. In the most preferred form of the invention, a pair of adjacent vent hoods are arranged above respective sections of the heating surface and are slidable between the extended and retracted positions.
In one preferred form of the invention, the cooking appliance constitutes a cooktop disposed in a countertop of a cooking island. Arranged above the countertop is an additional tabletop that is supported by a pair of spaced, upstanding pillars. The pillars are movable relative to a base of the countertop, such as through the use of hydraulic, pneumatic or electric actuators, to vertically shift the tabletop relative to the countertop. Within a body of a tabletop is formed a common plenum or manifold for the individual vent hoods, with the manifold leading to an exhaust duct extending through one of the pillars and into the countertop base.
With this arrangement, the height at which one or more vent hoods are arranged above the heating surface of the cooking appliance can be selectively altered by adjusting the height of the tabletop. The use of multiple vent hood sections enables each of the vent hoods to be dedicated for use in connection with individual sections of the heating surface, while minimizing an potential obstruction for the cook. In any event, additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more readily apparent from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein like reference numerals refer to corresponding parts in the several views.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an upper prospective view of a kitchen island incorporating the appliance ventilation system of the present invention;
FIG. 2
is an enlarged, partially phantom view of a section of the ventilation system of
FIG. 1
; and
FIG. 3
is an enlarged view of an end portion of the island of
FIG. 1
showing a vertical adjustment mechanism incorporated in accordance with the invention in phantom.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
With initial reference to
FIG. 1
, a workstation for a cooking environment that is generally illustrated to take the form of a kitchen island is indicated at
2
. Island
2
includes an overall countertop
6
having a work surface
8
that is preferably provided with a peripheral lip
11
. Also located around first work surface
8
, at a position slightly outwardly and below lip
11
, is railing trim
13
. As shown, countertop
6
also includes a raised platform
16
having a central zone
17
and an associated, intermediate tier
18
. In the embodiment shown, island
2
is provided with a pair of spaced sinks
30
and
31
, as well as a cooking appliance shown in the form of an electric cooktop
34
. For the sake of simplicity of the drawings, a faucet for sinks
30
and
31
, as well as controls for cooktop
34
have not been illustrated. However, cooktop
34
is shown to include multiple, spaced heating elements
35
-
38
. Although the structure and arrangement of cooktop
34
is not considered part of the present invention, cooktop
34
preferably defines a substantially smooth working surface across countertop
6
.
Countertop
6
is shown to be supported by a base
40
having a lowermost section
42
and an upper section
44
that includes an outwardly extending portion
46
. Therefore, upper section
44
, with outwardly extending portion
46
, supports countertop
6
such that first work surface
8
extends in a substantially horizontal plane. At this point, it should be noted that outwardly extending portion
46
need not extend entirely across the longitudinal side of countertop
6
but could simply be constituted by various spaced, cantilevered beams if enhanced leg room or the like is desirable under countertop
6
. In any event, upper section
44
of base
40
is further used to support a table
49
that is adapted to be used in connection with chairs or the like as a small breakfast or other eating area while the portion of countertop
6
located on the opposite side of platform
16
from table
49
would generally be located in the kitchen area. Again, this arrangement is merely presented in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the invention and for the sake of completeness.
Island
2
is shown to include an upper support unit in the form of a tabletop
51
that is spaced above platform
16
by means of pillars
52
and
53
. As shown with reference to both
FIGS. 1 and 2
, tabletop
51
includes an annular face portion
55
, a portion of which is defined by front panels
57
and
58
of respective vent hoods
60
and
61
which form part of the ventilation system of the present invention. As each vent hood
60
,
61
is similarly constructed, the discussion of the preferred construction and arrangement of vent hoods
60
and
61
will be made simultaneously. Each vent hood
60
,
61
includes side frame members
64
and
65
which extend from a respective front panel
57
,
58
and which are slidably supported by tabletop
51
. Extending across side frame members
64
and
65
is an upper plate
67
. In the most preferred embodiment, plate
67
is defined by a transparent, tempered glass panel.
Each vent hood
60
,
61
is slidably mounted for movement between extended and retracted positions above cooktop
34
. In general, vent hoods
60
and
61
are slidably mounted in a manner analogous to convention drawers for movement between extended and retracted positions. More specifically, vent hood
61
is shown in a retracted position wherein front panel
58
is generally flush with and constitutes an extension of face portion
55
of tabletop
51
. On the other hand, vent hood
60
is shown in an extended position wherein side frame members
64
and
65
project outwardly from face portion
55
of tabletop
51
and at least a portion of transparent plate
67
is positioned at a spaced distance directly above cooktop
34
. More specifically, when in the extended position, vent hood
60
preferably extends above heating units
35
and
36
, while vent hood
61
is adapted to extend above heating units
37
and
38
. With this arrangement, each vent hood
60
,
61
is generally dedicated for use with individual sections of cooktop
34
.
Since transparent plate
67
only extends across an upper portion of side frame members
64
and
65
, a lower intake zone (not separately labeled) is defined beneath each of the vent hoods
60
,
61
. This intake zone leads into a common exhaust manifold
72
formed within tabletop
51
. Common exhaust manifold
72
leads to a first exhaust duct
74
that extends downward within pillar
52
. First exhaust duct
74
is preferably, slidably received within a second, slightly larger diametric exhaust duct
75
which extends into base
40
. Although not shown, base
40
preferably houses an exhaust blower which draws air and other gaseous byproducts into vent hoods
60
and
61
, exhaust manifold
72
, first exhaust duct
74
and second exhaust duct
75
. The blower would also have an associated outlet duct leading through a floor below base
40
in order to vent the gaseous byproducts to the ambient environment in a manner generally known in the art. In accordance with the most preferred embodiment, the blower and ventilation system of the present invention can be activated through the use of a switch, such as that shown at
76
between vent hoods
60
and
61
. If desired, vent hoods
60
and
61
and/or tabletop
51
can also be provided with lighting (not shown).
In accordance with the present invention, tabletop
51
is intended to vertically shift relative to countertop
6
in order to vary the distance between cooktop
34
and each vent hood
60
,
61
. In the most preferred form of the invention, pillars
52
and
53
are supported by the remainder of countertop
6
for relative vertical movement. More specifically, as shown with reference to
FIG. 3
, pillar
53
projects through an elongated opening
77
formed in platform
16
, tier
18
and work surface
8
of countertop
6
. A lower portion of pillar
53
is supported by one or more pistons
79
,
80
. Each piston
79
,
80
is received within a respective cylinder
82
,
83
. Therefore, pistons
79
and
80
and cylinders
82
and
83
combine to define respective linear actuators
85
and
86
. Cylinders
82
and
83
are shown to be fixed to a cross piece
88
that is secured within base
40
. In the most preferred embodiment of the invention, hydraulic fluid is utilized in connection with one or more actuators
85
and
86
for each pillar
52
and
53
. As indicated in
FIG. 1
, a toggle switch
90
is preferably provided as part of the overall base
40
for use in connection with selectively raising or lowering tabletop
51
relative to work surface
8
of countertop
6
. Although hydraulic actuators are utilized in accordance with the preferred embodiment, it should be readily apparent that other types of vertical adjustment mechanisms known in the art could be equally employed. For example, pneumatic, electric and the like type mechanisms could be utilized.
With this construction, tabletop
51
can be raised and lowered relative to work surface
8
from a position generally directly above platform
16
to a fully raised position corresponding to that illustrated in FIG.
1
. Since vent hoods
60
and
61
are carried by tabletop
51
, the raising and lowering of tabletop
51
commensurately raises and lowers vent hoods
60
and
61
. In accordance with the ventilation system of the present invention, this ability to raise and lower vent hoods
60
and
61
is considered to advantageously enhance the exhausting of gaseous byproducts which can be produced when utilizing cooktop
34
. In addition, a distance between the heating surface defined by cooktop
34
and each vent hood
60
,
61
can be altered to simply accommodate different sized cooks. Furthermore, due to the manner in which vent hoods
60
and
61
can be slid between extended and retracted positions, the ventilation system of the invention can be utilized with one or more of the vent hood
60
and
61
in a partially extended position. Although it would be possible to provide a single vent hood extending over all of heating units
35
-
38
, it is preferable to provide individual vent hoods
60
and
61
in order to limit any unnecessary, upper obstructions.
Although described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the invention, it should be readily apparent that various changes and/or modifications can be made to the invention without departing from the spirit thereof. For instance, although ducts
74
and
75
are preferably provided for exhausting the gaseous byproducts while accommodating is the vertical shifting of tabletop
51
, other exhaust configurations, such as a flexible bellows-type ducting arrangement, could also be utilized. In any event, the invention is only intended to be limited by the scope of the following claims.
Claims
- 1. A combination cooking and ventilation system comprising:a heating surface; a support unit positioned above the heating surface; at least one vent hood carried by the support unit at a position spaced a distance above the heating surface, with the vent hood being adapted to project directly over at least a portion of the heating surface; a mechanism for selectively, vertically shifting the support unit relative to the heating surface, thereby adjusting the distance between the heating surface and the vent hood, wherein the vent hood is moveable between extended and retacted positions, wherein the vent hood projects directly over the portion of the heating surface in only the extended position.
- 2. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the vent hood is slidably mounted to the support unit for movement between the extended and retracted positions.
- 3. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 2, wherein the support unit is constituted by a tabletop, said vent hood being recessed in a portion of the tabletop when in the retracted position.
- 4. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is constituted by a tabletop and wherein the at least one vent hood comprises a pair of adjacent vent hoods adapted to extend over different portions of the heating surface.
- 5. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 1, wherein the support unit is formed with a manifold into which the vent hood opens.
- 6. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 5, wherein the tabletop is positioned above the heating surface through at least a pair of vertical supports, said ventilation system further including an exhaust duct leading from the manifold through at least one of the supports.
- 7. The combination cooking and ventilation system according to claim 6, further comprising, in combination, a kitchen island having a countertop, said heating surface being disposed on the countertop, said vertical supports constituting pillars. which extend through the countertop, said mechanism being connected to said pillars.
- 8. A combination cooking and ventilation system comprising:a countertop; a heating surface disposed along a portion of the countertop; an upper tabletop extending across at least the portion of the countertop, said tabletop being vertically adjustable relative to the countertop; and at least one vent hood carried by and movable relative to the tabletop at a position spaced a distance above the heating surface, with the vent hood being adapted to project directly over at least a portion of the heating surface, said vent hood being vertically shiftable in unison with the tabletop to alter the distance between the heating surface and the vent hood.
- 9. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 8, wherein the vent hood is moveable between extended and retracted positions, wherein the vent hood projects directly over the portion of the heating surface in only the extended position.
- 10. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 9, wherein the vent hood is slidably mounted to the tabletop for movement between the extended and retracted positions.
- 11. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 10, wherein said vent hood is recessed in a portion of the tabletop when in the retracted position.
- 12. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 9, wherein the at least one vent hood comprises a pair of adjacent vent hoods adapted to extend over different portions of the heating surface.
- 13. The combination cooking and ventilation system according to claim 12, wherein the tabletop is formed with a manifold into which the vent hoods open.
- 14. The combination cooking ventilation system according to claim 13, wherein the tabletop is positioned above the heating surface through at least a pair of vertical supports, said ventilation system further including an exhaust duct leading from the manifold through at least one of the supports.
- 15. The combination cooking and ventilation system according to claim 8, further comprising, in combination, a kitchen island, wherein the countertop, cooking appliance, tabletop and vent hood form parts of the kitchen island.
- 16. A method of ventilating a cooking appliance having a heating surface arranged below an upper support unit comprising:re-positioning a vent hood from a non-use position, wherein the vent hood is supported by the support unit in a retracted condition, to and in-use position, wherein the vent hood projects from the support directly over at least a portion of the heating surface; and altering a vertical distance between the heating surface and the vent hood by selectively, vertically adjusting the support unit relative to the heating surface.
- 17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising: sliding the vent hood between the non-use and in-use positions.
- 18. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: shifting an additional vent hood from a retracted position to an extended position over a second portion of the heating surface.
- 19. The method according to claim 17, further comprising: exhausting gaseous byproducts, produced during a cooking operation on the heating surface, through the vent hood, an exhaust manifold formed in the support unit and a duct extending along at least one vertically shiftable pillar through which the support unit is mounted.
US Referenced Citations (15)
Foreign Referenced Citations (5)
Number |
Date |
Country |
3503236 |
Aug 1986 |
DE |
60-30916 |
Feb 1985 |
JP |
63-131931 |
Jun 1988 |
JP |
1-114649 |
May 1989 |
JP |
5-231689 |
Sep 1993 |
JP |