Lighting and ventilating system and method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10801743-B2
Application number	US-201916424621-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 29, 2019
Priority date	Oct 11, 2010
Publication date	Oct 13, 2020
Grant date	Oct 13, 2020

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise at least one aperture. The system can include a plate coupled to the grille and the plate can include a recess. Also, a set of illumination devices can be at least partially disposed within the recess.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilating system comprising:
a main housing defining an inlet configured to receive air into the main housing and an outlet configured to allow the air to exit the main housing;
a fan in the main housing and configured and arranged to generate a flow of air into the main housing through the inlet and from the main housing through the outlet;
a grille configured to be coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a support frame defining at least one aperture;
a plate configured to be coupled to the support frame defining an air path between the plate and the support frame so that air can flow into the main housing after passing between the plate and the at least one aperture;
a set of illumination devices disposed substantially adjacent an outer perimeter of the plate and configured to direct illumination of the set of illumination devices inward to generally illuminate the plate.

2. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein the plate comprises a substantially square shape.

3. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein the set of illumination devices is coupled to the plate.

4. The ventilation system of claim 1 further comprising a panel coupled to the plate and surrounding the entire outer perimeter of the plate.

5. The ventilation system of claim 4 wherein the plate comprises a substantially square shape.

6. The ventilation system of claim 1 wherein the support frame defines a plurality of apertures and air can flow into the main housing after passing through the plurality of apertures.

7. The ventilation system of claim 1 , the plate defining a recess around at least a portion of an inner perimeter of the plate and the set of illumination devices are disposed in the recess.

8. The ventilation system of claim 1 , wherein the support frame comprises:
a wall;
a lower flange extending from the wall; and
a support flange extending between portions of lower flange.

9. The ventilation system of claim 8 , wherein the lower flange defines the at least one aperture.

10. The ventilation system of claim 8 , wherein the support frame defines a plurality of apertures defined by the lower flange and the support flange.

11. A ventilating system comprising:
a main housing defining an inlet configured to receive air into the main housing and an outlet configured to allow the air to exit the main housing;
a fan in the main housing and configured and arranged to generate a flow of air into the main housing through the inlet and from the main housing through the outlet;
a grille configured to be coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a support frame defining a plurality of apertures;
a plate configured to be coupled to the support frame defining an air path between the plate and the support frame so that air can flow into the main housing after passing between the plate and the plurality of apertures;
a set of illumination devices disposed substantially adjacent an outer perimeter of the plate and configured to direct illumination of the set of illumination devices inward to generally illuminate the plate.

12. The ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the plate comprises a substantially square shape.

13. The ventilation system of claim 11 wherein the set of illumination devices is coupled to the plate.

14. The ventilation system of claim 11 further comprising a panel coupled to the plate and surrounding the entire outer perimeter of the plate.

15. The ventilation system of claim 13 wherein the plate comprises a substantially square shape.

16. The ventilation system of claim 11 wherein air can flow into the main housing after passing through the plurality of apertures.

17. The ventilation system of claim 11 , the plate defining a recess around at least a portion of an inner perimeter of the plate and the set of illumination devices are disposed in the recess.

18. The ventilation system of claim 11 , wherein the support frame comprises:
a wall;
a lower flange extending from the wall; and
a support flange extending between portions of lower flange.

19. The ventilation system of claim 18 , wherein the plurality of apertures is defined by the lower flange and the support flange.

20. A ventilating system comprising:
a main housing defining an inlet configured to receive air into the main housing and an outlet configured to allow the air to exit the main housing;
a fan in the main housing and configured and arranged to generate a flow of air into the main housing through the inlet and from the main housing through the outlet;
a grille configured to be coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a support frame defining a plurality of apertures;
a plate configured to be coupled to the support frame defining an air path between the plate and the support frame so that air can flow into the main housing through the plurality of apertures after passing between the plate and the grille;
a set of illumination devices positioned so that their illumination is directed inward and generally illuminates the plate.

21. The ventilation system of claim 20 wherein the plate comprises a substantially square shape.

22. The ventilation system of claim 20 wherein the set of illumination devices is coupled to the plate.

23. The ventilation system of claim 20 further comprising a panel coupled to the plate and surrounding the entire outer perimeter of the plate.

24. The ventilation system of claim 23 wherein the plate comprises a substantially square shape.

25. The ventilation system of claim 20 wherein air can flow into the main housing after passing through the plurality of apertures.

26. The ventilation system of claim 20 , the plate defining a recess around at least a portion of an inner perimeter of the plate and the set of illumination devices are disposed in the recess.

27. The ventilation system of claim 20 , wherein the support frame comprises:
a wall;
a lower flange extending from the wall; and
a support flange extending between portions of lower flange.

28. The ventilation system of claim 27 , wherein the plurality of apertures is defined by the lower flange and the support flange.

Assignees

• Broan Nu Tone Llc

Inventors

• Zakula Mirko
• Jacak Corey Scott

Classifications

• F24F13/078

  combined with lighting fixtures · CPC title

• F24F13/20

  Casings or covers · CPC title

• F21Y2115/10

  Light-emitting diodes [LED] · CPC title

• F24F7/007 Primary

  with forced flow (using ducting systems F24F7/06) · CPC title

• Y10T29/49002

  Electrical device making · CPC title