Combined ventilation and illumination system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11143432-B2
Application number	US-201816189327-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2018
Priority date	Nov 14, 2017
Publication date	Oct 12, 2021
Grant date	Oct 12, 2021

Abstract

A combined ventilation and illumination system includes a ventilation assembly, a light fixture assembly, and a connector assembly. In an installed position, the system is installed above a ceiling of a room of building structure (e.g., a residence or workplace) to provide ventilation for the room. The system couples a light fixture to ventilation assembly below the ceiling. In the installed position, an air flow cavity is defined between the light fixture and the ceiling, where the cavity allows for air flow around the light fixture and into the ventilation assembly for eventual exhaust beyond the room in which the system is installed. The cavity includes a first critical distance that is sized according to operating parameters of a blower of the ventilation assembly to provide an adequate flow rate of intake air and to provide acceptable sound levels during operation of the system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilation and illumination system installable within a ceiling of a building structure, the ventilation and illumination system comprising:
a ventilation assembly including (i) a main housing with an external wall arrangement defining an internal region, (ii) an inlet opening formed in an external wall, (iii) an outlet opening formed in an external wall and configured to exhaust air from the main housing, and (iv) a blower residing within the internal region and configured to generate air flow through the inlet opening and into the main housing;
a light fixture assembly including (i) a fixture, and (ii) a lighting element; and,
a connector assembly that operably connects the light fixture assembly to the ventilation assembly, the connector assembly including (i) a mounting bracket secured to the main housing and cooperatively aligned with the inlet opening, (ii) an elongated coupler extending from the mounting bracket through the inlet opening, (iii) a baffle positioned within the inlet opening and having an upper wall with a central hub (a) residing within the internal region, (b) engaged with the elongated coupler, and (c) spaced a distance below the mounting bracket, wherein the baffle has at least one opening that allows for the passage of air through the baffle and the inlet opening, (iv) a junction connector affixed to a lower extent of the elongated coupler, and (v) a canopy coupled to both a lower extent of the junction connector and an upper extent of the light fixture assembly to define an installed position;
wherein in the installed position, the canopy is offset a first critical distance from a lower extent of the baffle to define an air flow cavity that allows for air flow around a perimeter of the canopy, between the ceiling and the canopy, and through the baffle and into the internal region of the main housing.

2. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first critical distance is sized according to operating parameters of the blower of the ventilation assembly to provide a sufficient flow rate of intake air and acceptable sound levels during operation of the ventilation and illumination system.

3. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first critical distance is less than 1 inch.

4. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first critical distance is ⅝ inch.

5. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the first critical distance is between ¼ and 1 inch.

6. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the canopy has an outermost dimension that exceeds an outermost dimension of the baffle, and wherein the canopy substantially obscures the baffle in the installed position.

7. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the canopy has an outermost dimension that exceeds an outermost dimension of the fixture at a fixture interface region with the canopy.

8. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein in the installed position, the canopy is offset a second critical distance from a lower surface of the ceiling to further define the air flow cavity that allows for air flow around the canopy, through the baffle and into the internal region of the main housing.

9. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 8 , wherein the second critical distance exceeds the first critical distance.

10. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the baffle has a lower peripheral flange that engages a lower surface of the ceiling in the installed position.

11. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the mounting bracket is affixed to an upper wall of the main housing, and an upper portion of the elongated coupler extends through an aperture formed in the mounting bracket.

12. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein the elongated coupler is adjustable relative to the bracket whereby a greater or lesser amount of an upper portion of the elongated coupler can be brought closer to or further from an upper wall of the main housing.

13. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 1 , wherein a plurality of wire leads extend from a power source through the elongated coupler to the light fixture assembly to supply power to the lighting element.

14. A ventilation and illumination system installable within a ceiling of a room in a building structure, the ventilation and illumination system comprising:
a ventilation assembly including (i) a main housing with a wall arrangement defining an internal region, (ii) an inlet opening formed in a lower wall of the housing, (iii) an outlet opening formed in a wall of the wall arrangement of the housing, the outlet opening configured to exhaust air from the main housing, and (iv) a blower residing within the internal region and configured to generate air flow through the inlet opening and into the main housing;
a light fixture assembly including (i) a fixture, and (ii) a lighting element; and
a connector assembly that operably connects the light fixture assembly to the ventilation assembly, the connector assembly including (i) a mounting bracket secured to the main housing, (ii) an elongated coupler extending from the mounting bracket through the inlet opening along a vertical axis that is aligned with the mounting bracket and the inlet opening, (iii) a baffle cooperatively positioned within the inlet opening, the baffle having a lower end residing below the lower wall of the main housing and an upper end with a central hub (a) residing within the internal region, (b) engaged with the elongated coupler, and (c) spaced a distance below the mounting bracket along the vertical axis, wherein the baffle allows for the passage of air through the inlet opening, (iv) a junction connector affixed to a lower extent of the elongated coupler, and (v) a canopy;
wherein in an installed position, the canopy is (i) coupled to the junction connector and the light fixture assembly, and (ii) offset a first critical distance from a lower extent of the baffle to define an air flow cavity that allows for air flow around a periphery of the canopy, through the baffle and into the internal region of the main housing during operation of the blower.

15. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 14 , wherein the first critical distance is sized according to operating parameters of the blower of the ventilation assembly to provide a sufficient flow rate of intake air and acceptable sound levels during operation of the ventilation and illumination system.

16. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 14 , wherein the first critical distance is approximately 1 inch.

17. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 14 , wherein the first critical distance is between ¼ and 1 inch.

18. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 14 , wherein the canopy has an outermost dimension that exceeds an outermost dimension of the baffle, and wherein the canopy substantially obscures the baffle in the installed position.

19. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 14 , wherein the canopy has an outermost dimension that exceeds an outermost dimension of the fixture at a fixture interface region with the canopy.

20. The ventilation and illumination system of claim 14 , wherein in the installed position, the canopy is offset a second critical distance from a lower surface of the ceiling to further define the air flow cavity that allows for air flow around the canopy, through the baffle

Assignees

• Broan Nu Tone Llc

Inventors

• Sinur Richard R
• Revers Ryan A

Classifications

• F24F13/078 Primary

  combined with lighting fixtures · CPC title

• F21S8/063

  with a rigid pendant, i.e. a pipe or rod · CPC title

• F21V33/0088

  Ventilating systems (lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air treatment systems F24F13/078) · CPC title

• F21S8/043

  mounted by means of a rigid support, e.g. bracket or arm · CPC title

• F21V33/0096

  Fans, e.g. ceiling fans (forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67) · CPC title