Range hood installation system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12025316-B2
Application number	US-202217751759-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 24, 2022
Priority date	May 19, 2015
Publication date	Jul 2, 2024
Grant date	Jul 2, 2024

Abstract

A mounting bracket mountable to the underside of the cabinet prior to the range hood and configured to engage and support the range hood as the range hood is secured to the cabinet. The mounting bracket having a support feature engagable to the range hood to hold the range hood proximate the cabinet while fasteners are sunk to secure the range hood to the cabinet. The mounting brackets are pre-positioned on the cabinet such that range hood is aligned with the cabinet when the range hood is supported by the support feature. The smaller mounting brackets can be more easily mounted in the proper position on the cabinet then the larger range 10 hood speeding the installation process and reducing errors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of mounting a range hood to an underside mounting surface, comprising:
providing a mounting plate comprising a base portion and at least one support feature;
coupling the mounting plate to the underside mounting surface;
providing a range hood comprising an upper surface defining at least one support opening;
engaging the support feature to the support opening such that the mounting plate can support the weight of the range hood; and
inserting a fastener through the upper surface of the range hood to couple the range hood to the base portion of the mounting plate or the underside mounting surface
wherein the support feature can support the weight of the range hood to allow an installer to insert the fastener without the added burden of supporting the weight of the range hood.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein a hood opening guides the fastener inserted through the hood opening to the underside mounting surface such that the fastener can be sunk into the underside mounting surface to couple the range hood to the underside mounting surface.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the base portion to the underside mounting surface includes inserting a second fastener through at least one positioning opening defined in the base portion of the mounting plate, wherein the base portion is coupled to the underside mounting surface of the cabinet.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein coupling the base portion to the underside mounting surface includes inserting a second fastener through at least one positioning opening defined in a trim tab extending transversely from the base portion of the mounting plate; wherein the trim tab is coupled to a frame portion encircling the underside mounting surface such that the base portion is oriented parallel to the underside mounting surface and the upper surface of the range hood.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of engaging the support feature to the support opening of the upper surface of the range hood comprises hooking the range hood.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of inserting the fastener further includes inserting the fastener through a hood opening in the base portion of the mounting plate to couple the range hood to the mounting plate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support feature comprises a tongue.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support feature comprises a tongue formed from material of the mounting plate base portion and displaced from the base portion to define a void in the base portion, the tongue having a proximal end extending from the base portion and a distal end displaced from the base portion a distance greater than a thickness of the upper surface of the range hood.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of connecting the range hood to electrical connections located at the underside mounting surface prior to inserting the fastener through the upper surface of the range hood.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the support feature supports the weight of the range hood until the fastener secures the range hood to the underside mounting surface.

11. A method of mounting a range hood to an underside mounting surface, comprising:
providing a mounting plate comprising a base portion and at least one tongue;
coupling the mounting plate to the underside mounting surface;
providing a range hood comprising an upper surface defining at least one support opening;
inserting the tongue through the support opening;
engaging the range hood upper surface to the tongue such that the mounting plate can support the weight of the range hood; and
inserting a fastener through the upper surface of the range hood to couple the range hood to the base portion of the mounting plate or the underside mounting surface;
wherein the tongue can support the weight of the range hood to allow an installer to insert the fastener without the added burden of supporting the weight of the range hood.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein a hood opening guides the fastener inserted through the hood opening to the underside mounting surface such that the fastener can be sunk into the underside mounting surface to couple the range hood to the underside mounting surface.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein coupling the base portion to the underside mounting surface includes inserting a second fastener through at least one positioning opening defined in the base portion of the mounting plate, wherein the base portion is coupled to the underside mounting surface of the cabinet.

14. The method of claim 11 , wherein coupling the base portion to the underside mounting surface includes inserting a second fastener through at least one positioning opening defined in a trim tab extending transversely from the base portion of the mounting plate; wherein the trim tab is coupled to a frame portion encircling the underside mounting surface such that the base portion is oriented parallel to the underside mounting surface and the upper surface of the range hood.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of engaging the range hood upper surface to the tongue comprises hooking the range hood.

16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the step of inserting the fastener further includes inserting the fastener through a hood opening in the base portion of the mounting plate to couple the range hood to the mounting plate.

17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the tongue is formed from material of the mounting plate base portion and displaced from the base portion to define a void in the base portion, the tongue having a proximal end extending from the base portion and a distal end displaced from the base portion a distance greater than a thickness of the upper surface of the range hood.

18. The method of claim 11 , further comprising the step of connecting the range hood to electrical connections located at the underside mounting surface prior to inserting the fastener through the upper surface of the range hood.

19. The method of claim 11 , wherein the support feature supports the weight of the range hood until the fastener secures the range hood to the underside mounting surface.

20. A method of mounting a range hood, comprising:
providing a mounting plate comprising a base portion and at least one tongue;
providing a range hood comprising an upper surface defining at least one support opening;
inserting the tongue through the support opening;
engaging the range hood upper surface to the tongue to support the weight of the range hood until a fastener secures the range hood to the mounting plate or a mounting surface; and
inserting a fastener through the upper surface of the range hood to couple the range hood to the mounting plate or the mounting surface;
wherein the tongue can support the weight of the range hood to allow an installer to insert the fastener without the added burden of supporting the weight of the range hood.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein the step of engaging the range hood upper surface to the tongue comprises hooking the range hood.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the tongue is formed from material of the mounting plate base portion and displaced from the base portion to define a void in the base portion, the tongue having a proximal end extending from the base portion and a distal end displaced from the base portion a distance greater than a thickness of the upper surface of the range hood.

Assignees

• Broan Nu Tone Llc

Inventors

• Gauthier Benoit
• Sinur Richard R
• Wellnitz Brian R
• Houde Jonathan
• Cossette Remi
• Morin Yannick
• Kurth Mark
• Muller Peter
• Payne Timothy
• Wylen David
• Anthony Phil
• Eiger Aaron
• Rote Scott

Classifications

• F24C15/2071 Primary

  mounting of cooking hood · CPC title

• F24C15/2028 Primary

  using an air curtain · CPC title