FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to kitchen ventilation equipment. More specifically, it relates to panels that improve air ventilation for a range hood that is installed above a heat source for cooking.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Cooking in the kitchen using a gas or electric stovetop generates odors, oil, smoke and other fine particles that float in the air.

[0003] The odors, oil, smoke and fine particles permeate from the vicinity of a stovetop and diffuse into other living spaces. The odors, oil, smoke and fine particles further penetrate objects such as furniture and clothing. This makes the living space unpleasant and the objects dirty.

[0004] In particular, people sometimes refrain from cooking grilled fish and certain other foods at home to avoid lingering smoke and pungent odors.

[0005] Ventilation fans and range hoods are installed above the stovetop to discharge odors, smoke and fine particles to the outside of the building. However, ventilation fans and range hoods do not completely solve the problem because plenty of odors, oils, smoke and fine particles still spread into other living spaces.

[0006] Existing devices are described, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006258349, where a shielding member encloses the space between the cooking heat source and the ventilation opening. The shielding member surrounds three of the sides of the front, rear, left and right of the space. At least one of the three sides is blocked by a movable shielding member that is a roll-up screen or a curtain to be moved by a cook. The remaining forth side stays open to allow the cook to cook without being hindered by the shielding member. [0007] In another example, Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2534888 describes a shielding wall for splashing oil, which comprises a thin wall comprising movable plates made of aluminum or other non-combustible material. Magnets are fixed to the plates such that the plates are attracted to the magnetic ventilating hood. As shown in FIG. 25, the edge of the ventilating hood is used as a rail. A roller supporting member is attached to one end of the plates and pivotally supports the roller. Grooves are formed on the outer periphery of each roller, and the grooves of these rollers are fitted into the edge of the ventilating hood. As a result, each plate is movably supported and can slide along the edge of the ventilating hood. The plates can be stacked when not in use, and spread out to form the thin wall onto which the splashing oil can be caught when cooking.

[0008] However, the shielding member described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2006258349 isolates the cooking space from the rest of the kitchen, making the kitchen inconvenient to use. For example, the cook must leave the cooking space to reach for objects on the kitchen counter space that is immediately adjacent to the stovetop because of the partitioning by the shielding member. Furthermore, since the moveable shielding member is a rolled-up screen or a curtain, the moveable shielding member must be rolled up or wound up repeatedly as needed. This is a hassle for the cook.

[0009] Meanwhile, the shielding wall described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2534888 is intended to prevent oil droplets inside a pan or frying pan from splashing onto areas outside of the stovetop vicinity. The shielding wall does not prevent odors and smoke from permeating into other living spaces.

[0010] Therefore, there is a need for kitchen ventilation equipment that effectively prevents odors, oil, smoke and fine particles from permeating into other living spaces, but does not partition the cooking stovetop from the rest of the kitchen and thus rendering the kitchen inconvenient to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The present invention provides a rectifying panel comprising panels that form a cowling around a range hood above the cooking surface on three of the four vertical planes of the range hood - front, rear, left and right sides. Hence, the hood portion of the range hood is extended by the panels, and the direction of air flow from the cooking surface is directed by the panels into the range hood. Therefore, the extension of hood portion by the panels allows for more air to sucked in and exhausted to the outside of the building. This prevents odors, smoke and particles rising from the cooking surface from spreading to other living spaces.

[0012] In the first aspect of the invention, a rectifying panel for a range hood comprises at least one channel-shaped rail magnetically affixed to the range hood by a plurality of magnets, at least one slider insertable into the at least one channel-shaped rail, and at least one panel attachable to the at least one slider. The at least one panel is tilted and supported by the at least one slider in an inclined and tapered position. Attaching the at least one channel-shaped rail to the range hood with a plurality of magnets allows for easy positioning, while the inclined and tapered position of the panel makes the panel easy to set.

[0013] In another aspect of the invention, the at least one slider has a support arm that is upwardly inclined. Since the support arm is projecting at an upward inclination, and the at least one panel is attached to one end of the support arm of the slider, the panel will also be inclined.

[0014] In a further aspect of the invention, the at least one panels comprises at least one flat panel and at least one angled comer panel. The combination of flat panels and angled corner panels serve to enclose the rectangularly shaped hood portion of the range hood.

[0015] In another further aspect of the invention, an extension corner panel is placed on top the at least one angled comer panel. The extension corner panels are added for enclosure of the hood portion of range hoods that have a partially notched opening in the hood portion.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] The detailed description refers to the following figures in which: [0017] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the rectifying panel which is mounted on a Category A range hood.

[0018] FIG. 2 is a perspective view from below of the rectifying panel of FIG. 1.

[0019] FIG. 3 is another perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 1.

[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 1 in an assembled state.

[0021] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 1.

[0022] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the rectifying panel which is attached to a Category B range hood.

[0023] FIG. 7 is a perspective view from below of the rectifying panel of FIG. 6.

[0024] FIG. 8 is another perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 6.

[0025] FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 6 in an assembled state.

[0026] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 6, partially assembled.

[0027] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a third embodiment of the rectifying panel which is attached to a Category C range hood.

[0028] FIG. 12 is a perspective view from below of the rectifying panel of FIG. 11.

[0029] FIG. 13 is another perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 11.

[0030] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 11 in an assembled state. [0031] FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the rectifying panel of FIG. 11, partially assembled.

[0032] FIG. 16 is an explanatory diagram of channel -shaped rails used for the rectifying panels of the present invention.

[0033] FIG. 17 is a perspective view of a slider (glider) used with the rectifying panels of the present invention.

[0034] FIG. 18 is a front view of a flat panel used in the rectifying panel for a range hood.

[0035] FIG. 19 is a perspective view of an angled comer panel used in the rectifying panel for a range hood.

[0036] FIG. 20 is a perspective view of an angled comer panel extension used in the rectifying panel for a range hood.

[0037] FIG. 21 A illustrates a Category A range hood.

[0038] FIG. 2 IB illustrates a Category B range hood.

[0039] FIG. 21C illustrates a Category C range hood.

[0040] FIG. 22 illustrates a range hood onto which a channel-shaped rail is attached.

[0041] FIG. 23 illustrates a slider being engaged with a channel -shaped rail.

[0042] FIG. 24 illustrates the engagement between a channel-shaped rail, a slider, and a flat panel.

[0043] FIG. 25 is a front view of the shielding wall described in Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 2534888. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0044] FIG. 21A, FIG. 21B, and FIG. 21C illustrate Category A, B, and C range hoods respectively. The invention disclosed herein can be used on all three categories of range hood. Category A, B, and C range hoods can all be used when the back side of the range hoods (1) is a wall. Category C range hoods can be used in an open space. Regarding the Category B range hood, the hood portion (la) has a notch opening (lb) formed on the front side as shown in FIG. 21B. The range hoods available on the market may vary in dimension (length x width x depth) and size, but typically fall under one of these three categories.

[0045] Referring now to FIGS. 1 through 5, a rectifying panel mounted on the hood portion (la) of a Category A range hood (1) is shown. The rectifying panel comprises flat panels (7) and angled corner panels (8), a channel-shaped rail (2), and sliders (gliders) (6) inserted into the channelshaped rail (2).

[0046] FIG. 18 depicts a flat panel (7). FIG. 19 depicts an angled corner panel (8). Panels (7), (8) can be made of a variety of materials such as synthetic resins like polycarbonate or metal thin plates like aluminum. The material can be transparent, semi-transparent or translucent to not lose field of view. The material may also contain flame retardants for enhanced safety. The degree of flame retardancy is preferably UL 94 VTM-2 or higher.

[0047] With reference to FIG. 16, it can be seen that the channel-shaped rail (2) is a rectangular tube having a substantially C-shaped cross section, and a slit (2a) is formed on one surface of the rectangular tube in a longitudinal direction. The magnets (4) are strip-shaped, and a plurality of magnets (4) are attached to the surface of one side of the channel-shaped rail (2) at spaced intervals, perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the channel-shaped rail (2).

[0048] FIG. 22 illustrates the rectifying panel being attached to the hood portion (la) of a range hood (1) through the channel-shaped rail (2). The channel-shaped rail (2) is attached to the hood portion (la) by the magnets (4) (not shown). [0049] With reference to FIG. 17, it can be seen that the slider (glider) (6) comprises a slide body (6a), a support column (6b) that descends from the slide body (6a), a support body (6c) that extends laterally from the support column (6b), and a support arm (6d) extending diagonally upward. The surface of the support body (6c) that is attached to the support arm (6d) is inclined downwardly, such that the support arm (6d) extends upwardly from the support body (6c). Therefore, when a panel is attached to the support arm (6d), the panel is in an inclined and tapered position. The slider (glider) (6) can be made of synthetic resin, wood, or metal.

[0050] As shown in FIG. 23, the slide body (6a) of the slider (glider) (6) is inserted into the channel-shaped rail (2) from an end opening of the channel-shaped rail (2), and slides along the channel-shaped rail (2). The support column (6b), support body (6c) and support arm (6d) protrude out of the channel-shaped rail (2) through the slit (2a) of the channel-shaped rail (2).

[0051] FIG. 24 illustrates an example of a flat panel (7) being attached to and supported by the slider (glider) (6). Specifically, the flat panel (7) is supported by the support arm (6d) extending from the support body (6c) with an upward inclination, and is integrated with the channel-shaped rail (2). Although not shown, an angled corner panel (8) is attached and supported by the slider (glider) (6) in the same manner.

[0052] The support arm (6d) of the slider (glider) (6) can be fixed to the panels (7), (8) by screws or by adhesives, for example.

[0053] Then, the channel-shaped rail (2) on which the panels (7), (8) are now installed is attached to the hood portion (la) of the range hood (1) as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3.

[0054] The channel-shaped rail (2) is attached to the hood portion (la) of the range hood (1) through the magnets (4) that are attached to the surface of one side of the channel-shaped rail (2) as shown in FIG. 16 and as described above. [0055] The order for installing the different components of the rectifying panel onto the hood portion (la) can be different from the order described above. For example, the channel-shaped rail (2) may be attached to the hood portion (la) first before the slider (glider) (6) is inserted into the channel-shaped rail (2) as shown in FIG. 22, then the panels (7), (8) may be fixed onto the slider (glider) (6) afterwards.

[0056] As mentioned previously, the rectifying panel described above can also be mounted onto Category B and C range hoods (1). The rectifying panel for Category B range hoods (1) is shown in FIGS. 6 to 10. The rectifying panel for Category C range hoods (1) is shown in FIGS. 11 to 15.

[0057] As illustrated in FIGS. 6 to 10, an extension corner panel (9) can be placed on top of an angled corner panel (8). FIG. 20 depicts an extension corner panel (9). The extension comer panel (9) is used for Category B range hoods (1), such that the notch opening (lb) of the hood portion (la) is covered by the extension corner panel (9). The extension corner panel (9) can also be attached to the channel-shaped rail (2) using the slider (glider) (6). Extension corner panels (9) can be made of any of the materials described above for flat panels (7) and angled comer panels (8).

[0058] It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the invention is not restricted in its use to the particular application described. Neither is the present invention restricted in its preferred embodiment with regard to the particular elements and/or features described or depicted herein. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to the embodiment or embodiments disclosed, but is capable of numerous rearrangements, modifications and substitutions without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth and defined by the following claims.

LIST OF REFERENCES

1 range hood la hood portion lb notch opening

2 channel-shaped rail

2a slit ventilating hood (prior art) a edge (prior art) magnet aluminum plate (prior art) slider (glider) a slide body b support column c support body d support arm flat panel angled corner panel extension corner panel 1 roller supporting member (prior art)2 roller (prior art)