EP2927605B1

EP2927605B1 - Wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield

Info

Publication number: EP2927605B1
Application number: EP15160986.4A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Marco Dezi
Original assignee: Elica SpA
Current assignee: Elica SpA
Priority date: 2014-04-02
Filing date: 2015-03-26
Publication date: 2017-03-01
Anticipated expiration: 2035-03-26
Also published as: EP2927605A1

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield, which is used to close the suction opening of the hood when the latter is not in use, and to expose the suction opening to the fumes to be extracted when the hood is in operation.

Background art

Wall-mounted or vertical hoods are extractor or filter hoods which extend substantially parallel to the vertical wall to which they are mounted, such that they project out of such wall to a very small extent.
In this type of hoods the suction opening, i.e. the space required for fluid communication of the filters with the environment, is designed to be engaged by a steam shield or screen, which is movable between a rest state, in which it is flush with the hood structure and an open state in which it is pulled out from the hood structure and exposes the filters to the outside environment. In the rest position, fluid communication between the filters and the outside environment is always ensured by a peripheral opening between the steam shield and the hood frame, for extraction and filtering of cooking fumes. In the rest position, the steam shield remains within the footprint of the hood and hides the filters from the view, therefore bringing back the hood to an orderly and neat appearance. In the open state, the filters are entirely exposed to the outside environment for removal thereof (e.g. for cleaning purposes) or for increasing the cooking fume collecting section and increasing filtering effectiveness (e.g. when cooking food that emits very intense fumes).
Of course, the steam shield shall be allowed to move between the different states. In wall-mounted hoods, such movement can substantially occur in two modes. In one mode, the steam shield is linked to the hood structure by a quite complex mechanism (e.g. a scissor-mechanism), for translation and possibly for rotation relative to the structure to reach the rest and open positions. This mode has excessive requirements in terms of hood manufacturing times and costs. In a second mode, the steam shield is hinged to the hood structure to pivot between the rest position and the open position. Nevertheless, in this case, an active support arm (or rod) must be provided between the shield and the hood structure, which allows the steam shield to lie in the open position, i.e. when the shield is moved away from the filters. This is because the above-mentioned hinge is located at the top of the steam shield and the latter would tend to close if it were not supported. While this type of arrangement can be easily manufactured and installed, it does not meet the style and design requirements of modern hoods. Furthermore, with this arrangement the user is required to perform somewhat difficult maneuvers for simultaneous rotation of the steam shield and actuation of the support arm.
Finally, in prior art hoods steam shields are hardly removable from the hood frame, whereby steam shield cleaning operations are particularly burdensome. Relevant prior art is disclosed in EP 2 653 787 A2 .

Object of the Invention

In the light of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield that has none of the above mentioned prior art drawbacks.
According to the present invention, this object is fulfilled by a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield having the features as defined in one or more of the following claims.
The present invention provides a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield that can be easily actuated by a user by hand.
Also, the present invention provides a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield which affords easier access to the filters, and hence removal/reintroduction thereof for any cleaning requirement.
Furthermore, the present invention can provide a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield that meets style requirements of modem hoods.
Finally, the present invention can provide a wall-mounted hood whose steam shield can be easily removed without using special tools, for easy cleaning.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear from the following detailed description of one preferred embodiment, which is illustrated without limitation in the annexed drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield in the rest position according to the present invention;
Figure 2 shows the hood of Figure 1, with the steam shield in the open position;
Figures 3 to 8 show perspective views of certain parts of the hood of Figure 1 in different operating positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 designates a wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield of the present invention.
The hood 1 comprises a containing frame 2, preferably made of metal and possibly having decorative parts made of plastic, glass or crystal, or also made of metal. As used herein, the term containing frame is intended to designate a structural element designed to contain hood operating devices, comprising specially shaped elements and/or covering panels that impart a particular aesthetic appearance to the hood. The hood, as schematically shown in Figure 1, is designed to be mounted to a vertical wall.
The frame 2 is designed to be secured to a vertical wall, in an area located above a cooktop having one or more burners. In this respect, the terms "vertical direction", "inclined direction", "vertical" and "inclined" relate to an installed hood configuration, therefore the vertical direction is intended as a direction substantially perpendicular to the cooktop (i.e. substantially parallel to the plumb line direction) and the inclined direction is intended as a direction that forms an angle with a vertical plane.
The hood 1 comprises a ventilating unit 3 (not shown) having grease filters 3 (only schematically shown in Figures 1 and 2) and a gas intake section. The ventilating unit may have filtering or extracting purposes.
A steam shield 4 overlies the grease filters 3. The steam shield 4 may be made of any steam impervious material. Preferably, the steam shield 4 is made of a material that is adapted to be aesthetically associated with the exposed material of the hood. The steam shield 4 is designed to be moved relative to the frame 2 between a rest state (as shown in Figure 1) in which it stands in a substantially vertical position , thereby covering and preventing access to the grease filters 3 and an open state (as shown in Figure 2) in which it lies along an inclined plane and exposes the grease filters 3 to the outside environment, thereby allowing access thereto by a user. It shall be noted that the hood 1 can extract and filter gases in both rest and open states. Particularly, in the rest state, gases are extracted through peripheral openings formed between the steam shield and the hood frame. In addition to direct access to the grease filters 3, the open state provides a maximized filtering effect, due to an increased collecting section.
The steam shield 4 is connected to the frame 2, by the provision of a first hinge body 5 rigidly joined to the frame 2, a second hinge body 6 rigidly joined to the steam shield 4 and a third hinge body 7 operable between the first 5 and second 6 hinge bodies. These hinge bodies, and particularly their mutual mechanical interaction, cause the steam shield 4 to move from the rest state to the open state, stably maintain the open position and allow the steam shield 4 to be disconnected from the frame 2.
The third hinge body 7, as shown in greater detail in Figure 5, is designed to be contained in the first hinge body 5 and is adapted to move within the first hinge body 5 in a substantially horizontal direction X, parallel to the axis of rotation of the steam shield 4. Particularly, the third hinge body is adapted to move between a first position (as shown in Figure 7), in which it attaches the second hinge body 6 to the first hinge body 5, such that the steam shield 4 remains in the open position (as shown in Figure 2) and a second position (as shown in Figure 8) in which it allows the second hinge body 6 to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction X, such that the steam shield 4 may reach the rest position (as shown in Figure 1). It shall be noted that the direction X of movement of the third hinge body 7 is substantially perpendicular to the direction in which the steam shield 4 extends when it is in the rest position. The movement of the third hinge body 7 is counteracted by elastic members 8, preferably a spring, which have the purpose of stably retaining the third hinge body 7 in the first position (see Figure 7). The third hinge body 7 is further adapted to translate, along the direction X, to a third position, in which it allows physical separation between the first 5 and second 6 hinge bodies, for the steam shield 4 to be separated from the frame 2. Structurally, the third hinge body 7 comprises a pin 9 which extends in the above mentioned direction X from a first connection element 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two first connection elements, which are mutually spaced along the direction X (as shown in Figure 5). The first connection element extends in a direction substantially perpendicular to the direction X and to the axis of rotation of the steam shield 4. Each first connection body 10 comprises a tooth 11 projecting out of the part that faces the pin 9. Preferably, the pin 9 protrudes out of the tooth 11. The latter is defined by a prismatic projection which, as mentioned above, projects out of the first connection element toward the pin 9. The third hinge body 7 further comprises an appendix 12 for each of the first connection elements 10. This appendix 12 extends from a wall 13 of the third hinge body 7, which is substantially perpendicular to the first connection element 10 and carries the above mentioned first connection elements 10. The appendix 12 extends perpendicularly away from the wall 13 toward the pin 9. An abutment element 14 also projects from the wall 13, substantially parallel to the first connection body 10, and has the purpose of allowing a user to move the third hinge body by applying pressure thereon against the force exerted by the elastic members 8. The latter (as shown in Figure 7) are attached to an end of the third hinge body 7 which is opposite to the end at which the abutment element 14 extends.
The second hinge body 6, as shown in Figures 3 and 6, comprises at least one second connection element 16 having a hole 16 adapted to be rotatably engaged by the pin 9. The second connection element 15 is rigidly joined to a plate 17 that secures the second hinge body 6 to the steam shield 4. The plate 7 has a handle 17a, which is designed to be held by a user when the steam shield 4 has to be removed. The plate also has a limit stop member 17b, for restricting the rotation of the steam shield 4 when it is pivoted into the rest position. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two second connection elements 15, which are mutually spaced along the direction X (as shown in Figure 3). Each second connection element 15 comprises a shoulder 18 which is adapted to be engaged by abutment of the tooth 11 to restrict the rotation of the pin 9 in the hole 16. The second connection element 15 further comprises a groove 19 delimited by two wings 20 which extends perpendicular to the hole 16 (see Figure 6). One of the two wings 20 that delimit the groove 19 extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction X to a greater extent than the other groove 20, which means that one of the two wings protrudes to a greater extent than the other, as shown in Figure 6. Namely, the wing 20 that protrudes to a greater extent is the wing facing the part of the second connection element 15 that directly faces the pin 9 of the first connection element 10.
The first hinge body 5 as shown in Figure 4, comprises an inner cavity 21 which is designed to slidably receive the third hinge body 7. It shall be noted that the third hinge body 7 is entirely contained in the first hinge body 5. The cavity 21 has as many openings as there are first connection elements 10. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, there are two openings 22. These openings 22 are adapted to have the second connection elements 15 of the second hinge body extending therethrough and to prevent translational movements thereof in the direction X. The openings 22 have such a size as to allow rotation of the second connection elements 15 about an axis parallel to the direction X. The cavity 21 has a lead-in section 23 whose shape substantially mates the shape of the abutment element 14 of the third hinge body 7. An abutment wall is provided away from the lead-in section, for the elastic members 8 to act thereupon.
In operation, when the steam shield 4 is in the open state (as shown in Figure 2); the second hinge body 6 is engaged on the third hinge body 7 and the third hinge body 7 is inserted in the first hinge body 5. As shown in Figure 7, the pin 9 is entirely inserted in the hole 16 and the tooth 11 abuts the shoulder 18. The second hinge body 6 is locked in the direction X by the walls of the openings 22 of the cavity 21 of the first hinge body 5. The third hinge body 7 is locked in the direction X by the force exerted by the elastic member 8. The second hinge body 6 is also locked against rotation about an axis parallel to the direction X when the rotation is in the same direction as the rotation that would move the steam shield 4 into the rest state (due to the tooth 11 that abuts the shoulder 18). Thus, the steam shield 4 assumes a stable open position. It shall be noted that, in this position, the appendix 12 of the third hinge body 7 is in a position of non-interference with the wings 20 and particularly is out of the footprint of the second connection element 15.
When the steam shield 4 has to be moved into the rest state, the third hinge body is caused (by a user) to translate to a first extent in the direction X against the elastic members 8 by acting upon the abutment element 14 (see Figure 8). Such translation causes the pin 9 to partially come out of the hole 16 and the tooth 11 to be released from the shoulder 18. The second hinge body 6 is locked in the direction X by the walls of the openings 22 of the cavity 21 of the first hinge body 5. Conversely, the second hinge body 6 is free to rotate about an axis parallel to the direction X to move the steam shield 4 into the rest state. It shall be noted that, in this position, the appendix 12 of the third hinge body 7 is level with the groove 19 and slides therein as the second hinge body 6 rotates relative to the third hinge body 7. The wing 20 that projects to a greater extent (see above) acts as a lateral abutment of the appendix 12 that can no longer translate (with the third hinge body 7) in the direction X.
The movement of the steam shield 4 from the rest state to the open state occurs by carrying out the above described steps in reverse order.
In the open position, the steam shield 4 may be mechanically released from the frame 2. Particularly, once the third hinge body has been caused to translate to the first extent, as described above, the second hinge body 6 shall be rotated 6 in as direction opposite to the direction that would move the steam shield 4 into the rest state. Such rotation, through an angle of about 10°, will move the second hinge body 6 out of interference with the appendix 12 of the third hinge body 7, thereby allowing the third hinge body to translate to a further extent X against the action of the elastic members 8. Such further translational movement will fully disengage the pin 9 from the hole 16, thereby mechanically disconnecting the third hinge body from the second. Thus the steam shield 4 may be removed from the hood frame 2, with the second hinge body 6 being held by the handle 17a.
Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the apparatus of the invention as described hereinbefore to meet specific needs, without departure from the scope of the invention as defined in the following claims, and for instance a micro switch may be provided that can be operated as the steam shield is being opened to enable and disable the functions of the ventilating unit.

Claims

A wall-mounted hood with a pull-out steam shield, comprising:
- a frame (2);

- fat filters (3) contained in said frame (2);

- a steam shield (4) which is designed to be movable relative to said frame (2) between a rest position in which it stands upright and prevents access to said fat filters (3) and an open position, in which it lies along an inclined plane to allow direct access to said fat filters (3);
characterized in that it comprises:
a first hinge body (5) joined to said frame (2), a second hinge body (6) joined to said steam shield (4) and a third hinge body (7) operable between said first (5) and second (7) hinge bodies, said third hinge body (7) being contained in said first hinge body (5) and being adapted to move, in a direction (X), between a first position, in which it attaches said second hinge body (6) to said first hinge body (5), such that said steam shield (4) remains in the open position, and a second position in which it allows the second hinge body (6) to rotate about an axis parallel to said direction (X), such that said steam shield (4) reaches the rest position; said third hinge body (7) stably remaining in the first position under the action of an elastic member (8).
A hood as claimed in claim 1, wherein said third hinge body (7) is further movable to a third position, in which it allows physical separation between said first (5) and second (6) hinge bodies (6), for the steam shield (4) to be separated from said frame (2).
A hood as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said third hinge body (7) comprises at least one pin (9) which extends in said direction (X), and projects out of a respective first connection element (10), said first connection element (10) further comprising a tooth (11) projecting out of the part facing toward said pin (9); said second hinge body (6) comprising at least one second connection element (15) having a hole (16) adapted to be rotatably engaged by said pin (9), said second connection element (15) comprising a shoulder (18) which is adapted to be engaged by abutment of said tooth (15) to restrict rotation of the pin (9) in the hole (16).
A hood as claimed in claim 3, wherein said third hinge body (7) is slidably introduced into a cavity (21) of said first hinge body (6); said cavity (22) comprising at least one opening (22) which is adapted to receive said second connection element (15) of the second hinge body (6) there through for engagement of said first connection element (10) of the third hinge body (7).
A hood as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein said second connection element (15) comprises a groove (19) delimited by two wings (20), which extend perpendicular to said hole (9), said third hinge body (7) comprising an appendage (12), designed for slidable engagement in said groove (19) and lateral abutment by said wings (20) when said steam shield (4) is in the rest position.
A hood as claimed in claim 3, wherein said elastic members (8) are operable between said third hinge body (7) and said cavity (21) of the first hinge body (5), to hold said pin (9) within said hole (16) and to keep said tooth (11) engaged on said shoulder (18), such that the steam shield (4) assumes a stable open position.
A hood as claimed in claims 5 and 6, wherein a first translational movement of said third hinge body (7) in the direction (X), against said elastic members (8) causes said tooth (11) to disengage from said shoulder (18), said pin to partially slip out of said hole (16), and said appendage (12) to be aligned with said groove (19), thereby allowing the second hinge body (6) to rotate relative to the first hinge body (5).
A hood as claimed in claim 7, wherein a second translational movement of the third hinge body (7), next to said first translational movement, causes said pin (9) to entirely slip out of said hole (16) thereby mechanically releasing the first hinge body (5) from the second hinge body (6) and allowing removal of the steam shield (4) from said frame (2) of the hood.
A hood as claimed in claim 8, wherein a first wing of said wings (20) that delimit said groove extends in a direction perpendicular to the direction (X) to a greater extent than the other wing (20), thereby acting as an abutment for said appendage (12) and stopping said third hinge body (7) at the end of said first translational movement; said second hinge body (6) being rotatable between the first and second translational movements of the third hinge body (7) to move said first wing (20) out of the footprint of said appendage (12) and allow said second translational movement.