US20230400194A1

US20230400194A1 - Wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood and method for assembling a hood from the kit

Info

Publication number: US20230400194A1
Application number: US18/330,491
Authority: US
Inventors: Fabrizio DELABELLA; Herbart RUBIO
Original assignee: Elica SpA
Current assignee: Elica SpA
Priority date: 2022-06-08
Filing date: 2023-06-07
Publication date: 2023-12-14

Abstract

A wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood (1), comprises a functional module (2); a covering element (5) connectable to the functional module (2) and adapted to define an outer casing of the hood (1); a first fixing element (10) configured to be fixed to the wall and to the functional module (2); a second fixing element (14) configured to be fixed to the wall and to the covering element (5). A method for assembling a kitchen hood (1), comprises the steps of fixing the first fixing element (10) to a wall; fixing the second fixing element (14) to the wall; fixing the functional module (2) to the first fixing element (10); fixing the covering element (5) to the second fixing element (14).

Description

The present disclosure relates to a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood and a method for assembling a hood starting from the kit. The assembled hood, also the subject-matter of the disclosure, can be used in the home setting and/or in kitchens of restaurants or other places open to the public, such as by way of example hotels and canteens. The hood can also be of the filtering type, that is, provided to re-introduce the cooking fumes into the room after having filtered them, or of the suction type, that is, adapted to convey the cooking fumes into a chimney to expel them outside.
A hood that can be fixed to a wall is known in the state of the art. Said hood comprises a functional module, which comprises a box-like body provided with an inlet opening, which can be facing a food cooking area for example a hob. The functional module integrates a fan driven by an electric motor, and has an outlet opening connectable to a duct, which is installed separately.
The hood further comprises a covering element which, in use, encloses both the functional module and, at least in part, the duct.
In greater detail, the known type hood is supplied already assembled except for the duct, which is mounted when the other parts of the hood are already fixed to the wall. Disadvantageously, the installation of the duct is hindered by the presence of the covering element, which makes it very difficult for the operator.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In this context, the technical task underlying the present invention is to propose a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood and a method for assembling a hood starting from the kit that overcome the drawbacks of the above-mentioned prior art.
In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood and a method for assembling a hood starting from the kit capable of facilitating the installation of the hood.
The specified technical task and the specified purposes are substantially achieved by a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood and by a method for assembling a hood starting from the kit comprising the technical features set forth in one or more of the appended claims.
In particular, a first embodiment of the present invention relates to a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood. The kit comprises a functional module which can face a cooking area to suck food cooking fumes. The functional module has at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening for conveying the cooking fumes.
A covering element is connectable to the functional module and is adapted to define an outer casing of the hood.
Connection means are associable to the functional module for fixing it to a wall. The connection means comprise a first fixing element configured to be fixed to the wall and to the functional module.
The connection means comprise at least a second fixing element configured to be fixed to the wall and to the covering element.
A second embodiment of the invention relates to a method for assembling a kitchen hood. The method comprises the step of providing a kit in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention.
The first fixing element is fixed to the wall. Then the second fixing element is also fixed to the wall.
After the step of fixing the first fixing element to the wall, the functional module is fixed to the first fixing element. After the steps of fixing the second fixing element to the wall and the module functional to the first fixing element, the covering element is fixed to the second fixing element.

LIST OF FIGURES

Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the non-limiting description of preferred, but not exclusive, embodiments of a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood and of a method for assembling a hood starting from the kit, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood in accordance with the present invention, with some parts removed to better show others;

FIG. 1 a is an enlarged view of an element shown in FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 2 is a front view of the kit of FIG. 1 at a different step of installation of the hood;

FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 are respective perspective views of the kit of FIGS. 1 and 2 at different steps of installation of the hood; and

FIG. 6 is a perspective view from below of the kit of FIGS. 1 and 2 with some parts removed to better show others.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the attached figures, a kit in accordance with the present disclosure for the wall-mounting installation of a kitchen hood 1 will be described below.
The kit comprises a functional module 2, which is arranged to face a cooking area (not illustrated), for example defined at a hob. The functional module 2 is provided to suck food cooking fumes, and has at least one inlet opening 2 a and an outlet opening 2 b for conveying said cooking fumes.
In greater detail, the functional module 2 is defined by a box-like body 20 having a front wall 21, a rear wall 22 opposite the front wall 21 and a pair of side walls 23 arranged transversely and in particular perpendicularly to the front 21 and rear 22 walls. The box-like body 20 is closed at the bottom by a lower wall 24 on which the inlet opening 2 a is obtained, and at the top by an upper wall 25 on which the outlet opening 2 b is obtained.
Inside the box-like body 20, the functional module 2 comprises at least one fan (not illustrated) placed in a suction chamber, which is in fluid communication with the inlet 2 a and outlet 2 b openings. The fan is driven by an electric motor (not illustrated), which is connected to a power supply and control electronics. The functional module 2 comprises cables 3, which are adapted to be connected to an external power supply source, usually a power outlet or a transformer connected to it.
The components arranged inside the functional module 2, such as the fan and the electronics, are in themselves known to the person skilled in the art, and will therefore not be further described.
The kit further comprises an exhaust duct 4, which can be connected to the outlet opening 2 b of the functional module 2. The exhaust duct 4 may be of the rigid or flexible type.
In accordance with the present disclosure, the kit comprises a covering element 5. Said covering element 5 has a predominantly aesthetic function, i.e. to enclose and hide from view the functional module 2 and at least in part the exhaust duct 4. The covering element 5 is connectable to the functional module 2 and, once installed, defines an outer casing of the hood 1. With particular reference to FIG. 6 , the connection between the functional module 2 and the covering element 5 takes place by means of connection screws 50, which are screwed in from the inside. In particular, the area of access to the connection screws 50 is positioned behind the grease filter (not illustrated).
In greater detail, the covering element 5 comprises a pair of side walls 30, arranged substantially vertically and parallel to each other. Each side wall 30 has a respective edge 30 a which, in use, is placed near the wall on which the hood 1 is installed or is directly in contact with it. The covering element 5 comprises at least one front wall 31, arranged transversely with respect to the side walls 30.
In further detail, the covering element 5 has a convergent shape from a base area 32 to a top area 33. The base area 32 is shaped substantially analogously to the lower wall 24 of the functional module 2, while the top area 33 has a passage 34 having a shape compatible with the exhaust duct 4 which, in use, passes through it.
It should be noted that, at the base area, the side 30 and front 31 walls of the covering element 5 are arranged facing and in particular close to the corresponding side 23 and front 21 walls of the functional module 2.
In accordance with the present disclosure, the kit comprises connection means 6, which can be associated with the functional module 2 so as to fix it to the wall. Said connection means 6 comprising a first fixing element 10, which is configured to be fixed to the wall and to the functional module 2. The fixing element 10 comprises a plate 11 which, in use, is adhering to the wall on which the hood 1 is installed and is fixed thereto preferably by screws.
A pair of rods 12 protrude cantilevered from the plate 11. In particular, each rod 12 protrudes from a respective side edge 11 a of the plate 11. The rods 12 are in particular fixable to the upper wall 25 of the functional module 2, in particular near each of a respective side wall 23.
To further support the functional module 2, the connection means 6 comprise a support element 13, which is arranged to be connected to the functional module 2, in particular at the rear wall 22, at a lower height with respect to the first fixing element 10. The support element 13 has a thickness substantially similar to the distance between the rear wall 22 of the functional module 2 and the wall on which the hood 1 is fixed whereby, in use, the support element 13 rests on the wall allowing the first fixing element 10 to support the load without the rods 12 bending excessively.
It should be noted that, in accordance with the present disclosure, the connection means 6 comprise at least one second fixing element 14, which is configured to be fixed to the wall and to the covering element 5. In the preferred embodiment, the connection means 6 comprise two second fixing elements 14. Each second fixing element 14 is configured to be connected to a respective side wall 30 of the covering element 5 preferably substantially at the edge 30 a.
As shown by way of example in FIG. 3 , each second fixing element 14 is represented in a vertical bar 15. Said bar 15 comprises a contact surface 16, adapted to be placed on the wall to which the hood 1 is fixed and to be firmly locked thereon, preferably by means of screws. The bar 15 further comprises a connection area 17, adapted to face a respective side wall 30 of the covering element 5 and to connect to it.
Note that each second fixing element 14 comprises a plurality of hooks 40. Each side wall 30 of the covering element 5 comprises a plurality of pins 41, arranged at the edge 30 a. Each pin 41 is insertable in a respective hook 40, in such a way as to hang the covering element 5 to the second fixing elements 14.
In greater detail, the hooks 40 are arranged on the connection area 17 of the second fixing element 14. The hooks 40 of each second fixing element 14 are aligned along a main development direction of the bar 15 which, in use, is arranged vertically.
Each hook 40 is defined by a respective slot 42 obtained on the bar 15. The slot comprises a horizontal section 42 a, which allows the insertion of the cited pin 41. The horizontal section 42 a ends in at least one recess 42 b, placed at a lower height with respect to the horizontal section 42 a in such a way as to accommodate the pin 41 preventing it from slipping out of the hook 40. As shown in FIG. 1 a , the slot 40 comprises a pair of recesses 42 b, one of which is placed at a lower height and the other at a higher height with respect to the horizontal section 42 a. The recess 42 b placed above the horizontal section is not used when the hood 1 is installed, but prior to installation its presence allows the second fixing element 14 to be arranged indifferently on the right or left side of the hood 1.
A method for assembling a kitchen hood 1 is also part of the present disclosure. Preliminarily, the method envisages the step of providing a kit as described above. Next, the holes (not illustrated) are drilled on the wall where the hood 1 must be installed. The first fixing element 10 is then fixed to the wall, in particular by screwing it into the holes provided for this purpose. The second fixing elements 14 are also fixed to the wall.
After the step of fixing the first fixing element 10 to the wall the functional module 2 is fixed to the first fixing element 10. Subsequently, the exhaust duct 4 is connected to the outlet opening 2 b of the functional module 2. The cables 3 are then connected to the external power supply, as described above.
After the steps of fixing the second fixing element 14 to the wall, of fixing the functional module 2 to the first fixing element 10 and of fixing the exhaust duct 4, the covering element 5 is fixed to the second fixing element 14.
Finally, the covering element 5 can optionally be fixed to the functional module 2. Advantageously, this allows to reduce vibrations and noise caused by the operation of the hood 1.

Claims

1. A wall-mounting installation kit for a kitchen hood, comprising:

a functional module which can face a cooking area to suck food cooking fumes, the functional module having at least one inlet opening and one outlet opening for conveying the cooking fumes;

a covering element connectable to the functional module and adapted to define an outer casing of the hood;

connection means associable to the functional module for fixing it to a wall, the connection means comprising a first fixing element configured to be fixed to the wall and to the functional module;

wherein the connection means comprise at least a second fixing element configured to be fixed to the wall and to the covering element.

2. The kit according to the preceding claim, comprising two second fixing elements.

3. The kit according to the preceding claim, wherein the covering element comprises a pair of side walls arranged substantially vertically and parallel to each other, each side wall having a respective edge, each second fixing element being configured to be connected to a respective side wall preferably substantially at the edge.

4. The kit according to the preceding claim, wherein each second fixing element comprises a plurality of hooks, each side wall comprising a plurality of pins arranged at the edge, each pin being insertable in a respective hook for hanging the covering element to the second fixing elements.

5. The kit according to claim 1, wherein the connection means comprise a support element configured to be connected to the functional module at a lower height with respect to the first fixing element and to rest on the wall.

6. The kit according to claim 1, also comprising an exhaust duct connectable to the outlet opening of the functional module and configured to be arranged at least in part between the covering element and the wall.

7. Hood assembled starting from the kit according to claim 1.

8. A method for assembling a kitchen hood, comprising the steps of:

providing a kit according to claim 1;

fixing the first fixing element to a wall;

fixing the second fixing element to the wall;

after the step of fixing the first fixing element to the wall, fixing the functional module to the first fixing element;

after the steps of fixing the second fixing element to the wall and the functional module to the first fixing element, fixing the covering element to the second fixing element.

9. The method according to the preceding claim, comprising the further step of connecting an exhaust duct to the outlet opening of the functional module, the step of connecting the exhaust duct being performed before the step of fixing the covering element and preferably after the step of fixing the functional module.

10. The method according to claim 8, comprising the further step of fixing the covering element to the functional module, in particular after the step of fixing the covering element to the second fixing element.