WO2015140661A1

WO2015140661A1 - A hood with a pull-out steam shield

Info

Publication number: WO2015140661A1
Application number: PCT/IB2015/051650
Authority: WO
Inventors: Franco Marasca
Original assignee: Elica S.P.A.; CIMINO, Marco
Priority date: 2014-03-17
Filing date: 2015-03-06
Publication date: 2015-09-24
Also published as: EP3120080A1; EP3120080B1

Abstract

A hood with a pull-out steam shield comprises a ventilating unit (3), a collecting section (4), a frame (2) designed to contain the ventilating unit (3) and the collecting section (4), a steam shield (5) movable relative to the frame (2) between a rest state in which it closes the collecting section (4) and an operating state in which it exposes the collecting section (4) to the outside environment. A pair of support members (6) are rigidly joined to the steam shield (5) each having a pair of cam followers (9) which slidably engage respective tracks (10) rigidly joined with said frame (2), each track (10) comprises a first inclined section (10a), a straight guide (12) for each support member (6) is adapted to translate relative to the frame (2). Guide members (23) are also provided, which are operable on said support members (6) to allow said support members (6) to move between a rest state in which said steam shield (5) is contained within the footprint of said frame (2) and closes said collecting section (4) and an operating state in which said steam shield projects out of the footprint of said frame (2) and exposes said collecting section (4) to the outside environment

Description

DESCRIPTION

"A hood with a pull-out steam shield"

Field of the Invention

The present invention is directed to a 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

Modem hoods, especially those intended for domestic use, are devices that must not only perform the task for which they are designed (i.e. extracting cooking fumes), but also meet aesthetic and ergonomic requirements for harmonized integration in modern kitchens and for easy use.

For this purpose, hoods are known in which the suction opening, i.e. the space immediately below the filters is designed to be engaged by a steam shield or screen, which is movable between a rest state, in which it covers the suction opening and an operating state in which it is pulled-out from the suction opening. Thus, when the hood is not on use, the filters are not exposed to the external environment and are prevented from intercepting or capturing steam or else that is not required to be extracted. Furthermore, 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. When in operation, the steam shield moves out of the footprint defined by the filters and allows the hood to perform its functions.

Of course, the steam shield shall be allowed to move from the rest state to the active state and vice versa. EP 2541154 discloses an extractor hood with a steam shield in which the shield is guided between a rest position in which it closes the suction opening and is embedded in flush arrangement in the hood frame, and an operating position in which it is moved apart from the suction opening and lies in a substantially horizontal orientation in front of the hood frame. In order to move from the rest position to the operating position and vice versa, the steam shield has first and second slides at its lateral edges. Each slide has two sliding members slidably engaged in a guide that is rigidly joined to the hood frame. The guide comprises a first section with two inclined ramps, each being engaged by a respective sliding member and a second section, connected to both ramps of the first section, having a substantially horizontal orientation. During transition from the rest position to the operating position, the sliding members slide first within the first section of the above mentioned guide thereby lowering and slightly translating the steam shield, such that it is positioned below the footprint of the hood frame, then the sliding members slide along the second section of the guide, thereby pulling the steam shield out to the front of the hood frame, and clearing the suction opening. During such movement, the screen is always parallel to itself in a substantially horizontal plane. In another embodiment of EP2541154, the steam shield slides telescopically along two guides disposed along the lateral edges of the steam shield. Each guide is hinged at the front of the hood frame such that each guide may rotate (through a few degrees) away from the horizontal rest position. In order to move the steam shield to the operating positions, both guides are rotated and the steam shield is pulled out along the guides, to a slightly inclined position relative to the horizontal position in front of the hood.

In the above described extractor hood, during the movement between the rest position and the operating position of the steam shield, the user must exert a perfectly balanced force on the steam shield, such that substantially identical forces are imparted to the sliding members. If non-identical forces are exerted on the sliding members, the latter would likely stick along their guides, and the movement of the shield would be rather problematic.

In the first embodiment of the above described prior art, a sufficient space should be provided between the steam shield and the front of the hood frame, for the steam shield to move along the ramps of the first section of the guides to disengagement from the footprint of the hood frame during the initial step of the opening travel. This space that separates (in the rest state) the steam shield from the front of the hood frame is substantially identical to the plan projection of the first ramped section of the guides, and hence is not negligible, considering that the ramped sections cannot have a steep inclination. If this space is too large, then it will likely affect the smooth and neat appearance required of the shield when it is in the rest position.

On the other hand, in the second embodiment of the above described prior art, the steam shield lies inclined when it is in the operating position. Furthermore, in view of steam shield handling requirements, a recess is provided in a median position at the bottom of the steam shield for a user to take hold of the shield. This recess will also likely affect the smooth and neat appearance required of the shield when it is in the rest position.

Object of the Invention

In the light of the above prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide a 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 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 hood with a pull-out steam shield that can be easily actuated by a user, possibly by hand, without requiring particular care in the choice of the steam shield portion upon which force has to be exerted to open and close the shield.

Furthermore, the present invention provides a hood with a pull-out steam shield that does not require a large free space to be maintained between the steam shield and the front of the hood frame and hence is perfectly integrated in the hood frame in the rest configuration.

Also, the present invention provides a hood with a pull-out steam shield that lies in a horizontal position in the operating configuration.

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 perspective view of a hood with a pull-out steam shield, which is in the operating position according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the hood of Figure 1 , which has a pull-out steam shield and is in the rest position;

- Figure 3 shows a perspective view of the hood of Figure 1, which is in the intermediate position between the operating and rest positions;

- Figure 4 shows a further perspective view of the hood of Figure 1, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts, which has a pull-out steam shield and is in the operating position according to the present invention;

- Figure 5 shows a perspective view of the hood of Figure 1, with certain parts omitted to better show other parts, which has a pull-out steam shield and is in the rest position;

- Figure 6 shows a further perspective view of the hood of Figure 5, which has a pull-out steam shield and is in an operating position according to the present invention.

Disclosure

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 designates a 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. As used herein, the term containing frame is intended to designate a structural element designed to contain hood operating devices (as explained in greater detail below), comprising specially shaped elements and/or covering panels that impart a particular aesthetic appearance to the hood.

The frame 2 is designed to be secured to a part, in an area located above a cooktop having one or more burners. In this respect, reference will be made below and in the annexed claims to "horizontal", "inclined" and "vertical" directions. These directions relate to an installed hood configuration, therefore the horizontal direction is intended as a direction substantially parallel to the cooktop (i.e. substantially perpendicular to the plumb line direction), 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 horizontal or vertical plane.

The hood 1 comprises a ventilating unit 3 (only schematically shown in Figure 1) having a gas intake section. A collecting section is associated with the intake section of the ventilating unit 3 and is adapted to receive a gas flow therethrough in the direction from the outside environment to said intake section. The collecting section 4 is engaged by one or more filters of known type and possibly by a metal grid-like structure.

Once the gases have been extracted by the intake section, they are filtered and then evacuated through an exhaust line (not shown).

In the embodiment of the figures, the intake section and the collecting section 4 are confined in an enclosure 1A (or case), which may have, for instance, the shape of a parallelepiped.

A steam shield 5 is placed upstream from the collecting section 4, i.e. immediately below it. The steam shield 5 may be made of any steam impervious material. Preferably, the steam shield 5 is made of a material that is adapted to be aesthetically associated with the exposed material of the hood. The steam shield 5 is movable relative to the frame 2 between a rest state (as shown in Figure 3) in which it is contained within the footprint of the frame 2 and closes the collecting section 4 and an operating state (as shown in Figure 1) in which it at least partially projects out of the footprint of the frame 2 and exposes the collecting section 4 to the outside environment.

As shown in Figure 2, when the steam shield 5 is in the rest state, it lies flush with the frame 2 or slightly recessed therein. Particularly, the lower portion of the frame 2, i.e. the one with the collecting section 4, comprises two opposite lateral shoulders 2a and a front panel 2b. Each lateral shoulder 2a has a respective box-like body 2d (see Figure 5) which accommodates members designed for the movement of the steam shield 5. The latter is substantially flat in the preferred embodiment of the invention, and is delimited by four edges 5a which are opposite in pairs.

Support members 6 are provided on two respective opposite edges 5a of the steam shield 5. Particularly, each support member 6 comprises an anchor element 7 (see Figure 1) which is rigidly joined to a respective edge 5a of the steam shield 5, for the latter to be held by the support members.

Each support member 6 comprises a plate 8, which is rigidly connected to the anchor element 7 and is contained in the box-like body 2d of the frame 2. A pair of cam followers 9, e.g. sliding members consisting of bearings or pawls made of a polymeric material and designed for sliding contact, are mounted to the plate, and slidably engage respective tracks 10 that are rigidly joined to the frame 2. Particularly, there are two tracks 10 for each support member 6, which are formed in a vertical wall of the above mentioned box-like body 2d directly or indirectly facing the collecting section 4 (see Figure 4). Each track 10 comprises at least one first inclined section 10a and a second substantially horizontal section 10b. The two sections 10a, 10b of each track are connected together for the cam follower 9 to slide unimpeded within the entire track 10. Particularly, each cam follower 9 engages its respective track 10 between a first position at a first end of the first section 10a of the track 10, corresponding to the rest position of the steam shield 5, a second position at the junction area of the first 10a and second 10b sections of the track 10, corresponding to a partially pulled out position of the steam shield 5, and a third position at one end of the second section 10b of the track 10 corresponding to the operating position of the steam shield 5. The above described first position of the cam follower 9 is located at a higher level than the second and third positions, i.e. such first position is distal from the collecting section 4 as compared with the second and third positions. In other words, the first inclined section 10a of the track 10 extends from an area located at a higher level than that at which the second section 10b of the track 10 lies, until it reaches the second section 10b. Each pair of tracks 10 of the same box-like body of the frame extend substantially parallel, at both first and second sections. It shall be noted that the cam followers 9 are placed on the plate 8 at different heights, i.e. are not placed on the same section of the plate 8 (for reasons that will be apparent hereinbelow).

A notch is formed in the first section 10a of each track 10, and is engaged by its respective cam follower 9 when the steam shield 5 is in its rest position. The notches have the purpose of defining a stable equilibrium position of the cam followers 9 and hence of the steam shield 5 when the latter, as mentioned above, is in the rest position.

The movement of the steam shield 5 relative to the frame 2 is allowed by guide members 23 (as shown in Figures 5, 6).

Particularly, the guide members 23 are operable on the support members 6 to allow such support members 6 to move between a first position, where the cam followers 9 are in their first position and a second position, where the cam followers 9 are in their second position.

In one embodiment, the guide members 23 comprise a pair of racks 23A and a pair of pinions 23B.

Particularly, each pinion 23B meshes with its respective rack 23A and is slidably engaged with its respective support member 6, thereby guiding said pair of support members 6 as they move.

For this purpose, each support member 6 comprises a recess 6A extends in an axial direction, for instance of the support member 6, and in which one end 23C of the pinion 23B slide.

Furthermore, the rack 23A is linked to the frame 2, with the recess 6A being formed on the side opposite to that in which the guide 12 is positioned 12.

It shall be noted that each pinion 23B is connected to the other by means of a rod 23D. The connection of the rod 23D to the pinion 23B occurs on the side opposite to that in which the end 23 C of the pin engages the notch 6 A.

With this configuration, as the cam follower 9 of the support member moves along the tracks 10, the steam shield 5 moves smoothly from the rest position to the operating position and vice versa even when a non-perfectly centrally directed force is applied thereto (by a user).

Finally, most components of the force applied to the steam shield 5 that would tend to generate torques at the cam followers and the tracks are eliminated due to the particular configuration of the guide members 23.

In an alternative embodiment of the invention a push-pull sliding member (not shown) is designed to operate between the frame 2 and the steam shield 5. This sliding member has the purpose of displacing the cam followers 9 from the stable equilibrium position, i.e. removing the cam followers 9 from the notches of the first section 10a of the tracks, such that the cam followers 9 can be free to slide along the inclined section of the tracks. The above mentioned push-pull sliding member may be replaced or integrated by a slot 15 (see Figures 2 and 3) formed on the front side of the shield 5. Such slot has the purpose of allowing the user to take hold of the steam shield 5 when it is in the rest position, entirely contained in the frame 2.

Preferably, at least some of the hood control members 16 for enabling and disabling certain features of the hood (enabling and disabling suction, suction speed and the like) are placed on the steam shield 5 on the side facing the frame 2 (see Figure 4). Thus, when the steam shied is in its rest position, such control members are not visible and cannot be accessed. Conversely, at least one button (not shown) of the control members 16 can be accessed even when the steam shield 5 is in the rest state. This button is preferably designed for enabling/disabling the lighting members (not shown) of the hood.

In one embodiment, a cable guide (not shown) is provided for accommodating at least a portion of the power cable required for powering the control members 16 of the hood. Particularly, this cable guide is configured to allow the power cable to slide as the steam shield 5 moves and while preventing the cable from getting caught in the guide members 23.

In operation, for the steam shield 5 to move from the rest position to the operating position, a force must be applied thereto that has a vertical downwardly directed component. This force may be exerted by actuating the above mentioned push-pull sliding member and/or by holding the steam shield 5 through the slot and/or by equipping the steam shield 5 with electromechanical drive members. Then, the steam shield 5 slightly rotates (see Figure 3) relative to the frame 2 to move the cam followers 9 out of the stable equilibrium position. In this position, the cam followers 9 are ready to slide along the first sections 10a of the tracks 10. An additional force exerted on the steam shield 5 will cause the cam followers 9 to slide along the first inclined section 10a of the tracks 10, thereby causing the steam shield 5 to translate along an inclined plane. During this translation, the pinions 23B slide in the recess 6A of the support member 6, whole the pinions 23B mesh with the racks 23 A.

When the cam followers 9 reach the end of the first section 10a of the tracks and the start of the second horizontal track 10b thereof, the plate 8 rotates back to its substantially horizontal position. The axial translation of the pinions 23B along the recess 6A has moves the straight guide 12 to its lowermost position. The rotation of the plate 8 moves the steam shield 6 to a horizontal position. Now, the steam shield 5 is pulled out and the cam followers slide along the tracks 10 to their limit stop position. Thus, the steam shield 5 is in the active position (see Figure 4) and lies parallel to the cooktop.

In order to move the steam shield 5 back to its rest position, the above described cycle is followed in reverse order.

It shall be finally noted that the space required between the steam shield 5 and the frame for proper movement is very small, as it is limited to the space required for the initial rotation of the steam shield 5.

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.

Claims

1. A hood with a pull-out steam shield, comprising:

- a ventilating unit (3) having a gas intake section;

- a collecting section (4), located upstream from the intake section of the ventilating unit (3), which is adapted to receive a gas flow therethrough in the direction from the outside environment to said intake section;

- a frame (2) designed to contain said ventilating unit (3) and said collecting section (4);

- a steam shield (5) located upstream from said collecting section (4) and moving relative to said frame (2) between a rest state in which it is contained within the footprint of said frame (2) and closes said collecting section (4) and an operating state in which it projects out of the footprint of said frame (2) and exposes said collecting section (4) to the outside environment;

- a pair of support members (6) rigidly joined with the steam shield (5) each having a pair of cam followers (9) which slidably engage respective tracks (10) rigidly joined with said frame (2);

- each track (10) comprising at least one first inclined section (10a) and a second section (10b) connected to the first section;

- guide members (23) operable on said support members (6) to allow said support members (6) to move between a rest state in which said steam shield (5) is contained within the footprint of said frame (2) and closes said collecting section (4) and an operating state in which said steam shield projects out of the footprint of said frame (2) and exposes said collecting section (4) to the outside environment

characterized in that said guide members (23) comprise a pair of racks (23A) and a pair of pinions (23B), each pinion (23B) of each pair meshing with a respective rack (23A) and being slidably engaged with a respective support member (6), thereby guiding said pair of support members (6) as they move, each pinion of said pair of pinions (23B) being linked to the other by means of a connecting rod (23D), said connecting rod (23B) being rigidly engaged with another end of each pinion of said pair of pinions (23B).

2. A hood as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least the second sections (10b) of the tracks (10) engaged by the cam followers (9) of a support member (6) are parallel each other.

3. A hood as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein each cam follower (9) engages a respective track (10) between a first position at a first end of the first section (10a) of the track (10), corresponding to the rest position of the steam shield (5), a second position at the junction area of the first (10a) and second (10b) sections of the track (10), corresponding to a partially pulled out position of the steam shield (5), and a third position at one end of the second section (10b) of the track (10) corresponding to the operating position of the steam shield (5); said first position being distal from the collecting section (4), as compared with said second and third positions.

4. A hood as claimed in claim 3, comprising guide members (23) operable on said support members (6) to allow said support members (6) to move between a first position, where the cam followers (9) are in their first position and a second position, where the cam followers (9) are in their second position.

5. A hood as claimed in claim 1, wherein each support member (6) comprises a recess (6 A) extending in an axial direction in which one end (23 C) of said pinion (23B) slides, and said rack (23 A) being linked to said frame (2).

6. A hood as clamed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said frame (2) comprises two box-like elements (2d) each disposed at one side end of the hood; each box-like element (2b) housing a respective support member (6), and guide members (23) operable on said support members (6); said tracks (10) being formed on a wall of said box-like body (2d).

7. A hood as claimed in any of the preceding claims, wherein said steam shield (5) is substantially flat and is entirely contained in said frame (2) when it is in the rest position.

8. A hood as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising hood control members (16) for enabling and disabling the various features of the hood; at least some of said control members being placed on the steam shield (5) on the side facing the frame (2).

9. A hood as claimed in any of the preceding claims, comprising elastic members operable between each support member (6) and its respective slide (11), said elastic members resiliency counteracting a rotation of the support member (6) relative to said slide (11).