Ventilating range hood

Abstract

A ventilating range hood having an interior transverse wall spanning between the side walls of the hood. The transverse wall separates the range hood into a rear chamber and a forward chamber. The transverse wall includes an aperture for allowing communication between the forward and rear chambers and a closure member for selectively opening and closing the aperture. A plate is removably connected to the back wall for covering the rear exhaust opening. In a recirculation only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member is opened so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows through the aperture and out the top exhaust opening.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A ventilating range hood comprising:
 a top wall having a top exhaust opening;   a back wall including a rear exhaust opening;   a bottom wall having an air intake leading to an interior of the range hood;   a pair of side walls interconnecting the top and bottom wall and connected to the back wall;   an interior transverse wall spanning between the side walls, the transverse wall configured to provide strength and rigidity to the range hood and to separate the range hood into a rear chamber which is in direct communication with the air intake and rear exhaust opening and a forward chamber which is in direct communication with the top exhaust opening, the transverse wall including an aperture for allowing communication between the forward and rear chambers and a closure member provided in the aperture for selectively opening and closing the aperture; and   a plate removably connected to the back wall for completely covering the rear exhaust opening,   wherein when the range hood is configured in a recirculation only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member is opened so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows through the aperture and out the top exhaust opening, and   wherein when the range hood is configured in a rear ducted only mode, the plate is removed from the back wall and the closure member blocks the aperture so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows out the rear exhaust opening.   
     
     
         2 . The range hood of  claim 1 , further comprising a fan assembly mounted in the rear chamber and adapted to draw air into the rear chamber through the air intake, the fan assembly being aligned with both the aperture and rear exhaust opening, the fan assembly being maintained in the same orientation in the range hood in both the recirculation only mode and the ducted only mode. 
     
     
         3 . The range hood of  claim 2 , further comprising a fan assembly housing provided in the rear chamber of the range hood, the housing including a pair of side walls spanning between the transverse wall and the back wall and a bottom wall interconnecting the housing side walls and having an opening which defines the air intake. 
     
     
         4 . The range hood of  claim 3 , wherein the rear exhaust opening and aperture are positioned between the housing side walls such that the rear exhaust opening and aperture are in direct communication with an interior of the housing. 
     
     
         5 . The range hood of  claim 3 , further comprising a mounting member connected to the housing and configured to engage the fan assembly, the mounting member suspending the fan assembly substantially centrally in the housing. 
     
     
         6 . The range hood of  claim 3 , further comprising an air baffle positioned in the housing. 
     
     
         7 . The range hood of  claim 6 , wherein the air baffle is cylindrical shaped and surrounds a lower portion of the fan assembly, the air baffle including a top surface substantially coplanar with a lower inner edge defining the aperture and a lower inner edge defining rear exhaust opening. 
     
     
         8 . The range hood of claim of  claim 3 , further comprising a frame member positioned below the housing, the frame member configured to mount an associated filter over the opening of the bottom wall of the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the range hood is defined by an enclosure member and a separate hood member mounted to the enclosure member, the enclosure member including the back wall and a top wall, the hood member including the transverse wall which is generally parallel to the back wall and a sloping top wall connected to the top wall of the enclosure member, the hood member separately defining the forward chamber. 
     
     
         10 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the closure member is integrally formed with the transverse wall, the closure member being bendable away from the transverse wall to selectively open the aperture. 
     
     
         11 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the transverse wall is configured for mounting of associated electrical components of the range hood. 
     
     
         12 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein a height from a lower edge of the back wall to a lower inner edge defining the rear exhaust opening is approximately equal to a height from a lower edge of the transverse wall to a lower inner edge defining the aperture. 
     
     
         13 . The range hood of  claim 1 , wherein the top wall includes a second top exhaust opening which is in direct communication with the rear chamber, and further including a second plate removably connected to the top wall for completely covering the second top exhaust opening, wherein when the range hood is configured in a top ducted only mode, the second plate is removed from the top wall and the closure member blocks the aperture so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows out the second top exhaust opening. 
     
     
         14 . A ventilating range hood having a number of selectable exhaust paths comprising:
 an enclosure member including a top wall, a back wall having a rear exhaust opening, and a bottom wall having an air intake, the enclosure member defining a rear chamber;   a hood member separate from the enclosure member and including a top wall having a top exhaust opening, a bottom wall and a transverse wall, the hood member defining a forward chamber, the transverse wall separating the forward chamber from the rear chamber, the transverse wall including an aperture for communication between the forward and rear chambers and an integral closure member associated with the aperture for selectively opening and closing the aperture depending on an operational mode of the range hood;   a pair of side walls interconnecting the hood member and the enclosure member;   a fan assembly mounted in the rear chamber of the enclosure member and adapted to draw air into the rear chamber through the air intake, the fan assembly being aligned with both the aperture and rear exhaust opening;   a knock-out plate removably connected to the back wall of the enclosure member for completely covering the rear exhaust opening; and   an air baffle positioned in the rear chamber and associated with the fan assembly,   wherein when the range hood is configured in a recirculation only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member is opened so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows through the aperture into the forward chamber and out the top exhaust opening, and   wherein when the range hood is configured in a rear ducted only mode, the plate is removed from the back wall and the closure member blocks the aperture so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows out the rear exhaust opening.   
     
     
         15 . The range hood of  claim 14 , wherein the top wall of the enclosure member includes a second top exhaust opening, and further including a second knock-out plate removably connected to the top wall for completely covering the second top exhaust opening, wherein when the range hood is configured in a top ducted only mode, the rear exhaust opening is covered by the removable plate and the closure member blocks the aperture and the second plate is removed from the enclosure top wall so that air drawn into the rear chamber through the air intake flows out the second top exhaust opening. 
     
     
         16 . The range hood of  claim 14 , wherein the enclosure member includes a fan assembly housing interposed between the side walls, vertical walls of the housing spanning between the back wall and the transverse wall of the hood member, a bottom wall of the housing including an opening which defines the air intake. 
     
     
         17 . The range hood of  claim 16 , wherein the fan assembly is suspended substantially centrally in the housing via a mounting member, the mounting member being connected to the housing and configured to engage a lower portion of the fan assembly. 
     
     
         18 . The range hood of  claim 16 , wherein the air baffle is positioned in the housing, the air baffle being cylindrical shaped and concentric with the housing opening, the air baffle surrounding a lower portion of the fan assembly, the air baffle together with the fan assembly imparting a toroidal flow to the air being drawn in the housing. 
     
     
         19 . The range hood of  claim 14 , wherein the closure member is bendable to at least 45 degrees to open the aperture in the transverse wall. 
     
     
         20 . The range hood of  claim 14 , wherein a height from a lower edge of the back wall to a lower inner edge defining the rear exhaust opening is approximately equal to a height from a lower edge of the transverse wall to a lower inner edge defining the aperture.