Ventilation fan with a flange mounting system

Abstract

A ventilation fan assembly suitable for installation in a ceiling or wall to provide ventilation of the adjoining space, wherein the ventilation assembly includes a fan housing and a removable flange mounting system. The flange system including at least one bracket with a receiver that removably engages an extent of the lower housing edge and a flange that extends from the receiver outward from the lower housing edge. Depending upon the positional relationship of the fan housing and the support surface(s), namely the ceiling, the flange engages an extent of a lower or upper surface of the ceiling. The bracket receiver includes at least one projection that is engages a corresponding aperture formed in the lower housing edge to removably couple the bracket to the housing. The removable flange mounting system improves the installation process and/or the sealing performance of the ventilation fan assembly.

1 . A ventilation assembly suitable for installation in a ceiling to provide ventilation of the space below the ceiling, the ventilation assembly comprising:
 a fan assembly including a housing having an inlet opening, a motor and blower assembly situated in the housing and operable to generate a flow of air through the inlet opening and into the housing, and a lower housing edge having at least one aperture; and   a flange mounting system for removable engagement with the lower housing edge, the flange mounting system including at least one bracket comprising (i) a receiver that removably engages an extent of the lower housing edge, the receiver having at least one projection and (ii) an outwardly extending flange that engages an extent of the ceiling;   wherein the receiver engages the lower housing edge and the at least one projection of the receiver engages a corresponding aperture to removably couple the bracket to the housing.   
     
     
         2 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein an installer applies a downwardly directed force on the at least one bracket to couple the at least one bracket to the housing, wherein the receiver engages the lower housing edge and the projection of the receiver engages a corresponding aperture of the lower housing edge. 
     
     
         3 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket includes a first section and a second section extending generally perpendicular to the first section, and
 wherein the first section is configured to engage the extent of the lower housing edge along a lateral side of the housing, and the second section is configured to engage the extent of the lower housing edge along another lateral side of the housing.   
     
     
         4 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 3 , wherein the flange comprises a flange section of the first section and a flange section of the second section, and the receiver comprises a receiver section of the first section and a receiver section of the second section. 
     
     
         5 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the fan assembly is installed in an over-mount configuration, a lower surface of the flange engages an upper surface of the ceiling. 
     
     
         6 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein when the fan assembly is installed in an under-mount configuration, an upper surface of the flange engages a lower surface of the ceiling. 
     
     
         7 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the receiver comprises a first leg and a second leg spaced apart from the first leg to define a receiver space configured to receive the extent of the lower housing edge. 
     
     
         8 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the first leg is connected with the second leg by a connection segment to define a U-shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         9 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 7 , wherein one of the first and second legs includes the at least one projection. 
     
     
         10 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the extent of the lower housing edge comprises at least one tab that extends outward from the inlet opening for engagement with the receiver. 
     
     
         11 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one bracket comprises a plurality of brackets that each engage with different segments of lower housing edge. 
     
     
         12 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of brackets engage with less than an entirety of the lower housing edge about the inlet opening. 
     
     
         13 . A ventilation assembly suitable for installation in a ceiling or wall to provide ventilation of the adjoining space, the ventilation assembly comprising:
 a fan assembly including a housing having an inlet opening, a motor and blower assembly situated in the housing and operable to generate a flow of air through the inlet opening and into the housing, and a lower housing edge; and   a flange mounting system for removable engagement with the lower housing edge, the flange mounting system including at least one bracket comprising a receiver that removably engages an extent of the lower housing edge and a flange that extends from the receiver outward from the lower housing edge and that engages an extent of the ceiling;   wherein at least one of the receiver and the lower housing edge includes one or more projections configured for engagement with corresponding apertures of the other of the receiver and the lower housing edge, in order to removably couple the bracket to the housing.   
     
     
         14 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein an installer applies a downwardly directed force on the at least one bracket to couple the at least one bracket to the housing, wherein the receiver engages the lower housing edge and the at least one projection of the receiver engages a corresponding aperture of the lower housing edge. 
     
     
         15 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one bracket includes a first section and a second section extending generally perpendicular to the first section, and
 wherein the first section is configured to engage the extent of the lower housing edge along a lateral side of the housing, and the second section is configured to engage the extent of the lower housing edge along another lateral side of the housing.   
     
     
         16 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 15 , wherein the flange comprises a flange section of the first section and a flange section of the second section, and the receiver comprises a receiver section of the first section and a receiver section of the second section. 
     
     
         17 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein when the fan assembly is installed in an over-mount configuration, a lower surface of the flange engages an upper surface of the ceiling. 
     
     
         18 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein when the fan assembly is installed in an under-mount configuration, an upper surface of the flange engages a lower surface of the ceiling. 
     
     
         19 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the receiver comprises a first leg and a second leg arranged spaced apart with the first leg to define a receiver space configured to receive the extent of the lower housing edge. 
     
     
         20 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the first leg is connected with the second leg by a connection segment to define a U-shape in cross-section. 
     
     
         21 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 19 , wherein one of the first and second legs include the at least one projection. 
     
     
         22 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the extent of the lower housing edge comprises at least one tab that extends away from the inlet opening for engagement with the receiver. 
     
     
         23 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 13 , wherein the at least one bracket comprises a plurality of brackets that each engage with different portions of lower housing edge. 
     
     
         24 . The ventilation assembly of  claim 23 , wherein the plurality of brackets engage with less than an entirety of the lower housing edge about the inlet opening.