A. TITLE

AEROSOL FILTER WITH LOCKING MECHANISM

B. CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] Not applicable.

C. STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH [0002] Not applicable.

D. NAMES OF PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT [0003] Not applicable.

E. SEQUENCE LISTING [0004] Not applicable.

F. BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

[0005] The disclosed embodiments generally relate to the field of restaurant equipment. More specifically, the disclosed embodiments relate to aerosol filter with a locking mechanism for mitigating grease build up in fume hoods in restaurants.

2. Description of the Related Art

[0006] Restaurants require the use of fume hoods to remove cooking odors and grease from the kitchen of the restaurant. The use of fume hoods is especially important over deep fryers that are prevalent in restaurants in general and particularly in fast food restaurants.

[0007] In the prior art, restaurant fume hoods utilized an exhaust fan to draw air over a cooking surface, and exhaust the air, cooking odors, aerosolized grease, and other contaminants to the outdoors. Grease that is not exhausted to the outdoors can build up on the inside of the hood. The buildup of grease in the hood presents a fire hazard. Routinely, the hood must be shut

down and cleaned. This results in loss of productivity, and an expensive cleaning process. Businesses have formed specializing in cleaning and maintaining fume hoods used in restaurants.

[0008] Consequently, efforts to attempt to reduce grease buildup in restaurant fume hoods are ongoing. Grease filters play an important role in mitigating kitchen fume hood grease. U.S. Pat. No. 5,205,279 discloses a kitchen ventilator where room air travels over the cooking surface into the slot and is baffled down toward the bottom of the ventilator and then turned 180 degrees around the bottom edge of the baffle to centrifugally remove some contaminants. The air moves upward to the top of the baffle and is drawn through baffle-style filters where additional contaminants are removed. The baffle is removable to facilitate cleaning. Clean-out doors in the front face of the ventilator above the intake slot give easy access to the filters for removal and cleaning or replacement of them. U.S. Pat. No. 3,978,777 discloses a fume hood system in which ambient air from outside the room being ventilated is forced into an insulated intake chamber within the exhaust hood through a relatively narrow longitudinal slot at the bottom of the intake chamber, and then directed rearwardly and upwardly across a fume collection chamber, through a grease filter, and into an exhaust chamber from which the fumes are exhausted to the atmosphere by a fan. U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,235 discloses a ventless hood that includes an exhaust unit for filtering air from an exhaust hood above cooking equipment with modular components that include an exhaust hood, filters and a blower operating as a single unit regardless of configuration.

[0009] An improved filter design, that has high grease removal efficiency and low static pressure requirements could improve grease and odor collection in fume hoods that are already in service, without the need to purchase a more powerful exhaust fan. In addition, filters in restaurant hoods may need to be changed frequently. A reliable locking mechanism for filter

assemblies that also provides for easy maintenance and cleaning may minimize the downtime of the hood resulting in increased kitchen efficiency and restaurant profitability.

[0010] The disclosure contained herein describes attempts to address one or more of the problems described above.

G. SUMMARY

[0011] An improved baffle filter for a kitchen fume hood is disclosed. The unit may improve airflow and allow for reduced static pressure with higher grease collection efficiency. The design allows for higher aerosol grease collection efficiency for installation into fume hoods already in service without the need to purchase a new, more powerful exhaust fan unit. In addition, the filter has a locking mechanism that prevents the filter from becoming disassembled if were accidentally jarred, and allows for easy cleaning of the filter.

H. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] FIG. 1 depicts a perspective view of a dual baffle filter of an embodiment herein.

[0013] FIG. 2A depicts a perspective view of an embodiment of a rear baffle of a dual baffle filter of an embodiment herein.

[0014] FIG. 2B depicts another perspective view of an embodiment of a rear baffle of a dual baffle filter of an embodiment herein.

[0015] FIG. 3A depicts a dual baffle filter locking mechanism in an unlocked or unengaged position according to an embodiment.

[0016] FIG. 3B depicts a filter locking mechanism in a locked or engaged position according to an embodiment.

[0017] FIG. 4 depicts a keyhole of a filter locking mechanism while indicating unengaged, intermediate, and engaged pin locking positions.

[0018] FIG. 5 is a pan view of a front baffle filter according to an embodiment. [0019] FIG. 6 is a pan view of a rear baffle filter according to an embodiment.

I. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0020] Before the present methods, systems and materials are described, it is to be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the particular methodologies, systems and materials described, as these may vary. It is also to be understood that the terminology used in the description is for the purpose of describing the particular versions or embodiments only, and is not intended to limit the scope. For example, as used herein and in the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In addition, the word "comprising" as used herein is intended to mean "including but not limited to." Unless defined otherwise, all technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meanings as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art.

[0021] In accordance with one embodiment, FIGs. 1, 2A, and 2B depict a filter apparatus 10 of embodiments herein. While not meant to be limiting the filter 10 of FIG. 1 depicts an embodiment that includes a dual baffle filter 10, also known as a cascade filter. The filter includes a first member 12 and a second member 14. In an embodiment, the members 12, 14 may also be referred to as baffles. The first member includes a first member surface 16. The first member surface may define at least one first opening 18, and at least one second opening 20. At least one third opening 22 is positioned between the at least one first opening 18 and the at least one second opening 20, wherein the at least one third opening 22 is smaller than the at least one first opening 18 and the at least one second opening 20. In an embodiment the

openings 18, 20, 22 may be in the form of slots or are slot-shaped. In an embodiment the first surface 16 may be orthogonally shaped, such as but not limited to, a square shape or a rectangular shape. In other embodiments, the first surface 16 may be ellipsoidal in shape, such as but not limited to a circular shape or an oval shape. One of ordinary skill in the art realizes that all shapes and sizes of the first member surface 16, and filters 10, are within the scope of embodiments herein, and may be dictated by the shape and size of associated equipment, such as the duct work in a fume hood.

[0022] Embodiments may include a first member sidewall 24, which extends substantially normal or perpendicularly from the first member surface 16. The sidewall 24 may include drain holes 26 where collected grease and other contaminants may drain from the filter 10 into a grease collecting device (not shown). Grease may drain from the filter 10 by gravitational forces, and the drain holes 26 may be located on one side of the sidewall 24 or two sides of the sidewall or anywhere on the sidewall where it would be convenient for grease to gravitationally drain. In embodiments where the filter 10 is orthogonally shaped, such as the rectangular shape depicted in FIG. 1 , positioning drain holes 26 on opposite sides of the filter 10 would allow the filter to drain regardless of the orientation that the filter 10 was placed in the fume hood. FIG 2A depicts an embodiment where drain holes 26 on the second member 14 are in the shape of a square. FIG 2B depicts an embodiment where drain holes 26 on the second member 14 are in the shape of a half a square. Any shape and size of drain holes know to one of ordinary skill in the art are encompassed in embodiments herein.

[0023] As indicated, embodiments of a filter include a second member 14 removably connected to the first member 12, wherein the second member 14 includes a second member surface 28, which defines at least one second surface opening 30. A second member sidewall 32

may be positioned adjacent to the first member sidewall 24. The second member sidewall 32 extends substantially normal or perpendicularly from the second member surface 28. In embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 1, an edge 34 of the first member sidewall 24 may be abutted against an edge 36 of the second member sidewall 32. In embodiments, the second member 14 and the first member 12 are substantially equal in size and shape. In other embodiments, the second member 14 and the first member 12 may be different in size and shape. The first member sidewall 24 and the second member sidewall 32 may substantially encompass the perimeter of the first surface 16 and the second surface 28, respectively.

[0024] In exemplary embodiments of a filter 10, such as depicted in FIG. 1, the at least one first opening 18 and the at least one second opening 20 of the first member are substantially the same size and shape. The first opening 18 and the second opening 20 may be slots that are slightly smaller than a dimension of the first member surface 16, that is, the ends of the slots may be proximate to the first member sidewall 18. In embodiments as depicted in FIGs. 1, 2A, and 2B the at least one second surface opening 30 may be substantially the same size and shape of the first openings 18 and the second openings 20. In other embodiments, the shape and size of the openings 18, 20, 30 may different in size and shape.

[0025] In embodiments of FIG. 1, 2A, and 2B, a filter may include a plurality of first openings 18, a plurality of second openings 20, and a plurality of third openings 22. The openings 18, 20, 22 may be slots oriented parallel to an axis 40 of the first member or perpendicular to an axis 40 or off-axis. In an ellipsoidal filter (not shown), the openings may be slots oriented parallel, perpendicular, or off-axis to a diameter or an axis of the ellipsoid. In embodiments, the plurality of third openings 22 may be oriented in a plurality of rows in between each of the plurality of first 18 and the plurality of second 20 openings.

[0026] In embodiments, as depicted in FIG. 1, a row of third openings 22 may contain a different number of third openings 22 from an adjacent row of third openings 40. The positions of a row of third openings 22 on the surface may be staggered from the position of each adjacent row of third openings 40.

[0027] The third openings on the first member surface cause the air to change directions more rapidly than prior art filters that do not have third openings. By staggering the third openings the changes in airflow direction is increased, while not increasing the static pressure required to drive the air and grease stream through the filter. Since air changes direction faster than the aerosolized grease in the exhaust stream, more grease can be collected in the filter with a lower powered fan. This lower static pressure requirement of the filter design of embodiments herein allow the filter to be installed in fume hoods that are already in service to increase grease collection efficiency without the need to install a more powerful exhaust fan.

[0028] In embodiments of a filter 10, the first member 12 and the second member 14 may be removably connected by a locking mechanism 42. Referring now to FIGs. 1- 4, the locking mechanism 42 may include a key portion 44 comprising a handle end 46, a pin end 48 with locking pins 50, and a keyhole 52. In embodiments, the key portion 44 may be attached to the first member 12 and may be T-shaped. The key portion 44 may include a spring 52 that is loaded in tension with the first member 12. The keyhole 54 may be positioned in the second member 14 so that when the first member 12 and the second member 12 are removably connected the locking pins 50 of the key portion 44 and the keyhole 54 are interlocked. The keyhole may further include an engaging structure 56, such as but not limited to grooves or recesses that secure the locking pins 50 when the locking mechanism 42 is engaged or locked.

[0029] Materials of construction for the first member and the second member include, but are not limited to, metals and metallic alloys. In an embodiment, the first member and second member may be constructed from stainless steel. All materials of construction that can withstand the environment of a fume hood, known now or hereafter by one of ordinary skill, are encompassed in embodiments herein.

[0030] Referring to FIGs. 3A, 3B, and 4, operation of the locking mechanism 42 of an embodiment will be illustrated. FIG. 3A depicts an embodiment where the locking mechanism 42 is in an unlocked or disengaged position. FIG. 3B depicts an embodiment where the locking mechanism 42 is in a locked or engaged position. FIG. 4 depicts an embodiment of a keyhole 54 with engaging structures 56. In an embodiment, to engage the locking mechanism 42, the pin end 48 of the key portion 44 is inserted into the keyhole so that the locking pins 50 fit through the keyhole 54. This corresponds to position A in FIG. 4. The key portion 44 is pushed so that the spring 52 is stretched. While the key portion 44 is being pushed, the key portion 44 is also rotated as shown for example in FIG. 4. As the key portion 44 is pushed and rotated the locking pins 50 move through position B in FIG. 4 to position C in FIG. 4. The pressure applied to the key portion 44 is released and the relaxation in the spring 52 causes the locking pins to be secured by the securing mechanism 56, and thus securely connects the first member 12 to the second member 14. The action of the spring 52 causes a locking pin or pins of the key portion and a securing structure of the keyhole to be pressed together and securely locked. To disengage the members, the process of pushing and rotating the key portion 44 may be reversed so that the locking pins 50 are in a position to fit through the keyhole 54. Other locking mechanisms, such as but not limited to a bolt and threaded bolt hole are encompassed as embodiments herein. Any

locking mechanisms known now or hereinafter to one of ordinary skill in the art are encompassed in embodiments herein.

[0031] It will be appreciated that various of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Also that various presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims.