FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a forced-extraction domestic hood, particularly a hood designed for vertical installation, as defined in the preamble of claim 1.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Range hoods are designed, by their own nature, to intercept the fumes generated when cooking food and exhaust them. These fumes are often rich in steam, which is generated when heating the water in which food is cooked. Thus, the fumes so generated will obviously have a relative humidity (i.e. the ratio of the amount of vapor contained therein to the maximum amount of vapor that the air volume can contain under the same temperature and pressure conditions) that is higher than the relative humidity of ambient air. In kitchens with gas or electric cooktops, no significant problem arises when fumes having a high relative humidity impinge upon the hood. In these cooktops, the burners heat pots and pans (and the food cooked therein) and also the air that surrounds such pots and pans, as the energy source (the burner) does not only act upon the pots and pans but also on anything around the burner itself. This will generate an upstream flow of heated air which necessarily also impinges upon the hood. Such hot air flow releases heat to the hood (which has a lower temperature), or at least to the surfaces of the hood upon which the heated air (and the cooking fumes) directly impinge. Therefore, when the water-rich cooking fumes impinge upon the aforementioned surfaces of the hood, the latter are not cold (i.e. room temperature), but have been partially heated. The temperature of the cooking fumes that impinge upon the hood does not fall below the dew point of the steam contained therein.

However, when alternative cooktops are used, such as radiant, halogen or induction cooktops, and particularly the latter, the air around the pots and pans is not heated because, as is known, these cooktops only transfer energy to conductive metal bodies (the pots and pans).

Therefore, if cooking fumes have a high relative humidity, their contact with the cold surfaces of the hood (locally) decreases the temperature of the cooking fumes below the dew point of the steam contained therein, and condensation builds up on such hood surfaces.

Besides being aesthetically unpleasant, such condensation may cause dripping on the food being cooked, which will eventually also cause hygiene problems.

Among the various types of available hoods, those designed for vertical installation, i.e. the hoods in which the gas intake is formed in a front side extending in a direction transverse to a vertical axis, such as the axis that extends perpendicular to the plane of the food-cooking burners, are particularly affected by the above discussed problem.

This is because the front side is inclined and condensation may flow therealong and drip on the cooktop on which food is being prepared.

In an attempt to obviate the above drawback, hood manufacturers have developed hoods with integrated drip trays, which effectively address the problem. Namely, hoods are originally equipped with particular trays that are designed to intercept condensation and prevent dripping on the food being prepared.

One example of a hood with a pull-out tray is disclosed in EP 2,821,710 by the Applicant hereof.

Nevertheless, the problem still arises when the user replaces an existing conventional gas cooktop with an alternative cooktop without also replacing the hood.

Therefore, the need is still felt by hood manufacturers to provide a device that can be associated with existing hoods and can obviate or at least alleviate the above discussed problem.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the above mentioned technical purpose and objects are fulfilled by a forced-extraction domestic hood as defined in claim 1.

The present invention provides a device or accessory for collecting condensation droplets, which device is associated with an existing hood installed in the kitchen of a user.

Particularly, the fluid collection device can add the condensation collecting feature to previously installed hoods, thereby extending their useful life. Finally, the present invention provides a fluid collection device that can be adapted to hoods of various lengths without requiring devices of various lengths designed for each hood.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will result more clearly from the illustrative, non-limiting description of a preferred, non-exclusive embodiment of a fluid collection device as shown in the annexed drawings, in which:

- Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the fluid collection device of the present invention;

- Figure 2 shows the device of Figure 1 in a first operating configuration;

- Figure 3 shows the device of Figure 1 in a first operating configuration;

- Figure 4 shows a portion of a domestic hood equipped with the device of Figure 1, according to the present invention;

- Figure 5 shows a top sectional view of the hood of Figure 4;

- Figures 6 and 7 show detail views of one embodiment of the members for fixing the device of Figure 1 to the hood of the present invention in first and second operating states, respectively;

- Figure 8 shows a perspective view of the combination of the device of Figure 1 and a vertical hood of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Even when this is not expressly stated, the individual features as described with reference to the particular embodiments shall be intended as auxiliaiy to and/or interchangeable with other features described with reference to other exemplary embodiments.

Referring to the accompanying figures, numeral 1 designates a fluid collection device for a hood designed for domestic use.

The device 1 comprises a fluid-holding container 3, i.e. for holding fluids dripping off along the hood 2.

Namely, the fluids collected into the container 3 are the condensation that builds up because the cooking fumes have a high relative humidity which, as they contact the cold surfaces of the hood (locally) decreases the temperature of the cooking fumes below the dew point of the steam contained therein, and condensation builds up on such surfaces of the hood 2.

In one aspect, the device 1 finds application as an accessory designed for association with the hood 2.

The hood 2 is preferably a hood known in the art as a vertical hood, which is located in domestic environments, such as a kitchen.

The hood 2 is preferably located at a predetermined distance, e.g. 55 cm or more, from a cooktop (e.g. an induction cooktop), having burners for preparing hot food.

As used hereinafter, the term vertical hood is intended to designate a hood comprising a front side 2A having an opening for gas intake, such front side 2A extending in a direction Z-Z transverse to a vertical axis Y-Y which is perpendicular to the cooktop plane (Figure 4).

Particularly, the front side has an inclination angle a typically greater than 60°. Referring to the particular embodiment as shown in Figure 8, the vertical hood

2 comprises:

- a housing frame defining the front side 2A, in which an opening is formed for fume extraction;

- the second opening formed in the housing frame.

The housing frame of the hood 2 is known to enclose a forced air extraction unit having an extraction section and an exhaust section, in which the first opening is in fluid communication with the extraction section when the forced air extraction unit is actuated, and the exhaust section is in fluid communication with the second opening for gas exhaust.

The housing frame 2 comprises one or more filters (not shown) for filtering gases that flow through the extraction section. These filters are interposed between the opening and the extraction section of the air extraction unit.

Particularly, the front side 2 A has predetermined width L and thickness S. In order to collect the condensation droplets that build up on the surface of the front side 2A, due to the temperature difference between the fumes and the surface of the front side 2A, the hood 2 comprises the fluid collection device 1 for collecting condensation fluids that drip off along the inclined front side 2A.

For this purpose, the device 1 comprises at least one first fluid-collecting section, preferably two sections 4 and 5, each extending in a preset direction X-X.

The embodiment of the fluid collection device comprising two sections 4 and 5 will be now described, without prejudice to the general scope of the invention.

The section 4, 5 can be sealingly associated with the front side 2A of the hood 2 to collect condensation droplets flowing along such front side.

The section 4, 5 is in fluid communication with the container 3 for transferring the condensation droplets into such container 3.

Particularly, the device 1 is associated with the hood 2 by engagement members 6, which are configured to engage the first section 4, 5 with an edge 2B of the front side 2 A of the hood 2.

In one aspect, when the fluid collection device 1 is in operation, the engagement members 6 are configured to move from a first configuration in which they engage the edge 2B of said front side 2A of the hood 2, to thereby rigidly join the fluid collection device 1 to the hood 2 to a second configuration in which they do not engage such edge 2B of the front side 2A of the hood 2, to thereby remove said device.

In one aspect of the present disclosure, advantageously, each of the sections 4, 5 is a telescopic section which is configured to be telescoped from a retracted position (see Figure 2) to an extended position (see Figure 3) such that it may extend in the preset direction X-X to match at least one portion of the length L of the front side 2A of the hood 2.

This feature advantageously allow the device 1 to fit the various possible lengths L of the front side 2 A of the hood 2.

Preferably, the fluid collection device 1 extends along the entire width L of the front side 2A.

In a preferred embodiment, both the first section 4 and the second section 5 are embodied by telescopic element that may be telescoped from a minimum length LI (see Figure 2) to a maximum length L2 (see Figure 3).

The device 1 has a thickness SI that is sufficient to enclose the thickness S of the front side 2A of the hood 2 and a predetermined height T that is sufficient to cover the bottom portion (i.e. the portion that is closest to the cooktop) of the front side 2A of the hood 2.

Therefore, when such device 1 is associated with the hood 2 it preferably extends along the entire width letter L of the front side 2A, encloses the thickness S of such front side 2A and covers the bottom portion of such front side 2A.

For example, in the retracted position (see Figure 2), the device 1 may fit hoods 2 having a front side 2 A with a length L of 55 cm, and in the extended position (see Figure 3) the device 1 may fit hoods 2 having a front side 2A with a length L of 90 cm.

It shall be noted that these dimensions, e.g. LI of 55cm and L2 of 90cm are obtained using two sections 4 and 5, and each individual section 4 or 5 has a linear extent of about half the aforementioned values.

The dimensions LI, L2 can be obtained because the sections 4 and 5 are of telescopic type, which means that each section 4, 5 comprises a first section portion 4A (or 5A) that is stationary, and one or more section portions 4B (or 5B) that are able to move relative to each other and to the stationary portion 4A (or 5B) in the direction of extension.

Particularly, still referring to Figures 2 and 3, it shall be noted that the movable portions 4B (or 5B) may slide relative to the first stationary portion 4A (or 5 A) in appropriate seats formed in the thickness of the latter.

The movable portions 4B (or 5A) slide relative to the first stationary portion 4A (or 5 A) once the user has preferably manually pulled the movable portions 4B (or 5B) out of the stationary portion 4A (or 5 A).

It shall be noted that, in a preferred embodiment, both the first section 4 and the second section 5 are embodied by a channel section.

Each of these channel sections 4 and 5 define at least:

- two opposite and parallel short sides,

- two opposite and parallel long sides,

- such short sides being perpendicular to such long sides.

It shall be noted that the height of the short sides of the movable portions 4B or 5B of the first section 4 or the second section 5 is slightly smaller than the height of the short sides of the stationary portions 4A or 5A of the first section 4 or the second section 5. This is due to the telescopic feature of the device 1.

In one aspect, the movable portions 4B (or 5B) slide relative to the first stationary portion 4A (or 5A) once the short side of the movable portions 4B (or 5B) has been manually pulled out.

It shall be noted that, in a preferred embodiment, the engagement members 6 are located proximate to a short side of each of the sections 4 and 5.

The step to move from the first configuration, in which the edge 2B of the front side 2A of the hood 2 is engaged to the second configuration in which such edge 2B is not engaged, is performed after a manual action by the user upon the engagement members 6.

For this puipose, as shown in Figures 6 and 7, a mechanical elastic mechanism is provided which, upon a pressure preferably exerted by the user on such engagement members 6 can switch from the first engagement configuration to the second release configuration or vice versa.

For example, the mechanical elastic engagement members 6 are embodied by a clamp that is joined to the short side of the movable portions 4B and 5B in such a manner as to rotate about an axis W-W.

In one aspect, each of the first stationary section portion 4A (or 5 A) and the movable section portion/s 4B (or 5B) defines a front face 7A and a rear face 7B opposite to the front face 7A.

The rear face 7B, with the fluid collection device 1 in operation, i.e. associated with the hood 2, faces the front side 2A of the hood 2.

It shall be noted that, with the fluid collection device 1 in operation, the rear face 7B does not directly contact the front side 2A of the hood 2 but forms a gap H.

Advantageously, in order to ensure fluid-tightness, the device 1 comprises, for each rear face 7B of the stationary section portion 4A (or 5A) and the movable section portions 4B (or 5B) at least one feed line 8 projecting out of the rear face 7B.

Such feed line and 8 is configured to intercept the fluid (i.e. the condensation droplets) dripping off the front side 2A. Therefore, such feed lines 8 are in surface contact with the front side 2A of the hood 2 to collect the condensation droplets that flow along such front side 2A, thereby preventing any contamination of the food being prepared.

Particularly, the feed lines 8 are advantageously in fluid communication with each other and with the container 3 for the condensation to be collected in such container 3.

The container 3 can be removed from the device 1 to be emptied and/or cleaned, as needed, of the condensation that has build up therein during operation of the hood 2.

In one aspect, the feed lines 8 extend in a direction S-S transverse to the preset direction of extension X-X of the device 1 (see Figure 4).

Particularly, the direction S-S of the feed lines 8 defines an angle of repose or an inclined path, facilitating the flow of condensation droplets toward the container 3 (see Figure 4).

In other words, the feed lines 8 extend in a non-parallel, transverse direction relative to the cooktop plane, and act as water collection downspouts, to channel condensation droplets into the container 3.

In one aspect, still referring to Figures 2 and 3, the feed lines 8 extend across the rear face 7B of the stationary section portion 4A (or 5 A) and the movable section profiles 4B (or 5B).

Particularly, in the particular embodiment of the figures, the feed lines 8 originate proximate to the short side, for example, of the movable portion 4B of the section 4, and end at the opposite short side of the same movable portion 4B, thereby covering the entire path between such short sides.

Namely, as shown in Figure 5, if multiple feed channels 8 are provided, the condensation droplets, schematically designated by an arrow A, flow into a first feed line 8 projecting out of the rear face 7B of the movable portion 4B. This feed line 8 of the movable portion 4B is in turn in fluid communication with another feed line 8, projecting out of the rear face 7B of the stationary portion 4A and the latter feed line opens into the container 3.

The same applies for the movable portion 5B and 5 A of the other section 5, It shall be noted that the fluid collection device 1 comprises mechanical connection members 9, which are configured to connect the two sections 4 and 5 together.

In one embodiment, the two sections 4, 5 are rigidly connected by the mechanical connection members 9 to form a fluid collection device 1 in which no relative movement occurs between the two sections 4 and 5.

In a preferred embodiment, e.g. The one as shown in Figure 2, the mechanical connection members 9 consist of a hinge mechanism defining an axis of rotation R- R.

With this feature, the first section 4 and/or the second section 5 are pivotally movable about such axis of rotation R-R. By this arrangement, the first section 4 and/or the second section 5 may be rotated toward each other to form a device with a more compact design.

Such compact design is particularly useful during transport of the fluid collection device, as it minimizes its dimensions, or if the fluid collection device 1 has to be stored for further use.

It shall be noted that, in a preferred embodiment, the mechanical connection members 9 are located proximate to a the short sides of the first and second sections 4, 5.

In one aspect, the container 3 is preferably located in a middle area relative to the length LI or L2 of the fluid collection device 1.

In one embodiment, the fluid collection device 1 is made of materials that have such characteristics as to ensure sufficient rigidity and reliability with time in terms of fluid-tight coupling. For example, the fluid collection device 1 is designed to include plastic materials, rubbers and resins, but also metal or other compatible materials, complying with the standards that regulate the use of such device in a domestic kitchen.

Those skilled in the art will obviously appreciate that a number of changes and variants may be made to the arrangements as described hereinbefore to meet incidental and specific needs.

All of these variants and changes fall within scope of the invention, as defined in the following claims.