Illumination grille and assembly method

• US 10,072,869 B2
• Filed: 08/28/2012
• Issued: 09/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Zakula, Mirko, Jonas, Kenneth J., Jacak, Corey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Savani, Avinash
• Assistant Examiner(s): Becton, Martha
• Application Number:
  US13/597,167
• Publication Number:
  US 20140063796A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,205 Days
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0092 with heating or cooling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide an illumination grille assembly comprising a frame and a ventilation grille coupled to the frame, and a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled with the frame and at least partially covered with a light transparent cover. Some embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing including an inlet through which air can be received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air can exit the main housing. A blower assembly can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. In some embodiments, an illumination grille assembly can be coupled to the main housing to allow fluid to flow through the illumination grill assembly to the main housing. In some embodiments, the set of illumination devices can be configured and arranged to emit light through the light transparent cover.

Claims

1. An illumination grille assembly, comprising:

a frame having an exterior side and an interior side and having an inner portion, the interior side of the inner portion defining a central aperture;

a ventilation grille defining at least one grille aperture covering at least a portion of the central aperture and configured and arranged to permit airflow through the at least one grille aperture;

the frame further having an outer portion arranged around the inner portion and a base extending between and connecting the inner portion and the outer portion such that the exterior side of the inner portion together with the base and outer portion define a channel surrounding, and adjacent to, the central aperture and wherein the inner portion separates airflow through the grille from the channel;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the base on the exterior side of the frame within the channel; and

a cover coupled to the exterior side of the frame and positioned at least partially covering at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

2. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the frame and the cover are distinct components.

3. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1 further comprising a light engine, the light engine comprising a printed circuit board, a power module and at least one plug, wherein the printed circuit board is configured and arranged to mount at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

4. The illumination grille assembly of claim 2 further comprising a light engine, the light engine comprising a printed circuit board, a power module and at least one plug, wherein the printed circuit board is configured and arranged to mount at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

5. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a lens.

6. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the cover includes a tint.

7. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the cover comprises a light scattering material.

8. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is configured and arranged to radiate at least white light.

9. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is configured and arranged to radiate at least one of red light, green light, blue light, yellow light, and amber light.

10. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 3, wherein the light engine is configured and arranged to radiate different intensities of illumination.

11. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes is configured and arranged to radiate light of difference wavelengths.

16. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, the inner portion is comprised of a flat vertical wall.

17. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, the inner portion is comprised of a flat vertical wall and the outer portion is comprised of a flat vertical wall.

18. The illumination grille assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover is light-transparent.

12. A ventilation assembly, comprising:

a main housing, the main housing having a plurality of walls defining an interior space;

a blower assembly, the blower assembly comprising a motor, and a blower wheel coupled to the motor;

an illumination grille comprising;

a frame having an exterior side and an interior side and having an inner portion, the interior side of the inner portion defining a central aperture;

a ventilation grille defining at least one grille aperture covering at least a portion of the central aperture and configured and arranged to permit airflow through the at least one grille aperture;

the frame further having an outer portion arranged concentrically around the inner portion and a base extending between and connecting the inner portion and the outer portion such that the exterior side of the inner portion together with the base and outer portion define a channel surrounding, and adjacent to, the central aperture and wherein the inner portion separates airflow through the grille from the channel;

a plurality of light-emitting diodes coupled to the base on the exterior side of the frame within the channel; and

a cover coupled to the exterior side of the frame and positioned at least partially covering at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes; and

wherein the main housing is configured to be coupled to the interior side of the frame of the illumination grille such that the illumination grille covers at least a portion of the blower assembly.

13. The ventilation assembly of claim 12 wherein the frame and the cover are a single integral component configured and arranged to extend at least partially over at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

14. The ventilation assembly of claim 12 further comprising a light engine, the light engine comprising a printed circuit board, a power module and at least one plug, wherein the printed circuit board is configured and arranged to mount at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

15. The ventilation assembly of claim 13 further comprising a light emitting diode light engine, the light emitting diode light engine comprising a printed circuit board, a power module and at least one plug, wherein the printed circuit board is configured and arranged to mount at least one of the plurality of light-emitting diodes.

19. The ventilation assembly of claim 12, the inner portion is comprised of a flat vertical wall.

20. The ventilation assembly of claim 12, wherein the cover is light-transparent.