Lighting and ventilating apparatus and method

• US 7,455,432 B2
• Filed: 02/13/2007
• Issued: 11/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Karst, Daniel L., Craw, Gary J.
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea; Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): HAN, JASON
• Application Number:
  US11/707,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20070201236A1
• Time in Patent Office: 651 Days
• Field of Search: 362/149, 362/253, 362/294, 362/345, 362/373
• US Class Current: 362/373
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/67 characterised by the arrangement of fans
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0092 with heating or cooling devices
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures

Abstract

Some embodiments of the present invention provide a combination lighting and ventilating apparatus for installation in a structure. The apparatus can include a main housing having a first aperture that defines a ventilating inlet and a lighting outlet, a lamp housing recessed within the main housing, having first and second apertures spaced a distance from one another, and having a portion that extends outside of the main housing, and a lamp recessed within the lamp housing and the main housing. In some embodiments, the apparatus further includes a fan positioned to draw air into and through the first aperture of the lamp housing, around the lamp, and through the second aperture of the lamp housing. In another aspect of the invention, a method of lighting and ventilating a room using a combination lighting and ventilating apparatus is provided.

Claims

1. A lighting and ventilating apparatus, comprising:

a main housing including a first compartment with a first aperture and a second compartment with a second aperture communicating the first and second compartments, the main housing positionable behind a surface;

a flange engagable with the surface;

a lamp housing receivable at least partially within the first compartment through the first aperture and an opening in the flange, the lamp housing also engaging the flange and biasing the flange toward the main housing; and

a fan at least partially within the second compartment and configured to move air into the main housing via the first aperture and out of the main housing via the second aperture.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp housing is coupled to the main housing.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the lamp housing is coupled to the main housing by at least one biasing element.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the at least one biasing element is a spring.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lamp support coupled to the main housing and configured to support a lamp positioned in the lamp housing.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a motor operatively coupled to the fan and positioned in the main housing.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp housing includes a first end having a first lamp housing aperture and a second end positioned a distance from the first end and having a second lamp housing aperture, wherein the lamp housing, the first lamp housing aperture, and the second lamp housing aperture define a path for air to enter the main housing.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the second lamp housing aperture is positioned internal to the main housing.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the first lamp housing aperture is positioned external to the main housing.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a pair of mounting brackets coupled to the main housing, wherein the pair of mounting brackets mount the lighting and ventilating apparatus to a supporting structure.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan draws air into the main housing through the lamp housing.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a diameter of the first lamp housing aperture is larger than a diameter of the second lamp housing aperture.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a plane of the first aperture is rotated ninety degrees from a plane of the second aperture.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the main housing includes a top wall, a bottom wall, one or more side walls, and an inner wall.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the first aperture is positioned in one of the top wall and the bottom wall.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the second aperture is positioned in the inner wall.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the lamp housing has a frusto-conical shape.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a lamp positioned in the lamp housing.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor is positioned within the first compartment.

20. A method of lighting and ventilating a room, comprising:

positioning a main housing having a first compartment and a second compartment behind a surface of the room;

positioning a flange adjacent the surface of the room;

positioning a first end of a lamp housing within the first compartment and through an opening of the flange;

biasing the lamp housing toward the main housing;

biasing the flange, by the lamp housing, against the surface of the room;

driving a fan at least partially within the second compartment to draw a flow of air into the first compartment; and

moving the flow of air, by the fan, out of the main housing via an aperture communicating with first and second compartments.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the air is drawn into the main housing through the lamp housing.

22. The method of claim 20, further comprising lighting the room with a lamp positioned in the lamp housing.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising drawing the flow of air around the lamp.

24. The method of claim 20, wherein the lamp housing is biased by a spring attached to the main housing.

25. The method of claim 20, wherein the main housing includes an inner wall with the aperture, and wherein moving the flow of air includes drawing the flow of air through the aperture.

26. The method of claim 20, wherein moving the flow of air includes pushing out the flow of air through a second aperture separate from the aperture first mentioned.

27. The method of claim 20 and further comprising engaging a second end of the lamp housing with the flange.

28. A lighting and ventilating apparatus, comprising:

a main housing including a first compartment with a first aperture positioned in an exterior wall and a second compartment with a second aperture positioned in an inner wall, the second aperture communicating the first and second compartments;

a flange positioned a distance from the first aperture and having a center positioned substantially along an axis perpendicular to the exterior wall and passing through a center of the first aperture;

a lamp housing at least partially within the first compartment and having a first lamp housing aperture and a second lamp housing aperture, the first and second lamp housing apertures having centers positioned substantially along the axis wherein a biasing element biasing the lamp housing and the flange toward the main housing; and

a fan within the second compartment and configured to move air into the first compartment via the first aperture and out of the main housing via the second aperture.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the first lamp housing aperture is positioned inside the main housing and the second lamp housing aperture is positioned outside the main housing.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a plane defined by the first aperture is located between a plane defined by the first lamp housing aperture and the second lamp housing aperture.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein a plane defined by the second lamp housing aperture is substantially the same as a plane defined by the flange.

32. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the main housing includes a first wall, a second wall, and a lamp base, the lamp base coupled to the first wall, the first wall positioned opposite the second wall, and the first aperture positioned in the second wall.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein at least one biasing element couples the lamp housing to the lamp base.

34. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the first wall and the second wall at least partially define the first compartment.

35. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the center of the second aperture defines a second axis that is rotated ninety degrees from the axis.

36. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising a motor for driving the fan, the motor being positioned at least partially within the first compartment.

37. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein the center of the second aperture defines a second axis that is parallel to the axis.

38. A method of constructing a lighting and ventilating apparatus including a main housing having a first compartment with a first aperture in an exterior wall and a second compartment with a second aperture in an inner wall, the second aperture communicating the first and second compartments, a lamp housing having a first and second lamp housing aperture, a flange, a fan within the second compartment, a lamp holder, and at least one biasing element, the method comprising:

positioning the flange external to the main housing;

positioning the first lamp housing aperture in the first compartment;

engaging the flange with the lamp housing adjacent to the second lamp housing aperture;

biasing the lamp housing toward the main housing; and

orienting the fan to draw air through the lamp housing and into the first compartment, the fan moving the air out of the main housing through the second aperture.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein the fan draws the air through the second aperture.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the fan pushes the air through a third aperture in the main housing separate from the second aperture.

41. The method of claim 38, further comprising coupling the lamp housing to the lamp holder by the at least one biasing element.

42. The method of claim 38, wherein the second lamp housing aperture is positioned external to the main housing.