Lighting and ventilating system and method

• US 8,382,332 B2
• Filed: 10/11/2010
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Original Assignee: Broan-Nutone LLC (Melrose Industries Plc)
• Inventors: Zakula, Mirko, Jacak, Corey S., Hoshino, Kiyoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US12/902,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087132A1
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 362/96, 362/235, 362/249.02, 362/264, 362/267, 362/294, 362/310, 362/364, 362/373, 362/480, 362/547, 362/555, 362/800, 454/293, 353/52, 353/57, 353/61
• US Class Current: 362/294
• CPC Class Codes: F21S 8/026 intended to be recessed in a ceiling or like overhead structure, e.g. suspended ceiling
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 15/02 Cages
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/003 the elements being electronics drivers or controllers for operating the light source, e.g. for a LED array
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0464 the sensor sensing the level of ambient illumination, e.g. dawn or dusk sensors
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 23/0471 the sensor detecting the proximity, the presence or the movement of an object or a person
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/673 the fans being used for intake
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 29/677 the fans being used for discharging
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 33/0096 Fans, e.g. ceiling fans forced cooling of lighting devices characterised by the arrangement of fans F21V29/67
• CPC Class Codes: F21V 5/04 of lens shape
• CPC Class Codes: F21W 2131/30 Lighting for domestic or personal use
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2103/33 annular
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2113/20 of different form
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention provide a lighting and ventilating system including a main housing. The main housing can include 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 fan wheel can be supported in the main housing and it can be operable to generate a flow of air. A grille can be coupled to the main housing and the grille can comprise a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices. The system further can include a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing can include a first set of illumination devices. Also, a plate can be coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.

Claims

1. A lighting and ventilating system comprising:

a main housing including an inlet through which air is received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air exits the main housing;

a fan wheel supported in the main housing and operable to generate a flow of air;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a plurality of apertures and a second set of illumination devices;

a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices; and

a plate coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices.

2. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, and further comprising a pilot light.

3. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the second set of illumination devices comprises light-emitting diodes.

4. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the grille comprises a region, the region includes the second set of illumination devices and a lamp aperture, the lamp aperture adjacent to the lamp housing.

5. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the system is substantially controlled by a motion-sensing monitor.

6. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the second set of illumination devices are activated when a space in which the system is installed substantially lacks illumination.

7. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a plate aperture, walls of the plate aperture include a textured surface.

8. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the second set of illumination devices substantially illuminate the plate.

9. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the plate includes a tint.

10. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the first and the second sets of illumination devices radiate different intensities of illumination.

11. A lighting and ventilating system comprising:

a main housing including an inlet through which air is received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air exits the main housing;

a fan wheel supported in the main housing and operable to generate a flow of air;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille includes a region, the region comprises a lamp aperture and light-emitting diodes;

a lamp housing coupled to the grille substantially adjacent to the lamp aperture, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices; and

a plate coupled to the system, the plate including a plate aperture.

12. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11, and further comprising a pilot light.

13. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11, wherein walls of the plate aperture are substantially adjacent to the light-emitting diodes.

14. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 13, wherein the walls of the plate aperture include a textured surface.

15. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11, and further comprising a lens coupled to the system adjacent to the plate.

16. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11, wherein the light-emitting diodes are activated when a space in which the system is installed substantially lacks illumination.

17. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11, wherein the system is substantially controlled by a motion-sensing monitor.

18. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 11, wherein the plate includes a tint.

19. A method for lighting a space, the method comprising the acts of:

providing a main housing and a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille comprising a second set of illumination devices;

providing a lamp housing coupled to the grille, the lamp housing including a first set of illumination devices;

providing a plate coupled to the grille so that the plate is adjacent to the second set of illumination devices;

activating the second set of illumination devices and deactivating the first set of illumination devices when the space is generally unoccupied by a user and generally lacks other illumination; and

activating the first set of illumination devices and deactivating the second set of illumination devices when the space is generally occupied by the user.

20. The method of claim 19, and further comprising operating a fan wheel supported in the main housing to draw air into the main housing through an inlet defined in the main housing and through a plurality of apertures through the grille, and to direct the air out of the main housing through a ventilation outlet defined in the main housing.