Lighting and ventilating system and method

• US 8,967,832 B2
• Filed: 07/25/2011
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• 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.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sawhney, Hargobind S
• Application Number:
  US13/190,386
• Publication Number:
  US 20120087128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,317 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: F21V 33/0088 Ventilating systems lighting fixtures combined with outlets for air treatment systems F24F13/078
• CPC Class Codes: F21Y 2115/10 Light-emitting diodes [LED]
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/00 Details common to, or for air-conditioning, air-humidification, ventilation or use of air currents for screening
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/078 combined with lighting fixtures
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/007 with forced flow using ducting systems F24F7/06
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49002 Electrical device making
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49236 Fluid pump or compressor making

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 at least one aperture. The system can include a plate coupled to the grille and the plate can include a recess. Also, a set of illumination devices can be at least partially disposed within the recess.

Claims

1. A lighting and ventilating system comprising:

a main housing including a coupled grille, an inlet through which air is received within the main housing and an outlet positioned substantially perpendicular to the grill through and which the air exits the main housing,

the grille including at least one aperture through which air is received;

a centrifugal fan supported in the main housing and configured and arranged to generate a flow of air into the main housing and from the main housing exiting through the outlet;

a plate including a recess, the plate being coupled to the grille opposite the housing and defining an airflow path into the main housing between the plate and the grille; and

a set of illumination devices at least partially disposed within the recess.

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

3. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 2, wherein the set of illumination devices comprises a ribbon.

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

5. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the set of illumination devices are configured and arranged to emit a dynamic illumination event.

6. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 5, wherein the dynamic illumination event comprises a gradual increase in current to a second set of illumination devices, the general increase in current comprises one of a generally constant increase in current and a gradual onset increase in current.

7. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein a panel is coupled to at least a portion of the plate so that the panel is substantially adjacent to the recess.

8. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the plate comprises a textured surface immediately adjacent to the set of illumination devices.

9. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the set of illumination devices are configured to emit illumination comprising at least one of a generally blue hue, a generally green hue, a generally purple hue, and a generally amber hue.

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

11. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 1, wherein the set illumination devices is configured and arranged to radiate different intensities of illumination.

12. A lighting and ventilating system for illuminating and ventilating a space comprising:

a main housing including an inlet through which air from the space is received within the main housing and an outlet through which the air exits the main housing to a region substantially outside the space;

a centrifugal fan wheel supported in the main housing and configured and arranged to generate a flow of air from the space into the main housing and from the main housing to a region substantially outside the space;

a grille coupled to the main housing, the grille including a support frame and at least one support flange;

a plate coupled to at least a portion of the at least one support flange of the grille opposite the main housing defining an airflow path into the main housing between the plate and the grille;

an set of illumination devices coupled to the plate, the set of illumination devices configured and arranged to emit a dynamic illumination event; and

a panel coupled to the plate so that the panel is substantially adjacent to the set of illumination devices.

13. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 12, wherein the set of illumination devices comprises light-emitting diodes.

14. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 12, wherein the set of illumination devices comprises a ribbon.

16. The lighting and ventilating system of claim 12, wherein the set of illumination devices are configured and arranged to emit illumination comprising at least one of a generally blue hue, a generally green hue, a generally purple hue, and a generally amber hue.

15. 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 including a support frame and at least one support flange;

a plate coupled to at least a portion of the at least one support flange defining an airflow path into the main housing between the plate and the grille;

a set of illumination devices coupled to the plate, the set of illumination devices configured and arranged to emit a dynamic illumination event;

a panel coupled to the plate so that the panel is substantially adjacent to the set of illumination devices; and

wherein the set of illumination devices comprises a ribbon; and

a recess defined by a portion of the plate, and the ribbon at least partially disposed within the recess; and

wherein a portion of the plate defining the recess comprises a textured surface.

17. A method for assembling a lighting and ventilating system, the method comprising:

the acts of;

providing a main housing including an inlet and an outlet;

positioning a centrifugal fan at least partially within the main housing, the centrifugal fan being operable to generate a flow of air;

coupling a grille to the main housing, the grille positioned substantially perpendicular to the outlet and comprising at least one aperture, the at least one aperture configured and arranged to receive at least a portion of the flow of air;

coupling a plate to the grille opposite the at least one aperture to define an airflow path into the main housing between the plate and the grille, the plate including a recess; and

positioning at least a portion of a set of illumination devices within the recess.

18. The method of claim 17, and further comprising coupling a panel to a portion of the plate so that at least a portion of the panel is substantially adjacent to the recess.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the set of illumination devices comprises light-emitting diodes.