Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02636643 2010-12-17
Attorney Docket No. 018695-9453-00
EXHAUST VENT FAN AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust vent fan and a method of
operating an exhaust vent fan, and more particularly to an exhaust vent fan
having a heating
element and a method of operating the same.
BACKGROUND ART
[0001A] Typical ventilating exhaust fans draw air from within a closed area
and pass
this air out of a vent. A typical ventilating exhaust fan can be installed in
a bathroom, or
any other room in which a user would desire to have improved ventilation.
These typical
exhaust fans can include a centrifugal exhaust fan which can create an outward
air flow
leading to the ventilation of an area of the user's choosing.
[0001B] Further, some typical ventilating exhaust fans can be combined with
other
elements to improve utility while decreasing the number of different fixtures
that must be
installed to achieve an optimum local environment. For instance, the typical
ventilating
exhaust fan can be combined with an illumination housing so that one apparatus
can
provide both ventilation and light to the user's chosen area. Additionally,
some typical
ventilating exhaust fans (either with or without the combined illumination
housing) can be
combined with a heater such that the apparatus also could warm the user's
chosen area.
Thus, some typical exhaust ventilating exhaust fans can include an exhaust
fan, an
illumination housing, and a heater to control the environment of the user's
chosen area.
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SUMMARY
[00021 In some embodiments, the present invention provides an exhaust vent fan
including a housing having an inlet through which air is received within the
housing and an
outlet through which the air exits the housing, a fan wheel supported in the
housing and
operable to generate a flow of the air out of the outlet, a louvered first
grille positioned
across the inlet, a heating element supported in the housing, and a second
grille supported
on the housing and being moveable relative to the first grille while the first
grille is secured
to the housing to direct a heated air flow from the heating element out of the
housing.
[00031 The present invention also provides an exhaust vent fan including a
housing
having an inlet through which air is received within the housing and an outlet
through
which the air exits the housing, a fan wheel supported in the housing and
operable to
generate a flow of the air out of the outlet, a first grille positioned across
the inlet, a second
grille supported on the housing and being moveable relative to the housing to
direct an air
flow from the heating element out of the housing, and a locking arrangement
including an
actuator extending outwardly away from the housing proximate an exterior
surface of the
first grille and being engageable with a tool for moving the second grille
with respect to the
first grille.
[00041 In addition, the present invention provides a method of operating an
exhaust
vent fan. The method can include the act of operating a fan wheel supported in
the housing
to draw air into the housing through an inlet defined in the housing and
through a first
grille secured to the housing and to direct the air out of the housing through
an outlet
defined in the housing. The method can also include the acts of selectively
activating a
heating
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element supported in the housing to heat an air flow, directing the air flow
from the heating
element out of the housing through a second grille supported on the housing,
and moving
the second grille relative to the first grille while the first grille is
secured to the housing to
direct the heated air flow from the heating element out of the housing.
[0005] In some embodiments, the present invention provides an exhaust vent fan
including a housing having an inlet through which air is received within the
housing and an
outlet through which the air exits the housing, a fan wheel supported in the
housing and
operable to generate a flow of the air out of the outlet, a louvered first
grille positioned
across the inlet, and a second grille extending through an opening in the
first grille and
being moveable relative to the housing to direct an air flow out of the
housing.
[0006] Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of
the
detailed description and accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] FIG. 1 is a bottom perspective view of an exhaust vent fan according to
some
embodiments of the present invention.
[0008] FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the exhaust vent fan shown in FIG. 1.
[0009] FIG. 3 is a rear view of the exhaust vent fan shown in FIG. 1.
[0010] FIG. 4 is a front view of the exhaust vent fan shown in FIG. 1.
100111 FIG. 5 is a right side view of the exhaust vent fan shown in FIG. 1.
[0012] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the exhaust vent fan shown in FIG. 1.
[0013] FIG. 7 is a top view of a first grille and a second grille of the
exhaust vent fan
shown in FIG. 1.
[0014] FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the exhaust vent fan shown in
FIG. 1.
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[0015] FIG. 9 is a perspective cross-sectional view of the exhaust vent fan
taken along
line 9-9.
[0016] FIG. 10 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 10-10.
[0017] FIG. 11 is a perspective cross-sectional view taken along line 11-11.
(0018] FIG. 12 is an exploded view of the first grille and the second grille
shown in
FIG. 7.
[0019] FIG. 13 is an enlarged view of the second grille shown in FIG. 7.
[0020] FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a transition outlet fitting shown in
FIG. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0021] Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is
to be
understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details
of construction
and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or
illustrated in
the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of
being
practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be
understood that the
phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and
should not
be regarded as limiting. The use of "including," "comprising," or "having" and
variations
thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and
equivalents thereof as
well as additional items.
[0022] Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms "mounted,"
"connected,"
"supported," and "coupled" and variations thereof are used broadly and
encompass both
direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further,
"connected"
and "coupled" are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or
couplings.
[0023] Also, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used
herein with
reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like
"central,"
"upper," "lower," "front," "rear," and the like) are only used to simplify
description of the
present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or
element referred to
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must have a particular orientation. In addition, terms such as "first" and
"second" are used
herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply
relative
importance or significance.
100241 With reference to the figures, an exemplary ventilating and heating
apparatus, or
exhaust vent fan, is shown generally at 10. In some embodiments of the present
invention,
the apparatus 10 generally includes a main housing 14, a ventilation assembly
18 for
moving air into and through the apparatus 10, a lighting assembly 22 for
providing
illumination, a heating assembly 26 for heating an airflow through the
apparatus 10, and at
least one mounting bracket 30 for mounting the apparatus 10 to one or more
surfaces or
support structures. Various embodiments of the present invention can employ
any one or
more of these elements and structures (and any combination thereof) as
desired.
Accordingly, the various features and elements of the present invention
described herein
and illustrated in the figures can be employed in assemblies having different
structures and
functional capabilities.
[0025] In some embodiments, the apparatus 10 is employed to ventilate,
illuminate,
and/or heat a room, area, or space. With reference to the exemplary embodiment
of FIGS.
1-14, the lighting assembly 22 can illuminate a room, the ventilating assembly
18 can draw
air from the room into the main housing 14, and the heating assembly 26 can
draw air from
the room, heat the air, and discharge the air back into the room at an
elevated temperature.
[0026] The main housing 14 can be formed of any material desired, and in some
embodiments is constructed of a material capable of withstanding varying
temperatures and
can also provide structural integrity to the apparatus 10. In some
embodiments, the main
housing 14 is formed of sheet metal. In other embodiments, the main housing 14
is instead
formed of a ceramic or a polymer material. The main housing 14 can have any
shape,
including a rectangular box-like shape as shown in FIGS. 1-14, an oval shape,
a
hemispherical or spherical shape, a pyramidal shape, and the like. The main
housing 14
can form a base or frame for the apparatus 10, thereby providing points and
areas of
attachment for other components of the apparatus 10.
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[0027] In some embodiments, the main housing 14 of the apparatus 10 can
include or
be used in conjunction with one or more elongated mounting brackets 30 for
mounting the
apparatus 10 to a variety of support structures or surfaces. Any number and
type of
mounting brackets 30 known to those skilled in the art can be used with the
apparatus 10.
The illustrated exemplary embodiment employs two mounting brackets 30 formed
of sheet
metal. Although the mounting bracket(s) 30 can be located in any position(s)
on the main
housing 14 suitable to support the apparatus 10 with respect to surrounding
structure, in
some cases the mounting brackets 30 are attached to opposite side walls of the
main
housing 14. Alternatively, the main housing 14 can be mounted directly (via
any of a
variety of fasteners and fastening methods) to a support structure or surface,
thereby
eliminating the need for mounting brackets 30.
[0028] Some embodiments of the apparatus 10 include a first louvered grille 34
connected to the main housing 14. The illustrated exemplary main housing 14
has a
generally box-like shape with an open end. The illustrated first grille 34 has
a generally
rectangular shape, but can instead take any other shape matching or
substantially matching
the shape of the main housing 14. In other embodiments, the first grille 34
can have a
shape different than that of the main housing 14 it covers.
100291 The first grille 34 can be positioned over an open side of the main
housing 14.
In some embodiments (e.g., the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-14), an open
end of the
main housing 14 is shaped and dimensioned to be received within an open end of
the first
grille 34. In some embodiments, the first grille 34 is formed from a molded
plastic
material. In other embodiments, the first grille 34 is formed from a metallic
material, such
as sheet metal.
[0030] The first grille 34 can be secured to the main housing 14 by one or
more snap-fit
features on the first grille 34 and/or main housing 14, any of a variety of
conventional
fasteners (e.g., screws, bolts, rivets, pins, clamps, and the like), welding,
soldering, brazing,
adhesive or cohesive bonding material, a combination thereof, and the like. In
some such
cases, the main housing 14 can be provided with one or more lips, flared
edges, flanges, or
other features to which the first grille 34 can attach. By way of example
only, the main
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housing 14 in the illustrated exemplary embodiment has peripheral flanges 35
to which the
first grille 34 can attach. In other embodiments, the first grille 34 can be
shaped and
dimensioned to be received within the main housing 14 for attachment thereto
in any of the
manners described above. In any of the main housing and cover configurations,
the main
housing 14 and/or the first grille 34 can be provided with apertures through
which fasteners
can be passed to secure the first grille 34 to the main housing 14.
[0031] With reference to FIGS. 1, 2, 7, 8, and 10-12, the first grille 34 can
include a
first set of apertures, or louvers 38 extending across a first inlet 37
defined by the main
housing 14 for receiving a flow of air. The louvers 38 can be located anywhere
on the first
grille 34 depending at least partially upon the airflow path(s) available
within the main
housing 14 from the louvers 38 to the ventilating assembly 18. In some
embodiments, the
louvers 38 are located in a part of the first grille 34 covering the
ventilating assembly 18.
The first set of louvers 38 can guide air (which can include moisture, steam,
smoke,
exhaust, and the like) to the ventilating assembly 18, which is operable to
draw air into the
main housing 14. From the main housing 14, the ventilating assembly 18 is
operable to
discharge the airflow to another location, such as an attic, outside the
structure to which the
apparatus 10 is secured, and/or into a ducting assembly. In the illustrated
embodiment, the
air is discharged out of a first outlet 122 in the main housing 14.
[00321 The first grille 34 can also include a second set of apertures or
louvers 42
extending across a second inlet 41 defined by the main housing 14. The second
set of
louvers 42 can be located anywhere on the first grille 34 depending at least
in part upon the
airflow path(s) available within the main housing 14 from the second set of
louvers 42 to
the heater assembly 26. By way of example only, the second set of louvers 42
in the
illustrated exemplary embodiment is located at an end of the first grille 34
and main
housing 14 opposite the first set of louvers 38. In some embodiments, the
second set of
louvers 42 is located in a part of the first grille 34 covering the heater
assembly 26. The
second set of louvers 42 can guide inlet air to the heater assembly 26, which
is operable to
generate heated airflow in a room, area, and/or space.
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[00331 In some embodiments, the first grille 34 can have a single set of
louvers
supplying air to the ventilating assembly 18 and to the heater assembly 26,
can have two or
more sets of louvers supplying air to both assemblies 18, 26, or can have one
or more
dedicated sets of louvers for each assembly 18, 26.
[00341 In some embodiments, the first grille 34 has a second outlet 46 for
discharging
heated air from the apparatus 10. The second outlet 46 can be located anywhere
on the first
grille 34, depending at least partially upon the location of the heater
assembly 26 and the
outlet thereof. By way of example only, the second outlet 46 in the
illustrated embodiment
is adjacent to the second set of louvers 42. When connected to the main
housing 14, the
second outlet 46 in the first grille 34 can correspond with and be in fluid
communication
with the heating assembly 26 to receive discharged and heated airflow
therethrough.
[00351 Some embodiments of the present invention include a second grille 50
extending at least partially across the second outlet 46. The second grille 50
can be
moveable with respect to the first grille 34. The second grille 50 can include
louvers 51, as
shown in the figures. The louvers 51 are operable to both conceal an interior
portion of the
housing 14 and to direct air out of the second outlet 46. In some embodiments,
the louvers
51can be angled between about zero degrees and about forty-five degrees from
vertical
when the apparatus 10 is mounted on a horizontal ceiling. In yet other
embodiments, the
louvers 51 can be angled between about ten degrees and about thirty degrees
from vertical
when the apparatus 10 is mounted on a horizontal ceiling. While reference is
made herein
to orientations in which the apparatus 10 is mounted on or in a ceiling, it
should be
understood that the apparatus can also or alternatively be mounted on a wall
or in other
locations within a structure.
[0036) In some embodiments, the second grille 50 includes one or more
actuators to
move the second grille 50 with respect to the first grille 34. In the
illustrated embodiment,
an actuator 55 having a generally rectangular aperture is positioned in a
central portion of
the second grille 50 (see FIGS. 2, 7, 12 and 13). In the illustrated
embodiment of FIGS. 1-
14, the actuator 55 is operable to receive a tool, such as a standard
(flathead) screwdriver.
The actuator 55 can enable an operator to pivot the second grille 50 about a
pivot axis 52,
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with respect to the first grille 34, thereby changing the direction of air
flow out through the
louvers 51. For example, if an operator desires air to be directed in a
specific direction, the
operator can insert a standard screwdriver into the aperture in the actuator
55 and rotate the
second grille 50, to direct the air as desired.
[0037] In some embodiments, the pivot axis 52 is substantially perpendicular
to the
second grille 50 and the first grille 34. In other embodiments, the pivot axis
52 can be non-
perpendicular to one or both of the first and second grilles 34, 50. In some
such
embodiments, the outer surface of the second grille 50 can be oriented at a
non-parallel
angle with respect to the outer surface of the first grille 34. In other
embodiments, the
second grille 50 can be supported on the first grille 34 for pivoting movement
about the
pivot axis 52 and/or about an axis extending through the first grille 34 in a
direction
substantially parallel to an outer surface of the first grille 34.
[0038] In some embodiments, the operator can pivot the second grille 50 during
operation of one or more of the ventilation assembly 18, the lighting assembly
22, and the
heating assembly 26. In some such embodiments, an operator can use a
screwdriver or
other similar tool to pivot the second grille 50 when the heating assembly 26
is operating so
that the operator is not required to touch the second grille 50 and/or so that
the operator
does not need a stool or ladder to reach the actuator 55.
[0039] In the illustrated embodiment, the actuator 55 is recessed below the
outer
surface of the first grille 34. Further, in the illustrated embodiment, the
outer surface of the
second grille 50 is recessed below the outer surface of the first grille 34.
In some
embodiments, the second grille 50 is formed form a metallic material, such as
aluminum.
In other embodiments, the second grille 50 is formed from a molded material,
such as
plastic.
[0040] As shown in FIG. 12, the apparatus 10 can include a locking arrangement
56
operable to maintain the second grille 50 in any of a number of different
pivoted positions
with respect to the first grille 34 and with respect to the housing 14. The
locking
arrangement 56 can include a flange 57 extending circumferentially around and
outwardly
from the outer perimeter of the second grille 50. The flange 57 can be
positioned adjacent
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to the first grille 34 at the second outlet 46. The second grille 50 is
illustrated as being
recessed below the outer surface of the first grille 34. The locking
arrangement 56 can also
include an elastic member, such as the illustrated wave washer 59 or a spring
washer 59,
which can be positioned proximate the first grille 34 and between the first
grille 34 and the
flange 57. The elastic member can be formed from a rigid or elastic material.
The spring
washer 59 can include one or more biasing elements 60 that protrude therefrom
and bias
the second grille 50 into frictional engagement with the first grille 34. In
some
embodiments, the locking arrangement 56 locks the second grille 50 in place by
friction
alone.
(0041] The locking arrangement can fu ther include a locking washer 61
adjacent to the
spring washer 59 and in abutment therewith. A number of fasteners 62, such as
the
illustrated screws, can extend through both the locking washer 61 and the
spring washer 59
and into the first grille 34. The fasteners 62 are operable to inhibit
relative movement
between the first grille 34, the spring washer 59, and the locking washer 61.
Therefore, in
some such embodiments, only the second grille 50 is permitted to pivot
relative to the first
grille 34. In other embodiments, the spring washer 59 and/or the locking
washer 61 can
pivot with the second grille 50.
[0042] In some embodiments, such as the illustrated embodiment, the locking
washer
61 can include an outwardly-extending first stop element 63a and the second
grille 50 can
include a second outwardly-extending stop element, which is selectively
engageable with
the first stop element to limit the pivoting movement of the second grille 50
with respect to
the first grille 34. In some such embodiments, first and second stop elements
prevent the
second grille 50 from pivoting more than about 270 degrees with respect to the
first grille
34. In other embodiments, the first and second stop elements can prevent the
second grille
50 from pivoting more than 45 degrees with respect to the first grille, or
alternatively, in
other embodiments, the first and second stop elements can prevent the second
grille 50
from pivoting more than 360 degrees. In yet other embodiments, such as the
illustrated
embodiment of Figs. 1-13, the first and second stop elements are not included
to thereby
allow unlimited pivoting movement of the second grille 50 relative to the
first grille 34.
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[00431 As described above, some embodiments of the apparatus 10 include a
lighting
assembly 22. As shown in FIGS. 8 and 10, the lighting assembly 22 can be
connected to
the main housing 14 and can project light outwardly through an opening defined
in the first
grille 34. In the illustrated embodiment of Figs. 1-14, the first grille 34
supports a lens 64
for diffusing light emitted by the lighting assembly 22. In some embodiments
of the
apparatus 10, the lens 64 can be releasably connected to the first grille 34
by any of a
number fasteners (e.g., snap-fitting, fastening, and so forth). Alternatively,
the lens 64 can
be integrally formed with the first grille 34, such as in cases where the
first grille 34 is
formed from a plastic material.
(00441 The lighting assembly 22 can include one or more lamps or other
illumination
devices 66, which can be of any type suitable to illuminate a room, area, or
space. By way
of example only, the illumination device(s) 66 can include incandescent,
fluorescent,
halogen, and other lights (whether in the form of flood lights, globe lights,
light emitting
diodes, or otherwise) without departing from the present invention.
[00451 Some embodiments of the apparatus 10 can utilize a lighting assembly 22
having more than one illumination device 66. In such embodiments, one of the
illumination devices 66 can be configured to emit a bright light, while
another illumination
device 66 can be configured to emit a dull light. Such a dull light can be
utilized as a
"night light", if desired. In embodiments utilizing two or more illumination
devices 66, the
illumination devices 66 can be configured to operate separately from one
another or in
groups. Also, one or more illumination devices 66 can be configured in any
conventional
manner to have one or more dimmed settings or to be controllable in a range of
brightnesses.
[00461 Some embodiments of the lighting assembly 22 include an illumination
housing
70. The illumination housing 70 can include a heat resistant material, heat
shielding,
and/or a reflective surface to inhibit heat from contacting various components
of the
apparatus 10. In the illustrated embodiment, the illumination housing 70
includes a
reflective material to direct light outwardly through the lens 64.
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[0047] In the exemplary apparatus 10 of FIGS. 1-14, the ventilating assembly
18
includes a centrifugal fan or fan wheel 78 connected to a motor plate 82 or
other structure
within the housing 14. It should be noted that any other type of fan 78 other
than a
centrifugal fan 78 can be employed as desired (e.g., propeller-type fans, and
the like).
[0048] In some embodiments, the apparatus 10 includes a motor 86 connected to
the
motor plate 82 by a bracket 90. The motor 86 can include a motor shaft, which
extends
through the bracket 90 and/or the motor plate 82 to drive the fan wheel 78 to
produce
ventilating airflow. As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, in some embodiments, the
ventilating
assembly 18 is removably connected within the main housing 14 as a single
integral unit.
[0049] When the ventilating assembly 18 is in an installed position within the
apparatus
10, the fan wheel 78 can be supported adjacent to an arcuate, upstanding wall
106 in the
main housing 14, as shown in FIG. 11. Together with a bottom wall of the main
housing
14 and the motor plate 82, the upstanding wall 106 can form a scroll housing
for generating
airflow therein. The fan wheel 78 can be positioned relative to the upstanding
wall 106 to
form a scroll inlet to receive inlet air through the louvers 38, and a scroll
outlet to discharge
pressurized outlet air out of outlet aperture 122.
[0050] As discussed above, some embodiments of the present invention employ a
heating assembly 26 to heat air that is blown into a room, area, or space.
With reference to
the illustrated embodiment of FIGS. 1-14 for example, the apparatus 10
includes a heating
assembly 26 having a second centrifugal fan or fan wheel 130 positioned within
a fan
housing 134. The fan housing 134 can have any shape desired, and in some
embodiments
has a scroll shape.
[0051] The heating assembly 26 can also include a motor 138 drivably connected
to the
fan wheel 130 to produce airflow into the heating assembly 26. The motor 138
can be
mounted in the apparatus 10 in any manner, such as by a motor bracket 142
attached to or
defining a wall at least partially enclosing the fan wheel 130 (see, for
example, FIG. 8) or
motor bracket 142 mounted to a wall or other structure of the housing 14. If
employed, the
motor bracket 142 can be mounted in any suitable manner, including those
described above
with regard to the motor bracket 90 of the ventilating fan wheel 78.
Alternatively, the
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motor 138 can be directly mounted to a wall at least partially enclosing the
fan wheel 130
or to a wall or other structure of the housing 14 in any suitable manner.
[00521 Any other type of fan 130 other than a centrifugal fan 130 can be
employed for
the heating assembly 26 as desired (e.g., propeller-type fans and the like).
As shown in
FIGS. 9 and 10, the heating assembly 26 can be removably connected to the main
housing
14 as a single integral unit (discussed in greater detail below).
100531 As is known and understood in the art, rotation of the fan wheel 130,
upon
driving by the motor 138, draws the inlet air through louvers 42 into the
center of the fan
wheel 130 and pressurizes the air as it moves toward a discharge aperture 150
(see FIG.
11). The discharge aperture 150 can have any shape desired, such as a round
shape, an
oval shape, a rectangular or other polygonal shape, an irregular shape, and
the like. In the
illustrated exemplary embodiment, the discharge aperture 150 is substantially
rectangular
in shape.
[00541 In some embodiments, a transition outlet fitting 156 can be included
adjacent to
the discharge aperture 150 to direct the air through a different cross-
sectional shape or area.
In the illustrated embodiment, the transition outlet fitting 156 has a
substantially
rectangular cross section 160 at the discharge aperture 150 and tapers down to
a
substantially circular cross section 165 as it directs air through the second
grille 50, see
FIGS. 8, 11 and 14. The transition outlet fitting 156 can include one or more
tabs 170 that
can be connected to the housing 14. For example, two tabs 170 are illustrated
in the
embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 12.
[00551 With reference to FIG. 11, a heating element 210 is shown positioned
adjacent
to the discharge aperture 150 of the fan housing 134 to heat the airflow
generated by the
heating assembly 26. The heating element 210 includes a conventional electric
resistance-
type heater 210. However, any other type of heater can instead be used. The
heating
element 210 is connected to the fan housing 134, such as by inserting the
heating element
210 into a heater aperture 220 in the fan housing 134 or is connected in any
other
conventional manner to the fan housing 134. In some embodiments of the
apparatus 10,
the heating element 210 is permanently secured in the fan housing 134. In
other
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embodiments, the heating element 210 can be removably connected to the fan
housing 134.
As a result, a malfunctioning or non-functioning heating element 210 can be
removed and
serviced or replaced with a properly functioning heating element 210.
Conventional
fasteners (e.g., screws, rotatable tabs, and the like) and conventional
fastening methods
(e.g., snap-fit connections, inter-engaging element connections, and the like)
can be used to
enable the removal and replacement of the heating element 210.
100561 As shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 of the illustrated exemplary embodiment, the
main
housing 14 can be generally divided into a fast compartment 234 and a second
compartment 238 by a first dividing wall 242. The first dividing wall 242 can
be located in
any position in the main housing 14 to provide this result, thereby defining
compartments
234, 238 of any relative size desired. Like the main housing 14, the first
dividing wall 242
can be made from sheet metal, or can instead be made of any other rigid or
substantially
rigid material desired.
100571 In some embodiments, the ventilating assembly 18 and/or the heating
assembly
26 can be removably connected with the main housing 14 as one-piece unitary
assemblies.
For example, FIG. 8 shows that the ventilating assembly 18 is capable of being
removed
from the main housing 14. To permit such one-piece removal of the ventilating
assembly
18, one or more fasteners can be released to permit the motor plate 82 to be
pivoted or
lifted from a secured position in the main housing 14.
[00581 FIG. 11 illustrates that the heating assembly 26 is capable of being
removed
from the main housing 14 as a single integral modular unit. To permit removal
of the
heating assembly 26 in this manner, one or more fasteners securing one or more
parts of the
fan housing 134 to the main housing 14 can be released to permit the fan
housing 134 to be
pivoted or lifted from a secured position in the main housing 14. To remove
the heating
assembly 26 from the main housing 14 in the illustrated embodiment (by way of
example
only), the fasteners connecting the fan housing 134 with the side wall of the
main housing
14 can be removed, and the fan housing 134 can be pivoted to allow the tabs of
the fan
housing 134 to disengage their corresponding slots in the main housing 14.
Upon the tabs
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CA 02636643 2008-07-02
Attorney Docket No. 018695-9453-00
disengaging the slots, the heating assembly 26 can be removed from the main
housing 14
as one piece.
[0059] One or more power consuming devices, such as the motor 86, the motor
138,
the heating element 210 and the illumination device 66, can be powered by an
internal
electrical circuit of a building. For example, one common line from one side
of the
housing 14 can provide an inlet for one or more lines of power to enter the
housing 14 and
power one or more of the power consuming devices.
[0060] In some embodiments, one or more switches, such as wall switches can be
used
to turn the power consuming devices of the ventilating assembly 18, the
lighting assembly
22, and the heating assembly 26 on and off. In some embodiments, three
separate switches
can be utilized to control the three separate operations of the ventilating
assembly 18, the
lighting assembly 22, and the heating assembly 26. In some embodiments, the
heating
assembly 26 can have a timer, such that an operator can, for example, turn a
dial to run the
heating assembly 26 for a specific amount of time, at the end of which the
heating
assembly 26 would automatically shut off. In some embodiments, all three of
the
ventilating assembly 18, the lighting assembly 22, and the heating assembly 26
can operate
simultaneously with the actuation of a single switch.
[0061] The embodiments described above and illustrated in the figures are
presented by
way of example only and are not intended as a limitation upon the concepts and
principles
of the present invention. As such, it will be appreciated by one having
ordinary skill in the
art that various changes in the elements and their configuration and
arrangement are
possible without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention
as set forth in
the appended claims.
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