Patent Publication Number: US-7914163-B2

Title: Ventilation fan and light

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     Applicant claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/939,174 filed May 21, 2007. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates to ventilation fans, and specifically to ventilation fans having a light. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ventilation fans having electric motors have existed for many years. Today, some ventilation fans, such as bathroom fans, include a light source. The light source however creates heat which may rise into the ventilation box or housing, which can cause an unsafe temperature situation when the box is concealed in the ceiling or attic of a house. 
     These ventilation fans also typically include a pattern of air intake slots. These intake slots are aesthetically unpleasing. 
     Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a ventilation fan and light combination that prevents the build up of heat within the unit and which is more pleasing in appearance. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In a preferred form of the invention a ventilation fan mountable to a supporting structure comprises a housing mounted to a supporting structure, an electric fan coupled to the housing, an exhaust outlet in fluid communication with the electric fan, a ceiling plate coupled to the housing, and a light kit having at least one light housing and light diffusor spaced vertically from the ceiling plate. The ceiling plate has a plurality of air intake openings in fluid communication with the electric fan. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a side view of a ventilation fan and light embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form. 
         FIG. 2  is a partial cross-sectional side view of the ventilation fan and light of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a bottom view of a portion of the bath fan and light of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a ventilation fan and light embodying principles of the invention in another preferred form. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     With reference next to the drawings, there is shown a ventilation fan and light  10  embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form, such as a bathroom fan and light. The ventilation fan and light is hereinafter referred to simply as ventilation fan. The ventilation fan  10  includes an enclosure or housing  12  and a light kit  13  coupled to the bottom side of the housing  12 . The housing  12  includes a housing box  15  with a conventional fan scroll  17  having an electric fan  16  mounted therein. The fan scroll  17  forms an exhaust opening  18  in fluid communication with an outlet fitting  19  to direct the flow of exhausted air from the bathroom or similarly enclosed area. 
     The housing  12  also includes a ceiling plate  21  configured to cover the housing box  15  from view. The ceiling plate  21  includes a raised pattern of decorative features  22  arranged in an annular pattern. An annular array of air intake ports  23  extend through the ceiling plate  21 . Each air intake port  23  is positioned or included within a decorative feature  22  to camouflage the air intake port  23  from view, i.e., the air intake ports  23  are arranged within the raised pattern so that they are inconspicuous. The air intake port  23  may be covered with a mesh or screen  24  to obscure the opening. Additionally, the interior of the housing may be finished in a dark color to further obscure the interior from view. 
     The light kit  13  extends from a central portion of the ceiling plate  21 . The light kit  13  includes a central stem  25  from which a plurality of light arms  26  extend. Each light arm  26  terminates with a light housing  27  and diffusor  28 . The wiring W associated with the light kit may be enclosed within a channel about the periphery of the top of the ceiling plate to insulate them from heat and to keep them in position. The channel is formed by a channel wall The light housing  27  includes a conventional light bulb socket and light bulb. The spacial relationship between the ceiling plate  21  and the majority of the light kit structure further obscures the air intake ports  23  from view. 
     In use, the motorized fan  16  draws air into the housing  12  through the air intake ports  23  and transports it out of the housing through the air exhaust port outlet fitting  19 . The spacing of the light bulbs distally from the housing  12  allows heat to dissipate into the ambient air, rather than building within the housing box, a problem long associated with bathroom ventilation fans of the prior art. The light diffusors being open on the bottom end also aids in dissipating the heat produced from the light bulbs away from the housing. 
     The spacing of the light housings and diffusors from the ceiling plate  21  causes the airstreams passing into the intake ports to flow about the housings and diffusors. This diversion or spreading of the airstreams over a larger area creates a better ventilation of the room by creating multiple airstreams originating in many different directions or areas of the room, as indicated by the arrows in  FIG. 4 . This approach is quite different from that of the prior art wherein typical ventilation fan have intakes in one area without such spaced apart lights such that a generally single airstream column is created directly below the ventilation fan. 
     It should be understood that the light kit may take the form of any conventionally know light and is not limited to the centrally positioned stem type of light kit shown in the preferred embodiment. For example, the light kit may be comprised of multiple but independent hanging lights, such as that shown in  FIG. 4 . Furthermore, the light kit may include a single light suspended centrally below and spaced from the ceiling plate. 
     It thus is seen that a ventilation fan and light is now provided which overcomes problems with those of the prior art. While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention.