Abstract:
A grease containment assembly to collect grease discharged from a grease exhaust system that has an exhaust duct extending upwardly from a roof top and interconnected to a fan base that connects to an exhaust fan. The grease containment includes a plurality of interconnecting U-shaped channels positioned around the exhaust duct to form a frame surrounding said exhaust duct. A sorbent material is further received within the interconnecting channels, having properties that absorbs grease and repels water. A plurality of holes is positioned in the interconnecting channels such that the water repelled by the sorbent material may drain out of the interconnecting channels. In addition the frame is further secured to the exhaust duct.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates generally to a grease containment assembly for collecting grease discharged from vents. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Restaurants, especially fast food establishments, produce high volumes of grease that is discharged through a roof-mounted exhaust system. The grease that is discharged may accumulate on the roof and cause deterioration and/or pose extreme fire hazards. Known attempts to contain the grease generally result in less that efficient means for containing the discharged grease. 
     One such attempt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,040 entitled “Grease Trap and Filter Apparatus,” (&#39;040 patent) which the applicant herein co-invented. However, the &#39;040 patent has numerous shortcomings. For instance, the filter assembly is designed and cut to fit snugly around the exhaust duct of an exhaust system. However, the grease may still easily run in between the duct and the filter spilling on to the roof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,512,073 entitled “Grease Filter Assembly” (&#39;073 patent) is another attempt to contain the grease that may be discharged through a roof top exhaust system. Similar to the above, the &#39;073 patent also places the filter directed against the exhaust duct. However, the &#39;073 patent is secured to the duct rather than the roof, allowing it to be placed on any roof, even if slanted. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,567,216 entitled “Grease Filter Assembly” (&#39;216 patent) places a filter directed below the grease spout. However, it is well known that the grease has a tendency to expel from any openings in the seams around the entire perimeter of the exhaust duct, vent and under the fan base as well. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,558 entitled “Grease Containment System and Method for Absorbing Grease” (&#39;558 patent) is directed to a system that uses a box to collect grease falling from the spout as well as a filter mat placed around the vent to collect run off grease. However, as the above-mentioned patents, the &#39;558 patent is simply fitted about the exhaust duct such that the grease may fall in between the filter and the duct. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,143,047 entitled “Effluent Containment Assembly” is directed to a containment system for collecting grease or other effluents that dispense from a exhaust system. The various disclosed systems may be mounted to the duct above the roof and include a flashing member to direct the effluent downwardly and outwardly away from the vent. However, since the filter material is cut and sized about the duct, grease may still seep in between the filter and the duct and onto the roof. 
     As noted above, most grease containment assemblies use filters that are cut and sized to fit about the perimeter of the exhaust duct. In some instances the exhaust system includes a grease spout that is suppose to direct the grease into a small grease trap, as shown and described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,143,047 and 6,010,558. However, the grease has a tendency to seep through seems between the filter pads and the duct as well as around the fan base between the exhaust duct and fan. As such in each instance the grease will still saturate the roof causing deterioration and posing fire risks. A need therefore exists for improvements on the above-mentioned references in order to prevent the grease from saturating and deteriorating the roof. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with the present invention a grease containment assembly is described and disclosed herein below. The grease containment assembly includes a plurality of elongated members positioned about the perimeter of an exhaust system. Each elongated member has a bottom portion and two walls extending upwardly from the bottom portion, wherein one of the walls is positioned up against the exhaust duct defined in the exhaust system and the other wall is a predetermined distance therefrom defined by a width of the bottom portion. The containment assembly further includes a means for securing the elongated members against the exhaust duct, such as support brackets. A sorbet pad is sized to fit entirely within the elongated members and has properties to absorb grease and to permit water to drain through or repel therefrom. The elongated members further includes a plurality of drain hole interspaced about the bottom portion such that water not absorbed or repelled by the sorbet pad may drain from the containment assembly. Other embodiments include placing a mesh covering on top of the sorbent material to help prevent the sorbent material from moving. 
     Numerous other advantages and features of the invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description of the invention and the embodiments thereof, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     A fuller understanding of the foregoing may be had by reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of the grease containment assembly in accordance with the present invention attached to a typical grease exhaust system; 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of the grease containment assembly from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view and partial cross sectional view of the grease containment assembly from FIG. 1; 
     FIG. 4 is a front view of the grease containment assembly from FIG. 2 taken about cross section line  4   a;    
     FIG. 5 is a top enlarged view of the corner section of the grease containment assembly from FIG. 2; and 
     FIG. 6 is a side sectional view of the enlarged corner section about section  6 . 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     While the invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there are shown in the drawings and will be described herein, in detail, the preferred embodiments of the present invention. It should be understood, however, that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the spirit or scope of the invention and/or claims of the embodiments illustrated. 
     Referring now to FIG. 1, a grease containment assembly in accordance with the present invention is hereinafter generally referenced to numeral  20 . The grease containment assembly  20  is to be used with a roof top grease exhaust system  10 . The grease exhaust system  10  would typically include at least, an exhaust fan  12  and an exhaust duct  14  that protrudes from a roof  18  of a building, normally a fast food restaurant. The grease exhaust system  10  may also include a grease sprout (not shown) that aids in directing the discharged grease out of the exhaust system  10 . While ideally grease is meant to collect and discharge through the grease sprout, the grease typically discharges around the fan base  16  that serves to connect the exhaust fan  12  to the exhaust duct  18 . The grease containment assembly  20  of the present invention serves to solve the ever present problem of collecting the discharged grease. 
     Referring also now to FIG. 2, the grease containment assembly  20  includes a frame defined by a plurality of elongated members  22  that are positioned against the exhaust duct  14  and below the fan base  16  (FIGS.  1  and  4 ). While the grease containment assembly  20  is illustrated as being square shaped, it is not intended to be limited by the illustrations, the present invention is importantly designed to fit about the perimeter of the exhaust duct. However, for a typical grease exhaust system  10  that is squared shaped or more importantly includes corners  11  or angled sections, the plurality of elongated members  22  are interconnected about each corner  11  by a corner section  50 . But, if the grease exhaust system  10  was irregularly shaped or had a circular perimeter, the frame would be designed to fit around the same. As such the elongated members interconnect to form an inside perimeter  23  that is substantially the same as the outside perimeter of the exhaust duct  14 . 
     It is also important to note that preferably the elongated members and corner sections are made from a light-weight material such as PVC. However, other materials that are also fire retardant may be used. 
     Referring now to FIG. 3, each elongated member  22  has a U-shaped cross section defined as two side portions  24  that extend upwardly from a bottom portion  26  forming a channel  28  therebetween. The elongated members  22  are positioned against the exhaust duct  14  such that one of the side portions  24  is resting up against the exhaust duct  14 . Positioned in the channel  28 , also referred to as the interior region, is a sorbent pad  30  that is preferably sized to fit within the two side portions  24  and rest against the bottom portion  26 . The sorbent pad  30  is suitable for absorbing air-borne grease discharged from the discharge vent. The sorbent pad  30  is further capable of passing any water landing on the sorbent pad  30  that was either discharged from the discharge vent or caused from precipitation. As opposed to the prior art, where a sorbent pad is positioned up against the exhaust duct  14 , which allows grease to seep in between the sorbent pad, the present invention places the sorbent pad  30  entirely within elongated members such that the grease cannot seep in between the sorbent pad  30  and the exhaust duct  14 . In addition thereto a portion of the elongated members further includes a plurality of drain holes  32  that drain any water repelled by the sorbent pad  30 . 
     The elongated members  22  are further secured to the exhaust duct  14  such that the elongated members may be raised above the roof  18 . Since in some instance the roof  18  may be tilted or unleveled, positioning the grease containment assembly  20  against the roof  18  may cause grease of other fluids to run and collect about a single area, which would cause the sorbet pad  30  to be saturated in an area. As such it is advantageous to attach the grease containment assembly  20  at a level position. The aforementioned securing means is preferably a plurality of support brackets  34 . 
     Referring now to FIG. 4, each support bracket  34  has a first edge  36  and a second edge  38 . The first edge  36  is secured to the exhaust duct  14  by screws  37 , or other fastening means, while the second edge  38  includes a contour  40  that matches the contour of the elongated member  22  that it is supporting. More specifically, the contour  40  at least supports the bottom portion  26  and the side portion  24  of the elongated member. The second edge  38  further includes a resilient flange  42  that extends around the top portion  25  of the aforementioned side portion  24 , such that the flange  42  may engage the side portion  24  thereby securing the elongated member  22  in position against the exhaust duct  14 . 
     To further guide any discharged grease into the grease containment assembly  20 , a flash guard  44  may be positioned about the perimeter of the exhaust duct  14  in between the grease containment assembly  20  and the fan base  16 . The flash guard  44  may be secured to the exhaust duct  14 , by screws  37  or other fastening means, under the fan base  16  such that any grease seeping from the fan base  16  would run down the flash guard  44  and into the grease containment assembly  20 . 
     The grease containment assembly  20  may also include a mesh covering  46  to limit access to the sorbent pad  30 . Such limited access may be desired to keep animals out of the grease containment assembly  20  or to protect the sorbent pad  30  from harsh or windy environments. The mesh covering  46  is held in place by clips  48  (FIG. 4) defined in the side portions  24  of the elongated members  22 . The clips  48  protruding inwardly towards the center of the elongated member  22  and are further defined to hold the mesh covering  46  in position. 
     Referring now to FIG. 5, two elongated members  22  are connected around a corner  11  by a corner section  50 . The corner section  50  includes at least two openings  52  that include a similar but slightly larger contour then the elongated members  22  in order to receive the elongated members  22 . In addition, each opening  52  has a support  54  cast into the inside perimeter. The support  54  is defined to receive a U-shaped rubber gasket  56 , such that when assembled, the elongated member  22  is positioned into the corner section  50  and onto the rubber gasket  56  thereby creating a seal to prevent grease or other containments from leaking from the grease containment assembly  20 . To secure the elongated member  22  into the corner section  50 , the corner section  50  includes a pair of opposing resilient tabs  58  that frictionally engage the two side portions  24  of the elongated member. While the plurality of drain holes  32  may be positioned through the elongated members  22 , in the embodiment illustrated, the drain holes  32  are positioned in bottom portion of the corner section  50 . 
     From the foregoing and as mentioned above, it will be observed that numerous variations and modifications may be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the novel concept of the invention. It is to be understood that no limitation with respect to the specific methods and apparatus illustrated herein is intended or should be inferred. It is, of course, intended to cover by the appended claims all such modifications as fall within the scope of the claims.