Patent Description:
Many types of appliance and equipment are mounted or suspended on a wall for use. Various mounting or suspension devices are known, many of which involve the use of a bracket in conjunction with one or more screws or nuts and bolts. In the majority of cases when mounting or suspension is completed, it is often hard if not impossible to adjust the position of the mounted or suspended objects by adjusting the mounting/suspension devices. Suspension devices for suspending a range hood on a wall are described in <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT>, <CIT> and <CIT>.

The invention seeks to mitigate or to at least alleviate such a problem or shortcoming by providing a new or otherwise improved suspension device and method of using the same.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a suspension device as defined in claim <NUM> as appended hereto, for suspending a range hood on a wall through a cabinet mounted on the wall.

It is preferred that at least one of the left connector and the right connector comprises a screw-threaded member.

It is further preferred that the screw-threaded member comprises a nut and bolt.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of suspending a range hood on a wall through a cabinet mounted on the wall using the aforesaid suspension device, as defined in claim <NUM> as appended hereto.

Preferably, the connecting step includes setting the left connector and the right connector to their relatively longer or longest length, such that the lower bracket is located at a relatively lower or lowest position.

Preferably, the engaging step includes subsequently lowering the range hood to complete the engagement of the range hood with the lower bracket.

The present invention also provides an assembly of a range hood and a cabinet as defined in claim <NUM> as appended hereto.

The invention will now be more particularly described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

Referring to <FIG> of the drawings, there is shown a suspension device <NUM> for suspending a range hood embodying the invention. The range hood may be, in this particular embodiment, a range hood <NUM> installed above a gas stove in a kitchen, where a hanging cabinet is preinstalled across the upper part of a support e.g. a wall behind the gas stove. The range hood <NUM> has a generally rectangular main housing <NUM>, in which most main components i.e. exhaust fans and motor are fitted, and an upper housing <NUM> of a reduced footprint and upstanding from the main housing <NUM>. The range hood <NUM> is mounted on the same wall, with its upper housing <NUM> concealed within a lower part of the hanging cabinet. More specifically, the hanging cabinet has a horizontal base panel <NUM> which is cut with a rectangular opening <NUM> that matches the cross-section of the upper housing <NUM> of the range hood <NUM>. To install the range hood <NUM>, it is first moved upwardly with its upper housing <NUM> inserted through the opening <NUM> into the cabinet, and the upper housing <NUM> is then mounted onto the wall right behind using the subject suspension device <NUM>. Inside the cabinet, an exhaust duct is connected within the upper housing <NUM> for, during use of the gas stove, discharging exhaust gas (e.g. stove burning exhaust and cooking oily vapour) collected by the range hood <NUM>.

The suspension device <NUM> suspends the range hood <NUM> from the wall, at a position directly underneath the hanging cabinet. The range hood <NUM> and in particular its main housing <NUM> should be located as close as possible to the cabinet's base panel <NUM>, thereby leaving no or only a barely noticeable gap therebetween for the sake of neatness in design.

Referring to the suspension device <NUM>, it comprises an upper bracket <NUM> for fixing on a support i.e. the aforesaid wall, and a lower bracket <NUM> provided below the upper bracket <NUM> for suspending the range hood <NUM>. The upper bracket <NUM> has a left part <NUM> and a right part 110R. The lower bracket <NUM> has a left part <NUM> and a right part 120R. The suspension device <NUM> includes a left connector <NUM> connecting the left part <NUM> of the lower bracket <NUM> to the left part <NUM> of the upper bracket <NUM>, and a right connector 130R connecting the right part 120R of the lower bracket <NUM> to the right part 110R of the upper bracket <NUM>.

At least one or each, as in the described embodiment, of the left connector <NUM> and the right connector 130R is preferably provided by a screw-threaded member, such as a screw-threaded shank or bolt that allows rotation or relative rotation to adjust its effective length or position of engagement with another screw-threaded member or part. Specifically, the aforesaid screw-threaded member may comprise a nut N and bolt B.

In use, the left connector <NUM> is adjustable to adjust the position of the left part <NUM> of the lower bracket <NUM> relative to the left part <NUM> of the upper bracket <NUM>. Also, the right connector 130R is adjustable to adjust the position of the right part 120R of the lower bracket <NUM> relative to the right part 110R of the upper bracket <NUM>. The adjustment on both sides allows the vertical and/or angular position, and in general the level or leveling of the range hood <NUM> suspended by the suspension device <NUM> to be adjustable, primarily during installation or subsequent repair.

To suspend the range hood <NUM>, at least one or preferably each, as in the described embodiment, of the left part <NUM> and the right part 120R of the lower bracket <NUM> includes an engaging element <NUM> for engagement with an engaging part <NUM> of the range hood <NUM>. The engaging element <NUM> is in the form of a hook <NUM> or in general comprises a hook-like formation, and the engaging part <NUM> of the range hood <NUM> includes a hole <NUM> on the rear side of the upper housing <NUM>, through which hole <NUM> the hook <NUM> engages. In a first perspective, the or each hook (or hook-like formation) <NUM> comprises a rear part R and a front part F, with the rear part R fixed to the associated left or right part <NUM>/120R of the lower bracket <NUM> and the front part F at least partially positioned at a level above the rear part R. In a second perspective, the or each hook <NUM> extends from a first position R at the associated left or right part <NUM> or 120R of the lower bracket <NUM> to a second position F above the first position R and away from the associated left or right part <NUM>/120R. In either perspective, more specifically as in the case of the described embodiment, the hook <NUM> extends from the associated left or right part <NUM>/120R of the lower bracket <NUM> upward at an acute angle of about <NUM>° to the vertical direction.

In the light of the foregoing paragraph, it follows that the engagement between each hook <NUM>, which is fixed, and the hole <NUM> involves downward movement of the range hood <NUM>, which includes the associated hole <NUM>, to complete the engagement. To engage the hook <NUM>, whose front part F is located (at the second position) higher than its rear part R (at the first position), the hole <NUM> should be raised to a position slightly higher in order to reach over or overcome the hook's front part F and then lowered to rest on or at the hook's rear part R.

For simplicity, the upper bracket <NUM> has a one-piece body including its left part <NUM> and right part 110R as integral formed or distinct but connected parts. The same structural concept is shared by the lower bracket <NUM>, in that the left part <NUM> and the right part 120R are integral or connected parts of the lower bracket <NUM>. For strength, the upper bracket <NUM> and the lower bracket <NUM> include respective flanges 110F and 120F which are arranged adjacent each other and through which the left connector <NUM> and the right connector 130R connect the lower bracket <NUM> to the upper bracket <NUM>.

The invention also provides a method of suspending the range hood <NUM>, on a support, e.g. the aforesaid wall, using the suspension device <NUM>. In use, the suspension device <NUM> suspends the range hood <NUM> on the wall through a cabinet mounted on the wall. More specifically, the suspension device <NUM> is to engage and suspend the range hood <NUM> by its upper housing <NUM> concealed within the lower part of the cabinet.

The method comprises a number of steps as described below, commencing with the initial step of providing or making the suspension device <NUM> of a construction as described above. To install the suspension device <NUM>, the upper bracket <NUM> is fixed onto the wall using a pair of expansion bolts E, preferably at the upper bracket's top left and right corners. The upper bracket <NUM> is to extend horizontally at a position which is about the height of the upper housing <NUM> above the base panel <NUM> of the cabinet. The lower bracket <NUM> is then connected to below the upper bracket <NUM> using the left connector <NUM> and the right connector 130R.

In this connecting step (<FIG>), the left and right connectors <NUM> and 130R, which are preferably provided by respective nuts N and bolts B, are initially both set to about their relatively longer or longest operating or fastening length as practical, i.e. loosened for the nuts N and bolts B, such that the lower bracket <NUM> is located at a relatively lower or lowest position.

The range hood <NUM> is subsequently engaged with the lower bracket <NUM> such that it is suspended from the lower bracket <NUM>. Initially during this engaging step, the range hood <NUM> is moved upwardly with its upper housing <NUM> inserted into the cabinet through the opening <NUM> in the base panel <NUM> at the bottom of the cabinet. At this time, the lower bracket <NUM> is located at, for example, the lowest possible position as the nuts N and bolts B (i.e. the connectors <NUM> and 130R) are loosened. Such a lowest position of the lower bracket <NUM> is preferred as it allows the upper housing <NUM> and in particular its holes <NUM> to reach, and engage, the respective hooks <NUM> of the lower bracket <NUM>.

The reason is that in practice there is restriction as to how far the range hood <NUM>, and hence its upper housing <NUM> inside the cabinet, can move upwardly because its main housing <NUM> will be blocked upon hitting the cabinet's base panel <NUM>. It should be noted that the range hood <NUM> should be moved further or sufficiently upwardly to have the holes <NUM> of its upper housing <NUM> to overcome and specifically ride over the tips of the respective hooks <NUM> of the lower bracket <NUM>, before the range hood <NUM> is subsequently lowered to let the holes <NUM> rest upon the hooks <NUM>, thereby completing the engagement and hence suspension of the range hood <NUM> with the lower bracket <NUM> (<FIG>).

Upon suspension of the range hood <NUM> on the lower bracket <NUM>, the left connector <NUM> is adjusted i.e. tightened to adjust the position of, i.e. raise, the left part <NUM> of the lower bracket <NUM> relative to the left part <NUM> of the upper bracket <NUM>. Similarly, the right connector 130R is tightened to raise the right part 120R of the lower bracket <NUM> relative to the right part 110R of the upper bracket <NUM>. These two adjusting steps can be taken in either order, such that the position and in particular the vertical and angular/level position of the range hood <NUM> suspended by the suspension device <NUM> is adjusted (<FIG>). The adjusting steps serve to adjust the position of the range hood <NUM> upwardly such that the main housing <NUM> of the range hood <NUM>, which is relatively larger than the opening <NUM>, lies flat against or close to the base panel <NUM> of the cabinet, thereby resulting in a "seamless" fit.

In general, the suspension device <NUM> allows adjustment of the vertical position of the range hood <NUM>, subsequent to suspension thereof, in order to place the range hood <NUM> lie flat against the bottom of the cabinet, thereby resulting in a "seamless" fit. The vertical position of the range hood <NUM> that can be adjusted includes its angular position or leveling as may be necessary or desired in the situation where the bottom (i.e. the base panel <NUM>) of the cabinet does not extend perfectly horizontally.

A further expansion bolt (not shown) is preferably used to secure the upper housing <NUM> of the range hood <NUM>, through a small hole H thereof, to the wall.

In the context of this invention, the word "suspension" is used interchangeably with the word "mounting", or between their various different forms.

Claim 1:
A suspension device (<NUM>) for suspending a range hood (<NUM>) on a wall through a cabinet mounted on the wall, comprising:
an upper bracket (<NUM>) for fixing on the wall through the cabinet, the upper bracket (<NUM>) having a one-piece body including a left part (<NUM>) and a right part (110R); a lower bracket (<NUM>) for suspending the range hood (<NUM>), the lower bracket (<NUM>) being provided below the upper bracket (<NUM>), the lower bracket (<NUM>) having a left part (<NUM>) and a right part (120R) which are integral parts of the lower bracket (<NUM>);
a left connector (<NUM>) connecting the left part (<NUM>) of the lower bracket (<NUM>) to the left part (<NUM>) of the upper bracket (<NUM>); and
a right connector (130R) connecting the right part (120R) of the lower bracket (<NUM>) to the right part (110R) of the upper bracket (<NUM>);
wherein:
each of the left part (<NUM>) and the right part (120R) of the lower bracket (<NUM>) comprises a hook (<NUM>) or a hook-like formation for engagement with a hole (<NUM>) on the rear side of an upper housing (<NUM>) of the range hood (<NUM>), the hook (<NUM>) or hook-like formation extending from the associated left or right part (<NUM>, 120R) of the lower bracket (<NUM>) at an acute angle upward;
the left connector (<NUM>) being adjustable to adjust the position of the left part (<NUM>) of the lower bracket (<NUM>) relative to the left part (<NUM>) of the upper bracket (<NUM>), the right connector (130R) being adjustable to adjust the position of the right part (120R) of the lower bracket (<NUM>) relative to the right part (110R) of the upper bracket (<NUM>), such that the position of the range hood (<NUM>) suspended by the suspension device (<NUM>) is adjustable to a position such that a main housing (<NUM>) of the range hood (<NUM>) lies flat against or close to a base panel (<NUM>) of the cabinet, thereby resulting in a seamless fit; and
the upper bracket (<NUM>) and the lower bracket (<NUM>) include respective flanges extending along the length of their corresponding brackets, which flanges are arranged adjacent each other and through which the left connector (<NUM>) and the right connector (130R) connect the lower bracket (<NUM>) to the upper bracket (<NUM>).