Patent ID: 8783245

Claim:
A ventilation unit for a range hood, comprising: a housing comprising a top panel and a bottom panel, the top panel defining an exhaust vent for removing air from a kitchen area, said housing also defining a recirculation vent for recirculating air to the kitchen area, said housing also defining an intake for receipt of air from the kitchen area; a fan contained within said housing between the top and bottom panels, said fan configured for pulling air into the intake of said housing and blowing the air through said housing and between the top and bottom panels for exit through either the exhaust vent or the recirculation vent; a damper contained within said housing between the top and bottom panels, said damper comprising a top wall that is substantially parallel to the top panel and is configured to cover the exhaust vent when said damper is in a first position; a diverter wall that is substantially orthogonal to the top panel and is configured to block the flow of air through the recirculation vent when said damper is in a second position; wherein said damper configured for selective rotation between i) the first position that prevents the flow of air through the exhaust vent while allowing air to flow through the recirculation vent and ii) the second position that allows air to flow through the exhaust vent while blocking the flow of air through the recirculation vent; and a pivotal flap that is substantially orthogonal to the top panel and is configured for pivoting as said damper moves between the first and second positions, said pivotal flap also configured to contact the diverter wall of said damper so as to assist in blocking the flow of air when said damper is in the second position.