Patent Document

This application is a Divisional application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/269,171 filed Oct. 7, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,103,104, which claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/391,134 filed Oct. 8, 2010. The entire disclosure of each of the applications listed in this paragraph are incorporated herein by specific reference thereto. 
    
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
     This invention relates to ventilation exhaust fans, and in particular to apparatus, systems and methods of 70 CFM ventilation fans with heaters for bathrooms having light covers with adjustable louvers or depressible fasteners and depressible releases. 
     BACKGROUND AND PRIOR ART 
     Various types of bathroom ventilation fans have been proposed and used over the years. See for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,867,640 to Penlesky et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,851 to Sarnosky et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,261,175 to Larson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,488,579 to Larson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,802,770 to Larson et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 7,203,416 to Craw et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,495 to Adrian et al. 
     There have been many problems with the prior art. For example, many bath fans are difficult to be installed into a ceiling since the housings cannot be easily attached to different locations of joists in the ceiling. If a joist is off center to the middle of bathroom ceiling the bath fan is not easy to center in the room. Additionally, many of the bath fans have numerous parts which add extra manufacturing costs. And as a result a bath fan that requires assembly of the bath fan at a job site will incur undesirable extra labor and material costs to install. Additionally, many bath fans have to be wired to components inside of the housings which also require extra expensive labor costs to make the connections onside during the installation of the bath fan. 
     Additional problems have included undesirable noise effects coming from the exhaust fans when the fans are being turned on. Still furthermore, the light covers on bath fans are often difficult to open up once the bath fan is installed. For example, many light covers require the user to unscrew fasteners, such as screws, and the like, which are quite difficult to work on when the light lens cover is on a ceiling mounted bath fan. Thus, having to replace burned out light bulbs can be difficult with the light covers on existing bath fans. 
     Thus, the need exists for solutions to the above problems with the prior art. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A primary objective of the present invention is to provide ventilation fans, apparatus, systems and methods for bathrooms with heaters that provides 70 (seventy) CFM (cubic feet of air per minute) in ventilation. 
     A secondary objective of the present invention is to provide ventilation fans, apparatus, systems and methods for bathrooms with heaters having depressibly engageable and depressibly releaseable light covers. 
     A third objective of the present invention is to provide ventilation fans, apparatus, systems and methods for bathrooms with heaters, having reduced noise effects from air being exhausted from the fan housings. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide ventilation fans, apparatus, systems and methods for bathrooms with heaters, having covers with adjustable louvers for adjusting airflow direction and closure of the airflow. 
     A fourth objective of the present invention is to provide ventilation fans, apparatus, systems and methods for bathrooms with heaters, that remove odors from rooms in which they are mounted. 
     The ventilation motor and the heater motor and the light can each be wired separately and used with separate wall switches in a room. For instance, the exhaust part can be turned on/off and pull air from the room. The heater can be on by itself and pull air into the heating element and heats up the air then pushes it back into the room. The light can be controlled separately too if you do not need the above components to be operating. The lens cover for the light is easily accessible by pushing and releasing the cover to change the light bulb. It attaches and secures itself the same way. 
     A ventilation fan for bathrooms can include a housing having closed top, side walls and open bottom, a blower wheel and motor inside of the housing, a receptacle box for the motor being located outside of the housing against an outer wall of the housing, a grill cover covering the open bottom of the housing, a light in the grill cover, wherein air enters into the housing and is exhausted therefrom by the motor run blower, and a depressible lens cover covering the light, the lens cover having at least one depressibly engageable and depressibly releaseable fastener receptacle and prong, which allow the lens cover to be pressed to lock the cover in place and to be pressed again to unlock and release the cover from covering the light. The motor can be an approximately 70 (seventy) CFM (cubic feet per minute) generating motor. 
     The fan housing can include a first elongated side telescoping bracket directly mounted along one side wall of the housing, and a second elongated side telescoping bracket directly mounted along an opposite side wall of the housing. 
     The depressibly engageable and releaseable fasteners can include female sockets with springs, and male prongs for being inserted into the female sockets, wherein the lens cover is attached to and released from the grill cover by the male prongs and female sockets. The depressibly engageable and releaseable fasteners can further include moveable inner parts inside of the sockets, wherein the springs are positioned beneath the inner parts, and bendable arms are attached to the inner parts, wherein initially depressing the male prongs into sockets causes the bendable arms to hook about enlarged heads on the male prongs to lock the lens cover in place, and subsequently depressing the male prongs causes the springs to push to out the inner parts to release the lens cover. 
     The fan can include a heating element inside the housing, wherein incoming air is heated and recirculated back through the grill; 
     The fan can include a plastic enclosure for completely surrounding the blower wheel to guide the air in a controlled path to prevent excess noise and provide maximum performance to exhaust or heat the air, so that air is trapped once it enters the blower wheel and guided to the outlet without any corners for the air to be stuck. 
     The grill can include incoming louvered grill portion for pulling the air from the space and to both the blower wheel and the heating element, and an outgoing heated air louvered grill portion for circulating the heated air back into the space. 
     At least one of the incoming louvered grill portion and the outgoing heated air louvered portion, can include adjustable louvers so as to direct the incoming air and the outgoing heated air in separate directions. 
     A ventilation fan for bathrooms, can include a housing having closed top, side walls and open bottom, a blower wheel and motor inside of the housing, a heating element inside the housing, a receptacle box for the motor and heating element being located outside of the housing against an outer wall of the housing, a grill cover covering the open bottom of the housing, a light in the grill cover, wherein air enters into the housing and is exhausted therefrom by the motor run blower, and incoming air is heated and recirculated back through the grill, a releaseable translucent lid cover for covering the light, female sockets with springs therein, male prongs for being inserted into the female sockets, wherein the lid cover is attached to and released from the grill cover by the male prongs and female sockets, and first and second pairs of suspension brackets, each pair being fixed to sides of the housing for mounting the housing in a ceiling or wall. 
     The motor can be an approximately 70 (seventy) CFM (cubic feet per minute) generating motor. The fan can include plastic enclosures that completely surround the blower wheel, to help guide the air in a controlled path to prevent excess noise and provide maximum performance to exhaust or heat the air. The enclosures allow for air to be trapped once the air enters the blower wheel and is guided to the outlet without any corners for the air to be stuck. 
     The grill can include an incoming louvered grill portion for pulling the air from the space and to both the blower wheel and the heating element, and an outgoing heated air louvered grill portion for circulating the heated air back into the space. 
     At least one of the incoming louvered grill portion and the outgoing heated air louvered portion, can include adjustable louvers so as to direct the incoming air and the outgoing heated air in separate directions. 
     Further objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent from the following detailed description of the presently preferred embodiments which are illustrated schematically in the accompanying drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
         FIG. 1  is a lower side perspective view of the assembled ventilation and heater fan. 
         FIG. 2  is another lower side perspective of the ventilation and heater fan of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a side partial cross-sectional view of the ventilation and heater fan of  FIG. 2 . 
         FIG. 4  is a top view of the ventilation and heater fan of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 5  is a lower view of the ventilation and heater fan of  FIG. 1  with light cover removed. 
         FIG. 6  is a lower perspective view of the ventilation and heater fan of  FIG. 5  with grill cover removed. 
         FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the housing, grill cover, light cover and separated blower and motor and separate heater components of the ventilation and heater fan of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 8  is another exploded view of the housing and grill cover with the assembled blower and motor and heater components of  FIG. 7 . 
         FIG. 9A  is an exploded front view of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener used for the light cover of the ventilation and heater fan. 
         FIG. 9B  is an exploded back view of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 9C  is an exploded side view of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 9D  is a top assembled view of the of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener of  FIG. 9A . 
         FIG. 10A  shows a prong used under the lens cover about to be attached to the assembled receptacle fastener of  FIG. 9D . 
         FIG. 10B  shows the prong being inserted into the receptacle fastener of  FIG. 100A . 
         FIG. 10C  shows the prong locking into the receptacle fastener of  FIG. 10B . 
         FIG. 10D  shows the prong locked into the receptacle fastener of  FIG. 10C . 
         FIG. 10E  shows the prong being pushed down again to start the release of the prong. 
         FIG. 10F  shows the prong being pushed out of the receptacle of  FIG. 10E . 
         FIG. 11  is a top view of another bath fan grill cover having a lens cover using the depressible engageable fasteners and depressible releases of the preceding figures. 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the lens cover separated from the grill cover. 
         FIG. 13  is a side view of the lens cover separated from the grill cover of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 14  is another side view of the lens cover separated from the grill cover of  FIG. 12 . 
         FIG. 15  is a top view of the grill cover of  FIG. 11  without the lens cover. 
         FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the lens cover attached to the grill cover of  FIG. 11 . 
         FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the lens cover of  FIG. 16 . 
         FIG. 18  shows the top view of another bath fan grill cover without the lens cover. 
         FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the grill cover of  FIG. 18  with attached lens cover. 
         FIG. 20 . is a cross-sectional view of the grill cover of  FIG. 19 . 
         FIG. 21  is an end view of the lens cover of  FIG. 19 . 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Before explaining the disclosed embodiments of the present invention in detail it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applications to the details of the particular arrangements shown since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation. 
     70 CFM Ventilation Bath and Heater Fan 
     A list of the components will now be described.
     1. Bath fan and heater with light cover having adjustable louvers and/or depressible engageable fasteners and depressible release   10. Light cover/grill lens (light cover/lid/door)(opaque allows light to pass through)   20. Grill   25. fixed vents   300. Grill lens connecting block chip (depressible engageable and releasable fastener)   40. Shutter ( 5 )(adjustable louvers)   50. Bulb (60 Watt candelabra bulb)   60. Light box (aluminum)   65. socket   70. Shutter adjust bracket   80. Heat element housing side plate ( 2 ) (galvanized steel)   90. Heat element housing front plate (galvanized steel)   92. top with vents   94. angled bottom   96. attachment tabs   100. Ceramic heating element   110. Heat element housing rear plate (galvanized steel)   120. Iron impeller (galvanized steel)   130. Iron impeller housing side plate   140. Motor for heating element   150. Iron impeller housing   152. motor side of housing   160. Bath fan motor   170. Motor seat   180. Blower/Impeller   190. Blower/Impeller housing   192. exhaust air output channel   194. side air inlet opening   196. footer(s)   200. Main Housing   210. Wiring box cover   220. Wiring box   230. Outlet   240. Damper   250. Suspension brackets   260. Suspension brackets   300. Grill lens connecting block chip (depressible engageable and releasable fastener)   310. inside part with bendable prong arms   312. bendable prong arms   313. side slot   314. side walls   316. bottom   317. indentation in bottom   318. riding tab stop   320. outside box   322. top end with enlarged edges   324. side walls   326. hook of outside box   327. spring fixture   328. longitudinal slot   330. pothook (L shape)   332. side extending protrusions on vertical leg   334. horizontal leg   340. internal spring   400. male prong with enlarged head   410. shaft   420. enlarged head   500. bath fan grill cover with opposite fixed vents   510. inside cavity for light source   550. hinge attachment for lens cover   600. lens cover   650. hinge attachment for grill cover   700. bath fan grill cover with four fixed vents   710. inside cavity for light fixture   750. hinge attachment for lens cover   800. lens cover   

       FIG. 1  is a lower side perspective view of the assembled ventilation and heater fan  1  with light cover  10  having adjustable louvers  40  and depressible engageable fasteners and depressible release.  FIG. 2  is another lower side perspective of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a side partial cross-sectional view of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 4  is a top view of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 5  is a lower view of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of  FIG. 1  with light cover  10  removed.  FIG. 6  is a lower perspective view of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of  FIG. 5  with grill cover  20  and light cover  10  having been removed. 
       FIG. 7  is an exploded view of the housing  200 , grill cover  20 , light cover  10  and separated blower  180  and motor  160  and separate heater components  100 - 150  of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 8  is another exploded view of the housing  200  and grill cover  20  with the assembled blower  180  and motor  160  and heater components  100 - 150  of  FIG. 7 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-8 , the main housing  200  of the bath fan and heater invention  1 , can be a generally box shape having closed sides, closed bottom, and open top (which is covered by the grill cover  200 ). The invention  1  can include both heater components  80 - 150  and air blower components  160 - 190 . 
     The heater components  80 - 150  ( FIGS. 3, 4, 6-8 ) can include two opposite facing heating element side plates  80  (one is shown for clarity), and a front plate  90  with upper bent top having vents  92  and angled bottom  94  and side attachment tabs  86  having through-holes for allowing the front plate  90  to be attached to side flanges of heat element rear plate  110 , by fasteners, such as screws, bolts, rivets, and the like. Both the front plate  90  and the rear plate  110  can be formed from metal, such as but not limited to galvanized steel and the like. Inside the front plate  90  and rear plate  110  can be a heating element  100  such as a ceramic heating element. 
     A metal heater blower/impeller  120 , such as an iron impeller, can have a blower wheel configuration with circumferential side blades. An electrical motor  140 , such as a capacitor motor which can be completely enclosed to prevent moisture from entering into the motor, and effectively allowing the motor to last longer over time. Motor  140  can have a rotational axis that attaches to a mid portion of the blower wheel  120 , to rotate the blower wheel  120 . The blower  120  can be held in place by the motor  140  to be held within a blower housing  150 , such as an iron housing, having a generally cylindrical shape with a side exhaust opening for moving air therefrom. An impeller side plate  130  having an opening therethrough which along with the motor  140  function as end plates for the open sides of blower housing  150 . Side plate  130  can have a footer  132 , with together with the bottom of housing  150  can be attached to the floor of housing  200  by fasteners, such as screws, bolts, rivets, and the like. Side flanges on the motor  140  can attach to edges around an opening in sidewall  152  (which can function as a motor seat) of the blower housing  150 , by fasteners, such as screws, bolts, rivets, and the like. 
     The ceramic heating element  100  and bath fan can each have their separate motors  140 ,  160  and blower wheels  120 ,  180 . They are even separated from each other inside the bath fan housing  200  so that air can be exhausted outside by the bath fan through outlet  230  with adjustable damper  240 , while the heater side blows the warmer air into the room through angle adjustable shutters  40 . The adjustable louvers  40  should be adjusted away from the bath fan side to prevent the warmer air being exhausted out. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3, 4, and 6-8 , the air blower components  160 - 190 , can include an electrical bath fan motor  160 , such as a capacitor motor which can be completely enclosed to prevent moisture from entering into the motor, and effectively allowing the motor to last longer over time. Fan motor  160  can have side flanges that are attached by fasteners (such as those previously described) to edges along a through-hole in a motor seat plate  170 . A rotatable axle on motor  160  can attach to a central portion of the blower wheel  180  to rotate the blower wheel  180 . Motor seat  170  can have side flanges that can attach to edges along an open side of the blower housing  190  by fasteners (such as those previously described). Air can be pulled into the blower housing  190  by open side  194 , and is blown out exhaust opening  192 . Footers  196  on the bottom of blower housing  190  can attach the blower housing to the floor of the main housing  200  by fasteners (such as those previously described). 
     Components labeled  190  are plastic enclosures that completely surround the blower wheel  180 . The enclosures helps guide the air in a controlled path to prevent excess noise and provide maximum performance to exhaust or heat the air. Air is trapped once it enters the blower wheel  180  and guided to the outlet  192  of the blower housing and outlet  230  of the housing  200  without any corners for the air to be stuck. 
     Power for the motors  140 ,  160  and light  50  can be wired to wire box  220  by a line, such as a white plastic bi-pin molex cable from each of the motors  140 ,  160  and light compartment  60  that plugs into the wiring box  220  with wiring box cover. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1-3 and 5-8 , external household electrical power can be supplied to the bath fan and heater housing embodiment 1 through a side opening  222  in a side wall of the wiring box  220 . The top opening and front opening of the wiring box  220  can be covered with an L-shaped wiring box cover  210  having tabs which connect the cover  210  to sidewalls of the wiring box by fasteners (such as those previously described). Conventional wires can be inside the junction box  210  and can be wired to a house power supply. Standard positive/negative wires for each light, heater, each motor is inside and can be wired to the house. Male plugs, such as Bi-pin molex can plug into the receptacles which is behind the junction box  220 . The wires inside the junction box  220  can be connected to these receptacles and can be wired to the house. The invention can use electrical connections used in other bath fan inventions, by the assignee including, but not limited to those shown and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/219,236 filed Aug. 26, 2011, and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/168,112 filed Jun. 24, 2011, both of which are incorporated by reference. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 7-8 , the housing  200  is mounted by extension brackets  250 ,  260  that are fixably attached directly to the outer side of the housing. Each extension bracket is two pieces, with one fixed to an outside wall of the housing, and the second part has an L shaped end, where the second part telescopes in and out relative to the fixed part of the bracket. The L shaped end can attach to joists and other structural supports in a ceiling in which the housing  200  is mounted. Alternatively, other types of mount brackets can be used, such as bent flap ears. The invention can use telescoping brackets and ear type bent flange brackets similar to those in other inventions by the assignee including, but not limited to those shown and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/219,236 filed Aug. 26, 2011, and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/168,112 filed Jun. 24, 2011, both of which are incorporated by reference. 
       FIGS. 9A, 9B, 9C, 9D, 9E and 9F  are enlarged cross-sectional views of the novel depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable fasteners used for the light cover  10  of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of the preceding figures. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1, 2, 5, 7, 8 and 9A-9F , when the light cover/door/lid  10  is to be closed, a user presses down so that male prongs from the underside of the cover/door/lid  10  is inserted into female sockets along a rim edge in the opening of the grill  20 . Inside of the sockets are springs. Once inserted the male prong becomes locked and hooked in place so that the cover/door/lid  10  is closed over the opening in the grill  20 . To open the cover/door/lid  1 , a user can press again against the cover/door/lid  10  pushing the male prong deeper into the female sockets which then causes the male prongs to be become ejected by springs inside the bases of the female sockets, and allowing the cover/door/lid  10  to become open. Once open, the bulb  5  is reachable to be changed when needed, such as when the bulb has become burned out. 
     The exhaust ventilator fan  180  pulls air through the adjustable louvers into the housing  200  and exhausts the air through the side outlet  230  of the housing  200 . 
     The heater uses the same grill inlet to pull air into the housing  200 , where the air from the room (space underneath the mounted bath fan) is pulled in and heated. The heated air is pushed back into the space through a different set of adjustable louvers  40 . The adjustable louvers  40  on the grill  20  for the heater outlet are pointed away from the grill louvers  25  on the air intake in order to make the system more proficient. Although the vents/louvers  25  on the air intake side are earlier described as fixed, the invention can use also use adjustable louvers on the air intake side as well. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-8 , the ventilation fan and heater  1  is mounted to a ceiling, C, so that the grill cover  20  is generally flush against the ceiling with the housing  200  behind the ceiling. Incoming air, I can be pulled into fixed vents  24  in the grill cover by the blower  180 , where some air is exhausted out, E, through outlet  230 , controlled by damper  240 . Other incoming air is pulled in the direction of heater components by blower  120 , where it is heated by the heating components, and blown back into the space below the ventilation fan and heater  1 , by adjustable louvers  40 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 3-5 and 7 , a generally V shaped aluminum type light box  60  can be mounted in a middle compartment of the grill cover  20 , and can have a socket  65  mounted to one end, and a light source  60  such as a 60 Watt candelabra bulb, mounted therein. The light source can be powered by electrical lines running into the wiring box  220 . The invention can use electrical connections used in other bath fan inventions, by the assignee including, but not limited to those shown and described in copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/219,236 filed Aug. 26, 2011, and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/168,112 filed Jun. 24, 2011, both of which are incorporated by reference. 
     Into one side edge of the rim of the light box  60  can be a depressibly engageable and depressibly releaseable fastener. A downwardly protruding prong  400  allows the light cover  10  to be easily attachable and fully removable from covering the light source  50  in the light box  60 , the operation of which is described in greater detail in reference to  FIGS. 9A-9D and 10A-10F . 
       FIG. 9A  is an exploded front view of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener  300  used for the light cover  10  of the ventilation and heater fan  1  of the preceding figures.  FIG. 9B  is an exploded back view of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 9C  is an exploded side view of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 9A .  FIG. 9D  is a top assembled view of the of the depressibly engageable and depressibly releasable receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 9A . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 9A-9D , the receptacle fastener  300  can include an inside part inside part  310  with bendable prong arms  312 . The inside part  310  can have side walls  314 , bottom  316  with an indentation  317 . Protruding out of a side wall  314  of the internal part  310  can be a protrusion  318 . The side walls  314  of the inside part  310  can fit into an open top end  322  of an outside box  320 . Along one side wall(s)  324  of the outside box  320  can be a longitudinal slot  328  which restricts the inner part  310  to an upper position, and to a lower position relative to the box  320 . A hook  326  is located on the outside of the box  320 , and a spring fixture  327  is on a lower corner of the box  320 . A spring  340  can have an upper end into the indentation  317  on the bottom of the inside part  310 . An L shaped pot hook  330  can have protrusions  332  on a vertical leg, and a horizontal leg  334  that can fit into a slot opening  313  in the side of the inner part  310 , where the inner part  310  can ride up and down in the outside box  320  by the protrusions  332  moving up and down in longitudinal slot  328 . 
     To attach the light cover  10 , to the grill cover  20 , the unhinged end of the outside of the light cover  10  is first pushed toward the grill cover  20 , so that the prong(s)  400  are first pushed (or depressed) into the bendable arms  312 . This causes the bendable arms  312  to catch the enlarged prong head  420  while the arms  312  are being pushed into the upper end  322  of the box  320  which partially compresses spring  340 . Once the inner part  310  is inside the box  320 , the inner part  310  is latched in place. To release the light cover  10 , the opposite side of the light cover  10  is pushed toward the housing  100 , this causes the inner part  310  to push down again on spring  340 , which then releases the latching of the inner part  310 . The expanding spring  340  causes the inner part  310  to be pushed to a raised position, with the bendable arms  312  outside the upper end  322  of the box  320 , where the arms  312  expand from one another releasing the enlarged prong head(s)  420 , and the light cover  10  is then free to pivot open (relative to a hinged end) to allow access to change out the light sources inside of the grill cover  20 . 
       FIGS. 10A-10D  show the steps to lock the prong  400  to the receptacle fastener  300 .  FIG. 10A  shows a prong  400  used under the lens cover  20  about to be attached to the assembled receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 9D . The prong  400  can have a shaft  410  and an enlarged head  420 . The bendable arms  312  can have lower ends attached to top edges of the inner part  310  and have upper inwardly protruding hook ends 
       FIG. 10B  shows the prong  400  being inserted into the receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 10A , where the enlarged head  420  starts to expand the upper hook ends of bendable prongs  312  until the upper hook ends hook about the enlarged head  420  of the prong  400 . 
       FIG. 10C  shows the prong  400  locking into the receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 10B , where the hooked prong head  420  is continued to be pushed into the box  320  so that the spring  340  under the inner part  320  starts to compress inside of the box  320 .  FIG. 10D  shows the prong  400  locked into the receptacle fastener  300  of  FIG. 10C . Here, the prong arms  312  are wrapped about the head  420  so that the entire head  420  and substantially most of the arms  312  are inside the upper open end of the box  320 . At this point the light cover  10  is fully attached to grill cover  20 . 
       FIGS. 10E-10F  show the steps to release a light cover  10  from the grill cover  20   FIG. 10E  shows the prong  400  being pushed down again to start the release of the prong  400 . By pushing down the prong  400 , the inner spring  340  compresses again.  FIG. 10F  shows the prong  400  being pushed out of the receptacle  300  of  FIG. 10E  by the spring  340  pushing up against the bottom of inside part  310 . 
       FIG. 11  is a top view of another grill cover  500  having a lens cover  600  using the depressible engageable fasteners and depressible releases  300 ,  400  of the preceding figures.  FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the lens cover  600  separated from the grill cover  500 .  FIG. 13  is a side view of the lens cover  600  separated from the grill cover  500  of  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 14  is another side view of the lens cover  600  separated from the grill cover  500  of  FIG. 12 .  FIG. 15  is a top view of the grill cover  500  of  FIG. 11  without the lens cover  600 .  FIG. 16  is a cross-sectional view of the lens cover  600  attached to the grill cover  500  of  FIG. 11 .  FIG. 17  is a cross-sectional view of the lens cover  600  of  FIG. 16 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 11-17 , the lens cover  600  can be attached to the grill cover  500  using the prongs  400  underneath the lens cover  600  which are depressibly engaged with the receptacle fasteners  300  inside the light cavity  510  of the grill cover  500 . One end of the lens cover  600  can have a pair of downwardly protruding prongs  400 , which the opposite end can have hinge components  650  which allow the lens cover to be pivotally attached to mateable hinge components  550  inside the light cavity  510  of the grill cover. The prongs  400  with depressibly engageable and depressibly releaseable fasteners  300  function similar to those described in the previous figures. The prongs  400  with depressibly engageable and depressibly releaseable fasteners  300 , allow for users to easily change out light bulbs when the bath fan has been mounted in a ceiling, without having to unscrew fasteners, such as screws, bolts, and the like, which are popular with prior art held lens covers. 
       FIG. 18  shows the top view of another bath fan grill cover  700  without the lens cover  800 .  FIG. 19  is a cross-sectional view of the grill cover  700  of  FIG. 18  with attached lens cover  800 .  FIG. 20 . is a cross-sectional view of the grill cover  700  of  FIG. 19 .  FIG. 21  is an end view of the lens cover  800  of  FIG. 19 . Referring to  FIGS. 18-21 , the grill cover  700  can include a light cavity  71 —for supporting bulbs and the like, therein. The cavity  710  can have a pair of depressibly engageable and depressibly releaseable fasteners  300  on one end, and hinge component(s)  750  on an opposite end. The lens cover  800  can attach to and cover the cavity  710  by using a pair of downwardly protruding prongs  400  on one lower end, and hinge components on an opposite lower end which operate and function similarly to the previously described embodiments. 
     The Exhaust ventilation fan and the heater can be run separately from one another, by having one turned on and the other turned off. 
     Additionally, the light can be turned on separately from the ventilation fan and the heater. 
     Additionally, both the exhaust ventilation fan and heater can be run together as desired so that air is continuously circulated out of a space and the rest of the air being heated and recirculated back into the space. 
     The bath fan can be hardwired to the house and activated by one or two switches on a wall inside of the space underneath the bath fan. 
     Although the preferred embodiment covers 70 CFM applications, the invention can be used with other levels, such as but not limited to less than or equal to 50 CFM, 60 CFM, 80 CFM, 90 CFM or greater. 
     While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in various terms of certain embodiments or modifications which it has presumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be, nor should it be deemed to be, limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breadth and scope of the claims here appended.

Technology Category: f