System For Mounting Undercabinet Ventilation Hood
Patent No. US10948200 (titled "System For Mounting Undercabinet Ventilation Hood") was filed by Whirlpool Corp on Apr 10, 2019.
What is this patent about?
’200 is related to the field of kitchen appliances, specifically to systems and methods for mounting ventilation hoods under cabinets above cooking appliances. Ventilation hoods are used to remove smoke, grease, and other airborne byproducts produced during cooking. Existing mounting methods often require two people, are time-consuming, and can be prone to misalignment issues.
The underlying idea behind ’200 is to enable a single person to easily and efficiently mount a ventilation hood under a cabinet. This is achieved by using a pair of support brackets that provide distinct aligning, positioning, and hanging features. The brackets are first mounted to the underside of the cabinet, and then the ventilation hood is slid onto the brackets and secured.
The claims of ’200 focus on a system comprising a bracket and a ventilation hood. The bracket has a main body and a support tab that extends from it, forming a slit. The ventilation hood has a slot that receives the support tab, allowing the hood to hang from the bracket. A locator tab on the bracket abuts the rear wall for proper positioning. The ramp on the support tab forces the ventilation hood upward to the underside of the cabinet upon hanging the ventilation hood from the first bracket.
In practice, the support brackets are mounted to the underside of the cabinet using screws. The locator tab ensures the bracket is positioned correctly relative to the rear wall. The ventilation hood is then lifted and the support tabs are inserted into the slots on the hood. As the hood is slid backward, the tapered or ramped surface of the support tabs forces the hood upward, ensuring a snug fit against the cabinet. Finally, the support tabs are bent to secure the hood in place.
This design differs from prior approaches that often require templates, filler strips, and two people for installation. The support bracket design simplifies the process by providing built-in alignment and hanging features. The ramped support tabs and corresponding slits ensure a secure and flush mount against the cabinet, while the locator tab guarantees consistent positioning relative to the rear wall. This allows for a faster and easier installation process that can be performed by a single person.
How does this patent fit in bigger picture?
Technical landscape at the time
In the early 2010s when ’200 was filed, mounting ventilation hoods typically involved bolting the unit to the underside of a cabinet, often requiring a template for hole alignment. At a time when such installations commonly relied on physical templates and manual measurements, achieving precise alignment and single-person installation was non-trivial.
Novelty and Inventive Step
The examiner approved the claims because the prior art failed to teach or suggest a mounting system where the bracket includes a locator tab extending rearward from the main body. This locator tab is designed to abut the rear wall when the bracket is mounted under the cabinet. The examiner was convinced by the applicant's arguments, particularly those made during a telephone interview and in subsequent written remarks.
Claims
This patent includes 18 claims, with independent claims numbered 1, 11, and 18. The independent claims are directed to systems for mounting a ventilation hood to the underside of a cabinet above a cooking appliance, focusing on bracket and hood configurations with support tabs and slots. The dependent claims generally elaborate on specific features and configurations of the bracket, support tabs, slots, and their interaction with the ventilation hood and cabinet.
Key Claim Terms New
Definitions of key terms used in the patent claims.
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Date
Description
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US10948200
- Application Number
- US16379897
- Filing Date
- Apr 10, 2019
- Status
- Granted
- Expiry Date
- Aug 14, 2033
- External Links
- Slate, USPTO, Google Patents