Exhaust vent cover

Abstract

To prevent formation of a gap between an exhaust outlet cover and an installation surface therefor, through which dirt can enter, when the exhaust outlet cover is installed, thereby improving the dirt prevention function of an exhaust outlet.SOLUTION: An exhaust outlet cover 1 is composed of inner and outer panels 11, 12 which have at least front plates 11a, 12a capable of facing a source of dirt and whose longer direction is the left-right direction. The lower edge of the front plate 12a of the inner panel has an insertion portion 12b that can be inserted into a groove existing between an exhaust outlet and a source of dirt. The exhaust outlet cover 1 can be installed to cover the exhaust outlet with the insertion portion 12b inserted into the groove. It is thus configured that the groove existing between the exhaust outlet and the source of dirt is used and the lower edge of the front plate 12a for receiving dirt is inserted into the groove, so that no gap is formed between the front plate 12a and an installation surface and there is no entering of dirt into the exhaust outlet through a gap.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an exhaust port cover that covers an exhaust port to prevent it from getting dirty. [Background technology]

[0002] Grills such as fish grills and ovens installed in system kitchens are equipped with exhaust vents to release the cooking heat.These exhaust vents are usually located on the kitchen countertop, adjacent to the stove such as a gas range or induction cooker. Therefore, when cooking on the stove, food scraps and some of the seasonings will fly out towards the exhaust port. The exhaust vent is covered with a mesh cover to prevent food ingredients and other debris from falling in, but there is a risk that dirt scattered from the stove will adhere to this mesh cover.

[0003] In order to prevent such contamination of the exhaust port, an exhaust port cover for covering the exhaust port has been proposed, as in Patent Documents 1 and 2. The exhaust vent covers in Patent Documents 1 and 2 consist of a panel body made of formed aluminum foil or the like, and the panel body is placed on the exhaust vent so that it faces the stove.

[0004] Food scraps and seasonings scattered from the stove toward the exhaust port are caught by this front-facing panel, preventing them from sticking to the mesh cover and soiling the exhaust port. Generally, the rear side and the left and right side sides of the exhaust port cover are entirely open, allowing heat from the grill to be dissipated through these openings. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-89273 [Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2011-179691 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0006] When these exhaust port covers are installed to cover the exhaust port, a magnet is placed between the cover and the top plate as the installation surface, and the cover is attracted to the top plate. Because of this installation method, a gap is likely to form between the lower edge of the exhaust vent cover and the installation surface, and food ingredients and seasonings scattered from the stove can sometimes enter the exhaust vent side through this gap. In particular, since liquid dirt easily spreads on the top surface, such gaps tend to become ideal passages for liquid dirt, which raises concerns that the purpose of installing an exhaust vent cover will be greatly diminished.

[0007] A system kitchen is made up of many parts, and grooves are formed between the edge of the stove top and the edge of the exhaust port mesh cover, for example.

[0008] As described above, conventional exhaust port covers have room for improvement in terms of their ability to prevent the exhaust port from becoming dirty. Furthermore, this problem is not limited to the exhaust vent of a grill in a system kitchen, but is common to all exhaust vents located adjacent to sources of dirt.

[0009] Therefore, the problem to be solved by the present invention is to prevent the formation of gaps between the exhaust vent cover and the installation surface when the cover is installed, which allows dirt to enter, and to improve the exhaust vent's dirt prevention function. [Means for solving the problem]

[0010] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, the exhaust vent cover of the invention is configured to consist of a panel body having at least a front panel that can face the source of dirt and whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction, and the panel body has an insertion portion at the lower edge of the front panel that can be inserted into a groove that exists between the exhaust vent and the source of dirt, and the panel body can be installed to cover the exhaust vent by inserting the insertion portion into the groove.

[0011] In this way, when the exhaust vent cover is installed, the groove between the exhaust vent and the source of dirt is utilized, and the lower edge of the front plate that catches the dirt on the panel is inserted into the groove, so there is no gap between the lower edge of the panel and the installation surface, which prevents dirt from entering the exhaust vent through the gap, improving the dirt prevention function.

[0012] In the exhaust vent cover of the invention, the panel body comprises an outer panel having at least a front panel that can face the source of dirt and whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction, and an inner panel having at least a front panel that can face the source of dirt and whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction, and the outer panel and inner panel are overlapped with each other so that they can slide relatively along their longitudinal direction, with the outer panel on the outside and the inner panel on the inside, and it is preferable to adopt a configuration in which the insertion portion is provided at least on the lower edge of the front panel of the inner panel.

[0013] With this configuration, the length of the panel body can be adjusted by sliding the outer panel and the inner panel relative to each other, making it possible to cover exhaust ports of various sizes. The insert portion may be provided not only on the front plate of the inner panel but also on the front plate of the outer panel.

[0014] In the exhaust port cover according to the present invention, it is preferable that the insertion portion has a substantially circular cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction of the panel body.

[0015] When configured in this manner, the insertion portion is rounded, which prevents scratching and damaging the installation surface or mesh cover when inserted into the groove around the exhaust port, and prevents injury to the hands and fingers of the person handling the panel body, compared to when the insertion portion has a sharp shape.

[0016] In the exhaust port cover of the present invention, the thickness of the insertion portion may be the same as or smaller than the groove around the exhaust port, and is preferably 1mm to 4mm, and more preferably 2mm to 3mm.

[0017] If the insertion part is too thick, it will be difficult to insert into the grooves around the exhaust port, which are generally narrow (about 3 to 4 mm), and if the insertion part is too thin, it will be sharp and may scratch and damage the installation surface or mesh cover when inserting it into the groove, or may injure the hands and fingers of the person handling the panel body. By configuring the thickness of the insertion portion as described above, it is possible to achieve both ease of insertion into the groove around the exhaust port and safety for the area around the exhaust port and for fingers.

[0018] In the exhaust vent cover according to the present invention, it is preferable to employ a configuration in which the surface of the panel body is coated with an acid- and alkali-resistant resin.

[0019] This configuration prevents the panel body from corroding or discoloring during cleaning. Since the panel body is particularly susceptible to the effects of detergents used in dishwashers, it is preferable to apply a coating of acid- and alkali-resistant resin. In addition, the coating improves the slipperiness of the panel body's surface, preventing the panel body from damaging the installation surface or mesh cover when it comes into contact with them.If the panel body consists of an inner panel and an outer panel, it slides smoothly and prevents the panels from rubbing against each other and being damaged.

[0020] In the exhaust port cover according to the present invention, the panel body is preferably made of aluminum.

[0021] With this construction, the panel body is easy to handle because aluminum is lightweight, the panel body is less likely to break because aluminum is strong, and the manufacturing costs of the panel body can be reduced because aluminum is inexpensive. In addition, the high heat dissipation properties prevent heat from accumulating around the exhaust port.

[0022] The exhaust vent cover according to the present invention can be suitably used as a cover for a kitchen grill exhaust vent. In this case, the exhaust vent is attached to the kitchen grill and opens adjacent to the stove, and a mesh lid is placed over the exhaust vent, with the groove into which the insertion part of the exhaust vent cover is inserted being the groove formed between the edge of the mesh lid and the edge of the stove top. [Effects of the Invention]

[0023] Since the exhaust vent cover of the invention is configured as described above, it is possible to prevent the formation of gaps that allow dirt to enter on the front side facing the source of dirt when it is installed, thereby improving the dirt prevention function of the exhaust vent. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0024] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exhaust port cover according to an embodiment; [Figure 2] 1A is an exploded perspective view of an exhaust port cover according to an embodiment, FIG. 1B is a side view of the exhaust port cover, and FIG. 1C is a plan view of the exhaust port cover according to the embodiment. [Figure 3] 1A and 1B are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a perspective view showing an installation state of an exhaust port cover according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 10 is an enlarged perspective view of a main part showing an installation state of the exhaust port cover according to the embodiment; [Figure 5] 1A and 1B are a longitudinal cross-sectional view and a plan view showing another installation mode of the exhaust port cover according to the embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0025] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. The exhaust vent cover 1 of the embodiment shown in Figures 1 and 2 is installed to cover the exhaust vent P attached to the grill G in the kitchen K, as shown in Figures 3 and 4, and prevents food scraps and seasoning liquid scattered from the stove S from adhering to and contaminating the exhaust vent P. The exhaust port cover 1 of the embodiment is made up of a panel body 10 whose longitudinal direction is the left-right direction, and a magnet 20. The panel body 10 is made up of an outer panel 11 and an inner panel 12.

[0026] As shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the exhaust vent cover 1 is installed, the outer panel 11 has a front panel 11a facing the stove S and a back panel 11b on the opposite side from the stove, and dirt scattered from the stove S is mainly received by the front panel 11a. The upper edges of the front plate 11a and the rear plate 11b are connected to each other, and the front plate 11a and the rear plate 11b are inclined downward toward their respective lower edges, with the angle of inclination of the front plate 11a being gentler than that of the rear plate 11b. The front plate 11a is slightly curved so as to be convex upward as a whole, and the rear plate 11b is slightly curved so as to be convex downward as a whole. The outer panel 11 has a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, and has open left and right side surfaces. The outer panel 11 is closed in the front and rear directions by a front plate 11a and a back plate 11b, respectively.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2(b), an L-shaped receiving portion 11c is provided on the inner surface of the back plate 11b of the outer panel 11. The receiving portion 11c continues in the left-right direction of the outer panel 11. As a result, a guide groove into which a fitting piece 12c of the inner panel 12, which will be described later, is fitted is formed between the back panel 11b and the receiving portion 11c.

[0028] The rear edge 11d of the back plate 11b of the outer panel 11 has a circular cross section perpendicular to the left-right direction of the outer panel 11, which continues in the left-right direction to form an elongated cylindrical shape as a whole.

[0029] As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the inner panel 12 has a front plate 12a that faces the stove S when the exhaust port cover 1 is installed, and dirt scattered from the stove S is caught by the front plate 12a. The front plate 12a is inclined gently downwards towards the front edge, and is slightly curved so that it is convex upwards as a whole. The inner panel 12 has a longitudinal direction in the left-right direction, and has open left and right side surfaces. In the front-rear direction, the inner panel 12 is closed by a front plate 12a at the front and has an opening 12d at the rear.

[0030] An insertion portion 12b is connected to the lower end of the front edge of the front panel 12a. The cross section of the insertion portion 12b perpendicular to the left-right direction of the inner panel 12 has a circular shape, and this shape continues in the left-right direction, forming an elongated cylindrical shape overall. The diameter (thickness) of the insertion portion 12b is larger than the thickness of the front panel 12a. The thickness of the insertion portion 12b is not particularly limited, but is preferably 1 to 4 mm, and more preferably 2 to 3 mm. The thickness of the outer panel and the inner panel excluding the insertion portion 12b is generally the same, and in this embodiment, the thickness is, for example, approximately 1 to 1.5 mm, but may be set appropriately within the range of approximately 0.5 to 2.5 mm.

[0031] Furthermore, a hanging fitting piece 12c is provided continuously at the rear edge of the front plate 12a of the inner panel 12. The fitting piece 12c is continuous in the left-right direction of the inner panel 12. The amount of hanging of the fitting piece 12c is small, on the order of a few millimeters, so it does not interfere with the opening of the back surface of the inner panel 12. The thickness of the fitting piece 12c is approximately equal to the width of the groove formed between the back plate 11b of the outer panel 11 and the receiving portion 11c, and is smaller than the thickness of the insertion portion 12b. The thickness of the fitting piece 12c (groove width of the groove in the outer panel 11) is not particularly limited, but can be, for example, about 1 to 1.5 mm, and may be set appropriately within the range of about 0.5 mm to 2.5 mm.

[0032] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are overlapped with each other so that the outer panel 11 faces outward and the inner panel 12 faces inward. As shown in FIG. 2(c), the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are capable of sliding relative to each other along the longitudinal direction. By sliding the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12, the left and right dimensions of the panel body 10 can be adjusted according to the dimensions of the exhaust port where the panel body 10 is installed.

[0033] As shown in Figure 2(b), when the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are overlapped, the mating piece 12c of the inner panel 12 is fitted into the guide groove formed between the back panel 11b and the receiving portion 11c of the outer panel 11. This prevents the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 from coming apart. Furthermore, as described above, the groove width of the groove formed between the back panel 11b and the receiving portion 11c of the outer panel 11 is smaller than the thickness of the insertion portion 12b of the inner panel 12, so even if you try to assemble the inner panel 12 to the outer panel 11 with the front-to-back direction reversed, the insertion portion 12b will not be able to fit into the groove of the outer panel 11. Therefore, the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 can be accurately assembled with their front and rear directions aligned.

[0034] The surfaces of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are coated with an acid- and alkali-resistant resin. This prevents the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 from corroding or discoloring when washed in a dishwasher or the like. Furthermore, since the smoothness of the panel surfaces is improved, the sliding operation of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 can be performed smoothly, and the two panels are prevented from rubbing against each other and damaging each other's surfaces. Furthermore, even if the outer panel 11 or the inner panel 12 comes into contact with the exhaust port P or fixtures of the kitchen K, damage to these is suppressed. Such acid- and alkali-resistant resins are not particularly limited, but examples thereof include acrylic resins and fluororesins. When the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are made of aluminum, it is preferable to subject them to anodizing treatment, as this increases the surface strength. In this case, if an acrylic resin or fluororesin coating is further applied on top, the synergistic effect will further improve corrosion resistance.

[0035] Here, the material of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 is not particularly limited, and examples include metal and synthetic resin. The outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 can be made of different materials, but it is preferable that both panels are made of metal, as this has high strength and heat resistance. Furthermore, aluminum is more preferable as it is lightweight and has high heat dissipation properties suitable for releasing heat from the exhaust port.

[0036] Although the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 can be formed by separately manufacturing the front panels 11a and 12a, the back panel 11b, the insert portion 12b, etc., and then integrating them, molding them into one body is preferable in terms of strength and cost. In this embodiment, the integral molding is performed by extrusion molding.

[0037] The length, width, and height dimensions of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are not particularly limited, but examples of dimensions that are not bulky and are sufficient to cover an exhaust port of standard dimensions without excess or deficiency include a length of 70 to 80 mm in the front-to-back direction, a length of 300 to 400 mm in the left-to-right direction, and a maximum height of 15 to 20 mm. The relative dimensions of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are not particularly limited as long as they can be overlapped with the outer panel 11 on the outside and the inner panel 12 on the inside, but it is preferable to make the dimensions in the left and right directions the same so that they can be overlapped completely. The thickness of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 is not particularly limited, but can be 1 to 1.5 mm, for example, to ensure sufficient strength and not excessive weight.

[0038] The configuration of the exhaust port cover 1 of this embodiment has been described above, and its usage will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1(a), 3 and 4. FIG. As shown in Figure 1(a), first, the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are slid appropriately in their longitudinal direction so that the dimensions of the panel body 10 match the dimensions of the exhaust port P of the grill G to be installed, and then the panel body 10 is placed on top to cover the exhaust port P.

[0039] As shown in Figures 1(a) and 3(a), a step is formed between the top plate T of the stove S and the exhaust port P so that the top plate T of the stove S is higher and the exhaust port P is lower. In addition, a mesh cover M is placed over the exhaust port P. As a result, a groove C is formed between the edge of the top plate T of the stove S and the edge of the mesh cover M. As shown in FIG. 3(a), the panel body 10 is placed to cover the exhaust port, and is attached by inserting the insertion portion 12b at the lower end of the front edge of the inner panel 12 into the groove C described above. The groove width of the groove C is usually about 3 to 4 mm, so if the thickness of the insertion portion 12b is set to a smaller dimension, for example, about 2 to 3 mm, the insertion operation can be carried out smoothly. Since the insertion portion 12b has a rounded shape, even if it comes into contact with the stove top or griddle cover during the insertion operation into the groove C, it will not damage them.

[0040] As shown in Figure 3(b), the side of the exhaust port P facing the stove S is covered by the front plate 11a of the outer panel 11 and the front plate 12a of the inner panel 12, so that food scraps and seasoning liquid scattered from the stove S are caught by these front plates 11a, 12a and do not adhere to the mesh cover M of the exhaust port P, thereby preventing the exhaust port P from getting dirty. In particular, by inserting the insertion portion 12b into the groove C, no gap is created between the top plate T of the stove S and the lower edge of the panel body 10, so seasoning liquid etc. will not enter through the gap, and thorough measures can be taken to prevent the exhaust port P from becoming dirty.

[0041] When the front-to-rear length of the panel body 10 and the front-to-rear length of the exhaust port P are approximately the same, the rear edge 11d of the outer panel 11 can be fitted into the grooves C on both the front and rear sides of the exhaust port P. In other words, depending on the structure of the kitchen K, the rear edge 11d can also function as an insertion portion. In this case, the exhaust port cover 1 is firmly attached, and is prevented from coming off from above the exhaust port P unintentionally. If the lengths do not match, the container is placed on a flat surface outside the net cover M so as to straddle the exhaust port P and the net cover M, as shown in FIG. 3(a). In any case, the rounded rear edge 11d prevents the kitchen K from being damaged during the installation work.

[0042] 3(b) and 4, the rear side of the outer panel 11 of the exhaust port cover 1 is closed by a rear plate 11b, and the rear side of the inner panel 12 is open by an opening 12d. The left and right side surfaces of the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are open. As shown in the figures, the open area of ​​the rear surface is much larger than that of the left and right side surfaces. Therefore, when the grill G is used with the exhaust vent cover 1 installed, the exhaust air from the grill G is released to the outside mainly through the opening 12d of the inner panel 12, and secondarily through the left and right side surfaces, as shown by the arrows in the figure, thereby preventing heat and smoke from building up inside.

[0043] In particular, the exhaust vent cover 1 is not entirely open on the back side, but only the back side of the inner panel 12 is open through the opening 12d, so the exhaust path for smoke is more limited than when the back side is completely open. Therefore, even if the emitted smoke travels down the kitchen wall, the area of ​​the smoke can be narrowed, and staining of the wall caused by the smoke can be suppressed. In addition, by narrowing the area from which smoke rises, the smoke can be efficiently exhausted to the outside through a kitchen exhaust fan, for example.

[0044] If the structure of the kitchen K is special, such as the groove width of the groove C being extremely narrow, and the insertion portion 12b of the inner panel 12 cannot be inserted into the groove C, the panel body 10 is attached using a magnet 20 as shown in Figure 5(a) or (b). As shown in the figure, the magnet 20 comprises a magnet body 21 and a plate-shaped yoke 22 in which the magnet body 21 is housed, and an engaging portion 23 cut and raised in a U-shape is attached to the edge of the yoke 22. By engaging this engagement portion 23 with the insertion portion 12b of the inner panel 12 and the rear edge portion 11d of the outer panel 11, and then attracting the magnet body 21 to the exhaust port P and its surroundings, the exhaust port cover 1 can be installed to cover the exhaust port P via the magnet 20.

[0045] The embodiments disclosed herein are illustrative in all respects and are not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is defined by the claims, and all modifications and variations within that scope and in a meaning equivalent to the claims are intended to be included.

[0046] In the embodiment, the exhaust vent cover 1 is used for the exhaust vent of the kitchen K, but the invention is not limited to this and the exhaust vent cover according to the invention can be used for any exhaust vent.

[0047] In the embodiment, the insertion portion 12b of the inner panel 12 has a rounded shape, but the shape is not limited to this as long as it can be inserted into a groove located between a source of dirt such as a stove and an exhaust port. For example, the tip of the plug may be made wedge-shaped to make it easier to insert. A separate member made of a soft material such as heat-resistant rubber may be fitted into the position of the plug portion 12b. In this case, the plug portion 12b does not need to have a rounded shape. In the embodiment, the insertion portion 12b is provided only on the inner panel 12, but it is also possible to provide an insertion portion on the lower edge of the front plate 11a of the outer panel 11 as well.

[0048] In the embodiment, the panel body 10 is made up of an outer panel 11 and an inner panel 12, but is not limited to this and may be made up of a single panel, or may have a three-layer structure of an outer panel, a middle panel, and an inner panel. Also, in the embodiment, the number of inner panels 12 is one, but there may be multiple. There may be two inner panels 12, one on the left and one on the right, so that they can be pulled out from the right and left sides of the outer panel 11, respectively.

[0049] In the embodiment, the outer panel 11 has a back panel 11b, but the structure of the outer panel 11 is not limited to this as long as it has a front panel 11a, and it may also be one that does not have a back panel 11b and has an open back. Furthermore, a horizontal top panel may be interposed between the front panel 11a and the back panel 11b.

[0050] In the embodiment, the inner panel 12 has an opening 12d on the back surface, but the structure of the inner panel 12 is not limited to this as long as it has a front panel 12a, and it can also have a back panel and have a closed back surface.

[0051] In the embodiment, the outer panel 11 and the inner panel 12 are integrated by fitting the mating piece 12c into the groove formed between the back panel 11b and the receiving portion 11c, but the receiving portion 11c and the mating piece 12c can also be omitted, and the structure can be one in which the panels are simply stacked on top of each other. Furthermore, the rear edge 11d of the outer panel 11 may also be formed in a non-rounded shape. [Explanation of symbols]

[0052] 1. Exhaust port cover according to an embodiment 10 Panel body 11 Outer panel 11a Front plate 11b Back plate 11c Receptacle 11d Trailing edge 12 Inner panel 12a Front plate 12b Insertion part 12c mating piece 12d aperture 20 Magnet 21 Magnet body 22 York 23 Engagement part K Kitchen S stove T Top plate G Grill P exhaust port M mesh lid C groove

Claims

1. An exhaust port cover that covers an exhaust port provided adjacent to a source of dirt, The panel body has a front panel and a back panel that can face the source of dirt, and the left-right direction is the longitudinal direction, The panel body has the front panel and the back panel connected at their upper edges, each inclined toward its lower edge, and the lower edge of the front panel has an insertion portion that can be inserted into a groove around the exhaust port that is located between the exhaust port and the source of dirt, The panel body is an exhaust port cover that can be installed so that the front panel and the back panel straddle and cover the exhaust port by inserting the insertion portion into a groove around the exhaust port.

2. The panel body is an outer panel having a front panel and a back panel that can face the source of dirt, the longitudinal direction of which is in the left-right direction; an inner panel having a front panel that can face the source of dirt and whose longitudinal direction is in the left-right direction; The outer panel and the inner panel are overlapped with each other so that the outer panel is on the outside and the inner panel is on the inside so that they can slide relatively along the longitudinal direction, The insertion portion is The exhaust vent cover according to claim 1 , wherein the cover is provided at least on a lower edge of a front plate of the inner panel.

3. The insertion portion is 3. The exhaust vent cover according to claim 1, wherein a cross section of the panel body perpendicular to the left-right direction is substantially circular.

4. 4. The exhaust vent cover according to claim 1, wherein the insertion portion has a thickness of 1 mm to 4 mm.

5. 5. The exhaust vent cover according to claim 1, wherein the surface of the panel body is coated with an acid- and alkali-resistant resin.

6. 6. The exhaust vent cover according to claim 1, wherein the panel body is made of aluminum.

7. 7. An exhaust vent cover for a grill exhaust vent according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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