Hood filter device and method for manufacturing thereof

Abstract

The present invention relates to a hood filter device (1), configured to filter a flow of cooking fumes (F) comprising both a grease and an odorous component (Fg, Fo), switchable between: - a first operating configuration, in which it is configured to remove at least part of the grease component (Fg) from the flow of cooking fumes (F); and - a second operating configuration, in which it is configured to remove at least part of both the grease and odorous component (Fg, Fo) from the flow of cooking fumes (F). Said filter device (1) comprises: - a grease filter (2), configured to retain at least part of the grease component (Fg), which extends along a traversing direction (X-X) between two opposite faces (21, 22) and is delimited transversely to the traversing direction (X-X) by a perimeter edge (20), - an odour filter (3), configured to eliminate at least part of the odorous component (Fo), which extends transversely to the traversing direction (X-X) covering one of the faces (21) of the grease filter (2), - fixing members (4), configured to removably fix the odour filter (3) to the grease filter (2) so as to allow the switching of the filter device (1) between the first and the second operating configuration, which comprise a frame element (40) mounted perimeterally on the grease filter (2) along the perimeter edge (20) and configured to engage a peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) so as to retain the odour filter (3) mounted on the grease filter (2) along the traversing direction (X-X).

Description

[0001] Title: "Hood filter device and method for manufacturing thereof’

[0002] DESCRIPTION

[0003] Technical Field

[0004] The present invention relates to a hood filter device that finds useful application in the field of kitchen appliances for the suction of cooking fumes, in accordance with the preamble of claim 1.

[0005] The present invention also relates to a method for manufacturing a hood filter device, in accordance with the preamble of claim 6.

[0006] Background Art

[0007] Kitchen hoods for the forced suction of cooking fumes are divided into two macro-categories, namely aspirating hoods and filtering hoods.

[0008] Hoods belonging to the first macro-category (aspirating hoods) are configured to convey the aspirated cooking fumes to the outside of the domestic environment by means of a suitable duct connected to a flue; conversely, those belonging to the second macro-category (filtering hoods) are configured to re-introduce the aspirated airflows, after having been suitably filtered, into the domestic environment where the hood itself is installed.

[0009] To keep the kitchen environment as odourless as possible, filtering hoods, in addition to the grease filters with which aspirating hoods are also provided, also require filters configured to eliminate the odorous molecules present in the aspirated cooking fumes, i.e., odour filters.

[0010] Aspirating-type hoods, on the other hand, are typically devoid of odour filters since, by expelling the flow of aspirated cooking fumes to the external environment, they do not need to address the problem of odour elimination to keep the kitchen environment odourless. It should be noted that the installation of odour filters in aspirating hoods is not only useless but also disadvantageous as it reduces the hood's performance by generating an unjustified pressure drop which, for the same power of the suction unit, reduces the suction effect of the cooking fumes.

[0011] In the state of the art, there are hoods that can be installed in both a filtering and an aspirating mode, which are therefore configured to accommodate both only grease filters and both grease filters and odour filters simultaneously.

[0012] Such hoods require the procurement of both odour filters and grease filters, as well as the attention of the installing technician to retrieve the correct filters from the warehouse according to the installation mode of the hood. This leads to high warehouse costs and, if the installing technician selects the wrong type of filters, it increases the hood installation time.

[0013] In the field of kitchen appliances for the suction of cooking fumes, there is therefore a felt need to have filter devices available that are capable of practically addressing both the filtering needs of aspirating hoods and those of filtering hoods.

[0014] To meet this need, filter devices have been developed comprising an odour filter applied in a removable manner to the grease filter. Such filter devices are switchable between a first configuration for aspirating hoods, in which they have only the grease filter, and a second configuration for filtering hoods, in which they are provided with both the odour filter and the grease filter. An example of such filter devices is described in document US4737174A.

[0015] Document US4737174 A describes a filter device for hoods comprising a frame inside which a plurality of metal grids forming the grease filter are mounted. An odour filter - such as, for example, an expanded paper filter impregnated with activated carbon - is removably applied to one face of the grease filter by means of fixing tabs mounted so as to project into an internal groove of the frame.

[0016] Although the filter device described in US4737174A is capable of satisfying both the filtration needs of aspirating and filtering hoods, it is not, however, free from drawbacks. In particular, the fixing tabs constitute additional components which, in addition to having to be procured and shaped according to the specific frame (cf. column 3, lines 48-52 of US4737174A), require a dedicated positioning phase inside the channel of the frame (cf. column 3, lines 41-47 of US4737174A). This operation involves the division of the bending of the upper wall of the frame into two distinct phases.

[0017] Therefore, in the state of the art, the need is felt for filter devices which, in addition to guaranteeing dual functionality for aspirating and filtering hoods, are of simple and rapid manufacturing.

[0018] Object of the Invention

[0019] In this context, the technical task at the basis of the present invention is to propose a filter device and a method for its production that overcome the drawbacks of the known art mentioned above.

[0020] In particular, an object of the present invention is to provide a filter device of simple construction and rapid manufacturing, capable of meeting both the filtering needs of aspirating hoods and those of filtering hoods. In other words, it is an object of the present invention to provide a filter device of simple construction and rapid manufacturing, capable of selectively removing only the grease component of the cooking fumes when installed in aspirating hoods, and both the grease and the odorous component when installed in filtering hoods. A further object of the present invention is to provide a filter device capable of guaranteeing good suction performance for the hoods in which it is mounted, regardless of their installation mode.

[0021] It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a filter device capable of simplifying the management and procurement of hood installers' warehouses, as well as facilitating and speeding up the installation operations.

[0022] It is also an object of the present invention to provide a simple, rapid and economical method for the production of filter devices capable of selectively removing only the grease component of the cooking fumes when installed in aspirating hoods, and both the grease and the odorous component when installed in filtering hoods.

[0023] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0024] In accordance with the present invention, the indicated technical task and the specified objects are achieved by a filter device and a method for producing said filter device according to one or more of the claims reported below.

[0025] In particular, the present invention proposes to provide a filter device switchable between: a first operating configuration in which it is configured to remove the grease component of the cooking fumes (configuration for aspirating hoods), and a second operating configuration in which it is configured to eliminate both the odorous and grease component from the cooking fumes (configuration for filtering hoods).

[0026] To this end, the filter device object of the present invention comprises a grease filter, an odour filter covering (at least) one face of the grease filter, and fixing members configured to removably fix the odour filter to the grease filter. In detail, the fixing members have a frame element mounted perimeterally on the grease filter and configured to engage the peripheral portion of the odour filter to retain the odour filter mounted on the grease filter.

[0027] The frame element allows the odour filter to be firmly fixed to the grease filter by acting on its peripheral portion when the filter device is in the first operating configuration, and to easily remove the odour filter from the grease filter - e.g., by sliding / tearing / cutting the peripheral portion - to switch the filter device from the second to the first operating configuration.

[0028] The fixing members, by allowing the removal of the odour filter from the grease filter, allow the installing technician to mount the filter device in the first or second operating configuration depending on the type of hood (filtering / aspirating) on which they are operating. The filter device object of the present invention thus becomes, for hood installers, the only filtering means that needs to be procured, thereby simplifying warehouse management, as well as speeding up installation operations by avoiding errors in retrieving filters from the warehouse.

[0029] It is also worth noting that, by adapting the operating configuration of the filter to the installation mode of the hood, the filter device avoids useless pressure drops due to the presence of the odour filter when installed in aspirating hoods. Therefore, the device object of the present invention is able to maximize the performance of the hoods in which it is installed, preventing useless pressure drops that would lead to an inevitable reduction in suction capacity.

[0030] To fix the odour filter to the grease filter, the present invention proposes to plastically deform the frame element on the peripheral portion of the odour filter, so as to preload it against the face of the grease filter that it covers. This solution advantageously allows avoiding the use of inconvenient fixing elements - such as, for example, the tabs described in document US4737174A - which complicate and lengthen the production process of the filter device, as well as increasing its constructional complexity.

[0031] The present invention also proposes a method for manufacturing filter devices which, not requiring the use of specific machinery other than a simple press or any other equivalent tool for exerting plastic deformation forces, proves to be simple and economical.

[0032] It is opportune to note that the method for manufacturing the filter device obj ect of the present invention is simpler and more rapid than that described in patent US4737174A, since it does not provide for the division of the plastic deformation phase of the frame into two steps to allow the insertion of the fixing tabs.

[0033] DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0034] Further characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the indicative, and therefore non-limiting, description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of a filter device and a method for manufacturing the latter, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0035] - Figures la and lb respectively show a front and a rear perspective view of a filter device according to the present invention,

[0036] - Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the filter device when it is in a first operating configuration,

[0037] - Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the filter device when it is in a second operating configuration, - Figure 4 shows a block diagram of a method for manufacturing a filter device according to the present invention,

[0038] - Figure 5a shows a first way of performing one of the steps of the method of Figure 4;

[0039] - Figure 5b shows an alternative way of performing of the step of Figure 5a,

[0040] - Figure 5c shows the filter device of Figure 1 used to treat a flow of cooking fumes comprising a grease component and an odorous component.

[0041] DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] The present description relates to a filter device 1 for hoods, configured to filter a flow of cooking fumes F generated by dishes being prepared and aspirated by a hood (not shown in the figures).

[0043] It is worth noting that, as is known, the cooking fumes F produced by the dishes in preparation comprise both a grease component Fg (e.g., oils and other grease particles) and an odorous component Fo (e.g., odorous molecules such as furans, pyrazines, pyridines, oxazole, acetic or formic acid... etc), which the filter device is configured to selectively filter according to its operating configuration.

[0044] With reference to figure 2, the filter device 1 comprises a grease filter 2 configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes F along a traversing direction X-X and to retain at least part of the grease component Fg. That is to say that the flow of cooking fumes F entering the grease filter 2 has a higher concentration (e.g., per unit volume) of grease component Fg than the one exiting.

[0045] According to one aspect, the grease filter 2 extends transversely to the traversing direction X-X along a width direction Y-Y and a depth direction Z-Z, oriented transversely to each other. Preferably, the traversing direction X-X, the width direction Y-Y and the depth direction Z-Z are directed along the vectors of a Cartesian, in particular tri-orthogonal, frame. That is to say that, preferably, the traversing direction X-X, the width direction Y-Y and the depth direction Z-Z are directed orthogonally to one another.

[0046] The grease filter 2 preferably has a plate-like / slab-like conformation.

[0047] The grease filter 2 may for example comprise or consist of a metal grid permeable to air and having a mesh such as to retain the grease particles and oils of the grease component Fg of the cooking fumes. It is worth noting that a person skilled in the art is able to appropriately size the mesh of the metal grid in order to obtain a porosity such as to be able to retain the particles of the grease component Fg.

[0048] As can be noted from figure 2, the grease filter 2 extends along the traversing direction X-X between two opposite faces 21, 22. In use, the flow of cooking fumes F traverses the grease filter 2 from one face to the other.

[0049] According to one aspect, the faces 21, 22 delimit the grease filter 2 from opposite sides along the traversing direction X-X and are preferably planar and parallel.

[0050] According to a further aspect, each face 21, 22 has an axis directed parallel to the traversing direction X-X.

[0051] In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the distance between the faces 21, 22 of the grease filter defines its thickness which, for example, may have a value comprised between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.

[0052] The grease filter 2 also extends transversely to the traversing direction X-X and is delimited by a perimeter edge 20. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the perimeter edge 20 has a four-sided geometric conformation (i.e., quadrangular), however in other embodiments it could also have a curved conformation such as, for example, circular or elliptical.

[0053] The filter device 1 also comprises an odour filter 3 configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes F along the traversing direction X-X.

[0054] The odour filter 3 is configured to eliminate at least part of the odorous component Fo from the flow of cooking fumes F that traverses it. That is to say that the flow of cooking fumes F entering the odour filter 3 has a higher concentration (e.g., per unit volume) of odorous component Fo compared to the one exiting.

[0055] According to one aspect, in a possible use configuration, the odour filter 3 is arranged in series with the grease filter 2 along the traversing direction X-X. That is to say that, when in use the filter device 1 is traversed by the flow of cooking fumes F, the grease and odour filters are traversed in succession.

[0056] In particular, preferably, the odour filter 3 is arranged downstream of the grease filter 2 so as to avoid (or at least minimize) problems of dirt accumulation that would impair its odour elimination capacity.

[0057] In greater detail, according to what is shown in figure 2, the odour filter 3 extends transversely to the traversing direction X-X, covering, preferably coating, one of the faces 21 of the grease filter 2.

[0058] In the embodiment of figure lb, the odour filter 3 extends along the width and depth directions Y-Y, Z-Z to cover one of the faces of the grease filter 2.

[0059] In particular, still with reference to the embodiment of figure 2, the odour filter 3 extends along the traversing direction X-X between two opposite faces 32, 33, one of which (first face 33) is facing - that is, it is adhered to and in contact with - the face 21 of the grease filter 2 coated by the odour filter 3. Therefore, in use, the flow of cooking fumes F traverses the odour filter from one of its faces to the other 32, 33; preferably, from the first face 32 facing the grease filter 2 to the opposite one (second face 33).

[0060] According to one aspect, the faces 32, 33 (i.e., the first and second faces) of the odour filter 3 delimit it along the traversing direction X-X and are preferably planar and parallel.

[0061] In particular, in the embodiment shown in figure 2, each face 32, 33 of the odour filter has an axis directed parallel to the traversing direction X-X.

[0062] Furthermore, still with reference to the embodiment of figure 3, the distance between the first and second faces 32, 33 of the odour filter 3 defines its thickness which, for example, may have a value comprised between 0.2 mm and 5 mm.

[0063] Preferably, the value of the thickness of the odour filter 3 is less than that of the grease filter.

[0064] In accordance with what is shown in figure lb, the odour filter 3 has a peripheral portion 30 arranged near the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2.

[0065] According to one aspect, the peripheral portion 30 is the extremal portion of the odour filter 3 which, by contouring a central region thereof (e.g., filter portion 31 defined below), delimits it along the width and depth directions X-X, Y-Y.

[0066] It is worth to specify that, as shown in the figures, in the context of the present description, "near" is intended to indicate that the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 is close to or even superimposed on the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2, in particular along the width and depth directions X-X, Y-Y, so that it can be gripped by fixing members 4 (introduced below) mounted precisely on said perimeter edge 20. According to one embodiment, the odour filter 3 comprises activated carbons which, by interacting with the flow of cooking fumes F, eliminate the odorous component Fo thereof ("charcoal filter").

[0067] The odour filter 3 comprises a filter portion 31, contoured by the peripheral portion 30, configured to treat the flow of cooking fumes F that traverses it, eliminating the odours thereof. As can be noted from figure la, the filter portion 31 is arranged centrally to the peripheral portion 30 that surrounds it.

[0068] Preferably, the odour filter 3 is flexible and / or foldable and / or corrugatable on itself, as will become more apparent in the following, which simplifies its removal from the grease filter 2 to switch the filter device 1 from the second configuration to the first. For example, the odour filter 3 is a filter cloth containing activated carbons.

[0069] The filter device 1 object of the present description also comprises fixing members 4 configured to removably fix the odour filter 3 to the grease filter 2.

[0070] The fixing members 4 allow switching between a first and a second operating configuration of the filter device 1.

[0071] In detail, the filter device 1 is in fact switchable between:

[0072] - a first operating configuration in which it is configured to remove at least part of the grease component Fg from the flow of cooking fumes F (configuration illustrated in Figure 3) and

[0073] - a second operating configuration in which it is configured to remove at least part of the grease component Fg and eliminate at least part of the odorous component Fo from the processed flow of cooking fumes F (configuration illustrated in Figure 2).

[0074] The first operating configuration (illustrated in Figure 3) is used for the installation of the filter device 1 in aspirating hoods which, being configured to convey the fumes to the outside of the domestic environment, do not need to eliminate the odorous component Fo from the flow of cooking fumes F.

[0075] The second operating configuration (illustrated in Figure 2) is instead used for the installation of the filter device 1 in filtering hoods which, by re-introducing the flow of aspirated cooking fumes F into the domestic environment, need to eliminate (or at least reduce) the odorous component Fo to prevent the persistence of odours in the kitchen and adjacent areas.

[0076] From the above, it is therefore clear that, by modifying its operating configuration, the filter device 1 object of the present invention is installable in both aspirating and filtering hoods, i.e., the same filter device 1 can be installed on both aspirating and filtering hoods after switching between the two operating configurations.

[0077] In particular, in the second operating configuration, the fixing members 4 retain the odour filter 3 mounted on the grease filter 2 along the traversing direction X-X so that the two can be moved together as a “single piece” and that, in use, they do not separate due to the traversing of the flow of cooking fumes F.

[0078] As detailed further below, it is worth noting that the fixing members 4 allow the removal of the odour filter 3 from the grease filter 2 to achieve the switching of the filter device 1 from the second operating configuration to the first.

[0079] Therefore, in the first operating configuration (configuration illustrated in Figure 3) the odour filter 3 is removed from the grease filter 2, meaning that it is no longer present and therefore is not traversed and does not treat the flow of cooking fumes F.

[0080] By way of example, the removal / disassembly of the odour filter 3 from the grease filter 2 can occur by sliding the odour filter 3 out of the fixing members 4 transversely to the traversing direction X-X - in particular, along the width and / or depth directions Y-Y, Z-Z - or by tearing / cutting.

[0081] In detail, the fixing members 4 comprise a frame element 40 mounted perimeterally on the grease filter 2 along the perimeter edge 20 and engaging the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 so as to retain the odour filter 3 mounted on the grease filter 2 along the traversing direction X-X when the filter device is in the second operating configuration (figure 5a).

[0082] The frame element 40 thus creates a structure (frame) extending along a closed path so as to be able to contour the grease filter 2 and defining an internal region in which the grease filter 2 and the odour filter 3 are available. For example, the frame element 40 extends along a closed path with a polygonal - in particular, quadrangular - or curved conformation.

[0083] It is worth noting that the frame element 40, in addition to performing the function of fixing the odour filter 3 to the grease filter 2 as described above, allows the grease filter 2 to be stiffened and facilitates its installation in the hoods.

[0084] According to one embodiment, the frame element 40 comprises a flange 41 that extends transversely to the traversing direction X-X - for example, along the width and / or depth direction Y-Y, Z-Z - and is configured to engage the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 to retain it along the traversing direction X-X.

[0085] According to one aspect, the frame element 40 has an internal groove 42 configured to receive the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2 and the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 along the traversing direction X-X. The internal groove 42 thus has an extension along its height direction equal to the sum of the thicknesses of the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2 and of the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3, possibly slightly reduced to create a preload along the traversing direction X-X. It is good to specify that such a reduction can be determined by a person skilled in the art through, for example, routine experimental activity.

[0086] In the manufacturing process of the filter device 1, the correct extension of the internal groove 42 along the traversing direction X-X can be obtained, for example, by plastically deforming the frame element 40 (Figures 5a and 5b).

[0087] Preferably, the odour filter 3 and the grease filter 2 are coupled by interference with the internal groove 42.

[0088] According to one aspect, the internal groove 42 is delimited along the traversing direction X-X by the flange 41.

[0089] According to a further aspect, the frame element 40 comprises a further flange 43 delimiting the internal groove 42 along the traversing direction X-X from the opposite side with respect to the flange 41. The further flange 43 is therefore opposite the flange 41 along the traversing direction X-X and between them they define the internal groove 42.

[0090] In the embodiment shown in figure 5c, the further flange 43 abuts against the grease filter 2, in particular against the face 22, i.e., the one opposite to the one coated with the odour filter 3.

[0091] It is good to specify that what has been stated above for the flange 41 is applicable to the further flange 43, mutatis mutandis.

[0092] According to a further aspect, the frame element 40 comprises a connecting wall 44 that connects the flange 41 and the further flange 43 along the traversing direction X-X. Preferably, the connecting wall 44 surrounds the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2 and delimits the internal groove 42 along the width and depth directions

[0093] Y-Y, Z-Z.

[0094] The frame element 40 is, for example, manufacturable by means of a profile with a C-shaped cross-section, suitably bent / joined / welded to create a frame conformation, in which the flange 41 and the further flange 43 identify the upper and lower arms of the C, separated by the internal groove 42, and the connecting wall 44 identifies the vertical arm of the C that connects the opposite upper and lower arms.

[0095] The fixing members 4 may also comprise clamping elements (not shown in the figures) - such as, for example, staples or rivets - configured to fix the odour filter 3 to the grease filter along the traversing direction X-X. Preferably, said clamping elements are arranged in a central region of the filter device 1.

[0096] With reference to figure 2, preferably, when the filter device is in the second operating configuration, the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 is in contact on opposite sides along the traversing direction X-X with the flange 41 and the face 21 of the grease filter 2 covered by the odour filter 3.

[0097] Preferably, the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 is squeezed (preloaded) from opposite sides along the traversing direction X-X by the flange 41 of the frame element 4 and by the face 21 of the grease filter 2 covered by the odour filter 3.

[0098] According to an aspect shown in figure 3, the flange 41 extends prevalently transversely to the traversing direction X-X, projecting into the internal region of the frame element 40 so as to be superimposed along the traversing direction X-X on the odour filter 3. According to a further aspect, the flange 41 is spaced from the face 21 of the grease filter 2 coverable by the odour filter 3 along the traversing direction X-X by a gap fillable by the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3. Preferably, said gap is sized such that when the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 is inserted therein, said peripheral portion 30 is preloaded along the traversing direction X-X between the flange 41 and the face 21 of the grease filter 2 covered by the odour filter 3.

[0099] It is worth to specify that the frame element 40 may comprise a plurality of flanges 41 configured to act on a respective portion of the peripheral portion of the odour filter 3.

[0100] Preferably, the one or more flanges 41 act along the entire peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 so as to ensure that the latter is firmly fixed to the grease filter 2.

[0101] According to one embodiment, at least part of the frame element 40 is made of plastically deformable material so that, in the manufacturing process of thefilter device 1, the frame element 40 - preferably, the flange 41 - is plastically deformed to move onto (abut against) the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 and preload it against the face 21 of the grease filter 2 covered by the odour filter 3. Examples of possible ways of executing this plastic deformation operation of the frame element 40 on the peripheral portion of the odour filter 3 are schematically shown in figures 5 a and 5b.

[0102] In detail, preferably, the frame element 40 is plastically deformed on the odour filter 3 so as to:

[0103] - retain the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 in contact with the grease filter 2 along the traversing direction X-X when the filter device 1 in the second operating configuration is traversed by the flow of cooking fumes F, - allow the detachment of the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 from the frame element 40 along a direction transverse to the traversing direction X-X so as to be able to switch the filter device 1 from the second to the first operating configuration.

[0104] It is worth to specify that a person skilled in the art is able to autonomously determine, for example by means of routine experimental activity, the amount of plastic deformation to be imparted to the peripheral portion 30 to obtain what has just been reported above.

[0105] Preferably, the frame element 40, or at least its plastically deformable part, is made of a metallic material such as, for example, aluminum or steel.

[0106] According to a preferred embodiment, the odour filter 3 is at least partially made of a tearable material - by hand or by means of cutting tools (e.g., scissors or cutters) - to allow the detachment of the filter portion 31 from the peripheral portion 30 to switch the filter device 1 from the second to the first operating configuration.

[0107] It is worth noting that this allows avoiding having to slide the peripheral portion 30 out of the frame element 40 to switch the filter device 1 from the second to the first operating configuration.

[0108] Should the odour filter 3 be made of a tearable material, the free edge 40a of the end of the flange 40 can be used as a cutting / tearing element by simply raising the odour filter 3 along the traversing direction X-X, detaching it from the underlying grease filter 2.

[0109] In a possible embodiment, the odour filter 3 could have a weakening line (not shown) between the filter portion 31 and the peripheral portion 30, easily tearable by hand by the user to remove the filter portion 31 and switch the filter device from the second to the first operating configuration.

[0110] It is worth to specify that the filter device 1 is in the first configuration even when only the filter portion 31 of the odour filter 3 is removed, although the peripheral portion 30 remains trapped between the frame element 4 and the grease filter 2. It is in fact worth noting that the presence of only the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 does not entail any filtration of the odorous component Fo of the flow of cooking fumes F; therefore, in this configuration, the filter device 1 will filter only the grease component Fg.

[0111] A method for manufacturing a filter device 1 for hoods is also an object of the present description.

[0112] With reference to the block diagram of figure 4, the method comprises the steps of providing:

[0113] A) a grease filter 2 configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes F and to retain at least part of the grease component Fg which, preferably, is identifiable with the grease filter 2 described above;

[0114] B) an odour filter 3 configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes F and to eliminate at least part of the odorous component Fo which, preferably, is identifiable with the odour filter 3 described above.

[0115] The method then provides for the step C) of coating a face 21 of the grease filter 2 with the odour filter 3, such that the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 is arranged in correspondence with the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2.

[0116] Still with reference to the block diagram of figure 4, the method then provides for the step D) of providing fixing members 4 that comprise a frame element 40 configured to be mounted perimeterally on the grease filter 2 along the perimeter edge 20.

[0117] Preferably, the frame element 40 is made of plastically deformable material.

[0118] Even more preferably, the fixing members 4 and the frame element 40 are identifiable with the fixing members 4 and the frame element 40 described above.

[0119] In the subsequent step E), the grease filter 2 covered by the odour filter 3 are jointly inserted into the frame element 40, so that the latter contours the perimeter edge 20 of the grease filter 2. To perform this operation it might be necessary to elastically deform them.

[0120] The method then provides for the step F) of deforming, preferably plastically, the frame element 40, so that said frame element 40 engages the peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 and presses said peripheral portion 30 of the odour filter 3 against the face 21 of the grease filter 2 that it covers.

[0121] With reference to figure 5a, the step F) can be performed by applying a pair of opposing forces on the frame element 40, for example, on the flange 41 and on the further flange 43.

[0122] Alternatively, with reference to figure 5b, the step F) can be performed by applying a shear force aimed at rotating a portion of the frame element to create, for example, the flange 41.

[0123] Obviously, a person skilled in the art may make numerous equivalent modifications to the variants described above, without thereby departing from the scope of protection defined by the appended claims.

Claims

CLAIMS1. Hood filter device (1) configured to be switchable between a first operating configuration, in which it is configured to remove at least part of the grease component (Fg) from a flow of cooking fumes (F), and a second operating configuration, in which it is configured to remove at least part of the grease component (Fg) and the odorous component (Fo) from the flow of cooking fumes (F), said filter device (1) comprising:- a grease filter (2) configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes (F) along a traversing direction (X-X) and retain at least part of the grease component (Fg), said grease filter (2) extending along the traversing direction (X-X) between two opposite faces (21, 22) and being delimited transversely to the traversing direction (X-X) by a perimeter edge (20),- an odour filter (3) configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes (F) and eliminate at least part of the odorous component (Fo), said odour filter (3) extending transversely to the traversing direction (X-X), said odour filter (3) being adhered in contact with the grease filter (2) to cover one of the faces (21) of the grease filter (2), said odour filter (3) having a peripheral portion (30) arranged near the perimeter edge (20) of the grease filter (2),- fixing members (4) configured to removably retain the odour filter (3) to the grease filter (2) so as to allow the filtering device (1) to be switched between the first and second operating configurations, said fixing members (4) comprising a frame element (40) mounted perimeterally on the grease filter (2) along the perimeter edge (20), at least part of the frame element (40) is made of plastically deformable material, characterized in that the fame element (40) is- configured to engage the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) so as to retain the odour filter (3) mounted on the grease filter (2) along the traversing direction (X- X),- plastically deformed on the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) to preload said peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) against the face (21) of the grease filter (2) covered by the odour filter (3).

2. Filter device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the frame element (40) is configured to:- retain the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) in contact with the grease filter (2) along the traversing direction (X-X) when the filter device (1) in the second operating configuration is traversed by the flow of cooking fumes (F),- allow the detachment of the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) from the frame element (40) along a direction transverse to the traversing direction (X-X) so as to be able to switch the filter device (1) from the second to the first operating configuration.

3. Filter device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the odour filter (3) is at least partially made of a tearable material to allow the detachment of the filter portion (31) from the peripheral portion (30) so as to enable switching the filter device (1) from the second to the first operating configuration.

4. Filter device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the frame element (40) comprises a flange (41) extending transversely to the traversing direction (X-X) and configured to engage the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3), the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) being in contact from opposite parts along the traversing direction (X-X) with the flange (41) and the face (21) of the grease filter (2) covered by the odour filter (3) when the filter device (1) is in the second operating configuration.

5. Filter device (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein:- the frame element (40) has an internal groove (42) configured to receive the perimeter edge (20) of the grease filter (2) and the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) along the traversing direction (X-X),- the internal groove (42) being configured to make an interference coupling with the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) and the perimeter edge (20) of the grease filter (2).

6. Method for manufacturing a hood filter device (1) configured to filter a flow of cooking fumes (F) comprising a grease component (Fg) and an odorous component (Fo), said method comprising the steps of:A) providing a grease filter (2) configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes (F) along a traversing direction (X-X) and to retain at least part of the grease component (Fg), said grease filter (2) being delimited by a perimeter edge (20) transversely to the traversing direction (X-X),B) providing an odour filter (3) configured to be traversed by the flow of cooking fumes (F) along the traversing direction (X-X) and eliminate at least part of the odorous component (Fo), said odour filter (3) having a peripheral portion (30),C) coating a face (21) of the grease filter (2) with the odour filter (3) so that the peripheral portion (30) of the odour filter (3) is arranged at the perimeter edge (20) of the grease filter (2),D) providing fixing members (4) comprising a frame element (40) configured to be mounted perimetrically on the grease filter (2) along the perimeter edge (20), the frame element (40) being at least in part made of plastically deformable material characterized by comprising the steps of:E) inserting the grease filter (2) covered by the odour filter (3) inside the frame element (40) so that the frame element (40) contours the perimeter edge (20) of the grease filter (2),F) after step E), plastically deforming the frame element (40) so that said frame element (40) engages the perimeter portion (30) of the odour filter (3) and presses said perimeter portion (30) of the odour filter (3) against the face (21) of the grease filter (2) it covers.

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