Range hood motor housing with integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir

Abstract

A motor housing having an integral cleaning fluid heating reservoir for use in a range hood. The motor housing comprises top and bottom sections connectable to one another. The top section has an upper surface and a perimeter side surface. A floor and a pair of end surfaces extend substantially perpendicularly from the perimeter side surface. An outer side surface extends from the floor and pair of end surfaces such that the outer side surface is spaced apart from the perimeter side surface, thereby forming the heating reservoir. The motor housing is made substantially of plastic with at least one portion of heat conducting material such as metal formed in the perimeter side surface in order to conduct heat from the motor housing interior to cleaning fluid within the heating reservoir.

1 . A motor housing for enclosing a motor and fan for use in a range hood for venting air from above a cooking surface, said motor housing comprising: 
 a top section and a bottom section, said top and bottom sections being adapted to connect together;    said top section comprising an upper surface, a perimeter side surface and a cleaning fluid heating reservoir.    
   
   
       2 . The motor housing of  claim 1  wherein said heating reservoir comprises an outer side wall, a pair of end walls and a floor.  
   
   
       3 . The motor housing of  claim 2  wherein said pair of end walls and said floor extend from and are substantially perpendicular to said perimeter side surface and said outer side wall extends from said pair of end walls and said floor such that said outer side wall is spaced apart from said perimeter side surface.  
   
   
       4 . The motor housing of  claim 3  wherein said heating reservoir further comprises an overflow outlet.  
   
   
       5 . The motor housing of  claim 2  wherein said motor housing is made substantially of plastic.  
   
   
       6 . The motor housing of  claim 5  wherein a portion of said perimeter side surface is made of a heat conducting material.  
   
   
       7 . The motor housing of  claim 5  wherein a portion of said upper and perimeter side surfaces is made of a heat conducting material.  
   
   
       8 . The motor housing of  claim 6  wherein said heat conducting material is metal.  
   
   
       9 . The motor housing of  claim 7  wherein said heat conducting material is metal.  
   
   
       10 . The motor housing of  claim 8  wherein said metal is molded into said plastic.  
   
   
       11 . A motor housing for use in a range hood for venting air from above a cooking surface, said motor housing comprising: 
 top, bottom and perimeter side surfaces defining an enclosure for mounting a motor and fan;    at least one air outlet and at least one air inlet; and    a cleaning fluid heating reservoir extending outward from said perimeter side surface.    
   
   
       12 . The motor housing of  claim 11  wherein said motor housing is made substantially of plastic with at least one portion of heat conducting material forming a portion of said perimeter side surface.  
   
   
       13 . The motor housing of  claim 11  wherein said heating reservoir comprises a pair of end walls and a floor extending from said perimeter side surface and an outer side wall extending from said pair of end walls and said floor.  
   
   
       14 . The motor housing of  claim 13  wherein said motor housing is made substantially of plastic with at least a portion of heat conducting material forming a portion of said perimeter side surface.