Ventilation exhaust fan

Abstract

A ventilating exhaust fan has a housing having a top, four sides, and an open bottom forming an air inlet. An exhaust outlet is located in one of the sides. A motor is housed within the housing and a fan is connected to the motor. The exhaust fan is mountable within an opening in a surface. The sides of the housing have a plurality of slots through which restraints can be inserted in order to connect the housing to the surface.

1 . A ventilation exhaust fan for mounting in an opening in a surface, said ventilating exhaust fan comprising:
 a housing having a top, four sides and an open bottom;   a motor and a fan housed within said housing, said fan being rotatable by said motor;   an exhaust outlet located in said housing;   a plurality of openings in said sides spaced above said bottom a distance corresponding to a ceiling surface thickness; and   a plurality of restraints, said restraints being removably connectable to said housing through said openings for mounting said housing to said surface.   
   
   
       2 . The ventilation exhaust fan of  claim 1  wherein said plurality of openings are in the shape of an inverted “T”. 
   
   
       3 . The ventilation exhaust fan of  claim 2  wherein said restraints comprising pre-formed, flat, elongated “U”-shaped members having a first portion insertable through any one of said plurality of openings and a second portion perpendicular thereto. 
   
   
       4 . The ventilation exhaust fan of  claim 2  wherein said restraints comprising pre-formed, flat, elongated “L” shaped members having a first portion insertable through any one of said plurality of openings and a second portion perpendicular thereto. 
   
   
       5 . The ventilation exhaust fan of  claim 2  wherein when said first portion is inserted through one of said plurality of openings, said second portion is releasably connected to a portion of said one of said plurality of openings. 
   
   
       6 . The ventilation exhaust fan of  claim 1  further comprising a flange extending perpendicularly outwards from each wall at said bottom, said restraints coordinating with said flanges such that when mounted to said surface, a portion of said surface is sandwiched between a portion of said restraint and a portion of said flange. 
   
   
       7 . A housing for mounting in an opening in a surface and housing components of a ventilation exhaust fan, including a motor and fan, wherein said housing comprises:
 a top, four sides and a bottom, an inlet opening being located in said bottom, and an exhaust outlet being located in one of said top and four sides;   a plurality of openings located in said sides spaced above said bottom a distance corresponding to a ceiling surface thickness; and   a plurality of restraints, said restraints being removably connectable to said housing through said openings for mounting said housing to said surface.   
   
   
       8 . A method of mounting the ventilation exhaust fan housing of  claim 7  in an opening in a surface comprising:
 positioning the housing in said opening such that said bottom is in abutment with one side of said surface;   inserting at least two of said plurality of restraints through at least two of said plurality of openings such that a portion of each of said restraints is in abutment with a second opposite side of said surface.