Grille

Abstract

The present invention provides, among other things, an exhaust vent fan including a housing having an inlet through which air is received within the housing and an outlet through which the air exits the housing, a fan wheel supported in the housing and operable to generate a flow of the air out of the outlet, a louvered first grille positioned across the inlet, a heating element supported in the housing, and a second grille supported on the housing and being moveable relative to the first grille while the first grille is secured to the housing to direct a heated air flow from the heating element out of the housing.

1 . An exhaust vent fan comprising:
 a housing having an inlet through which air is received within the housing and an outlet through which the air exits the housing;   a fan wheel supported in the housing and operable to generate a flow of the air out of the outlet;   a louvered first grille positioned across the inlet;   a heating element supported in the housing; and   a second grille supported on the housing and being moveable relative to the first grille while the first grille is secured to the housing to direct a heated air flow from the heating element out of the housing.   
   
   
       2 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 1 , wherein the second grille is supported on the first grille for movement relative to the housing. 
   
   
       3 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 1 , further comprising a locking arrangement for maintaining the second grille in a pivoted position with respect to the first grille. 
   
   
       4 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 3 , wherein the locking arrangement includes an elastic member positioned between the second grille and the first grille and operable to maintain the second grille in the position with respect to the first grille. 
   
   
       5 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 1 , wherein the second grille includes an actuator extending outwardly away from the housing and engageable with a tool for moving the second grille with respect to the first grille while the second grille is secured to the first grille. 
   
   
       6 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 1 , wherein the second grille extends through an opening in the first grille. 
   
   
       7 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 1 , wherein an exterior surface of the second grille is recessed below an exterior surface of the first grille. 
   
   
       8 . An exhaust vent fan comprising:
 a housing having an inlet through which air is received within the housing and an outlet through which the air exits the housing;   a fan wheel supported in the housing and operable to generate a flow of the air out of the outlet;   a first grille positioned across the inlet;   a second grille supported on the housing and being moveable relative to the housing to direct an air flow from the heating element out of the housing; and   a locking arrangement including an actuator extending outwardly away from the housing proximate an exterior surface of the first grille and being engageable with a tool for moving the second grille with respect to the first grille.   
   
   
       9 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 8 , further comprising a heating element supported in the housing, and wherein the second grille is moveable relative to the housing to direct a heated air flow from the heating element out of the housing. 
   
   
       10 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 8 , wherein the second grille is pivotable about an axis extending through the second grille and the housing at least 270 degrees with respect to the housing while the first grille is secured to the housing. 
   
   
       11 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 8 , wherein the second grille extends through an opening in the first grille. 
   
   
       12 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 8 , further comprising a locking arrangement for securing the second grille in a pivoted position with respect to the first grille. 
   
   
       13 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 12 , wherein the locking arrangement includes an elastic member operable to maintain the second grille in the position. 
   
   
       14 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 8 , wherein the actuator is recessed below an exterior surface of the first grille. 
   
   
       15 . A method of operating an exhaust vent fan, the method comprising the acts of:
 operating a fan wheel supported in the housing to draw air into the housing through an inlet defined in the housing and through a first grille secured to the housing and to direct the air out of the housing through an outlet defined in the housing;   selectively activating a heating element supported in the housing to heat an air flow;   directing the air flow from the heating element out of the housing through a second grille supported on the housing; and   moving the second grille relative to the first grille while the first grille is secured to the housing to direct the heated air flow from the heating element out of the housing.   
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein directing the air flow through the second grille includes directing the air flow across louvers supported in the second grille. 
   
   
       17 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the second grille relative to the first grille includes pivoting the second grille about an axis extending through the second grille and the housing at least 270 degrees with respect to the first grille. 
   
   
       18 . The method of  claim 15 , further comprising securing the second grille in a pivoted position with respect to the first grille with a locking arrangement. 
   
   
       19 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the second grille relative to the first grille includes compressing an elastic member with one of the second grille and the first grille. 
   
   
       20 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein moving the second grille relative to the first grille includes engaging the second grille with a tool. 
   
   
       21 . An exhaust vent fan comprising:
 a housing having an inlet through which air is received within the housing and an outlet through which the air exits the housing;   a fan wheel supported in the housing and operable to generate a flow of the air out of the outlet;   a louvered first grille positioned across the inlet; and   a second grille extending through an opening in the first grille and being moveable relative to the housing to direct an air flow out of the housing.   
   
   
       22 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 21 , further comprising a heating element supported in the housing, and wherein the second grille is moveable relative to the housing to direct a heated air flow from the heating element out of the housing. 
   
   
       23 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 21 , wherein the second grille is moveable relative to the first grille while the first grille is secured to the housing. 
   
   
       24 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 21 , wherein the second grille includes an actuator engageable with a tool for moving the second grille with respect to the first grille while the second grille is secured to the first grille. 
   
   
       25 . The exhaust vent fan of  claim 21 , further comprising an elastic member positioned between the second grille and the first grille and operable to maintain the second grille in a position with respect to the first grille.