Linear hidden vent feature for over the range style cooking appliances

Abstract

An exhaust vent apparatus for concealing an exhaust passage in a cooking appliance such as a microwave oven. The apparatus including at least one vent cover member engaged to cover the exhaust passage in flush alignment with a front surface of the oven in a closed position. A guide member is engaged to the vent cover member and aligned with the exhaust passage to provide substantially linear motion of the vent cover member when activated. The guide member may also provide limited arcuate motion. At least one displacement member coupled to the guide member for displacing the vent cover member to an open position in a generally parallel orientation relative to the surface, and the vent cover member being retracted to a closed position.

1 . An exhaust vent apparatus for concealing an exhaust passage in a cooking appliance comprising:
 a vent cover member engaged to cover an exhaust passage substantially integrated with a surface of the appliance, the vent cover member substantially covering the exhaust passage in flush alignment with the surface in a closed position;   a guide member engaged to the vent cover member and aligned with the exhaust passage, the guide member providing substantially linear motion to the vent cover member when activated; and,   a displacement member coupled to the guide member for displacing the vent cover member, the vent cover member being released to an open position in a generally parallel orientation relative to the surface, the vent cover member being retracted to the closed position.   
     
     
         2 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the guide member includes a mechanical linkage system adapted to position the vent cover member in a substantially parallel orientation relative to the surface. 
     
     
         3 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the guide member provides both linear motion and an arcuate motion to allow the vent cover member to be laterally displaced from a direct passage of exhaust airflow through the exhaust passage. 
     
     
         4 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claims 3  wherein the displacement member allows displacement of the vent cover member to a plurality of positions relative to the surface of the appliance. 
     
     
         5 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the displacement member includes a motor for actuating the vent cover member between open and closed positions. 
     
     
         6 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the displacement member includes at least one motor driving mechanism operatively controlled by a controller. 
     
     
         7 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the controller is programmed to activate the displacement member to release the vent cover member to the open position when a specified maximum threshold air temperature or pressure is determined. 
     
     
         8 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the controller is programmed to activate the displacement member to release the vent cover member to the open position when at least one of a food product cooking environment and an associated appliance are in use. 
     
     
         9 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claims 6  wherein the motor driving mechanism allows displacement of the vent cover member to a plurality of positions relative to the surface of the food product cooking environment. 
     
     
         10 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the controller is programmed to operate the displacement means to retract the vent cover member to the closed position when at least one of a food product cooking environment and an associated appliance are disabled. 
     
     
         11 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 6  wherein the controller is programmed to operate the displacement means to retract the vent cover member to the closed position when a specified minimum threshold air temperature or pressure is determined. 
     
     
         12 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein a plurality of exhaust vent covers engage the exhaust passage in flush alignment with the surface of appliance, the vent cover members substantially cover the exhaust passage. 
     
     
         13 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the displacement member for releasing and retracting the vent cover member is by manual operation. 
     
     
         14 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the displacement member includes a spring. 
     
     
         15 . An exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 1  wherein the vent cover member comprises a non-linear shape. 
     
     
         16 . A method for concealing an exhaust passage in a cooking appliance comprising the steps of:
 covering an opening with a vent cover member, the vent cover member attached to at least one guide member and a displacement member to open and close the vent cover member with substantially linear motion;   releasing the vent cover member to an open position, the vent cover member having a substantially parallel orientation relative to a surface of the cooking appliance;   retracting the vent cover member to a closed position, the vent cover member resting in flush alignment to the surface.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising the steps of:
 providing a signal to operate the displacement member to release the vent cover member to the open position when the cooking appliance is in use; and   providing a signal to operate the displacement member to retract the vent cover member to the closed position when the cooking appliance is disabled.   
     
     
         18 . A method of  claim 16 , comprising the steps of:
 providing a signal to operate the displacement member to release the vent cover member to the open position when a specified maximum threshold air temperature is determined; and   providing a signal to operate the displacement member to retract the vent cover member to the closed position when a specified minimum threshold air temperature is determined.   
     
     
         19 . An exhaust vent apparatus for concealing an exhaust passage in an over the range cooking appliance comprising:
 a vent cover member engaged to cover an exhaust passage in flush alignment with a front surface of the appliance in a closed position;   a guide member operatively associated with the vent cover member and aligned with the exhaust passage to provide a travel path for the vent cover member whereby the vent cover member remains parallel relative to the front surface of the appliance; and,   a displacement member coupled to the guide member for displacing the vent cover member, the displacement member engaging the guide member to actuate the vent cover member along the travel path.   
     
     
         20 . The exhaust vent apparatus of  claim 19  wherein the vent cover member is laterally spaced from the surface in the open position.