# US 10,865,995 B2 · Ventilation system for induction cooktop > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,865,995 B2 - Document ID: US10865995B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/834,563 - Filed: 2017-12-07 - Published: 2018-04-12 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2012-07-11 - Assignees: Whirlpool Corporation - Applicants: Whirlpool Corporation - Inventors: Ajay Yashwant Chavan; Arunkumar Balasubramanian - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865995B2 ## CPC - F24C 15/101: {provisions for circulation of air} - H05B 6/1263: {using coil cooling arrangements} - H05B 2206/022: Special supports for the induction coils - F24C: DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES (exclusively for solid fuels F24B); DETAILS OF DOMESTIC STOVES OR RANGES, OF GENERAL APPLICATION - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A countertop mounted cooking appliance includes a chassis upon which is arranged a cooktop. A peripheral side portion of the chassis includes at least one opening and a control box is mounted in the chassis for housing control elements and associated electronics. An inner duct extends over at least a portion of the control box, while an outer duct extends across the at least one opening along the peripheral side portion to the countertop. A fan is mounted within the chassis wherein, when the fan is activated, a cooling airflow is developed and directed through the inner duct, out of the chassis, and through the outer duct prior to being exhaust through a gap created between the cooktop and the countertop by a trim piece. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of cooling components supported in a chassis of a cooking appliance mounted in a countertop, the method comprising: activating a blower assembly mounted to the chassis to create an airflow; directing the airflow into the chassis through at least one opening formed in the chassis; directing the airflow through an inner duct provided in the chassis to cool the components; directing the airflow from the inner duct to an outer duct extending from a peripheral side wall portion of the chassis; guiding the airflow within the outer duct to between the countertop and a cooktop of the cooking appliance; and exhausting the airflow through a gap established by at least one trim piece arranged between the cooktop and the countertop. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising directing the airflow through an end portion of the inner duct that extends to the at least one opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, further comprising directing the airflow to the gap with the outer duct, wherein the inner duct includes an inlet and an outlet for the airflow, the outlet being at the end portion of the inner duct and spaced from the outer duct by the peripheral side wall portion such that the outer duct is positioned outside of the chassis. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the at least one opening includes multiple openings, the method further comprising placing an inlet region of the outer duct in fluid communication with the multiple openings, wherein the outer duct includes a single outlet region. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, further comprising guiding the airflow within another outer duct positioned outside of the chassis and leading from the gap to the inlet of the inner duct. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein directing the airflow from the inner duct includes directing the airflow to the peripheral side wall portion which includes first, second, third and fourth side walls, with the first and second side walls being arranged opposite the third and fourth side walls respectively, and wherein: 1) the inner duct includes an inlet positioned at the first side wall and an outlet positioned at the third side wall; or 2) the inner duct includes an inlet and an outlet, each positioned at the third side wall. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein exhausting the airflow through the gap includes exhausting the airflow through at least one splash shield portion of the at least one trim member, said at least one splash shield portion being configured to define the gap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein exhausting the airflow through the gap includes exhausting the airflow through inner and outer splash shield portions of the at least one splash shield portion. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein exhausting the airflow through the gap includes exhausting the airflow through a series of spaced holes formed in a splash shield portion formed in the at least one trim piece, said series of spaced holes collectively constituting the gap. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein directing the airflow through the inner duct includes directing the airflow over at least a portion of a control box, wherein the components are housed in the control box. ### Claim 11 A method of cooling components supported in a chassis of a cooking appliance mounted in a countertop, the method comprising: activating a blower assembly mounted to the chassis to create an airflow; directing the airflow into the chassis through at least one opening formed in the chassis; directing the airflow through an inner duct provided in the chassis to cool the components, wherein the inner duct includes an end portion extending to at least one of the at least one opening; directing the airflow from the inner duct to an outer duct arranged outside of the chassis; guiding the airflow within the outer duct to between the countertop and a cooktop of the cooking appliance; and exhausting the airflow through a gap established by at least one trim piece arranged between the cooktop and the countertop. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein directing the airflow from the inner duct to the outer duct includes directing the airflow from the inner duct to the outer duct which extends from a peripheral side wall portion of the chassis. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method of claim 12, further comprising directing the airflow to the gap with the outer duct, wherein the inner duct includes an inlet and an outlet for the airflow, the outlet being at the end portion of the inner duct and spaced from the outer duct by the peripheral side wall portion such that the outer duct is positioned outside of the chassis. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, wherein the at least one opening includes multiple openings, the method further comprising placing an inlet region of the outer duct in fluid communication with the multiple openings, wherein the outer duct includes a single outlet region. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method of claim 13, further comprising guiding the airflow within another outer duct positioned outside of the chassis and leading from the gap to the inlet of the inner duct. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein directing the airflow from the inner duct includes directing the airflow to a peripheral side wall portion of the chassis which includes first, second, third and fourth side walls, with the first and second side walls being arranged opposite the third and fourth side walls respectively, and wherein: 1) the inner duct includes an inlet positioned at the first side wall and an outlet positioned at the third side wall; or 2) the inner duct includes an inlet and an outlet, each positioned at the third side wall. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein exhausting the airflow through the gap includes exhausting the airflow through at least one splash shield portion of the at least one trim member, said at least one splash shield portion being configured to define the gap. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method of claim 17, wherein exhausting the airflow through the gap includes exhausting the airflow through inner and outer splash shield portions of the at least one splash shield portion. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein exhausting the airflow through the gap includes exhausting the airflow through a series of spaced holes formed in a splash shield portion formed in the at least one trim piece, said series of spaced holes collectively constituting the gap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The method of claim 11, wherein directing the airflow through the inner duct includes directing the airflow over at least a portion of a control box, wherein the components are housed in the control box.