Ventilation system for combination microwave oven and exhaust vent

An assembly combining a microwave oven appliance with an exhaust vent hood, said assembly adapted for positioning in an elevated position above a cooking surface, comprising:

• means forming a housing for said appliance having a top, a bottom and a rear surface,
• means forming a support structure for said housing having a top and a back wall, said support structure adapted for mounting in said elevated position independently of said housing, said housing and support structure having cooperation means for slidably moving said housing into and out of said structure with said top surface of said housing positioned below said top wall of said structure,
• elongated rib means spacing said rear surface from said back wall;
• said rear surface, back wall and rib means defining a first channelized air space therebetween when said housing is within said structure,
• plate means spaced below said bottom surface for providing a second air space therebetween, said first and second air spaces communicating with one another, said plate means defining an opening through which air can flow from a level below said plate means into said second air space,
• means enclosing the sides of said second air space for channelizing the same,
• means for forcibly moving air from below said plate into said second air space, and through said second air space into and through said first air space,
• an air entry formed in said rear surface of said housing, means for drawing oven cooling air into said housing through said entry, and
• means, including said housing, said support structure and said rib means, forming a third channelized air space separate from said first and second air spaces and communicating with said air entry in said rear surface for providing oven cooling air to the interior of said oven separate from air flowing through said first and second air spaces.