Roof vent with an integrated fan
First Claim
1. A roof vent member, comprising:
- a subflashing comprising a subflashing body with side members surrounding and extending radially outwardly from a subflashing opening extending through a central portion of the subflashing body, the side members configured to provide support to and allow positioning of the subflashing above a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck;
an upper plate comprising an upper plate body and an upper plate opening extending through the upper plate body, the upper plate body configured to be positioned above the subflashing when the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck; and
a fan assembly coupled to the subflashing and upper plate such that the subflashing is interposed between the upper plate and the fan assembly, the fan assembly configured to be removed and replaced from under a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck, wherein the fan assembly comprises sidewalls, and wherein the upper plate further comprises a plurality of fasteners coupled with the upper plate body and positioned around the upper plate opening, wherein the fasteners are configured to couple the upper plate and a fan assembly with the subflashing,wherein the subflashing, upper plate and fan assembly are configured, such that when the fan assembly is coupled to the subflashing and the upper plate, and the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck, at least a portion of the sidewalls of the fan assembly is positioned entirely within a plane created by the roof deck, and wherein the subflashing, upper plate, fan assembly and fasteners are further configured such that the fasteners extend through the roof deck opening when the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A roof vent member with an integrated fan assembly is disclosed. The roof vent member includes an upper plate having fasteners that extend downward below a roof deck when installed to allow for access to the fan assembly from underneath the roof deck. Thus, the fan assembly may be installed, removed, replaced, maintained, etc. from underneath the roof without having to get on the roof or otherwise disrupt the roof envelope. The roof vent may include the upper plate, a subflashing, the fan assembly, sealing elements, screens, and other features. A secondary roof vent member may be included which may include solar panels. Associated methods of using the vent members, such as installing, removing, and replacing the vent member or various components thereof, are further disclosed.
282 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A roof vent member, comprising:
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a subflashing comprising a subflashing body with side members surrounding and extending radially outwardly from a subflashing opening extending through a central portion of the subflashing body, the side members configured to provide support to and allow positioning of the subflashing above a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck; an upper plate comprising an upper plate body and an upper plate opening extending through the upper plate body, the upper plate body configured to be positioned above the subflashing when the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck; and a fan assembly coupled to the subflashing and upper plate such that the subflashing is interposed between the upper plate and the fan assembly, the fan assembly configured to be removed and replaced from under a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck, wherein the fan assembly comprises sidewalls, and wherein the upper plate further comprises a plurality of fasteners coupled with the upper plate body and positioned around the upper plate opening, wherein the fasteners are configured to couple the upper plate and a fan assembly with the subflashing, wherein the subflashing, upper plate and fan assembly are configured, such that when the fan assembly is coupled to the subflashing and the upper plate, and the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck, at least a portion of the sidewalls of the fan assembly is positioned entirely within a plane created by the roof deck, and wherein the subflashing, upper plate, fan assembly and fasteners are further configured such that the fasteners extend through the roof deck opening when the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A roof vent member, comprising:
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an upper plate comprising; an upper plate body having a lower surface; a first opening extending through the upper plate body; and a plurality of fasteners positioned around the first opening and projecting generally downward from the lower surface; a subflashing comprising; a subflashing body comprising a plurality of side members; a second opening extending through a central portion of the subflashing body, the plurality of side members surrounding and extending radially outwardly from the second opening; and a first plurality of access holes extending through the side members around the second opening, wherein the side members are configured to provide support to and allow positioning of the subflashing above a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck, and wherein the upper plate body is configured to be positioned above the subflashing when the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck; and a fan assembly comprising a fan, fan housing including sidewalls, and a motor, wherein a second plurality of access holes extend through the fan housing, wherein the fasteners of the upper plate extend through the first plurality of access holes of the side members and the second plurality of access holes of the fan assembly to couple the upper plate and the fan assembly to the subflashing, with the subflashing positioned between the upper plate and the fan assembly, wherein the subflashing, upper plate and fan assembly are configured, such that when the fan assembly is coupled to the subflashing and the upper plate, and the subflashing is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck, at least a first portion of the sidewalls of the fan housing of the fan assembly is positioned entirely within a roof deck opening in a plane of the roof deck and wherein the upper plate, the subflashing, the fan assembly, and the plurality of fasteners are further configured such that the plurality of fasteners extend through the roof deck opening when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for removing a fan assembly from a roof deck having one or more roof vent members mounted to an upper surface of the roof deck to allow fluid communication through a roof deck opening extending through the roof deck, each roof vent member comprising an upper plate, a subflashing and a fan assembly, wherein the subflashing is positioned above the roof deck and between and coupled with the upper plate and fan assembly, the method comprising:
removing the fan assembly from the remainder of the roof vent member from a position below the roof deck without decoupling the remainder of the roof vent member from the roof deck, wherein removing comprises; decoupling the fan assembly from the upper plate, wherein decoupling the fan assembly from the upper plate comprises decoupling a fastener that extends through the roof deck opening; and lowering the fan assembly in a first direction away from the upper plate, wherein lowering the fan assembly comprises moving the fan assembly from a first position in which at least a first portion of sidewalls of the fan assembly is laterally surrounded by the roof deck opening in a plane of the roof deck, to a second position in which the first portion of the fan assembly is not laterally surrounded by the roof deck opening. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
Specification