Vehicle vent
First Claim
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1. A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising:
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet;
a float valve movable between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider;
the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve;
the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; and
the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle vent (12) for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment includes a float valve (32) that prevents water that enters an outlet (24) of the vent from passing into the vehicle through the vent inlet (20) but which has a drain passage (36) for permitting a limited flow of the water to a drain (38) on the vent inlet side of the float valve (32). The vent (12) preferably includes a fan (40) that is most preferably energized by a solar panel (48). Mounting of the vent (12) can be provided on the vehicle roof, on the roof just forward of a vehicle back window, or as part of a sunroof.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising:
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet;
a float valve movable between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider;
the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve;
the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; and
the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
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13. A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising:
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet;
a float valve including a buoyant valve body and a lower pivotal connection that pivotal mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider;
the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve;
the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed;
the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground; and
a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment.
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
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14. A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising:
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet;
a float valve including a buoyant valve body and lower pivotal connection that pivotal mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider;
the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve;
the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed;
the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground;
a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment; and
a solar panel for energizing the fan.
- a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment;
Specification