Modular soffit vent

• US 5,791,985 A
• Filed: 11/09/1995
• Issued: 08/11/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Tapco International Corporation (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Original Assignee: Tapco International Corporation (Seven Group Holdings Limited)
• Inventors: Clark, Michael C., Schiedegger, Charles E., MacLeod, Mark T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joyce, Harold
• Application Number:
  US08/554,889
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 454/35, 454/199, 454/260, 454/339, 454/341, 454/355, 454/356, 454/367, 454/368
• US Class Current: 454/339
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2007/001 with exhausting air ducts
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/02 Roof ventilation ventilation of roof coverings E04D
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/065 fan combined with single duct; mounting arrangements of a fan in a duct

Abstract

A vent apparatus for cooperating with duct work associated with an exhaust fan to enable air to be exhausted from an interior room of a dwelling to the exterior environment. The vent apparatus includes a base member and a cover member releasably securable to the base member. The base member includes an attaching portion having a plurality of locking portions, while the cover member includes a plurality of flexible latching arm members which releasably engage the locking portions when the cover member is placed over the attaching portion. The attaching portion includes an enlarged opening which enables air exhausted from an interior room to be directed out between the base and cover members to the exterior atmosphere. The apparatus is particularly well-adapted to be used with vinyl or aluminum siding and is relatively inexpensive to construct, light-weight and easy to install. In an alternative embodiment, the apparatus includes a screen adapted to be secured to the base member. The screen has dimensions which enable it to fit within the cover member so as not to be visible once the cover is installed on the base member. The screen prevents insects and small mammals from entering through the base member. The screen is secured to the base member via a plurality of locking arm members which engage within openings formed in the base member such that the screen can be "snapped" onto the base member without special tools or external fastening elements such as threaded screws or the like.

Claims

1. A vent apparatus comprising:

a base member having a securing flange for securing said base member to an exterior surface of a dwelling, said securing flange forming a planar flange for enabling external fastening elements to be used to secure said planar flange to said exterior surface of said building and an attaching portion protruding outwardly from said securing flange away from said exterior surface of said dwelling, said attaching portion having an opening and a locking portion;

a cover member having a securing member and being of dimensions for enabling said cover member to be positioned at least partially over said attaching portion of said base member; and

said securing member of said cover member being engageable with said locking portion of said base member to secure said cover member to said locking portion without external fastening elements such that said cover member is adjustably spaced-apart from said attaching portion at a plurality of predetermined distances from said attaching portion.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said openings comprise elongated slots spaced-apart from one another about said planar flange.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said locking portion comprises at least one integrally formed shoulder portion protruding from said attaching portion.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said securing member of said cover member comprises a flexible latching arm adapted to interengage with said shoulder portion of said base member to enable said cover member to be releasably secured to said base member.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said attaching portion comprises:

a generally square-shaped, raised portion having an uppermost surface; and

wherein said uppermost surface includes a plurality of corner portions sloping downwardly towards said securing flange.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a screen interposed between said base member and said cover member for restricting entry of insects and small mammals into said base member without impeding airflow through said apparatus.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said screen comprises a frame having a plurality of projecting locking arm members;

and

wherein said base member includes a plurality of openings in alignment with said locking arm members such that said locking arm members can be secured within said openings to thereby enable said screen to be secured to said base member.

8. A vent apparatus comprising:

a base member having an attaching portion having a securing flange and a plurality of openings spaced-apart from one another along said securing flange, said securing flange enabling said base member to be secured to an exterior surface of a structure;

said base member further including a raised attaching portion integrally formed with said securing flange, said raised attaching portion having a central opening and a plurality of locking portions;

a cover member adapted to be placed over said base member and having dimensions sufficiently large to cover said base member, said cover member including a plurality of securing members adapted to releasably engage with said locking portions of said base member in a manner to secure said cover member at a plurality of predetermined distances from said base member.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said openings each comprise an elongated slot.

10. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said locking portions each include a plurality of shoulder portions integrally formed with said attaching portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said attaching portion comprises a generally square-shaped portion having a plurality of corner portions sloping downwardly toward said securing flange.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said securing member of said cover member comprises a flexible latching arm adapted to releasably engage with a respective one of said integrally formed, protruding shoulder portions of said base member.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cover member comprises:

a central portion; and

a downwardly sloping peripheral portion, said peripheral portion having a plurality of openings formed therein to further facilitate airflow from said opening outwardly of said cover member to an external environment.

14. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said base member is injection molded from a thermoplastic.

15. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said cover member is injection molded from a thermoplastic.

16. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a screen positioned between said base member and said cover member for restricting the entry of insects and small mammals into said base member without impeding airflow through said apparatus.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein said screen comprises:

a frame having a plurality of projecting locking arms;

wherein said base member includes a plurality of openings formed therein so as to align with said locking arm members to thereby enable said screen to be secured to said base member in close proximity to said base member; and

said screen being completely covered by said cover member when said cover member is secured to said base member so as not to be visually apparent once said apparatus is secured to said exterior surface of said structure.

18. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said base member further comprises a cylindrical portion positioned to extend from said central opening for accepting a section of external duct work therein.

19. A vent apparatus for communicating with ventilation duct work of a dwelling, said apparatus comprising:

a base member having a securing flange and an attaching portion integrally formed with said securing flange, said securing flange including a plurality of openings spaced-apart therealong to enable said securing flange to be secured via external fastening members to an exterior surface of said dwelling;

said attaching portion including an opening and a plurality of integrally formed locking portions spaced about said attaching portion, said attaching portion further protruding outwardly of said securing flange; and

a cover member having dimensions sufficiently large to cover said base member and including a plurality of flexible latching arms protruding from an interior surface thereof, said latching arms being operable to releasably engage with said locking portions of said base member at a plurality of predetermined positions relative to said base member to secure said cover member in adjustable spaced-apart relationship to said base member to thereby permit airflow outwardly of said opening in said base member and between said cover member and said base member.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of said locking portions of said base member includes at least one integrally formed shoulder portion for releasably engaging with an associated one of said flexible latching arms of said cover member.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said raised attaching portion of said base member includes an uppermost surface formed generally in the shape of a square;

and

wherein said uppermost surface includes a plurality of corner portions sloping downwardly toward said securing flange.

22. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said base member is injection molded from a thermoplastic.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said cover member is injection molded from a thermoplastic.

24. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein each of said locking portions comprises a plurality of integrally formed shoulder portions adapted to releasably engage with a respective one of said flexible latching arms to thereby enable said cover member to be adjustably positioned in spaced-apart relation to said base member in a first position and a second position.

25. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said cover member comprises a central portion and an angled peripheral portion;

and

wherein said peripheral portion includes a plurality of ventilation slots formed therein for further enhancing airflow outwardly of said opening in said base member to an external environment.

26. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a screen securable to said base member, said screen having outer dimensions sufficiently small to fit within an interior area of said cover member when said cover member is secured to said base member so as not to be visible when said cover member is secured to said base member, and yet sufficiently large to completely cover said opening.

27. The apparatus of claim 26, wherein said base member further comprises a cylindrical portion extending from an inner surface of said attaching portion, said cylindrical portion being adapted to engage with a similarly sized section of duct work of said dwelling when said base member is secured to said exterior surface of said dwelling.

28. A vent apparatus comprising:

a base member having a securing flange for securing said base member to an exterior surface of a dwelling;

an attaching portion protruding outwardly from said securing flange, said attaching portion having an opening and a locking portion;

a cover member having a securing member and being of dimensions for enabling said cover member to be adjustably positioned at least partially over said attaching portion of said base member;

a screen interposed between said cover member and said base member, said screen having dimensions enabling it to be completely covered by said cover member when said cover member is positioned over said screen; and

said securing member of said cover member being engageable with said locking portion of said base member to secure said cover member to said locking portion such that said cover member is spaced-apart from said attaching portion at one of a plurality of predetermined positions from said attaching, portion.

29. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said base member includes a cylindrical portion in communication with said central opening for accepting a portion of an external section of duct work.

30. The apparatus of claim 28, wherein said screen comprises:

a generally circular frame-like member and air-permeable screening secured thereto;

said frame-like member having a plurality of locking arm members spaced generally equal distances apart from one another;

said base member including a corresponding plurality of openings for accepting said locking arm members and enabling said screen to be secured to said base member such that said screen cannot be readily removed from said base member; and

said screen having outer dimensions enabling it to be completely covered by said cover member when said cover member is secured to said base member such that said screen is not visible when said apparatus is secured to said dwelling.

31. The apparatus of claim 28, further comprising:

a cylindrical member fixedly secured to said base member so as to extend outwardly of said base member;

a first length of duct work permanently secured to said cylindrical member;

a second length of duct work removably secured to said first length of duct work;

a third length of duct work removably secured to said second length of duct work; and

said first, second and third lengths of duct work having a total length sufficient to extend through a standard six inch deep wall.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, further comprising an adapter member for enabling said third length of duct work to be coupled to an external length of tubing having a different diameter than said third length of duct work.