Vent apparatus
First Claim
1. A vent apparatus comprising:
- a base member including a securing flange adapted to receive external fastening elements to allow said securing flange to be secured to a surface of a structure;
an attaching portion on said base member which defines a fluid passage, said attaching portion having a first surface at an angle to said securing flange with a locking portion on said first surface and wherein said attaching portion is a generally square-shaped, raised portion having an uppermost surface including a plurality of corner portions on said uppermost surface that slope downwardly towards said securing flange; and
a cover member having a locking member depending therefrom and engageable with said locking portion of said first surface to secure said cover member to said base member.
8 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
90 Citations
3 Claims
-
1. A vent apparatus comprising:
-
a base member including a securing flange adapted to receive external fastening elements to allow said securing flange to be secured to a surface of a structure;
an attaching portion on said base member which defines a fluid passage, said attaching portion having a first surface at an angle to said securing flange with a locking portion on said first surface and wherein said attaching portion is a generally square-shaped, raised portion having an uppermost surface including a plurality of corner portions on said uppermost surface that slope downwardly towards said securing flange; and
a cover member having a locking member depending therefrom and engageable with said locking portion of said first surface to secure said cover member to said base member.
-
-
2. A vent apparatus comprising:
-
a base member including a raised attaching portion defining a fluid passage, said raised attaching portion having a surface including a plurality of locking portions disposed thereon and wherein said attaching portion is a generally square-shaped portion having a plurality of downwardly sloping corner portions;
a cover member; and
a plurality of securing members on said cover member adapted to releasably engage with said locking portions of said surface to secure said cover member to said base member.
-
-
3. A vent apparatus comprising:
-
a base member including a securing flange adapted to receive external fastening elements to allow said securing flange to be secured to a surface of a structure;
an attaching portion on said base member defines a fluid passage, said attaching portion having a first surface at an angle to said securing flange with a locking portion on said first surface wherein said locking portion includes at least one integrally formed shoulder portion protruding from said attaching portion wherein said at least one shoulder portion defines a plurality of discrete locking locations; and
a cover member having a locking member depending therefrom and engageable with said locking portion of said first surface to secure said cover member to said base member wherein said locking member comprises a flexible latching arm adapted to interengage with said shoulder portion to enable said cover member to be releasably secured to said base member and wherein said locking member being engageable with said plurality of discrete locking locations to adjustably secure said cover to said base member at a plurality of predetermined distances from said securing flange corresponding to said plurality of discrete locking locations.
-
Specification