Vent apparatus

• US 6,386,972 B1
• Filed: 08/25/2000
• Issued: 05/14/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• 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:
  US09/648,856
• Time in Patent Office: 627 Days
• Field of Search: 454/35, 454/199, 454/260, 454/339, 454/341, 454/355, 454/356, 454/367, 454/368, 454/358, 454/362
• US Class Current: 454/358
• 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 en 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 for venting air from an interior room of a building to an exterior of the building, said vent comprising:

a base including a peripheral flange for attachment to the exterior of the building and a raised attaching portion having at least two integrally formed shoulder portions, said base further defining a central opening therethrough; and

a cover including a securing member, said securing member comprising at least one flexible latching arm movably interengaged with said at least two integrally formed shoulder portions on said raised attaching portion to affix said cover to said base in a spaced apart relationship, said cover defining in combination with said base an adjustable air passageway therebetween in airflow communication with said central opening, said cover adjustable from a first closed position with respect to said base and defining a first sized air passageway therebetween to at least a second spaced position defining a second sized air passageway therebetween, said second sized air passageway larger than said first sized air passageway.

2. A vent according to claim 1 wherein said flange includes a plurality of apertures formed therein for enabling said flange to be secured to the exterior surface of the building.

3. A vent according to claim 2 wherein said apertures comprise elongated slots spaced apart one from the other about said flange.

4. A vent according to claim 1 wherein said at least one flexible latching arm further includes a lock bead protruding therefrom, said lock bead interengaged with said at least two integrally formed shoulder portions.

5. A vent according to claim 4 further comprising:

a plurality of latching arms; and

a plurality of shoulder portions, at least two shoulder portions corresponding to each said latching arm.

6. A vent according to claim 5 wherein a plurality of shoulder portions are correspondingly positioned at each latching arm such that said cover is adjustable between a plurality of positions with respect to said base.

7. A vent according to claim 1 wherein said attaching portion further comprises a generally square-shaped, raised portion having an uppermost surface, said uppermost surface including a plurality of corner portions sloping downwardly towards said securing flange.

8. A vent according to claim 1 wherein said base member further comprises a cylindrical portion aligned with said central opening and extending from said base on a side opposite from said cover for accepting a section of external ducting therewith.

9. A vent according to claim 8 wherein said cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of cylindrical segments, each said cylindrical segment separable from a next adjacent cylindrical segment for customizing a length of said cylindrical portion to a desired length.

10. A vent according to claim 9 wherein said cylindrical portion has sufficient length to extend through a standard six inch building exterior wall.

11. A vent according to claim 8 further comprising an adapter member for enabling said cylindrical portion to be coupled to an external length of tubing having a different diameter than said cylindrical portion.

12. A vent for venting air from an interior room of a building to an exterior of the building, said vent comprising:

a base including a peripheral flange for attachment to the exterior of the building and a raised attaching portion, said base further defining a central opening therethrough; and

a cover including a securing member, said securing member moveably interengaged with said raised attaching portion to affix said cover to said base in a spaced apart relationship, said cover defining in combination with said base an adjustable air passageway therebetween in airflow communication with said central opening, said cover adjustable from a first closed position with respect to said base and defining a first sized air passageway therebetween to at least a second spaced position defining a second sized air passageway therebetween, said second sized air passageway larger than said first sized air passageway;

a screen interposed between said base and said cover for preventing intrusion of insects and small mammals through said central opening without restricting airflow therethrough wherein said screen includes a frame having a plurality of projecting arm members; and

said raised attaching portion includes a plurality of openings in alignment with said projecting arm members such that said projecting arm members are securable within said openings to securely retain said screen on said base.

13. A vent for venting air from an interior room of a building to an exterior of the building, said vent comprising:

a base including a peripheral flange for attachment to the exterior of the building and a raised attaching portion, said base further defining a central opening therethrough; and

a cover including a securing member said securing member extending from said cover and moveably engaged with said raised attaching portion to moveably affix and retain said cover to said base in a spaced apart relationship, said cover defining in combination with said raised attaching portion an adjustable air passageway therebetween in airflow communication with said central opening, said cover adjustable from a first closed position with respect to said attaching portion defining a first sized air passageway therebetween to at least a second spaced position defining a second sized air passageway therebetween, said second sized air passageway larger than said first sized air passageway, and further wherein in said closed position, said securing member terminating between said cover and said peripheral flange.

14. A vent according to claim 13 wherein said flange includes a plurality of apertures formed therein for enabling said flange to be secured to the exterior surface of the building.

15. A vent according to claim 14 wherein said apertures comprise elongated slots spaced apart from the other about said flange.

16. A vent according to claim 13 wherein said cover securing member comprises at least one latching arm interengaged with said attaching portion.

17. A vent according to claim 16 wherein said at least one flexible latching arm further includes a lock bead protruding therefrom, said lock bead interengaged with said attaching portion.

18. A vent according to claim 16 further comprising a plurality of latching arms.

19. A vent according to claim 13 wherein said attaching portion further comprises a generally square-shaped, raised portion having an uppermost surface, said uppermost surface including a plurality of corner portions sloping downwardly towards said securing flange.

20. A vent according to claim 13, further comprising a screen interposed between said base and said cover for preventing intrusion of insects and small mammals through said central opening without restricting airflow therethrough.

21. A vent according to claim 20 wherein:

said screen includes a frame having a plurality of projecting arm members; and

said raised attaching portion includes a plurality of openings in alignment with said projecting arm members such that said projecting arm members are securable within said openings to securely retain said screen on said base.

22. A vent according to claim 13 wherein said base member further comprises a cylindrical portion aligned with said central opening and extending from said base on a side opposite from said cover for accepting a section of external ducting therewith.

23. A vent according to claim 22 wherein said cylindrical portion comprises a plurality of cylindrical segments, each said cylindrical segment separable from a next adjacent cylindrical segment for customizing a length of said cylindrical portion to a desired length.

24. A vent according to claim 22 further comprising an adapter member for enabling said cylindrical portion to be coupled to an external length of tubing having a different diameter than said cylindrical portion.