Security cover for ventilation duct

• US 6,805,627 B2
• Filed: 11/22/2002
• Issued: 10/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arc3 Corporation
• Original Assignee: Arc3 Corporation
• Inventors: Dykstra, Wayne A., Marts, Steven T.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOLES, DEREK
• Application Number:
  US10/303,319
• Publication Number:
  US 20030104779A1
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 454/368, 454/367, 454/275, 454/276, 521/98, 521/99
• US Class Current: 454/368
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 13/082 Grilles, registers or guards
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/44 Protection from terrorism or theft

Abstract

An apparatus for covering a vent that prevents material, either solid, liquid or gaseous from entering the vent. A plurality of baffles forms an annular space that provides a tortuous path for materials entering or leaving the vent. An alarm system may be added to the apparatus to alert/warn of tampering.

Claims

1. A security vent cover for an air vent to inhibit the introduction of hazardous materials through the vent comprising:

an inner baffle coupled to a top plate including one or more inner apertures adjacent to the top plate;

an outer baffle coupled to the top plate; and

a fastener coupled the vent to the inner baffle;

wherein the inner and outer baffle form an annular space to create a tortuous air flow pathway from the vent to the exterior of the vent cover.

2. The vent cover of claim 1 wherein the annular space is covered by a screening material.

3. The vent cover of claim 1 wherein the annular space is filled with screening a material.

4. The vent cover of claim 1 wherein the inner apertures are covered by a screening material.

5. The vent cover of claim 1 further comprising an alarm system.

6. The vent cover of claim 1 wherein the fastener is a flange plate.

7. Security apparatus for covering a vent comprising,

an inner baffle and an outer baffle;

a fastener for coupling the inner baffle to the vent;

a top plate coupled the baffles to form an annular space; and

an alarm system coupled to the inner and outer baffles;

wherein the inner baffle includes apertures to cause gas to flow through a tortuous path to/from the vent to outside the apparatus;

wherein the introduction of hazardous materials through the vent is inhibited.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fastener is further coupled to the vent.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fastener is further coupled to a structure that includes the vent.

10. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the annular space is covered by screening material.

11. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the annular space is filled with screening material.

12. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the apertures are covered by screening material.

13. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein the fastener is a flange plate.

14. A security cover for a vent comprising,

a base plate coupled to the vent,

a cap comprising a plurality of baffles with an inner baffle coupled to the be plate, wherein the baffles form a tortuous path between the cap and the base plate to the vent, wherein the cap is coupled to the base plate by a plurality of locking pins.

15. The security cover of claim 14 further comprising an alarm system.

16. The security cover of claim 14 further comprising a collar coupled to the base plate.

17. The security cover of claim 14 wherein the tortuous path is filled with a screening material.

18. A security cover for a vent comprising,

a base plate coupled to a collar, wherein the collar is further coupled to the vent,

a cap comprising a plurality of baffles coupled to the base plate,

wherein the baffles form a tortuous path between the cap and the base plate the vent,

wherein the cap is coupled to the base plate by a plurality of locking pins,

wherein the collar is further coupled to base plate,

wherein there is a cover baffle, a deflector baffle and a core baffle, the cover baffle and core baffle further comprising vent holes.

19. A security cover for a vent comprising,

a base plate coupled to a collar, wherein the collar is further coupled to the vent,

a cap comprising a plurality of baffles coupled to the base plate,

a transmitter,

wherein the baffles form a tortuous path between the cap and the base plate to the vent,

wherein the cap is coupled to the base plate by a plurality of locking pins,

wherein the collar is further coupled to base plate.

20. A security cover for a vent comprising,

a base plate coupled to a collar, wherein the collar is further coupled to the vent,

a cap comprising a plurality of baffles coupled to the base plate,

wherein the baffles form a tortuous path between the cap and the base plate to the vent,

wherein the cap is coupled to the base plate by a plurality of locking pins,

wherein the collar is further coupled to base plate, and

wherein the vent holes are covered by a screening material.