Mechanism for opening a vent cover

• US 7,731,574 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dometic Sweden AB (Dometic Group AB)
• Original Assignee: Fan-Tastic Vent
• Inventors: Milks, legal representative, Milks, Stephen A.
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister; Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): OREILLY, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US11/811,297
• Publication Number:
  US 20080302019A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,096 Days
• Field of Search: 454/94, 454/117, 454/129, 454/136, 454/349, 296/216.02, 49/94, 493/42, 114/202
• US Class Current: 454/94
• CPC Class Codes: B60J 7/1642 Roof panels, e.g. sunroofs or hatches, movable relative to the main roof structure, e.g. by lifting or pivoting
• CPC Class Codes: E05F 11/02 for wings in general, e.g. fanlights E05F11/36 takes precedence; for windows to be lowered vertically E05F11/38; for doors E05F11/54
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/506 for buses
• CPC Class Codes: E05Y 2900/542 Roof panels
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2007/0025 using vent ports in a wall

Abstract

A vent assembly has a base and a cover connected to the base. The cover moves between a closed and open position. A fan is optionally mounted for rotation in the base. A mechanism, including a strut system, raises and lowers the cover. The strut system is connected with the cover at two positions spaced from one another. When the cover is in its closed position, a retention force is provided by the strut system and is distributed about the cover.

Claims

1. A vent assembly comprising:

a base for securement into an opening;

a cover connected with said base, said cover movable between a closed and an open position;

a mechanism for raising and lowering said cover between said open and closed positions, said mechanism including a strut system connected with said cover at two positions spaced from one another such that when said cover is in said closed position, a retention force provided by said strut system is distributed about the cover, said strut system includes a U-shaped strut coupled with a pair of brackets mounted on said cover for raising and lowering said cover;

a pair of bearing blocks on said base for receiving a connecting portion of said U-shape strut for positioning said U-shaped strut on said base; and

wherein said mechanism includes an arm connected with said strut system, said arm being slidably coupled with a leg of said strut system and said leg being slidably coupled with said cover.

2. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover includes one side hinged with said base, and said two connection positions spaced away from said hinged side and on opposite sides of a fan.

3. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein said cover has a rectangular configuration with said cover hinged along one side and said two connection positions along two perpendicular sides toward a side parallel to the hinged side.

4. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein said arm includes a pronged receptacle for receiving said leg of said U-shaped strut.

5. The vent assembly of claim 1, wherein with the cover in a closed position, said two connecting positions are beyond a mid line of said cover spaced from a hinged side of said cover.

6. A mechanism for raising and lowering a cover of a vent assembly between an open and closed position comprising:

a system including an arm and a strut coupled with the arm for lifting and lowering the strut, said strut connecting with the cover at two positions spaced from one another such that when the cover is in the closed position, a retention force provided by said system is distributed about the cover, said strut system is a U-shaped strut coupled with a pair of brackets to be mounted on said cover for raising and lowering said cover; and

a pair of bearing blocks for attaching to a base of the vent assembly, said bearing blocks receiving a connecting portion of said U-shape strut for positioning said U-shaped strut on the base;

wherein the arm is movable relative to the strut and the strut is movable relative to the cover; and

wherein the cover includes a hinged side and said two positions at which the strut connects with the cover are disposed along two sides perpendicular to said hinged side.

7. The mechanism of claim 6, wherein said arm is connected with a leg of said U-shaped strut.

8. The mechanism of claim 7, wherein said arm includes a pronged receptacle for receiving the leg of said U-shaped strut.

9. A vent assembly comprising:

a base for securement into an opening;

a cover connected with said base, said cover movable between a closed and an open position;

a fan mounted for rotation in said base;

a mechanism for raising and lowering said cover between said open and closed positions, said mechanism including;

an arm associated with said base and coupled with a crank for raising and lowering said arm, and a strut coupled with said arm and connected with said cover at two positions spaced from one another such that when said cover is in said closed position, a retention force provided by said strut is distributed about the cover,

wherein said strut includes first and second legs fixed relative to each other and a connecting portion extending between said legs, said arm engaging said first leg such that said arm is movable relative to said first leg, wherein said first and second legs are movable relative to the cover, said arm has an overall J shape body with a strut coupling mechanism at one end and a plurality of teeth at the other end.

10. The vent assembly of claim 9, wherein said teeth are coupled with a screw mechanism on said crank for raising and lowering said arm.

11. The vent assembly of claim 9, wherein said strut is a U-shaped strut coupled with a pair of brackets mounted on said cover for raising and lowering said cover.

12. The vent assembly of claim 11, wherein said arm includes a pronged receptacle for receiving said first leg of said U-shaped strut.

13. The vent assembly of claim 11, further comprising a pair of bearing blocks on said base for receiving said connecting portion of said U-shaped strut for positioning said U-shaped strut on said base.

14. The vent assembly of claim 9, wherein said cover has a rectangular configuration with said cover hinged along one side and said two connection positions along two perpendicular sides extend toward a side parallel to the hinged side.