Attic vent

• US 7,780,510 B2
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Issued: 08/24/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ross Manufacturing, LLC
• Original Assignee: Ross Manufacturing, LLC
• Inventors: Polston, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): McAllister; Steven B
• Assistant Examiner(s): OREILLY, PATRICK F
• Application Number:
  US12/386,949
• Publication Number:
  US 20090215382A1
• Time in Patent Office: 484 Days
• Field of Search: 454/356, 454/365, 454/366, 454/367, 454/368, 521/98, 521/99
• US Class Current: 454/367
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 7/02 Roof ventilation ventilation of roof coverings E04D

Abstract

A passive venting device for venting enclosures comprising a base member, an intermediate splash member including a diverter, and a top, dome-shaped member. In a preferred embodiment, the diverter may be molded as a single unit of manufacture with the base member. The venting device allows air and other gases to escape from within an enclosure to be vented while preventing the intrusion of moisture, such as rain or snow, into the enclosure.

Claims

1. A passive vent device for allowing air to flow from a vented enclosure comprising:

a) a base component having an outer flange surrounding a central opening;

b) a vertical wall surrounding said central opening and extending upwardly from said base component;

c) grill structure supported by said vertical wall adapted to permit air to flow through said central opening and said grill structure;

d) a dome-shaped top cover having a top surface and a radiused peripheral edge defining a continuous downwardly depending wall which terminates in a bottom edge suspended over said vertical wall so that said bottom edge is spaced from said flange and said downwardly depending wall is spaced outwardly from said vertical wall to define an air flow path upwardly through said central opening, outwardly through said grill structure, downwardly between said vertical wall and said downwardly depending wall and outwardly between said flange and said bottom edge; and

e) a diverter extending upwardly and outwardly from said vertical wall into the air flow path between said vertical wall and said downwardly depending wall of said top cover and defining an outer edge which extends into the air flow path between said vertical wall and said downwardly depending wall, wherein said diverter is supported on an intermediate structure which surrounds said vertical wall and defines vertical sides positioned substantially parallel with and spaced from said vertical wall.

2. A passive vent device as defined in claim 1 wherein said top cover is secured to said base component with a plurality of posts which extend from said top cover through grooves in said vertical sides and mate with post-receiving openings in said base component.