Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
,_ CA 02326371 2000-11-20
ROOF VENT
Technical Field
This invention relates to vents. In particular, the invention
relates to a roof vent which may be used to vent an attic space or to vent
air delivered by an exhaust fan or the like from a building.
Background of the Invention
Roof vents useful for venting air through the roof of a
residence or other building have long been used. Such vents typically
have a vent projecting from a broad flange. The flange can be inserted
under shingles on the roof to provide venting without allowing rain or
snow to enter the building. Most prior art vents are fabricated from a
number of pieces of material, such as metal, which are soldered or
welded together. A problem with such vents is that over time the joints
between the different sections of the vent can become weakened through
corrosion and the like. Eventually such vents can begin to leak. This
compromises the integrity of the building envelope. Another problem
with prior vents is that the market place demands inexpensive vents.
This typically forces manufacturers to design vents for manufacture
which are more prone to develop leaks and may also be less robust than
would be desirable for long trouble-free life.
There is a need for a robust inexpensive roof vent which is
well-sealed against the entry of moisture.
Summay of the Invention
This invention provides a roof vent which is seamless. Roof
vents according to preferred embodiments of the invention can be
injection-molded.
One aspect of the invention provides a roof vent
comprising: a generally planar flange penetrated by an opening; and a
., CA 02326371 2000-11-20
-2-
vent structure formed integrally with the flange. The vent structure
projects generally upwardly from the flange and covers the opening in
the flange. The vent structure has an overhang and a vent opening under
the overhang. The vent may include a protective covering which covers
the vent opening. The covering may be a grille which may be integral
with the vent structure.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the vent
comprises a duct adapter. The duct adapter can be used to attach ducts
of various dimensions to deliver air through the roof vent. The duct
adapter comprises a downwardly extending member having a bore in
communication with the flange opening. The member extends through
the flange opening. The duct adaptor preferably has a first portion
having a first outside diameter and a second portion having a second
outside diameter smaller then the first outside diameter. Most preferably
the vent also has a collar surrounding the duct adaptor, the collar having
an inner diameter dimensioned to receive an outer surface of a duct.
The vent preferably has a one-way air valve which allows
flow of air in an upward direction only. In preferred embodiments the
valve comprises a flap pivotally mounted to the roof vent.
In preferred embodiments the duct adaptor can only be
attached to the flange in such a way that the valve is properly oriented to
direct air out of the vent opening.
The duct adaptor may comprise an upper surface having
troughs on either side of a flap. The troughs direct water which may
enter through the vent opening back out the vent opening.
.. CA 02326371 2000-11-20
-3-
Another aspect of the invention provides a roof vent
comprising a generally planar flange penetrated by a flange opening; a
vent structure integral with the flange, the vent structure, comprising a
cover projecting generally upwardly from said flange to cover the flange
opening and a pair of downwardly extending lugs; and a duct adaptor
attachable to the vent structure, the duct adaptor having slots which
receive the lugs when the duct adaptor is attached to the vent structure.
Further aspects and features of the invention are described
below.
Brief Description of the Drawings
In figures which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the
invention:
Figure 1 is a lower front oblique view of a ROOF VENT
according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a left side elevational view thereof;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof;
Figure 4 is a rear elevational view thereof;
Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Figure 7 is a section in the line 7-7 of Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a lower perspective view thereof with a duct adapter
in place;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of a duct adapter portion showing a
flap valve;
Figure 10 is a partly schematic sectional view showing a vent
according to the invention installed in a roof;
Figure 11 is a section on the lines 11-11 of the duct adapter of
Figure 9 in place in a vent structure;
.. CA 02326371 2000-11-20
-4-
Figure 12 is a section on the lines 12-12 of the duct adapter of
Figure 9 in place in a vent structure; and,
Figure 13 is a section through a vent according to an alternative
embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention
Figure 1 shows a roof vent 10 according to a preferred
embodiment of the invention. Roof vent 10 comprises a broad flange 12
having a vent structure 14 projecting upwardly therefrom. Vent
structure 14 communicates with an opening 16 in flange 12. Vent
structure 14 includes a cap 15 which covers opening 16. A first
advantage of the vent 10 shown in Figure 1 is that flange 12 and vent
structure 14 are both integrally formed as a single body of a seamless
plastic material. Thus there are no joints or other places which, over
time, can corrode and leak. Vent 10 is water-tight. A second advantage
of fabricating flange 12 and vent structure 14 as a single unitary piece of
plastic is that the entire vent 10 can be injection molded at relatively
little expense. Thus a vent 10 according to this invention can be
provided more cost effectively than can be prior vents which require the
assembly of separate parts while being more rugged and leak resistant
than many prior art vents.
A vent opening 17 (seen best in Figures 2 and 7)
communicates with opening 16. A grille formed from a number of
parallel slats 18 prevents small animals, leaves, or the like from
entering opening 17. Slats 18 are preferably integrally formed with the
vent structure 14. Slats 18 also help to prevent winds from disturbing
the flow of air out of opening 17.
While a vent 10 according to this invention is highly
functional, the overall appearance of the vent, as illustrated in the
CA 02326371 2006-05-O1
-5-
drawings, particularly Figures 1 through 6, is considered to have ornamental
aspects which
are not dictated solely by function.
Vent 10 may be attached to a roof structure, for example by applying nails,
screws, or other fasteners, through holes 22 in flange 12 so that opening 17
is facing down
the slope of the roof, as shown in Figure 10. Flange 12 overlaps with
shingles, or other
roofing material on the roof in its lower portions and the shingles or other
roofing material
overlap with flange 12 on the sides and top in a manner which prevents leaks
as is well
known to roofers and other building trades. A small bead 24 projects upwardly
from the
upper surface of flange 12. Bead 24 prevents water which may settle on flange
12 from
migrating outward to holes 22 (through which it could potentially leak through
the roofj.
Bead 24 preferably surrounds the back and sides of vent structure 14.
As shown in Figure 8, a duct adaptor 30 can be affixed into opening 16.
Duct adaptor 30 is also preferably of one-piece construction. In the preferred
embodiment,
which is illustrated in Figures 8 and 10, duct adaptor 30 is adapted to make
connection to
any of three different sizes of circular duct. Duct adapter 30 has a stepped
end portion with
a number of cylindrical step portions (the illustrated embodiment has two step
portions). A
smaller end step portion 32A is dimensioned to fittingly the inside diameter
of a small
diameter duct. A larger diameter step portion 32B is dimensioned to fittingly
engage the
inside diameter of a medium-diameter duct. An annular collar 33 (which is
preferably
concentric with male portions 32A and 32B) has an inner surface 32C which is
dimensioned to fittingly engage the outside diameter of a large diameter duct.
CA 02326371 2006-05-O1
-6-
The dimensions of portions 32A, 32B and flange 33 are preferably chosen to
fit popular duct sizes in the area in which vent 10 will be used. For example,
in the United
States portion 32A might be dimensioned to fittingly engage the inside
diameter of a
nominally four-inch diameter duct, part 32B might be dimensioned to fittingly
engage the
inside diameter of a nominally five-inch diameter duct, and portion 32C might
be
dimensioned to fittingly engage the outer diameter of a nominally six-inch
diameter duct. It
can be appreciated that the use of a duct adaptor 30 according to this design,
reduces
greatly the amount of specialized hardware and other adaptors that an
installation person
must have on hand in order to fit a roof vent to a particularly sized duct.
Duct adaptor 30 is preferably equipped with a one-way valve to prevent air
from leaking into the building through vent opening 17 from outside when the
vent is not in
use. In the illustrated embodiment, a one-way valve comprises a flap member 36
which is
pivotally attached to duct adaptor 30 by pins which engage apertures in a pair
of apertured
bosses 38. Bosses 38 are preferably formed integrally with duct adaptor 30
(see Figure 10).
Flap 36 is preferably formed from a thin piece of plastic having molded-in
pins 39 which
engage apertures in bosses 38 (see Figure 9).
It is desirable that duct adaptor 30 should only fit into opening 16 in the
one
orientation in which flapper valve 36 is properly oriented, as shown in Figure
10.
Preferably opening 16 is configured such that it is not possible to fully
insert duct adaptor
30 in any other orientation. In the illustrated embodiment, vent 10 includes
downwardly
projecting lugs 40 which engage in slots 42 (see Figure 12) in duct adaptor
30. Duct
adaptor 30 is retained within opening 16 by projections 46 which, when duct
adaptor 30 is
fully inserted into opening 16, abuttingly engage end surfaces 47 of an apron
48 which
extends around duct adaptor 30. Projections 46 are ramp-shaped so that duct
adaptor 30
can be slipped into opening 16 until it is fully engaged in opening 16 at
which
CA 02326371 2006-05-O1
_7_
point end surface 47 of apron 48 snaps into place above projections 46.
Even though vent structure 14 provides shelter from rain, it is possible that
wind will blow some rain drops or other moisture in through opening 17.
Preferably vent
is designed in such a manner that such moisture will drain back out of opening
17 rather
than finding an opening which will allow it to enter the building in which the
vent 10 is
located. In the illustrated embodiment, opening 17 is defined between an upper
edge of an
inwardly extending wall 50 and cap 15. Wall 50 forms a lower edge of vent
opening 17.
When flap 36 is in its closed position (as shown in solid lines in Figure 10)
flap 36 overlaps
with the upper edge of wall 50 so that any water which falls onto the top
surface of flap 36
tends to drain out of opening 17. As shown best in Figure 9, flap member 36
preferably
extends forwardly to overhang the top edge of wall 50 for the entire width of
flap 36.
Preferably, as best shown in Figure 9, the upper surface of duct adaptor 30
defines a trough 54 on each side of flap 36. Troughs 54 each extend forward to
a lip 56
which hooks over with the inner edge of wall 50 when duct adaptor 30 is
correctly installed
in opening 16. Thus, any water droplets or other moisture which falls into a
trough 54
tends to drain out over wall 50 and through opening 17.
It can be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the design of
the roof vent described herein without departing from the scope of the
invention. By way
of example,
~ The ornamental appearance of the roof vent may be modified in various ways
which
do not significantly affect its function;
CA 02326371 2000-11-20
_ g _
~ In embodiments of the vent for which it is not necessary to
prevent the entry of small animals, or in which it would be
undesirable to provide a grille across opening 17, slats 18 can be
left out. It is typically undesirable to provide a grille in cases
where vent 10 is being used to carry air being exhausted from a
clothes dryer as lint may build up on the inside of any slats 18
which blocks opening 17.
~ The arrangements of projections which retain duct adaptor 30 in
opening 16 may be varied in various ways without departing from
the broadest scope of the invention.
~ While duct adaptor 30 is preferably a single unitary piece of
plastic, formed for example by injection molding, the integrity of
vent 14 would not be affected if the lower portions of duct
adaptor 30 were made from separate pieces of material jointed
together.
~ As shown in Figure 13, duct adaptor 30 may have more or fewer
steps to accommodate more or fewer different duct sizes.
~ Duct adaptor 30 may comprise a single inner piece 32B
dimensioned to be fittingly received inside a smaller duct
surrounded by an outer collar 33 dimensioned to fittingly receive
the outer diameter of a larger duct. This configuration has the
advantage of being more compact than the configuration shown in
the drawings. For example, collar 33 may be dimensioned to
receive a "six-inch" duct while inner piece 32B may be
dimensioned to receive a "five-inch" duct.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in
accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.
