Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02571969 2006-12-20
VENTILATION SYSTEM
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a ventilator, and more particularly, relates
to that
which is known as a static ventilator.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The ventilation of attic spaces between the roof and ceiling of a structure is
known
in the art. Such ventilation is required to overcome the problem of excess
heat and/or
moisture. Thus, excess heat build up can cause room temperatures below the
ceiling to be
substantially higher than would otherwise be the case. A different problem is
the build up
of excess moisture in colder weather causing condensation and subsequent water
damage.
Various types of ventilators to be utilized on a roof to permit air exchange
in an
attic are known in the art. Thus, there is the so called turbine type of
ventilator which is
designed to rotate with wind. However, in very high winds, such turbine
ventilators have
been known to be torn off the roof. This is naturally a frustrating and
expensive
experience for the owner of the building.
A second type of ventilator which is used is known as a static type. This type
uses
a chimney effect to draw air out of the attic. An air inlet is provided at a
lower entry point
- this is usually achieved through the use of a perforated soffit. A static
type ventilator
also requires an air outlet. This may be accomplished by the provision of a
ventilator strip
along the ridge of the roof or alternatively, with a structure designed to be
secured to the
roo~ In many climates, the roof ridge type of ventilator does not function
when the roof is
snow covered. Also, such types of ridge vents are susceptible to moisture
penetration
during storms with high winds and the like.
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A problem associated with the manufacture of static ventilators is to make
them
suitable for roofs having different slopes. To this end, there are various
types of adaptors
which are used such that the ventilator will be suitable for use on roofs of
different slopes.
A further problem with such static ventilators is that they are generally
formed of a
metallic material. As such, they become very heavy and are rendered more
difficult for
the average home owner to install.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilator which is both
lightweight and easy to install.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a
ventilator
comprising a base having a central opening, an inner housing, an outer housing
pivotably
connected to the base, means for securing the inner housing to the outer
housing in a
plurality of positions, at least one vent section located above the inner and
outer housing,
the vent section having a vent passage permitting egress of air from within
the housing,
deflectors located about the vent passage to deflect rain from entering the
vent passage,
and a cap.
According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided in a
structure having a roof, a ceiling and an attic therebetween, the improvement
comprising
at least one ventilator mounted about an opening in the roof, the ventilator
having a base
having a central opening, an inner housing, an outer housing pivotably
connected to the
base, means for securing the inner housing to the outer housing in a plurality
of positions,
at least one vent section located above the inner and outer housing, the vent
section having
a vent passage permitting egress of air from within the housing, deflectors
located about
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CA 02571969 2006-12-20
the vent passage to deflect rain from entering the vent passage and a cap.
The ventilator is preferably formed of a plastics material and many such
materials
are known in the art including polypropylene, polyethylene etc. It will,
however, be
understood that other materials such as metallic material may be utilized. If
other
materials are utilized, certain modifications may be necessary to one or more
components
of the ventilator such as the type of connections between the various
components. It will
also be understood that a combination of materials may be utilized.
As aforementioned, in a preferred embodiment, there is provided a base with an
inner housing connectable thereto. If desired, the base and inner housing
could be formed
as a single unit.
The outer housing is pivotably mounted with respect to the inner housing such
that
the ventilator can be utilized on roofs having different slopes. In order to
correctly
interconnect the outer housing and inner housing, there may be provided
indicia indicating
the place of connection for a given slope. This is useful when the assembly or
adjustment
takes place on the ground before installation. Alternatively, the ventilator
may include a
level incorporated in one of the components. Naturally, it would also be
possible to use a
conventional level during installation.
Means of interconnecting the components such as the outer housing and vent
section may be provided. There could be various types of clip members
although, in a
preferred embodiment, the deflectors are connected to other components by
means of
locking keys as will be described in the preferred embodiment.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Having thus generally described the invention, reference will be made to the
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CA 02571969 2006-12-20
accompanying drawings illustrating an embodiment thereof, in which:
Figure lA is a perspective view of a roof ventilator according to an
embodiment of
the present invention;
Figure 1B is a side elevational view of a modified roof ventilator;
Figure 1 C is a side elevational view of a further modified roof ventilator
according
to the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the roof ventilator of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof;
Figure 4 is a side elevational view of the roof ventilator of Figure 1
installed on a
low slope roof;
Figure 5 is a side elevational view showing the roof ventilator installed on a
steeply
sloped roof;
Figure 6 is an exploded view of the roof ventilator;
Figure 7 is a sectional view taken along the lines 7-7 of Figure lA;
Figure 8 is a perspective view of the outer body portion of the roof
ventilator
showing insertion of a locking member;
Figure 9 is a sectional view taken along the lines 9-9 of Figure 8;
Figure 10 is a sectional view taken along the lines 10-10 of Figure 9;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a deflector section illustrating insertion
of a
locking key;
Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view taken along the lines 12-12 of Figure 14;
Figure 13 is a sectional view of a locking key;
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Figure 14 is a sectional view taken along the lines 14-14 of Figure 11; and
Figure 15 is a cross-sectional view illustrating deflector sections and the
locking
keys.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawings in greater detail and by reference characters
thereto,
there is illustrated in Figure 1 A a roof ventilator according to one
embodiment of the
present invention and which roof ventilator is generally designated by
reference
numeral 10.
Initially, reference will be had to Figure 6 illustrating roof ventilator 10
in an
exploded view. For purposes of explanation, Applicant will refer to first and
second
sides, a front, and a rear. These terms are used merely for clarity of
description and the
invention is not limited to this precise arrangement as different
configurations are
possible.
Roof ventilator 10 includes a base generally designated by reference numeral
12
and which base 12 has an upwardly extending pair of side walls 14, 16, a rear
wall 18, and
a front wall 20. Located on side walls 14, 16 are locking lugs 22.
Extending outwardly from side walls 14, 16, rear wall 18 and front wall 20 is
a
base flange 24 for securing the roof ventilator to the roof. To this end, base
flange 24 is
provided with nailing apertures 29 to receive nails 28 (Figure 7). It will be
noted that base
flange 24 on the underside thereof, has a recess into which is placed a
sealing tape 26.
Sealing tape 26 may be located merely at the nailing apertures 29 or
alternatively and
preferably, is provided about the circumference of base flange 24.
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CA 02571969 2006-12-20
Roof ventilator 10 also includes an inner body generally designated by
reference
numeral 30. Inner body 30 has a first side wall 32 and a second side wal134
with each
side wall being substantially identical and therefore only one will be
described in detail
herein.
First side wal132 includes a plurality of apertures 36, each designed to
receive and
mate with a corresponding locking lug 22 on side wall 14 of base 12. The
engagement of
locking lugs 22 with apertures 26 secures inner body 30 to the base 12.
Inner body 30 also includes a relatively low front wal138 and an arcuate back
wa1140. Apertures 46 are provided to receive a pivot bar 42 which is retained
in position
by means of a locking cap 44. It will be noted that there are a plurality of
indicia 48 on
side walls 32, 34 for reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.
Roof ventilator 10 also includes an outer body generally designated by
reference
numeral 50 and which outer body 50 has a first side wa1152, a second side
wall. 54, a rear
wall 56 and a front wa1158.
Side walls 52, 54 are again substantially identical and thus only one will be
described herein. As may be seen, side wall 52 includes a side wall front
aperture 60
which is designed to align with apertures 46 to receive pivot bar 42 to
thereby secure inner
body 30 and outer body 50 together in a pivotable relationship.
Side wall 52 also has a side wall rear aperture 62 and a viewing aperture 66
for
reasons which will become apparent hereinbelow.
A locking pin 68 secures inner body 30 and outer body 50 in a desired position
by
extending through aperture 62 in side wall 52.
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As may be seen in Figure 6, outer body 50 is provided with rectangular cutouts
70
at the upper corners thereof. Associated with cutouts 70 are diagonally
extending key
traps which comprise a diagonal wa1172 extending between abutting walls.
A locking key 74 is provided for use at each corner. As may be seen, each
locking
key 74 has a lower section 76 and an upper section 80 which are offset with
respect to
each other. Each locking key 74 has an L-shaped cross sectional configuration.
On one
wall of lower section 76, there is provided a locking tongue 78 while on upper
section 80,
there are provided a pair of locking tongues 82, 83.
The roof ventilator 10 includes at least a lower section generally designated
by
reference numeral 84. Lower section 84 includes downwardly and outwardly
sloping
deflector walls 86. Extending about the inner periphery of the lower section
84 is an inner
vertical wall 88. Lower section 84 further includes a diagonally extending
wall 90 to
define a key trap 91 in a manner similar to that described with respect to key
trap 72.
Situated above roof section 84 is a spacer ring generally designated by
reference
numeral 92 and which spacer ring 92 has a base portion 94 with spacer elements
96
extending upwardly therefrom. Spacer ring 92 is sized to fit about the
exterior of inner
wall 88 of roof section 84.
An insect screen 98 is sized to fit interiorly of spacer elements 96 resting
on the
upper edge of inner wall 88 of roof section 84. It will be noted that insect
screen 98 has
bevelled corners 100 to allow for placement of key locks 74.
Roof ventilator 10 also includes a vent section 102 which is similar to lower
section 84 in that it is provided with a sloping deflector walls 104 and an
inner wall 106.
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However, a roof cap 108 is mounted thereon to cover the top portion. A level
indicator
110 is provided on roof cap 108.
As may be seen in Figure 7, ventilation is permitted through screen 98 under
deflectors 104.
Also, as seen in Figure 7, the unit is suitably secured to the roof by means
of
nails 28 or other like fastening devices which go through apertures 29 in base
flange 24.
Sealing is automatically provided by means of a tar sea126 or like sealing
compound.
Lower housing 30 is secured to base 12 through the inter-engagement of
locking lugs 22 with apertures 36. Outer housing 50 is suitably secured to
inner
housing 30 by means of pivot bar 42 and locking cap 44. Locking pins 68 are
inserted
through apertures 62 in wall 52 of outer housing 50 to engage one of the
apertures 49 in
side wa1132 of inner housing 30. The attachment at the correct angle may be
done
through the visual sighting of indicia 48 through viewing aperture 66 or
alternatively,
level 110 may be utilized.
Locking keys 74 as previously mentioned, have a single projection or locking
tongue 78 which will engage with apertures 64 formed in side walls 52, 54. The
upper
portion 80 of locking keys 74 have two tongues 82, 83 which will engage side
wall 88 as
may be seen in Figure 14.
A second set of locking keys is illustrated in Figures 14 and 15 and
references
numerals in the 200's are used for like components. Thus, locking keys 274
have first and
second locking tongues 282, 283 on an upper portion thereof while there is
provided a
single locking tongue 278 in the lower portion. As seen in Figure 15, locking
tongue 278
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engages rearwardly of locking tongue 83 which locking tongues 282, 283
function to
engage vertical wall 106 of vent section 102.
While there is shown only a single vent section in the above embodiment, a
further
vent section 202 may be added as shown in Figure 1B using the same type of
locking
keys.
In Figure IC, a ventilator having a still further vent section 302 is
illustrated.
It will be understood that the above described embodiment is for purposes of
illustration only and that changes and modification may be made thereto
without departing
from the spirit and scope of the invention.
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