EXHAUST VENT ARRANGEMENT AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME
An exhaust vent assembly for a structure. The exhaust vent assembly can include a base supportable adjacent to the structure and having a raised rim defining an outlet of an exhaust flow channel and a cover moveably secured to the base for movement relative to the base between a closed position, in which the cover extends across the outlet substantially preventing exhaust flow through the outlet, and an opened position, in which the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow through the outlet. The vent assembly can also include a windbreak operable to prevent wind from moving the cover toward the opened position. The windbreak can include a first contour on the raised rim and a second contour on an adjacent edge of the cover.
The present invention relates to vent assemblies and, more particularly, to vent assemblies for venting exhaust from a structure.
SUMMARYIn some embodiments, the invention provides an exhaust vent assembly for a structure including a base supportable on the structure and defining an exhaust outlet and a cover having a first end pivotably connected to the base for pivoting movement relative to the base between a closed position, in which the cover extends across the outlet and a second end of the cover contacts the base substantially preventing exhaust flow through the outlet, and an opened position, in which the second end of the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow through the outlet. The cover can have an arcuate exterior surface extending substantially from the first end toward the second end and a raised lip extending along the second end of the cover.
In other embodiments, the present invention provides an exhaust vent assembly for a structure including a base supportable on the structure, defining an exhaust opening, having an interior periphery surrounding the opening to at least partially define an interior region adjacent to the opening, and having a rim extending outwardly from the interior periphery. The vent assembly can also include a cover having an outermost perimeter. The cover can be connected to the base and be pivotable between a closed position, in which the outermost perimeter is positioned substantially within the interior region, and an opened position, in which at least a portion of the outermost perimeter is positioned outside of the interior region. The vent assembly can further include a windbreak including a lip positioned along a portion of the outermost perimeter of the cover and a recess positioned along the rim adjacent to the lip when the cover is in the closed position to prevent unintended opening of the cover.
Also, the present invention provides an exhaust vent assembly for a structure including a base supportable adjacent to the structure and having a raised rim defining an outlet of an exhaust flow channel and a cover moveably secured to the base for movement relative to the base between a closed position, in which the cover extends across the outlet substantially preventing exhaust flow through the outlet, and an opened position, in which the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow through the outlet. The vent assembly can also include a windbreak operable to prevent wind from moving the cover toward the opened position. The windbreak can include a first contour on the raised rim and a second contour on an adjacent edge of the cover.
In addition, the present invention provides a method of venting exhaust from a structure, the method comprising the acts of providing a base defining an outlet for exhaust from a conduit, the conduit extending from a structure, pivoting a cover relative to the base in response to exhaust pressure from the conduit between a closed position, in which the cover extends over the outlet, and an opened position, in which a distal edge of the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow from the outlet, and directing wind across a windbreak and away from the distal edge of the cover to prevent wind from moving the cover toward the opened position.
Other aspects of the invention will become apparent by consideration of the detailed description and accompanying drawings.
Before any embodiments of the invention are explained in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and the arrangement of components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the following drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or of being carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. The use of “including,” “comprising,” and “having” and variations thereof herein is meant to encompass the items listed thereafter and equivalents thereof as well as additional items.
Unless specified or limited otherwise, the terms “mounted,” “connected,” “supported,” and “coupled” and variations thereof are used broadly and encompass both direct and indirect mountings, connections, supports, and couplings. Further, “connected” and “coupled” are not restricted to physical or mechanical connections or couplings.
In addition, it is to be understood that phraseology and terminology used herein with reference to device or element orientation (such as, for example, terms like “front,” “rear,” “top,” “bottom,” “lower”, “up,” “down,” etc.) are only used to simplify description of the present invention, and do not alone indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a particular orientation. The elements of the present invention can be installed and operated in any orientation desired. In addition, terms such as “first” and “second” are used herein for purposes of description and are not intended to indicate or imply relative importance or significance.
The vent assembly 20 can have an “opened” state which enables exhaust to flow from inside to outside the building through wall 22, and a “closed” state which prevents this flow. In some embodiments, the “opened” state can also enable reverse flow (i.e., flow in the opposite direction (e.g., from outside to inside the building)). Similarly, the “closed” state can also prevent reverse flow in some embodiments.
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The proximal end 26 of the duct 24 can be attached to a duct adaptor or extension 32 as shown in
The proximal end (not shown) of the adaptor 32 can be connected to a vent opening 40 such that the adaptor 32 extends substantially perpendicularly from the vent 34, as shown in the illustrated embodiment. The proximal end of the adaptor 32 can include slots or similar elements which can be positioned to receive tabs, hooks, or the like on the vent 34, in order to secure the adaptor 32 to the vent 34. These elements will be described in greater detail below. Alternatively or in addition, tabs, hooks, or the like can be positioned on the proximal end of the adaptor 32 in order to be received by corresponding slots or similar elements on the vent 34. In a further embodiment, the adaptor 32 can be secured to the vent 34 by means described above with reference to the connection between the duct 24 and the exhaust outlet.
The adaptor 32 can be rigid or flexible, can have any of a number of shapes and sizes, and can be formed of a wide variety of materials, including but not limited to those discussed above with respect to the duct 24. In the event that the proximal end 26 of the duct 24 and the vent opening have different cross-sectional areas or shapes, the adaptor 32 can be designed to compensate for the differences. For example, the adaptor 32 can have a distal end 36 that corresponds to the cross-sectional area and shape of the duct 24 and a proximal end that corresponds to the cross-sectional area and shape of the vent opening. In some embodiments, the adaptor 32 can be formed from a rectangular sheet of metal having two opposite ends that can be connected to form a cylinder. Each of the opposite ends can be provided with folds such that when the opposite ends are brought together to form the cylinder, the folds of one engage and catch those of the opposite to retain the cylindrical shape. The adaptor 32 and duct 24 of a particular embodiment can be formed of the same or different materials and can be connected in a manner that is the same as or different from that in which the duct 24 is attached to the exhaust outlet. In a further embodiment, the adaptor 32 can be integrally formed with the duct 24. In a still further embodiment, the adaptor 32 can be integrally formed with the vent 34.
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The posts 86 of some embodiments can include stops 88 that can extend from the cover 72 a distance along the posts 86 and can have a greater diameter than the apertures 68. As shown in the illustrated embodiment, the post stops 88 can compensate for any gap between the inner walls 58 of the base 42 and side edges 84 of the cover 72 in order to substantially prevent lateral movement of the cover 72 with respect to the base 42. In a similar fashion, minor protrusions 66 provided on the front face 44 of the base 42 can compensate for any gap that may exist between the cover 72 and the base 42, in order to prevent oscillation and accompanying noise. In the illustrated embodiment, the minor protrusions 66 are provided along the top of the interior surface 52 to stabilize the top edge 80 of the cover 72. Alternatively or in addition, minor protrusions 66 can be provided at other locations on the base 42 or cover 72 within the interior region 60 to serve the same purpose. In other embodiments, foam or another similarly elastically deformable material can be provided alone or in combination with the elements discussed above in order to restrict and/or dampen the movement of the cover 72 with respect to the base 42. Alternatively or in addition, such material can be provided in some embodiments to form a seal between the cover 72 and the base 42 in the “closed” position.
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As discussed briefly above, the shape of the inner face 76 of the cover 72, alone, or in conjunction with the side edges 84, can facilitate the opening of the vent 34 from inside (i.e., in order for exhaust to be vented). A certain amount of fluid (i.e., exhaust) pressure against the concave inner face 76 of the cover 72 can break the seal between the laterally-extending ridge 56 and the foam 94, if necessary and cause the cover 72 to rotate against gravity into an “opened” position. Further, in some embodiments, these elements, alone, or in combination with the strip of foam 94 positioned adjacent the bottom edge 82 of the cover 72 can prevent the cover 72 from closing prematurely or from oscillating severely due to pressure fluctuations. Thus, the shape of the inner face 76, the side edges 84 of the cover 72, and the position of these elements with respect to each other can allow the vent 34 to be opened efficiently from inside.
As discussed above, corresponding designs of the base 42 and cover 72 can allow the vent assembly 34 to switch between “opened” and “closed” positions within a particular pressure level window. In summary, a design such as that of the illustrated embodiment, can enable a vent 34 to maintain a “closed” position until exhaust pressure builds to a certain level (regardless of the air currents outside the vent), at which point, the vent 34 opens and remains in an “opened” position until the exhaust pressure decreases to a certain level, and the vent 34 closes to prevent reverse flow.
Although particular embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described, other alternative embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art and are within the intended scope of the present invention.
Claims
1. An exhaust vent assembly for a structure, the exhaust vent assembly comprising:
- a base supportable on the structure and defining an exhaust outlet; and
- a cover having a first end pivotably connected to the base for pivoting movement relative to the base between a closed position, in which the cover extends across the outlet and a second end of the cover contacts the base substantially preventing exhaust flow through the outlet, and an opened position, in which the second end of the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow through the outlet;
- the cover having an arcuate exterior surface extending substantially from the first end toward the second end and a raised lip extending along the second end of the cover.
2. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the curvature of the arcuate surface is centered about an axis that is substantially parallel to an edge of the second end of the cover.
3. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, wherein an inner surface of the cover is substantially concave and the exterior surface of the cover is substantially convex.
4. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, the cover further comprising side edges extending between the first and second ends and positioned substantially perpendicularly with respect to the arcuate surface of the cover.
5. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 4, wherein the side edges and the second end of the cover at least partially define a scoop, and wherein, when the exhaust enters the scoop, the exhaust moves the cover from the closed position toward the opened position.
6. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, and further comprising a strip of elastically deformable material positioned between the second end of the cover and the base when the cover is in the closed position.
7. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 6, wherein the strip of elastically deformable material is positioned along a depression formed on an interior surface of the second end of the cover opposite to the lip.
8. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 7, wherein the base further comprises a ridge which at least partially forms a seal with the strip of elastically deformable material when the cover is in the closed position.
9. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the base includes an interior periphery surrounding the opening to at least partially define an interior region adjacent to the opening and a rim extending outwardly from the interior periphery, and wherein the rim substantially surrounds an outer perimeter of the cover, when the cover is in the closed position.
10. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 9, wherein posts pivotably connect opposite sides of the first end of the cover to the rim, and wherein stops extend laterally from the posts between the cover and the rim to substantially prevent movement of the cover with respect to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the posts.
11. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, wherein protrusions extend outwardly from one of the rim and the first end of the cover and contact an other of the rim and the first end of the cover to substantially prevent movement of the cover relative to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the exhaust flow from the outlet.
12. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 1, wherein the cover includes an interior periphery surrounding the opening to at least partially define an interior region adjacent to the opening and a rim extending outwardly from a the interior periphery, and wherein a recess extends along the rim adjacent to the lip when the cover is in the closed position to prevent unintended opening of the vent.
13. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 12, wherein the raised lip extending along the second end of the cover and the recess extending along the rim together at least partially define a windbreak operable to prevent unintended opening of the cover.
14. An exhaust vent assembly for a structure, the exhaust vent assembly comprising:
- a base supportable on the structure, defining an exhaust opening, having an interior periphery surrounding the opening to at least partially define an interior region adjacent to the opening, and having a rim extending outwardly from the interior periphery;
- a cover having an outermost perimeter, the cover connected to the base and being pivotable between a closed position, in which the outermost perimeter is positioned substantially within the interior region, and an opened position, in which at least a portion of the outermost perimeter is positioned outside of the interior region; and
- a windbreak including a lip positioned along a portion of the outermost perimeter of the cover and a recess positioned along the rim adjacent to the lip when in the closed position to prevent unintended opening of the cover.
15. The exhaust vent of claim 14, wherein the base and the cover are each of one-piece construction.
16. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 14, wherein an inner surface of the cover is substantially concave and the exterior surface of the cover is substantially convex.
17. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 14, wherein a first end of the cover is pivotably connected to the base and a second end is moveable away from the base to allow exhaust flow out of the outlet, and the cover further comprising side edges extending between the first and second ends along an interior side of the cover.
18. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 17, wherein the side edges and the second end of the cover at least partially define a scoop, and wherein, when the exhaust enters the scoop, the exhaust moves the cover from the closed position toward the opened position.
19. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 14, and further comprising an elastically deformable material positioned along a depression formed on an interior surface of a distal end of the cover opposite to the lip.
20. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 19, wherein the base further comprises a ridge which at least partially forms a seal with the elastically deformable material when the cover is in the closed position.
21. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 14, wherein posts pivotably connect opposite sides of the cover to the rim, and wherein stops extend laterally from the posts between the cover and the rim to substantially prevent movement of the cover with respect to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the posts.
22. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 21, wherein protrusions extend outwardly from one of the rim and the cover and contact an other of the rim and the cover to substantially prevent movement of the cover relative to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the exhaust flow from the outlet.
23. An exhaust vent assembly for a structure, the exhaust vent assembly comprising:
- a base supportable adjacent to the structure and having a raised rim defining an outlet of an exhaust flow channel;
- a cover moveably secured to the base for movement relative to the base between a closed position, in which the cover extends across the outlet substantially preventing exhaust flow through the outlet, and an opened position, in which the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow through the outlet; and
- a windbreak operable to prevent wind from moving the cover toward the opened position, wherein the windbreak comprises a first contour on the raised rim and a second contour on an adjacent edge of the cover.
24. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the cover is moveably secured to the base along a top edge of the cover and the second contour extends along a bottom edge of the cover.
25. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 24, wherein a length of the first contour in a direction substantially parallel to the bottom edge of the cover is substantially equal to a length of the second contour.
26. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein an elastically deformable material is secured to the cover adjacent the windbreak in order to further prevent wind from moving the cover toward the opened position.
27. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 26, wherein a first end of the cover is pivotably connected to the base and a second end is moveable away from the base to allow exhaust flow out of the outlet, and wherein the strip of elastically deformable material is positioned along a depression formed on an interior surface of the second end of the cover opposite to the second contour.
28. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 26, wherein the base further comprises a ridge which at least partially forms a seal with the strip of elastically deformable material when the cover is in the closed position.
29. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the cover has an arcuate exterior surface extending substantially from the first end toward the second end and a raised lip extending along the second end of the cover.
30. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein an inner surface of the cover is substantially concave and the exterior surface of the cover is substantially convex.
31. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, the cover further comprising side edges extending between the first and second ends and positioned substantially perpendicularly with respect to an interior of the cover.
32. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein a first end of the cover is pivotably connected to the base and a second end is moveable away from the base to allow exhaust flow out of the outlet, and wherein the side edges and the second end of the cover at least partially define a scoop, and wherein, when the exhaust enters the scoop, the exhaust moves the cover from the closed position toward the opened position.
33. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein posts pivotably connect opposite sides of the cover to the rim, and wherein stops extend laterally from the posts between the cover and the rim to substantially prevent movement of the cover with respect to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the posts.
34. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 33, wherein protrusions extend outwardly from one of the rim and the first end of the cover and contact an other of the rim and the first end of the cover to substantially prevent movement of the cover relative to the base in a direction substantially parallel to the exhaust flow from the outlet.
35. The exhaust vent assembly of claim 23, wherein the cover has an outermost perimeter, and wherein, when the cover is in the closed position, the rim surrounds the outermost perimeter.
36. A method of venting exhaust from a structure, the method comprising the acts of:
- providing a base defining an outlet for exhaust from a conduit, the conduit extending from a structure;
- pivoting a cover relative to the base in response to exhaust pressure from the conduit between a closed position, in which the cover extends over the outlet, and an opened position, in which a distal edge of the cover is moved away from the outlet to allow exhaust flow from the outlet; and
- directing wind across a windbreak and away from the distal edge of the cover to prevent wind from moving the cover toward the opened position.
37. The method of claim 36, wherein directing wind across the windbreak includes directing wind across a first contour provided on a raised rim of the base and across a second contour provided on an adjacent edge of the cover.
Type: Application
Filed: May 6, 2008
Publication Date: Nov 12, 2009
Inventors: Corey Scott Jacak (Kewaskum, WI), Kenneth J. Jonas (Mequon, WI), Robert G. Penlesky (Waukesha, WI)
Application Number: 12/115,641
International Classification: F24F 7/10 (20060101); F24F 13/08 (20060101);