MULTILAYER VENT ATTACHED TOGETHER BY FILTER MEMBERS

Abstract

In one embodiment of the invention, a building ventilation system is provided that is configured to be mounted on a sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the siding ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a vent part including a plurality of vent passages, a longitudinal direction of the vent part configured to be mounted in substantially horizontal orientation at top and bottom edges of the sides of the building structure and a plurality of non-linear cross members extending between each ply. The plies and cross members define the vent passages, and includes at least two tiers or rows of vent passages. The passages run in a substantially vertical orientation to facilitate venting and draining of the gap.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This non-provisional utility application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 63/423,934, filed on Nov. 9, 2022, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.

The subject invention relates to vent parts having attached filter members covering end openings, and in particular, a vent that can be configured as siding vents and have multiple layers connected and held together by the filter members.

Venting behind a structure's siding is just as necessary and valuable as venting an attic through the peak of a roof or otherwise. Trapped moisture from driving rain or condensation can cause major problems. Paint peels off, exterior sheathing gets wet, siding can warp, and the structure's house wrap becomes saturated. One current venting used is 7/16″ thick and made from profile extruded polypropylene plastic rainscreen siding vent, which solves the above-mentioned problems with a minimum amount of work and expense.

The rainscreen siding vent can be matched with furring strips, which may also be made from polypropylene material to create a siding vent system, which is available on the commercial rain screen. One part of the system is heavy-duty furring strips, which hold the siding away from the wall, creating the necessary minimum capillary break (⅜″ or 10 mm) that will allow moisture to drain away instead of becoming trapped. The venting at the top and bottom of the walls will let that moisture drain out and allow fresh air to pass through, keeping the system dry, all while keeping insects out. The siding vent system should preferably be designed for long service life and to be resistive to crushing or compressing like some “drainage mat” rainscreen products.

In situations where exterior rigid foam insulation is being installed, ¾″ thick treated wood furring strips can be installed over the foam, screwed into the wall studs, to provide a structural fastening point for the siding, and thicker siding vent installed at the top and bottom to supply the rainscreen drainage, airflow, and screening from insects.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one embodiment of the invention, a building ventilation system is provided that is configured to be mounted on a sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the siding ventilation system. The ventilation system includes a vent part including a plurality of vent passages, a longitudinal direction of the vent part configured to be mounted in substantially horizontal orientation at top and bottom edges of the sides of the building structure and a plurality of non-linear cross members extending between each ply. The plies and cross members define the vent passages, and includes at least two tiers or rows of vent passages. The passages run in a substantially vertical orientation to facilitate venting and draining of the gap.

The building ventilation system can include a filter member attached to an outer side end surface of the vent part. The filter member can be made from a resilient material, provided in a sheet form and in contact with and covering outer openings of the vent passages.

The building ventilation system can include furring strips extending in the gap between upper and lower vent parts.

The building ventilation system can include two vent parts stacked and hingedly attached together by the filter member. The two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the hinged attachment together by said filter member. The vent passages can each have a substantially pentagonal shaped cross-section. The vent passages of a top tier row are offset from the vent passages of a bottom tier row of vent passages.

Bottom points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the top tier can align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the bottom tier row. Top points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the bottom tier row can align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the top tier row.

The building ventilation system can include at least one additional tier row of vent passages and each subsequent row of vent passages can be offset from a row above it. The pentagonal shaped vent passages of a third tier row from the top tier can be inverted from the pentagonal shaped vent passages in a second row from the top tier row. Alternately, the pentagonal shaped vent passages of a third tier row from the top tier can be aligned with the pentagonal shaped vent passages in a second row from the top tier row.

In another embodiment of the invention, the building ventilation system can include two vent parts stacked and attached together by a pair of filter members attached to respective outer side end surfaces and covering outer openings of the vent passages. The two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another.

In another embodiment of the invention, a method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system including the steps of: providing a vent part including a plurality of vent passages, a longitudinal direction of the vent part configured to be mounted in substantially horizontal orientation at top and bottom edges of the sides of the building structure and a plurality of non-linear cross members extending between each ply, the plies and cross members defining the vent passages, and including two tiers or rows of vent passages, the passages running in a substantially vertical orientation to facilitate venting and draining of the gap; attaching a filter member to an outer side end surface of the vent part, the filter member being made from a resilient material, provided in a sheet form and being in contact with and covering outer openings of the vent passages; configuring the vent part with vent passages each having a substantially pentagonal shaped cross-section; configuring the vent passages of a top tier row of the vent part to be offset from the vent passages of a bottom tier row of vent passages on the vent part; configuring the pentagonal shapes of the vent passages of the top tier row to point downward and the pentagonal shapes of the vent passages of the bottom tier row to point upward; configuring bottom points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the top tier row to align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the bottom tier row; and configuring top points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the bottom tier row to align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the top tier row.

The method of making a building ventilation system can also include the step of providing two vent parts stacked and hingedly attached together by the filter member. The two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the hinged attachment together by the filter member.

The method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system of claim 17, further including the step of:

• • providing two vent parts stacked and hingedly attached together by said filter member.

The method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system of claim 18 wherein the two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the hinged attachment together by said filter member.

The method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system of claim 17, further including the steps of:

• • providing two vent parts; and
  • stacking the two vent parts together.

Alternately, the method of making a building ventilation system can include the steps of providing two vent parts; stacking the two vent parts together; and attaching the two vent parts together with two filter members attached to respective outer side end surfaces and covering outer openings of said vent passages; wherein the two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the two filter members along the side end surfaces.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent, and the invention itself will be better understood by reference to the following description of embodiments of the present invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side perspective view of a prior art three section siding vent with side end of vent passages being open;

FIG. 2 is a side perspective view of the prior art three section siding vent with the side end of the vent passages covered with a filter member;

FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of another prior art five section siding vent with a side end of the vent passages being open;

FIG. 4 is a side perspective view of the prior art five section siding vent with the side vent passages covered with a filter member;

FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of a one section siding vent in accordance with the subject invention having two tiers of vent passages showing a side end of the vent passages being open;

FIG. 6 is a side perspective view of the opposite end of the one section siding vent of FIG. 5 with two tiers of vent passages showing the side end of the vent passages being covered with a filter member;

FIG. 7 is a side perspective view of a two section siding vent in accordance with the subject invention having four tiers of vent passages showing a side end of the vent passages being open;

FIG. 8 is a side perspective view of the two section siding vent of FIG. 7 in accordance with the subject invention having four tiers of vent passages showing a side end of the vent passages being open and the sections separated on that end;

FIG. 9 is an end perspective view of the two section siding vent of FIG. 7 in accordance with the subject invention having four tiers of vent passages showing a side end of the vent passages being open and the sections separated on that end and the opposite side end of the vent being covered with and held together with a filter member;

FIG. 10 is a side perspective view of the two section siding vent of FIG. 7 in accordance with the subject invention having four tiers of vent passages showing the side end of the vent passages being covered with and held together with a filter member;

FIG. 11 is an end perspective view of another two section siding vent in accordance with the subject invention having four tiers of vent passages showing both side ends of the vent passages being covered with and held together with respective filter members;

FIG. 12 is side view of the two section siding vent of FIG. 11 in accordance with the subject invention having four tiers of vent passages with both side ends of the vent passages being covered with and held together with respective filter members;

FIG. 13 is a perspective view of siding vents and furring strips on a structure with siding being installed overtop thereof; and

FIG. 14 is perspective view of siding vents and furring strips on a structure with some of the siding removed to show drainage and venting of the rainscreen from the vents.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views. Although the figures represent embodiments of the present invention, the figures are not necessarily to scale and certain features may be exaggerated in order to better illustrate and explain the present invention. The exemplification set out herein illustrates embodiments of the invention, and such exemplifications are not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention in any manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiments illustrated in the figures, which are described below. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended. The invention includes any alterations and further modifications in the illustrated devices and described methods and further applications of the principles of the invention, which would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

Now referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a prior art siding vent is shown generally indicated as 10. In one embodiment siding vents 10 are profile extruded from a polypropylene plastic material. Such material is recyclable and has excellent heat resistance, as well as, impact resistance and crush resistance. In the embodiment shown, siding vents 10 include 3 tiers or layers 12a, 12b, and 12c. Each tier or layer 12a-c is manufactured as a separate piece or part. The layers are stacked together on one another and held together with staples 14 or other fasteners as shown.

Each layer 12a-c of siding vent 10 includes a plurality of vent passages 20 that run transverse to a longitudinal direction 22 of siding vent 10. Each layer 12a-c includes a top ply 24, a bottom ply 26 and a plurality of cross plies or extensions 28 connecting top ply 24 and bottom ply 26 and which define and form vent passages 20. In the embodiment shown, siding vent 10 also includes a filter member 30 covering one side end 32 of siding vent 10. Filter member 30 can be an air-permeable, moisture-resistant fabric. The fabric may be woven or nonwoven, material, and in one embodiment, may include spun bonded randomly arranged polypropylene fibers. Filter member 30 can be attached to an end face 32 of siding vent 10 using an adhesive, fasteners or by heating one of both of the end face 32 or filter member 30 and applying pressure to thermally bond them together.

Referring now to FIG. 13, siding vent 10 is shown installed on a building structure, generally indicated as 40. A rainscreen 42 is attached to an external side of building structure 40. Siding vents 10 are attached to building structure 40 along top and bottom edges thereof in a generally horizontal orientation. The vent assembly shown in FIG. 12 includes furring strips 44 to maintain a gap 46 between rainscreen 42 and siding 48, which is installed over siding vents 10 and furring strips 44. Furring strips 44 can be manufactured out of the same manner and material as siding vents 10 as this allows communication of air between the vents and aids with venting and drying, but alternate materials and methods of manufacture can be employed including wood, metals, other plastics or fiberglass. If siding vents 10 have a filter member 30 on a side edge 32, then that side edge and filter member is placed at the lowest most point (see FIG. 12) and highest most point on side of building structure 40.

Now referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, an alternate embodiment prior art vent is shown generally indicated as 110. In one embodiment siding vents 110 are also profile extruded from a polypropylene plastic material. Such material is recyclable and has excellent heat resistance, as well as, impact resistance and crush resistance. In the embodiment shown, siding vents 110 include 5 tiers or layers 112a, 12b, 12c, 12d and 12e. Each tier or layer 112a-e is manufactured as a separate piece or part. The layers are stacked together on one another and held together with staples 114 or other fasteners as shown.

Each layer 112a-e of siding vent 110 includes a plurality of vent passages 120 that run transverse to a longitudinal direction 122 of siding vent 110. Each layer 112a-e includes a top ply 124, a bottom ply 126 and a plurality of cross plies or extensions 128 connecting top ply 124 and bottom ply 126 and which define and form vent passages 120. In the embodiment shown, siding vent 110 also includes a filter member 130 covering one side end 132 of siding vent 110. Filter member 130 can be an air-permeable, moisture-resistant fabric. The fabric may be woven or nonwoven, material, and in one embodiment, may include spun bonded randomly arranged polypropylene fibers. Filter member 130 can be attached to an end face 132 of siding vent 110 using an adhesive, fasteners or by heating one of both of the end face 132 or filter member 130 and applying pressure to thermally bond them together.

Now referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, a siding vent in accordance with the subject invention is shown generally indicated as 210. In one embodiment, siding vents 210 are profile extruded from a polypropylene plastic material. Such material is recyclable and has excellent heat resistance, as well as, impact resistance and crush resistance. In the embodiment shown, siding vents 210 include 2 tiers or layers 212a, and 212b. Siding vents 210 are, however as compared to prior art events 10 and 110, extruded as a single member or part.

Each layer 212a-b of siding vent 210 includes a plurality of vent passages 220 that run transverse to a longitudinal direction 222 of siding vent 210. Siding vent 210 includes a top ply 224, a bottom ply 226 and a plurality of cross plies or extensions 228 connecting top ply 224 and bottom ply 226 and which define and form vent passages 220. As can be appreciated by the figures, cross plies 228 run/extend in a nonlinear manner from top ply 224 to 226, as compared to cross plies 28 of vents 10 that run linearly between the top and bottom plies. In the embodiment shown, siding vent 210 also includes a filter member 230 covering one side end 232 of siding vent 210. Filter member 230 can be an air-permeable, moisture-resistant fabric. The fabric may be woven or nonwoven, material, and in one embodiment, may include spun bonded randomly arranged polypropylene fibers. Filter member 230 can be attached to an end face 232 of siding vent 210 using an adhesive, fasteners or by heating one of both of the end face 232 or filter member 230 and applying pressure to thermally bond them together.

Referring now to FIG. 14, siding vent 210 is shown installed on a building structure, generally indicated as 240. A rainscreen 242 is attached to an external side of building structure 240. Siding vents 210 are attached to building structure 240 along top and bottom edges thereof in a generally horizontal orientation. The vent assembly shown in FIG. 13 includes furring strips 244 to maintain a gap 246 between rainscreen 242 and siding 248, which is installed over siding vents 210 and furring strips 244. Furring strips 244 can be manufactured out of the same manner and material as siding vents 210 as this allows communication of air between the vents and aids with venting and drying, but alternate materials and methods of manufacture can be employed including wood, metals, other plastics or fiberglass. If siding vents 210 have a filter member 230 on a side edge 232, then that side edge and filter member is placed at the lowest most point (see FIG. 14) and highest most point on side of building structure 240. As should be appreciated, siding vents 210 facilitate air 250 coming in through the bottom of siding vents 210 and flowing through gap 246 to vent and dry the area therebetween. Siding vents 210 also facilitate any moisture that may get into gap 246 to drain out of the bottom siding vent 210 as shown by 252.

Now referring to FIGS. 7,8, 9 and 10, another siding vent in accordance with the subject invention is shown generally indicated as 310. In one embodiment, siding vents 310 are profile extruded from a polypropylene plastic material. Such material is recyclable and has excellent heat resistance, as well as, impact resistance and crush resistance. In the embodiment shown, siding vents 310 include 4 tiers or layers 312a, 312b, 312c, and 312d. Siding vents 310 are extruded as two separate members or parts 316a and 316b and then stacked together. In the embodiment shown, each member or part 316a-b is similar to siding vent 210.

Each layer 412a-d of siding vent 310 includes a plurality of vent passages 320 that run transverse to a longitudinal direction 322 of siding vent 310. Siding vent 310 and each vent part 316a-b includes top plies 324, bottom plies 326 and a plurality of cross plies or extensions 328 connecting respective top plies 324 and bottom plies 326 and which define and form vent passages 320. As can be appreciated by the figures, cross plies 328 run/extend in a nonlinear manner from the respective top ply 324 to 326, as compared to cross plies 28 of vents 10 that run linearly between the top and bottom plies. As can be further seen vent passages 320 have a generally pentagonal cross-sectional shape or configuration. Accordingly, this causes the cross ply separating the vent passages in tiers 312a and 312b, as well as those in tiers 312c and 312d, to have a non-linear zigzag profile as clearly visible in FIGS. 7 and 8. Additionally, the downward point of the pentagonal shaped passages 320 in tier 312d are aligned with side edges of the pentagonal shaped cross plies 328 in tier 312c. The same is true of tiers 312b and 312a. On the other hand, the upper point of the pentagonal shaped passages 312c are aligned with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages 320 in tier 312d. The same is true for tiers 312a and 312b. Also, the above configuration construction results in the vent passages 320 in tier 312d being offset from the vent passages 320 in tier 312c and the vent passages 320 in tier 312b being offset from the vent passages in tier 312a, as can be observed in the Figures. It has been found that this configuration provides significant strength and stability to the siding vents.

In the embodiment shown, siding vent 310 also includes a filter member 330 covering one side end 332 of siding vent 310. Filter member 330 can be an air-permeable, moisture-resistant fabric. The fabric may be woven or nonwoven, material, and in one embodiment, may include spun bonded randomly arranged polypropylene fibers. Filter member 330 can be attached to an end face 332 of siding vent 310 using an adhesive, fasteners or by heating one of both of the end face 332 or filter member 330 and applying pressure to thermally bond them together. As compared to prior art vents 10 and 110, which used staples or fasteners to attach the multiple parts together, siding vent 310 is held together along side end 332 by filter member 330. As can be seen in FIGS. 8 and 9, this allows vent parts 316a and 316b to be pivoted away from one another on the side ends opposite side end 332 with filter member 330 being a hinged connection of the vents parts 316a and 316b to one another.

Now referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, yet another siding vent in accordance with the subject invention is shown generally indicated as 410. Siding vent 410 is similar to siding vent 310 in many respects. For instance, in one embodiment, siding vents 410 are profile extruded from a polypropylene plastic material. Such material is recyclable and has excellent heat resistance, as well as, impact resistance and crush resistance. In the embodiment shown, siding vents 410 include 4 tiers or layers 412a, 412b, 412c, and 412d. Siding vents 410 are extruded as two separate members or parts 416a and 416b and then stacked together. In the embodiment shown, each member or part 416a-b is similar to siding vent 210.

Each layer 412a-d of siding vent 410 includes a plurality of vent passages 420 that run transverse to a longitudinal direction 422 of siding vent 410. Siding vent 410 and each vent part 416a-b includes top plies 424, bottom plies 426 and a plurality of cross plies or extensions 428 connecting respective top plies 424 and bottom plies 426 and which define and form vent passages 420. As can be appreciated by the figures, cross plies 428 run/extend in a nonlinear manner from the respective top ply 424 to 426, as compared to cross plies 28 of vents 10 that run linearly between the top and bottom plies. In the embodiment shown, siding vent 410 also includes a pair of filter members 430 covering both side ends 432a and 432b of siding vent 410. Filter members 430 can be an air-permeable, moisture-resistant fabric. The fabric may be woven or nonwoven, material, and in one embodiment, may include spun bonded randomly arranged polypropylene fibers. Filter members 430 can be attached to end faces 432a-b of siding vent 410 using an adhesive, fasteners or by heating one of both of the end face 432 or filter member 430 and applying pressure to thermally bond them together. As compared to siding vent 310, siding vent 410 is held together along both side ends 332a-b by separate filter members 330. As can be seen in FIGS. 11 and 12, this firmly attaches both side ends of vent parts 316a and 316b together, so that unlike siding vent 310, vent parts 316a and 316b cannot be pivoted away from one another. Another advantage of siding vent 410 is that since there is a filter member on each side edge, it doesn't matter which side edge is mounted up and down on building 240 as shown on FIG. 14.

While the invention has been taught with specific reference to these embodiments, one skilled in the art will recognize that changes can be made in form and detail without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. For example, although the application discusses the vent members being manufactured from a polypropylene plastic, other plastic materials, fiberglass or metals can be used. Additionally, although the embodiments depicted show two tiers or rows of vent passages in each vent part, each vent part can include 3 or more tiers or rows of passages. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of the invention using its general principles. Further, this application is intended to cover such departures from the present disclosure as has come within the known or customary practice in the art to which the invention pertains and which fall within the limits of the appended claims or equivalents thereof.

Claims

1. A building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system comprising: a vent part including a plurality of vent passages, a longitudinal direction of the vent part configured to be mounted in substantially horizontal orientation at top and bottom edges of the sides of the building structure and a plurality of non-linear cross members extending between each ply, said plies and cross members defining said vent passages, and including two tiers or rows of vent passages, said passages running in a substantially vertical orientation to facilitate venting and draining of the gap.

2. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 1, including a filter member attached to an outer side end surface of said vent part, said filter member being made from a resilient material, provided in a sheet form and being in contact with and covering outer openings of said vent passages.

3. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 2, including furring strips extending in the gap between upper and lower vent parts.

4. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 3, including two vent parts stacked and hingedly attached together by said filter member.

5. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 4, wherein the two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the hinged attachment together by said filter member.

6. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 5, wherein of each of said vent parts have vent passages each having a substantially pentagonal shaped cross-section.

7. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 6, where the vent passages of a top tier row of each vent part are offset from the vent passages of a bottom tier row of vent passages on each vent part.

8. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 7, wherein the pentagonal shapes of the vent passages of the top tier row point downward and the pentagonal shapes of the vent passages of the bottom tier row point upward.

9. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 8, wherein bottom points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the top tier row align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the bottom tier row.

10. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 8, wherein top points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the bottom tier row align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the top tier row.

11. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 9, including at least one additional tier row of vent passages in at least one of the vent parts.

12. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 11, wherein each subsequent row of vent passages is offset from a row immediately above it.

13. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pentagonal shaped vent passages of a third tier row from the top tier are inverted from the pentagonal shaped vent passages in a second row from the top tier row.

14. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 11, wherein the pentagonal shaped vent passages of a third tier row from the top tier are aligned with the pentagonal shaped vent passages in a second row from the top tier row.

15. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 3, including two vent parts stacked and attached together by a pair of filter members attached to respective outer side end surfaces and covering outer openings of the vent.

16. The building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system as set forth in claim 15, wherein the two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the two filter members along the side end surfaces.

17. A method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system including the steps of:

providing a vent part including a plurality of vent passages, a longitudinal direction of the vent part configured to be mounted in substantially horizontal orientation at top and bottom edges of the sides of the building structure and a plurality of non-linear cross members extending between each ply, said plies and cross members defining said vent passages, and including two tiers or rows of vent passages, said passages running in a substantially vertical orientation to facilitate venting and draining of the gap;

attaching a filter member to an outer side end surface of said vent part, said filter member being made from a resilient material, provided in a sheet form and being in contact with and covering outer openings of said vent passages;

configuring said vent part with vent passages each having a substantially pentagonal shaped cross-section;

configuring the vent passages of a top tier row of the vent part to be offset from the vent passages of a bottom tier row of vent passages on the vent part;

configuring the pentagonal shapes of the vent passages of the top tier row to point downward and the pentagonal shapes of the vent passages of the bottom tier row to point upward;

configuring bottom points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the top tier row to align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the bottom tier row; and

configuring top points of the pentagonal shaped vent passages on the bottom tier row to align with side edges of the pentagonal shaped vent passages in the top tier row.

18. The method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system of claim 17, further including the step of:

providing two vent parts stacked and hingedly attached together by said filter member.

19. The method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system of claim 18 wherein the two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the hinged attachment together by said filter member.

20. The method of making a building ventilation system configured to be mounted on sides of a building structure between rainscreen wrap and exterior siding of the building for venting air in a gap between the rainscreen wrap and the ventilation system of claim 17, further including the steps of:

providing two vent parts;

stacking the two vent parts together; and

attaching the two vent parts together with two filter members attached to respective outer side end surfaces and covering outer openings of said vent passages; wherein the two vent parts are otherwise unattached to one another besides the two filter members along the side end surfaces.