Abstract: A ventilator is selectively configured so that it can automatically open and close its louvers according to the temperature in its environment or have its louvers manually positioned in either the open or closed orientation. The louvers are disposed in an air passageway that is defined by a housing. A bimetallic coil acts through a drive element and a linkage element to automatically open and close the louvers of the ventilator. A pair of override members have respective handles accessible to the user. Manipulation of the override members enables the user to override the automatic drive element to manually open and close the louvers.

Abstract: A modular forced-air register includes two main sub-assemblies. A housing with an opening can be disposed into a hole in the floor of a room. A second sub-assembly includes a louver plate with a grid work of tri-directional vanes. Air flow is controlled by a slide grille disposed beneath the grid work and carrying an integral filter substrate secured to the slide grille. The two sub-assemblies are detachably connected to each other by an arrangement of bosses and recesses as well as a projection mounted on a flexible tang configured and disposed to engage a pocket configured in a thin wall region of the opposing sub-assembly.

Abstract: An adaptable, temperature-responsive, powered-fan, foundation ventilator apparatus includes a louver housing defining an air passageway, construction for selectively opening and closing the louver housing air passageway depending upon the temperature, a fan housing defining an air passageway communicating with the louver housing, structure for mounting a fan at the rear edge of the fan housing, a fan carried by the fan mounting structure, a fan orifice plate disposed across the air passageway of the fan housing and defining an orifice through the orifice plate, and a fan that includes a fan blade operatively disposed in the orifice of the orifice plate. The apparatus further includes a flexible elongated duct that connects the fan housing to locations which are obstructed from direct flow to the fan housing. The apparatus further includes a flexible adaptor hood which adjustably connects to the fan housing and to the flexible duct and is configured for easy storage in inventory.

Abstract: A temperature and humidity controlled fan for ventilating a building foundation including a housing mounted in the foundation wall. The housing includes the fan and a temperature responsive ganged louver arrangement for opening and closing the housing for ventilation usage.

Abstract: A ventilator opens and closes itself according to the temperature in its environment through the use of a bimetallic coil spring which acts through a drive element and linkage elements to open and close the louvers of the ventilator. The louvers are disposed in an air passageway that is defined by a housing, which defines a spring box to house the coil. The louvers are configured with an S-shaped cross section so as to provide positive engagement between the louvers when they are in the closed position. The drive element and a linkage element have rotation post with bifurcated flared heads that rotatably engage the louvers for simultaneous movement. A removable backframe has projecting tabs that fit into holes defined near the rear edge of the housing. The backframe has a closure surface for engaging a forward-extending free edge of the uppermost louver. The backframe also has a closure stop member that engages the lowermost edge of the bottom louver.

Abstract: A shallow-profile foundation ventilator includes a body with at least one vent opening extending therethrough and covered by a screen. A skirt is connected to the body and extends perpendicularly from the body's back surface. Installation clips are attached to left and right portions of the skirt. An installation member at one end of the clip extends a short distance into the foundation opening and is biased against the opening by a resilient intermediate portion of the clip. In one embodiment, the ventilator includes a flat cover plate dimensioned to cover each vent opening. The cover plate defines a plurality of tear-drop openings disposed around the outer edge for receiving a plurality of attachment pegs extending generally normally from the back surface of the body. The tear-drop openings are disposed to engage the attachment pegs to secure the cover plate to the ventilator's back surface.

Abstract: An automatic temperature responsive ventilator including a housing having side walls defining an air passageway and an openwork grid across the passageway. At least one shutter is mounted within the housing, with one end of one shutter element being associated with a bimetallic spring, the inner end of which is received within an opening in one housing side wall. An outer end of the spring is secured to the shutter. A size-adjustable installation device includes a threaded portion which engages a threaded opening in the housing or in a member held non-rotatable relative to the housing. One end of the threaded portion is integral with a non-threaded distal portion having a diameter less than the diameter of the threaded portion and carrying thereon the small diameter end of a conically shaped compression spring. Variations in ambient temperature cause the shutter element to open and close automatically.

Abstract: An automatic temperature responsive ventilator including a housing having side walls defining an air passageway and an openwork grid across the passageway. At least one shutter is mounted within the housing, with one end of one shutter element being associated with a bimetallic spring that is received within an opening in one housing side wall. An inner end of the spring is secured to a rod that is attached to the shutter. A setting plug is received in the opening in the side wall to hold the spring in place and to preset the tension in the spring which drives the shutter between an open and closed position relative to the passageway. Variations in ambinet temperature cause the shutter element to open and close automatically.

Abstract: A spring clip for mounting a ventilator in an opening provided in a foundation or other wall structure. Preferably, two spring clips are used to retain the ventilator in the opening, one spring clip on each side of the ventilator. Each spring clip is made of resilient material and includes a front end adapted for attachment to the ventilator, a bulged intermediate portion which is deflected inwardly upon insertion of the ventilator in the opening, and a rear end located adjacent a side wall of the ventilator and which slides along the side walls as the bulged portion is deflected. The bulged portion presses against the side of the ventilator and a side of the opening in an elastic manner to retain the ventilator in the opening by frictional engagement. The need is eliminated for fasteners other than the spring clips in order to securely retain the ventilator in the opening. The need to modify the opening to allow the ventilator to be retained therein by conventional fasteners is also eliminated.

Abstract: An improved foundation ventilator assembly including a housing in which united shutter elements are mounted for pivotal movement between an open and closed position to control air flow through the ventilator. Preferably, a thermally responsive spring is secured to one of the shutter elements to cause pivotal movement of same with changes in ambient temperature. The housing defines openings therein for the receipt of mounting means which are utilized to secure the ventilator assembly within a foundation or other wall opening. The mounting means includes a threaded element in threaded engagement with a pressure element, such that when the threaded element is screwed into the foundation or other wall surrounding the opening, force is applied against the ventilator assembly or at least partially absorbed by the pressure plate. A removably secureable rear cover or screen may also be provided to close the rear of the ventilator assembly.

Abstract: A foundation ventilator assembly that includes a housing in which are received at least one, and preferably a plurality of pivotal louver type elements that may be moved from an open to a closed position. In a preferred arrangement the plurality of louvers are interconnected to move as a unit and the unit is controlled by a temperature responsive bi-metalic spring to open or close the louvers depending upon the ambient temperature. A first grill is provided and is permanently secured to a side of the ventilator that will be presented as the outside during use with the grill having a screen thereacross. A second grill is provided and is removably securable to the rear side of the ventilator housing with the second screen having a grid across the ventilator opening through the housing with a screen secured thereto.

Abstract: An improved ventilator construction for use in masonry wall openings to ventilate interior spaces of a building, such as a basement or crawl space of a home, wherein the ventilator construction is particularly adapted for installation in an existing masonry wall opening without the need for concrete or mortar to retain the ventilator in place in the wall opening. The ventilator construction comprises a ventilator box having adjustable louvers for automatically controlling the access of air through the ventilator in response to changes in temperature, and a support frame for the ventilator box having a flanged peripheral opening for overlying the opening in the masonry wall.