Masonry wall vent
A vent for an exterior brick wall. The vent includes a first enclosure which is installed in the brick wall in place of an entire brick. The enclosure defines a flow path from ambient conditions to the air in between the brick wall and an interior wall. The vent includes a shield for protecting the flow path of the enclosure from being obstructed by falling debris. Some embodiments includes a vertical section of vents which is also protected from falling debris such as trash mortar.
This application claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application 60/574,454, filed 26 May 2004.
FIELD OF THE INVENTIONThe invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a vent through a wall, and in particular, a vent that replaces a exterior brick in a brick wall.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONMasonry cavity walls have inner and outer vertical walls. The inner wall is typically constructed from wood with an inner surface of drywall, structural clay tile, vertical stacks of mortared bricks, or a shear concrete surface. The outer wall is generally constructed from courses of bricks that are held together by mortar. A space, or cavity, exists between the two walls.
The porous nature of brick allows water to enter the cavity. Also, moisture can condense on the inside of the wall under changing temperatures. Either way, water may collect in the cavity between the inner and outer wall.
The presence of moisture in the space between the inner wall and outer wall is undesirable for a number of reasons. First, the trapped moisture can degrade the inner and outer wall, causing a weakening of the structure. Second, the presence of water under freezing temperatures may also cause cracks in the walls when the water expands as it freezes. Trapped water in the cavity between the inner and outer walls may cause the walls to become discolored, and may even leak into the dwelling. Yet another undesirable outcome from the presence of trapped water is the formation of mold on the interior wall which can render the structure uninhabitable.
To overcome the problems associated with water trapped within a masonry cavity wall, weep holes are sometimes placed along the base of the outer wall. The weep holes allow water to pass from the cavity to drain outside the wall structure. During construction of a masonry cavity wall, excess mortar and other debris can and does fall between the inner and outer wall. When the bricks are laid during the erection of the outer wall, for example, mortar droppings are squeezed into the space between the walls. The excess mortar, as well as other debris, drops to the base of the cavity, and can block the weep holes.
There are other solutions which attempt to overcome these problems. For example, some builders place a small breathable structure in the weep hole, or alternatively a small shield in the weep hole, either of which attempts to prevent mortar and other debris from obstructing passage of air through the hole. However, even if successful in preventing obstruction of the weep hole, these small between-brick weep holes often do not have flow paths which are sufficiently large enough to aerate and dry out interior walls that are damp enough to support mold growth or other damage caused by excessive moisture.
The present invention presents novel and non-obvious methods and apparatus for venting a brick wall.
SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAccording to one embodiment of the present invention, there is an apparatus for venting behind a brick wall. The apparatus includes a horizontal portion having substantially the same width and height as another brick in the wall. The horizontal vent includes at least one porous barrier. The horizontal vent includes an entrance and an exit. Preferably, the apparatus includes a shield for preventing falling debris from obstructing the vent.
Yet other embodiments of the present invention include a second vertical vent in fluid communication with the horizontal vent and extending in a direction substantially parallel to the height of the horizontal vent. The vertical vent can include a lateral face having at least one vent hole in fluid communication with the interior of the horizontal vent.
These and other aspects of various embodiments of the invention will be apparent from the drawings, description and claims to follow.
DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
For the purposes of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings and specific language will be used to describe the same. It will nevertheless be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated therein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.
The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing one or more vents through a wall of the building. In one embodiment, these vents are placed in a brick wall, although other embodiments of the invention are not so limited. In other embodiments, the present invention contemplates one or more vents through a wall at a first, low height, and one or more additional vents placed at a second, higher height in the wall.
In some embodiments, the present invention provides a venting assembly having a horizontal portion which replaces one brick from the wall. Preferably, when the wall is constructed, one brick is left out and the venting assembly is provided in its place. Preferably, the venting assembly is adhered to the surrounding bricks by mortar, although other embodiments of the present invention are not so limited.
In the preferred embodiment, the vent assembly has a horizontal portion which is adapted and configured to replace a brick. The dimensions for the length, height, and width of the horizontal portion are selected to be consistent with the size of the brick being replaced and consistent with the orientation of other bricks that are adjacent to the replaced brick.
Some bricks are identified by three dimensions: width, height and length. Height and length are sometimes called face dimensions for these are the dimensions showing when the brick is laid as a stretcher. The terms applied to brick positions as they are placed in a wall are shown in
Bricks can be referred to in terms of nominal, specified and actual dimensions. Nominal dimensions are most often used by the architect in modular construction. In modular construction, dimensions of the brick and other building elements are often multiples of a given module. Such dimensions are known as nominal dimensions. For brick masonry the nominal dimension is equal to the specified unit dimension plus the intended mortar joint thickness. The intended mortar joint thickness is the thickness required so that the unit plus joint thickness match the coursing module. In the inch-pound system of measurement, nominal brick dimensions are based on multiples (or fractions) of 4 in. In the SI (metric) system, nominal brick dimensions are based on multiples of 100 mm. For more information on modular construction see Technical Notes 10A Revised.
As the name implies, the specified dimension is the anticipated manufactured dimension. Specified dimensions are used by the structural engineer in the rational design of brick masonry. In non-modular construction, the specified dimension should be used. Tables 1 and 2 of the aforementioned web site provide the specified and nominal dimensions, where applicable. The actual dimension of a unit is the dimension as manufactured. Actual dimensions may vary slightly from a specified size. The actual dimensions of a brick must fall within the range of sizes defined by the specified dimensions plus or minus the specified dimensional tolerances. Dimensional tolerances are often found in the ASTM standard specifications for brick, such as ASTM C 216 Standard Specification for Facing Brick. The various embodiments of the present invention shown and described herein can be used with any size, shape, and orientation of brick. The present invention contemplates those embodiments which can be used with any type of brick, regardless of whether the brick uses nominal, specified, or actual dimensions.
In this particular embodiment, vent assembly 20 replaces one particular standard size of brick in the orientation shown in
Vertical vent 40 has a width that is preferably about the same as width 22, although the invention is not so limited. The height 28 of vent 40 preferably extends several inches above top surface 30, and more preferably extends upward a multiple of the height dimension 24 of a single brick. The depth of the vertical vent 40 is preferably less than the distance from the rear face of the adjacent bricks to the opposing face of the interior wall. In one embodiment, vertical vent 40 fits easily in the gap between the interior wall and the brick wall.
As best seen in
Horizontal vent 30 is in fluid communication with vertical vent 40. Vertical vent 40 extends upward inside the vented brick wall, preferably between the interior surface of the brick wall and the opposing surface of an inner wall (such as those fabricated from wood, a second row of brick, sheet rock, concrete blocks, or other suitable building materials). Preferably, vertical vent 40 is of a height that extends upward one or more rows of bricks. However, in other embodiments of the present invention, horizontal vent 40 has a more limited vertical height. In yet other embodiments, the vent assembly includes only a horizontal vent, with no vertical vent.
In a preferred embodiment, vertical vent 40 includes a plurality of side vents 42 which are in fluid communication with a largely open, unobstructed interior of horizontal vent 30. Preferably, vertical vent 40 does not include any vent holes along the top surface, which holes could otherwise be blocked by excess mortar as the brick wall is constructed. In some embodiments, vertical vent 40 includes a nail strip 44 for attaching vent assembly 20 to an interior wall with one or more fasteners.
Vent assembly 20 is preferably placed in a brick wall as the wall is being constructed. Horizontal vent 30 replaces one brick in its entirety. Vertical vent 40 extends upward behind the brick wall. Any water vapor or other gases between the brick wall and the second interior wall are free to enter vertical vent 40 through a side vent 42, flow into horizontal vent 30 through the connection at slot 38, and flow through porous barriers 32 and 34 out to ambient conditions.
As best seen in
In one embodiment, top half 130a and bottom half 130b are injection molded plastic, and have a wall thickness of about 0.08 to about 0.1 inches. Enclosure halves 130a and 130b are aligned together by mating peripheral ridges which extend along two opposing sides. Also, each side of enclosure 130 includes snap-together, complementary male and female couplings 130c and 130d. Preferably, enclosure 130 is fabricated to have a color that is generally the same as the color of the surrounding bricks.
Assembly of top and bottom halves 130a and 130b create an aperture 135 in the rear face of first enclosure 130. Aperture 135 is adapted and configured to slidingly and loosely receive a second enclosure 145 that is preferably part of venting and shielding member 140. Preferably, second enclosure 145 has a width that is less than the width 22 of first enclosure 130. In yet other embodiments, aperture 135 has a first shape, and the slidingly received portion of second enclosure 145 has about the same shape, but with dimensions that are smaller to ensure the sliding and generally loose fit. However, any resulting gap between aperture 135 and second enclosure 145 is made small enough to block the entrance of trash mortar into first enclosure 130.
As best seen in
Second enclosure 145 includes a pair of deflectable ears 146 which are pushed inward when enclosure 145 is slid into aperture 135, and which thereafter snap out into place to act as mechanical stops which obstruct the sliding separation of the joined shielding member 140 and first enclosure 130. As best seen in
One end of shielding member 140 includes a fastener strip 144 through which fasteners can be inserted for attachment of vent assembly 120 to an interior wall. Fastener strip 144 further includes a shelf 143 adapted and configured to minimize any obstruction of apertures 142 from falling debris mortar.
As commonly happens during the construction of a brick wall, excess mortar applied to hold in place higher level bricks falls downward between the interior of brick wall 152 and the outermost surface of inner wall 153, as best seen in
In one embodiment, the height 128 of channels 147 from shelf 149 to shelf 143 is about 13 inches. Referring to
Further, although some embodiments of the present invention are shown with a vertical portion of shielding member 140 that extends in the upward vertical direction, the present invention is not so constrained and also includes those embodiments in which the vertical portion extends in the downward vertical direction from second enclosure 145. In such embodiments, the side of enclosure 145 opposite to shelf 149 acts as the shelf which prevents falling debris mortar from impeding the free flow of air through flow path 141 of enclosure 145.
Yet other embodiments of the present invention brick portion use only the brick portion or enclosure 130 for repair of water-damaged structures during the processes of repair and remediation. In such cases a brick and the surrounding mortar is removed from the damaged wall and a brick portion or first enclosure 130 is mortared into the wall. However, the present invention also contemplates those embodiments in which additional bricks are removed to facilitate installation of the assembly of brick portion 130 and venting and shielding assembly 140.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, the same is to be considered as illustrative and not restrictive in character, it being understood that only the preferred embodiment has been shown and described and that all changes and modifications that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected.
Claims
1. A method for venting a wall including bricks, comprising:
- providing a plurality of bricks of predetermined height and predetermined width;
- providing a vent assembly which includes a portion having a height substantially the same as one of the predetermined heights and a width substantially the same as one of the predetermined widths, the portion including a flowpath;
- constructing a wall with the bricks;
- placing the vent assembly in the wall adjacent to a plurality of the bricks;
- establishing fluid communication from one side of the wall to the other side of the wall with the flowpath; and
- shielding the flowpath from debris on the one side of the wall.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein said providing includes the vent assembly having a shelf, the shelf extending out from the one side of the wall after said placing; and
- wherein said shielding is by the shelf.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the portion is a first portion and the wall is a brickwall which further comprises:
- providing a second portion of the vent assembly having a second flowpath, the second portion being slidingly received within the first portion;
- fastening the second portion to a second wall located on the one side of the brickwall; and
- wherein said shielding includes engagement of the first portion and the second portion after said fastening.
4. An apparatus for venting a brick wall, comprising:
- a first enclosure having a top, bottom, and opposing lateral sides, said first enclosure including a flowpath for the free movement of air therethrough, said first enclosure having the shape of a commercially available brick;
- a second member which extends beyond one of the top or bottom of said first enclosure, said second member including a protected channel for the free movement of air therethrough, the flowpath and the channel being in fluid communication, said channel being protected from falling debris.
5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second member extends for a length that is at least twice the distance from the top to the bottom.
6. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said second member and said first enclosure are slidingly coupled together.
7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said protected channel includes a shelf and a plurality of vent openings, said shelf being adapted and configured to substantially obstruct falling debris from entering said vent openings.
8. The apparatus of claim 4 which further comprises a porous barrier which extends substantially across the flow path of said first enclosure.
9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein said porous barrier includes a plurality of holes having a diameter less than about 0.1 inches.
10. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said first enclosure has a color that is about the same as the color of a brick.
11. An apparatus for venting a brick wall, comprising:
- a first enclosure adapted and configured to replace at least a portion of a brick in a brickwall; said first enclosure including a flowpath for substantially unrestricted flow of air therethrough, said first enclosure defining an aperture;
- a second shielding member slidingly coupled to said first enclosure, said second shielding member including at least one surface having surface area which projects vertically, said at least one surface being positioned to substantially obstruct blockage of the flowpath by falling debris.
12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said second shielding member is adapted and configured to be attached by a fastener to a second wall.
13. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first enclosure has a first width, said second shielding member includes a second enclosure slidingly received by said first enclosure and having a second width, the second width being about equal to or less than the first width.
14. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein one of said first enclosure or said second shielding member includes a mechanical stop for limiting the sldiing movement of the second shielding member away from said first enclosure.
15. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the flowpath is a first flowpath, and said second shielding member includes a second enclosure slidingly received in the aperture, said second enclosure including a second flowpath in fluid communication with the first flowpath.
16. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein said first enclosure and said second shielding member are slidingly engageable for at least one inch of length.
Type: Application
Filed: May 24, 2005
Publication Date: Dec 1, 2005
Inventor: Ernest Alexander (Pittsboro, IN)
Application Number: 11/135,944