BLOCK WALL VENT AND METHOD
A vent is rigidly mounted in a block wall as a substitute for a block to provide venting through the attendant wall. A lintel extends across the top of the vent and is supported by adjacent blocks. Louvered panels are attached about the exterior and interior openings of the vent. The exterior louvered panel accommodates either a flat finish or a stucco finish. The interior louvered panel can accommodate either a flat finish of the wall or a wall finished with sheet rock.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wall vents and, more particularly, combustion air wall vents adapted for use with exterior block walls having a flat or a stucco type finish.
2. Description of Related Prior Art
During the summertime in the southwest United States and in climatologically similar areas, the temperature in an unvented enclosed garage increases to well over 100° F. Such a high temperature may cause damage or deterioration to temperature sensitive items stored or otherwise disposed within such a garage. Moreover, the high temperatures render it very uncomfortable for a person working within the garage. To alleviate this problem, it is not uncommon to install vents in one or more exterior walls of a garage to permit airflow into and out of the garage.
The simplest of such vents is a louvered panel of relatively light weight material nailed or screwed to the exterior surface of a wall in juxtaposed relationship with a corresponding aperture. Such light weight louvered panels are easily removed by a person intending to commit mischief within the garage. Other more robust vents have been used in conventional walls which are designed to preclude removal from outside the wall.
In the southwest, stucco type walls are a common treatment to exterior walls. Existing vents for use with such walls generally fail to accommodate the unique properties attendant the construction of stucco wall surfaces and cause the vent and surrounding stucco to be unsightly and generally unacceptably from an aesthetic viewpoint. Additionally, sealing the junction between conventional vents and the stucco is of questionable merit and water readily flows therebetween as a result of rain or other wetting of the exterior wall.
Many residential garages have gas fired water heaters located therein. These heaters require make-up air to provide a continuing source of oxygen to maintain complete combustion and reduce the emission of deadly carbon monoxide. Many municipalities are redrafting or adopting building codes that require vents in an exterior wall enclosing a gas fired water heater. Generally, such vents must be within 12 inches of the ceiling and of the floor to insure an adequate source of make-up air through convection or otherwise. As mentioned above, many presently available vents for this purpose are either inadequate as security devices to preclude entry into the garage, are unsightly or compromise the integrity of the exterior wall against intrusion of elements.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONA vent is substituted for a block in a block wall to provide ventilation through exterior and interior located louvered panels. Flanges extend from the sides and bottom of the vent for imbedding in the adjacent mortar to retain the vent in place. The exterior louvered panel extends laterally a sufficient distance past the vent to cover the adjacent sections of mortar. Flanges extending from the interior edges of the vent essentially cover the mortar about the interior edge of the vent. The interior louvered panel extends past these flanges and includes a circumscribing lip covering the edges of these flanges. A lintel extends across the top of the vent and is supported by opposed blocks and covered by lintel blocks to prevent crushing of the vent. An inset screen adjacent the interior of the exterior louvered panel prevents intrusion of insects through the vent.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a labor saving easy to install combustion air vent for use with an exterior block wall having either a flat or a stucco finish.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a combustion air vent for an exterior block wall which is impossible to remove without major damage to the exterior wall.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a vent for a block wall having an insect screen retained adjacent the interior surface of an exterior louvered panel.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a combustion air vent for a block wall which precludes unwanted intrusion therethrough.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a combustion air vent in sealed engagement with a surrounding stucco wall finish.
A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an easily installable combustion air vent for a block wall.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide a method for installing a combustion air vent in a block wall.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art as the description thereof proceeds.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGSThe present invention will be described with greater specificity and clarity with reference to the following drawings, in which:
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At some installations, it may be beneficial to have a source of light mounted within the vent. Electrical power to the vent may be via an EMT or PVC pipe extending through the hollow in the blocks beneath the vent and into the vent.
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Claims
1. A combustion air vent for use in a block wall, said vent comprising in combination:
- a) a front louvered panel, top, bottom and side panels defining exterior dimensions generally corresponding with a conventional block used to build the block wall, said top, bottom and side panels including interior edges,
- b) a top flange extending from and along said top edge a sufficient distance to overlie mortar to be placed between said vent and a lintel block;
- c) a bottom flange extending from and along said bottom edge a sufficient distance to overlie mortar to be placed upon an underlying block and between said vent and the underlying block;
- d) a pair of split flanges extending from and partly along one of said side edges a sufficient distance to overlie mortar to be placed intermediate an adjacent block and said side panel;
- e) a further pair of split flanges extending from and along the other of said side edges a sufficient distance to overlie mortar to be placed intermediate further adjacent block and the other of said side panels;
- f) a first flange disposed between said pair of split flanges and extending in a direction opposite to that of said pair of split flanges;
- g) a second flange disposed between said further pair of split flanges and extending in a direction opposite to that of said pair of further split flanges;
- h) a rear louvered panel attachable to said vent to cover the opening in said vent defined by said interior edges; and
- I) a lintel positionable upon said top panel and extending past said side panels of said vent.
2. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, including at least one side flange extending outwardly from each of said side panels.
3. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, including at least one bottom flange extending outwardly from said bottom panel.
4. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 3, including at least one side flange extending outwardly from each of said side panels.
5. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, including a pair of bottom flanges extending outwardly from said bottom panel.
6. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, including attachment means for attaching said rear louvered panel to said first and second flanges.
7. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, including an insect screen and securing means for securing said insect screen to the interior surface of said front louvered panel.
8. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear louvered panel includes a lip extending from its perimeter for enclosing therewithin said top flange, said bottom flange, said pair of split flanges and said pair of further split flanges.
9. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear louvered panel includes a first and a second pair of apertures, said second pair of apertures being located laterally outwardly from said first pair of apertures and attachment means extending through said first pair of apertures for engagement with said first and second flanges.
10. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, wherein said rear louvered panel includes a first and a second pair of apertures, said second pair of apertures being located laterally outwardly of said first pair of apertures, furring strips disposed on the block wall for supporting drywall and attachment means extending through said second pair of apertures for engagement with the underlying furring strips.
11. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 1, including knock-outs disposed in said bottom panel.
12. A method for placing a vent in a block wall, said method comprising the steps of:
- a) placing the vent upon mortar supported on one or more underlying blocks;
- b) imbedding a flange extending from the vent into the mortar during exercise of said step of placing;
- c) further imbedding a further flange extending from one side of the vent into mortar between the one side and an adjacent block;
- d) yet further imbedding a yet further flange extending from the other side of the vent into mortar between the other side and an adjacent block; and
- e) locating a lintel across the top of the vent to receive support from blocks on opposite sides of the vent.
13. The method as set forth in claim 12, including the step of essentially covering the mortar about the sides, top and bottom of the vent with flanges extending from the interior edges of the vent.
14. The method as set forth in claim 12, including the step of attaching a rear louvered panel to flanges extending from the sides of the vent.
15. The method as set forth in claim 12, including the step of attaching a rear louvered panel to cover the interior edges of the vent to furring strips mounted on the block wall.
16. The method as set forth in claim 12, including the step of removing knock-outs disposed in the bottom of the vent.
17. A combustion air vent for use in a block wall, said vent comprising in combination:
- a) a front louvered panel, top, bottom and side panels defining exterior dimensions generally corresponding with a conventional block used to build the block wall, said side panels including rear edges;
- b) a pair of flanges, one flange of said pair of flanges extending from one of said side edges and another flange of said pair of flanges extending from the other of said side edges;
- c) a rear louvered panel;
- d) attachment means for attaching said rear louvered panel to said pair of flanges;
- e) at least one side flange extending outwardly from each of said side panels; and
- f) at least one bottom flange extending outwardly from said bottom panel.
18. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 17, including a lintel extending across said top panel.
19. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 17, including an insect screen and means for securing said insect screen adjacent the interior surface of said front louvered panel.
20. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 17, including a pair of bottom flanges extending from said bottom panel.
21. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 17, wherein said rear louvered panel includes a lip extending about its perimeter for bearing against the block wall.
22. The combustion air vent as set forth in claim 17, including knock-outs disposed in said bottom panel.
Type: Application
Filed: Apr 28, 2006
Publication Date: Nov 1, 2007
Inventor: John Achen (Yuma, AZ)
Application Number: 11/380,882
International Classification: F24F 7/00 (20060101);