VENT COVER

Abstract

There is disclosed a vent cover, comprising a hood and a deflector, for covering a vent and is adapted for mounting to a surface with a vent. The hood, defining an inlet and an outlet, is configured to direct air flow between the inlet and the outlet. The plane of the outlet is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the inlet. The deflector comprises a first wall which extends from the hood and is adjacent to the outlet. The deflector further comprises a second wall which extends from the first wall and is substantially parallel outlet plane. The deflector is adapted to substantially block air flow from an exterior of the vent cover into the outlet in a substantially perpendicular direction to the outlet plane. The first and second wall define an air channel in communication with the outlet and is substantially parallel to both the inlet and outlet planes.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present application generally relates to a vent cover for mounting over a vent opening on a surface.

BACKGROUND

Vents are often provided for the circulation of air in and out of various types of enclosed structures for their ventilation and cooling. A vent may be as simple as an opening in a wall of the enclosure. To prevent particulate matter such as sand or dirt, or precipitation such as rain or snow, from entering the building through the vent exposed to the outdoor environment, the vent may be sheltered by a vent cover, also known as a vent hood or rain shroud. A typical vent cover 108 is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In the example shown, the vent cover 108 is box-shaped and may be provided with a substantially planar air permeable member 101 (such as a grid or mesh) that may be used as a protective panel to prevent objects from entering the building through the vent 107. In one embodiment, the vent cover comprises a back panel 102 which has an aperture 103 that corresponds with a vent 107 of the building. Typically, the vent cover also comprises a flat or curved transitional panel 104 between the front panel 105 and the top panel 106 to encourage smooth air flow through the vent cover.

FIG. 2 illustrates vent 107 with vent cover 108 installed on a surface 109 with a vent 107. Although the vent cover 108 protects the vent 107 against precipitation coming in the downward direction D, it provides no protection against precipitation which is carried in an upward direction B by the air flow in that direction, which may occur when the vent 107 is positioned in a wall at some height above the ground. Thus, in windy conditions, air flow carrying precipitation having some upward component may bring precipitation through the vent 107 and into the building. This can occur when wind carrying precipitation strikes the wall and is deflected in all directions, including the upward direction A. This problem is exacerbated when the vent is installed fairly close to the ground as the wind can bring along a large amount of snow or water that has already accumulated on the ground, and airflow in the downward direction is restricted. Vents are thus generally vulnerable to the problem of foreign material entering the building. Although at times a low-power fan is provided producing a weak air flow from inside the building to the outside, it is no match for strong air currents moving in the opposite direction.

U.S. Pat. No. 6,378,227, U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,023 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,181 disclose covers for exhaust vents. These covers are designed primarily for residential applications, when isolation from outside atmosphere is desired, e.g. for the exhaust vents of dryers.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In drawings which illustrate by way of example only embodiments of the present application,

FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of an embodiment of a vent cover.

FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 illustrates a side view of an embodiment of a vent cover comprising a deflector.

FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the embodiment shown in FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 illustrates a perspective view of a further embodiment of a vent cover comprising a deflector.

FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of a still further embodiment of a vent cover comprising a deflector.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments described herein therefore provide vent covers which prevent direct wind and wind deflected from a surface of an enclosure from entering the interior of the enclosure through a vent. These embodiments further provide a vent cover that is simple and cost-effective to manufacture and to install. In a further embodiment, a deflector is provided as an attachment that can be installed on a previously installed vent cover to achieve the benefits described herein.

In one aspect, there is provided a vent cover comprising: a hood adapted to be mounted to a surface comprising a vent, the hood defining an inlet and an outlet, a plane of the outlet being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the inlet, the vent cover being configured to direct air flow between the inlet and outlet; and a deflector comprising: a first wall extending from the hood adjacent to the outlet and substantially parallel to the inlet plane; and a second wall extending from the first wall and substantially parallel to the outlet plane, such that the second wall is spaced from the outlet so as to substantially block air flow from an exterior of the vent cover into the outlet in a substantially perpendicular direction to the outlet plane, the first and second wall defining an air channel in communication with the outlet and substantially parallel to the inlet and outlet planes.

In an embodiment, the vent cover is unitary.

In another embodiment, the vent cover further comprises a substantially planar air permeable member covering the outlet.

In still another embodiment, the substantially planar air permeable member is a grid or a mesh.

In a further embodiment, the first wall is mounted to the hood, and the second wall is mountable to the surface.

In still a further embodiment, the first wall and the second wall are mounted to the hood.

In another embodiment, the deflector further comprises an inner portion and an outer portion and the hood further comprises an inner wall having a lip adjacent to the outlet, wherein the outer portion of the deflector is mounted to the outer wall of the hood, and the inner portion of the deflector is mounted to the lip.

In still another embodiment, the deflector further comprises an inner portion and an outer portion and the hood further comprises an inner wall having a lip adjacent to the outlet, wherein the outer portion of the deflector is mounted to the outer wall of the hood, and the inner portion of the deflector is mounted to the lip.

In a further embodiment, the inlet comprises an aperture adapted to align with the vent of the surface such that when the aperture is aligned with the vent, air flow is permissible through the vent into the hood.

In still a further embodiment, the hood further comprises at least one side wall, and wherein the outlet is defined by the at least one side wall in cooperation with the surface.

In another aspect, there is provided a vent cover comprising: a hood adapted to be mounted to a surface comprising a vent, the hood defining an inlet and an outlet, a plane of the outlet being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the inlet, the vent cover being configured to direct air flow between the inlet and outlet; and a deflector comprising: a first wall extending from the hood adjacent to the inlet and substantially parallel to the outlet plane; and a second wall extending from the first wall and substantially parallel to the inlet plane, such that the second wall is spaced from the inlet so as to substantially block air flow from an exterior of the vent cover into the inlet in a substantially perpendicular direction to the inlet plane, the first and second wall defining an air channel in communication with the inlet and substantially parallel to the inlet and outlet planes.

In an embodiment, the vent cover is unitary.

In another embodiment, the vent cover further comprises a substantially planar air permeable member covering the inlet.

In still another embodiment, the substantially planar air permeable member is a grid or a mesh.

In a further embodiment, the first wall is mounted to the hood, and the second wall is mountable to the surface.

In still a further embodiment, the first wall and the second wall are mounted to the hood.

In another embodiment, the deflector further comprises an inner portion and an outer portion and the hood further comprises an inner wall having a lip adjacent to the outlet, wherein the outer portion of the deflector is mounted to the outer wall of the hood, and the inner portion of the deflector is mounted to the lip.

In still another embodiment, the outlet comprises an aperture adapted to align with the vent of the surface such that when the aperture is aligned with the vent, air flow is permissible through the vent into the hood.

In a further embodiment, the hood further comprises at least one side wall, and wherein the inlet is defined by the at least one side wall in cooperation with the surface.

An embodiment is illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4. A vent cover 208 is mounted on a surface 209 having a vent 207. The surface 209 may be an exterior wall of an enclosure, which can include structures such as buildings or electrical enclosures. A vent cover 208 is placed over vent 207 to generally provide protection from precipitation and other particulate matter from entering the vent 207. The vent cover 208 comprises a hood 220 and a deflector 213. The hood 220 defines an inlet 218 (see FIG. 4) and outlet 227, wherein the hood 220 is adapted to direct air flow between the inlet 218 and outlet 227. In this embodiment, the inlet 218 is aligned with vent 207 in the surface 209 such that air flow passes through the vent 207 and inlet 218, and into the hood 220. The outlet 227 is defined by the side walls 228 (FIG. 4) of the hood 220, which in cooperation with the surface 209 define an opening for air flow. The plane of the inlet 218 (or the inlet plane) is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the outlet 227 (or the outlet plane).

The deflector 213 comprises a first wall 226 which is substantially parallel to the inlet 218 plane and a second wall 225 which is substantially parallel to the outlet plane. The second wall 225 is spaced apart from the outlet 227. The first wall 226 is spaced apart from the surface 209. A pair of side openings 215 is provided to permit air to flow from the inside of the enclosure to the outside environment. It also permits an unobstructed passage of the wind in direction E, which is parallel to both the inlet and outlet planes. The pair of side openings 215 defines a channel of air flow that is substantially parallel to the inlet plane and is in communication with the outlet 227. In this embodiment, the openings 215 are defined by the surface 209, the bottom edge 223 of the hood 220, and the first wall 226 and second wall 225 of the deflector 213.

The hood 220 may optionally comprise an inner wall 202 (FIG. 3) facing the surface 209 provided with the vent 207. The inner wall 202 includes an aperture 218 for allowing air to flow through the vent 207. In this case the aperture 218 defines the inlet. Thus, the outlet 227 is defined in part by the lower edge of the inner wall 202 rather than by the surface 209 itself.

The outlet 227 of the hood 220 may be equipped with a substantially planar air permeable member (such as a grid or mesh) as a protective panel (not shown). The protective panel permits air flow through the vent cover 208 but restricts particulate matter exceeding the size of the grid or mesh openings from passing through. Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that the size of the mesh or grid openings may be varied depending on the size of the particulate matter that is to be blocked as air passes through the protective panel. The air may flow in direction E out of the vent 207 through the openings 215 on either side of the vent cover 208.

In this example, a direction of air flow (wind) outside the vent cover 208 is illustrated by arrows B initially directed towards the surface 209 then deflecting in all directions. The portion of air flow B deflected in an upward direction will be redirected around the deflector 213, thus preventing this portion of the air flow from carrying precipitate or other particulate matter up into the hood and through vent 207. Air flow in a direction illustrated by arrows E passes through the openings 215 without entering the vent (see FIG. 4). In this way, the openings 215 define a channel for air flow that is substantially parallel to both the inlet and outlet planes. Although this air flow may have some upwards or downwards components, they are minimal and thus the amount of air flowing into the vent cover 208 and through vent 207 is minimal.

The vent cover 208 may be mounted to a surface using a plurality of fasteners. In this example, the deflector 213 is directly mounted to the surface 209 using fasteners 219 (FIG. 3). The hood 220 of the vent cover 208 may similarly be mounted to the surface 209 using fasteners (not shown). Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other means may be provided for mounting the vent hood 220 and the deflector 213 to the surface 209.

Air flow travelling out of the enclosure in direction C may also travel through the vent 218 and out of either of the pair of openings 215.

FIG. 5 illustrates a further embodiment of vent cover 308. Vent cover 308 comprises a deflector 313 and a hood 320 where the deflector 313 is mounted to the hood 320 as opposed to part of it mounted to the surface 309. In this embodiment, a lip (not shown) may be provided on the inner side of the lower end of the hood 320 so that the inner portion of deflector 313 may be mounted to the hood 320. Similarly, a lip may be provided on the outer wall of hood 320 so that the outer portion of the deflector 313 may be mounted to the hood 320. However, this further embodiment shares characteristics of the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4: the second wall 325 covers an area corresponding to the outlet 327 of the hood 320 in order to prevent air flow from travelling upwards and into the vent hood 308 from below. A pair of side openings 315 is defined by the first wall 326 and second wall 325 which permit air flow between the openings 315 and thus define an air flow channel between the openings 315. The openings 315 allow for the exchange of air between the interior of the enclosure and the exterior, and at the same time prevent atmospheric precipitation or other particulate matter from entering the vent, even in windy conditions.

In both the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, and the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 5, the deflector 213, 313 comprises an edge 221, 321 (i.e., the edges of the first wall 226, 326) which is adjacent to and is aligned with the outer edge of the hood 223, 323 that is substantially parallel to the surface 209, 309 and spaced apart from the surface 209, 309. The deflector includes further edges 222, 322, which, with the edges 221, 321, serve to define two of the lower bounds of the openings 215, 315.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the further edges terminate close to or at the surface 209 since the openings 215 are bounded by the surface 209 as well as by the first and second walls 226, 225.

In the embodiment of FIG. 5, the edge 322 terminates at some distance from the surface 309, and a shelf 330 is defined by a third wall 331 that is substantially parallel to the first wall 326. The inlet 327 is thus defined by the first, second and third walls and the bounds of the openings 315 are defined by these three walls as well as by the lower edge 332 of the hood 308. Thus, in FIG. 5, the openings 315 and the inlet 327 are set back from the surface 209, which may assist in reducing the amount of wind entering the openings 315 due to deflection by the surface 209. In both embodiments, the area perpendicular to the outlet covered by the second wall of the deflector is substantially the same as the area perpendicular to the outlet covered by the hood, such that the deflector substantially blocks air flow in an upwards direction entering the hood when mounted on a vertical wall.

A vent cover comprising both the deflector and hood may have a unitary construction; for example, they may be formed from a single piece of metal bent or moulded into the required shape. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that other materials may be used, for example, plastic. Alternatively, the deflector and the hood may be manufactured separately, and subsequently assembled either as a further manufacturing step or in the field as it is mounted to the surface 209.

The same or different materials may be used to manufacture each piece. By manufacturing the deflector as a separate piece, the deflector may be mounted to existing vent covers which do not already have a deflector. In this way, installed vent covers which do not have a deflector may be retrofitted with the deflector described in the present application. Moreover, deflectors and hoods may be manufactured separately and sold as a kit that may be assembled at the site where they are to be installed.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further embodiment of vent cover 408 comprising a hood 420, and a deflector 413 that is suitable for retrofitting on an existing vent cover. In this embodiment, the deflector 413 may be constructed from a single metal plate in an “L” shape, and mounted at either distal end of the “L” to the vent hood and the surface bearing the vent. This “L” shape thus includes a first wall and a second wall, similar to the embodiments described above. Fasteners 419 are provided for mounting the first wall 426 of the deflector 413 to the hood and the second wall 425 of the deflector 413 to the surface 409 bearing the vent 407 (shown in phantom). Boreholes, which may be threaded for use with screws, may be provided in the deflector 413 to admit the fasteners 419. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the deflector 413 may be mounted in a variety of ways. For example, the second wall 425 may be provided with a lip 422 used to mount the deflector on the surface 409. The lip 422 may be provided with boreholes to admit the fasteners 419. The top edge 422 of this plate is mounted to the vent cover 408, and the bottom edge is mounted to the surface 409.

It will be appreciated that although the embodiments described herein are primarily described in relation to its use with exhaust vents, they may also be used with intake vents, in which case the intended air flow through the vent cover and deflector may be generally reversed, such that the outlet of the intake vent hood corresponds to the inlet of the exhaust vent hood described above (for example, the inlet 218 of FIGS. 3 and 4), and the inlet of the intake vent hood corresponds to the outlet of the exhaust vent hood (for example, the outlet 227 of FIGS. 3 and 4).

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the foregoing embodiments thus provide an easily manufactured and low cost solution to reduce the introduction of particulate matter or precipitation through a vent hood while minimizing the overall resistance to airflow in or out of the vent. The embodiments described herein thus provide an advantage over prior art solutions that require movable parts, which are vulnerable to wear or blockage, as well as over other vent configurations such as breather vents which provide excessive resistance to airflow.

Various embodiments having been thus described in detail by way of example, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variations and modifications may be made.

Claims

1. A vent cover, comprising:

a hood adapted to be mounted to a surface comprising a vent, the hood defining an inlet and an outlet, a plane of the outlet being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the inlet, the vent cover being configured to direct air flow between the inlet and outlet; and

a deflector comprising: a first wall extending from the hood adjacent to the outlet and substantially parallel to the inlet plane; and a second wall extending from the first wall and substantially parallel to the outlet plane, such that the second wall is spaced from the outlet so as to substantially block air flow from an exterior of the vent cover into the outlet in a substantially perpendicular direction to the outlet plane, the first and second wall defining an air channel in communication with the outlet and substantially parallel to the inlet and outlet planes.

2. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the vent cover is unitary.

3. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the vent cover further comprises a substantially planar air permeable member covering the outlet.

4. The vent cover of claim 3, wherein the substantially planar air permeable member is a grid or a mesh.

5. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the first wall is mounted to the hood, and the second wall is mountable to the surface.

6. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the first wall and the second wall are mounted to the hood.

7. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the deflector further comprises an inner portion and an outer portion and the hood further comprises an inner wall having a lip adjacent to the outlet, wherein the outer portion of the deflector is mounted to the outer wall of the hood, and the inner portion of the deflector is mounted to the lip.

8. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the inlet comprises an aperture adapted to align with the vent of the surface such that when the aperture is aligned with the vent, air flow is permissible through the vent into the hood.

9. The vent cover of claim 1, wherein the hood further comprises at least one side wall, and wherein the outlet is defined by the at least one side wall in cooperation with the surface.

10. A vent cover, comprising:

a hood adapted to be mounted to a surface comprising a vent, the hood defining an inlet and an outlet, a plane of the outlet being substantially perpendicular to a plane of the inlet, the vent cover being configured to direct air flow between the inlet and outlet; and

a deflector comprising: a first wall extending from the hood adjacent to the inlet and substantially parallel to the outlet plane; and a second wall extending from the first wall and substantially parallel to the inlet plane, such that the second wall is spaced from the inlet so as to substantially block air flow from an exterior of the vent cover into the inlet in a substantially perpendicular direction to the inlet plane, the first and second wall defining an air channel in communication with the inlet and substantially parallel to the inlet and outlet planes.

11. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the vent cover is unitary.

12. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the vent cover further comprises a substantially planar air permeable member covering the inlet.

13. The vent cover of claim 12, wherein the substantially planar air permeable member is a grid or a mesh.

14. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the first wall is mounted to the hood, and the second wall is mountable to the surface.

15. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the first wall and the second wall are mounted to the hood.

16. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the deflector further comprises an inner portion and an outer portion and the hood further comprises an inner wall having a lip adjacent to the outlet, wherein the outer portion of the deflector is mounted to the outer wall of the hood, and the inner portion of the deflector is mounted to the lip.

17. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the outlet comprises an aperture adapted to align with the vent of the surface such that when the aperture is aligned with the vent, air flow is permissible through the vent into the hood.

18. The vent cover of claim 10, wherein the hood further comprises at least one side wall, and wherein the inlet is defined by the at least one side wall in cooperation with the surface.