Entryway Ventilation Control Cover
A primary cover plate for covering at least part of an entryway. A primary ventilation port included in the primary cover plate for directing airflow through the entryway. A secondary cover plate slidably carried by the primary cover plate so that the secondary cover plate can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings. A flexible sheet carried by the primary cover plate and being extendable to cover a portion of the entryway adjacent the primary and secondary cover plates to resist air flow through the entryway.
1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to ventilation control of a confined space, and more particularly, to a ventilation control cover placed over an entryway that is adjustable to accommodate different size openings of entryways and which still allows ingress and egress through the entryway without having to completely remove the ventilation control cover from the entryway.
2) Description of Related Art
Ventilation of an enclosed space is of particular concern for a variety of industries and has resulted in a plethora of systems and arrangement to control airflow through a given space. In the home construction field, being able to adequately ventilate and control the flow of air through a confined attic space or crawlspace is critical to the health and safety of the workmen, as well as the homeowner. For example, when installing blown insulation in an attic, the temperature in the attic may be well over 120° F. At such temperatures, without supplemental ventilation the workmen only have minutes to work on installing the insulation before they are forced to exit the space and cool down. A few other examples of situations that typically require ventilation during the project include HVAC service and installation, painting, and spray foam insulation. These type of projects can additionally create off gassing issues and dust problems that pose health hazards to persons and animals in the area, which must be controlled. By ventilating the space, be it an attic, crawlspace, or other generic confined space such as an interior room, the workmen can complete the task more efficiently and in a safer manner.
An issue with trying to ventilate a space such as a crawlspace or attic is the installation of an appropriate airflow control system. Traditionally, a blower unit with a ventilation hose is attached to an available exterior vent. This can be problematic as the exterior of the structure is not adapted to receive the ventilation hose, which leads to problems in establishing a sufficient airflow to circulate new air into the space.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a ventilation control cover adapted to be placed over an entryway to a confined space that is adapted for receiving a ventilation hose connected to a blower unit.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilation control cover that is easily installed in the entryway and can be quickly removed.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilation control cover that maintains access through the entryway while the ventilation cover is in place.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a ventilation control cover that is adjustable to accommodate different size openings of entryways.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe above objectives are accomplished according to the present invention by providing an entryway ventilation control cover comprising a primary cover plate for positioning over at least part of an entryway; a primary ventilation port included in the primary cover plate for directing airflow through the entryway, wherein the primary ventilation port includes a ventilation hose connector adapted for receiving a ventilation hose to draw air through the primary ventilation port; a first side securing plate extending generally perpendicular to the primary cover plate for being secured to a first framing member defining a portion of the entryway; a secondary cover plate slidably carried by the primary cover plate so that the secondary cover plate can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings; a second side securing plate extending generally perpendicular to the secondary cover plate for being secured to a second framing member defining a portion of the entryway; and, a flexible sheet carried by the primary cover plate and being extendable to cover a portion of the entryway adjacent the primary and secondary cover plates to resist air flow through the entryway.
In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one releasable connector is provided for securing the flexible sheet to the primary cover plate.
In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one secondary port is disposed in the primary cover plate, wherein the secondary port includes a removable port cover to resist airflow through the secondary port when not in use.
In a further advantageous embodiment, an electrical outlet is carried by the primary cover plate for providing power to electrical equipment through the entryway.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the ventilation hose connector includes a connecting collar disposed on a bottom side of the primary cover plate adapted for receiving a ventilation hose.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the ventilation hose connector includes a tapered upper collar interconnecting the connecting collar to the bottom side of the primary cover plate for funneling air from the primary ventilation port through the connecting collar.
In a further advantageous embodiment, opposing channels are disposed generally at opposite edges on a bottom side of the primary cover plate receiving the secondary cover plate in sliding engagement.
In a further advantageous embodiment, a light unit is carried by the primary cover plate for illuminating areas adjacent the ventilation control cover.
In a further advantageous embodiment, the flexible sheet includes a series of releasable connectors carried on a bottom side of the flexible sheet for cooperating with a complementary releasable connector mounted to framing members defining the entryway.
The above objectives are further accomplished according to the present invention through a system for controlling airflow through an entryway, the system comprising a primary cover plate for covering at least part of an entryway; a primary ventilation port included in the primary cover plate for directing airflow through the entryway; a ventilation hose connector disposed in the primary ventilation port; a secondary cover plate slidably carried by the primary cover plate so that the secondary cover plate can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings; a flexible sheet carried by the primary cover plate and being extendable to cover a portion of the entryway adjacent the primary and secondary cover plates to resist air flow through the entryway; a ventilation hose releaseably secured to the ventilation hose connector; and, a blower unit connected to the ventilation hose moving air through the primary ventilation port and the ventilation hose for controlling airflow through the entryway to ventilate the area entered through the entryway.
The construction designed to carry out the invention will hereinafter be described, together with other features thereof. The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:
It will be understood by those skilled in the art that one or more aspects of this invention can meet certain objectives, while one or more other aspects can meet certain other objectives. Each objective may not apply equally, in all its respects, to every aspect of this invention. As such, the preceding objects can be viewed in the alternative with respect to any one aspect of this invention. These and other objects and features of the invention will become more fully apparent when the following detailed description is read in conjunction with the accompanying figures and examples. However, it is to be understood that both the foregoing summary of the invention and the following detailed description are of a preferred embodiment and not restrictive of the invention or other alternate embodiments of the invention. In particular, while the invention is described herein with reference to a number of specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that the description is illustrative of the invention and is not constructed as limiting of the invention. Various modifications and applications may occur to those who are skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and the scope of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENTWith reference to the drawings, the invention will now be described in more detail. Referring to
Referring to
A first side securing plate 34 extends generally perpendicular to primary cover plate 24 for being engaging and being secured to a first framing member 36 defining a portion of entryway 12. A removable securing member, for example screw 38, may be used to securely fasten first side securing plate 34 to first framing member 36. Together, primary cover plate 24 and first side securing plate 34 form an L-shaped bracket arrangement for mounting to first framing member 36.
A secondary cover plate 40 is slidably carried by primary cover plate 24 so that secondary cover plate 40 can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings. Referring to
Referring to
A flexible sheet 52 is carried by primary cover plate 24 and is extendable to cover a portion of entryway 12 adjacent the primary and secondary cover plates 24, 40 to resist air flow through entryway 12. Flexible sheet 52 may, for example, be a plastic sheet, a rubberized fabric, a canvas material or the like. Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
Referring to
While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variations may be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.
Claims
1. An entryway ventilation control cover comprising:
- a primary cover plate for positioning over at least part of an entryway;
- a primary ventilation port included in said primary cover plate for directing airflow through said entryway, wherein said primary ventilation port includes a ventilation hose connector adapted for receiving a ventilation hose to draw air through said primary ventilation port;
- a first side securing plate extending generally perpendicular to said primary cover plate for being secured to a first framing member defining a portion of said entryway;
- a secondary cover plate slidably carried by said primary cover plate so that said secondary cover plate can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings;
- a second side securing plate extending generally perpendicular to said secondary cover plate for being secured to a second framing member defining a portion of said entryway; and,
- a flexible sheet carried by said primary cover plate and being extendable to cover a portion of said entryway adjacent said primary and secondary cover plates to resist air flow through said entryway.
2. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 including at least one releasable connector securing said flexible sheet to said primary cover plate.
3. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 including at least one secondary port disposed in said primary cover plate, wherein said secondary port includes a removable port cover to resist airflow through said secondary port when not in use.
4. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 including an electrical outlet carried by said primary cover plate for providing power to electrical equipment through said entryway.
5. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 wherein said ventilation hose connector includes a connecting collar disposed on a bottom side of said primary cover plate adapted for receiving a ventilation hose.
6. The ventilation control cover of claim 5 wherein said ventilation hose connector includes a tapered upper collar interconnecting said connecting collar to said bottom side of said primary cover plate for funneling air from said primary ventilation port through said connecting collar.
7. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 including opposing channels disposed generally at opposite edges on a bottom side of said primary cover plate receiving said secondary cover plate in sliding engagement.
8. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 including a light unit carried by said primary cover plate for illuminating areas adjacent said ventilation control cover.
9. The ventilation control cover of claim 1 wherein said flexible sheet includes a series of releasable connectors carried on a bottom side of said flexible sheet for cooperating with a complementary releasable connector mounted to framing members defining said entryway.
10. An entryway ventilation control cover comprising:
- a primary cover plate for covering at least part of an entryway;
- a primary ventilation port included in said primary cover plate for directing airflow through said entryway;
- a secondary cover plate slidably carried by said primary cover plate so that said secondary cover plate can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings; and,
- at least one secondary port disposed in said primary cover plate, wherein said secondary port includes a removable port cover to resist airflow through said secondary port when not in use.
11. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 including a flexible sheet carried by said primary cover plate and being extendable to cover a portion of said entryway adjacent said primary and secondary cover plates to resist air flow through said entryway.
12. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 wherein said primary ventilation port includes a ventilation hose connector adapted for receiving a ventilation hose to draw air through said primary ventilation port.
13. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 including a first side securing plate extending generally perpendicular to said primary cover plate for being secured to a first framing member defining a portion of said entryway.
14. The ventilation control cover of claim 13 including a second side securing plate extending generally perpendicular to said secondary cover plate for being secured to a second framing member defining a portion of said entryway.
15. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 including an electrical outlet carried by said primary cover plate for providing power to electrical equipment through said entryway.
16. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 including a light unit carried by said primary cover plate for illuminating areas adjacent said ventilation control cover.
17. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 wherein said ventilation hose connector includes a connecting collar disposed on a bottom side of said primary cover plate.
18. The ventilation control cover of claim 17 wherein said ventilation hose connector includes a tapered upper collar interconnecting said connecting collar to said bottom side of said primary cover plate for funneling air from said primary ventilation port through said connecting collar.
19. The ventilation control cover of claim 10 including opposing channels disposed generally at opposite edges on a bottom side of said primary cover plate receiving said secondary cover plate in sliding engagement.
20. A system for controlling airflow through an entryway, said system comprising:
- a primary cover plate for covering at least part of an entryway;
- a primary ventilation port included in said primary cover plate for directing airflow through said entryway;
- a ventilation hose connector disposed in said primary ventilation port;
- a secondary cover plate slidably carried by said primary cover plate so that said secondary cover plate can be extended and retracted to accommodate different entryway size openings;
- a flexible sheet carried by said primary cover plate and being extendable to cover a portion of said entryway adjacent said primary and secondary cover plates to resist air flow through said entryway;
- a ventilation hose releaseably secured to said ventilation hose connector; and,
- a blower unit connected to said ventilation hose moving air through said primary ventilation port and said ventilation hose for controlling airflow through said entryway to ventilate the area entered through said entryway.
Type: Application
Filed: Aug 23, 2012
Publication Date: Feb 27, 2014
Inventor: Henry Bennie Marshall, III (Pawleys Island, SC)
Application Number: 13/593,309
International Classification: F24F 7/00 (20060101);