VENT COVER

Abstract

A cover for a vent that is disposed within an aperture is provided herein. The aperture is formed by first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces of a foundation wall. The cover comprises a piece of material that defines a first cover surface having a first protuberance surrounding a generally rectangular planar portion. The protuberance and planar portion cooperate to define a concavity. The protuberance is configured to contact the vent and thereby form a seal. In one embodiment, the cover includes another protuberance that extends along the periphery of the cover and is configured to contact the first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces to form yet another seal.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/833,204, filed Apr. 12, 2019, and which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This disclosure relates to covers for air vents in foundation walls.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Certain houses and other buildings include a foundation defining a crawl space. The foundation is typically comprised of brick, stone, cement, concrete, etc. In order to permit the flow of air through the crawl space, the foundation defines apertures extending through the foundation wall, thereby permitting the flow of air from outside the crawlspace into the crawlspace and vice versa. Vent structures are fixed within the apertures to prevent the entry of larger objects and animals while still permitting the flow of air.

Owners or users of buildings having foundation vents may desire to block the vent and restrict the flow of air into the crawl space. For example, during winter, the free flow of cold air into the crawl space may result in heat loss from the living space above.

SUMMARY

A cover for a vent that is disposed within an aperture is provided herein. The aperture is formed by first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces of a foundation wall. The cover comprises a piece of material that defines a first cover surface having a first protuberance surrounding a generally rectangular planar portion. The protuberance and planar portion cooperate to define a concavity. The protuberance is configured to contact the vent and thereby form a seal. In one embodiment, the cover includes another protuberance that extends along the periphery of the cover and is configured to contact the first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces to form yet another seal.

A corresponding method of using the cover is also provided.

The above features and advantages and other features and advantages of the present disclosure are readily apparent from the following detailed description of the best modes for carrying out the disclosure when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic, perspective view of a foundation wall defining an aperture with a vent therein;

FIG. 2 is a schematic, cross-sectional side view of the foundation wall and vent of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a schematic, perspective view of a vent cover for use with the vent of FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 4 is a schematic, side view of the vent cover of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a schematic, bottom view of the vent cover of FIGS. 3 and 4;

FIG. 6 is a schematic, cross-sectional side view of the vent cover of FIGS. 3-5;

FIG. 7 is a schematic, cross-sectional, side view of the vent cover in contact with the vent;

FIG. 8 is a schematic, cross-sectional side view of an alternative embodiment of the cover; and

FIG. 9 is a schematic, top view of the alternative embodiment of FIG. 8.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foundation wall 10 of a building 14 at least partially defines a crawl space 18, as understood by those skilled in the art. The wall 10 may, for example, comprise cement, concrete, bricks, stone, etc. The wall 10 also defines at least one aperture 22 that extends through the wall 10 from the crawl space 18 to the exterior of the building 14. A vent 26 is disposed within the aperture 22 to prevent the entry of larger objects and animals into the crawl space 18 while still permitting the flow of air into and out of the crawl space 18.

More specifically, in the embodiment depicted, the aperture 22 is rectangular, defined by four surfaces 30A, 30B, 30C, 30D of the wall 10. Surfaces 30A and 30B are horizontal and face each other; surfaces 30C and 30D are vertical and face each other. The vent 26 is disposed about midway between the inner surface 34 of the wall 10 and the outer surface 38 of the wall; accordingly, the vent 26 is recessed in the aperture 22. The vent 26 contacts each of the four surfaces 30A-D and defines a plurality of openings 42 that extend through the vent 26. The openings 42 shown in the embodiment depicted are rectangular; however, it should be noted a vent may have openings with any size, shape, and arrangement within the scope of the claims.

Referring to FIGS. 3-6, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components throughout, a vent cover 50 is schematically depicted. The vent cover 50 is usable to block the aperture 22 in the wall 10. The vent cover 50 is formed from a single piece 54 of material. In one of the preferred embodiments, the material is a closed cell polyurethane foam. The cover 50 in the embodiment depicted defines a first surface 58 that is generally planar with the exception of a protuberance 62 in the central portion of the first surface 58. The protuberance 62 may be used as a handle when inserting the cover 50 into the aperture 22 or removing the cover 50 from the aperture 22.

The cover 50 defines a second surface 66 on the opposite side of the cover 50 from the first surface 58. The second surface 66 includes a generally planar portion 70 and a protuberant portion, i.e., protuberance 74, that forms a generally rectangular perimeter around the planar portion 70. The protuberant portion 74 and the generally planar portion 70 cooperate to define a concavity 78.

Referring specifically to FIG. 6, the protuberant portion 74 includes a surface 82 that forms an obtuse angle 86 with the planar portion 70. The surface 82 cooperates with the planar portion 70 to define the concavity 78. The protuberance 74 defines an outer surface 90 that is substantially perpendicular to the planar portion 70. Accordingly, the protuberance 74 is wider at its base 94 than at its terminus 98, which connects surfaces 82 and 90. The protuberant portion 74 has a constant cross-sectional shape, as shown in the Figures, i.e., the protuberant portion 74 has the same cross-sectional shape around the rectangular perimeter it forms.

The cover 50 also defines a protuberance 102 that extends around the perimeter of the cover 50 between surfaces 58 and 66. As shown in FIG. 6, the protuberance 102 is characterized by a generally circular cross-sectional shape. More specifically, at least a portion of the surface 106 of the protuberance 102 is curvilinear in cross-section, and, in the embodiment depicted, forms an arc of a circle in cross-section.

FIG. 7 depicts the cover in use. Referring to FIG. 7, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from Figured 1-6, the cover 50 is inserted into the aperture 22 from the outside of the building 14, with surface 66 facing toward the vent 26. The protuberance 102 contacts each of surfaces 30A, 30B, 30C and 30D; the dimensions of the cover 50 are slightly larger than the dimensions of the aperture 22; accordingly, surfaces 30A-D exert forces on the protuberance 102 that cause elastic deformation of the protuberance 102. This elastic deformation causes a reaction force from the protuberance 102 to the surfaces 30A-D, thereby retaining the cover 50 in the aperture 22 and providing at least some sealing.

The cover 50 is inserted into the aperture 22 until the terminus 98 of the protuberant portion 74 contacts the vent 26, as shown in FIG. 7, and elastically deforms. The elastic deformation of the terminus 98 and the protuberant portion 74 provides a seal around all the openings 42 in the vent 26 and increases surface area contact between the cover 50 and the vent 26.

Often, vents 26 include parts that protrude outward, such as fasteners, ornamentation, etc. The concavity 78 accommodates these protruding vent parts (not shown).

Accordingly, the vent cover 50 provides an effective closure for the vent 26, preventing or restricting the flow of air into the crawl space 18. The vent cover 50 improves upon the prior art because it may be formed of a single piece of material, which reduces complexity and cost. The mechanical properties of the material of the vent cover also provide the vent cover 50 with enhanced durability (no wood or metal to rot or corrode) and flexibility (which assists with ease of installation and removal). In the embodiment depicted, the vent cover 50 is formed of closed cell polyurethane foam using a technique, as understood by those skilled in the art, that creates a durable skin 110 on the outer surface of the vent cover 50.

FIGS. 8 and 9, wherein like reference numbers refer to like components from FIGS. 1-7, schematically depict an alternative embodiment of the cover in accordance with the claimed invention. Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, cover 100 is identical to the cover shown at 50 in FIGS. 3-7, except that the first surface 158 is characterized by three planar portions 104, 108, 112 interconnected by steps 116, 118. Each planar portion 104, 108, 112 is generally rectangular in shape. Portion 104 is adjacent the periphery of surface 158. Portion 108 is protuberant from portion 104, and portion 112 is protuberant from portion 108. Accordingly, as best seen in FIG. 8, the cover 100 is thinner at portion 104 than at portion 108, and the cover 100 is thinner at portion 108 than at portion 112.

Accordingly, the cover 100 at portion 104 has added flexibility compared to the cover shown at 50. Portion 108 provides structural rigidity to the cover 100. Portion 112 functions as a handle for inserting and removing the cover. Protuberance 102 extends from portion 104.

While the best modes for carrying out the invention have been described in detail, those familiar with the art to which this invention relates will recognize various alternative designs and embodiments for practicing the invention within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. A cover for a vent disposed within an aperture formed by first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces of a foundation wall, the cover comprising:

a piece of material that defines a first cover surface having a first protuberance surrounding a generally rectangular planar portion, said protuberance and planar portion cooperating to define a concavity.

2. The cover of claim 1, wherein the piece of material defines a second protuberance sized and positioned such that, when the first protuberance contacts the vent, the second protuberance contacts each of the first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces.

3. The cover of claim 2, wherein the first protuberance has a first protuberance surface that forms an obtuse angle with the generally rectangular planar portion, a second protuberance surface that is generally perpendicular to the planar portion, and a terminus that connects the first protuberance surface and the second protuberance surface.

4. The cover of claim 3, wherein the second protuberance defines an outer surface that forms an arc in cross-section.

5. The cover of claim 3, wherein the piece of material is polymeric.

6. The cover of claim 5, where the piece of material is closed-cell polyurethane foam having a non-permeable skin.

7. A method of covering a vent disposed within an aperture formed by first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces of a foundation wall, the method comprising:

obtaining a cover;

said cover defining a first cover surface having a first protuberance surrounding a generally rectangular planar portion, said first protuberance and planar portion cooperating to define a concavity;

said cover defining a second protuberance;

inserting the cover into the aperture until said first protuberance contacts the vent and such that the second protuberance contacts each of the first, second, third, and fourth wall surfaces.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said inserting the cover includes inserting the cover until the vent exerts a reaction force on the cover that elastically deforms the first protuberance.