CA2326371C

CA2326371C - Roof vent

Info

Publication number: CA2326371C
Application number: CA 2326371
Authority: CA
Inventors: Juergen Koessler
Original assignee: Primex Manufacturing Ltd
Current assignee: Menzies Roofing Corp
Priority date: 2000-11-20
Filing date: 2000-11-20
Publication date: 2006-12-05
Anticipated expiration: 2020-11-20
Also published as: CA2326371A1

Abstract

A roof vent is fabricated, for example by injection molding, as a unitary plastic part. The roof vent is weatherproof and inexpensive to manufacture. A duct adapter snaps into the roof vent to permit the connection of ducts of various sizes. The duct adapter has a stepped portion with cylindrical steps dimensioned to fit inside standard ducts of two different diameters. A collar dimensioned to fit around the outside surface of a larger duct extends around the duct adapter. A flap valve at the upper end of the duct adapter closes the duct when air is not flowing out through the duct.

Description

,_ CA 02326371 2000-11-20 ROOF VENT
Technical Field This invention relates to vents. In particular, the invention relates to a roof vent which may be used to vent an attic space or to vent air delivered by an exhaust fan or the like from a building.
Background of the Invention Roof vents useful for venting air through the roof of a residence or other building have long been used. Such vents typically have a vent projecting from a broad flange. The flange can be inserted under shingles on the roof to provide venting without allowing rain or snow to enter the building. Most prior art vents are fabricated from a number of pieces of material, such as metal, which are soldered or welded together. A problem with such vents is that over time the joints between the different sections of the vent can become weakened through corrosion and the like. Eventually such vents can begin to leak. This compromises the integrity of the building envelope. Another problem with prior vents is that the market place demands inexpensive vents.
This typically forces manufacturers to design vents for manufacture which are more prone to develop leaks and may also be less robust than would be desirable for long trouble-free life.
There is a need for a robust inexpensive roof vent which is well-sealed against the entry of moisture.
Summay of the Invention This invention provides a roof vent which is seamless. Roof vents according to preferred embodiments of the invention can be injection-molded.
One aspect of the invention provides a roof vent comprising: a generally planar flange penetrated by an opening; and a ., CA 02326371 2000-11-20

-2-vent structure formed integrally with the flange. The vent structure projects generally upwardly from the flange and covers the opening in the flange. The vent structure has an overhang and a vent opening under the overhang. The vent may include a protective covering which covers the vent opening. The covering may be a grille which may be integral with the vent structure.
In preferred embodiments of the invention the vent comprises a duct adapter. The duct adapter can be used to attach ducts of various dimensions to deliver air through the roof vent. The duct adapter comprises a downwardly extending member having a bore in communication with the flange opening. The member extends through the flange opening. The duct adaptor preferably has a first portion having a first outside diameter and a second portion having a second outside diameter smaller then the first outside diameter. Most preferably the vent also has a collar surrounding the duct adaptor, the collar having an inner diameter dimensioned to receive an outer surface of a duct.
The vent preferably has a one-way air valve which allows flow of air in an upward direction only. In preferred embodiments the valve comprises a flap pivotally mounted to the roof vent.
In preferred embodiments the duct adaptor can only be attached to the flange in such a way that the valve is properly oriented to direct air out of the vent opening.
The duct adaptor may comprise an upper surface having troughs on either side of a flap. The troughs direct water which may enter through the vent opening back out the vent opening.

.. CA 02326371 2000-11-20

-3-Another aspect of the invention provides a roof vent comprising a generally planar flange penetrated by a flange opening; a vent structure integral with the flange, the vent structure, comprising a cover projecting generally upwardly from said flange to cover the flange opening and a pair of downwardly extending lugs; and a duct adaptor attachable to the vent structure, the duct adaptor having slots which receive the lugs when the duct adaptor is attached to the vent structure.
Further aspects and features of the invention are described below.
Brief Description of the Drawings In figures which illustrate non-limiting embodiments of the invention:
Figure 1 is a lower front oblique view of a ROOF VENT
according to the invention;
Figure 2 is a left side elevational view thereof;
Figure 3 is a front elevational view thereof;
Figure 4 is a rear elevational view thereof;
Figure 5 is a top plan view thereof;
Figure 6 is a bottom plan view thereof;
Figure 7 is a section in the line 7-7 of Figure 4;
Figure 8 is a lower perspective view thereof with a duct adapter in place;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of a duct adapter portion showing a flap valve;
Figure 10 is a partly schematic sectional view showing a vent according to the invention installed in a roof;
Figure 11 is a section on the lines 11-11 of the duct adapter of Figure 9 in place in a vent structure;

.. CA 02326371 2000-11-20

-4-Figure 12 is a section on the lines 12-12 of the duct adapter of Figure 9 in place in a vent structure; and, Figure 13 is a section through a vent according to an alternative embodiment of the invention.
Detailed Description of the Invention Figure 1 shows a roof vent 10 according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. Roof vent 10 comprises a broad flange 12 having a vent structure 14 projecting upwardly therefrom. Vent structure 14 communicates with an opening 16 in flange 12. Vent structure 14 includes a cap 15 which covers opening 16. A first advantage of the vent 10 shown in Figure 1 is that flange 12 and vent structure 14 are both integrally formed as a single body of a seamless plastic material. Thus there are no joints or other places which, over time, can corrode and leak. Vent 10 is water-tight. A second advantage of fabricating flange 12 and vent structure 14 as a single unitary piece of plastic is that the entire vent 10 can be injection molded at relatively little expense. Thus a vent 10 according to this invention can be provided more cost effectively than can be prior vents which require the assembly of separate parts while being more rugged and leak resistant than many prior art vents.
A vent opening 17 (seen best in Figures 2 and 7) communicates with opening 16. A grille formed from a number of parallel slats 18 prevents small animals, leaves, or the like from entering opening 17. Slats 18 are preferably integrally formed with the vent structure 14. Slats 18 also help to prevent winds from disturbing the flow of air out of opening 17.
While a vent 10 according to this invention is highly functional, the overall appearance of the vent, as illustrated in the

-5-drawings, particularly Figures 1 through 6, is considered to have ornamental aspects which are not dictated solely by function.
Vent 10 may be attached to a roof structure, for example by applying nails, screws, or other fasteners, through holes 22 in flange 12 so that opening 17 is facing down the slope of the roof, as shown in Figure 10. Flange 12 overlaps with shingles, or other roofing material on the roof in its lower portions and the shingles or other roofing material overlap with flange 12 on the sides and top in a manner which prevents leaks as is well known to roofers and other building trades. A small bead 24 projects upwardly from the upper surface of flange 12. Bead 24 prevents water which may settle on flange 12 from migrating outward to holes 22 (through which it could potentially leak through the roofj.
Bead 24 preferably surrounds the back and sides of vent structure 14.
As shown in Figure 8, a duct adaptor 30 can be affixed into opening 16.
Duct adaptor 30 is also preferably of one-piece construction. In the preferred embodiment, which is illustrated in Figures 8 and 10, duct adaptor 30 is adapted to make connection to any of three different sizes of circular duct. Duct adapter 30 has a stepped end portion with a number of cylindrical step portions (the illustrated embodiment has two step portions). A
smaller end step portion 32A is dimensioned to fittingly the inside diameter of a small diameter duct. A larger diameter step portion 32B is dimensioned to fittingly engage the inside diameter of a medium-diameter duct. An annular collar 33 (which is preferably concentric with male portions 32A and 32B) has an inner surface 32C which is dimensioned to fittingly engage the outside diameter of a large diameter duct.

-6-The dimensions of portions 32A, 32B and flange 33 are preferably chosen to fit popular duct sizes in the area in which vent 10 will be used. For example, in the United States portion 32A might be dimensioned to fittingly engage the inside diameter of a nominally four-inch diameter duct, part 32B might be dimensioned to fittingly engage the inside diameter of a nominally five-inch diameter duct, and portion 32C might be dimensioned to fittingly engage the outer diameter of a nominally six-inch diameter duct. It can be appreciated that the use of a duct adaptor 30 according to this design, reduces greatly the amount of specialized hardware and other adaptors that an installation person must have on hand in order to fit a roof vent to a particularly sized duct.
Duct adaptor 30 is preferably equipped with a one-way valve to prevent air from leaking into the building through vent opening 17 from outside when the vent is not in use. In the illustrated embodiment, a one-way valve comprises a flap member 36 which is pivotally attached to duct adaptor 30 by pins which engage apertures in a pair of apertured bosses 38. Bosses 38 are preferably formed integrally with duct adaptor 30 (see Figure 10).
Flap 36 is preferably formed from a thin piece of plastic having molded-in pins 39 which engage apertures in bosses 38 (see Figure 9).
It is desirable that duct adaptor 30 should only fit into opening 16 in the one orientation in which flapper valve 36 is properly oriented, as shown in Figure 10.
Preferably opening 16 is configured such that it is not possible to fully insert duct adaptor 30 in any other orientation. In the illustrated embodiment, vent 10 includes downwardly projecting lugs 40 which engage in slots 42 (see Figure 12) in duct adaptor 30. Duct adaptor 30 is retained within opening 16 by projections 46 which, when duct adaptor 30 is fully inserted into opening 16, abuttingly engage end surfaces 47 of an apron 48 which extends around duct adaptor 30. Projections 46 are ramp-shaped so that duct adaptor 30 can be slipped into opening 16 until it is fully engaged in opening 16 at which _7_ point end surface 47 of apron 48 snaps into place above projections 46.
Even though vent structure 14 provides shelter from rain, it is possible that wind will blow some rain drops or other moisture in through opening 17.
Preferably vent is designed in such a manner that such moisture will drain back out of opening 17 rather than finding an opening which will allow it to enter the building in which the vent 10 is located. In the illustrated embodiment, opening 17 is defined between an upper edge of an inwardly extending wall 50 and cap 15. Wall 50 forms a lower edge of vent opening 17.
When flap 36 is in its closed position (as shown in solid lines in Figure 10) flap 36 overlaps with the upper edge of wall 50 so that any water which falls onto the top surface of flap 36 tends to drain out of opening 17. As shown best in Figure 9, flap member 36 preferably extends forwardly to overhang the top edge of wall 50 for the entire width of flap 36.
Preferably, as best shown in Figure 9, the upper surface of duct adaptor 30 defines a trough 54 on each side of flap 36. Troughs 54 each extend forward to a lip 56 which hooks over with the inner edge of wall 50 when duct adaptor 30 is correctly installed in opening 16. Thus, any water droplets or other moisture which falls into a trough 54 tends to drain out over wall 50 and through opening 17.
It can be appreciated that various modifications may be made to the design of the roof vent described herein without departing from the scope of the invention. By way of example, ~ The ornamental appearance of the roof vent may be modified in various ways which do not significantly affect its function;

_ g _ ~ In embodiments of the vent for which it is not necessary to prevent the entry of small animals, or in which it would be undesirable to provide a grille across opening 17, slats 18 can be left out. It is typically undesirable to provide a grille in cases where vent 10 is being used to carry air being exhausted from a clothes dryer as lint may build up on the inside of any slats 18 which blocks opening 17.
~ The arrangements of projections which retain duct adaptor 30 in opening 16 may be varied in various ways without departing from the broadest scope of the invention.
~ While duct adaptor 30 is preferably a single unitary piece of plastic, formed for example by injection molding, the integrity of vent 14 would not be affected if the lower portions of duct adaptor 30 were made from separate pieces of material jointed together.
~ As shown in Figure 13, duct adaptor 30 may have more or fewer steps to accommodate more or fewer different duct sizes.
~ Duct adaptor 30 may comprise a single inner piece 32B
dimensioned to be fittingly received inside a smaller duct surrounded by an outer collar 33 dimensioned to fittingly receive the outer diameter of a larger duct. This configuration has the advantage of being more compact than the configuration shown in the drawings. For example, collar 33 may be dimensioned to receive a "six-inch" duct while inner piece 32B may be dimensioned to receive a "five-inch" duct.
Accordingly, the scope of the invention is to be construed in accordance with the substance defined by the following claims.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A roof vent comprising:
(a) a generally planar flange penetrated by a flange opening;
(b) a vent structure integral with the flange, the vent structure, comprising a cover projecting generally upwardly from said flange to cover the flange opening and a pair of downwardly extending lugs;
(c) a duct adaptor attachable to the vent structure, the duct adaptor having slots which receive the lugs when the duct adaptor is attached to the vent structure;
wherein the duct adaptor comprises an apron extending around an upper end of the duct adaptor and the vent structure comprises a plurality of ramp-shaped projections which abuttingly engage a lower edge of the apron when the duct adaptor is attached to the vent structure.

2. The vent of claim 1 wherein the vent structure has an inwardly angled wall which defines a lower edge of a vent opening and the duct adaptor comprises at least one lip which overhangs a top edge of the angled wall.

3. The vent of claim 2 wherein the duct adaptor comprises a water-guiding trough which extends onto the lip so as to direct water over the wall.

4. The vent of claim 3 comprising a flap member pivotally attached at an upper end of the duct adaptor wherein the flap member overhangs the upper edge of the angled wall.

5. The vent of any of claims 2 to 4 wherein the vent structure comprises an overhang and the vent opening is located under the overhang.

6. The vent of any of claims 2 to 5 comprising a protective covering which covers the vent opening.

7. The vent of any of claim 6 wherein the protective covering comprises a grille comprising a series of generally parallel slats integral with the vent structure.

8. The vent of any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the flange has a bead projecting upwardly on an upper surface of the flange, the bead spaced-apart from and extending around three sides of the vent structure.

9. The vent of any one of claims 1 to 3 comprising a valve in the flange opening, the valve allowing flow of air in an upward direction only.

10. The vent of claim 9 wherein the valve comprises a flap pivotally mounted to the roof vent.

11. The vent of any one of claims 1 to 10 wherein the duct adapter comprises a downwardly extending member having a bore in communication with the flange opening, the member extending through the flange opening.

12. The vent of claim 11 wherein the downwardly extending member comprises a first portion having a first outside diameter and a second portion having a second outside diameter smaller then the first outside diameter.

13. The vent of any one of claims 1 to 12 comprising a collar surrounding the duct adaptor, the collar having an inner diameter dimensioned to receive an outer surface of a duct.

14. The vent of claim 1 wherein the duct adaptor comprises a water-guiding trough which extends onto the lip so as to direct water over the wall.

15. The vent of claim 2 comprising a flap member pivotally attached at an upper end of the duct adaptor wherein the flap member overhangs the upper edge of the angled wall.

16. A gooseneck-type roof vent comprising:
(a) a flange integral with a vent structure, the flange having a central opening; the vent structure comprising a cap covering the central opening and a wall angling inwardly adjacent one side of the central opening;
(b) a pair of lugs projecting downwardly on opposed sides of the central opening;
(c) ramp-shaped projections on opposed sides of the central opening;
(d) a duct adaptor received in the central opening, the duct adaptor comprising an apertured member, an apron extending around the apertured member, slots receiving the lugs on either side of the apertured member, the apertured member comprising a central cylindrical piece dimensioned to be fittingly received in a duct of a first size and a collar surrounding the cylindrical piece, the collar dimensioned to fittingly receive a duct of a second size, a pair of bosses at an upper end of the apertured member; and a lip overhanging an upper edge of the angled wall; and, (e) a flap pivotally received in the bosses, the flap overhanging the upper edge of the angled wall.

17. A vent according to claim 16 wherein the cap comprises an overhang and the vent structure comprises a vent opening located under the overhang.

18. A vent according to claim 17 comprising a protective covering which covers the vent opening.

19. A vent according to claim 18 wherein the protective covering comprises a grille comprising a series of generally parallel slats integral with the vent structure.

20. A vent according to any one of claims 16 to 19 wherein the flange has a bead projecting upwardly on an upper surface of the flange, the bead spaced-apart from and extending around three sides of the vent structure.

21. A vent according to any one of claims 16 to 20 wherein the apertured member comprises a downwardly extending member having a bore in communication with the central opening, the downwardly extending member extending through the central opening.

22. A vent according to claim 21 wherein the downwardly extending member comprises a first portion having a first outside diameter and a second portion having a second outside diameter smaller then the first outside diameter.

23. A vent according to any one of claims 16 to 22 wherein the duct adaptor comprises a water-guiding trough which extends onto the lip so as to direct water over the wall.

24. A vent according to any one of claims 16 to 23 wherein the ramp-shaped projections abuttingly engage a lower edge of the apron.