GB2473441A

GB2473441A - An air brick ventilation means and a screen attached to the air brick.

Info

Publication number: GB2473441A
Application number: GB0915750A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tony Carr
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2009-09-09
Filing date: 2009-09-09
Publication date: 2011-03-16
Anticipated expiration: 2029-09-09
Also published as: GB2473441B; GB0915750D0

Abstract

An air brick 1 comprising at least one inlet and at least one outlet which are fluidly connected together. The air brick also comprises a means to attach a screen 2 to the air brick. The screen is attached in such a way that the screen covers at least one inlet and/or outlet. The screen may be provided with at least one aperture such that the size of the objects that can pass through, the object could be for example a small animal, is restricted. The screen may be a mesh, which may be integral to the air brick.

Description

An air-brick The present invention relates to an air-brick. The present invention also relates to a screen and particularly although not exclusively to a screen for an air-brick. The present invention also relates to an air-brick and a screen which is attached to or is integral with the air-brick. The present invention also relates to a method of manufacturing a screen for an air-brick.

A known problem with a ventilation means of a building, such as air-bricks or ventilation grilles, is that vennin, such as rats, insects, slugs and birds can pass through ventilation holes or slats provided in the ventilation means, thereby gaining entry into the building.

Embodiments of the present invention seek to overcome the above problem.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an air-brick comprising at least one inlet fluidly connected to at least one outlet, wherein the air-brick further comprises a means of attachment to a screen arranged such that when the air-brick is attached to the screen by said means of attachment, the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet are covered by the screen.

Preferably the means of attachment is a means of releasable attachment. This is advantageous in that it allows the replacement of the screen. This can be necessary due to damage to the screen, for example due to vandalism or erosion.

The means of attachment may comprise at least one formation for engaging with at least one co-operating formation provided on the screen. The at least one formation may be a notch, tongue or groove.

This is advantageous in that the air-brick may be attached to a screen, via engagement of the at least one formation of the air-brick with the at least one co-operating formation of the screen. This allows for quick and easy attachment of the air-brick and screen which does not require the use of separate fasteners or an adhesive.

The means of attachment may comprise a tab. In this case, the tab may extend across the length of the at least one inlet.

The air-brick may be made of any suitable material but preferably is made of a plastic material.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a screen for a ventilation means comprising at least one inlet fluidly connected to at least one outlet, wherein the screen is provided with at least one aperture and comprises a means of attachment over or to the ventilation means such that when the screen is attached over or to the ventilation means by said means of attachment, the screen covers the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet such that the at least one aperture in the screen restricts the size of objects that may pass through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.

The ventilation means is preferably a ventilation means for a building.

The means of attachment may be a means of releasable attachment, The ventilation means may be an air-brick or a ventilation grille, such a ventilation grille provided underneath a porch step of a house, or a soffit ventilation grille.

Where the ventilation means is an air-brick according to the first aspect of the invention, and comprising said at least one formation, the means of attachment over or to the ventilation means may comprise at least one co-operating formation for engaging with the at least one formation of the air-brick.

The at least one co-operating formation may be a notch, tongue or groove.

The means of attachment over or to the ventilation means may comprise a tab.

The means of attachment over or to the ventilation means may comprises at least one continuous region of material for adhesion to a surface. The at least one region of continuous material may be a strip. The at least one continuous region of material may be a pair of strips. In this case, the pair of strips may extend along respective edges of the screen, preferably respective opposed edges of the screen.

The at least one continuous region of material may be of any suitable material for adhesion to a surface, such as a surface of an air-brick, ventilation grille, or surrounding brick work, for example. The at least one continuous region of material is preferably of a plastic material.

This is advantageous in that a continuous region of material, as opposed to a mesh, for example, is better at adhering to a contacting surface, such as a surface of an air-brick, a ventilation grille, or surrounding brick-work. In addition, it allows a reduced amount of adhesive to be used.

The at least one continuous region of material may be provided with an adhesive.

The adhesive may be at least partially covered by a release paper. This is advantageous in that it prevents contamination of the adhesive, and therefore a reduction in its strength, prior to the at least one region of material being adhered over or to the ventilation means.

Preferably the screen is substantially flat.

Preferably the screen is flexible enough to be stored in a roll. In this case the screen is preferably flexible enough to be rolled in a length-wise direction.

This allows the screen to be rolled up, which saves storage and transport space and provides ease of handling.

Where the screen comprises said at least one continuous region of material, the screen and/or the at least one continuous region of material are preferably substantially flat. This allows the screen to be rolled up, which provides the above described advantages.

The area of the at least one aperture in the screen may be of such a size that animals may not pass into and/or out of the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet in an air-brick respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.

The animals are preferably rodents, insects, slugs or birds. This is advantageous in that the screen stops animals gaining access to a building by passing through the ventilation means.

The screen may comprise a mesh. In this case, the at least one aperture is preferably defined by the mesh. The mesh is preferably made of a metal or metal alloy. More preferably the mesh is made of stainless steel.

The screen may have a plurality of said apertures.

The screen may comprise a frame within which the mesh is housed.

S

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided an air-brick according to the first aspect of the invention wherein a screen according to the second aspect of the invention is attached or is integral to the air-brick, such that the at least one aperture in the screen restricts the size of objects that may pass through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet of the air-brick respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.

The area of the at least one aperture in the screen may be smaller than the area of the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet in the air-brick.

According to a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided an air-brick comprising at least one inlet fluidly connected to at least one outlet wherein the air-brick further comprises an integral mesh that covers the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet such that the mesh restricts the size of objects that may pass through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet of the air-brick respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.

The mesh may be of such a density that animals may not pass into and/or out of the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet in an air-brick respectively.

The animals are preferably rodents, insects, slugs or birds.

This is advantageous in that no separate mesh, or means of attachment of a mesh to the air-brick is required, in order to prevent entry of vermin into the inlet of the air-brick, while allowing ventilation through the air-brick.

The mesh is preferably made of a metal or metal alloy. More preferably the mesh is made of stainless steel.

Preferably the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet are for the inlet and outlet of air respectively.

Preferably the air-brick comprises a plurality of said inlets and/or a plurality of said outlets.

According to a fifth aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of manufacturing a screen according to the second aspect of the invention, wherein the means of attachment over or to the ventilation means comprises said least one continuous region of material for adhesion to a surface wherein a length of mesh provided with at least one continuous region of material for adhesion to a surface of plastic or brick is formed and at least one said screen is cut from the length of mesh.

An adhesive may be applied to the continuous region of material. In this case, a release paper may be applied over the adhesive.

Preferably a plurality of screens is cut from the length of mesh.

As a large number of screens may be produced from one length of mesh, this provides an efficient and cost effective method of manufacture of the screens. In addition, screens of any desired length may be produced from the length of mesh.

All of the features described herein may be combined with any of the above aspects, in any combination.

For a better understanding of the invention, and to show how embodiments of the same may be carried into effect, reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying diagrammrtic drawings in which: Figure 1 shows a perspective view of an air-brick and a screen according to a first embodiment of the present invention; Figure 2 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the screen of Figure 1 attached to the air-brick of Figure 1; Figure 3 shows a front perspective view of an air-brick and screen according to a further embodiment of the present invention, wherein a side wall of the air-brick is removed for illustrative purposes; Figure 4 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the screen of Figure 3 attached to the air-brick of Figure 3; Figure 5 shows a front perspective view of a screen according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 6 shows a perspective view of an air-brick according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 7 shows a front elevational view of a screen according to a further embodiment of the present invention; Figure 8 shows a side elevational view of the screen shown in Figure 7; Figure 9 shows a perspective view of an air-brick according to a further embodiment of the invention for use with the screen shown in Figures 7 and 8; Figure 10 shows a cross-sectional view of a length of screen of Figures 7 and 8 rolled in a length-wise direction and stored within a container; Figure 11 shows a front perspective view of the screen of Figures 7 and 8 attached to a porch ventilation grille; Figure 12 shows a horizontal cross-sectional view of the screen of Figures 7 and 8 attached to between a wall and barge board of a roof of a building, and Figure 13 shows an air-brick according to a further embodiment of the present invention.

In the following the terms upper, lower, side and the like terms are used for convenience and refer to the air-brick and screen as shown oriented in the drawings, the orientation in which they are intended to be used, and should not be taken as otherwise limiting.

Referring to Figures 1 to 13 there is shown an air-brick 1 and a screen 2. The air-brick is a thin walled, generally hollow cuboid having upper and lower waIls 3, 4, side walls 5, 6, an open front face 7 and an open rear face 8.

The open front face of the air-brick defines an air inlet. The open rear face of the air-brick defines an air outlet. The air-inlet is fluidly connected to the air-outlet by the body of the air-brick.

Referring to Figures 1 to 5, the screen comprises a stainless steel mesh 9 housed within a generally rectangular plastic frame 10. The frame has a front section 11, upper and lower sections 12, 13 and side sections 14, 15. The upper, lower and side sections of the frame are generally perpendicular to the front section of the frame such that frame has an L-shaped cross section.

When the screen is attached over or to the air-brick (or where it is integral to the air-brick, as in Figure 6), the screen covers the air inlet of the air-brick. The mesh of the screen stops vermin, such as rats, mice, slugs and birds from passing through the air inlet, through the air-brick and into a building, while allowing air to flow through the air inlet.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2, the air-brick comprises a first pair of tabs 16 provided on an inner face of the upper wall of the air-brick. The tabs protrude inwardly of the air-brick, in a direction generally perpendicular to the inner face of the upper wail of the air-brick. The tabs are spaced in the length direction along the inner face of said upper wall.

Similarly, a second pair of tabs 17 is provided on an inner face of the lower wall of the air-brick. The flanges protrude inwardly of the air-brick, in a direction generally perpendicular to the inner face of the lower wall of the air-brick. The flanges are spaced in the length direction along said inner face.

The first and second pair of tabs provide a means of attachment of the air-brick to the screen. The tabs are arranged such that when the screen is placed over the front face of the air-brick, such that it covers the front face, an outer face of each tab contacts an inner face of the front section 11 of the frame of the screen.

In order to attach the screen to the air-brick, a suitable adhesive (not shown), such as glue, is applied to either or both of the contacting surfaces of the tabs and frame and the screen is then placed over the front face of the air-brick such that said surfaces of the tab and frame contact each other.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in Figures 3 and 4, the air-brick is provided with upper and lower V-shaped grooves 18, 19 which extend long the length of the inner face of the upper and lower surfaces of the air-brick respectfully. The upper and lower grooves are provided towards the open front face of the air-brick.

The screen comprises a pair of tongues 20, provided on an inner face of the front section of the frame, towards a top of the frame. The tongues are provided at the same height on the frame and are spaced apart in the length direction.

The screen further comprises a V-shaped notch 21 that extends along the length of the lower section of the frame. The notch is provided towards the inner face of the front section 11 of the frame.

The front section of the frame extends above the tongues and below the notch to an extent that the frame is of substantially the same height as the air-brick.

Accordingly, when the screen is attached over the open front face of the air-brick, the upper and lower faces of the frame are flush with the upper and lower walls of the air-brick.

The notch is arranged to be received within the lower groove in the air-brick.

The tongues are arranged to resiliently engage with the upper groove in the air-brick.

In order to attach the screen to the air-brick, the notch of the screen is engaged with the lower groove of the air-brick. The screen is then pivoted, about the notch, towards the open front face of the air-brick until the tongues engage with the upper groove.

Accordingly, the notch and the upper tongues of the screen and the upper and lower grooves of the air-brick provide a convenient means of attachment of the screen to the air-brick that does not require any separate fasteners or adhesive.

In an alternative arrangement, as shown in Figure 5, the pair of tongues are replaced with a single tongue 26 that extends substantially across the length of the frame.

It should also be appreciated that the screen may have a reverse arrangement whereby the pair of tongues 20, as shown in Figure 4, or the single tongue 26 shown in Figure 5, are provided on the lower surface of the frame, with a (inverted) V-shaped notch provided on the upper surface of the frame.

Similarly, the upper V-shaped groove 18 of the air-brick may be provided on the lower surface of the air-brick and the lower V-shaped groove 19 may be provided S on the upper surface of the air-brick.

Referring now to the embodiment of the invention shown in figure 6, the air-brick 1 comprises a screen that is integral to the air-brick. The screen comprises a stainless steel mesh 9.

This is advantageous in that no separate screen, or means of attachment of a screen to the air-brick is required.

Referring now to the air-brick shown in figures 7 to 10, an upper tab 22 extends substantially across the length of the inner face of the upper wall of the air-brick. The tab protrudes inwardly of the air-brick, in a direction generally perpendicular to the inner face of the top wall of the air-brick.

Similarly a lower tab 23 extends substantially across the length of the inner face of the lower wall of the air-brick. The tab protrudes inwardly of the air-brick, in a direction generally perpendicular to the inner face of the top wall of the air-brick.

Referring to the screen shown in Figures 7, 8 and 10, the screen 2 comprises a mesh 9. Upper and lower plastic strips 24, 25 extend along upper and lower edges of the mesh respectively.

The screen is manufactured as part of a continuous length. To produce a screen for an air-brick as shown in Figures 7 and 8, a desired length of screen is cut from the continuous length that is suitable to attach over or to the air-brick so as to cover the air-inlet of the air-brick.

As a large number of screens may be produced from one continuous length this provides an efficient and cost effective method of manufacture of the screens. In addition, screens of any desired length may be produced from the length.

The mesh and upper and lower strips of the screen are flexible enough that the screen may be rolled in a length-wise direction. In addition, the mesh and upper and lower strips are substantially flat, in order to allow the screen to be rolled. This allows the screen to be stored in a roll, which saves storage and transport space and provides ease of handling.

In order to attach a desired length of screen to the air-brick, an adhesive is applied to a rear face of the upper and lower strips. The upper and lower strips are then placed into contact with the upper and lower tabs 22, 23 of the air-brick and adhered thereto by the adhesive.

In an alternative embodiment, the upper and lower strips are provided with an adhesive and the adhesive is provided with a release paper. This prevents contamination of the adhesive, and therefore a reduction in its strength, prior to the screen being adhered to an air-brick.

In order to attach a desired length of screen to the air-brick, the release paper covering the upper and lower strips of the screen is removed. The upper and lower strips are then placed into contact with the upper and lower tabs of the air-brick and adhered thereto by the adhesive.

The screen may be sold in pre-cut lengths suitable for covering a typical air-brick or other ventilation means. Alternatively, the screen may be sold a continuous length from which a number of screens may be cut. Such lengths of screen would be typically sold to pest control professionals who have a need to install many such screens on a daily basis. Since the screens may be stored in a roll, this saves storage and transport space and provides ease of handling.

As an alternative to attaching the screen to the air-brick, the screen may be attached to brick worlc surrounding the air-brick such that it covers the air-inlet of the air-brick.

The screen may also be used to cover other means of ventilation, such as ventilation grilles. An example of such a ventilation grille is a ventilation grille 28 provided underneath a porch step 27 of a house, as shown in Figure II. Such a grille is typically found in Victorian houses and is made of cast iron. Accordingly, it is difficult, if not impossible, to attach a screen to the grille using typical fasteners, such as screws. The above screen overcomes this problem since it may be attached to the grille by virtue of its adhesive strips, which can adhere to metallic surfaces such as cast iron.

The screen may also be used to cover a soffit ventilation means, such as a gap provided between a barge board of a roof of a house and a wall of a house, as shown in Figure 12. Brackets 30 may be applied to inner faces of the barge board and wall respectively and the adhesive strips of the screen applied to exposed faces of the brackets.

This arrangement provides allows ventilation while preventing birds or bats from gaining entry to the building by passing through the soffit ventilation means.

The air-bricks described in the above embodiments may be provided with internal webs, in order to provide strength and rigidity to the air-brick, while allowing ventilation to the air-brick. An example of an air-brick provided with such an arrangement is shown in Figure 13, in which the air-brick is provided with a vertically extending central web 31, bounded either side by inclined webs 32 which intersect the top of the central web.

The above embodiment is described by way of example. Many variations are possible without departing from the invention.

Claims

Claims 1. An air-brick comprising at least one inlet fluidly connected to at least one outlet, wherein the air-brick further comprises a means of attachment to a screen arranged such that when the air-brick is attached to the screen by said means of attachment, the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet are covered by the screen.
2, An air-brick according to claim I wherein the means of attachment is a means of releasable attachment.
3. An air-brick according to either of claims I or 2 wherein the means of attachment comprises at least one fonuation for engaging with at least one co-operating formation provided on the screen.
4. An air-brick according to claim 3 wherein the at least one formation is a notch, tongue or groove.
5. An air-brick according to any preceding claim wherein the means of attachment comprises a tab.
6. An air-brick according to any preceding claim wherein the means of attachment comprises a tab which extends across the length of the at least one inlet.
7. A screen for a ventilation means comprising at least one inlet fluidly connected to at least one outlet, wherein the screen is provided with at least one aperture and comprises a means of attachment over or to the ventilation means such that when the screen is attached over or to the ventilation means by said means of attachment, the screen covers the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet such that the at least one aperture in the screen restricts the size of objects that may pass through the at least one inlet andlor the at least one outlet respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.
8. A screen according to claim 7 wherein the means of attachment is a means of releasable attachment.
9. A screen according to either of claims 7 or 8 wherein the ventilation means is an air-brick.
10. A screen according to claim 9 wherein the ventilation means is an air-brick according to either of claims 3 or 4 and the means of attachment over or to the ventilation means comprises at least one co-operating formation for engaging with the at least one formation of the air-brick.
11. A screen according to claim 10 wherein the at least one co-operating formation is a notch, tongue or groove.
12. A screen according to any of claims 7 to 11 wherein the means of attachment over or to the ventilation means comprises a tab.
13. A screen according to any of claims 7 to 9 wherein the means of attachment over or to the ventilation means comprises at least one continuous region of material for adhesion to a surface.
14. A screen according to claim 13 wherein the at least one continuous region of material is a strip.
15. A screen according to claim 14 wherein the at least one continuous region of material is a pair of strips.
16. A screen according to claim 15 wherein the pair of strips extend along respective edges of the screen.
17. A screen according to any of claims 13 to 16 wherein said at least one continuous region of material is of a plastic material.
1. A screen according to any of claims 13 to 17 wherein said at least one continuous region of material is provided with an adhesive.
19. A screen according to claim 18 wherein the adhesive is at least partially covered by a release paper.
20. A screen according to any of claims 13 to 19 wherein the screen is flexible enough to be stored in a roll.
21. A screen according to claim 20 wherein the screen is flexible enough to be rolled in a length-wise direction.
22. A screen according to any of claims 13 to 21 wherein the screen and/or the at least one continuous region of material are substantially flat.
23. A screen according to any of claims 7 to 22 wherein the area of the at least one aperture in the screen is of such a size that animals may not pass into and/or out of the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet in an air-brick respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.
24. A screen according to claim 23 wherein the animals are rodents, insects or birds.
25. A screen according to any of claims 7 to 25 wherein the screen comprises a mesh, with said at least one aperture defined by the mesh.
26. A screen according to any of claims 7 to 25 herein the screen has a plurality of said apertures.
27. A screen according to either of claims 25 or 26 wherein the screen comprises a frame within which the mesh is housed.
28. An air-brick according to any of claims 1 to 6 wherein a screen according to any of claims 7 to 27 is attached or is integral to the air-brick, such that the at least one aperture in the screen restricts the size of objects that may pass through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet of the air-brick respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.
29. An air-brick according to claim 28 wherein the area of the at least one aperture in the screen is smaller than the area of the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet in the air-brick.
30. An air-brick comprising at least one inlet fluidly connected to at least one outlet wherein the air-brick further comprises an integral mesh that covers the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet such that the mesh restricts the size of objects that may pass through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet of the air-brick respectively, while allowing air to flow through the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet respectively.
3 1, An air-brick according to claim 30 wherein the mesh is of such a density that animals may not pass into and/or out of the at least one inlet and/or the at least one outlet in an air-brick respectively.
32. An air-brick according to claim 31 wherein the animals are rodents or insects.
33. A method of manufacturing a screen according to any of claims 13 to 22 or any of claims 23 to 27 when dependent directly or indirectly on claim 13 wherein a length of mesh provided with at least one continuous region of material for adhesion to a surface of plastic or brick is formed and at least one said screen is cut from the length of mesh.
34. A method of manufacturing a screen according to claim 33 wherein an adhesive is applied to the continuous region of material.
35. A method of manufacturing a screen according to claim 34 wherein a release paper is applied over the adhesive.
36, An air-brick substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
37. A screen substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.
38. A method of manufacturing a screen substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.