US20020124493A1

US20020124493A1 - Roof vent cover

Info

Publication number: US20020124493A1
Application number: US09/681,270
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas Mayo; Chris Vernon
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2001-03-12
Filing date: 2001-03-12
Publication date: 2002-09-12

Abstract

A roof vent cover for spherical roof vents, made of hard vinyl construction, and two congruous pieces. The pieces cover the bulb and exterior shaft of the roof vent, and are affixed to one another by screws and wing nuts.

Description

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

Due to the lack of ventilation in most attic and upper crawl spaces in buildings, a standard solution of many builders is a roof vent that can help with intake of air and to allow hot air to escape. Many of these vents operate in the same way as a pinwheel, in that they have an interior portion that has curved blades similar to a fan. These curved blades turn in a method to let heat escape and to assist in the intake of cool air.

Many of these roof vents are spherical in shape and sit upon a shaft leading into the building''s inner structure. They are covered with a metal sphere that must be slotted in order for the heated air to escape. A problem exists with this methodology in that during the winter months, the vents will let cold air in, raising heating bills; essentially crating holes in the insulation systems of the buildings.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,399,743 issued to Izzi, on Aug. 23, 1983, shows a cap for vent stack pipes. Izzi''s invention is unlike the present invention because Izzi''s invention is intended for open vent stack pipes, not roof vents, and is designed with a screw down the center of the cover, which would not affix to a spherical roof vent.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,054,254, issued to Sells on Oct. 8, 1991 shows a corrugated roof vent with an end cap. Sells'' invention is unlike the present invention because Sells'' invention is for ridge roof vents and is not intended for and would not function for spherical roof vents. Also Sells'' invention is intended to be a permanent affixation to the roof vent, instead of, as in the present invention, a seasonal cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,921,863 issued to Sells'' on Jul. 13, 1999, shows a roof ventilating device. Sells'' invention is unlike the present invention because Sells'' invention is intended to be adhered along the outer edge of the apex of the roof, and is thus shaped as a downward pointing 60 degree angle. This design would not affix to spherical roof vents, and is intended to be a permanent attachment to the roof, as opposed to a seasonal cover.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,830,059 issued to Sells on Nov. 3, 1998 shows a ventilating cap for the ridge of a roof. Sells'' invention is unlike the present invention because Sells'' invention is permanently affixed to the roof, is intended for the ridge of the roof, and would not function for a spherical roof vent.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,582 issued to Sells'' on Aug. 23, 1994, shows a roof vent. Sells'' invention is curved in shape, but unlike the present invention, is intended to be raised above the ridge of the roof, does not completely cover the ridge roof vent, is not intended for spherical roof vents, and is a permanent affixation to the roof, instead of a seasonal protection.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,332,393 issued to G {umlaut over (o )}dl on Jul. 26, 1994, shows a ventilator cap. G {umlaut over (o )}dl''s invention is unlike the present invention because G {umlaut over (o )}dl''s invention is intended to cover ridge roof vents, not spherical ones and is permanent in nature.

U.S. Pat. No. 5,081,914 issued to Mejia on Jan. 21, 1992, shows a roof vent cap. Mejia''s invention is unlike the present invention because Mejia''s cap is flat in shape, is intended to cover the shaft only after the spherical vent has been removed from the shaft, instead of covering the vent as a whole.

U.S. Patent No. issued to Waltz, et al on Jan. 1, 1985, shows a design for a roof vent cap, that is unlike the present invention because Waltz''s invention can only be affixed to the vent after the spherical vent has been detached, and would not fit over the spherical vent as a whole.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,924,760 issued to Jobson on May 15, 1990, shows a roof vent damper. Jobson''s invention is unlike the present invention because Jobson''s invention is intended to be an interior coil spring mechanism for a spherical roof vent for emergency closure of the vent as in the case of fire. The present invention does not require reworking of interior mechanisms of the vent and vent shaft, but instead acts as exterior insulation to close the vent.

As has been shown, a need has been established for a cover for spherical roof vents that is easy to adhere, and does not require removal of existing vent like covers already existent to be applied.

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

The present invention is a vinyl cover for spherical roof vents. It is made of two identical pieces that fit around the shaft and spherical vent. The two pieces adhere together with conventional screws and wing nuts eliminating the need for tools. The wing nut can be spun into place with a user''s hand, and does not need to be screwed into place with a tool. The present invention is made of vinyl identical to siding and awning that is present on many homes today. The vinyl protects the vent from debris, weather phenomena, and insulates the attic space in the winter to lower heating costs. The vinyl can be fabricated in colors to match vinyl siding and trim existent on the residences or buildings where installed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, that shows the interior of the left half of the cover. [0014]
FIG. 2 is a side view of the right half of the present invention. [0015]
FIG. 3 is a side view of the left half of the present invention. [0016]
FIG. 4 is a side view of the left and right halves as joined to complete the invention.[0017]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention is a roof vent cover for residential and commercial property. The present invention is intended to cover the spherical roof vents that are conventional on many properties. These spherical roof vents are slotted for ventilation purposes, and the present invention is intended to keep heat from escaping through the vents in the winter. [0018]
In FIG. 1, the first member ([0019] 10) of the present invention is shown as it would adhere to the spherical roof vent (not shown). The first upper region (50) of the first member (10) of the present invention is constructed in a bulbous manner so that it can easily conform around the spherical roof vent (not shown) The second member ( FIG. 2, 5) and first member (10) fit together in a secure fashion at points indicated by holes (15) that hold conventional screws and wing nuts (not shown). The first upper bulbous portion (50) of the first member (10) of the present invention is made in a hemispherical fashion to insulate the spherical roof vent (not shown). The first lower tubular portion (45) of the first member (10) creates a secure wrap around the conventional vent shaft (not shown), and configures the present invention to the roof. The first upper bulbous region (50) of the first member (10) and the first lower tubular region (45) are created as one mold and are one continuous piece that make up the first member (10) and adhere to the roof in a weather-tight manner. Also shown in FIG. 1 is a first edge (40) along the first upper bulbous region (50) and first lower tubular portion (45). First edge (40) of first member (10) adheres in a watertight manner to second edge (FIG. 2, 30) by use of screws and wing nuts (not shown) that are pierced through holes (15) on both first member (10) and second member (5).
As exhibited in FIG. 2, a half view of the present invention. Along second edge ([0020] 30) are holes (15, see FIG. 1) through which the screws and wing nuts adhere second member (5) to first member (10). As is shown, the second lower tubular region (20) and the second upper region (25) create a cylindrical, former, and spherical, latter, connection around the roof vent. The second member (5) functions in the same manner, and is of the exact same size, material and shape as the first member (10), with first member (5) and second member (10) working together to form to whole present invention. The first lower tubular region (45), second lower tubular region (20) , and the first upper region (50) and the second upper region (25) are joined along first edge (40) and second edge (30), and fastened around the spherical roof vent (not shown) to create the weather tight protection.
As exhibited in FIG. 3, is the first member ([0021] 10) of the present invention from a side perspective instead of an interior view as is shown in FIG. 1. Upon comparison of side view of second member (FIG. 2, 5) and side view of first member (FIG. 3, 10), it can be seen that the members fit together in a congruous manner to create the weather tight seal around the spherical roof vent (not shown) which is shown in detail in FIG. 4. FIG. 4 shows the first member (10) and second member (5) as connected to one another along first edge (40) and second edge (30). Joined as shown the present invention is assembled fully.
The present invention is constructed of hard vinyl, not unlike siding, that serves to shelter and insulate the roof vent..This vinyl can be molded to sizes and colors to cover different size spherical roof vents, and to match different colors of siding. The vinyl is durable in nature to withstand various amounts of snow, rain or flying debris, for many winter or cold seasons. [0022]
The easy installment of the present invention facilitates the home or building owner, in that no additional contractors need to be hired to adhere and remove the present invention. No additional tools are needed for installation, as a screwdriver or bolt tightener are not needed for installation. [0023]
It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments listed above, but includes any and all scopes listed in the following claims. [0024]

Claims

1. a roof vent cover for spherical roof vents, comprising:

a first member having a first edge;

a second member having a second edge, in removable communication with said first region.

2. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, wherein said first member and said second member are of identical dimensions.

3. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, further comprising a first upper bulbous region on said first region.

4. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, further comprising a second upper bulbous region on said second region.

5. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, further comprising a first lower tubular region on said first region.

6. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, further comprising holes along said first edge of said first region.

7. A roof vent cover as in claim 1, further comprising holes along said second edge of said second region.

8. A roof vent cover as in claim 6, wherein said holes along said first edge of said first region are the means of removable communication with said second edge on said second region.

9. A roof vent cover as in claim 6, further comprising screws in removable communication with said holes along said first edge.

10. A roof vent cover as in claim 9, further comprising wing nuts in removable communication with said screws.

11. A roof vent cover for spherical roof vents, comprising:

a first region having a first edge;

a second region having a second edge, which is of identical dimensions to said first region;

a set of holes along said first edge of said first region;

a set of holes along said second edge of said second region;

a set of screws in removable communication with said sets of holes on said first region, and said second region; and

a set of wing nuts in removable communication with said set of screws for attaching said first region removably to said second region with use of said sets of holes.