US2557566A

US2557566A - Foundation ventilator

Info

Publication number: US2557566A
Application number: US742649A
Authority: US
Inventors: Howard W Ronfeldt
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1947-04-19
Filing date: 1947-04-19
Publication date: 1951-06-19
Anticipated expiration: 1968-06-19

Description

Patented June 19, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE FOUNDATION VENTILATOR Howard W. Ronfeldt, Toledo, Ohio Application April 19, 1947, Serial No. 742,649

9 Claims. v 1 This invention relates to ventilators and particularly to ventilators for controlling the air circulation on the underside of a structure through its foundation.

In the main, ventilators of the type described have beenmanufactured of metal by the casting process. Inherent of the casting process, their roduction has been slow and burdensome, requiring considerable labor; their discard and metal wastage has been aggravated by the high shrinkage and strain set up as a result of cooling the cast brittle metal; and their form and shape have been influenced by the difiiculty of casting thin walls and louvers. In order to reduce the weight of the ventilator and yet provide for suflicient strength, the ventilators have been cast with the effect of a grate with spaced bars connecting outer frame members and, even today, this effect remains as characteristic of foundation ventilators. This efiect is unattractive in the foundation and the wide space between bars provides free access of rodents and other field animals to the space beneath the structure.

It is an object of this invention to produce a new and improved ventilator of the type described which is simply and economically manufactured on a mass production basis without excessive metal wastage or undue strain in the fabricated parts, the ventilator having the characteristics of being structurally strong and light in weight.

Another object of this invention is to produce a foundation ventilator which obviates many of the disadvantages of the present cast units in that it is economically produced on a mass production basis, light in weight, strong, attractive in position of use and provides for sumcient ventilation without enabling free passage of field animals.

A further object of this invention is to produce a foundation ventilator of a single sheet of metal by the stamping process.

A still further object is to produce a stamped sheet metal ventilator having openings suflicient to enable the desired air circulation without enabling the free passage of field animals and in the stamping is contoured in a manner to appear attractive and in some instances even unnoticeable in the foundation.

A still further object is to produce a new and improved ventilator having openings which may be selectively obstructed as desired, the opening providing for suflicient air circulation without permitting free passage of rats and mice there through.

These and other objects of the invention will hereinafter appear, and for purposes of illustration but not of limitation, embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective elevation view of a foundation ventilator of this invention;

Figure 2 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 22 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a front elevational view of the ventilator shown in Figure 1 in position of use in th brick work of a foundation;

Figure 4 is a sectional elevational view taken along the line 4--4 of Figure 3.

Briefly described, the invention is directed ta a ventilator formed of a single sheet of metal, the peripheral end portions of which are turned inwardly to operate as a framework and provide for an area of engagement with the adjacent foun dation. In one aspect, louvers are stamped in the intermediate portion, to provide openings sufiiciently large to permit the desired amount of air circulation but not so large as to enable the free passage of field animals. By the proper disposition of louvers, which may be simply efiected, it is possible to simulate the ventilator with the foundation so that it is practically unnoticeable in position of use and also, to enable the interposition of a member to regulate or entirely shut oif the openings. Other modifications of a stamped ventilator embodying the principles of this invention will be hereinafter described in greater detail.

In Figures 1 to 4 inclusive of the drawings, [0 indicates a sheet of metal which may be formed, as by stamping, into a ventilator having a body portion 1 I with integral flanges I2 and I3 extending rearwardly substantially at right angles with the lateral edge portions respectively of the body portion ll. Also extending rearwardly substantially perpendicularly from the upper and lower edge portions respectively of the body portion H are integral flanges or shelves l4 and i5, eachof these shelves overextending the side flanges l2 and [3 which operate as a support for the shelves strips which are in vertical alignment are laterally spaced apart a distance substantially equal to the length of an ordinary brick 20 used in the foundation 2| and are of a length substantially equal to the height of the bricks 20. Impressed simultaneously with the vertically disposed louvers or strips I9 ar sufficient horizontally disposed louvers or strips 22 integrally to engage these vertically disposed strips l9 at their inner end portions, all of these strips being forwardly curved at their end portions I So integrally to join the body portion l l. These strips l9 and 22 are of a width approximately equal to the Width of the mortar bond 23 between foundation bricks.

If, as illustrated in Figures 1 to 4, the body portion corresponds dimensionally to the vertical and longitudinal dimensions of three tiers formed of a pair of bricks 20 in the foundation 2|, then the upper and lower flanges or shelves l4 and [5 are in horizontal alignment with the brick bond line 23a in the foundation 2| and the overextending portions 16 are disposed in the bond line between adjacent bricks. With these dimensions, a pair of vertically spaced horizontal louvers 22 are sumcient to simulate three tiers a, b and c of bricks, while a pair of louvers I9 in each of the upper and lower tiers a and 0, when laterally spaced the distance of a half a brick from their adjacent lateral edges, are adapted, in combination with another louver intersecting the intermediate tier b, to simulate the staggered arrangement of bricks generally used in the construction of brick foundations. For purposes of rigidity and support, the intermediate portions of the horizontal louvers may be adapted integrally to engage the adjacent body portion as at 24.

Th impressions of the louvers l8 and 22 are made sufficiently deep to provide for openings 25 between the louvers and the body portion 1 I through which air passes for the ventilation of the space beneath the structure, yet the impression is not so deep as to enable field animals, such as mice, rats and the like, freely to pass through the openings and nest beneath the structure. Impressions in the range of to inch have been found satisfactory.

It is manifest that when properly tinted, the ventilator in position of use, as illustrated in Figure 3, is not noticeable to the casual observer. Thus, there is provided a foundation ventilator having structural strength and appearance, as

well as lightness in weight, resistance to impact, and at the same time, enables sufiicient air circulation while militating against the passage of undesirable animals to the Space beneath the structure. It is to be understood that the dimensions of the ventilator are not restricted to those described, but if the relationship between louvers, as set forth, is maintained, th desired simulation is effected if the longitudinal and vertical dimensions of the ventilator correspond to the height and length of some multiple of the bricks in the foundation.

The insertion of the ventilator described is readily effected during the construction of the foundation in a manner which is obvious to those skilled in the art of bricklaying. The overhanging portions and shelves enable the ventilator conveniently to be positioned flush with the foundation while the apertures IT in the overextending portions 16 receive mortar securely to anchor the ventilator relative to the remainder of the construction. One or more of these ventilators may be positioned in the foundation during its construction or modification, and if the height of the ventilator is som multiple of the height of the bricks in the foundation, the shelves will reside in the mortar bond line whereby secure anchorage is obtained without impairment of the appearance of the foundation structure.

It is manifest that I have invented new and improved ventilators embodying the principles of being formable principally by the low cost and mass production process of stamping into a strong, light weight, attractive and efficient unit adapted to enable the free circulation of a controllable amount of air through the foundation without permitting the free passage of field animals to the space beneath the structure where they may nest. Importance is directed to the vertical dimension of the body portions of the ventilators for when they are regulated as some multiple of tiers of bricks, the upper and lower flanges and extensions are disposed in the mortar bond line to provide for substantial anchorage without overly burdening the construction of the foundation. The laterial dimension may conveniently be selected as some multiple of whole bricks but the dimension is not limited in that respect.

It is to be understood that numerous changes in details of construction, arrangement and opera tion of openings and. parts may be effected without departing from the spirit of the invention especially as defined in the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. A foundation ventilator comprising a rectangular sheet metal body portion, a plurality of strips struck inwardly from the body portion to provide vent openings for the circulation of ir, the strips being horizontally and vertically arranged respectively to set off the remaining body portion into sections spaced and dimensioned in accordance with usual brick construction, said strips being integral with the body portion in the region of their junctures one with the other to integrate the entire structure, and means for anchoring said body portion in the foundation.

2. A foundation ventilator comprising a rectangular sheet metal body portion vertically and laterally dimensioned to correspond to the respeotive vertical and lateral dimensions of a multiple of bricks in the foundation, rearwardly bent flanges extending generally perpendicular from the edges of the body portion, means for anchoring the body portion in the foundation when in position of use, and a plurality of horizontally and vertically intersecting louvers struck from the body portion to provide vent openings for the circulation of air, said louvers being vertically and horizontally spaced one from another to subdivide the body portion into sections dimensioned to correspond to conventional brick sizes and having a width corresponding to the width of a mortar bond in a foundation.

3. A foundation ventilator as claimed in claim 2 in which the louvers are struck from the body portion to a depth of more than one-eighth inch, but less than seven-eighths inch, and are joined to the body portion in the region of their ends to provide a unitary structure.

4. A foundation ventilator comprising a rectang'ular sheet metal body portion of a height and width corresponding to three tiers of bricks and one or more length thereof respectively as disposed in the foundation, rearwardly bent flanges extending generally at right angles from the side, upper and lower edges of the body portion respectively with the side flanges being disposed between the upper and lower flanges, apertured laterally extending portions integral with the upper and lower flanges which in combination with said flanges are disposed in the mortar bond line when in position of use, thereby to operate as anchoring means, vertically disposed louvers stamped in said body portion, said louvers bein of a width corresponding to the width of the mortar bond in the foundation and of a length corresponding with the height of a brick in the foundation, said louvers being arranged in tiers with the louvers in one tier being laterally spaced apart a distance corresponding to the length of a brick in the foundation, with the louvers in successive tiers being arranged in staggered relation, and a pair of horizontally disposed louvers stamped in said body portion and engaging said vertically disposed louvers at their inner ends.

5. A foundation ventilator as claimed in claim 4, in which said horizontally disposed louvers are vertically spaced apart from each other and the upper and lower edges of said body portion an amount corresponding to the height of a brick in the foundation.

6. A foundation ventilator as claimed in claim 4, in which all of said louvers integrally engage said body portion at their ends, said louvers being struck rearwardly an amount greater than M; of an inch but less than A; of an inch.

7. A foundation ventilator comprising a sheet metal body portion having reinforcing flanges about its edges, a plurality of strips struck inwardly from the body portion to provide vent openings for the circulation of air, some of said struck strips being horizontally arranged in spaced parallel relation to supbdivide the body portion into two or more tiers, others of said strips being vertically arranged in laterally spaced apart parallel relation with the strips in opposite tiers being aligned while the strips in adjacent tiers are offset from each other by a distance corresponding to about one half the lateral spacing between strips, said strips being integral with the body portion in the region of the junctures between strips to integrate the entire structure.

8. A foundation ventilator comprising a sheet metal body portion having reinforcing flanges about its edges, a plurality of strips struck inwardly from the body portion to provide vent openings dimensioned to permit free air circulation and prevent passage of rodents and larger field animals, some of said struck strips being horizontally arranged in spaced parallel relation to subdivide the body portion into two or more tiers, others of said strips being vertically arranged in laterally spaced apart parallel relation with the strips in opposite tiers being aligned while the strips in adjacent tiers are oiTset from each other by a distance corresponding to about one half the lateral spacing between strips, said strips being integral with the body portion in the region of the junctures between strips to integrate the entire structure.

9. A foundation ventilator comprising a sheet metal body portion having reinforcing flanges about its edges, a plurality of strips struck inwardly from the body portion to provide vent openings for circulation of air, some of said struck strips being horizontally arranged in space parallel relation to subdivide the body portion into two or more tiers, corresponding to one less than the number of cross strips, other of said strips being vertically arranged in laterally spaced apart parallel relation with the strips in opposite tiers being aligned while the strips in adjacent tiers :are offset from each other by a distance corresponding to about one half the lateral spacing between strips, said strips being integral with the body portion in the region of the junctures between strips to integrate the entire structure.

HOWARD W. RONFELDT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 347,392 Smith Aug. 17, 1886 1,141,417 Schafley June 1, 1915 1,720,200 Baum July 9, 1929 1,795,001 Wilkins Mar. 3, 1931 1,855,294 Kuehne et al Apr. 26, 1932 2,011,797 Covell Aug. 20, 1935 2,130,811 Nelson Sept. 20, 1938 2,245,931 Meyer June 17, 1941 2,282,946 De Roo May 12, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 24,671 Great Britain 1913 518,399 Great Britain Feb. 26, 1940 743,204 France Jan. 6, 1933