U.S. patent application number 09/681270 was filed with the patent office on 2002-09-12 for roof vent cover.
Invention is credited to Mayo, Thomas, Vernon, Chris.
Application Number | 20020124493 09/681270 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 24734546 |
Filed Date | 2002-09-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020124493 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Mayo, Thomas ; et
al. |
September 12, 2002 |
Roof vent cover
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.
Inventors: |
Mayo, Thomas; (Hernington,
TN) ; Vernon, Chris; (Friendship, TN) |
Correspondence
Address: |
GREENBERG & LIEBERMAN
314 PHILADELPHIA AVE.
TAKOMA PARK
MD
20912
US
|
Family ID: |
24734546 |
Appl. No.: |
09/681270 |
Filed: |
March 12, 2001 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
52/200 |
Current CPC
Class: |
F24F 13/20 20130101;
F24F 7/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/200 |
International
Class: |
E04B 007/18 |
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.
Description
BACKGROUND OF INVENTION
[0001] 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.
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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.
[0007] 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.
[0008] 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.
[0009] 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.
[0010] 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.
[0011] 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.
[0012] 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
[0013] 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
[0014] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the present invention, that
shows the interior of the left half of the cover.
[0015] FIG. 2 is a side view of the right half of the present
invention.
[0016] FIG. 3 is a side view of the left half of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 4 is a side view of the left and right halves as joined
to complete the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0018] 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.
[0019] In FIG. 1, the first member (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).
[0020] As exhibited in FIG. 2, a half view of the present
invention. Along second edge (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.
[0021] As exhibited in FIG. 3, is the first member (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.
[0022] 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.
[0023] 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.
[0024] 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.
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