U.S. patent application number 13/892843 was filed with the patent office on 2013-09-26 for serviceable soffit vent.
The applicant listed for this patent is Michael Duane Ridgway. Invention is credited to Michael Duane Ridgway.
Application Number | 20130247480 13/892843 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 49210470 |
Filed Date | 2013-09-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20130247480 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Ridgway; Michael Duane |
September 26, 2013 |
SERVICEABLE SOFFIT VENT
Abstract
An attic soffit ventilator for a dwelling having a removable
filter. The soffit ventilator includes a frame having a plurality
of louvers on one side, wherein the frame is fixed to the underside
surface or soffit structure of a roof. The frame includes a side
openings or slot for receiving a filter media. The filter media is
inserted into the frame by sliding it into the frame from the side
opening or slot. Further, the filter media can be removed, cleaned,
and re-inserted into the frame.
Inventors: |
Ridgway; Michael Duane;
(Bedford, TX) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Ridgway; Michael Duane |
Bedford |
TX |
US |
|
|
Family ID: |
49210470 |
Appl. No.: |
13/892843 |
Filed: |
May 13, 2013 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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13199288 |
Aug 24, 2011 |
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13892843 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
52/95 |
Current CPC
Class: |
E04D 13/178 20130101;
E04D 13/152 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
52/95 |
International
Class: |
E04D 13/17 20060101
E04D013/17 |
Claims
1. An attic soffit vent for a dwelling, comprising: a removable
filter media, a frame having a plurality of air intake openings on
one side, wherein the frame is configured to be fixed to an
underside surface of a roof of the dwelling; wherein the frame
includes one or more side openings for receiving the filter media;
and wherein the filter media is configured to slide within the
frame.
2. The soffit vent of claim 1, wherein the filter media includes a
pull-tab.
3. The soffit vent of claim 1, wherein the filter media includes a
plurality of pores.
4. The soffit vent of claim 3, wherein the pores comprise
approximately 50% of the surface area of the filter media.
5. The soffit vent of claim 1, wherein the filter media is
comprised of metal material.
6. The soffit vent of claim 1, wherein the surface area of the
filter media is substantially solid and configured to prevent air
from entering the attic.
7. The soffit vent of claim 1, wherein the filter media includes
magnetic components.
8. A serviceable soffit ventilator configured for an attic of a
dwelling, comprising: a frame having one or more air intake or air
exhaust openings; wherein the frame includes a slot on one side,
wherein the slot is configured to receive a removable filter; and
wherein the slot is configured to slidably receive the filter.
9. The soffit ventilator of claim 8, wherein the filter is
re-usable.
10. The soffit ventilator of claim 8, wherein the filter includes a
pull-tab configured to assist a user from removing the filter from
the frame.
11. The soffit ventilator of claim 8, wherein the filter is
comprised of one unitary component configured to restrict airflow
through the ventilator.
12. The soffit ventilator of claim 8, wherein the filter includes
at least two projecting flaps, wherein the flaps are configured to
engage the interior surface of the frame.
13. The soffit ventilator of claim 8, wherein the air intake or air
exhaust openings are louvers.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the
benefit of U.S. Non-Provisional Application Ser. No. 13/199,288
filed on Aug. 24, 2011.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention is a system and device for ventilating
the attic of a dwelling. More specifically, a serviceable soffit
ventilator is provided having a removable and re-usable filter.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Excessive heat and moisture trapped in an attic or other
space underneath the pitched roof of a structure can damage the
roof, can damage the remainder of the structure and can promote
mold and decay within the attic. To avoid these effects, the
ambient air space between the roof and dwelling ceiling, referred
to as the attic, must be constantly ventilated, and replaced with
fresh contiguous outside ambient air.
[0004] During daylight hours, the sun shining on the roof warms the
deck surface, causing the deck to become warmer than the ambient
air. The warm roof deck heats the ambient air in the attic space.
During the cold weather, heat and moisture from the living space
migrate into the attic space which warms the air in the attic. The
warm and moist air within the attic space expands, becomes buoyant
and tends to rise. Because the roof is pitched, the warm and moist
air stratifies, with the peak of the attic becoming warmer than the
floor of the attic. This stratification of unequal temperatures
during cold weather can cause a condition referred to as "ice
damning", whereby, the top of the roof absorbs the stratified heat
and becomes warmer than the central and lower sections of the roof,
thereby melting any accumulated ice or snow from the top of the
roof ridge causing the melted ice or snow to gravitationally.
[0005] In addition, the enclosed attic space is vulnerable to wind
gusting through roof and gable vents and entering the attic when
the wind pressure is greater than the exhaust pressure of the ridge
or roof exhaust vents. This condition causes loose debris, dust,
insulation materials and other disturbed materials resident in the
attic to become airborne and randomly relocate within the attic
space. In most cases, this debris lands and stays on the attic side
of the eave or soffit vent, blinding the filter component of the
soffit vent and rendering said vent incapable of freely providing
unrestricted necessary intake air.
[0006] Traditional soffit and eave intake vents have a fixed and
permanent filter media or "screen" affixed to the vent housing and
permanently captured between the vent housing and soffit or eave
substrate. The filter component of the fixed vent is necessary to
prevent unwanted insects, rodents and other detrimental debris from
being drawn into the attic space either through convection, vacuum
or migration. Over time, and starting immediately after the
installation of traditional soffit vents, the fixed filter screen
begins to become blinded by airborne organic material, including
but not limited to, dust, dirt, pollen, leaves, organic material
and mud. The debris is small enough in size to pass through the
vent frame air openings, but large enough to become trapped in the
smaller passages in the screen material, rendering the filter to be
compromised, blocked and unable to deliver adequate air flow to the
attic space.
[0007] Further, traditional methods contemplate the permanent
installation of the captured soffit vent filtered housings,
affixing them to the eave/soffit structure with nails, screws or
adhesives with no provision for post installation removal for
maintenance or service. When the fixed filter material becomes
blinded from either the intake or exhaust side of the filter,
physical removal of the entire vent housing is required to purge
the filter and remove the debris captured in the intake or exhaust
side of filter. This removal procedure normally destroys the vent
housing, rendering it unusable, and damages the eave or soffit
structure that the vent was affixed thereto.
[0008] The present invention overcomes the shortfalls of the prior
art by providing a soffit vent that includes a replaceable and/or
reusable filter media. In addition, the soffit vent provides a
simple method for the filter media to be removed, cleaned, and
re-inserted. In addition, the soffit vent of the present invention
provides for additional types of inserts that can block the flow of
air into the attic space in case of a fire or store scenarios,
wherein restricting airflow to the attic is desired.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] The present invention, as disclosed and described herein, in
one aspect thereof, is a system and device for the ventilating of
an attic or other area under the roof in a new or existing
dwelling. The apparatus is a soffit/eave air intake vent that is
comprised of a fixed louvered frame which incorporates a separate
companion filter which is removable, serviceable, and cleanable and
reusable and which further mates with the fixed louvered intake
vent.
[0010] The present invention, in one aspect, provides a user
serviceable attic air intake vent that allows the user to restore
the net free air flow of the soffit filter media, without the
requirement of removing and replacing the affixed vent housing from
the eave or soffit substrate, or the requirement to replace the
soffit air vent entirely.
[0011] In addition, the present invention provides an attic soffit
system configured to enable ventilation of a building having and
attic and soffit, the system having a one piece frame component
having an outer flange surrounding a corresponding opening in the
dwelling's horizontal eave or soffit structure. Further, the soffit
vent includes a louvered cavity frame that is formed with air
intake louvers on the opposing surface to the attic enclosure
opening. The soffit vent includes four sides, wherein at least one
side includes a slot for inserting and removing a filter insert. A
separate perforated metal filter insert is also provided which has
a flat metal perforated rectangle with an extended pull-tab at one
end. In addition, the vent includes a plurality of attachment holes
on its perimeter for attachment and removal of the vent from a
surface, such as a wall panel.
[0012] Further, the frame of the soffit vent is formed from one
piece of galvanized steel and the filter is stamped from one piece
of metal and includes more than 50% net free open surface area for
the incoming air to pass into the attic space. In addition, the
frame can be powder coated to insulate the metals from corrosion.
Further, the device allows the user to remove, clean and reinsert
the filter media. More specifically, the soffit vent of the present
invention allows the user to remove the filter media without the
removal of the vent frame from the structure. For example, this
allows the user to clean the soffit vent insert safely away from
the building with high-pressure water or air without removing the
vent frame from the building, thereby protecting the structural and
aesthetic integrity of the eave/soffit structure or wall panel.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0013] FIG. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the serviceable
soffit vent with one embodiment of a removable filter insert.
[0014] FIG. 2 illustrates a side view of the serviceable soffit
vent with removable filter insert of FIG. 1 illustrating an opening
guide slot.
[0015] FIG. 3 illustrates a perspective view of the serviceable
soffit vent with another embodiment of a removable solid
insert.
[0016] FIG. 4 illustrates a perspective view of the serviceable
soffit vent with another embodiment of a removable solid insert
having a magnetic component.
[0017] FIG. 5 illustrates a side view of the serviceable soffit
vent with the removable solid insert of FIG. 4 illustrating an
opening guide slot.
[0018] FIG. 6 illustrates a perspective view of the serviceable
soffit vent of the present invention affixed to a soffit
structure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0019] FIGS. 1-2 illustrate one embodiment of the serviceable
soffit vent assembly 100. Here, vent 100 includes a frame 150
having a first end 150a and a second end 150b, top end 150c and
bottom end 150d. In the current embodiment, frame 150 has a
rectangular configuration, however, it contemplated within the
scope of the invention that frame 150 can be any size, dimension,
or shape, including but not limited to a square, circle,
cylindrical, oval, ellipsoid, triangular, asymmetrical, or any
polygon having three or more sides. Further, frame 150 includes a
plurality of fixed louvered openings 154. In the current
embodiment, there are five columns of louvers, wherein each column
has 13, thereby the vent having a total of 65 louvered air
openings. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the
invention that there can be any number of louvers, louvers columns,
air intake openings, or any arrangement or configuration of louvers
or air intake openings. In addition, ends 150a-150d of the frame
form a flanged perimeter 156 with a plurality of openings 152 that
allow the vent assembly 100 to be secured to an underneath surface
of a roof or soffit structure 900, as shown in FIG. 6. In the
current embodiment, openings 152 can receive one or more threaded
screws or nails to secure the vent. However, it is contemplated
within the scope of the invention that any number of methods or
devices can be used to secure vent 100 to the underneath surface of
a roof, including but not limited to, adhesives, magnetic, straps,
solder, welding, rivets, latches, snap-fit, or press-fit.
[0020] Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, on the first end 150a of frame
150, an opening 158 is provided that allows the vent to receive a
removable filter insert 110. Specifically, opening 158 is a
substantially rectilinear or rectangular configured slot that
allows filter insert 110 to be slideably inserted and/or removed
from frame 150. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the
invention that opening 158 can be of any configuration, dimension,
or shape, including but not limited to ellipsoid, oval, rounded
corners, mitered corners, or any polygon having three or more
sides. Further, it is contemplated within the scope of the
invention that opening 158 can be on either one or more of ends
150a, 150b, 150c, and 150d. Here, removable insert 110 can be
reusable or disposable. If reusable, it can be removed, cleaned,
and quickly re-inserted within the vent frame. There are many known
cleaning methods within the art, such as using high-pressure water
or high-pressure air to clean the filter while it is isolated from
the vent frame. Hence, by incorporating a removable filter insert,
a user does not need to remove and re-install a new soffit vent.
Other cleaning methods can include, but are not limited, various
solvents, bleach, hydrogen peroxide, soap, brushing, detergent,
ultrasound, air, water, and heat.
[0021] Still referring to FIGS. 1-2, removable filter insert 110
has a substantially rectilinear or rectangular configuration.
However, it is contemplated within the scope of the invention that
insert 110 can be of any configuration, dimension, or shape,
including but not limited to ellipsoid, oval, circular, rounded
corners, mitered corners, or any polygon having three or more
sides. In the current embodiment, filter insert 110 is made of
galvanized steel or metal material and is stamped from one piece of
metal. However, it is contemplated within the scope of the
invention that any type of material can be used in lieu of steel or
metal.
[0022] Filter insert 110 further includes a plurality of apertures,
perforations, or pores 114 across its surface area that help filter
incoming air flowing through the vent and into an attic space. In
the current embodiment, approximately 50% of the surface area of
the filter includes pores 114. However, it is contemplated within
the scope of the invention that any number of pores can be provided
within insert 110, including from 5% up to 95% of the surface area
of insert 110. In other embodiments, any number of additional
layers of filtering material or filter media can be provided on the
top or bottom surface of insert 110, or in lieu of insert 110.
[0023] In addition, insert 110 includes a projecting pull-tab 112
at one end of the filter with an aperture there through. Tab 112
assists the user in removing the insert from the frame. It is
contemplated within the scope of the invention that in lieu of a
tab, any type of mechanism can be used to assist a user from
removing the filter, including but not limited to a handle, latch,
nip, grip, treaded surface, hook, and ring.
[0024] FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment for an insert 210.
Here, insert 210 does not include pores or apertures and is
intended to block or prevent airflow from flowing through the vent
and into the attic space of a dwelling. Similar in operation to
insert 110, insert 210 is removable and also slides within frame
150 via an opening on one side of the frame. Further, insert 210
can also include a projecting pull-tab 212 to assist the user in
removing insert 210 from the frame. In certain emergency scenarios,
such as a fire scenario within a dwelling or the attic of the
dwelling, it is desired to reduce the amount of air flowing into
the attic to prevent further exacerbation of the fire and further
help improve the choking and/or distinguishing of the fire within
the dwelling or within the attic of a dwelling. Hence, in a fire
scenario, the configuration of vent 100 allows a user to quickly
remove filter insert 110 from the frame 150 and replace it with
insert 210, thereby preventing fire from additionally spreading to
the attic and assist distinguishing the fire by preventing
additional airflow from reaching the attic space. In addition,
insert 210 can also be used in storm or extreme weather or
environmental situations, such as hurricanes, tornados, typhoons,
floods, and environmental disasters, thereby preventing unwanted
air (such as turbulent air), water, dust, snow, ice, chemicals,
smoke, or other airborne debris or substances from entering the
attic space.
[0025] FIGS. 4-5 illustrate another embodiment for an insert 310.
Here, insert 310 does not include apertures or pores and is also
intended to block airflow from flowing through the vent and into an
attic space of a dwelling. Similar in operation to insert 110 and
insert 210, insert 310 is removable and also slides within frame
150 via an opening on one side of the frame. Further, insert 310
can also include a projecting pull-tab 312 to assist the user in
removing insert 310 from the frame. In addition, insert 310
includes two adjacent flaps 320 on each side of the insert that
allow the insert to be securely fit within frame 150. Specifically,
flaps 320 are comprised of one end 322 and an opposing adjacent end
324 that protrude outwardly with respect to each other. Further,
ends 322 and 324 are flexible resilient components that can pivot
about one common axis. Hence, ends 322 and 324 can be bent and
pressed towards each other so that when the insert is inserted
within frame 150 they can provide a secure engagement and fit
within the frame. Further, in another embodiment, ends 322 and 324
can also be incorporated into the insert 110 embodiment, thereby
further securing insert 110 within the vent. In other embodiments,
either of inserts 110, 210, or 310 can include a sealing substance
or material, such as a rubber or any other suitable material,
affixed around the outer perimeter of the inserts, thereby
providing a secure and sealed fit of the inserts within frame 150.
Further, in other embodiments, vent 100 of the present invention
can be affixed to any surface of a dwelling, including but not
limited to the soffit structure, soffit at rake, soffit at eave,
underneath surface of a roof, wall panel, fascia, pipes, or any
other suitable area of a dwelling. In addition, a dwelling can
include any number of soffit vents 100 affixed to its
structure.
[0026] It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various
modifications and variations can be made in the serviceable soffit
vent apparatus. For example, it is contemplated within the scope of
the invention that one or more of frame 150, filter 110, insert
210, and insert 310, or all, can be made from one of more of:
plastics, thermoplastics, thermosetting polymers, polyethylene
terephthalate, high-density polyethylene, polyvinyl chloride,
polypropylene, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polylactide, fiberglass,
glass-reinforced plastic, epoxy derived, polyester derived, steel,
aluminum, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron,
bronze, cadmium, cesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium,
germanium, iridium, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese,
molybdenum, nickel, rhodium, osmium, ruthenium, rhenium, rubidium,
scandium, selenium, strontium, tantalum, tellurium, thallium,
thorium, tin, titanium, tungsten, vanadium, zinc, and zirconium,
fabrics, cotton, polyester, aramid, nylon, olefin fiber, carbon
fiber, acrylic, non-woven fibers, activated carbon, antimicrobial,
yarn, and ceramic. In addition, it is contemplated within the scope
of the invention that any type of manufacturing method can be used
to manufacture one or more of frame 150, filter 110, insert 210,
and insert 310, or all, including but not limited, to centrifugal
casting, continuous casting, die casting, evaporative-pattern
casting, investment casting, lost wax casting, low pressure
casting, permanent mold casting, plastic mold casting, resin
casting, sand casting, shell molding, slush or slurry casting,
spray forming, powder metallurgy, metal injection molding,
injection, compression molding, transfer molding, extrusion
molding, blow molding, dip molding, rotational molding,
thermoforming, laminating, foam, shrink fitting, shrink wrapping,
end tube forming, forging, rolling, cold rolling, hot rolling,
sheet metal rolling, impact extrusion, hemming, shearing, piercing,
stamping, coining, ironing, flattening, swaging, spinning, peening,
magnetic pulse, explosive forming, staking, flanging, hot metal gas
forming, curling, machining, milling, turning, lathe, facing,
boring, spinning, knurling, hard turning, drilling, reaming,
countersinking, tapping, sawing, broaching, shaping, planing,
honing, finishing, abrasive blasting, buffing, burnishing,
electroplating, etching, plating, polishing, wire brushing,
ultrasonic machining, electrical discharge, electron beam
machining, electrochemical machining, chemical, laser cutting,
grinding, gashing, welding, arc welding, plasma arc, carbon arc,
gas tunsgsten, plasma-MIG, plasma arc, butt welding, spot welding,
shot welding, seam welding, solid state welding, friction weld,
cold weld, forge weld, electron beam weld, brazing, soldering,
adhesive bonding, epoxy bonding, thermoplastic bonding,
polyurethane bonding, adhesive alloy bonding, riveting, nuts,
bolts, screwing, nailing, pinning, stitching, stapling, press
fitting, and three dimensional printing.
[0027] It will also be apparent to those skilled in the art that
while a method of inserting the filter within the vent is
specified, the specific order is not required. Other embodiments
will be apparent to those skilled in the art from consideration of
the specification and practice of the disclosed embodiments herein.
It is intended that the specification and examples be considered as
exemplary only, with a true scope of the disclosure being indicated
by the following claims.
* * * * *