Hopper vent

Abstract

An improved hopper vent is provided which includes many novel features. The hopper vent includes a removable sash window that is removable from the interior side of the hopper vent. The removable sash window is spring loaded into the frame of the hopper vent and is injection molded for easy manufacture. The hopper vent also includes a removable screen which is also removable from the interior side of the hopper vent. The hopper vent also includes a pivot system to allow the removable sash window to pivot open instead of rotating open like in previous, hinge-based systems. Also, the hopper vent includes a dam system which prevents water from draining to the interior of the hopper vent. The dam system includes a front riser to prevent water from draining to the interior of the hopper vent and a drain, such as weep holes or a gap between the frame and the screen of the hopper vent, to allow water to drain to the exterior of the hopper vent. The removable sash window of the hopper vent is also fixedly positionable at a plurality of different openings.

1 . A hopper vent including: 
 a transparent insert;    a window frame forming a central opening containing said transparent insert; and    a frame forming a central opening containing said window frame, wherein said window frame is directly removable from said frame.    
     
     
         2 . The hopper vent of  claim 1  wherein said hopper vent includes a user-actuatable discharge that does not require tools to remove said window frame from said frame.  
     
     
         3 . The hopper vent of  claim 1  wherein said hopper vent has an interior side and an exterior side and said window frame is removable from the interior side of said hopper vent.  
     
     
         4 . The hopper vent of  claim 1  wherein said window frame is spring loaded by bias springs into said frame.  
     
     
         5 . The hopper vent of  claim 1  wherein said window frame is injection molded.  
     
     
         6 . A method for removing a window frame from a hopper vent by actuating a user-actuatable discharge, wherein said window frame forms a central opening containing a transparent insert and said frame forms a central opening containing said window frame and said window frame is directly removable from said frame.  
     
     
         7 . A hopper vent including; 
 a removable screen;    a frame containing said removable screen, wherein said removable screen is directly removable from said frame.    
     
     
         8 . The hopper vent of  claim 7  wherein said hopper vent includes a user-actuatable discharge that does not require tools to remove said removable screen from said frame.  
     
     
         9 . The hopper vent of  claim 7  wherein said hopper vent has an interior side and an exterior side and said removable screen is removable from the interior side of said hopper vent.  
     
     
         10 . The hopper vent of  claim 7  wherein said removable screen is affixed to said frame by tabs.  
     
     
         11 . The hopper vent of  claim 7  wherein said removable screen is injection molded.  
     
     
         12 . A hopper vent including: 
 a window frame forming a central opening containing a transparent insert; and    a frame forming a central opening containing said window frame, wherein said window frame is affixed to said frame by a pivot system permitting the window frame to be opened.    
     
     
         13 . The hopper vent of  claim 12  wherein said window frame is spring loaded by bias springs into said frame.  
     
     
         14 . The hopper vent of  claim 12  wherein said window frame may be pivoted open and fixedly positioned at a plurality of predetermined positions.  
     
     
         15 . The hopper vent of  claim 14  wherein said window frame is fixedly positioned at said predetermined positions by spring compressing force.  
     
     
         16 . The hopper vent of  claim 14  wherein said window frame further includes at least one positioning nub and said frame further includes at least one positioning slot.  
     
     
         17 . The hopper vent of  claim 16  further including a bias spring wherein said positioning nub is introduced into said positioning slot by said bias spring.  
     
     
         18 . A method for opening a window frame of a hopper vent including pivoting the window frame open using a pivot system, said pivot system affixing said window frame to a frame forming a central opening containing said frame.  
     
     
         19 . A hopper vent wherein said hopper vent has an interior side and an exterior side, said hopper vent including: 
 a window frame forming a central opening containing a transparent insert;    a frame forming a central opening containing said window frame, said frame including a bottom side having an interior side and an exterior side;    a front riser seal at said interior side of said bottom side of said frame to prevent liquid from entering the interior of said hopper vent; and    a drain at said exterior side of said bottom side of said frame to allow liquid to drain to the exterior of said hopper vent.    
     
     
         20 . The hopper vent of  claim 19  further including a screen wherein said drain is at least one weep hole in said screen.  
     
     
         21 . The hopper vent of  claim 19  further including a screen wherein said drain is at least one gap between said frame and said screen  
     
     
         22 . The hopper vent of  claim 19  wherein said bottom side of said frame is sloped to encourage flow of liquid from said interior side to said exterior side of said bottom side.  
     
     
         23 . A method for draining liquid from a hopper vent including a frame including a bottom side having an interior side and an exterior side, said method including the steps of: 
 providing a front riser seal at said interior side of said bottom side of said frame to prevent liquid from entering the interior of said hopper vent; and    draining liquid from said hopper vent using a drain at said exterior side of said bottom side of said frame to allow liquid to drain to the exterior of said hopper vent.    
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said hopper vent further includes a screen and wherein said draining step includes draining liquid from said hopper vent using at least one weep hole in said screen.  
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23  wherein said hopper vent further includes a screen and wherein said draining step includes draining liquid from said hopper vent through at least one gap between said frame and said screen.  
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23  further including the step of sloping the bottom side of said frame to encourage flow of liquid from said interior side to said exterior side of said bottom side.  
     
     
         27 . A hopper vent including: 
 a window frame forming a central opening containing a transparent insert a frame forming a central opening containing said window frame; and    a window lock locking said window frame to said frame, wherein said window lock is recessed within said window frame    
     
     
         28 . The hopper vent of  claim 27  wherein said window lock is fashioned as part of the window frame.  
     
     
         29 . The hopper vent of  claim 27  wherein said window lock is rotatable.