Baffled vent for flexible covers for outdoor use

Abstract

A baffled vent, for attachment to material of a cover structure intended for outdoor use to cover an article, having a grip portion and a vent portion mounted to said grip portion. The vent portion has an inner side and an outer side. A channel, in fluid communication with the inner side and the outer side, passes through the vent portion. A fluid flow constrictor is mounted to the vent portion within the channel. Typically, a peripheral margin is formed around the periphery. The vent portion typically has a cap portion and a base portion with an inner aperture at one end of the channel. Normally, the lower end of the cap portion and the grip are integrated and the grip portion and the base plate define an aperture at the other end of the channel.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A baffled vent for attachment to material of a cover structure intended for outdoor use to cover an article, said baffled vent comprising: 
 (a) a vent portion having an inner side and an outer side, said vent portion having a channel passing therethrough, said channel being in fluid communication with said inner side and said outer side; and,    (b) at least one fluid flow constrictor mounted to said vent portion within said channel.    
     
     
         2 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a grip portion mounted to said vent portion.  
     
     
         3 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 1 , said vent portion having an outer face, said outer face having an upper end and a lower end when said baffled vent is oriented in a generally vertical direction, said outer face sloping generally outwardly from said upper end to said lower end.  
     
     
         4 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprising a peripheral portion around the periphery of said vent portion, said peripheral portion being adapted for attachment to the cover.  
     
     
         5 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 1 , said vent portion having a cap portion and a base portion mounted to said cap portion, said base portion having a base aperture, said channel having an inner end and an outer end, and said base aperture being positioned at said inner end of said channel.  
     
     
         6 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said inner end of said channel is positioned proximate to said inner side and said outer end is positioned proximate to said outer side, said cap portion having an upper end and a lower end, said lower end of said cap portion and said base portion defining an outer aperture, said outer aperture being positioned at said outer end of said channel.  
     
     
         7 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 6 , wherein said outer end of said channel is oriented generally downwardly when said baffled vent is oriented in a generally vertical direction.  
     
     
         8 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein said fluid flow constrictor is positioned between said inner end and said outer end of said channel.  
     
     
         9 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein said fluid flow constrictor is a member extending from one of said cap portion and said base portion into said channel such that the cross-sectional area of said channel is reduced near said fluid flow constrictor.  
     
     
         10 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said vent portion has a base portion and a cap portion mounted to said base portion, said grip portion and said cap portion being formed integrally one with the other.  
     
     
         11 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said cap portion has an upper end and a lower end when said baffled vent is oriented in a generally vertical orientation, said grip portion comprising finger holds formed proximate to said lower end of said cap portion.  
     
     
         12 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said outer face is adapted to receive a plaque secured thereto.  
     
     
         13 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said outer face is adapted to have a logo molded therein.  
     
     
         14 . A baffled vent as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said baffled vent is flexible, and is molded from a material chosen from the group consisting of: flexible PVC, vinyl, rubber, and mixtures thereof.  
     
     
         15 . A cover structure for outdoor use to cover an article, said cover structure comprising flexible waterproof material cut and sewn in a pattern so as to cover an intended article to be covered, and at least one baffled vent according to  claim 1 , placed in a region of said material so as to be oriented substantially vertically when said cover is in place over said intended article.  
     
     
         16 . The cover structure of  claim 15 , wherein two baffled vents are secured to said flexible waterproof material in regions which are opposed to one another when said cover is placed over an intended article.  
     
     
         17 . A cover structure for outdoor use to cover an article, said cover structure comprising flexible waterproof material cut and sewn in a pattern so as to cover an intended article to be covered, and at least one baffled vent according to  claim 4 , placed in a region of said material so as to be oriented substantially vertically when said cover is in place over said intended article; and 
 wherein said at least one baffled vent is secured to said flexible waterproof material along said peripheral portion.    
     
     
         18 . The cover structure of  claim 17 , wherein two baffled vents are secured to said flexible waterproof material in regions which are opposed to one another when said cover is placed over an intended article.