Masonry wall vent

Abstract

A vent for an exterior brick wall. The vent includes a first enclosure which is installed in the brick wall in place of an entire brick. The enclosure defines a flow path from ambient conditions to the air in between the brick wall and an interior wall. The vent includes a shield for protecting the flow path of the enclosure from being obstructed by falling debris. Some embodiments includes a vertical section of vents which is also protected from falling debris such as trash mortar.

1 . A method for venting a wall including bricks, comprising: 
 providing a plurality of bricks of predetermined height and predetermined width;    providing a vent assembly which includes a portion having a height substantially the same as one of the predetermined heights and a width substantially the same as one of the predetermined widths, the portion including a flowpath;    constructing a wall with the bricks;    placing the vent assembly in the wall adjacent to a plurality of the bricks;    establishing fluid communication from one side of the wall to the other side of the wall with the flowpath; and    shielding the flowpath from debris on the one side of the wall.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein said providing includes the vent assembly having a shelf, the shelf extending out from the one side of the wall after said placing; and 
 wherein said shielding is by the shelf.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the portion is a first portion and the wall is a brickwall which further comprises: 
 providing a second portion of the vent assembly having a second flowpath, the second portion being slidingly received within the first portion;    fastening the second portion to a second wall located on the one side of the brickwall; and    wherein said shielding includes engagement of the first portion and the second portion after said fastening.    
   
   
       4 . An apparatus for venting a brick wall, comprising: 
 a first enclosure having a top, bottom, and opposing lateral sides, said first enclosure including a flowpath for the free movement of air therethrough, said first enclosure having the shape of a commercially available brick;    a second member which extends beyond one of the top or bottom of said first enclosure, said second member including a protected channel for the free movement of air therethrough, the flowpath and the channel being in fluid communication, said channel being protected from falling debris.    
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said second member extends for a length that is at least twice the distance from the top to the bottom.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said second member and said first enclosure are slidingly coupled together.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said protected channel includes a shelf and a plurality of vent openings, said shelf being adapted and configured to substantially obstruct falling debris from entering said vent openings.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 4  which further comprises a porous barrier which extends substantially across the flow path of said first enclosure.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8  wherein said porous barrier includes a plurality of holes having a diameter less than about 0.1 inches.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 4  wherein said first enclosure has a color that is about the same as the color of a brick.  
   
   
       11 . An apparatus for venting a brick wall, comprising: 
 a first enclosure adapted and configured to replace at least a portion of a brick in a brickwall; said first enclosure including a flowpath for substantially unrestricted flow of air therethrough, said first enclosure defining an aperture;    a second shielding member slidingly coupled to said first enclosure, said second shielding member including at least one surface having surface area which projects vertically, said at least one surface being positioned to substantially obstruct blockage of the flowpath by falling debris.    
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said second shielding member is adapted and configured to be attached by a fastener to a second wall.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said first enclosure has a first width, said second shielding member includes a second enclosure slidingly received by said first enclosure and having a second width, the second width being about equal to or less than the first width.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein one of said first enclosure or said second shielding member includes a mechanical stop for limiting the sldiing movement of the second shielding member away from said first enclosure.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein the flowpath is a first flowpath, and said second shielding member includes a second enclosure slidingly received in the aperture, said second enclosure including a second flowpath in fluid communication with the first flowpath.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 11  wherein said first enclosure and said second shielding member are slidingly engageable for at least one inch of length.