Vent apparatus

Abstract

A vent comprises a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway. The cover member has at least one first connector and at least one second connector spaced outwardly from the first connector. The first and second connectors operable to provide pivotal coupling to a damper.

1 . A vent comprising a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway, the cover member comprising at least one first connector and at least one second connector spaced outwardly from the first connector, the first and second connectors operable to provide pivotal coupling to a damper.  
   
   
       2 . A vent according to  claim 1  wherein the first connector allows the damper to be pivoted between a first open configuration wherein air may travel through the vent passageway and a first closed configuration which substantially blocks inward airflow through the vent passageway.  
   
   
       3 . A vent according to  claim 2  wherein the cover member defines an inward aperture at or near an inward end of the vent passageway and the cover member comprises outwardly-extending flanges on transversely opposing sides of the inward aperture.  
   
   
       4 . A vent according to  claim 3  wherein the damper comprises first inwardly-extending flanges on its transversely opposing side edges for directing moisture away from an exterior surface of the damper.  
   
   
       5 . A vent according to  claim 4  wherein, when the damper is in the first closed configuration, the damper covers the inward aperture and the first inwardly-extending flanges extend inwardly on sides of the outwardly-extending flanges opposite to the inward aperture for directing moisture away from the inward aperture.  
   
   
       6 . A vent according to  claim 2  wherein the damper comprises at least one moisture diverter on an exterior surface thereof, the at least one moisture diverter shaped to cause gravity to direct moisture along the moisture diverter and off of the exterior surface.  
   
   
       7 . A vent according to  claim 6  wherein the moisture diverter comprises at least one of: an outwardly protruding wall; and an inwardly recessed channel.  
   
   
       8 . A vent according to  claim 2  wherein the damper extends generally transversely when the damper is in the first closed configuration.  
   
   
       9 . A vent according to  claim 3  wherein the second connector allows the damper to be pivoted between a second open configuration wherein air may travel through the vent passageway and a second closed configuration which substantially blocks inward airflow through the vent passageway.  
   
   
       10 . A vent according to  claim 9  wherein the damper comprises second inwardly-extending flanges on its transversely opposing side edges for directing moisture away from an exterior surface of the damper.  
   
   
       11 . A vent according to  claim 10  wherein the cover member comprises outwardly-opening channels on transversely opposing sides of the inward aperture.  
   
   
       12 . A vent according to  claim 11  wherein, when the damper is in the second closed configuration, the damper covers the inward aperture and the second inwardly-extending flanges extend inwardly into the outwardly-opening channels for directing moisture away from the inward aperture.  
   
   
       13 . A vent according to  claim 12  wherein the outwardly-opening channels are oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the inward aperture.  
   
   
       14 . A vent according to  claim 10  wherein the cover member comprises outwardly-extending walls on transversely opposing sides of the inward aperture.  
   
   
       15 . A vent according to  claim 14  wherein, when the damper is in the second closed configuration, the damper covers the inward aperture and the second inwardly-extending flanges extend inwardly on sides of the outwardly-extending walls opposite to the inward aperture.  
   
   
       16 . A vent according to  claim 15  wherein exterior edges of the outwardly-extending walls are oriented at a non-parallel angle with respect to the inward aperture.  
   
   
       17 . A vent according to  claim 9  wherein the damper comprises at least one moisture diverter on an exterior surface thereof, the at least one moisture diverter shaped to cause gravity to direct moisture along the moisture diverter and off of the exterior surface.  
   
   
       18 . A vent according to  claim 17  wherein the moisture diverter comprises at least one of: an outwardly protruding wall; and an inwardly recessed channel.  
   
   
       19 . A vent according to  claim 1  where the first and second connectors are located on opposing sides of the vent passageway.  
   
   
       20 . A vent according to  claim 19  wherein the vent is mountable to a soffit.  
   
   
       21 . A vent according to  claim 20  wherein when the vent is mounted to a soffit, the damper hangs downwardly from the second connector.  
   
   
       22 . A vent according to  claim 20  comprising a screen that is mountable to the cover member between the first and second connectors, such that the screen substantially spans the vent passageway.  
   
   
       23 . A vent according to  claim 20  wherein the second connector comprises: a first connector portion for providing pivotal coupling to a screen at or near a first edge thereof, such that the screen is pivotable to a closed configuration where the screen substantially spans the vent passageway; and a second connector portion for providing pivotal coupling to the damper at or near a first edge thereof, the second connector portion located outwardly of the first connector portion.  
   
   
       24 . A vent according to  claim 23  wherein the first and second connector portions comprise dowel receiving regions for respectively receiving a screen dowel on the screen and a damper dowel on the damper.  
   
   
       25 . A vent according to  claim 23  comprising a damper stopper which projects across an outward opening of the second connector portion.  
   
   
       26 . A vent according to  claim 23  wherein the cover member comprises a pair of outwardly extending flanges that define an outwardly-opening slot for receiving an edge of the screen opposite the first edge of the screen when the screen is in its closed configuration.  
   
   
       27 . A vent according to  claim 26  wherein at least one of the pair of outwardly extending flanges comprises one or more projections that project into the outwardly-opening slot.  
   
   
       28 . A vent according to  claim 1  wherein the cover member comprises a third connector for providing pivotal coupling to a screen at or near a first edge thereof, such that the screen is pivotable to a closed configuration where the screen substantially spans the vent passageway.  
   
   
       29 . A vent according to  claim 28  wherein the third connector is located outwardly of the first and second connectors.  
   
   
       30 . A vent according to  claim 28  wherein the cover member comprises a pair of outwardly extending flanges that define an outwardly-opening slot for receiving an edge of the screen opposite the first edge of the screen when the screen is in its closed configuration.  
   
   
       31 . A vent according to  claim 30  wherein at least one of the pair of outwardly extending flanges comprises one or more projections that project into the outwardly-opening slot.  
   
   
       32 . A vent according to  claim 1  comprising at least one third connector spaced outwardly from the first and second connectors, the third connector also operable to provide pivotal coupling to the damper.  
   
   
       33 . A vent according to  claim 32  wherein the at least one third connector is on an opposing side of the vent passageway than the first and second connectors.  
   
   
       34 . A vent according to  claim 33  wherein the third connector is also operable to provide pivotal coupling to a screen at or near a first edge thereof, such that the screen is pivotable to a closed configuration where the screen substantially spans the vent passageway.  
   
   
       35 . A vent comprising: 
 a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway;    an adapter member providing a through passageway, the adapter member coupleable to the cover member at its exterior end and to a conduit at its interior end to provide fluid communication between the vent passageway and the conduit; wherein the cover member comprises a plurality of first hook members and the adapter member comprises a plurality of second hook members engageable with the first hook members for coupling the adapter member to the cover member.    
   
   
       36 . A vent according to  claim 35  where the first and second hook members are resiliently deformable to provide a releasable snap-together coupling between the adapter member and the cover member.  
   
   
       37 . A vent according to  claim 36  wherein the cover member comprises an inwardly-extending adapter receiving flange and the first hook members extend inwardly at locations spaced apart from the adapter receiving flange to provide inwardly-opening gaps therebetween and wherein the first hook members comprise tongues that extend away from their corresponding inwardly-opening gaps.  
   
   
       38 . A vent according to  claim 37  wherein the adapter member comprises an outwardly-extending vent flange and wherein, when the adapter member is coupled to the cover member, the outwardly-extending vent flange projects into the inwardly-opening gaps of the cover member.  
   
   
       39 . A vent according to  claim 38  wherein the second hook members extend outwardly at locations spaced apart from the vent flange to provide outwardly-opening gaps therebetween and wherein the second hook members comprise tongues that extend into their corresponding outwardly-opening gaps.  
   
   
       40 . A vent according to  claim 39  wherein, when the adapter member is coupled to the cover member, the first hook members project into the outwardly-opening gaps of the adapter member and the tongues of the first hook members engage the tongues of the second hook members.  
   
   
       41 . A vent according to  claim 40  wherein the cover member comprises inwardly-extending braces at locations spaced apart from the first hook members and wherein, when the adapter member is coupled to the base member, the second hook members of the adapter member extend into gaps between the braces and the first hook members.  
   
   
       42 . A vent according to  36  wherein the first hook members comprise tongues which extend transversely from one or more inwardly-extending adapter receiving flanges.  
   
   
       43 . A vent according to  claim 42  wherein the cover member comprises one or more inwardly-extending lips, each inwardly-extending lip transversely spaced apart from a corresponding one of the inwardly-extending adapter receiving flanges to provide inwardly-opening gaps therebetween.  
   
   
       44 . A vent according to  claim 43  wherein the adapter member comprises an outwardly-extending vent flange and wherein, when the adapter member is coupled to the cover member, the outwardly-extending vent flange projects into the inwardly-opening gaps of the cover member.  
   
   
       45 . A vent according to  claim 42  wherein each of the second hooks comprise a first outwardly-extending portion and a second inwardly-extending portion.  
   
   
       46 . A vent according to  claim 45  wherein, when the adapter member is coupled to the cover member, the second inwardly-extending portion of each second hook engages the tongue of the corresponding first hook.  
   
   
       47 . A vent comprising: 
 a cover member having a cover member surface which defines at least a portion of a vent passageway;    an adapter member providing a through passageway, the adapter member coupleable to the cover member at its exterior end and to a conduit at its interior end to provide fluid communication between the vent passageway and the conduit; and    a screen which is pivotally coupled to a first connector of the cover member, the screen pivotable to a first position where the screen spans the vent passageway and a second position where the screen allows access to the vent passageway.    
   
   
       48 . A vent according to  claim 47  comprising a damper which is also pivotally connected to the first connector of the cover member, the damper pivotable to a first configuration where the damper spans the vent passageway and a second position where the vent allows fluid flow through the vent passageway.