Quick Release Screen for Vent Assemblies

Abstract

A screen member, for a vent assembly including a housing with an inner side, has a base ring and a screen coupled to the base ring. The attachment mechanism is unitarily formed with the base ring to enable readily removal of the screen member. A plurality of cantilevered extending members form part of the attachment mechanism. The extending members include a retaining member on its distal end to secure the screen member in the cut out of the housing. Also, a spacer is on at least one extending member to reduce the play between the extending members and the housing.

1 . A vent assembly comprising:
 a housing having an inner side and an outer side with an opening through said housing;   a cover coupled with said housing on said outer side for covering said opening;   a fan including a motor and a blade positioned in said opening for moving air through said housing;   a wall member on said inner side, said wall member having a cut out, said wall member having a desired thickness, said cut out having a desired configuration defining a perimeter edge of said cut out;   a screen member having a configuration to cover said cut out, said screen member having a base ring and a screen coupled with said base ring;   an attachment mechanism for ready removal of said screen member from said inner side, said attachment member including a plurality of cantilevered extending members positioned on said base ring, said extending members including a retaining member on its distal end for retaining said base ring on inner side wall; and   a spacer on at least one of said retaining extending members, said spacer positioned between said retaining member and said base ring, said spacer contacting said perimeter edge of the wall cut out for reducing play between said extending member and said wall.   
     
     
         2 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein each extending member includes a spacer. 
     
     
         3 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining member has an overall ellipsoidal shape. 
     
     
         4 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein said spacer has a hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         5 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein said retaining member and spacer protect from the same side of the extending member. 
     
     
         6 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment member provides a quick release. 
     
     
         7 . The fan of  claim 1 , wherein said attachment member is unitarily formed with said base ring. 
     
     
         8 . A screen member for attaching to a vent assembly having an inner side wall having a thickness with a cut out with a desired configuration defining a perimeter edge of the cut out, said screen member comprising:
 a base ring and a screen coupled with said base ring said screen member having a configuration to cover said cut out;   an attachment mechanism for ready removal of said screen member from the inner side wall, said attachment member including a plurality of cantilevered extending members positioned on said base ring, said extending members including a retaining member on its distal end for retaining said base ring on the inner side wall; and   a spacer on at least one of said extending members, said spacer positioned between said retaining member and said base ring, said spacer contacting the perimeter edge of the wall cut out for reducing play between said extending member and the wall.   
     
     
         9 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein each extending member includes a spacer. 
     
     
         10 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein said retaining member has an overall ellipsoidal shape. 
     
     
         11 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein said spacer has a hemispherical shape. 
     
     
         12 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein said retaining member and spacer protect from the same side of the extending member. 
     
     
         13 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein said attachment member provides a quick release. 
     
     
         14 . The fan of  claim 2 , wherein said attachment member is unitarily formed with said base ring.