Replaceable foundation vent

Abstract

The replaceable foundation vent has a mounting frame and a plurality of vent components, including a screen, ventilation plate, and a slider. The ventilation components are removably attachable to the mounting frame using fasteners. The mounting frame has a built in lintel, the entire frame being adapted for permanent mounting in an opening in a block, brick or frame foundation wall. Overhanging portions of the frame lintel rest atop foundation wall members laterally disposed on either side of the frame. Additional foundation wall members can be disposed on top of the lintel to seal off the initial top opening. By releasing/removing the fasteners, the vent components can easily be removed from the mounting frame for repairs to the vent when necessary.

1 . A replaceable foundation vent, comprising:
 a substantially rectangular vent plate having a plurality of gratings, the plurality of gratings forming air ventilation passageways;   a mounting frame adapted for permanent mounting in a foundation wall of a building, the mounting frame having a bottom wall, opposing sidewalls, and a top wall defining a rectangular vent opening, the top wall of the frame overhanging the sidewalls and extending deeper rearward than the bottom wall and the sidewalls so that the top wall of the frame defines a lintel;   a plurality of substantially coplanar support ribs extending into the opening defined by the frame, including a bottom support rib and opposing side ribs extending from a rear edge of the bottom wall and opposing sidewalls, respectively of the frame, and a top support rib extending medially from the lintel, the support ribs forming an inwardly directed peripheral mounting flange for the vent plate, the support ribs having a plurality of bores defined therein; and   a plurality of fasteners removably attaching the vent plate to the peripheral mounting flanges of the mounting frame, the fasteners engaging the bores.   
   
   
       2 . The replaceable foundation vent according to  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners comprise threaded fasteners, the threaded fasteners engaging the bores defined in the mounting flanges. 
   
   
       3 . The replaceable foundation vent according to  claim 1 , further comprising a lower flange extending downward from the bottom wall of said frame, the lower flange forming a lip adapted for aligning the bottom of said frame in mortar on supporting foundation bricks of the foundation wall. 
   
   
       4 . The replaceable foundation vent according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a screen removably attached to a rear portion of the ventilation plate; and   a slider slidably attached to a front portion of the ventilation plate, the slider having complementary gratings to the ventilation plate gratings, the complementary gratings regulating airflow through the ventilation plate according to a slidable position of the slider.   
   
   
       5 . The replaceable foundation vent according to  claim 4 , further comprising a plurality of inwardly directed tabs disposed along a periphery of the ventilation plate, the tabs retaining the slider in slidable contact with the mounting frame. 
   
   
       6 . The replaceable foundation vent according to  claim 4 , further comprising a handle affixed to and extending outwardly from the slider, the handle providing a grabbing surface for user operation of the slider.