Multi-Purpose Vent

Abstract

Disclosed is a foundation vent that provides air ventilation and flood relief for an enclosed area. A screen is included to prevent items such as insects, small animals, debris, and organic matter, including buoyant materials due to a flood, from entering the enclosed area. A removable screen and exterior screen stop allow the owner to easily inspect, maintain, clean, and repair the foundation vent. The foundation vent is also designed as a non-engineered, non-mechanical opening, which allows the air and flood water ratings of the foundation vent to be based upon the actual net clear open area. Such design eliminates the need for a vapor barrier and/or specialized structural engineering of the foundation. The dual operation of the foundation vent as a flood grate also allows rising flood water to penetrate and recede from the enclosed area, which equalizes the hydrostatic pressure on either side of the foundation wall.

1 . An apparatus for air ventilation and passage of flood water comprising:
 a housing including:
 at least one interior screen stop, said interior screen stop including at least one interior screen stop recess; 
 at least one housing recess configured to accept a first end of said exterior stop; and 
 at least one housing channel configured to accept a second end of said exterior stop; 
   a screen including at least one screen flange configured for insertion into said at least one interior screen stop recess; and   an exterior stop.   
   
   
       2 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the group consisting of said screen, said exterior stop, and combinations thereof is removable from said housing. 
   
   
       3 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein said apparatus qualifies as a non-engineered opening; and   wherein a first rating of said air ventilation and a second rating of said passage of flood water is based upon an actual net clear open area of said apparatus.   
   
   
       4 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one interior screen stop is an approximately C-shaped protrusion. 
   
   
       5 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes:
 at least one perimeter exterior housing flange.   
   
   
       6 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the group consisting of said housing, said screen, said exterior stop, and combinations thereof is at least partially formed from polypropylene. 
   
   
       7 . An apparatus according to  claim 7 , wherein said polypropylene is reinforced with at least one of the group consisting of metal, fiberglass, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       8 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said screen includes at least one compressible section. 
   
   
       9 . An apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein said compressible section is a foam strip. 
   
   
       10 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing, said screen, and said exterior stop are square. 
   
   
       11 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said exterior stop is at least one of the group consisting of a decorative exterior stop, a louvered exterior stop, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       12 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein said housing includes:
 at least one weep aperture.   
   
   
       13 . An apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one interior surface of said housing is at least one of the group consisting of tapered, indented, and combinations thereof. 
   
   
       14 . An apparatus for air ventilation and passage of flood water comprising:
 a housing including:
 a sill, said sill including a sill interior stop, said sill interior stop separating an interior sill section and an exterior sill section, said exterior sill section including an exterior sill section channel adjacent an exterior sill section upwardly facing surface, said exterior sill section upwardly facing surface including a plurality of sill fins; 
 a head, said head including a head interior stop, said head interior stop separating an interior head section and an exterior head section, said exterior head section including an exterior head section recess and an exterior head downwardly facing surface; and 
 two jambs, each of said jambs including a jamb interior stop, each of said jamb interior stops separating an interior jamb section and an exterior jam section; 
   a screen including at least one screen flange; and   an exterior stop configured for insertion into said exterior sill section channel and said exterior head section recess.   
   
   
       15 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 ,
 wherein said sill interior stop, said head interior stop, and said jamb interior stops are approximately C-shaped protrusions;   wherein said sill interior stop includes a sill interior stop recess;   wherein said head interior stop includes a head interior stop recess;   wherein said jamb interior stops each include a jamb interior stop recess; and   wherein said sill interior stop recess, said head interior stop recess, and said jamb interior stop recesses are configured to accept said at least one screen flange.   
   
   
       16 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said exterior sill section upwardly facing surface is tapered. 
   
   
       17 . An apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein said interior sill section, said interior head section, and said interior jamb sections each include an indented surface. 
   
   
       18 . An apparatus for air ventilation and passage of flood water comprising:
 an exterior stop including at least one exterior stop recess;   a screen including at least one screen flange configured for insertion into said at least one exterior stop recess; and   a housing including:
 at least one interior screen stop; 
 at least one housing recess configured to accept a first end of said exterior stop and said screen; and 
 at least one housing channel configured to accept a second end of said exterior stop and said screen.