Low-Resistance, Discharge-Vent Soffit Frame

Abstract

One version of the invention is a low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame. The inventive frame is deployed as part of a ventilation system in which air is discharged outside a building, such as a home. The frame includes a hollow connector having an intake opening and an output opening, through which air is directed to the home's exterior. The discharge-vent soffit frame typically includes two adjustable members—one on either side of the hollow connector—that attach between the eaves and side of a building. A low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of the present invention is installed before, not after, a soffit is installed between the eaves of a building and the building side from which the eaves project.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame comprising:
 a hollow connector having an intake opening and an output opening,   a first adjustable member attached to the hollow connector, the first adjustable member having a first mounting element at one end of the first adjustable member and a second mounting element at the opposing end of the first adjustable member; and   a second adjustable member attached to the hollow connector, the second adjustable member having a first mounting element at one end of the second adjustable member and a second mounting element at the opposing end of the second adjustable member.   
     
     
         2 . The low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1  further comprising a screen interposed between the intake opening and the output opening. 
     
     
         3 . The low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1  further comprising a directional diffuser attached to the output opening of the hollow connector. 
     
     
         4 . The low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1  wherein the hollow connector includes a substantially horizontal portion. 
     
     
         5 . The low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 4  further comprising a damper attached to the horizontal portion of the hollow connector and interposed between the intake opening and the output opening. 
     
     
         6 . A bathroom ventilation system comprising:
 a bathroom fan having an exhaust port;   the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1 ; and   a conduit having two ends, wherein one end of the conduit is attached to the exhaust port of the bathroom fan, and wherein the opposing end of the conduit is attached to the intake opening of the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame.   
     
     
         7 . A kitchen ventilation system comprising:
 a kitchen fan having an exhaust port;   the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1 ; and   a conduit having two ends, wherein one end of the conduit is attached to the exhaust port of the kitchen fan, and wherein the opposing end of the conduit is attached to the intake opening of the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame.   
     
     
         8 . A bathroom ventilation kit, the kit comprising:
 a bathroom ventilation fan; and   the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         9 . A kitchen ventilation kit, the kitchen ventilation kit comprising:
 a kitchen ventilation fan; and   the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1 .   
     
     
         10 . A method of installing a bathroom ventilation system in a building having both a bathroom and a roof that defines eaves extending from a building side, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame comprising:
 a hollow connector having an intake opening and an output opening, 
 a first adjustable member attached to the hollow connector, the first adjustable member having a first mounting element at one end of the first adjustable member and a second mounting element at the opposing end of the first adjustable member; and 
 a second adjustable member attached to the hollow connector, the second adjustable member having a first mounting element at one end of the second adjustable member and a second mounting element at the opposing end of the second adjustable member; 
   attaching the first mounting element of each adjustable member to a portion of the eaves; and   attaching the second mounting element of each adjustable member to the building side.   
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10  further comprising the step of installing a bathroom ventilation fan having an exhaust port, and wherein the bathroom ventilation fan has a rated air flow rate. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11  further comprising the steps of:
 providing a conduit having two ends; 
 attaching one end of the conduit to the exhaust port of the bathroom ventilation fan; and 
 attaching the other, opposing end of the conduit to the intake opening of the hollow connector. 
 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  further comprising the step of installing one or more soffit panels defining a hole in fluid communication with the output opening of the connector. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13  wherein the soffit panels under the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame are not vented. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14  further comprising the step of attaching an airflow diffuser over the hole defined by the one or more soffit panels. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  wherein the airflow diffuser is configured to direct airflow substantially away from the soffit panels and the building side from which the eaves extend. 
     
     
         17 . A whole-house ventilation system comprising the low-resistance, discharge-vent soffit frame of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         18 . The whole-house ventilation system of  claim 17  further comprising a screen interposed between the intake opening and the output opening. 
     
     
         19 . The whole-house ventilation system of  claim 18  further comprising a directional diffuser attached to the output opening of the hollow connector. 
     
     
         20 . The whole-house ventilation system of  claim 19  further comprising a bathroom ventilation fan, wherein the bathroom ventilation fan is configured to operate both intermittently for spot ventilation and continuously for whole-house ventilation.