Floor vent

Abstract

A floor vent for a ventilation opening has a vent body defined by a top flange and a skirt portion. The skirt portion depends from the bottom of the top flange. In use, the skirt portion is received within the ventilation opening with top flange engaging the floor. The vent body has fastener-receiving openings below the top flange. A grille moves between a closed position in which the grille engages the vent body and traverses the air flow passage and an open position in which the grille permits access to the one or more fastener-receiving openings. At least one closure member selectively secures the grille in the closed position.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A floor vent for a ventilation opening formed in a floor, the floor vent comprising:
 a vent body comprising an air flow passage defined by a top flange and a skirt portion, the skirt portion depending from a bottom surface of the top flange, the vent body being configured such that, in use, the skirt portion is received within the ventilation opening with a bottom surface of top flange engaging a top surface of the floor, the vent body further comprising one or more fastener-receiving openings below the top flange;   a grille having a closed position in which the grille engages the vent body and traverses the air flow passage, the grille being selectively releasable from the closed position to move to an open position, wherein, in the open position, the grille permits access to the one or more fastener-receiving openings of the skirt portion through the top flange, and in the closed position, the grille obstructs the air flow passage and limits access to the one or more fastener-receiving openings through the top flange;   at least one closure member that selectively secures the grille in the closed position; and   one or more fasteners that are sized to be received within the one or more fastener-receiving openings, the one or more fasteners being configured to engage a surrounding wall of the ventilation opening below the top surface of the floor.   
     
     
         2 . The floor vent of  claim 1 , wherein the grille further comprises an adjustable flow control insert to adjust an airflow area through the air flow passage. 
     
     
         3 . The floor vent of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one closure member is engaged when the grille is moved to the closed position. 
     
     
         4 . The floor vent of  claim 1 , wherein the grille is pivotally attached to the top flange. 
     
     
         5 . The floor vent of  claim 1 , wherein the grille is supported by the top flange in the closed position. 
     
     
         6 . The floor vent of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more fastener-receiving openings comprise one or more vertically oriented slot formed in the skirt portion. 
     
     
         7 . The floor vent of  claim 1 , wherein the fasteners are screws that are adapted to secure the skirt portion to a subfloor of a building. 
     
     
         8 . A method of installing a floor vent into a ventilation opening formed in a floor, the method comprising the steps of:
 providing a floor vent comprising:
 a vent body comprising an air flow passage surrounded by a top flange and a skirt portion that depends from a bottom surface of the top flange; 
 a grille having a closed position in which the grille engages the vent body and traverses the air flow passage, the grille being selectively releasable from the closed position and, upon being released is movable to an open position; 
 at least one closure member that selectively secures the grille in the closed position; 
   inserting the skirt portion into the ventilation opening such that the bottom surface of the top flange rests on the floor;   with the grille in an open position, installing fasteners that extend through one or more fastener receiving openings in the skirt portion and engage a surrounding wall of the ventilation opening below the top surface of the floor;   moving the grille from the open position to the closed position; and   securing the grille in the closed position using the at least one closure members.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the grille further comprises an adjustable flow control insert to adjust an airflow area through the airflow passage. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one closure member is engaged when the grille is moved to the closed position. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the grille is pivotally attached to the top flange. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the grille is supported by the top flange in the closed position. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more fastener-receiving openings comprise one or more vertically oriented slot formed in the skirt portion. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the fasteners are screws that secure the skirt portion to a subfloor of the building.