Vent assembly for air-flow portal of building

Abstract

A vent assembly is configured to be mounted proximate to an air-flow portal defined by a surface of a wall of a building; this is done in such a way that the vent assembly presents outer surfaces that are exposable to exterior weather elements after the vent assembly is mounted proximate to the air-flow portal. An envelope assembly is configured to surround the outer surfaces of the vent assembly after the vent assembly is mounted proximate to the air-flow portal. The envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly. The envelope assembly is configured to protect, at least in part, the outer surfaces of the vent assembly from undesirable exposure to the exterior weather elements.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An apparatus for use with an exhaust tube configured to be positioned proximate to, and to be in fluid communication with, an air-flow portal, the air-flow portal being defined by a surface of a wall of a building, and the exhaust tube also being configured to extend from the air-flow portal, the apparatus comprising:
 a vent assembly being configured to be positioned and mounted proximate to the air-flow portal being defined by the surface of the wall of the building in such a way that the vent assembly presents outer surfaces being exposable to exterior weather elements after the vent assembly is positioned and mounted proximate to the air-flow portal; and   an envelope assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the vent assembly in such a way that the envelope assembly, in use, surrounds the outer surfaces of the vent assembly after the vent assembly is positioned and mounted proximate to the air-flow portal, and the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly.   
     
     
         2 . An apparatus for use with an exhaust tube configured to be positioned proximate to, and to be in fluid communication with, an air-flow portal, the air-flow portal being defined by a surface of a wall of a building, and the exhaust tube also being configured to extend from the air-flow portal, the apparatus comprising:
 a vent assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal being defined by the surface of the wall of the building; and   the vent assembly including outer side vent walls; and an outer top vent wall; and an outer front vent wall; and an outer bottom vent wall; and an outer rear vent wall; and   the vent assembly defines a vent inlet portal configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal; and   the vent inlet portal being configured to be in fluid communication with the air-flow portal in such a way that the vent inlet portal is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the air-flow portal after the vent inlet portal is positioned proximate to the air-flow portal; and   an envelope assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   the envelope assembly also being configured to surround the outer side vent walls, the outer top vent wall, the outer front vent wall and the outer bottom vent wall of the vent assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   the envelope assembly also being configured to envelope, at least in part, a section of the outer rear vent wall of the vent assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly.   
     
     
         3 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly is configured to be installed to the vent assembly; and   the vent assembly is configured to support the envelope assembly after the envelope assembly is installed to the vent assembly.   
     
     
         4 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly is configured to reduce, at least in part, negative impact of exterior weather elements to the outer side vent walls, the outer top vent wall, the outer front vent wall and the outer bottom vent wall; and   the envelope assembly is also configured to hinder, at least in part, premature weather-related breakdown of the vent assembly after the vent assembly is positioned proximate to the air-flow portal, and the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   whereby a useful lifespan of the vent assembly is extended, at least in part, by the envelope assembly.   
     
     
         5 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly includes:
 a top envelope wall; and 
 side envelope walls; and 
 a front envelope wall; and 
 a rear envelope wall; and 
   the envelope assembly defines an envelope interior; and   the envelope assembly also defines an envelope outlet portal, and the envelope outlet portal is in fluid communication with the envelope interior; and   the envelope outlet portal extends between bottom sections of the side envelope walls, the front envelope wall and the rear envelope wall; and   the rear envelope wall defines a rear envelope portal, and the rear envelope portal is in fluid communication with the envelope interior.   
     
     
         6 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly includes a rear envelope wall; and   the rear envelope wall is configured to be positioned, at least in part, between:
 said section of the outer rear vent wall of the vent assembly; and 
 the surface of the wall of the building after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly. 
   
     
     
         7 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly is also configured to be replaced after the envelope assembly, in use, breaks down in response to prolonged exposure of the envelope assembly to exterior weather elements.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the vent assembly also defines an interior vent zone; and   the vent assembly also defines a vent outlet portal; and   the vent inlet portal is in fluid communication with the interior vent zone; and   the vent outlet portal is in fluid communication with the interior vent zone; and   the vent assembly further includes a movable vent lid configured to selectively cover and uncover the vent outlet portal in response to presence or absence of any air-flow through the vent assembly; and   the movable vent lid includes a gasket assembly configured to form an air-seal for the vent outlet portal located adjacent to the movable vent lid, so that unwanted heat loss from the movable vent lid is reduced, at least in part, after air-flow through the vent assembly has stopped, and the movable vent lid, in use, returns to a closed condition under a lack of air-flow.   
     
     
         9 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the vent assembly also defines an interior vent zone, and the interior vent zone is in fluid communication with the vent inlet portal; and   the vent assembly also defines a vent outlet portal, and the vent outlet portal is in fluid communication with the interior vent zone; and   the vent inlet portal of the vent assembly is configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal in such a way that the interior vent zone of the vent assembly is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the air-flow portal after the vent inlet portal is positioned proximate to the air-flow portal.   
     
     
         10 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the interior vent zone of the vent assembly is in fluid communication with the exhaust tube after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to, and surrounds, at least in part, the vent assembly.   
     
     
         11 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly also defines an envelope outlet portal; and   an air-flow path extends through the vent assembly and into the envelope assembly and then out from the envelope outlet portal after the envelope assembly, in use, envelops, at least in part, the vent assembly, and the vent inlet portal of the vent assembly is in fluid communication with the exhaust tube; and   whereby air-flow, which is made to flow along the air-flow path, flows from the air-flow portal to the envelope outlet portal of the envelope assembly.   
     
     
         12 . The apparatus of  claim 9 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly also defines an envelope outlet portal; and   an air-flow path extends:
 from the air-flow portal into the vent inlet portal, 
 through the interior vent zone of the vent assembly, 
 through the vent outlet portal of the vent assembly, 
 into an envelope interior of the envelope assembly, 
 through the envelope interior of the envelope assembly, and 
 out from the envelope outlet portal of the envelope assembly, 
 after the envelope assembly, in use, envelops, at least in part, the vent assembly, and the vent inlet portal of the vent assembly is in fluid communication with the exhaust tube; and 
 whereby air-flow, which is made to flow along the air-flow path, flows from the air-flow portal to the envelope outlet portal of the envelope assembly. 
   
     
     
         13 . The apparatus of  claim 2 , wherein:
 an air-flow path extends through the vent assembly; and   the vent assembly also defines a vent outlet portal, and the vent outlet portal is in fluid communication with an interior vent zone of the vent assembly; and   the vent assembly further includes a movable vent lid configured to selectively cover and uncover the vent outlet portal in response to presence or absence of any air-flow through the vent assembly.   
     
     
         14 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the vent assembly further includes a hinge assembly; and   the hinge assembly is configured to pivotally attach the movable vent lid to the vent assembly.   
     
     
         15 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the vent assembly further includes a hinge assembly is configured to pivotally attach the movable vent lid to the vent assembly in such a way that the hinge assembly permits pivotal movement of the movable vent lid so that the movable vent lid faces the outer rear vent wall in response to air-flow pushing the movable vent lid into an open condition thereby uncovering the vent outlet portal.   
     
     
         16 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the movable vent lid is also configured to selectively uncover the vent outlet portal in response to air-flow moving along the air-flow path; and   the movable vent lid is also configured to selectively cover the vent outlet portal in response to a lack of air-flow along the air-flow path.   
     
     
         17 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the movable vent lid is configured to interact with a biasing element; and   the biasing element is configured to urge the movable vent lid to selectively cover the vent outlet portal in response to a lack of air-flow moving along the air-flow path.   
     
     
         18 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the movable vent lid is configured to interact with a biasing element; and   the biasing element is also configured to urge the movable vent lid to selectively uncover the vent outlet portal in response to a lack of air-flow moving along the air-flow path.   
     
     
         19 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the movable vent lid includes a magnetically-attractive lid element; and   the vent assembly includes a magnetically-attractive vent element configured to magnetically interact with the magnetically-attractive lid element; and   the magnetically-attractive lid element and the magnetically-attractive vent element magnetically interact with each other to urge the movable vent lid to selectively cover the vent outlet portal in response to a lack of air-flow moving along the air-flow path; and   the magnetically-attractive lid element and the magnetically-attractive vent element cannot magnetically interact with each other to urge the movable vent lid to selectively cover the vent outlet portal thereby permitting free movement of the movable vent lid away from the vent outlet portal in response to air-flow moving along the air-flow path.   
     
     
         20 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the envelope assembly is also configured to position and support, at least in part, a screen assembly so that the air-flow path extends through the screen assembly after the envelope assembly, in use, positions and supports, at least in part, the screen assembly after the envelope assembly, in use, envelops, at least in part, the vent assembly; and   the screen assembly is also configured to prevent ingress of insects into an envelope interior of the envelope assembly after the envelope assembly, in use, positions and supports, at least in part, the screen assembly.   
     
     
         21 . The apparatus of  claim 13 , wherein:
 the outer front vent wall is sloped at an acute angle thereby presenting an angled baffle surface configured to deflect air-flow toward the movable vent lid so that the movable vent lid, in use, moves to permit the air-flow to exit the vent assembly.   
     
     
         22 . An apparatus for use with an exhaust tube and with an envelope assembly, and the exhaust tube being configured to be positioned proximate to, and to be in fluid communication with, an air-flow portal, and the air-flow portal being defined by a surface of a wall of a building, and the exhaust tube also being configured to extend from the air-flow portal, the apparatus comprising:
 a vent assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal being defined by the surface of the wall of the building; and   the vent assembly including outer side vent walls; and an outer top vent wall; and an outer front vent wall; and an outer bottom vent wall; and an outer rear vent wall; and   the vent assembly defines a vent inlet portal configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal; and   the vent inlet portal being configured to be in fluid communication with the air-flow portal in such a way that the vent inlet portal is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the air-flow portal after the vent inlet portal is positioned proximate to the air-flow portal; and   the vent assembly also being configured to be positioned proximate to the envelope assembly; and   the outer side vent walls, the outer top vent wall, the outer front vent wall and the outer bottom vent wall of the vent assembly being configured to be surrounded by the envelope assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   a section of the outer rear vent wall of the vent assembly being configured to be enveloped, at least in part, by the envelope assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly.   
     
     
         23 . An apparatus for use with an exhaust tube and with a vent assembly, and the exhaust tube being configured to be positioned proximate to, and to be in fluid communication with, an air-flow portal, the air-flow portal being defined by a surface of a wall of a building, and the vent assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal being defined by the surface of the wall of the building, and the exhaust tube also being configured to extend from the air-flow portal, and the vent assembly including outer side vent walls, an outer top vent wall, an outer front vent wall, an outer bottom vent wall and an outer rear vent wall, and the vent assembly defining a vent inlet portal being configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal, and the vent inlet portal being configured to be in fluid communication with the air-flow portal in such a way that the vent inlet portal is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the air-flow portal after the vent inlet portal is positioned proximate to the air-flow portal, and the apparatus comprising:
 an envelope assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   the envelope assembly also being configured to surround the outer side vent walls, the outer top vent wall, the outer front vent wall and the outer bottom vent wall of the vent assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   the envelope assembly also being configured to envelope, at least in part, a section of the outer rear vent wall of the vent assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly.   
     
     
         24 . An apparatus for an exhaust tube configured to be positioned proximate to, and to be in fluid communication with, an air-flow portal, and the air-flow portal being defined by a surface of a wall of a building, and an exhaust tube being configured to extend from, and/or terminate at, the air-flow portal, the apparatus comprising:
 a vent assembly; and   an envelope assembly; and   the vent assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal being defined by the surface of the wall of the building; and   the vent assembly defines a vent inlet portal configured to be positioned proximate to the air-flow portal; and   the vent inlet portal being configured to be in fluid communication with the air-flow portal in such a way that the vent inlet portal is, at least in part, in fluid communication with the air-flow portal after the vent inlet portal is positioned proximate to the air-flow portal; and   the envelope assembly being configured to be positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   the envelope assembly also being configured to surround the vent assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and wherein:   the vent assembly includes outer side vent walls; and an outer top vent wall; and an outer front vent wall; and an outer bottom vent wall; and an outer rear vent wall; and   the envelope assembly is also configured to envelope, at least in part, a section of the outer rear vent wall of the vent assembly after the envelope assembly is positioned proximate to the vent assembly; and   an air-flow path extends through the vent assembly; and   the vent assembly also defines a vent outlet portal, and the vent outlet portal is in fluid communication with an interior vent zone of the vent assembly; and   wherein the vent assembly further includes a movable vent lid configured to selectively cover and uncover the vent outlet portal in response to presence or absence of any air-flow moving through the vent assembly; and   wherein the vent assembly further includes a hinge assembly configured to pivotally attach the movable vent lid to the vent assembly in such a way that the hinge assembly permits pivotal movement of the movable vent lid so that the movable vent lid faces the outer rear vent wall in response to the air-flow that pushes the movable vent lid to an open condition thereby uncovering the vent outlet portal; and   the movable vent lid is also configured to selectively uncover the vent outlet portal in response to the air-flow moving along the air-flow path; and   the movable vent lid is also configured to selectively cover the vent outlet portal in response to a lack of air-flow along the air-flow path; and   the movable vent lid includes a magnetically-attractive lid element; and   the vent assembly further includes a magnetically-attractive vent element configured to magnetically interact with the magnetically-attractive lid element; and   the magnetically-attractive lid element and the magnetically-attractive vent element magnetically interact with each other to urge the movable vent lid to selectively cover the vent outlet portal in response to the lack of air-flow along the air-flow path; and   the magnetically-attractive lid element and the magnetically-attractive vent element cannot magnetically interact with each other to urge the movable vent lid to selectively cover the vent outlet portal thereby permitting free movement of the movable vent lid away from the vent outlet portal in response to the air-flow moving along the air-flow path; and   the movable vent lid includes a gasket assembly configured to form an air-seal for the vent outlet portal located adjacent to the movable vent lid so that unwanted heat loss from the movable vent lid is reduced, at least in part, after the air-flow through the vent assembly has stopped, and the movable vent lid, in use, returns to a closed condition under the lack of air-flow; and   the envelope assembly is configured to position and support, at least in part, a screen assembly so that the air-flow path extends through the screen assembly after the envelope assembly, in use, positions and supports, at least in part, the screen assembly after the envelope assembly, in use, envelops, at least in part, the vent assembly; and   the screen assembly is configured to prevent ingress of insects into an envelope interior of the envelope assembly after the envelope assembly, in use, positions and supports, at least in part, the screen assembly; and   the outer front vent wall is sloped at an acute angle thereby presenting an angled baffle surface configured to deflect the air-flow toward the movable vent lid so that the movable vent lid, in use, moves to permit the air-flow to exit the vent assembly.