Vent for tile roof

Abstract

A passive vent balances the competing demands of high airflow and security against intrusion of unwanted debris, precipitation and pests. The vent sits proud of the tiles in its course, and protrudes forwardly over the tiles in the course below, such that a large airflow volume is provided. Vents are positioned and configured to prevent pest incursion, precipitation ingress, and debris buildup

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vent, comprising:
 a body having a generally cuboid structure with an open lower end configured for fluid communication with a structure to be vented, the body having an upper wall opposite the open lower end, the upper wall including sets of laterally positioned louvers at left and right side portions thereof and a set of front louvers at a front portion thereof; and   a front cover fixed to a front surface of the body, the front cover having a set of cover louvers.   
     
     
         2 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the body comprises a rear/upper flange positioned to be placed under a tile above the vent, the rear/upper flange disposed below the upper wall of the body and adjacent the open lower end of the body. 
     
     
         3 . The vent of  claim 2 , wherein the rear/upper flange includes at least one bead extending left-to-right across the rear/upper flange, the at least one bead configured to deform the undersurface of an adjacent tile placed upon the rear/upper flange. 
     
     
         4 . The vent of  claim 3 , wherein the rear/upper flange further includes a stiffening flange extending downwardly from a rear edge of the rear/upper flange, the stiffening flange extending across substantially the entire left-to-right extent of the rear/upper flange. 
     
     
         5 . The vent of  claim 2 , wherein the front cover comprises a lower flange positioned to be placed under at least one tile to the left or right side of the vent, the lower flange disposed below and forward of the rear/upper flange. 
     
     
         6 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the body forms a tray structure defined by:
 the upper wall,   left and right sidewalls extending downwardly from the upper wall,   a front wall extending downwardly to form left and right front corners with the sidewalls, and   a rear wall also extending downwardly to form left and right rear corners with the sidewalls.   
     
     
         7 . The vent of  claim 6 , further comprising a rear/upper flange extending rearwardly from a lower edge of the rear wall. 
     
     
         8 . The vent of  claim 7 , further comprising at least one back strap connected to the rear/upper flange. 
     
     
         9 . The vent of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one back strap is pivotably connected to the rear/upper flange such that the at least one back strap may be pivoted inwardly to avoid protruding beyond a rear edge of the rear/upper flange, and such that the at least one back strap may be pivoted outwardly to protrude rearwardly beyond the rear edge. 
     
     
         10 . The vent of  claim 7 , wherein the rear/upper flange includes at least one bead extending left-to-right across the rear/upper flange. 
     
     
         11 . The vent of  claim 6 , wherein the front cover is formed as a generally U-shaped channel and is configured to be mounted on the front wall of the body. 
     
     
         12 . The vent of  claim 6 , wherein the front cover includes an upright flange and a lower flange extending generally parallel to the upper wall of the body upon installation. 
     
     
         13 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the upper wall of the body includes a stiffening rib forming a closed loop near the outer periphery thereof, the stiffening rib enclosing a central portion of the upper wall. 
     
     
         14 . The vent of  claim 13 , wherein the central portion enclosed by the stiffening rib is recessed below the stiffening rib. 
     
     
         15 . The vent of  claim 13 , wherein the stiffening rib forms an “O” shape with two long parallel sides, two short parallel sides, and angled corners therebetween. 
     
     
         16 . The vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a primary fitting include a base flange configured to attach decking and an upstanding flange extending upwardly from the base flange, the upstanding flange encircling an aperture formed in the primary fitting, and a rear/upper edge of the upstanding flange including a flared portion, wherein the base flange, the upstanding flange and the flared portion are all formed as a single, monolithic piece of material. 
     
     
         17 . The vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a pair of base latch plates coupled to left and right sides of the body respectively, wherein:
 the body includes one of a first plurality of tabs and a first plurality of tab receivers,   the base latch plates each includes the other of the first plurality of tabs and the first plurality of tab receivers,   the first plurality of tabs and the first plurality of tab receivers respectively sized and configured to interfit with one another to form a slide-locking interface to removably affix the base latch plates to the body.   
     
     
         18 . The vent of  claim 17 , wherein:
 the body includes one of a second plurality of tabs and a second plurality of tab receivers,   the front cover includes the other of the second plurality of tabs and the second plurality of tab receivers,   the second plurality of tabs and the second plurality of tab receivers respectively sized and configured to interfit with one another to form a slide-locking interface to removably affix the front cover to the body.   
     
     
         19 . The vent of  claim 18 , further comprising a plurality of fasteners which fix the front cover to the base latch plates, wherein the first plurality of tabs become fixed to the first plurality of tab receivers and the second plurality of tabs become fixed to the second plurality of tab receivers when the front cover is fixed to the base latch plates by the plurality of fasteners. 
     
     
         20 . A vent, comprising:
 a body having a generally cuboid structure with an open lower end configured for fluid communication with a structure to be vented, the body comprising:   an upper wall opposite the open lower end, the upper wall including sets of laterally positioned louvers at left and right side portions thereof and a set of front louvers at a front portion thereof,
 left and right sidewalls extending downwardly from the upper wall, 
 a front wall extending downwardly to form left and right front corners with the left and right sidewalls, 
 a rear wall also extending downwardly to form left and right rear corners with the left and right sidewalls, and 
 a rear/upper flange extending rearwardly from a lower edge of the rear wall, such that the rear/upper flange is positioned to be placed under a tile above the vent; and 
   a front cover comprising:
 an upright flange including a set of cover louvers formed therein, and 
 a lower flange positioned to be placed under at least one tile to the left or right side of the vent, the lower flange disposed below and forward of the rear/upper flange, 
   wherein the front cover is fixed to a front surface of the body such that the upright flange and the lower flange extend generally parallel to the upper wall of the body upon installation.