Vent

Abstract

A vent providing excellent airflow and water intrusion resistance in a compact design.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vent, comprising:
 a lower panel having a front edge and a back edge;   an upper panel spaced from the lower panel, the upper panel having at least one array of apertures therethrough;   a face panel extending between the lower and upper panels in a direction from the front edge of the lower panel toward the back edge of the lower panel; and   walls extending between the lower and upper panels, the walls defining inner channels and outer channels therebetween, the walls having openings therein;   wherein the lower panel includes at least one airflow hole therethrough, the airflow hole extending along and being generally aligned with longitudinal axes of the inner channels.   
     
     
         2 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein a length of the lower panel between the front and back edges thereof is greater than a length of the upper panel as measured in the same direction, wherein a width of the lower panel as measured perpendicular to the length thereof is greater than a width of the upper panel as measured in the same direction. 
     
     
         3 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the face panel is angled at an angle of less than about 45° relative to a plane of the lower panel. 
     
     
         4 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the apertures include louvers extending upward from the upper panel. 
     
     
         5 . A vent as recited in  claim 4 , wherein an angle of at least some of the louvers relative to a plane of a surface of the upper panel from which the louvers extend is less than about 70°. 
     
     
         6 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the lower panel includes a feature toward the back edge thereof to allow water running along the vent toward the back edge to transition to another portion of a roof. 
     
     
         7 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein at least two edges of the upper panel are angled downward at an angle of at least 10° relative to a plane of a top surface of the upper panel. 
     
     
         8 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the face panel is positioned and angled to at least partially close off front ends of the inner channels. 
     
     
         9 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein pairs of opposing walls that define the outer channels taper apart toward the upper panel. 
     
     
         10 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the airflow hole has a raised edge along a periphery thereof, the airflow hole extending from the lower panel toward the upper panel. 
     
     
         11 . A vent as recited in  claim 1 , comprising a screen extending along a component of the vent, the component being selected from the group consisting of: the apertures in the upper panel, the holes in the walls, the airflow hole, and the lower panel. 
     
     
         12 . A building, comprising a roof and at least one vent as recited in  claim 1  coupled to the roof. 
     
     
         13 . A method, comprising:
 installing the vent as recited in  claim 1  on a building.