Security vent

Abstract

A security vent, providing a housing assembly mounted to a support, the housing assembly including a side wall portion having first and second distal ends thereof and defining a passageway therebetween; a drawer assembly having a filter-receiving slot therein, the drawer assembly being slidingly received by the housing assembly second distal end, the drawer assembly being moveable within the housing assembly passageway between an open position and a closed position, wherein the filter-receiving slot is disposed within the housing assembly when the drawer assembly is in the closed position, and wherein the filter-receiving slot is in communication with a region outside the housing support when the drawer assembly is in the open position; and, a latch assembly mounted to the housing assembly, the latch assembly being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, the latch assembly being received by a latch-receiving notch provided in the drawer assembly when the drawer assembly is in the closed position and the latch assembly is in the locked position.

We claim:  
     
       1. A security vent, comprising: 
       a housing assembly mounted to a support, said housing assembly including a side wall portion having first and second distal ends thereof and defining a passageway therebetween;  
       a drawer assembly having a filter-receiving slot therein, said drawer assembly being slidingly received by said housing assembly second distal end, said drawer assembly being moveable within said housing assembly passageway between an open position and a closed position, wherein said filter-receiving slot is disposed within said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said closed position, and wherein said filter-receiving slot is in communication with a region outside said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said open position; and,  
       a latch assembly mounted to said housing assembly, said latch assembly being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said latch assembly being received by a latch-receiving notch provided in said drawer assembly when said drawer assembly is in said closed position and said latch assembly is in said locked position.  
     
     
       2. The security vent of  claim 1 , said housing assembly including: 
       a housing face attached to said second distal end of said side wall portion, said housing face having an opening therethrough sized to receive said drawer assembly, said opening communicating with said passageway, said housing face projecting outwardly from said side wall portion, thereby defining a retaining ridge; and,  
       a key hole provided through said housing face, said key hole being coaxial with said latch assembly.  
     
     
       3. The security vent of  claim 2 , said housing assembly including: 
       at least one flange attached to an outer surface of said side wall portion near said first distal end thereof, said at least one flange cooperating with said retaining ridge to mount said housing assembly to said support.  
     
     
       4. The security vent of  claim 1 , said housing assembly including: 
       at least one longitudinal rod extending transversely across said passageway near said first distal end of said side wall, said at least one longitudinal rod being attached at either distal end thereof to an inner surface of said side wall portion.  
     
     
       5. The security vent of  claim 1 , said drawer assembly including: 
       a drawer top having a horizontal portion with an upwardly-stepped portion connected to a rear edge of said horizontal portion by a shoulder, said shoulder cooperating with a first stop provided on an inner surface of said housing assembly side wall portion to prevent said drawer assembly from forward movement beyond a preselected first position;  
       first and second arms depending downwardly from said horizontal portion, said first and second arms being in parallel spaced relation to one another;  
       a drawer bottom having a lower portion and a stepped portion connected to the lower portion by a vertical portion, said drawer bottom being attached to lower edges of said first and second arms, said stepped portion cooperating with a second stop provided on an inner surface of said housing assembly side wall portion to prevent said drawer assembly from rearward movement beyond a preselected second position; and,  
       said latch-receiving notch projecting rearwardly from a front edge of said horizontal portion of said drawer assembly drawer top.  
     
     
       6. The security vent of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
       a removable clip having a lower portion and an upper portion connected to the lower portion by an upright portion, said removable clip being removably secured to said upper portion of said drawer bottom, said removable clip upright portion cooperating with said second stop to prevent said drawer assembly from forward movement beyond said preselected first position.  
     
     
       7. The security vent of  claim 1 , further comprising: 
       a filter removably inserted into said filter-receiving slot of said drawer assembly.  
     
     
       8. The security vent of  claim 5 , further comprising: 
       a filter removably inserted into said filter-receiving slot of said drawer assembly.  
     
     
       9. The security vent of  claim 8 , further comprising: 
       a filter stop having a longitudinal cross-member being attached at either distal end thereof to opposing inner surfaces of said arms near said horizontal portion, said filter stop having at least one downward member depending downwardly from said cross-member, said at least one downward member being connected at a lower end thereof to said drawer bottom.  
     
     
       10. The security vent of  claim 5 , said draw assembly including: 
       a drawer face being attached along side edges thereof to front edges of said arms, said drawer face being attached along a lower edge thereof to a front edge of said drawer bottom lower portion, said drawer face having at least one orifice therethrough.  
     
     
       11. The security vent of  claim 1 , said latch assembly including: 
       a mount block mounted to an inner surface of said side wall portion, said mount block having a threaded hole therethrough;  
       a tightening screw being threadingly received by said mount block threaded hole, said tightening screw having a head portion opposing said key hole of said housing face;  
       a lock block fixedly attached to said tightening screw near a distal end thereof opposite the head portion;  
       a latch being fixedly attached to said tightening screw between said mount block and said lock block; and,  
       wherein rotation of the tightening screw integrally rotates said latch and said lock block between said locked position and said unlocked position.  
     
     
       12. The security vent of  claim 10 , wherein: 
       said tightening screw head portion includes a recess having a plurality of side walls, said recess being sized to receive a key therein through said housing face key hole to move said latch assembly between said locked position and said unlocked position.  
     
     
       13. The security vent of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said support is a wall.  
     
     
       14. The security vent of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said drawer face is flush with said housing face when said drawer assembly is in said closed position.  
     
     
       15. The security vent of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said first distal end of said housing assembly is attached to an inlet end of an air duct.  
     
     
       16. The security vent of  claim 1 , wherein: 
       said first distal end of said housing assembly is attached to an outlet end of an air duct.  
     
     
       17. The security vent of  claim 7 , wherein: 
       said filter is constructed from fiberglass.  
     
     
       18. The security vent of  claim 8 , wherein: 
       said filter is constructed from fiberglass.  
     
     
       19. A vent, including: 
       
         a housing having four wall portions defining a passageway with two ends;  
       
       
         a filter receiving slot moveable from a first position at least partially within the passageway to a second position at least partially outside the passageway; and  
       
       
         a stop for limiting the travel of the filter receiving slot to approximately the thickness of the filter receiving slot. 
       
     
     
       20. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including a first face located adjacent to the filter receiving slot, the first face having openings for allowing air to flow through the first face. 
     
     
       21. A vent according to  claim 20 , wherein the filter receiving slot is located behind the face. 
     
     
       22. A vent according to  claim 20 , further including a housing face secured to the housing, and wherein the first face is moveable from a first position flush with the housing face to a second position at least partially spaced apart from the housing face. 
     
     
       23. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including a drawer moveable from a first position at least partially within the passageway to a second position at least partially outside of the passageway. 
     
     
       24. A vent according to  claim 23  wherein the filter receiving slot is located in the drawer. 
     
     
       25. A vent according to  claim 20 , wherein the combined area of the openings is less than the remaining area of the face. 
     
     
       26. A vent according to  claim 19 , wherein the filter receiving slot includes an open top. 
     
     
       27. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including a filter located in the filter receiving slot. 
     
     
       28. A vent according to  claim 20 , further including a filter located directly behind the openings. 
     
     
       29. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including at least one rod located in the housing. 
     
     
       30. A vent according to  claim 19 , wherein the stop is secured to one of the wall portions. 
     
     
       31. A vent according to  claim 19 , wherein the stop is located at least partially within the passageway. 
     
     
       32. A vent according to  claim 19 , wherein the stop extends substantially the width of the passageway. 
     
     
       33. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including a shoulder and wherein the shoulder contacts the stop to limit travel of the filter receiving slot. 
     
     
       34. A vent according to  claim 33 , wherein the shoulder extends substantially the width of the passageway. 
     
     
       35. A vent according to  claim 33 , wherein the shoulder is located at least partially within the passageway. 
     
     
       36. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including a second stop for limiting movement of the filter receiving slot into the passageway. 
     
     
       37. A vent according to  claim 30 , wherein the second stop is located at least partially within the passageway. 
     
     
       38. A vent according to  claim 36 , wherein the second stop is secured to one of the wall portions. 
     
     
       39. A vent according to  claim 36 , wherein the second stop extends substantially the width of the passageway. 
     
     
       40. A vent according to  claim 19 , further including a latch assembly for securing the filter receiving slot against movement. 
     
     
       41. A vent according to  claim 40 , wherein the latch assembly includes a mount block. 
     
     
       42. A vent according to  claim 41 , wherein the mount block is secured to the housing. 
     
     
       43. A vent according to  claim 40 , wherein the latch assembly further includes a bolt. 
     
     
       44. A vent according to  claim 20 , further including a latch assembly located entirely behind the first face. 
     
     
       45. A vent according to  claim 44 , wherein the latch assembly includes a mount block. 
     
     
       46. A vent according to  claim 45 , wherein the mount block is secured to the housing. 
     
     
       47. A vent according to  claim 44 , wherein the latch assembly further includes a bolt. 
     
     
       48. An air handling apparatus including a vent according to any of claims  19  through  47 , further including ductwork connected to the housing and a heating, ventilating and air conditioning system connected to the ductwork. 
     
     
       49. A security vent, comprising: 
       
         a housing assembly having a side wall with first and second distal ends thereof defining a passageway therethrough;  
       
         a drawer assembly having a filter - receiving slot, said drawer assembly being received by said housing assembly second distal end and being moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said filter - receiving slot is positioned within said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said closed position, and wherein said filter - receiving slot is in communication with a region outside said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said open position; and    
         a latch assembly mounted to said housing assembly, said latch assembly being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position and being received by a latch - receiving notch in said drawer assembly when said drawer assembly is in said closed position and said latch assembly is in said locked position, thereby locking said drawer assembly in said closed position.   
     
     
       50. A security vent, comprising: 
       
         a housing assembly having a side wall with first and second distal ends thereof defining a passageway therethrough;  
       
         a drawer assembly having a filter - receiving slot, said drawer assembly being received by said housing assembly second distal end and being moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said filter - receiving slot is positioned within said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said closed position, and wherein said filter - receiving slot is in communication with a region outside said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said open position;    
       
         a latch assembly being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said latch assembly locking said drawer assembly in said closed position when said latch assembly is in said locked position;  
       
       
         a housing face attached to said second distal end of said side wall, said housing face having an opening therethrough sized to receive said drawer assembly, said opening communication with said passageway, said housing face projecting outwardly from said side wall, thereby defining a retaining ridge; and  
       
       
         a key hole extending through said housing face, said key hole being coaxial with said latch assembly. 
       
     
     
       51. A security vent, comprising: 
       
         a housing assembly having a side wall with first and second distal ends thereof defining a passageway therethrough;  
       
         a drawer assembly having a filter - receiving slot, said drawer assembly being received by said housing assembly second distal end and being moveable between an open position and a closed position, wherein said filter - receiving slot is positioned within said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said closed position, and wherein said filter - receiving slot is in communication with a region outside said housing assembly when said drawer assembly is in said open position;    
       
         a latch assembly being moveable between a locked position and an unlocked position, said latch assembly locking said drawer assembly in said closed position when said latch assembly is in said locked position; and  
       
       
         at least one longitudinal rod extending transversely across said passageway near said first distal end of said side wall, said at least one longitudinal rod being attached at either distal end thereof to an inner surface of said side wall portion.