Abstract:
A ventilating baseboard grille for use after a flooding has a longitudinal grille and a front element sized to entirely cover the grille such that a backside of the front element comprises attachment means to attach the front element to the grille.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to air circulation grilles but more particularly to a ventilating baseboard grille for use after a flooding. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    After a flooding or other such disaster such as a fire wherein water is used inside a building, the water can wet the insulating material. This can generate the production of mold which will continue to proliferate even after the insulation and surroundings are dry. 
         [0003]    To prevent this, it is common practice for companies specializing in disaster clean up to cut the bottom part of a wall so as to allow air to circulate and moisture to evacuate. Typically, in the case of roxul insulation, the part that was wet has to be removed and replaced with new one. However, it can be saved if it dries rapidly and became wet from clean water, such as from a fireman&#39;s hose, for example. 
         [0004]    Evidently cutting the bottom of a wall and repairing it afterward can be a costly proposition. Unfortunately there are commercial building or institutional buildings, such as science laboratories in some college and universities where flooding can occur on more than one occasion. In such case, the process of cutting the wall has to be done over and over again. There has to be a better way to deal with such disaster clean up and repair operations. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known devices now present in the prior art, the present invention, which will be described subsequently in greater detail, is to provide objects and advantages which are: 
         [0006]    To provide for a simple and efficient way of preventing wall cutting after a flooding. 
         [0007]    In order to do so, the invention consists in a longitudinal grille and a front element sized to entirely cover the grille such that a backside of the front element comprises attachment means to attach the front element to the grille. 
         [0008]    The ventilating baseboard grille has attachment means complementary to the attachment means on the front element. 
         [0009]    The front element is a full plate module. 
         [0010]    The grille has a channel on its backside to accommodate wires, in particular low voltage wires, Ethernet cables and/or shielded cables. 
         [0011]    The ventilating baseboard grille is placed at the lowermost part of a wall. 
         [0012]    The grille is fixed to wall studs. 
         [0013]    There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated. There are additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims appended hereto. 
         [0014]    In this respect, before explaining at least one embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
         [0015]    As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
         [0016]    These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty which characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be made to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter which contains illustrated preferred embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0017]      FIG. 1  Isometric view of the invention in context with baseboard partially peeled off. 
           [0018]      FIG. 2  Isometric view of the invention in context with baseboard installed. 
           [0019]      FIGS. 3 a - d    Front, cutaway, isometric views of the grille and front element, and rear view of the front element. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]    A ventilating baseboard grille ( 10 ) for use after a flooding is comprised of a longitudinal grille ( 12 ) which, when combined with other such grilles ( 12 ) creates an assembly running along the entire perimeter of the bottom of a wall ( 14 ). 
         [0021]    In common usage, a front element ( 15 ) consisting of a full plate module ( 16 ) having a backside ( 17 ) equipped with an attachment means ( 19 ) such as magnetic means, hook and pile, adhesive, or even removable mechanical means that allows the eventual installation of a baseboard member (not shown) to be removed from the grille ( 12 ) after water damage so as to permit ventilation inside the wall ( 14 ). 
         [0022]    The grille ( 12 ) has complementary attachment means ( 21 ) so as to allow the full plate module ( 16 ) to be removably attached thereto. On a newly constructed building, the grille ( 12 ) is installed directly onto wall studs ( 18 ) using conventional mechanical fasteners known in the art. A panel ( 23 ) making up a portion of a wall ( 14 ), such as drywall for example, is then installed directly above the grille ( 12 ) and onto the studs ( 18 ). The baseboard module ( 16 ) is installed at the same time as they are typically installed in new constructions, that is towards the end of construction. 
         [0023]    In the case of existing constructions, if it is immediately after a disaster, the wall ( 14 ) is cut precisely at the height of the grille ( 12 ) for a seamless fit. Or, as a preventive measure, the wall ( 14 ) can also be cut to allow the installation of the grille ( 12 ). Additionally, the grille ( 12 ) can have a built-in channel ( 24 ) to allow wires to run through, more specifically low voltage wires such as for speakers and communications (ethernet, shielded cable, etc). 
         [0024]    As to a further discussion of the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
         [0025]    With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
         [0026]    Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.