Roof vent and system

Disclosed is a cover for a tubular duct extending from a planar roof surface. The cover comprises a cap, a skirt and a closure. In use: the cap is disposed outwardly from said duct, to define a headspace outside said duct and an annular space surrounding the headspace; the skirt extends from the rim of the cap in surrounding, spaced relation to said duct; and the closure extends from the terminus of the skirt to said duct and is disposed in spaced relation to said surface. The skirt and closure have vanes formed therein. The vanes are oriented such that: precipitation driven by wind through the skirt into the interior of the cap is directed, as it passes through the skirt, towards the roof; and precipitation driven by wind through the closure into the interior of the cap is directed, as it passes through the closure, away from the duct.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the field of roof ventilation.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Most occupied buildings require venting. The type of venting employed depends on the kind of enclosure to be vented. For example, bathrooms containing showers typically have active vents with fans to vent steam outside. Other types of enclosures, such as attics, include a passive vent to allow for air flow from the enclosure to the atmosphere, to prevent moisture build-up. It is advantageous if the vent allows for the flow of air through the passage, without permitting moisture, such as rain or snow, to enter the enclosure through the passage. Structures are known that achieve this goal, but they can be relatively costly.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Forming one aspect of the invention is a cover for a tubular duct extending outwardly from a planar roof surface. This cover comprises a cap portion, a peripheral outer skirt and a closure element. The cap portion is disposed, in use, in outwardly spaced relation to said tubular duct, to define a headspace outside said tubular duct and an annular space surrounding the headspace. The peripheral outer skirt extends in use from the rim of the cap portion in surrounding, spaced relation to said duct. The closure element extends in use from the terminus of the outer skirt to said duct and is disposed in spaced relation to said roof surface. The peripheral outer skirt and the closure element have vanes formed therein, the vanes being oriented such that: precipitation driven by wind through the outer skirt into the interior of the cap portion is directed, as it passes through the outer skirt, towards the roof; and precipitation driven by wind through the closure element into the interior of the cap portion is directed, as it passes through the closure element, away from the duct.

According to other aspects of the invention: the closure element can include an annular bottom portion which extends to the terminus of the outer skirt and an inner skirt which extends in use from the duct to the inner periphery of the annular bottom portion; and the outer skirt can flare outwardly as it extends from the rim of the cap portion and the inner skirt flares outwardly as it extends to the annular bottom portion.

According to another aspect of the invention, the annular bottom portion of the closure element can be substantially planar and orientated substantially parallel to said roof surface in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vanes on the outer skirt can define air passages which are orientated substantially normally to the roof surface in use.

According to another aspect of the invention, the vanes on the annular bottom portion and on the inner skirt can define air passages which are orientated at approximately 60° to the roof surface in use.

According to other aspects of the invention: the cap portion, in plan view, can take the shape of a polygon selected from the group consisting of triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon and octagon; the cap portion can be molded, with the closure element, as a single piece of plastic, with the closure element being defined by a plurality of screen segments provided one for each side of said polygon, each segment extending from a respective side of the outer skirt and joined thereto along a respective fold line; and, in manufacture of the cap portion, the screen segments can be pivoted about the fold lines into position.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cap portion can include a plurality of studs to which the segments are snap-fitted during assembly of the cap portion.

According to other aspects of the invention: the polygon can be a rectangle; one of the sides of the outer skirt can be imperforate and the other three sides and the closure element can be substantially entirely defined by vanes; and, in use, the cover can be mounted with the one side of the skirt defining the top of the skirt and the other three sides of the outer skirt defining the bottom and sides of the outer skirt.

According to another aspect of the invention, the cover can form part of a roof vent which comprises, in addition to the cover, a base member. This roof vent is for use with a roof having an aperture formed in a surface thereof. The base member includes: a tubular part disposed atop said roof surface in use to lead into said aperture; and a substantially planar part extending peripherally around and from said tubular part and sealingly mounted in use to said roof surface to seal the tubular part to said roof; and The tubular part of the base member defines the tubular duct with which the cover is used.

According to another aspect of the invention, the base member can have, for each stud of the cap portion, a receiver, to which said each stud is engaged in snap-fit relation in use, to secure the cover to the base member.

According to another aspect of the invention, the tubular part of the base member can be a tube of rectangular cross-section.

According to another aspect of the invention, the roof vent can form part of a roof vent assembly, for use with a roof having an aperture formed in a surface thereof, the roof further having a pipe stack protruding at least toward said aperture. In addition to said roof vent, this roof vent assembly comprises an adapter. The adapter includes a body and a flapper. The body is disposed in use in snap-fit engagement with the base member to define a conduit leading through the tubular part, the conduit being adapted to receive said pipe stack. The flapper is operatively mounted to the body to allow said pipe stack to vent to atmosphere through the roof vent and to restrict flow through the conduit in the other direction.

The adapter itself forms another aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention, the body of the adapter can be adapted to receive, in snug-fitting relation, a 6″ diameter vent tube.

According to another aspect of the invention, the roof vent assembly can further comprise a coupler which is received in snug-fitting relation by the body in use and which is adapted to receive, in snug-fitting relation, a 4″ diameter vent tube.

The coupler itself can form another aspect of the invention.

According to another aspect of the invention: the body can include a planar structure which is orientated substantially coplanar with the planar part of the base member and occludes the end of the tubular part. As well, the snap-fit engagement can be provided by: one or more spring fingers which extend from the planar structure into and beyond the tubular part of the base member in use, the spring fingers being resiliently compressible, to enable the body to be fitted into the base member, and having detents which engage the lip of the tubular part at the operative position of the body; and backer flanges, which extend from the planar structure in substantially coplanar relation thereto and, in use, in overlying relation to the planar part of the base member, to lock the adapter in the operative position thereof in combination with the spring fingers.

A roof vent system forms yet another aspect of the invention. This system comprises base members, covers, adapter and covers.

Each base member includes: a tubular part disposed in use atop a roof surface to lead into an aperture defined in said roof surface; and a substantially planar part extending peripherally around and from said tubular part and sealingly mounted in use to said roof surface to seal the tubular part to said roof.

Each cover has: a cap portion disposed, in use, in outwardly spaced relation to a tubular part of a base member, to define a headspace outside said tubular part and an annular space surrounding the headspace; a peripheral outer skirt extending in use from the rim of the cap portion in surrounding, spaced relation to said tubular part; and a closure element which extends in use from the terminus of the outer skirt to said tubular part and is disposed in spaced relation to said roof surface. The peripheral outer skirt and the closure element have vanes formed therein, the vanes being oriented such that: precipitation driven by wind through the outer skirt into the interior of the cap portion is directed, as it passes through the outer skirt, towards the roof; and precipitation driven by wind through the closure element into the interior of the cap portion is directed, as it passes through the closure element, away from the tubular part.

Each adapter includes: a body disposed in use in snap-fit engagement with a respective base member to define a conduit leading through the tubular part of the base member; and a flapper operatively mounted to the body to define a flapper valve which allows flow to atmosphere and restricts opposing flow.

Each coupler has one end disposed, in use, in snug-fitting relation with a respective adapter body, and another end adapted to receive a stack.

Other advantages, features and characteristics of the present invention, as well as methods of operation and functions of the related elements of the structure, and the combination of parts and economies of manufacture, will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description and the appended claims with reference to the accompanying drawings, the latter being briefly described hereinafter.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With general reference toFIG. 1andFIG. 1A, the components of a roof vent system which form an exemplary embodiment of the present invention are shown and will be seen to include to include a base member26, a cover28, an adapter80and a coupler82.

With regard to the base member26and cover28, these are shown inFIG. 1.1in use on a roof22having an aperture (not shown) formed in a surface24thereof, where they form a roof vent20. The roof vent20is shown in isolation inFIG. 2

With reference toFIG. 3, the base member26includes a tubular part30and a planar part32. As shown, these parts30,32are formed integrally with one another, as a single injection-molded plastic component. The tubular part30is a tube of generally rectangular cross-section and is disposed atop said roof surface24in use to lead into the aperture (not shown) in the roof22. One outer side34of the tube30defines a convex arch; when operatively mounted, this side34of the tube30is orientated to present upwardly, such that water can flow smoothly around the arch.

Adjacent each corner of the tube30is a receiver36. The receiver36is described fully below. The planar part32extends peripherally around and from said tubular part30and is sealingly mounted to said roof surface24to seal the tubular part30to said roof22. The planar part32is sealed to the roof22in a conventional manner, as shown inFIG. 1.1, wherein the lower portion32A of the planar part32is disposed in overlying relation on a lower row of shingles, and upper rows of shingles are disposed in overlying relation on the upper portion32B of the planar part32, so as to ensure that water does not infiltrate beneath the planar part32. Sealant or caulking products, such as tar or glue, can also be used.

The cover28comprises a cap portion38, a peripheral outer skirt40and a closure element42.

Cap portion38includes a body44which is polygonal, specifically, rectangular in shape in plan, and also includes, for each receiver, a stud46, shown in phantom inFIG. 3. In use, each stud46is disposed in snap-fit secure engagement with the receiver36for which it is provided (not shown). With reference toFIG. 7, this holds the body44in outwardly spaced relation to said tubular duct30, to define a headspace48outside said tubular duct30and an annular space50surrounding the headspace48. The studs46will be seen to take two orientations, and the receivers30are shaped in a complementary manner; this ensures that the body44can be snap-fit to the base member26in only one orientation.

The outer skirt40extends in use from the rim52of the cap portion38in surrounding, spaced relation to said duct30, and flares outwardly as it so extends.

The closure element42is disposed in spaced relation to the planar part32/roof surface24in use and includes an annular bottom portion54and an inner skirt56. The bottom portion54is substantially planar and orientated substantially parallel to said roof surface24/planar part32in use and extends to the terminus58of outer skirt40.

The inner skirt56extends in use from the duct30to the inner periphery60of the annular bottom portion54and flares outwardly as it so extends.

Vanes62are defined in the outer skirt40and in the closure element42. More particularly, one of the sides40A of the outer skirt40is imperforate and the other three sides40B,40C,40D of the outer skirt40and the closure element42are substantially entirely defined by vanes62; stiffening ribs64define the balance of these structures and securely hold the vanes62together.

In use, the one side40A defines the top of the outer skirt40and the other three sides40B,40C,40D define the bottom and sides of the outer skirt40. With general reference to FIGS.7,8, the vanes62on the outer skirt40define air passages66which are orientated substantially perpendicular to the roof surface24in use. The vanes62on the bottom portion54and on the inner skirt56define air passages68which are orientated at approximately 60° to the roof surface24in use.

This orientation is such that: precipitation driven by wind through outer skirt40into the interior of the cap38is directed, as it passes through the outer skirt40, downwardly towards the roof22, as indicated by arrow A inFIG. 8; and precipitation driven by wind through the closure element42into the interior of the cap portion38is directed, as it passes through the closure element42, away from the duct, as indicated by arrow B inFIG. 8. In this description and in the appended claims, if a flow is indicated to be “directed” in a particular direction, this should not be understood as requiring that the resultant flow is in the particular direction, but only that the overall direction of the flow has at least been shifted towards the particular direction.

Without intending to be bound by theory, the combination of airflow towards the roof on the outer periphery of the cap, with the upward, radially outward airflow in the inner periphery, is believed to provides conditions conducive for an eddy flow to direct precipitation away from the duct notwithstanding that the vent itself may be employed in passive manner, i.e. with no fan positively driving airflow through the duct to the outside.

The one (top) side40A of the outer skirt is substantially shielded from the wind, in that it faces generally towards the peak (not shown) of the roof22. For this reason, there exists little likelihood of in-blown precipitation. The greatest risk of water infiltration in this region is through splashing, and for this reason, this side40A of the outer skirt is made imperforate, to serve as an extended overhang.

FIGS. 9-13show a preform70, which forms another exemplary embodiment of the invention and is advantageously used to create the apparatus ofFIG. 5. The preform70is an injection-molded piece which includes the cap portion, the outer skirt and the closure element, i.e. the cap portion, outer skirt and closure element are injection-molded as a single piece of plastic.

To allow for the preform70to be conveniently released from the mold (not shown) without the need for removable cores, etc., and to avoid the need for sonic welding or the like, the closure element is defined by a plurality of segments42A,42B,42C,42D provided one for each side of said polygon/rectangle and each including a pair of flaps. The flaps take two forms72A and72B.

Each segment42A,42B,42C,42D extends from a respective side40A,40B,40C,40D of the outer skirt and is joined thereto along a respective fold zone hinge74A,74B,74C,74D such that, in manufacture of the apparatus, the segments42A,42B,42C,42D are pivoted about the fold zones74A,74B,74C,74D and snap-fit into position, by engagement of the flaps72A and72B into notches formed in studs46. The different forms of flaps, i.e.72A and72B, allow for engagement with the notches notwithstanding the varied orientations of the studs46.

Turning now to the adapter80, this will be seen inFIG. 1to include a body84, spring fingers86, a flapper88and backer flanges90. The body84includes a planar structure92through which passes a conduit94. The spring fingers86extend normally from the planar structure92and terminate in detents96. The flapper88is mounted to the body84to define, in combination with the conduit94, a flapper valve98. The backer flanges90extend from the planar structure92in substantially coplanar relation thereto. This adapter80is used in combination with the roof vent20ofFIG. 2on roof structures wherein a pipe stack extends through the aperture.FIGS. 14 and 15show the adapter80ready for use with the roof vent20. In this position, planar structure92is orientated substantially coplanar with the planar part32of the base member26and occludes the end of the tubular part30. The spring fingers86extend from the planar structure92into and beyond the tubular part30in use, and the detents96thereof engage the lip of the tubular part30, to restrain the adapter80and vent20from moving apart from one another. The backer flanges90, in turn, are disposed in overlying relation to the planar part32of the base member26, to lock, in combination with the spring fingers86, the adapter80in the operative position shown. As will readily be apparent to persons of ordinary skill in the art, the assembly operation (not shown), merely requires the spring fingers86to be compressed radially inwardly, for passage through the tubular part30; at the operative position shown, the spring fingers86, being resiliently compressible, spring back radially outwardly, thereby to provide a ‘snap-fit” engagement.

This specific arrangement permits the roof vent20ofFIG. 2to be used in situations wherein a 6″ pipe stack/vent protrudes through the roof aperture; the body84, or more specifically the conduit94, is adapted to receive, in snug-fitting relation, a 6″ diameter vent tube100, indicated in phantom inFIG. 14, such that the flapper88allows said pipe stack100to vent to atmosphere through the roof vent20and to restrict flow through the conduit94in the other direction.

Turning now finally to the coupler82and with reference to FIGS.16,17, this will be seen to include one end102which, in use, is received in snug-fitting relation by the body84, and another end104which is adapted to receive, in snug-fitting relation, a 4″ diameter vent tube106(shown in phantom inFIG. 16)

While but various embodiments of the present invention have been herein shown and described, it will be understood that various changes in size and shape of parts may be made.

Firstly, whereas the illustrated cap portion is generally in the shape of a rectangle, the cap portion, in plan view, can take other shapes, for example, any polygon selected from the group consisting of triangle, square, rectangle, pentagon, hexagon, heptagon and octagon.

Further, whereas the tubular part of the base is rectangular in cross-section, other shapes may be used.

As well, whereas the roof vent of the illustrated embodiment includes a base member which defines a duct with which the apparatus is used, it will be evident that the base member is not strictly necessary; the apparatus according to the exemplary embodiment could, for example, be employed with a rectangular duct that protruded through a roof and which was sealed, by example, by flashing and tar.

Further, whereas the skirt portion illustrated departs at a substantial angle from the body of the cap portion, other geometries are contemplated. As well, whereas the illustrated cap portion is substantially rectilinear, this is also not necessary; bowl-shaped cap portions could also be used.

Accordingly, it should be understood that invention is to be limited only by the claims appended hereto, purposively construed.