Bath Vent Roof Cap

A multi-piece vent cap assembly includes a bottom housing and a top housing which can be removeably engaged to the bottom housing. The bottom housing includes a flange and a vertical shaft, which defines an air passage for mounting over an exhaust pipe of a building. The top housing includes a cover and a connection ring. The connection ring is configured for removable engagement to the shaft of the bottom housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

Residential homes, apartment buildings, commercial office buildings or buildings in general have bathrooms, kitchen or building air exchangers or fans to exhaust air to the outside of the structure or building. Sometimes, this air is exhausted through the roof. A pipe or tubing (i.e. an exhaust pipe) is run through the structure to the underside of the roof sheathing. The exhaust pipe intersects with or exits the roof through a hole (i.e. a vent hole) cut in the roof sheathing. On the exterior side of the roof sheathing a ventilation cap is secured to the roof over the vent hole so as to allow exhaust to flow through and out of the exhaust pipe while ideally protecting the pipe and immediately adjacent area of the roof with protection from the weather.

A variety of roof caps of the type described above are readily available for use. A standard bath, kitchen or exhaust air roof cap employees a square or unitary box design, with small flanges wherein the roof cap is molded or assembled into a one-piece unit100such as in the example shown in PRIOR ARTFIG. 1.

Known “single piece” roof vent caps, such as cap100may in fact be manufactured from multiple components or parts, but even when constructed in this manner the resulting cap is typically sold as a single piece assembly that is not capable of being readily taken apart without damage to the assembly and/or without significant effort. While such caps are fairly inexpensive to produce, their effective single piece construction results in a product that makes visual alignment of the cap with an exhaust pipe102and/or vent hole104on a wall or roof110of a building112impossible. As may be seen inFIGS. 2 and 3the cover106of the roof cap100inherently blocks an installer's ability to see the position of the exhaust pipe102over which the cap100is to be placed.

Imprecise positioning of the cap100over the pipe102and/or hole104may result in back drafts, improper venting, as well as the potential build up of humidity, condensation and mold.

Thus a need exists for a ventilation roof cap which provides improved assembly, improved alignment with the vent opening, and improved securement to the exhaust pipe; so as to improve ventilation and prevent the unwanted build up of moisture around the roof cap and adjacent areas of the roof.

In some circumstances it is desirable to inspect exhaust pipes and their openings to make certain they are not occluded or have been damaged over time. Once attached to the roof of a structure however, a one-piece vent style cap cannot be readily removed nor the exhaust pipe accessed for inspection or maintenance. In order to remove such a cap, the surrounding roofing materials (e.g. shingles, tiles, sheathing, etc.) must be loosed and/or removed as well so that the cap can be pried off of the roof sheathing to expose the exhaust pipe below. Such removal of the cap is time consuming, may damage the surrounding roof and necessitate total replacement of the cap and/or adjacent roofing material.

Thus, an additional need exists to provide a roof cap that allows easier access to the underling exhaust pipe without causing damage to the adjacent roofing materials or to the cap itself.

SUMMARY

Embodiments described herein provide a roof cap assembly which provides for improved alignment with the vent hole and exhaust pipe as well as providing a mechanism which allows for the ready access and inspection of the exhaust pipe without having to filly remove the roof cap from the roof sheathing.

The roof cap assembly described herein provides a variety of unique improvements over existing roof cap models. For example, unlike existing single piece roof caps, the roof cap assembly of the present disclosure has multiple components, including a top housing that can be detached and reattached from a bottom housing. The multi-piece configuration allows for accurate placement of the bottom housing over the existing vent hole and/or exhaust pipe. Once the bottom housing is properly installed, the top housing is secured to the bottom housing to provide a completed roof cap assembly. At any time following installation of the assembly, the top housing may be readily removed from the bottom housing to allow for inspection of the exhaust pipe, vent hole and/or adjacent areas of the roof without the need to replace the assembly.

These and other embodiments of the invention are disclosed herein and are illustrated in the following drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As shown inFIGS. 4-6embodiments of the present disclosure are directed to a multi-piece roof cap assembly10having at least two primary components, namely a bottom housing20and a top housing40.

The bottom housing or base20is of a single piece construction of molded plastic or metal. The bottom housing20includes a water shedding flange22and a vent housing shaft24extending upward from the flange22.

In at least one embodiment the shaft24is substantially cylindrical in shape, (e.g. the shaft24has circular cross-sectional shape as is best seen inFIG. 4). The cylindrical shape of the shaft24provides the bottom housing20with improved ability to shed water (rain and other precipitation) around the shaft24. In some embodiments, the shaft24may have any cross-sectional shape as may be desired (e.g. polygonal, elliptical, etc).

Shaft24defines an angle26with the flange22. In at least one embodiment the angle may be approximately 90 degrees. In some embodiments the angle may range from about 80 to about 100 degrees on any particular side of the shaft24relative to the flange22.

In some embodiments, shaft24defines a connection lumen or passage28into which a connector30is positioned. In at least one embodiment the passage28includes a nesting ring or lip29which a collar31of the connector30rests or engages.

In some embodiments, the connector30is provided with a tapered shape, such that the diameter of the connector tapers from a larger diameter near the collar31and a narrower diameter at its bottom32. In at least one embodiment, the bottom32of the connector30is sized to engage a portion of the exhaust pipe102(seeFIG. 4) that extends upward from the roof110and into the base housing20. The engagement of the connector30and exhaust pipe102creates a complete exhaust air connection from the pipe102and/or vent hole104(seeFIG. 4) through the bottom housing passage28and through an air flow cavity50of the the top housing40such as is shown inFIGS. 6 and 7.

In some embodiments, such as where an exhaust pipe102is not present or does not extend past the roof line upon which the base housing20is positioned, the connector30need not be utilized.

Turning now to the components of the top housing40, such as depicted inFIG. 6; in some embodiments the the top housing40is comprised of a cover42, a damper44, a rodent screen46and a top housing connection ring48.

Beginning with the cover42, in some embodiments, cover42is a hollow dome or other symmetrical shape which is configured to prevent precipitation or particulates from entering the passage28of base shaft24and exhaust pipe102(exhaust pipe is visible inFIG. 4). The shape of the cover42also provides the cap10with an aerodynamic profile so that the cap10is resistant to the effects of wind and to blend in visually with the profile of the roof and structure to which the cap is mounted (seeFIG. 5).

As mentioned above, and shown inFIG. 7, the cover42defines an interior space or air flow cavity50through which air can flow into the shaft passage28. The cover42is engaged to a top housing connection ring48, which in turn is connected to the shaft24of the bottom housing20to allow air to flow between exhaust pipe102and the environment outside of the cover42. In some embodiments, an example of which is shown inFIG. 7the cover42includes interior protrusions or tabs58into which the body49of the connection ring48is pushed into and around such that the tabs58at least partially overlap the connection ring58thereby mechanically engaging the cover42to the connection ring48.

To ensure that precipitation, even wind driven precipitation, does not enter the passage28(as well as the exhaust pipe102and/or vent hole104shown inFIG. 4) the top housing connection ring48has a damper44pivotally engaged thereto such as in the manner shown inFIG. 6.

The damper44is designed to prevent backdrafts of air down the shaft24of the bottom housing20and into the exhaust pipe102(seeFIG. 4). When for example, the cap10is positioned to cover a bathroom exhaust pipe (such as pipe102) when the bathroom fan (not shown) is turned on, air vented up through the exhaust pipe102causes the damper44to pivot up into the interior space50of the cover42thereby allowing the vented air to escape through the cover42. When the bathroom fan (not shown) is powered off, gravity allows the damper44to fall back into the top housing connection ring48.

In some embodiments the damper44is sized and shaped to match the profile of the top housing connection ring48and/or the connector30such as in the manner shown inFIG. 6. This complementary shape insures a good seal between the damper44and connection ring48when the damper44is at rest thereon (i.e. bathroom fan is in the “off” position described above). In some embodiments the damper44has a bowl shape to aid in preventing the damper44from pivoting up do to high wind blowing against the cover42.

In some embodiments the top housing40includes a rodent or pest screen46. Screen46is sized and shaped to friction fit or otherwise engage the interior52of the cover42and thereby prevent rodents, birds or other potential animal interlopers from entering the cap10. As is shown inFIG. 7, in some embodiments the screen46mechanically engages an engagement channel54with a “snap fit”. Where the cap10is used as a dryer vent cover, the screen46is configured for ease of removal so that the clearing of lint may be done by hand and without the need for tools.

As may be seen inFIG. 6, the various components of the cap10may be removeably secured together by any of a variety of mechanical or friction interfaces. For example, in the embodiment shown inFIG. 6the top housing connection ring48defines openings or slots56which engage protrusions or tabs58on the exterior surface60of the bottom housing shaft24. In some embodiments mechanisms such as fasteners (ties, screws, nuts and bolts, etc.) may be used to secure the components described above together in order to assemble the cap10.

Embodiments of the disclosure have been described above and a shown in the various figures. Embodiments are also described by the following numbered paragraphs.

Paragraph 1. A multi-piece vent cap assembly comprises a bottom housing and a top housing. The bottom housing has a flange and a shaft extending upward from the flange. The shaft defines an air flow passage that extends vertically through the shaft. The bottom housing is configured to be mounted over an exhaust pipe of a building. The top housing has a cover and a connection ring. The cover is configured to mechanically engage the connection ring. The cover defines an air flow cavity. The connection ring is configured to be removeably engaged to the shaft of the bottom housing.

Paragraph 2. The assembly of paragraph 1 further comprises a connector. The connector is configured for insertion into the shaft airflow passage. The connector is configured to connect to the exhaust pipe of the building.

Paragraph 3. The assembly of paragraphs 2 wherein the shaft defines a lip within the air flow passage and the connector comprises a collar. The collar is constructed and arranged to engage the lip when the connector is inserted into the air flow passage.

Paragraph 4. The assembly of paragraph 3 wherein the connector has a bottom and a diameter. The diameter of the connector is greater at the collar than at the bottom of the connector.

Paragraph 5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein the diameter of the connector tapers from a greater diameter at the collar to a smaller diameter at the bottom.

Paragraph 6. The assembly of any of paragraphs 1-5 wherein the top housing further comprises a damper. The damper is configured to be pivotally engaged to the connection ring. The damper is sized to cover the air flow passage of the shaft.

Paragraph 7. The assembly of any of paragraphs 1-6 wherein the top housing further comprises a pest screen. The pest screen is configured to mechanically engage a surface of the cover within the air flow cavity.

Paragraph 8. The assembly of any of paragraphs 1-7 wherein the connection ring of the top housing defines a plurality of slots and the shaft of the bottom housing comprises a plurality of tabs. Each slot is configured to receive and frictionally engage a tab.

Paragraph 9. The assembly of any of paragraphs 1-8 wherein the the cover has a dome shape.

Paragraph 10. A multi-piece vent cap assembly comprises several components including a bottom housing, a top housing and a connector. The bottom housing has a flange and a shaft extending upward from the flange. The shaft defines an air flow passage that extends vertically through the shaft. The bottom housing is configured to be mounted over an exhaust pipe of a building. The top housing has a cover, a connection ring, a damper and a pest screen. The cover is mechanically engaged to the connection ring. The cover defines an air flow cavity. The connection ring is removeably engaged to the shaft of the bottom housing. The damper is pivotally engaged to the connection ring and sized to cover the air flow passage. The pest screen is mechanically engaged to a surface of the cover within the air flow cavity. The connector is positioned within the air flow passage of the shaft and is configured to connect to the exhaust pipe of the building.

The many features and advantages of the invention are apparent from the above description. Numerous modifications and variations will readily occur to those skilled in the art. Since such modifications are possible, the invention is not to be limited to the exact construction and operation illustrated and described. Rather, the present invention should be limited only by the following claims.