Abstract:
A solar-powered, fan-equipped vent cover is fitted on top of a recreational vehicle roof vent. The vent cover protects the recreational vehicle vent when raining, and includes a solar panel operating a fan to boost the effectiveness of the recreational vehicle roof vent in removing hot air from the recreational vehicle interior living space. The vent cover also includes a battery back-up.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/495,309 for SOLAR-POWERED FAN FOR A RECREATION VEHICLE AND SOLAR-POWERED, FAN EQUIPPED VENT COVER THAT FITS ON TOP OF A RECREATIONAL VEHICLE ROOF VENT, filed on Sep. 24, 2014 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/881,862, filed on Sep. 24, 2013 and U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/900,148, filed on Nov. 5, 2013. The entire disclosure of each of the above applications is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    The present disclosure relates to a fan for a roof vent and more particularly relates to a solar powered fan for a recreational vehicle roof vent. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Recreational vehicles (RVs) get extremely hot inside without proper ventilation. Although vent covers exist none of them include a solar-powered fan unit that uses the power of the sun to more effectively remove hot air from an RV&#39;s interior living space. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Concordant and congruous with the present invention, an improved solar-powered fan for RV&#39;s has surprisingly been discovered. 
         [0005]    According to several aspects, a solar-powered recreational vehicle vent system includes a vent cover. A solar panel inset is connected to an upper wall of the vent cover. A solar panel is supported by the solar panel inset. A vent cover fan grill is connected to the vent cover. A first fan is connected to the vent cover fan grill. Electrical power to operate the first fan is directly provided by the solar panel. 
         [0006]    According to other aspects, a solar-powered recreational vehicle vent system includes a vent cover; a solar panel inset connected to an upper wall of the vent cover. A solar panel is supported by the solar panel inset. A vent cover fan grill is connected to the vent cover. A first fan and a second fan are connected to the vent cover fan grill. Electrical power to operate the first fan and the second fan is provided by the solar panel. A rechargeable back-up battery is connected to and charged by the solar panel. The first fan and the second fan are optionally operated by electrical energy stored in the rechargeable back-up battery when solar energy is unavailable for operation of the solar panel. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment of the invention, a solar-powered recreational vehicle vent system, comprises at least one fan disposed in a roof of a recreational vehicle; a solar panel; a vent cover disposed over the at least one fan and having the solar panel connected thereto; and a rechargeable battery back-up-extender in electrical connection with the solar panel and the at least one fan, wherein electrical power to operate the at least fan is provided by the solar panel when the solar panel is generating power or by the battery back-up-extender when the solar panel is not generating power. 
         [0008]    In another embodiment of the invention, a solar-powered recreational vehicle vent system, comprises at least one fan disposed in a roof of a recreational vehicle; a solar panel; a vent cover disposed over the at least one fan and having the solar panel connected thereto; and a rechargeable battery back-up-extender in electrical connection with the solar panel and the at least one fan, wherein electrical power to operate the at least fan is provided by the solar panel when the solar panel is generating power or by the battery back-up-extender when the solar panel is not generating power; and a controller in communication with the solar panel, the at least one fan, and the battery back-up extender to control how power from the solar panel is selectively distributed to the at least one fan and the battery back-up extender. 
         [0009]    In another embodiment of the invention, a solar-powered recreational vehicle vent system, comprises at least one fan disposed in a roof of a recreational vehicle; a solar panel; a vent cover disposed over the at least one fan and having the solar panel connected thereto; and a rechargeable battery back-up-extender in electrical connection with the solar panel, a battery of the recreational vehicle, and the at least one fan, wherein electrical power to operate the at least fan is provided by the solar panel when the solar panel is generating power or by the battery back-up-extender when the solar panel is not generating power; and a controller in communication with the solar panel, the at least one fan, the battery of the recreational vehicle, and the battery back-up extender to control how power from the solar panel is selectively distributed to the at least one fan, the battery of the recreational vehicle, and the battery back-up extender. 
         [0010]    The present invention protects the interior of the RV during inclement weather, but also includes a solar-powered fan unit that will boost the effectiveness of an RV&#39;s vent in removing hot air from the RV&#39;s interior living space. 
     
    
     
       DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a top left perspective view of a vent fan housing and system of the present disclosure; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2 a    is a top plan view of the vent fan housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2 b    is a rear end elevational view of the vent fan housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 2 c    is a side elevational view of the vent fan housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 3 a    is a top plan view of a vent cover fan grill of the vent fan housing of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0017]      FIG. 3 b    is an end elevational view of the vent cover fan grill of  FIG. 3 a   ; and 
           [0018]      FIG. 3 c    is a side elevational view of the vent cover fan grill of  FIG. 3   a.    
           [0019]      FIG. 4  is an exploded perspective view of an RV vent system according to another embodiment of the invention; and 
           [0020]      FIG. 5  is a diagram showing the interconnection of a solar panel of an RV vent system with components of the RV according to another embodiment of the invention. 
       
    
    
       [0021]    Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0022]    The following detailed description and appended drawings describe and illustrate various exemplary embodiments of the invention. The description and drawings serve to enable one skilled in the art to make and use the invention, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention in any manner. In respect of the methods disclosed, the steps presented are exemplary in nature, and thus, the order of the steps is not necessary or critical. 
         [0023]    The present invention improves upon the device disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 61/881,862 hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Elements of the invention may also improve upon the vent fan disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/345,545 hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. The improvements of the invention includes the following: 
         [0024]    Referring in general to  FIGS. 1-3 , an RV vent system  10  includes a vent fan housing or vent cover  12  which can be created for example as a molding of a polymeric material. Vent cover  12  includes a solar panel inset  14  which according to several embodiments is connected to an upper wall  16  of the vent cover  12 . A solar panel  18  is supported by the solar panel inset  14 . A vent cover fan grill  20  which can also be made as a molding of a polymeric material is provided with vent cover  12  which provides support for a first fan  22  and a second fan  24 . Electrical power to operate the first fan  22  and the second fan  24  is provided by the solar panel  18 . An on/off switch  26  can be provided for manual operation and a thermostat  28  can be provided for automatic operation of the first fan  22  and/or the second fan  24 . 
         [0025]    To assemble the RV vent system  10  the first fan  22  and the second fan  24  are attached to the vent cover fan grill  20  using clips such as Christmas tree clips. The vent cover fan grill  20  is then inserted into an opening  30  of the vent cover  12  and attached to the vent cover  12  using clips such as Christmas tree clips. The solar panel  18  is then inserted into the solar panel inset  14  and the solar panel inset  14  is connected to the vent cover  12 . Electrical connections are made between the solar panel  18  and the first fan  22  and the second fan  24 , and to the on/off switch  26  and to the thermostat  28 . The vent cover  12  is oriented on the recreational vehicle roof  32  such that the vent cover fan grill  20  is directed facing a back end or rear of the recreational vehicle. An integral flange  34  can be provided with the vent cover  12  to help seal the vent cover  12  to the recreational vehicle roof  32  using for example a gasket and/or a sealant and fasteners. 
         [0026]    One embodiment of the invention involves incorporation of a battery back-up-extender  36  that is charged by the solar panel  18 . The battery back-up extender  36  will continue running the first fan  22  and/or the second fan  24  when the sun is not present. The battery back-up extender  36  will be re-charged by the solar panel  18  when solar energy to provide recharge energy is available. 
         [0027]    In another embodiment, the invention involves incorporating into the vent fan housing  12  the solar panel  18  that will create enough wattage power to operate an existing vent fan (not shown) that is mounted into the RV unit vent opening. This system will not have internal vent fans in the vent housing. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, the invention involves incorporating into the vent fan housing  12  the advanced solar panel  18  and a controller  38  that will operate other RV unit systems that are connected to internal 12 volt DC house batteries of the recreational vehicle. According to several embodiments controller  38  can be connected to the on/off switch  26 , to the thermostat  28 , and to the battery back-up extender  36 . This vent fan solar system  10  will charge 12 volt DC house batteries which will then operate any DC system in the recreational vehicle. In another embodiment, a small 12 VDC vent fan  40  is attached to a back of an RV unit refrigerator (or other electronic device or appliance) inside the RV. The vent fan  40  will blow cool air over the refrigerator coils  42  and make the refrigerator approximately 40% more efficient and use less energy. This option will be powered by the vent fan housing  12  solar panel  18 . 
         [0029]    With further reference to  FIG. 2 c   , a face  44  of the vent cover fan grill  20  is angularly oriented with respect to both a rear face  46  of the vent cover fan grill  20  and a planar face  48  defined by the flange  34 . The angular orientation of the face  44  helps prevent rain and moisture from entering the vent cover fan grill  20 . 
         [0030]    With further reference to  FIGS. 3 c   ,  1 , and  2   c , the face  44  of the vent cover fan grill  20  is oriented at an acute angle alpha (a) defined with respect to the rear face  46 . Angle alpha (α) is selected to minimize moisture entrance into the vent cover fan grill  20  while providing minimum resistance to heat removal by operation of the first fan  22  and the second fan  24 . 
         [0031]    With further reference to  FIGS. 3 b   ,  1 , and  2   b , the vent cover fan grill  20  includes a first grill opening  48  providing multiple louvers  52  at a position of the first fan  22 , and a second grill opening  50  providing multiple louvers  54  at a position of the second fan  24 . The louvers  52 ,  54  are directed and open downwardly as viewed in  FIG. 3 b    to help prevent incursion of rain or moisture into the vent cover fan grill  20  and thereby into the vent cover  12 . 
         [0032]    In another embodiment of the invention shown in  FIG. 4 , an RV vent system  110  includes a vent fan housing or vent cover  112  which can be created for example as a molding of a polymeric material. The vent cover  112  includes a solar panel inset  114  which according to several embodiments is connected to an upper wall  116  of the vent cover  112 . A solar panel  118  is supported by the solar panel inset  114 . Alternatively, the solar panel  118  may be attached to a top of the solar vent cover  112 , such as by flanges on a frame around the solar panel  118 , for example. Solar panels may also be attached to the solar vent cover  112  on one or more sidewalls thereof  113 , a rear wall thereof  115 , and/or a front wall thereof  117 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , the rear  115  of the vent cover  112  includes a series of vents  119  to facilitate air flow therethrough. The vents  119  may be angled, as shown in  FIG. 2 c   , for example, as desired. If the vents  119  are present, the space provided to facilitate a solar panel  118  is minimal. However, the vents  119  may not be present and the vent cover  112  may be hinged at the front wall thereof  117  to allow the rear wall  115  of the vent cover  112  to be elevated, such as by a hydraulic, pneumatic, or mechanical device or the like, to facilitate air flow. If multiple solar panels  118  are present, the solar panel(s)  118  may be electrically connected in parallel or in series, as desired. The solar panel(s)  118  may be rigidly formed or may be formed from a flexible photovoltaic module/material to allow for coverage of all or substantially all of the solar vent cover  112 , as desired. At least one fan  122  is disposed within the recreational vehicle roof  132  and under the vent cover  112 . The at least one fan  122  is structurally independent from the solar vent cover  112 . Additional fans may be disposed in the recreation vehicle roof  132  abutting or adjacent to the at least one fan  122 , or additional fans may be spaced apart from the at least one fan  122  but in electrical connection therewith to be powered by the system  110  described herein. Accordingly, the solar vent cover  112  may be retrofitted onto the recreational vehicle room  132  as an aftermarket component. This allows power to be provided to the at least one fan  122  without having to remove the at least one fan  122  and install a new system or different fan. 
         [0033]    The vent cover  112  is oriented on the recreational vehicle roof  132  such that the rear wall  115  is directed facing a back end or rear of the recreational vehicle. A flange  134  can be provided with the vent cover  112  to help seal the vent cover  112  to the recreational vehicle roof  132  using for example a gasket and/or a sealant and fasteners. The flange  134  may extend along all four sides of the vent cover  112  or along one, two, or three sides, as desired. 
         [0034]    Electrical power to operate the at least one fan  122  is provided by the solar panel(s)  118 . An on/off switch  126  can be provided for manual operation and a thermostat  128  can be provided for automatic operation of the at least one fan  122 . 
         [0035]    To assemble the RV vent system  110 , the solar panel  118  is inserted into the solar panel inset  114  (or fastened onto the vent cover  112 ) and the solar panel inset  114  is connected to the vent cover  112 . Electrical connections are made between the solar panel  118  and the at least one fan  122 , the on/off switch  126 , the thermostat  128 , and to a battery back-up-extender  138 . The solar panel  118  may also be electrically connected to the primary battery of the recreational vehicle and/or to a small 12 V DC vent fan (not shown) similar to the one discussed hereinabove to a back of an RV unit refrigerator (or other electronic device or appliance) inside the recreational vehicle. The 12 V DC vent fan is configured to blow cool air over a device, such as refrigerator coils, and cool the device and facilitate a more efficient operation thereof. 
         [0036]    The battery back-up extender  136  is adapted to continue running the at least one  122  when the sun is not present. The battery back-up extender  136  will be re-charged by the solar panel  118  when solar energy to provide recharge energy is available. The battery back-up-extender  136  may be disposed on the vent cover  112 , such as on an interior thereof or on an exterior thereof to minimize a complexity of repairing or replacing the same. Alternatively, the battery back-up-extender  136  may be spaced apart from the vent cover  112  and disposed within the interior of the recreational vehicle, for example. The battery back-up-extender  136  may be in an enclosure mounted to the vent cover  112  protect the battery from the elements. If the battery back-up-extender  136  is disposed on an interior of the vent cover  112 , the at least one fan  122 , when in operation, will provide a flow or air over the battery back-up extender  136  to facilitate a cooling thereof and extend a useful life thereof. 
         [0037]    In another embodiment represented in  FIG. 5 , the vent cover  112  incorporates a controller  138  that will operate the at least one fan  122  and, as desired, other RV unit systems that are connected to internal 12 V DC house batteries of the recreational vehicle. According to several embodiments, the controller  138  can be connected to the on/off switch  126 , the at least one fan  122 , the thermostat  128 , the battery back-up extender  136 , and/or other components of the RV. This RV vent system  110  will charge 12 volt DC house batteries which will then operate any DC system in the recreational vehicle. 
         [0038]    During operation of the RV vent system  110 , if the solar panel(s)  118  has fully charged the battery back-up extender  136  and the at least one fan  122  is not in operation or is in operation but usage thereof does not exceed the power output of the solar panel(s)  118 , the solar panel(s) may selectively trickle charge the main battery of the RV or power an alternative device within the RV, such as a small light, a fan, or an outlet. The regulation of the output of the solar panel(s)  118  may be facilitated by a controller (not shown) or other computer system in communication therewith. In this way, the solar panel(s)  118  may produce and provide power to the at least one fan  122 , the battery back-up-extender  136 , and/or other components of the RV so that the use of solar panel(s)  118  is maximized to generate power during power-generating hours of the day. 
         [0039]    From the foregoing description, one ordinarily skilled in the art can easily ascertain the essential characteristics of this invention and, without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, can make various changes and modifications to the invention to adapt it to various usages and conditions.