Abstract:
A ventilator for a covering for a boat or other object includes a dome for covering air venting openings. The air vents are provided in a pair of oppositely disposed ventilator plates. The boat or other covering is firmly clamped between the ventilator plates by means of a nut that can be tightened by hand. The venting openings are disposed one above the other with no obstructions therebetween in order to allow for direct air transfer between the inside and the outside of the cover while preventing weather elements from entering the cover.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application is related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/389,165, filed Jul.  7 ,  2002 . 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Field of the Invention  
           [0003]    This invention relates in general to the field of ventilator apparatus and in particular to ventilator apparatus adapted to be used with a non-porous covering for a boat or any other object that is located out of doors and protected from the elements by the non-porous covering.  
           [0004]    2. Description of the Prior Art  
           [0005]    Recreational vehicles such as boats and travel trailers are typically stored outdoors when not in use. Often, a cover is placed over the entire vehicle in order to protect it from elements of the weather such as rain, snow, sleet, ultraviolet rays, heat from direct sunlight, as well as dirt and dust from the outside air. In this regard, a simple cover is quite effective and yet an inexpensive alternative to indoor storage. In the prior art, the covers can comprise canvas, plastic and other generally non-porous materials. Obviously, a non-porous cover functions very well for its intended purpose. Neither dirt nor rain can penetrate the non-porous material and as a result the recreational vehicle is fairly well protected when not in use.  
           [0006]    In the more recent prior art, vehicle covers have become available that prevent rain and dirt from entering the fabric while air is able to pass through the fabric. This type of prior art cover is said to “breath” and thereby prevent a problem associated with all prior art covers. The problem being condensation forming inside the cover from a temperature difference between the inner and outer surfaces of the cover. In a completely non porous cover, the condensation, in the form of moisture, is trapped inside the cover where it can penetrate every unsealed surface of the covered vehicle and every electrical, mechanical and fabric component in the vehicle. In a very real sense, the trapped moisture is more damaging than the vehicle being left uncovered. An uncovered vehicle can dry out, but a covered vehicle with moisture trapped therewithin does not dry out and the vehicle is constantly exposed to the moisture which over a shortened period of time can cause a significant amount of damage. The newer, breathable prior art materials allow some of the trapped moisture to escape, but not completely. Even with the breathable materials, moisture remains trapped inside the cover for a longer period of time than it would if the cover were removed and the vehicle allowed to air dry. It is to be noted that the moisture problem is not necessarily exclusive to the outdoors. Indeed, indoor storage, for example, where the air is not conditioned or otherwise dry, can experience high humidity. In such an environment, the moist air can damage a covered object or vehicle by becoming trapped under the cover.  
           [0007]    The solution to the above stated problem is, of course, to ventilate the cover so that air can freely pass in and out of the space inside of the cover a ventilation device is a virtual requirement for non-porous covers and is advantageous when used with the newer prior art breathable materials because of their tendency to trap moisture, albeit to a lower degree than the non-porous materials. Ventilation devices are known in the prior art and are all effective to a degree. However, a better, more efficient, inexpensive, and easy to install ventilation device is always more desirable. The present invention is directed to such a ventilation device. The prior art contains not stored indoors are typically protected by a canvas or similar non-porous material. The present invention provides, among other things, a ventilator that effectively allows the passage or air between the interior and exterior surfaces of a cover made from either a breathable or a non-porous material, while not allowing precipitation such as rain, snow, and sleet to pass between the interior and exterior surfaces of the cover. And, as noted, the present invention serves a useful purpose even when the covered object is located indoors.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The above-stated objects as well as other objects which, although not specifically stated, but are intended to be included within the scope the present invention, are accomplished by the present invention and will become apparent from the hereinafter set forth Detailed Description of the Invention, Drawings, and the Claims appended herewith.  
           [0009]    The inventive ventilation device comprises a component assembly including a dome member, an upper ventilator plate, a lower ventilator plate and a nut that are all made from a molded plastic. No metal screws or a scratch awl are required to install the inventive apparatus. The inventive ventilation apparatus can, if desired, be used with a pole to raise the cover up and away from the vehicle surface to enhance the circulation of air. A simple hole of a predetermined size is made in the cover material. The dome member with the upper ventilator plate already attached thereto is fitted into the hole in the cover. Then the lower ventilator plate is fitted from underneath the cover onto the shaft extending through the hole in the cover and the nut is threaded onto the shaft. Tightening of the nut is done by hand and when fully tightened the top and bottom ventilator plates are snugged up against each other and against the dome with the cover material firmly clasped between the ventilator plates. Ventilating air is allowed to pass freely through the ventilator plates by aligned openings provided in the plates. The dome piece prevents the elements from being introduced through the openings in the ventilator plates.  
           [0010]    In accordance with the above, there has been summarized the more important features of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention as it appears in the below detailed description of the same, may be better understood.  
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]    Various other objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following discussion taken in conjunction with the following drawings, in which  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 1 is a front plan view, in cross section, of one embodiment of the present invention as it may appear in practice attached to a vehicle cover;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 2 is a front plan cross sectional view of the dome portion of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 3 is a front plan cross sectional view of the upper ventilator plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and taken along the line  3 - 3  of FIG. 4;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the ventilator plate of FIG. 3;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 5 is a front plan cross sectional view of the lower ventilator plate of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 and taken along the line  5 - 5  of FIG. 6;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the ventilator plate of FIG. 5;  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 7 is a plan cross sectional view of the nut of the embodiment shown in FIG. 1 taken along the line  7 - 7  of FIG. 8; and,  
         [0019]    FIG. 8  is a top plan view of the nut of FIG. 7.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0020]    As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functioning details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure.  
         [0021]    Reference is now made to the drawings, wherein like the characteristics and features of the present invention shown in the various figures are designated by the same reference numerals.  
         [0022]    In the illustrated embodiment of FIG., the inventive ventilator  10  can be generally envisioned to include an outer portion and an inner portion. The outer portion is generally that portion of the inventive ventilator  10  that is located on the top or exterior side of the cover  11  and includes a portion of the dome member  12  and the upper ventilator plate  13 . The inner portion is generally that portion of the inventive ventilator  10  that is located on the under side or interior side of the cover  11  and includes a portion of the dome member  12 , the lower ventilator plate  14 , and the securing nut  15 . Thus, the dome piece or member  12  is common to the outer and inner portions of the inventive ventilator  10 . In the assembled view shown in FIG. 1, the cover material  11  is seen to include a hole there through with a main portion of the cover material  11  extending radially away from the hole and clamped between the opposed surfaces  16  and  17 , of the upper ventilator plate  13  and the lower ventilator plate  14 , respectively.  
         [0023]    Details of the dome member  12  are shown in FIG. 2 which generally comprises a dome portion and a shaft portion. Dome portion comprises a circular plate  18  having a curved umbrella like configuration such that the axial center is the uppermost portion and the outer surface curves in a downward direction as it extends away from the axial center. By way of further explanation, the upper surface  19  of the dome portion has a convex configuration while the under surface  20  has a concave configuration. The dome  12  serves in general to prevent rain and other elements from entering the cover through the air vents provided with the ventilation apparatus  10  and therefore the domed configuration aids in this function by placing the outer edges of the dome on a plane substantially level, or slightly lower or higher then the air vents. The outer diameter of the plate member  18  of the dome  12  is preferably, but not necessarily equal to the outer diameter of the ventilator plates  13  and  14 . Accordingly, the shape of the dome  12  and its outer diameter is to be consistent with its intended function and is well within the knowledge of a person of ordinary skill in this art The inventive ventilator  10  contemplates that the plate member  18  can be flat and still function but not as efficiently as the illustrated and preferred curved configuration.  
         [0024]    The slightly thicker center portion  21  of the plate member  18  is provided to furnish extra strength to the dome in the event that a pole  22  (shown in phantom in FIG. 1) is used to raise the cover  11  up and off of the covered vehicle or other device being protected by cover  11 . Of course, the plate member  18  can be made sufficiently thick so that the center portion  21  has the same thickness as the plate member  18  in general. Further alternatives include that the plate member can be of a variable thickness and that it have other than a circular configuration.  
         [0025]    Dome member  12  includes a shaft  23  that extends downwardly from the center of plate member  18 . Plate member  18  and shaft member  23  actually comprise a single member, i.e. the dome  12 . Shaft member  23  includes a blind axial opening  24  sized to accept a stand-off pole  22  (see FIG.). Blind hole  24  can be of a single diameter or of stepped, multiple diameters to accept poles of different diameters. The outer diameter of shaft  23  includes a first diameter and a second smaller diameter with a step or flanged surface  25  there between, one or more axial keys  26  extending along the length of the second smaller diameter of shaft  23 , and screw threads  27  at the bottom of the second smaller diameter, each of which can be integrally molded with the shaft  23 . The function and characteristics of these features of shaft  23  are further described below.  
         [0026]    The upper ventilator plate  13 , shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, comprises an air venting plate member having a generally circular outer diameter  28  and a circular opening  29  axially through the center thereof. Circular opening  29  is sized to fit therewithin the axial portion of shaft  23  immediately below the step  25 . One or more axial keyways  30  are provided within the opening  29  each being configured to accept and engage a respective one of the one or more keys  26  of shaft  23  in order to align and prevent rotation of the upper ventilator plate  13  relative to shaft  23 . The annular surface  31  on the top of the upper ventilator plate is intended to fit against the step or flange surface  25  of shaft  23  and thereby fix the axial position of upper ventilator plate  13  relative to shaft  23 . Preferably, but not necessarily, upper ventilator plate  13  is glued or otherwise fixed to the shaft  23 , but alternatively can be press fitted, fastened, or integrally formed with the shaft  23  to maintain the upper ventilator plate&#39;s position with respect to the dome member  18 . As a further alternative, the present invention  10  contemplates that the dome member  12  and the upper plate member can be made as a single member. The upper ventilator plate  13  also includes an outer diameter substantially the same as that of the dome member  18 , a first axial portion  32  (within which is located circular opening  29 ), a first flat plate portion  33  extending radial outward from the bottom of the first axial portion  32 , a second axial portion  34  extending downward from the outer diameter of the first flat plate portion  33 , and a second flat plate portion  35  extending radially outward from the bottom of the second axial portion  34  of the upper ventilator plate  13   
         [0027]    A plurality of strengthening ribs  36  extend radially outward from the first axial portion  32  to the second flat plate portion  35  along the upper surface of ventilator plate  13  connecting and reinforcing the flat  33  and the axial  34  portions there between. A plurality of air venting openings  37  are provided in the first flat plate portion  33 . The plurality of venting openings  37  are integrally formed with the first flat plate portion  33  and are oriented with respect to the keyway  30 . In order to positively clamp the outer covering  11  between the ventilator plates  13  and  14 , a plurality of mating ridges and grooves can be used. Accordingly, FIGS. 3 and 4 show a plurality of circumferential clamping ridges  38  extending around the bottom surface  16  of the second flat plate portion  35  for mating contact with a plurality of circumferential grooves discussed below.  
         [0028]    The bottom surface  16  of the upper ventilator plate  13  can be provided with a roughened or irregular surface finish for the purpose of further aiding in clamping and sealing the cover  11  between the ventilator plates  13  and  14 . Referring also to FIG. 1, a screen member  55  can be fitted within the inner diameter of the second axial portion  34  and up against the lower horizontal surface of the first plate portion  33  of ventilator  13  so as to screeningly cover the air vent holes  37  of ventilator  13 . The ostensible purpose of screen  54  being, for example, to prevent small living creatures from gaining entrance to the inside of the cover  11 .  
         [0029]    The lower ventilator plate  14 , illustrated in FIGS. 5 and 6, is configured to fit on shaft  23  and to mate with the upper ventilator plate  13 . A first axial portion  41  of the lower ventilator plate  14  includes an opening  42  there through that is sized to accept the second smaller outer diameter of shaft  23 . One or more axial keyways  43  are provided within the opening  42  that are configured to accept and engage the one or more keys  26  of shaft  23  to align and prevent rotation of the lower ventilator plate  14  relative to shaft  23  and relative to the upper ventilator plate  13 . A first flat plate portion  44  of the lower ventilator plate  14  extends radially outward from the top end of the first axial portion  41 . A second axial portion  45  of the lower ventilator plate  14  extends downward from the outer diameter of the first flat plate portion  44  of the lower ventilator plate  14 . A second flat plate portion  46  of the lower ventilator plate  14  extends radially outward from the lower end of the second axial portion  45  of the lower ventilator plate  14 .  
         [0030]    A plurality of strengthening ribs  47  extend radially outward from the first axial portion  41  to the second flat plate portion  46  along the lower surface of ventilator plate  14  connecting and reinforcing the flat  44  and the axial  45  portions there between. A plurality of air venting openings  48  are provided in the first flat plate portion  44 . The plurality of venting openings  48  are integrally formed with the first flat plate portion  44  and are oriented with respect to the keyway  43 . A plurality of circumferential clamping grooves  49  extend around the upper surface of the second flat plate portion  46  for mating contact with the plurality of circumferential ribs  38  on upper ventilator plate  13 . That is, that the ridges  38  fit within the grooves  49 . The upper surface  17  of the ventilator  15  can also be provided with a roughened or irregular surface finish for the purpose of further aiding in clamping and sealing the cover  11  between the ventilator plates  13  and  14 .  
         [0031]    When the lower ventilator plate  14  is assembled to the shaft  23  of the dome member  12 , the one or more keyways  43  orient the lower ventilator member  14  with the upper ventilator plate  13  such that the air venting openings  37  and  38  are aligned with each other and the clamping ridges  38  and grooves  49  are also aligned with each other. It is to be noted that ridges  38  and grooves  49  can be located at any convenient location on plates  13  and  14  and can extend around the respective plates in a full circle.  
         [0032]    [0032]FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate a fastening device that is used to secure the lower ventilator plate  14  to the dome member  12  (the upper ventilator plate  13  having already been assembled to the dome member  12  or being integrally formed therewith). The fastening member  15  can comprise a nut-like member having an internal screw thread  51  sized to mate with the external threads  27  at the bottom of shaft  23 . A number of alternative attaching means can be used in place of the illustrated screw threads. For example, a pin in association with a camming slot, a lever operated cam lock, and other like attaching means as are known in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, a pair of oppositely disposed wings  52  extend from the outer diameter of the fastening member  15  to permit hand assembly of the fastening member  15  to the shaft  23  and to tighten the lower ventilator plate  14  up against the upper ventilator plate  13 . A hexagonal configuration can alternatively be used in lieu of wings  52 . The tightening accomplished by a top annular surface  53  of the fastening member  51  bearing against an annular surface  54  located at the bottom of the first axial portion  41  of the lower ventilator plate  14  when the fastening member  51  is rotated.  
         [0033]    To install the ventilator in a cover  11 , a substantially circular hole is cut through or otherwise formed in the cover  11 , the diameter of the hole being substantially equal to or slightly greater than the outer diameter of the second axial portion  45  of the lower ventilator plate  14 . The dome member  12  (with the upper ventilator plate  13  assembled or attached thereto) is inserted through the hole in the cover  11 . Not essential to the invention, but advantageous to the life of the cover  11 , the inventor has found that a reinforcing, donut shaped ring member made from the cover material can be used between the plates  13  and  14  to provide a double thickness of cover material at the clamping location of the vent  10 . Then the lower ventilator plate  14  is fitted to the shaft  23  of the dome member  12  with the one or more keyways  43  being aligned with the one or more keys  26  so as to align the air vent holes  37  and  48  and to align the clamping ridges  38  and grooves  49 . When the lower ventilator plate  14  is fully or substantially seated up against the upper ventilator plate  13 , with the cover  11  there between, the second axial portion  45  of the lower ventilator plate  14  is inserted within the second axial portion  34  of the upper ventilator plate  13 . The fastening member  15  is then assembled to the shaft  23  and tightened whereby the cover  11  is clamped between the lower surface of the upper ventilator plate  13  and the upper surface of the lower ventilator plate  14  and the cover  11  is further clamped between the clamping ridges  38  and grooves  49 . Since the hole in the cover is larger that the outside diameter of the second axial portion  45  of the lower ventilator plate  14 , the cover  11  does not interfere or otherwise cover the aligned venting openings  37  and  48  and air is permitted to freely pass from the inside of the cover  11 , through the aligned vents  37  and  48 , and to the outside of the cover  11 . When in use, the dome member  12  covers the plurality of venting openings such that any precipitation is deflected away from the venting openings. As a result, the precipitation can not enter the cover by going through the air vents provided in the inventive ventilator  10 .  
         [0034]    If the venting application requires supports to prop the cover, then the supports can simply be inserted in the opening  24  in shaft  23  of the ventilator to prop the cover. The Supports can be used to prop the cover such that rain, sleet, snow, etc. does not settle in a low spot of the cover, which may cause deterioration of the cover or other damage.  
         [0035]    While the invention has been described, disclosed, illustrated and shown in certain terms or certain embodiments or modifications which it has assumed in practice, the scope of the invention is not intended to be nor should it be deemed to be limited thereby and such other modifications or embodiments as may be suggested by the teachings herein are particularly reserved especially as they fall within the breach and scope of the claims here appended.