Abstract:
Improvements in an outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain that can cause damage to a house of building. The prevention of fire and ember intrusion into a building prevents fires in homes where invalids and children are left alone. The prevention of water into structure further reduces the potential for mold growth in the attic or walls of a home or structure. The filtering further prevents intrusion of creatures such as but not limited to bugs, insects, bees, wasps, animals, critters and other flying and crawling animals from entering the building. The vent is a fireproof set of louver or filter pads with fire arresting screens that is passed through a wall that vents into the building. The vent can be installed on old and new construction to provide improved fire prevention, increase the value and salability in fire prone areas.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/084,016 filed on Nov. 25, 2014 and Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/160,818 filed May 13, 2015 the entire contents of which is hereby expressly incorporated by reference herein. 
     
    
     STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT 
       [0002]    Not Applicable 
       THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT 
       [0003]    Not Applicable 
       INCORPORATION-BY-REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC 
       [0004]    Not Applicable 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0006]    This invention relates to improvements in a house gable air vent. More particularly, the present outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain allows for outside air to enter into the attic space of a house, but blocks embers, water and rain from entering the attic of the house. 
         [0007]    2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98 
         [0008]    Most houses are constructed with vents that allow for outside air to vent into the attic area of a house. The vents are typically located on the sides or roof of a house. Venting of the attic reduces heat build-up in the attic that can increase the temperature of the living area of the house. The vent allows the air to more freely move into the attic, it also allows air water and fire to enter the attic and can cause the house to catch fire or water to cause damage to the structure. 
         [0009]    When fires burn around a house the heat and flames of the fire can blow directly against the side of the house, the flames of the fire can enter the same vent and the fire first ignites the house in the attic where there is limited protection from the heat. Most old and new constructed homes utilize the same or similar venting systems where fire and or rain can enter the home. In the case of rain that is being blown by a wind, the rain can be blown into the vertical vents of the sides of a house. 
         [0010]    The attic vents of a house have not changed to prevent this type of problem. A number of patents and or publications have been made to vent houses or buildings. Exemplary examples of patents and or publications that try to address the venting of an attic are identified and discussed below. 
         [0011]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,214,510 issued on Jun. 29, 1980 to Bruce K. Ward discloses a Vent and Baffle Unit. The baffle in this patent is located in the rafters of a house and sits between the joists. While this patent allows for air movement through a vent in the eves, it does not prevent fire embers or water from entering the attic. This patent further does not have a screen to prevent embers form coming in. In regard to rain, the baffle may help to reduce rain intrusion, but this patent essentially discloses providing an air path for ventilate into the structure thru the eaves of a house. 
         [0012]    U.S. Pat. No. 4,785,596 issued Nov. 22, 1988 to Byron C. Wiley et al discloses an Attic Vent that is secured to the vertical side of a building. The vent allows for free air movement into the attic or unoccupied area of a building or house. This patent does not provide prevent fire from being blown into the house through the attic vent and driven rain can pass through the vent. 
         [0013]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,729,935 issued Mar. 24, 1998 to Charles E. Schiedegger et al., discloses a Gable Vent. The gable vent extends away from the vertical wall and allows for air to pass vertically through the gable vent. Hot embers can be blown through the gable vent where the house can catch fire. 
         [0014]    U.S. Pat. No. 5,782,051 issued on Jul. 21, 2998 to John F. LaVole discloses a Water Resistant Louver. The louver has a screen that reduces water flow or rain through the vent. The design of this patent is essentially vertical with a cosmetic cover in front of the screen and a louver behind the screen. While this patent is water resistant it does not prevent fire intrusion. 
         [0015]    What is needed is an attic ventilation system where the venting mechanism is location outside of the house or structure. The ventilation system can be exposed to rain and embers without allowing the rain or embers to pass through the vent and enter into the attic or rafters of the house or building. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0016]    It is an object of the outside house gable vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to prevent fire in homes and other buildings in high fire areas. The prevention of fire and ember intrusion into a building prevents fires in homes where invalids and children are left alone. This can further save art and other things of value passed down from generation to generation. The prevention of water into structure further reduces the potential for mold growth in the attic or walls of a home or structure. The filtering further prevents intrusion of creatures such as but not limited to bugs, insects, bees, wasps, animals, critters and other flying and crawling animals from entering the building. 
         [0017]    It is an object of the outside house gable vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to be installed on preexisting structure as a retrofit or on new or reconstruction of a home to provide improved fire protection. The vent can further be designed for installation on new construction to provide improved fire prevention. This can further provide for a more salable home in fire prone areas. 
         [0018]    It is an object of the outside house gable vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to potentially reduce the cost of home and life insurance by reducing their incidence. This could reduce the number of personnel required by the insurance companies to provide services to customers and could provide an overall cost reduction to the industry that would provide more incentive for other insurance companies to enter the field of building insurance in fire prone areas. 
         [0019]    It is another object of the outside house gable vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to help cities and towns by reducing the work load of fire departments and other personnel in the towns and cities. It can further reduce or eliminates insurance costs to municipalities for fire-fighting personnel. 
         [0020]    It is an object of the outside house gable vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to require a slight protrusion in the gable area of each building. This eliminates most existing louvered and round vents. The venting can take a variety of shapes or structures such as but not limited to round, oval, square, rectangular and ached. The vent can be easy painted to match the existing building colors and can easily be used with all types of construction i.e. brick, stucco etc. 
         [0021]    It is another object of the outside house gable vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to provide greater efficiency of each unit thereby requiring less vents to proving venting. The vent is arranged to prevent ultra violet rays of light from causing damage that exists with many vents already in use. 
         [0022]    It is another object of the outside house gable vent to fit into the existing stud wall of the house. The vent utilizes a plurality of angled louvers placed between vertical screens to block both water and fire from making the multiple changes in flow direction to reduce particles or hot embers or water from passing inside of the structure. 
         [0023]    It is still another object of the outside gable house vent that blocks fire embers, water and rain to have internal water gutter and drain to collect water that enters the vent to be routed to a central drain location. Because the vent has an initial screen, the screen blocks particles such as leaves and bugs from entering into the louvers where bugs, leaves or sticks could fall into the gutter and block the drain. 
         [0024]    Various objects, features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments of the invention, along with the accompanying drawings in which like numerals represent like components. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING(S) 
         [0025]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the vent on the side of a building. 
           [0026]      FIG. 2  shows side cross-section view of the vent on a side wall of a building. 
           [0027]      FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the vent. 
           [0028]      FIG. 4  shows a front plan view of the vent. 
           [0029]      FIG. 5  shows a side cross-sectional view cut through line  5 - 5  from  FIG. 4 . 
           [0030]      FIG. 6  shows a second cross-sectional embodiment of the vent. 
           [0031]      FIG. 7  shows a third cross-sectional embodiment of the vent. 
           [0032]      FIG. 8  shows a detail of one set of louvers. 
           [0033]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-section of a fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0034]      FIG. 10  shows front view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0035]      FIG. 11  shows a side view of the view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0036]      FIG. 12  shows a rear view of the view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0037]      FIG. 13  shows a table of different size vents that can be installed. 
           [0038]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0039]      FIG. 15  shows an exploded isometric view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0040]      FIG. 16  shows a top view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0041]      FIG. 17  shows a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment. 
           [0042]      FIG. 18  shows a detail view from  FIG. 17 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0043]      FIG. 1  shows a perspective view of the vent on the side of a building  19 . In most currently constructed homes or buildings the side of the building has a vent that is essentially the same size and shape where the filter  28  is shown in this figure. The vent fits essentially in the same opening. In the embodiment shown the inlet to the vent is at the front of the vent  28  and is covered with a screen material. While different size of holes and spacing has been tested, the ideal ratio will provide flow of air, but block water and fire from penetrating one or more layers of the vent. In one contemplated embodiment the front of the vent  28  is covered with a material such as 20 gauge 5052-H32 aluminum, but other materials are contemplated. The front screen has 0.156 diameter holes places 0.187 on center. This ratio provides a 63% open area in the screen for air to pass through. This diameter of hole is sufficiently small to block most insects and nearly all tree and leaf debris. 
         [0044]      FIG. 2  shows side cross-section view of the vent on a side wall of a building. The vent is shown mounted onto an upper stud  18  and a lower stud  17 . The vent  20  is secured to the existing stud opening or the opening can be enlarged to increase the airflow into the attic. After installation on the house or building, a generous bead of sealant under the mounting flange prevents water that normally runs down the side of the building wall, from entering the building. The vent  20  has a flange area  24  that surrounds the passage into a house. The flange allows the vent  20  to be mounted onto the structure and the flange can be mounted to the outside of the structure or can be mounted directly onto the wall studs and then covered with a cosmetic surface of wood, brick, stone or stucco or other desired material. 
         [0045]    The air  21  flowing into the vent enters into the bottom of the vent  20  through the first filter or screen  80 . The air flows through the louvers, only louver  80  is identified in this figure, and out  23  the back of the vent  20 . While the vent  20  is shown with multiple screens and louvers, the quantity and placement of these items can be adjusted based upon the expected with and rain direction. The bottom front edge of the vent  20  have a drain  25  to let any accumulated water within the vent to run out of the front of the vent. Detailed views and description are shown and described in to figures in this document. 
         [0046]      FIG. 3  shows a top plan view of the vent  FIG. 4  shows a front plan view of the vent and  FIG. 5  shows a side cross-sectional view of the vent cut through line  5 - 5  from  FIG. 4 . The vent is configured to fit within existing stud dimensions and can also be designed to fit into new construction. The overall height  35  and width  32  of the vent is shown. The opening of the vent also has a height  34  and a width  31 . The width  31  is equally placed between the sides  38  of the overall width  32 . The top of the opening has a flange spacing  33  for mounting the vent to an upper stud. 
         [0047]    From  FIG. 5 , the inside of the vent has a height  42 . This embodiment shows four screens  80 ,  81 ,  82  and  83  with three louvers  71 ,  72  and  73 . The louvers are all placed in the same angle direction whereby any water entering the vent must make three separate vertical changes as the water and air is blown into the vent. At the top of this figure the dimensions from the flange  24  to each of the louvers  45 ,  44  and  43  is shown with a dimension  46  to the front of the first screen  46 . It is contemplated that all of the screen, the louvers and the housing for the vent are all constructed from the same 5052-H32 aluminum material to prevent rusting, but other material are contemplated that would provide acceptable performance. At the bottom of the vent an overhang  36  is created to provide a step  40  from the bottom flange to provide clearance for a drain opening  25 . 
         [0048]    The drain opening  25  allows for water that enters the vent, and then stopped by the louvers to fall within the vent and drain out the front of the vent at a distance  39  and  40  away from the flange to prevent or reduce watermarks from staining the house or building. The inside bottom surface of the vent is angled  41  to drain the water from the vent. The height  37  and dimensions of the drain  25  provide an opening of approximately ½ inch, but other dimensions are contemplated based upon testing results. 
         [0049]      FIG. 6  shows a second cross-sectional embodiment of the vent. This embodiment places the second louvre  74  at a different angle from the firs  71  and third  73  louver to force water downward prior to the last louver  73 . 
         [0050]      FIG. 7  shows a third cross-sectional embodiment of the vent. This embodiment shows four louvers  71 ,  73 ,  74  and  75  along with five screens  80 ,  81 ,  82 ,  83  and  85 . Louver  74  is inverted. It is contemplated that many different orientations and directions of louvers can be placed to match the wind and rain characteristics as well as the wall stud thickness and the amount of fire protection. 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  shows a detail of one set of louvers  70 . The louver are preferably placed at an angle  61  of approximately 35 degree. Testing has shown this angel to provide desirable results, but angles as low as 10 degrees or as high as 80 degrees will provide differing result of water and fire intrusion prevention. The louvers  70  have width  62  and a combined overall width  60  based upon the requirements to fit within the stud wall. The louvers are also spaced apart  61  in a parallel orientation for installation in a ceiling wall. 
         [0052]      FIG. 9  shows a cross-section of a fourth preferred embodiment. In this embodiment a porous non-deteriorating non-flammable filter material  90  is used between the front  92  and the rear  93  screens. The screens  92  and  93  are preferably made from 16 gauge 5052-H32 aluminum with 63% openings. The opening s are 0.156 diameter holes on 0.187 centers, but similar or equivalent material is further contemplated. 
         [0053]      FIG. 10  shows front view of the fourth preferred embodiment,  FIG. 11  shows a side view of the view of the fourth preferred embodiment and  FIG. 12  shows a rear view of the view of the fourth preferred embodiment. The exterior configuration of this embodiment is similar to the previous embodiment shown where the outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain fit into an existing or new house vent and can be constructed in various standard and custom sizes. The outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain has a front mounting flange with a plurality of mounting holes  95 . The body of the outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain is contemplated to be 0.040 thick 5052-H32 aluminum, but equivalent or superior materials are also contemplated. The bottom of the outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain has a drain opening  25 . The drain opening has a screen mounted to the drain to prevent bugs or other undesirable creatures from entering into the vent from the drain  25 . 
         [0054]    Two configurations are contemplated, where a first configuration is with a flange at  91  and a second configuration is with a flange at  94 . The first configuration is for retro fitting to an existing house or structure, while the second configuration is for new construction. The flange allows for fascia or stucco to be placed around the outside house vent that blocks embers, water and rain. The front surface  92  and the rear surface  93  are covered with a screen that provides a front covering and also retains the porous non-deteriorating non-flammable filter material  90  within the vent. 
         [0055]      FIG. 13  shows a table of different size vents that can be installed. This table is for reference only and will be completed based upon testing and evaluation as the product is developed and the non-provisional version of this application is prepared. 
         [0056]      FIG. 14  shows a perspective view of the fourth preferred embodiment and  FIG. 15  shows an exploded isometric view of the fourth preferred embodiment. In this embodiment the front of the vent has a frame or upper flange  83  with an external screen  92 . The drain spout  25  is visible extending out the lower front of the vent. A plurality of securing holes  95  are shown. From the exploded view a plurality of filter pads  110 . Four filter pads are shown in this configuration, but as few as one to more than four are contemplated. The filter pads  110  allows air to pass through the filter pad(s)  110 , stops fire from penetrating through the filter pads  110  and slows water from passing through the filter. As water, or wind-blown water is pushed into the filter, the filter pads  110  slow the water and the water then runs down the filter pads  110 , to the filter pad support flange  109  and then out of the drain spout  25 . A drain spout screen  105  prevents intrusion from bugs or other undesirable elements from entering into the drain. The drain spout screen  105  also prevents fire from entering up through the filter. Air that passes through the filter pass out of the rear of the filter through the external screen  93 . 
         [0057]    The construction of the filter has side vent housings  101  that are secured from above with a top cover  103  and the bottom cover that connects to a flange bottom  107 . Side flanges  108  connect between the upper and lower covers and also are secured to the side vent housings  101 . An upper flange  83  and lower flange bottom  107  are connected to the frame. Pop rivets  111  or other securing fasteners retain the frame elements together. 
         [0058]      FIG. 16  shows a top view of the fourth preferred embodiment and  FIG. 17  shows a sectional view of the fourth preferred embodiment. The drain spout  25  is shown extending from the front of the filter frame in front of the mounting flange  83 . The multiple filter pads  110  are shows in the cross-sectional view of  FIG. 17 . An air gap  112  is placed between each filter pad  110 . The air gaps  112  allow material or water to drop between the pads  110  where it can be washed down and out of the filter. Without the air gaps  112 , water can be blown progressively through each pad  110 . The materials used, including the filter pads, internal and external screens are made from non-flammable materials and materials that are not deteriorated from water. 
         [0059]    It should be seen from this figure that the frame can be constructed with an operable lid that allows the filters  110  to be removed for cleaning and then re-inserted into the frame. Cleaning removes small particulars that can clog the filter and thereby prevent air movement through the filter. 
         [0060]      FIG. 18  shows a detail view from  FIG. 17 . The blind rivet  110  is typical of all the rivets and seals  99  the openings. The rivet  111  is shown retaining the vent housing  101  and the top cover  103 . The blind rivet  111  provides load sharing between the front and rear panels. 
         [0061]    Thus, specific embodiments of an outside house vent that blocks ember, water and rain have been disclosed. It should be apparent, however, to those skilled in the art that many more modifications besides those described are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The inventive subject matter, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.