Patent Publication Number: US-2009239462-A1

Title: Replaceable foundation vent

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to foundation vents, and more particularly to a replaceable ventilation vent having a permanently installed mounting frame. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Foundation ventilators are required by building codes at spaced locations for moisture control among other reasons. Such ventilators preferably include a means for opening and a means for closing the air passageway so that air flow can be increased during the warm season to minimize trapped moisture inside the foundation and air flow can be minimized during the cold season to minimize heat loss during colder periods. 
     Foundation ventilators are usually installed in the openings provided in the foundation wall by applying mortar around the perimeter of the ventilation unit once it is positioned in the opening. Such an installation method is accompanied by many problems in that the application of mortar around the ventilation unit perimeter may not be precise, resulting in messy residue that must be cleaned up, eating up valuable construction time. Moreover, the application of mortar around joints requires a high degree of skill in the artisan. 
     The aforementioned installation method results in a permanent installation that defies easy repair or replacement, in that the mortar must be chipped away from the opening using hammer and chisel or the like. The very process of striking at the mortar may result in inadvertent permanent damage to the ventilation unit, instead of the repair that was sought. 
     Thus, a replaceable foundation vent solving the aforementioned problems is desired. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The replaceable foundation vent comprises a mounting frame and a vent having a plurality of ventilation components, including a screen, a stationary ventilation plate, and a slider. The ventilation components are removably attachable to the mounting frame using fasteners. The mounting frame has a built-in lintel, the entire frame being adapted for mounting in an opening in a block, brick or frame foundation wall. Overhanging portions of the frame lintel rest atop foundation wall members laterally disposed on either side of the frame. Additional foundation wall members can be disposed on top of the lintel to seal off the initial top opening. Frame and vent function in the same manner as older styled unitarily constructed vents. By releasing/removing the fasteners, the ventilation components can easily be removed from the mounting frame for repairs to the vent when necessary. 
     These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1A  is a perspective view of a mounting frame of a replaceable foundation vent according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 1B  is a perspective view of the replaceable foundation vent according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 2  is an exploded, perspective view of the replaceable foundation vent according to the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  is a section view along the lines  3 - 3  of  FIG. 1A , the environmental features being omitted. 
     
    
    
     Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings. 
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1A-3 , the present invention relates to a replaceable foundation vent  5  that comprises a mounting frame  60 , the mounting frame having respective opposing pairs of interconnected substantially horizontal and substantially vertical frame members defining a generally rectangular opening. Additionally, a plurality of vent components, including ventilation plate  50 , slider panel  40 , and screen  70 , are removably attachable to the mounting frame  60  using fasteners, such as exemplary fasteners S. Fasteners S may be threaded, although unthreaded fasteners are also contemplated. As most clearly shown in  FIGS. 1B and 2 , the ventilation plate  50  and slider panel  40  are substantially rectangular, planar plates having complementary rectangular slots or gratings that allow for the regulation of airflow through the ventilation plate  50  as the slider panel  40  is slidably adjusted within the mounting frame  60 . It should be understood, however, that the rectangular configuration of the gratings shown is merely exemplary, and the gratings may have other geometrical configurations that also function to regulate airflow through them. The screen  70  is a substantially planar mesh that may be wire or other suitable material to keep debris, bugs and animals out while allowing airflow through the screen  70 . The top, substantially horizontal frame member of mounting frame  60  forms a lintel  80 , the lintel  80  having end portions that overhang transversely from the vertical frame members. 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 , support ribs  65  are formed along the inside of frame  60  along the rear edges of the lower member  64  and side members  62  of the frame  60  and extend into the opening defined by the frame  60 . An upper support rib  67  coplanar with support ribs  65  is medially located on lintel  80 , providing a reinforcing rib to help support the weight from bricks B that bear down on the lintel  80 . A lower flange or lip  110  extends downward from the bottom leg  64  of mounting frame  60 . and can be used to align the bottom of frame  60  in mortar disposed on the lower supporting bricks in the foundation wall. 
     Referring to  FIGS. 1A and 3 , rear support ribs  65  form a plurality of inwardly directed peripheral mounting flanges that constrain vent components in the opening defined by frame  60 . Vent retaining bores  10  are defined in the support ribs  65  of mounting frame  60 . The screen  70  and ventilation plate  50  can be aligned to abut with the support ribs  65  for removable attachment to the mounting frame  60  by retaining fasteners S, which engage the vent retaining bores  10 . 
     During the manufacturing process, the slider  40  is aligned inside front portion of ventilation plate  50 . Slider panel retaining tabs  20  are welded or otherwise affixed to and extend inward from upper and lower portions of the ventilation plate  50  to slidably constrain the slider panel  40  inside the ventilation plate  50 . A handle  30  is vertically disposed on the slider panel  40 , the handle  30  being used to grab and slide the slider panel  40  to a desired position, thereby regulating air flow through the ventilation plate  50 . 
     The entire frame  60  is adapted for mounting in an opening in a foundation wall having block or bricks B. Overhanging portions  90  of lintel  80  can rest atop foundation wall blocks B laterally disposed on either side of frame  60  for support. Additional foundation wall members can be disposed on top of lintel  80  to seal off the initial top opening. Frame  60  and vent  5  function in the same manner as older style unitarily constructed vents. By releasing/removing the fasteners S, the vent assembly, comprising screen  70 , ventilation plate  50  and slider panel  40 , can easily be removed from mounting frame  60  for repairs when necessary. 
     Moreover, the vent assembly  5  may be fitted with accessories, such as ventilation fans, slider control motors, bi-metallic slider control elements, solar panels or solar cells to power control elements for the vent  5 , and the like. 
     It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims.