Patent Publication Number: US-10767370-B2

Title: Ventilated skylight

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to the field of venting devices, and in particular, to a passive ventilated skylight for a shed enclosure. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Ventilation is necessary for most any enclosed structure. Enclosed structures known as residential sheds have a particular need for venting, as they are designed for outdoor placement and, thus, subjected to the elements throughout the year. A residential shed used for storage may not be opened for weeks or even months. Sheds are not designed for receipt of electrical power, so the use of powered fans, dehumidifiers, or air conditioners is not possible. 
     A sealed enclosure can cause numerous problems, the most noticeable being an excess amount of moisture buildup within the shed, which can accelerate rusting of metal based devices. For instance, a shed can be used to store lawnmowers tractors, bicycles, and so forth. Lack of proper ventilation could cause premature aging of such products, especially internal combustion engines where cylinders can rust. To prevent a tightly sealed enclosure which can result in excess internal condensation taking place, shed manufacturers include spacing within walls, seams, or doors to assure proper ventilation. A problem with simply using spacing to allow ventilation is that, during rain, water can easily enter the shed through the spacing. 
     In addition to the need for ventilation in a shed, there is also a need for light. A clear piece of plastic can be placed in a roof of a shed, but that does not provide ventilation and may be another source for water leaks. 
     Passive vents do not include a mechanism for forcing air out of the enclosure. Rather, they simply include a vent structure in the form of an air conduit which allows air flow. Passive vents are well-known and have been extensively used in the past. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 9,151,068 discloses a shed having a roof panel with an aperture sized to receive a skylight. The skylight compresses a seal to prevent water passage, and a secondary rib on a roof panel prevents water from passing through the skylight aperture. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,008 discloses a passive venting device for venting a building enclosure. The device has a base member having an outer flange for securing the base member to a surface, and a vent structure within the base member for permitting gases and vapors to pass through the base member. The venting device employs a vent structure, including a filter screen, to prevent objects from passing through the base member. A cap member is immovably mounted to the base member and spaced therefrom sufficiently to permit the free flow of air between the cap member and the base member and through the vent structure. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,561,952 teaches a static roof vent comprising a base/flange containing an air conduit and a hood. The hood includes a translucent oriel located above the air conduit. However, this device is difficult and expensive to manufacture, in that the central oriel is made from an expensive clear material that must be inserted into specially designed opaque mounts, which in turn are attached to the roof. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 5,435,780 discloses a ventilated skylight having a light transmissive dome. The dome is supported by a support ring, which is initially provided in two halves and must be welded together for use. The support ring is then installed on a soaker tray, which is in turn attached to the roof. Separate ventilation tabs ale inserted into the underside of the light transmissible dome to provide ventilation. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 4,730,552 discloses a ventilating skylight. The device includes a housing having an opaque top wall. The housing includes front and rear openings through which sunlight may pass when the door to those openings are open. There is further a transparent dividing wall below the openings and parallel to the top wall. The transparent dividing wall has an air flow passage at its center. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Disclosed is a ventilated skylight having a base member securable to the roof of a shed enclosure. The base member has an integrated flange for receipt of a gasket that is fastened to the shed roof using fastening screws; no additional flange is required inside the shed. Upright walls of the base member include a plurality of slots constructed and arranged to allow air to circulate throughout the shed. A cap member is securable to the base member with side walls to prevent rain water from entering vertical slots used for venting. The cap member is made of a translucent material so as to allow light to illuminate the inside of the shed enclosure. 
     An objective of the invention is to provide ventilated skylight that allows sunlight to pass through the cap member for illumination of the shed, as well as allow air to circulate in the shed. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide an opening in the roof of a shed to allow excess heat to escape. 
     Another objective of the invention is to reduce the humidity within a shed enclosure by providing adequate ventilation throughout temperature changes. 
     Still another objective of the invention is to provide a low cost venting device that eliminates the need for placement of a flange on the inside of the roof by use of a single flange placed on the outside of the roof. 
     Another objective of the invention is to provide a venting device that needs only fasteners to be attached from the inside of the shed, allowing an inner surface that is free of protrusions. 
     Still another objective of the invention is to provide a venting device that is sealed with a gasket only from the outside of the shed enclosure. 
     Other objectives and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with any accompanying drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, certain embodiments of this invention. Any drawings contained herein constitute a part of this specification, include exemplary embodiments of the present invention, and illustrate various objects and features thereof. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of the ventilated skylight; 
         FIG. 2  is a bottom perspective view thereof; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of the base member for the ventilated skylight; 
         FIG. 4  is a bottom view of the base member; and 
         FIG. 5  is a bottom view of the cap member for the ventilated skylight. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     Now referring to the figures in general, set forth is a ventilated skylight  10  having a base member  12  and a cap member  15 . The base member  12  is formed by four upright sidewalls and a flange. a first upright wall  14  adjoining a second upright wall  16 , adjoining a third upright wall  18 , which adjoins a fourth upright wall  20 . The base member is formed from a single piece of injection molded plastic to form a substantially square enclosure. Upright wall  14  is further defined by a top edge  22  which is continuous around the top of the four upright walls, as well as a bottom edge  24  which terminates on the upper surface  26  of flange  28 . Each of the upright walls  14 ,  16 ,  18  and  20 , terminate in a corner as they adjoin the next wall. Using upright wall  14  for illustration, corner  30  is formed as the wall adjoins upright wall  16 . Near the top edge  22  of corner  30 , a receptacle  32  is indented from the top edge  22 , providing an alignment wall  34  which surrounds a fastener aperture  36 . To minimize confusion, a single corner  30  and upright wall  14  only will be detailed in this specification, as each corner and upright wall forms a mirror image of an adjoining wall. 
     The upper edge of the side wall  22  includes a plurality of vertical slots  40 . In the preferred embodiment, there are four vertical slots, as illustrated in  FIG. 3 . Each vertical slot  40  extends a distance from the top edge  22 , forming an inhibited passageway. However, the width of the passageway is sized to prevent larger insects, such as flies and wasps, from passing through. The distance of each vertical slot extending from the top edge  22  need only be about one inch in length, as each upright wall may have multiple vertical slots, like the four vertical slots  40  depicted on each upright wall. 
     The base member flange  28  includes a continuous outer wall  42  depending from a lower surface  43  of the flange  28 . The outer wall  42  is spaced apart from a continuous inner wall  44 , forming a U-shaped receptacle  46  therebetween. The receptacle  46  receives a gasket  47 , for use in sealing the base member  12  to a roof of a shed (not shown). A central opening  50  in the middle of the base member would approximate the size of the opening in the roof of the shed. Threaded tabs  52  are located along an inner perimeter  45  of the inner wall  44  for receipt of a fastener  49  placed through the roof. Engaging a faster, not shown, with each threaded tab  52  secures the flange  28  of the base member  12  against the roof of the shed. The threaded tabs  52  are placed inside the inner wall  44  so as to provide protection of the fasteners from the elements, the gasket  47  being placed on the outer side of the threaded tabs. 
     In a preferred embodiment, a threaded tab  52  is placed at each corner of the base member  12 , as well as between along the width of each upright wall  14 ,  16 ,  18 ,  20 , providing eight fasteners to hold the base member to the shed. The placement of the threaded tabs  52  provides proper compression of a gasket  47  placed within receptacle  46  to prevent leakage. 
     The cap member  15  is defined by a top wall  60  sized to cover the opening  50 . Raised ridges  62  are placed on the inner surface of top wall  60  and arranged to fit along an inner surface  64  of the top edge  22  of the upright walls. In addition, the cap member  15  includes threaded bosses  66 , which are constructed and arranged to fit the alignment wall  34  of the receptacle  32 . The bosses  66  combined with the raised ridges  62  securely align the cap member  15  to the base member  12  and eliminates the need for sealing. A fastener  67  is inserted into each threaded boss  66 , securing the base member  12  to the cap member  15 . 
     The cap member  15  includes side walls  70 ,  72 ,  74  and  76 ; each side having a length “L” so as to extend over the distance “D” of the vertical slots  40 . As depicted, each wall has four vertical slots  40 , which has been found sufficient to allow proper ventilation of the shed, both in allowing heat to escape, as well as preventing moisture from accruing within the shed in high humidity instances. In a preferred embodiment, the cap member  15  is made of a one-piece translucent plastic; the translucent material allowing sunlight to pass through the opening  50  so as to illuminate the inside of the shed with available sunlight. 
     It is to be understood that while a certain form of the invention is illustrated, it is not to be limited to the specific form or arrangement herein described and shown. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention and the invention is not to be considered limited to what is shown and described in the specification and any drawings/figures included herein. 
     One skilled in the art will readily appreciate that the present invention is well adapted to carry out the objectives and obtain the ends and advantages mentioned, as well as those inherent therein. The embodiments, methods, procedures and techniques described herein are presently representative of the preferred embodiments, are intended to be exemplary, and are not intended as limitations on the scope. Changes therein and other uses will occur to those skilled in the art which are encompassed within the spirit of the invention and are defined by the scope of the appended claims. Although the invention has been described is connection with specific preferred embodiments, it should be understood that the invention as claimed should not be unduly limited to such specific embodiments. Indeed, various modifications of the described modes for carrying out the invention which are obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be within the scope of the following claims.