Patent Publication Number: US-2010122500-A1

Title: Ember/moisture deflector

Description:
This application is based on Provisional Application Ser. No. 61/199,389 filed on Nov. 17, 2008. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Embers can be carried away from a wildfire or structure fire by the wind, so they pose a threat to nearby property. An ember attack is a naturally occurring event. During a wildfire, burning material becomes airborne. It can be carried along with a fire or driven ahead of a fire by prevailing winds. An ember attack occurs when embers are carried by winds in a cluster. Airborne embers from a fire are the primary cause of spot fires, which contribute to the continued spread of a fire. Ember attacks occur close to the source of the fire, usually following a heat explosion within vegetation in which material is ejected from the explosion and creates a cluster of embers. It also occurs during high winds in which burnt material is carried away from flames before it can be fully burned. Embers ignite combustible materials outside the building. A danger also exists of embers entering the building, in particular through the eave vents. Most building codes specify eave vents for crawl spaces or attics to prevent a buildup of moisture and temperature, which can lead to mold growth and decay. Eave vents offer embers and flames an easy entry point. It is well known that embers slip through eave vents and ignite insulation, construction material or items stored there and ignite the building from within. Building codes require that eave vents be covered with a metal screen on the inside, but that&#39;s inadequate to keep flames and embers away from the inside of your building. Smaller mesh screens might do a slightly better job of delaying entry of embers and fire, but they would plug up more easily. 
     Concomitantly, moisture may enter through the eave vents during storms, which may accumulate in the attic of a building. If enough moisture accumulates, the moisture may seep into the ceilings and walls of the building, thereby causing drywall deterioration, mold and other structural problems. 
     The invention described herein solves these problems by providing an easy-to-install deflector that inhibits such embers/moisture from entering a building through the eave vents. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention disclosed herein is an “ember/moisture deflector.” The deflector is a barrier assembly that may be fitted over the existing eave vents of a structure to block embers and/or moisture from entering attic of a building. The deflector is normally in an open position, but may be placed in a blocking position in case of a potential fire danger or water damage. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a frontal prospective view of one embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view of an end-piece of the invention of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a frontal prospective view of a second embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3 . 
         FIG. 5  if a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  mounted on an eave of a structure. 
         FIG. 6  is a side view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  showing control means. 
         FIG. 7  is a frontal prospective view of a third embodiment of the invention. 
         FIG. 8  is a from view of the embodiment of  FIG. 7  mounted on an eave of a structure. 
         FIG. 9  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  mounted on an eave of a structure and showing manual controlling means for the slideable doors of the embodiment. 
         FIG. 10  is a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 3  mounted on an eave of a structure and showing electrical controlling means for the slideable doors of the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     The ember/moisture deflector is a barrier system used to prevent the entry of embers, radiant heat or moisture into a structure. Referring to  FIG. 1 , deflector  1  consists of a metal frame comprised of an horizontal lower rail  7 , and a horizontal upper rail  9  spaced apart by three vertical braces  4  at each end of the horizontal rails and at their midpoint. The horizontal lower rail  7  and horizontal upper rail  9  are each composed of two horizontal strips separated by a horizontal separator, horizontal lower rail  7  consisting of strips  14  and  15 , separated by separator  16 , and horizontal upper rail  9  consisting of strips  12  and  13  separated by separator  11 .  FIG. 2  is a sectional view showing horizontal strips  12  and  13 , separator  11 , defining groove  10 . Each horizontal strip is of 24 gauge stainless steel of about 20 inches long and about 0.75 inches wide. Separators  11  and  16  are 18 gauge stainless steel of about 20 inches long and about 0.5 inches wide. Each vertical brace  4  is constructed of 24 gauge stainless steel, about 2.5 inches high and about 0.5 inches wide. When assembled, the edges of the horizontal metal strips and the separator are aligned such that one edge is justified, so that a 0.25 deep groove is created traversing the length of lower rail  7  and upper rail  9 . Each pair of horizontal rails is spot welded at selected spots along the strips. The pair of horizontal rails  7  and  9  are placed in parallel and in opposing relationship such that the grooves  10  face each other. Horizontal rails  7  and  9  are permanently affixed by vertical braces  4 , spot welded at the distal ends and midpoint of horizontal rails  7  and  9  and aligned such that the distance between the pairs of horizontal rails is about 2 inches, resulting in a pair of opposing grooves running parallel the length of horizontal rails  7  and  9 . 
     The grooves  10  are for receiving a pair of slideable doors  2  and  6 , each of 24 gauge stainless steel, 5.5 inches long and 2.375 inches wide. Each door  2  and  6 , has opposing L-shaped tabs  3  and  5  spot welded to doors  2  and  6  respectively. Each tab is constructed of 22 gauge aluminum, 2.5 inches long and 1 inch wide, with a 90° bend at 1 inch base along its length. Each tab  3  and  5  is spot welded to door  2  and  5 , respectively, so that the 1 inch base lies flush with doors  2  and  5 , and having the 1.5 inch remaining tab perpendicular to doors  2  and  6 . Tabs  3  and  5  are positioned such that when doors  2  and  6  are in the closed position, tabs  3  and  5  abut middle brace  4 . 
     Thus, when mounted over the eave vents, deflector  1  is aligned so that the eave vents are in the axial center of deflector  1 . Deflector  1  sized so that when doors  2  and  6  are in the open position, the eave vents are exposed, and when the doors are closed, the eave vents are covered, as shown in  FIG. 5  wherein eave vents  17  are depicted. The doors are slideably disposed within the groove so as to easily slide along the groove without being so loose as to allow embers or heat to pass around them. The length of the rail is determined by the space between the eave boards. The height of the assembly is determined by the height of the façade of the eave board. The distance between the rails is determined by the diameter of the eave vent holes. The rails have mounting holes drilled adjacent the corners of deflector  1  to allow the assembly to be fastened to the eave board containing the eave holes using screws  19 . The width of each groove  10  is determined by the thickness of the material for the doors. There should be a minimal amount of clearance between the width of the groove and the thickness of the door sufficient to enable the doors to be slideable. The height of the door is determined by the eave hole diameter plus, the additional depth of each of the two grooves. There should be a minimal amount of clearance between the height of the door and the groove to prevent the doors from falling out or embers and heat from passing by them and into the structure beyond. The doors each have a tab protruding out from their surface. These push tabs allow the doors to be moved opened and closed. The tabs also act as a stop when they hit the strap in the center of the assembly. 
       FIGS. 3 and 4  disclose a second embodiment of the invention where the deflector  1  constructed by alternative means where a single sheet of 24 gauge stainless steel is used to form frame  20 . Apertures  21  are created by stamping out rectangular sections from a single piece of stainless steel, leaving a horizontal lower rail  27  and horizontal upper rail  29  with vertical supports  24  spaced and the ends and middle of deflector  1 . The stainless steel sheet is then rolled along its upper and lower edges to form grooves  30  for receipt of doors  22  and  26 , which are also slideable along grooves  30 . Each door  22  and  26 , has opposing L-shaped tabs  23  and  25  spot welded to doors  22  and  26  respectively. Dimples  44  are formed adjacent the left and right edges of the middle brace  24 , with corresponding dimples  31  formed adjacent the right side of door  22  and the left side of door  26  such that when the doors are in the closed position with the eaves of the structure close, the corresponding dimples  31  and  44  interlock to hold the doors in position. 
     Adjacent the upper corners of deflector  1  are drilled holes for the receipt of mounting screws  19 . Adjacent the lower corners of the deflector, slots  8  are punched out for receipt of mounting screws  19  so that the deflector may be adjustably mounted to the to eaves of the structure. 
       FIG. 4  discloses an end view of the deflector of  FIG. 3 , where the rolled edges of the stainless steel can be seen forming upper and lower grooves  30 , as well as vertical brace  24 , slideable door  26  and tab  25 . Also shown is hole  36 , drilled through tab  25  so that hardware may be attached to for manually or electrically opening and closing the doors of the deflector. 
       FIG. 5  discloses deflector  1  mounted on an eave of a structure with doors  22  and  26  in an open position exposing eave vents  39 . In this example, middle brace  24  is centered over the middle eave vent  39 , and deflector  1  is sized to cover the adjacent vents  30  such that when the doors are closed, all three vents  30  are covered. Lower rail  27  is shown to have notches  38  formed to permit moisture to flow out of lower rail  27 .  FIG. 6  is a side view of deflector  1  with apparatus  40  and  42  mounted to tabs  23  and  25  to enable doors  22  and  26  to be manipulate remotely. Stainless steel strips  40  and  42  are affixed to tab  23  (not shown) and tab  25  by means of screw  46 , washer  47 , and nut  48 . Strips  40  and  42  are each rectangular is shape, having J-shaped hooks  41  and  43  formed at their lower, outside edges.  FIG. 5  shows traveling cable  50  affixed to strips  40  and  42  by means of ferrules  51 . Traveling cable  50  may be operated either mechanically or electrically to open or close the doors of the deflector. The traveling cables are operated similarly to the operations of a venetian blinds through the use of cables and pulleys. Such art is old and well known to one of ordinary skill in the art and not shown herein. Cable  50  is zinc-plated for fire-resistance. 
       FIGS. 7 and 8  show a third embodiment of the invention wherein doors  22  and  26  each have an orifice  47  formed along the longitudinal axis of each door. The placement of orifice  47  determined by the lateral space between the first and third eave vent  39 . Also shown on  FIGS. 7 and 8  are tabs formed at the opposing ends of doors  22  and  26 . In addition to providing for mounting strips  40  and  42  to the doors, in this embodiment, tabs  23  and  25  also are detents that stop doors  22  and  26  from sliding past end braces  24 . It should be noted that the geometric shape of orifice  47  is not a limitation of the invention. The orifice may be of any geometric shape. 
       FIGS. 9 and 10  show the embodiment of  FIGS. 3 and 5  wherein traveling cable  50  passes laterally around pulleys  60  and vertically down and around pulley  61 . Pulleys  60  are both mounted to gables  64  by means of brackets  65 . As shown in  FIG. 9 , doors  22  and  26  may be operated by either pulling on traveling cable  50 , or by turning pulley handle  62 . As shown in  FIG. 10 , doors  22  and  26  may be operated by actuating solenoid is  81 , which causes pulleys  60  to rotate. Solenoid  81  is also mounted to the eave, adjacent gable  84 . Solenoid  81  may be remotely controlled. 
     Although deflector  1  has been described as constructed out of stainless steel, the material of construction is not a limitation of the invention. The deflector may be constructed of any fire proof material, such as temperature resistant plastic or carbon fiber, that permits the ease of sliding door s  2  and  6  into the closed position. While the present invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to these disclosed embodiments. For example,  FIGS. 3 and 4  show tabs  23  and  25  to be perpendicular to the plane of doors  22  and  26 . However, doors  22  and  26  could be formed in a L-shape, with the shorter arm of the L facing down. Tabs  23  and  25  would then be planar and integral to doors  22  and  26 . 
     Notches  38  would then be elongated and extended along the bottom of lower rail  27  for receipt on tabs  23  and  25 . The elongated notches would be sized to permit tabs  23  and  25  to slide along groove  30  when the doors  22  and  26  are opened and closed. This construction would enable the reduction of manufacturing costs. Screws  19  would then provide the detents for restraining the travel of doors  22  and  26 . This invention may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided by way of illustration only and so that this disclosure will be thorough, complete and will fully convey the full scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. Indeed, many modifications and other embodiments of the invention will come to mind of those skilled in the art to which this invention pertains, and which are intended to be and are covered by both this disclosure, the drawings and the claims.