Patent Publication Number: US-7713114-B1

Title: Chimney cap

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present invention relates generally to chimney caps and more particularly to an improved chimney cap that is more universal in construction and that can be used with both air cooled and non-air cooled chimneys. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Chimney caps are presently provided in many different shapes and forms. In one sense chimney caps can be basically broken down into two categories, namely those used with regular or non-air-cooled chimney structures and those used with air-cooled chimney structures. Presently, there are two separate cap designs that are used, one for use with non-cooled chimney structures and a different cap for use with air cooled chimney structures. Thus, the cap is specifically designed for each chimney type to which it is to be mounted. By way of example these different types of chimney caps are shown in the 2005 Product Catalog of Improved Consumer Products, Inc. on page and identified as respective models WSA and WSA-TDW. 
     Reference is now also made to  FIGS. 1-4  herein for an illustration of these existing chimney caps.  FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art chimney cap used with a non-air-cooled chimney structure.  FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 .  FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a prior art chimney cap used with an air-cooled chimney structure.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 . 
     In the first embodiment in  FIGS. 1 and 2  the chimney cap includes a base  10  that has the collar  14  depending therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 2 , the collar  14  extends into the chimney or flue member  15 . The collar is formed with an overlap edge  13  that makes the collar somewhat compressible so that it can be fit inside the chimney member  15 . The installer can press on the collar to reduce the diameter thereof and once inserted in the flue it expands back toward its original diameter to hold the cap in place. The chimney cap also includes the top  12  and mesh screen  16 . The mesh screen  16  assists in containing sparks within the cap. A hoop  18  is supported above the collar  14 . The mesh screen  16  is supported on the periphery of the base  10 . The mesh screen  16  and top  12  are maintained in place by means of the fastener  20  engaging with the support hoop  18 . In  FIG. 2  it is noted that the base  10  rests directly on the top edge of the chimney structure  15  and that the exhaust flow, as depicted by arrows  17 , is through the collar  14  and peripherally outward through the mesh screen  16   
     In the second embodiment shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4  the chimney cap includes a base  30  that has the collar  34  depending therefrom. As shown in  FIG. 4 , the collar  34  extends into the chimney member  35 . The collar is formed with an overlap edge  33  that makes the collar somewhat compressible so that it can be fit inside the chimney member  35 . The chimney cap also includes the top  32  and mesh screen  36 . The mesh screen  36  assists in containing sparks within the cap. A hoop  38  is supported above the collar  34 . The mesh screen  36  is supported on the periphery of the base  30 . The mesh screen  36  and top  32  are maintained in place by means of the fastener  40  engaging with the support hoop  38 . 
     In  FIG. 4  it is noted that the base  30  is provided with three wings  31  that are each attached to the base  30 . The bottom edge of each wing  31  is adapted to rest directly on the top edge of the chimney structure  35  and the exhaust flow, as depicted by arrows  37 , is through the collar  34  and peripherally outward through the mesh screen  36 .  FIG. 4  also shows additional details of the chimney structure  35  which includes separate air cool ducts  35 A and  35 B.  FIG. 4  also shows the air flow through the ducts as illustrated by the arrows  39 . This flow is also about the wings  31  and between adjacent wings. 
     An object of the present invention is to provide a chimney cap that is more universal in construction and that can be used with both air cooled and non-air cooled chimneys. 
     Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved chimney cap structure in which the chimney collar is constructed and arranged so that it can be more readily compressed for insertion into virtually any type or style chimney. 
     Still another object of the present invention is to provide an improved chimney cap which is durable and long lasting. 
     An even further object of the invention is to provide an improved chimney cap that is inexpensive to manufacture and that is easy to install. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The foregoing and other objects of the invention are attained by a chimney cap capable of being secured to a chimney or flue of either air cooled or non-air cooled type and comprising: a base; an annular collar member for insertion into a chimney or flue, said annular member having an outside circumference smaller than an opening of the chimney or flue and supported from the base; an annular shaped mesh member that is supported from the base; and a top supported on the annular shaped mesh member. The improvement comprises means supported from an outer surface of the collar member below the base and forming a ledge for support of the collar member from the chimney or flue. 
     A second feature of the present invention relates to a cap capable of being secured to a chimney or flue and comprising: a base; an annular collar member for insertion into the chimney or flue, with the annular member having an outside circumference smaller than an opening of the chimney or flue and supported from the base; an annular shaped mesh member that is supported from the base; and a top supported on the annular shaped mesh member, with the annular collar member having an over lap joint. The improvement comprises an over lap joint including a lower segment that extends substantially longitudinal of the collar member and a top segment that extends diagonal to the lower segment enabling compression of the diameter of the collar member. The collar member may be attached at its top to the base and the top segment is tapered terminating at the base. 
     In accordance with other aspects of the present invention the means forming a ledge may include a cut-out piece that is folded to form the ledge, with the ledge extending orthogonal to the outer surface of the collar member; plural cut-out pieces may be disposed at predetermined locations about the collar member; the means forming a ledge may comprise plural separate means disposed at predetermined locations about the collar member; the means forming a ledge may include a series of bolts disposed at intervals about the collar member and each extending outward radially; the means forming a ledge may include a band member having separately disposed ledge walls; the annular collar member may have an over lap joint and the over lap joint may include a lower segment that extends substantially longitudinal of the collar member and a top segment that extends diagonal to the lower segment enabling compression of the diameter of the collar member. 
    
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a prior art chimney cap used with a non-air cooled chimney structure; 
         FIG. 2  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  2 - 2  of  FIG. 1 ; 
         FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a prior art chimney cap used with an air cooled chimney structure; 
         FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view taken along line  4 - 4  of  FIG. 3 ; 
         FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a first embodiment of the improved chimney cap construction of the present invention 
         FIG. 6  is an exploded perspective view of the chimney cap of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 7  is a cross-sectional view taken along lines  7 - 7  of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 8  is a bottom perspective view of the chimney cap of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 9  is a bottom view of the chimney cap of  FIG. 5 ; 
         FIG. 10  is an exploded perspective view of an alternate embodiment of the chimney cap of the present invention; 
         FIG. 11  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 10 ; 
         FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a further embodiment of the chimney cap of the present invention; 
         FIG. 13  is a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of  FIG. 12 ; 
         FIG. 14  is a cross-sectional view of the chimney cap of  FIG. 12  with an added damper; 
         FIG. 15  shows an alternate embodiment using a sleeve; and 
         FIG. 16  shows an alternate mesh arrangement; 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     A first embodiment of the present invention is shown in  FIGS. 5-9 . A second embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 10 and 11 . A third embodiment is shown in  FIGS. 12-14 . Each of these embodiments shows a chimney cap capable of being secured to a chimney or flue of either an air-cooled or non-air-cooled type. This enables one to have only one type of chimney cap that can be used with either an air-cooled or non-air-cooled type chimney. The chimney cap generally includes a base, an annular collar member for insertion into a chimney or flue, an annular shaped mesh member that is supported from the base; and a top supported on the annular shaped mesh member. 
     In the first embodiment shown in  FIGS. 5-9  the chimney cap includes a base  50  that has the collar  54  depending therefrom. As shown in, for example,  FIG. 7 , the collar  54  extends into the chimney member  55 . The collar is formed with an overlap edge  53  ( FIGS. 5 and 6 ) that makes the collar somewhat compressible so that it can be fit inside the chimney member  55 . The chimney cap also includes the top  52  and mesh screen  56 . The mesh screen  56  assists in containing sparks within the cap. A hoop  58  is supported above the collar  54 . The mesh screen  56  is supported on the periphery of the base  50 . The mesh screen  56  and top  52  are maintained in place by means of the fastener  60  engaging with the support hoop  58 . 
     One important aspect of the present invention relates to the particular configuration of the over lap joint  53 . In the past this joint was linear from bottom to top as shown in, for example,  FIG. 3  where the top end of the joint is secured at the base. In the embodiments of  FIGS. 5-14  the over lap joint includes a lower segment  53 A that extends substantially longitudinal of the collar member and a top segment  53 B that extends diagonal to the lower segment  53 A enabling more ready compression of the diameter of the collar member  54 . The collar member  54  may be attached at its top to the base  50  and the top segment  53 B is tapered terminating at the base  50 . The top termination is preferably defined by a fastener such as fastener  110  shown and discussed in more detail in  FIG. 12 . 
     Another important aspect of the present invention relates to the mounting arrangement that enables more universal use of the chimney cap of the present invention. In the first embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 5-9  the means forming a ledge for support of the collar member from the chimney or flue includes the cut-out member or tab  62 . The tab  62  may be formed by cutting out the collar member and bending the cut-out portion. The tab  62  forms a ledge that, as shown in  FIG. 7 , rests on the top surface of the flue or chimney. In  FIG. 7  arrows  57  show the direction of gas flow out of the chimney structure. Although a small amount of flow may occur over each tab  62 , the majority of the flow is out through the mesh screen  56 . 
     In the second embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 10-11  the means forming a ledge for support of the collar member from the chimney or flue includes the band member  75 . In this embodiment, rather than forming the ledge from the collar member itself, a separate member is used to form the ledge, or actually a series of ledges. The band member may be held in place with a fastener  75 A, as shown in  FIG. 10 . The band member  75  is thus easily adjustable to different vertical positions along the collar member  74 . The band member  75  supports three tabs  76  that are disposed about the periphery of the main loop  75 B of the band member  75 . The tabs  76  form a ledge that, as shown in  FIG. 11 , rests on the top surface of the flue or chimney  71 . 
     In  FIG. 11  arrows  77  show the direction of gas flow out of the chimney structure. The flow is basically through the collar member  74 , upward and radially out through the mesh screen  79 .  FIGS. 10 and 11  also show the base  70 , collar member  74 , support loop  78 , top  72 , fastener  80  and mesh screen  79 .  FIG. 10  also shows the overlap edge  73  that includes the two aforementioned parts terminating at the fastener  73 A which functions as a pivot to assist in the compression of the collar  74 . 
     In the third embodiment, shown in  FIGS. 12-14  the means forming a ledge for support of the collar member from the chimney or flue includes the bolts  95 . The bolts  95  form a ledge that, as shown in  FIG. 13 , rests on the top surface of the flue or chimney  91 . In  FIG. 13  arrows  97  show the direction of gas flow out of the chimney structure. The flow is basically through the collar member  94 , upward and radially out through the mesh screen  99 .  FIGS. 12-14  also show the base  90 , collar member  94 , support loop  98 , top  92 , fastener  100  and mesh screen  99 . 
     In  FIG. 12  there is also clearly shown the overlap edge  93  that includes the two aforementioned parts terminating at the fastener  110  which functions as a pivot to assist in the compression of the collar  94 . In the embodiments of  FIGS. 12-14  the over lap joint includes a lower segment  93 A that extends substantially longitudinal of the collar member and a top segment  93 B that extends diagonal to the lower segment  93 A enabling more ready compression of the diameter of the collar member  94 . The collar member  94  may be attached at its top to the base  90  and the top segment  93 B is tapered terminating at the base. The top termination is preferably defined by a fastener such as fastener  110  shown in  FIG. 12 . The fastener  110  may be a screw or rivet attached at the rim  112  and located at the top end of the diagonal segment  93 B. This fastener functions as a pivot point that enables the collar member to be compressed in diameter while the tapered or diagonal edge  93 B assists in this compression. Such a fastener is preferably used in all of the embodiments that are described herein. 
       FIG. 14  is substantially the same as  FIG. 13  but has an added damper  105  which may be controlled in a number of different ways.  FIG. 15  is a view like that shown in  FIG. 7  but with an added windshield  107 .  FIG. 16  illustrates an attachment at  120  that enables separate mesh sections  120 A and  120 B to be interconnected. 
     It is evident from the description of the preferred embodiments that the objects of the invention are attained in that a chimney cap is provided which will allow the cap collar to be more readily compressible for insertion into a chimney or flue. Although the invention has been illustrated and described in detail, it is to be clearly understood that the same is by way of illustration and example only and is not to be taken by way of limitation. Although the present invention has been disclosed in three embodiments, it is understood that other means are also contemplated as falling within the scope of the present invention and attached to the collar member. The spirit and scope of this invention is to be limited only by the appended claims.