Abstract:
This disclosure concerns a wind diverting device having a first hollow triangular body portion engaged with a second hollow triangular body portion in a concentrically nested manner for slideability therebetween, and a pair of opposing end caps configured to attach to each respective terminal end of the nested triangular bodies; wherein the wind diverting device is configured to attach to a window frame or similar object for diverting laterally passing wind into an opening of an enclosed structure.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the benefit of priority with U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 61/711,748, filed Oct. 10, 2012. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present embodiment relates to a wind diverter device that is mounted on an exterior surface in front of an opening to an interior structure, such as a window, for the purpose of capturing and redirecting wind in a lateral bi-directional manner into the interior of the structure. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Previously, a device or apparatus with the capability to deflect or re-direct air has been manufactured having a rectangular, curved, angled, wedged or a right triangular form which is mounted on a given structure such as the top of a semi-truck, the rear cab of a pickup truck, or in front of a ceiling air vent. In U.S. Pat. No. D683,678 to Weakes and Jacobs, air vent deflectors are designated for use with an air vent in a suspended ceiling grid of an interior structure with the purpose of redirecting forced air flow down and away from air vents to reduce the amount of debris accumulating on the grid and ceiling tiles. The air deflector prevents air vents from blowing in one direction by using metal foils. In reference to air deflectors stated for use in the automotive industry as in U.S. Pat. No. 4,316,630 to Evans, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,141,560 to Ivan, such air deflectors have proven to reduce wind displacement, eliminate drag, increase fuel mileage, and reduce the amount of road debris. Whereby, the air flow moves over an angled shield like design and away from a semi-truck or trailer while in transit. In addition, an air deflector that is vertically mounted, proposed by U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,270 to Card and Card, also considered an air foil, embodies two long hollow wedge type forms that are mounted perpendicular at the rear cab of a pickup truck, thus affecting the air flow away from the vehicle. 
     Although the above mentioned air deflectors all redirect air flow away from the vent or vehicle, the present wind device, has the advantage of capturing and redirecting wind with the purpose of increasing ventilation into an interior structure. While U.S. Pat. No. 6,669,270 to Card and Card also proposes mounting their embodiment vertically, the present proposed embodiment is enclosed by end caps instead of remaining hollow, mounts at the end of each end cap instead of mounting flat, and is telescopic to allow adjustment in a variety of structural frames whereas Card and Card&#39;s air deflector is non-adjustable. While the above wind deflectors are suitable for their intended applications, none are intended to capture and re-direct air into an interior structure using only natural wind. 
     SUMMARY 
     In accordance with one embodiment, wind is captured and redirected bilaterally into an open structure by means of a curved telescopic triangular embodiment. The upper larger triangular body is of slightly larger width, thus overlapping on top of the lower smaller triangular body and held into place. In addition, the embodiment is comprised of two end caps, one also of slightly larger width than the other, and inserted according to width into the opposing end of the main body by use of a triangular sleeve and secured by retaining screws. Prior to installation, the said body is placed in a vertical position, whereby it is adjusted and then mounted to the flat mounting side of each said end cap using either an independent bonding agent or by the use of independent screws, which can be inserted into two parallel holes that exist on the flat side of each of said end caps. 
     Advantages of the Invention 
     Accordingly, several advantages exist in the function of the wind diverter, herein referred to the “free breeze accelerator”, and these advantages are detailed as follows: 
     (a) wind flow is captured and re-directed in a bilateral manner without use of electricity, using only nature&#39;s power to increase ventilation into an open structure; 
     (b) the free breeze accelerator is lightweight and can be easily adjusted to different lengths to fit various exterior frames by means of an expansion that is telescopic and adjusted by manual operation; 
     (c) the free breeze accelerator can be made using polyvinyl chloride (PVC) in order to withstand wind speeds of over 40 mph, which was tested and demonstrated as being effective at the San Diego Low Speed Wind Tunnel, and documented in Test Data 1235; 
     (d) the use of such materials as polyvinyl chloride (PVC) offer the advantage of UV protection and weather resistance; 
     (e) the free breeze accelerator can be extruded using recyclable materials such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), thereby qualifying for status as a green product; 
     (g) the free breeze accelerator can be manufactured with the option of using a variety of colors as well as pigments that are water based, thus it is less toxic to the environment; 
     (h) the free breeze accelerator can be extruded in several different lengths and widths to accommodate a variety of structures; 
     (i) the option of attaching the end caps to various exterior structures by means of bonding agent allows the option to vertically mount the said embodiment without drilling; 
     (j) the assembled free breeze accelerator resists the infestation of vermin, bees and other insects by securing each component so that no holes or gaps exist; 
     (k) once mounted, the free breeze accelerator itself requires no further operation; 
     (l) the free breeze accelerator functions using silent operation; and 
     (m) the free breeze accelerator has the ability to be detached manually from the exterior surface and then relocated to an alternate location. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  shows a free breeze accelerator in fully assembled form in accordance with an embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  shows an exploded perspective view of the free breeze accelerator in accordance with the illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 3  shows the larger top end cap from a perspective view prior to assembly, and further illustrating various aspects of the larger end cap with reinforcement braces, an inner triangular shaped sleeve, and a retaining screw hole to be attached with the retaining screw in accordance with the illustrated embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  shows the smaller bottom end cap from a perspective view prior to assembly, and further illustrating various aspects of the smaller end cap with reinforcement braces, an inner triangular shaped sleeve, and a retaining screw hole to be attached with the retaining screw in accordance with one embodiment. 
         FIG. 5  shows the free breeze accelerator installed and attached to a conventional window frame. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the wind diverter device  100  is in complete assembled form, prior to vertical installation, wherein the larger upper triangular body, or “first hollow elongated triangular body  12 ” overlaps the smaller lower triangular body, or “second hollow elongated triangular body  14 ”, with the first larger top end cap  10 , and the second smaller bottom end cap  16  positioned accordingly to their opposing ends of the main body, and each secured by a retaining screw  18 A and  18 B, the opposing end caps being perpendicular with respect to the triangular bodies. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , the wind diverter device is seen from an exploded view prior to assembly and prior to installation with each component: first hollow elongated triangular body  12 , second hollow elongated triangular body  14 , the second end cap  16 , first end cap  10 , and retaining screws  18 A,  18 B directly adjacent to their coordinating hole; the first hollow elongated triangular body  12  will be slightly larger than the second hollow elongated triangular body  14  in order to slideably communicate with the slightly larger opening of the second hollow elongated triangular body  14 . In accordance therewith, the second sleeve flange  30 B ( FIG. 4 ) of the second end cap  16  will be of slightly smaller width than the first end cap sleeve flange  30 A ( FIG. 3 ) to communicate with said body portions  12 , 14 . Retaining screws  18 A;  18 B are inserted through body holes  20 A;  20 B and further through flange holes  22 A;  22 B, to secure the respective ends of the adjustable tubular body to the first and second end caps,  10 ;  16 , respectively. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , the first larger top end cap  10  is seen from a perspective view with the first triangular sleeve flange  30 A facing downward from a center of the first end cap  10 , the retaining screw flange hole  22 A from an exterior view, the reinforcement braces  24 A facing downward, and the two parallel mounting holes  26 A,  26 B also seen from a downward interior position. 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the second smaller end cap  16  is seen from perspective view, facing upward, the retaining screw  18 B and screw flange hole  22 B are seen from an exterior view, the reinforcement braces  24 B also facing upward and the two parallel mounting holes  26 C,  26 D seen from an upward exterior position. Accordingly, the width of the smaller bottom end cap sleeve flange  30 B being slightly smaller than the width of the lower triangular body in order to facilitate a connection to a slightly smaller width opening of the lower triangular body. 
       FIG. 5  shows the free breeze accelerator, a wind diverting device, being fully assembled and attached to an exterior structural opening  200  of a conventional window frame (shown in dashed lines as not forming part of the invention). In this regard, the wind diverting device is configured to direct wind passing laterally with respect to the device into the interior space of an associated structure. The wind device comprises a first hollow elongated triangular body  12  concentrically nested with a second hollow elongated triangular body  14  and combining to form an adjustable triangular body portion; the first hollow elongated triangular body  12  is shown coupled to a first end cap  10  at a first triangular flange thereof ( FIG. 3 ,  30 A) disposed at a first terminal end T 1  of the device; and the second hollow elongated triangular body  14  is shown coupled to a second end cap  16  at a second triangular flange thereof ( FIG. 4 ,  30 B) disposed at a second terminal end T 2  of the device. Retaining screws  18 A;  18 B are inserted through body holes ( FIG. 2 ,  20 A;  20 B) and flange holes ( FIGS. 3-4 ,  22 A;  22 B) to secure the respective ends of the adjustable tubular body to the first and second end caps,  10 ;  16 , respectively. The wind diverting device is shown attached to the exterior structural opening  200  by mounting screws  18 C- 18 F, the mounting screws are shown inserted through at least mounting screw holes  26 B;  26 D, and into the exterior structural opening  200  of a conventional window frame. 
     Operation of the Free Breeze Accelerator with Reference to  FIGS. 1-5 : 
     The method of assembling the embodiment consists of inserting each of the four parts into their corresponding matched component. Namely, one first attaches the first larger top end cap  10  into the opening of the first hollow elongated triangular body  12 ; the first flange  30 A of said first end cap  10  inserts into the center of said hollow opening of the first hollow elongated triangular body  12  and is thus secured with a screw  18 A through a retaining screw hole  22 A. 
     Wherein the said first hollow elongated triangular body  12  and the first larger top end cap  10  are attached, one then follows the same procedure for the second hollow elongated triangular body  14  and its corresponding second smaller bottom end cap  16 ; the second flange  30 B of said second end cap  16  inserts into the center of said hollow opening of the second hollow elongated triangular body  14  and is thus secured with a screw  18 B through a retaining screw flange hole  22 B. With each of the said end caps secured to their corresponding body portion, one then holds each body so that the mounting side of both end caps are aligned in the same direction, thus being perpendicular. One then inserts the smaller second hollow elongated triangular body  14  into the hollow opening of the larger first hollow elongated triangular body  12 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , the embodiment, when fully assembled, is thereby ready to be mounted or adhered vertically to an exterior structure in front of an open structure such as a window. 
     Mounting can then be accomplished by using independent mounting screws ( 18 C- 18 F) when placed though each of the parallel mounting holes  26 A- 26 B of the first end cap and  26 C- 26 D of the second end cap; or by use of an independent bonding agent (not shown). Once the first end cap  10  is in position and secured to the outside of the upper frame of the exterior surface, one then uses the telescopic means of lengthening or shortening the two triangular bodies  12 ;  14  so that the smaller bottom and lower smaller end cap are positioned directly outside of the frame of the opening structure; whereby two additional screws ( 18 E;  18 F) can be inserted into the two parallel holes ( 26 C;  26 D) of the second end cap  16 . Thereby, when the interior structure such as a window is opened, wind can be captured both bilaterally by the embodiment and redirected into the said open structure. 
     Other Description 
     Accordingly, the reader will see that the wind diverter device, when vertically mounted, can: 
     capture and redirect the wind bilaterally into an open interior structure using silent operation, without the use of electricity; 
     allows the use of recyclable materials, but is not limited to the use of recyclable materials; 
     allows the use of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) to provide UV protection, and is weather resistant but is not limited to the use of such materials 
     allows extrusions of the said embodiment to be produced in several different lengths and widths to adjust to a variety of exterior structures without altering the operation of the said embodiment; 
     allows vertical attachment of the embodiment using an independent bonding agent or by use of independent screws but is not limited to the use of such materials; 
     allows extrusions of the said embodiment to be made in several different lengths and widths using the same operation and is not limited to the extrusion of a specific measurement of length or width; 
     permits use in a variety of exterior structures and exterior surfaces including motor homes, manufactured homes, residential, institutional and commercial structures, but is not limited to the use in motor homes, manufactured homes, residential or commercial structures; and 
     permits use on the exterior of motor homes and manufactured homes while in transit. 
     While the above description contains many examples, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any embodiment, but as exemplifications of various embodiments thereof. Many other ramifications and variations are possible within the teachings of various embodiments. For example, the end caps may consist of other shapes such as oval, the main body can be adjusted with a fastener or a notch, the end cap holes may be eliminated and replaced with an attached hinge, and the embodiment can be extruded from materials other than polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or plastic. 
     Thus the scope should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents and not by the examples given. 
     REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
     In the drawings, reference numbers are included for detailing various features of the illustrated embodiment, wherein said features are listed as:
         first end cap ( 10 )   first hollow elongated triangular body ( 12 )   second hollow elongated triangular body ( 14 )   second end cap ( 16 )   retaining screws ( 18 A;  18 B)   mounting screws ( 18 C;  18 D;  18 E;  18 F)   retaining screw holes ( 20 A;  20 B)   flange holes ( 22 A;  22 B)   reinforcement braces ( 24 A;  24 B)   mounting holes ( 26 A;  26 B;  26 C;  26 D)   first flange ( 30 A)   second flange ( 30 B)   wind diverter device ( 100 )   exterior structural opening ( 200 )   first terminal end (T 1 )   second terminal end (T 2 )