Abstract:
An apparatus for providing ventilation into a vehicle includes an exterior frame and a plurality of openings disposed within the frame. A longitudinal recess along a bottom of the apparatus and a longitudinal ridge extends along a top the apparatus. In use, a window of the vehicle is lowered to provide an opening and the apparatus is inserted therein with the recess down and the ridge up. The window is partially raised sufficient for the window to partially enter into the recess opening. The window is further raised an amount sufficient to raise the vent upward and to cause the ridge to enter into a groove at a top of a door frame, thereby retaining the vent in position. An optional pair of adjustable wings are used to accommodate various sizes of openings and an optional hood to prevent access to a door locking knob.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention, in general relates to fresh air ventilation for automobiles and other types of vehicles and, more particularly, to providing both containment and ventilation for pets that are confined within a vehicle. 
     Leaving a dog, cat, or other pet in a vehicle is dangerous. Closed or partially closed windows permit short wave solar radiation (i.e., sunlight) to enter into the vehicle where it is absorbed by the structures and transformed into long wave radiation (i.e., infrared). The long wave radiation is then largely retained in the vehicle by the structures and by the closed or partially closed windows. 
     As a result, the interior temperature of the vehicle rises, perhaps rapidly and sometimes to dangerous and life-threatening levels. In essence, the vehicle acts much like a solar collector. Providing an adequate source of ventilation is the only solution to prevent the temperature in the vehicle from rising beyond a dangerous level. 
     Accordingly, pet owners know that leaving a pet in a vehicle for even a short period of time during the day is dangerous. Even when the sun is obscured by clouds or fog, the temperature can still often rise to a lethal level, and especially so in a closed vehicle. 
     Partially opening the windows does not typically provide sufficient ventilation, even when windows across from each other are partially opened. If the windows are opened further to allow for even greater ventilation, there occurs the increasing danger that the pet can escape from the vehicle or that thieves can easily enter the vehicle. 
     Let alone the risk of theft of the vehicle or valuables that may be left therein, the pet owner is typically most concerned about the safety of his or her pet. Will a vandal or thief injure or even steal the pet? The pet owner clearly needs to be able to leave the pet in the vehicle, but is unwilling to risk loss of the pet&#39;s life to either overheating or harm caused by unauthorized entrant in the vehicle. 
     Up until now there has been no effective way to provide sufficient ventilation to protect a pet from overheating when left in a vehicle that also secures the pet in the vehicle and which further protects against the unauthorized entry into the vehicle. 
     One alternative used by many pet owners is to search for shade to park the vehicle in but because virtually everyone wants to park in the shade, in most parking lots shaded parking spots are in short supply. Also, because the sun moves relative to the sky, shade is transient at best. 
     Accordingly, there exists today a need for a method and system for a vehicular window vent that helps to ameliorate the aforementioned difficulties. 
     Clearly, such an apparatus would be a useful and desirable device. 
     2. Description of Prior Art 
     Similar types of devices are, in general, not known. While the structural arrangements of other prior devices, at first appearance, may have similarities with the present invention, they are believed to differ in material respects. These differences, which will be described in more detail hereinafter, are essential for the effective use of the invention and which admit of the advantages that are not available with the prior devices. 
     OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicular window vent that is easy to install. 
     It is also an important object of the invention to provide a vehicular window vent that is easy to remove. 
     Another object of the invention is to provide a vehicular window vent that is effective at ventilating the interior of a vehicle. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a vehicular window vent that is effective as retaining a pet inside of a vehicle. 
     Still yet another object of the invention is to provide a vehicular window vent that is effective in preventing unauthorized entry into a vehicle. 
     Yet another important object of the invention is to provide a vehicular window vent that is adapted to cooperate with a window and door frame of a vehicle. 
     Still yet one other important object of the invention is to provide a vehicular window vent that is adapted to cooperate with a window and door frame of a variety of vehicles. 
     An additional object of the invention is to provide a vehicular window vent that optionally includes at least one wing that that can be adjusted to improve the fit of the vent to a window opening size of a vehicle. 
     Briefly, a vehicular window vent that is constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention has a frame structure that includes a longitudinal recess at a bottom thereof into which a portion of a vehicular door window is adapted to enter. A longitudinal ridge is provided at a top thereof. The ridge includes a width that is approximately equal to the width (or thickness) of the window. In use, the window is fully lowered and the vent is inserted into the opening (i.e., the space provided by the recessed window). The window is then partially raised sufficient for a portion of the top of the window to enter into the recess and to then force the ridge to enter a recess in the top of a door frame into which the window normally enters. Accordingly, the vent is secured in position. A hood is provided that covers the door lock, thereby resisting unauthorized entry. An adjustable wing is optionally included on one or both sides of the vent. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a side view of a vehicular window vent in a vehicle. 
     FIG. 2 is a view as in FIG. 1 along the lines  2 — 2  therein, however the vent has not yet been fully secured in position. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     Referring to both FIG.  1  and FIG. 2 is shown, a vehicular window vent, identified in general by the reference numeral  10 . 
     The vent  10  is formed of any preferred sufficiently rigid substantially planar material that includes a plurality of openings, identified in general by the reference numeral  12 . 
     An exterior frame  14  extends around the perimeter of the vent  10  and surrounds the plurality of openings  12 . The plurality of openings  12  encompass most of the area of the vent  10  and it is through the plurality of openings  12  that ventilation is provided. 
     The plurality of openings  12  may be square, rectangular, circular, oval, or any other desired shape. The object is to ensure that the area encompassed by the plurality of openings  12  provides both sufficient strength and maximum ventilation capability. 
     One preferred type of construction for the plurality of openings  12  of the vent  10  includes the use of a material similar to that found in plastic storage crates (not shown) that have approximately a one-half inch thick bottom (or sidewall) with a rectangular pattern of small squares (about one-half inch by one half inch) that form the plurality of openings  12 . This provides ample ventilation and sufficient strength. 
     Other types of construction for the plurality of openings include the use of a section of hardware cloth or a section of screen netting. 
     A lower portion of a vehicle door frame  16  provides space into which a vehicle window  18  is retracted (i.e., when the window  18  is opened) or extended therefrom (i.e., when the window is closed). 
     An upper portion of a vehicle door frame  20  includes a groove  22  into which an upper edge of the window  18  enters when the window  18  is closed. 
     The vent  10  includes a longitudinal recess  24  at a bottom thereof into which an upper portion of the window  18  is adapted to enter when the window  18  is partially closed. The recess  24  includes a width that is slightly greater than the width (or thickness) of the window  18 , sufficient so as to allow a portion of the window  18  to enter into the recess  24  when the window  18  is partially closed. 
     A longitudinal ridge  26  is provided at an opposite end of the vent  10  that is the top of the vent  10  during use. The ridge  26  includes a width that is approximately equal to the width (or thickness) of the window  18 , sufficient so as to allow a portion of the ridge  26  to enter into the groove  22  when the window  18  is partially closed, as is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     In use, the window  18  is fully lowered into the lower portion of a vehicle door frame  16  and the vent  10  is inserted into the opening, in substantially parallel planar alignment with respect to the window  18 . The window  18  is then partially raised (i.e., closed) sufficient for a portion of the top of the window  18  to enter into the recess  24  and to then force the vent  10  and the ridge  26  upward sufficient so that at least a portion of the ridge  26  enters into the groove  22 . 
     Accordingly, the vent  10  is fully secured in position, the bottom thereof being held firmly in position by cooperation of a top portion of the window  18  in the recess  24  and by cooperation of the ridge  26  with the groove  22  in the upper portion of a vehicle door frame  20 . 
     Of course, the overall length and width of the vent  10  must be smaller than the opening that is created by retracting the window  18  into the lower portion of a vehicle door frame  16 . The thickness of the vent  10  is a design variable and can be varied from any example given herein depending upon the material that is used to form the vent and other considerations. 
     It is possible to provide numerous sizes of the vent  10 , each size adapted for use with a particular make and model of vehicle. This approach may provide optimum fit and appearance as well as optimum security, as is described in greater detail hereinafter. 
     However, it is also possible to include adjustment and an option to the vent  10  sufficient to allow the vent  10  to function with a great many different types of vehicles. 
     This is possible because there is very little variation in the thickness between the different types of window  18  glass that is used from one vehicle to another. If the ridge is not thicker than the thinnest window  18  glass and if the recess  24  is larger than the thickest window  18  glass, the vent  10  can be used effectively with most applications. 
     When the vent  10  is installed in the opening created by retracting the window  18 , as described hereinabove, the vent  10  provides both ventilation and containment of a pet (not shown) that may be left in the vehicle. The vent  10  functions much like an extension of the window  18  in the manner in which it cooperates with the window  18  on a bottom end thereof and with the upper portion of the vehicle door frame  20  on an opposite upper end thereof, a principle difference being that the vent  10  provides ventilation when it is closed (i.e., secured in position). 
     If the vent  10  is custom designed to fit into the opening there is not an excessive amount of space around the vent  10 . 
     However, if the vent  10  is intended for use with a variety of vehicles, a pair of optional first and second wings  28 ,  30  respectively, are preferably included. 
     A pair of slots  32  are provided in each of the wings  28 ,  30  and a correspondingly positioned pair of holes are provided through the exterior frame  14  of the vent  10  at each end thereof. Screws and wingnuts  34  pass through the holes and slots  32  and are used to secure the wings  28 ,  30  where desired in position with respect to the frame  14 . 
     The screws and wingnuts  34  are loosened at the top and bottom of each side and the respective wing  28 ,  30  is extended or retracted to optimally fill the window  18  opening space on both sides of the vent  10 . 
     It is important to note that the slots  32  allow the wings  28 ,  30  to be disposed at an angle, as desired, with respect to the sides of the vent  10 . This is useful if the window opening in the door frame  16 ,  20  includes a curvature or an angle. 
     It is also important to note that the wings  28 ,  30  need only be adjusted once for any given opening size. The vent  10  can then be inserted into the opening easily by first lowering the window  18 , centering the vent  10  with the adjusted wings  28 ,  30  in the opening and then partially closing the window  18 . Removal is easily accomplished by sufficiently lowering the window  18  and then removing the vent  10  from the opening. The window  18  may then be raised as desired. 
     Furthermore, the wings  28 ,  30  may be of any desired shape. For example as shown, the first wing  28  includes a curved top portion  28   a  that is adapted to fit a curved window  18  opening in the door frame. Alternately, the second wing  30  includes a straight edge. Both wings  28 ,  30  are extended out and away from the exterior frame  14  and are allowed to each contact a vertical side of the door frame. 
     There exists a possibility that a potential thief may wish to insert a device, for example a bent coat hanger (not shown) through one of the plurality of openings  12  and then attempt to raise a door lock knob  35  that is commonly used on automobile doors so as to gain unauthorized entry into the vehicle. 
     To prevent this a hood  36  is attached to the exterior frame  14  of the vent  10 . The hood  36  includes a pair of parallel sides  38  (only one shown) that extend in a parallel spaced apart relationship with respect to each other from the frame  14  toward the interior of the vehicle. An end member  40  is parallel to the plane of the frame  14  and extends in between the two sides  38 . A top member  42  is attached to both of the sides  38  and the end member  40 . The top member  42  is perpendicular with respect to the plane of the sides  38  and the end member  40 . 
     Accordingly, the hood  36  provides a shroud that is closed on the top and all four sides and is disposed over the door lock knob  35  when the vent  10  is adapted for use. This effectively prevents access to the door lock knob  35  when the vent  10  is installed, thereby keeping both the vehicle itself as well as the pet safe inside. 
     The hood  36  may be as large or as small as desired. Similarly, the door lock knob  35  may also include an electric door lock button. 
     If an electric door lock button is provided at a more distal location with respect to the window  18 , for example on an interior side of the door of the vehicle, a modified hood (not shown) includes a substantially planar or curved member that extends from the frame  14  an amount sufficient to cover, and therefore prevent access to, the more distally disposed electric door lock button. 
     The invention has been shown, described, and illustrated in substantial detail with reference to the presently preferred embodiment. It will be understood by those skilled in this art that other and further changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention which is defined by the claims appended hereto.