Abstract:
A knock-down multi flue chiming cap that has a collapsible cage and separate cap lid. When the cage is fully collapsed, the cage and lid can be easily and safely transported.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    This invention relates generally to chimneys and in particular, to chimney caps. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    Chimney caps are commonly used on chimneys to prevent the ingress of rain, snow, birds, rodents, leaves and other foreign objects. They are further used to prevent down-drafts and to reduce the deterioration of mortar in the chimney. Multi-flue caps are used as a single chimney cover on multiple flu chimneys. These multiple flue chimneys typically contain two to five flues. Instead of covering each flue with a separate cap a multi-flue cap is used so that only one cap is required. 
         [0003]    Multi-flue caps are typically fairly large making them expensive to ship, unwieldy to carry, and dangerous to hold while climbing a ladder. In response to these shortfalls, knockdown chimney caps were developed. Knockdown chimney caps have the ability to transport flat then be assembled to a three dimensional final form at the chimney flue. 
         [0004]    Known knockdown chimney cap designs consist of one of two styles. The most common is for the multi-flue chimney cap to ship in 5 pieces consisting of four sides and a lid. The four separate sides bolt together to form a cage and then the lid is added before attachment to cover the chimney flue(s). 
         [0005]    The second style ships in three pieces consisting of two cage sections and a lid. Each cage section consists of a side wall hinged to an end wall. The hinging allows the end wall to lay flat against the side wall for transport. Before attachment to the chimney each cage section must be transported to the chimney, expanded, fastened together, and locked to one another to form the cage. The lid is then added to the assembled cage. 
         [0006]    Known knockdown chimney cap designs all require some job site assembly of the cage. Accordingly, there is still a continuing need for improved knockdown chimney cap cage designs. The present invention fulfills this need and further provides related advantages. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0007]    The novel design of the present invention does not require any job site cage assembly. Once the folded cage is expanded only the lid has to be added. The fully assembled cage itself folds flat for transport. 
         [0008]    The cage comprises side, end, and mounting portions hingably affixed to one another in a manner that allows the cage to fold flat for transport. 
         [0009]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The accompanying drawings are included to provide a further understanding of the present invention. These drawings are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments of the present invention, and together with the description, serve to explain the principles of the present invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a top view of a partially collapsed cage. 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of a partially collapsed cage. 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a side view of a partially collapsed cage. 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is an end view of a partially collapsed cage. 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged view of  FIG. 1 , portion B. 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a top view of a fully opened cage. 
           [0017]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a fully opened cage. 
           [0018]      FIG. 8  is a side view of a fully opened cage. 
           [0019]      FIG. 9  is an end view of a fully opened cage. 
           [0020]      FIG. 10  is an enlarged view of the center hinge. 
           [0021]      FIG. 11  is a top view of a lid. 
           [0022]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the lid attached to the fully opened cage. 
           [0023]      FIG. 13  is a side view of a lid attached to a fully opened cage. 
           [0024]      FIG. 14  is an end view of a lid attached to a fully opened cage. 
           [0025]      FIG. 15  is an enlarged view of the lid attachment designated by B in  FIG. 12 . 
           [0026]      FIG. 16  is a side view of a fully collapsed cage. 
           [0027]      FIG. 17  is a side view of a fully collapsed cage with lid in transport position. 
       
    
    
       [0028]    Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. 
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0029]    As required, detailed embodiments are disclosed; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention that may be embodied in various forms. The figures are not necessary to scale, and some features may be exaggerated to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention. Where possible, like reference numerals have been used to refer to like parts in the several figures described herein. 
         [0030]    Turning now to the figures,  FIGS. 1-5  depict a partially expanded cage  4  of the knockdown chimney cap  2  ( FIG. 11 ). Cage  4  comprises a first  6  and second  8  side hingably attached to a first  10  and second  12  end, for example, through side hinges  14 . First  10  and second  12  end each comprise a first  16  and second  18  articulating end section hingably attached to one another, for example, through center hinge  20 . 
         [0031]    First side  6 , second side  8 , first articulating end section  16  and second articulating end section  18  each are attached to a mounting strip  22  at their roof edge, preferably, hingably attached, for example, through mounting strip hinge  24 . The cage  4  is attached to the roof using the mounting strip  22 . Having the mounting strip  22  hingably attached allows the mounting strip  22  to be positioned either inside or outside the fully formed cage  4  to suit various job site demands. It also allows the mounting strip  22  to lie flat when the cage  4  is collapsed for transport. 
         [0032]    A smoke permeable material  26 , for example, screening, is attached at its roof edge to the mounting strip hinge  24  and at its lid edge to a cage rail  28 . Each cage rail  28  preferably comprises a horizontal  30  and vertical  32  section. The cage rail sections  30 ,  32 , preferably form about a ninety degree angle to one another. The cage rail  28  adds support to the fully expanded cage  4  and also provides a better cosmetic final product in that the smoke permeable material  26  is attached to the inside of the vertical cage rail section  32 , thereby hiding the unfinished cut of the smoke permeable material  26 . 
         [0033]    Optionally, one articulating end section  16 ,  18  of each end  10 ,  12  has an extended cage rail section  34 . Although the figures show the extended cage rail section  34  as a separate member fixedly attached to the main cage rail section  44 , alternatively it may be an extension of a single, homogeneous cage rail  28 . 
         [0034]    Preferably, one cage end  10 ,  12  has its extended cage rail section  34  extending from its first end section  16  and its opposite cage end  10 ,  12  has its extended cage rail section  34  extending from its second end section  18  making them contralateral to one another. When the cage  4  is fully expanded, each extended cage rail section  34  stops and “locks” the two articulating end sections  16 ,  18  to form the cage ends  10 ,  12 . 
         [0035]    Turning to  FIGS. 11-15 , cap lid  36  is mounted to lid attachment members  38 . Lid attachment members  38  may be, for example, bolts fixed to the side cage rails. Cap lid  36  has a corresponding receiving orifice  40  to receive the bolt, and is thereby affixed to the cage  4  using nut  42 . 
         [0036]    When a force is directed as shown by arrows B and C of  FIG. 1 , and A of  FIG. 9 , side hinges  14  and center hinges  20  allow the cage sides  6 ,  8  to collapse towards each other as the cage ends articulate. Mounting strip hinges  24  allow the mounting strip to pivot such that when fully collapsed, cage  4  is flat for shipping and job site transport.  FIG. 16  shows a fully collapsed cage and  FIG. 17  shows a fully collapsed cage with a lid in transport position. 
         [0037]    Conversely, an opposite force expands the cage  4 . Vertical cage rail section  34  of the two extended cage rail sections  34  create a positive stop for the expanding first and second articulating end sections  16 ,  18 , thereby creating a generally planar single end,  10 ,  12 . 
         [0038]      FIGS. 6-8  depict a fully expanded cage  4 . 
         [0039]    Upon attachment of cap lid  36  to lid attachment member  38  a stable, structurally sound chimney cap  2  is formed, shown in  FIG. 12 . 
         [0040]    Although the present invention has been described in connection with specific examples and embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the present invention is capable of other variations and modifications within its scope. These examples and embodiments are intended as typical of, rather than in any way limiting on, the scope of the present invention as presented in the appended claims.