Patent Description:
Vents, such as wall vents, for venting a building structure to an external, atmospheric space outside of the building structure are known. However, the present invention aims to provide an improved vent, and especially a vent which facilitates removal of internal components, such as a filter and a wind stop.

<CIT> discloses a vent for a duct terminating proximate a wall with a self-levelling feature.

<CIT> discloses a smoke vent assembly for the roof of a building which has a panel hinged to a frame, for movement between open and closed positions under the action of a powered actuator.

The present invention provides a wall vent according to claim <NUM>.

In one embodiment the support member includes first and second pivot couplings, the cover panel includes first and second counterpart pivot couplings, and the linkage comprises first and second elongate arms which are pivotally coupled to respective ones of the pivot couplings, optionally the linkage further comprises an interconnecting member which interconnects the arms, whereby the arms move in unison.

In one embodiment the linkage allows the cover panel to be moved between a closed position, in which the cover panel substantially closes the outlet of the duct, and a plurality of open positions, in which the cover panel is open to a plurality of different extents, optionally the support member includes at least one engagement element and the cover panel includes at least one counterpart engagement element which interengages with the engagement element of the support member and enables the cover panel to be fixed in the closed position or one of the plurality of open positions, optionally the engagement element of one of the support member and the cover panel comprises a lug and the engagement element of the other of the cover panel and the support member comprises a toothed section having a plurality of teeth which selectively engage the lug of the counterpart engagement element of the one of the support member and the cover panel and thereby enable the position of the cover panel to be set in the closed position or one of the plurality of open positions, optionally the support member includes first and second engagement elements and the cover panel includes counterpart first and second engagement elements which interengage with the engagement elements of the support member.

Preferred embodiments of the present invention will now be described hereinbelow by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:.

The wall vent comprises a body <NUM> which is located within an opening in a building, such as through a wall.

In this embodiment the body <NUM> comprises a duct <NUM> which extends through the opening in the building and includes an inlet <NUM> which is fluidly connected to a first, environmental space, here the external atmosphere from which a supply of fresh air is drawn, and an outlet <NUM> which is fluidly connected to a second space, here a space internal to the building.

In this embodiment the duct <NUM> comprises a tubular element and includes a detent <NUM> at the inlet <NUM>, which engages a counterpart detent <NUM> on a wind stop <NUM>, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

In this embodiment the body <NUM> further comprises an attachment member <NUM>, here at the outlet <NUM>, which allows for attachment of the body <NUM> to the building and receives a support member <NUM> of a cover panel assembly <NUM>, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

In this embodiment the attachment member <NUM> comprises a flange, here of rectangular shape, which extends about the periphery of the outlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM>.

In this embodiment the body <NUM> further comprises a collar <NUM> which is located about the periphery of the inlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM> and defines an inwardly-directed flange <NUM> which provides a stop for a wind stop <NUM>, as will be described in more detail hereinbelow.

The wall vent further comprises a cover panel assembly <NUM> which is fluidly connected to the outlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM>, in this embodiment being attached to the attachment member <NUM> of the body <NUM>.

In this embodiment the cover panel assembly <NUM> comprises a support member <NUM> which is attached to the attachment member <NUM> of the body <NUM>, here clipped thereto, a cover panel <NUM> which is coupled to the support member <NUM>, and a linkage <NUM> which hingeably connects the cover panel <NUM> to the support member <NUM>.

In this embodiment the support member <NUM> includes first and second pivot couplings <NUM>, here at an upper section thereof, and the cover panel <NUM> includes counterpart first and second pivot couplings <NUM>, here at an upper section thereof, and the linkage <NUM> pivotably couples the respective ones of the pivot couplings <NUM>, <NUM>.

In this embodiment the linkage <NUM> comprises first and second arms <NUM> which are pivotally coupled to respective ones of the pivot couplings <NUM>, <NUM>, and an interconnecting member <NUM> which interconnects the arms <NUM>, whereby the arms <NUM> move in unison.

With this pivotable coupling, the cover panel <NUM> can be moved between a closed position, in which cover panel <NUM> is juxtaposed the support member <NUM> and the outlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM> is closed, and various open positions, in which the cover panel <NUM> is open to different extents, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

Furthermore, with this pivotable coupling, the cover panel <NUM> can be raised clear of the support member <NUM> and allow unimpeded access to the duct <NUM>, which enables removal of the wind stop <NUM> and a filter <NUM>, as illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>.

In this embodiment the support member <NUM> includes first and second engagement elements <NUM>, here at a lower section thereof, and the cover panel <NUM> includes counterpart first and second engagement elements <NUM>, here at a lower section thereof, which interengage with the engagement elements <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, and enable the cover panel <NUM> to be fixed in the closed position or one of the plurality of set open positions.

In this embodiment the engagement elements <NUM> of the support member <NUM> each comprise a lug <NUM> and the engagement elements <NUM> of the cover panel <NUM> each comprise a toothed section <NUM> having a plurality of teeth <NUM> which selectively engage the lug <NUM> of the counterpart engagement element <NUM> of the support member <NUM>, and thereby enable the position of the cover panel <NUM> to be set in one of the plurality of positions.

In this embodiment the cover panel <NUM> comprises an outer panel element <NUM> and an inner insulation element <NUM> which opposes the outlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM>.

The wall vent further comprises a wind stop <NUM> which is disposed at the inlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM> and acts to regulate the flow rate of the incoming air in the event of winds and wind gusts.

The wind stop <NUM> comprises a body member <NUM> which includes a plurality of apertures <NUM> through which an air flow is drawn, and a plurality of flow regulators <NUM>, which act to regulate the flow rate of the incoming air in the event of winds and wind gusts.

In this embodiment the apertures <NUM> are arranged in a rectangular, grid pattern, but could have other forms.

In this embodiment the body member <NUM> comprises an annular element <NUM> which has an outer diameter corresponding to the internal diameter of the duct <NUM>, and the annular element <NUM> is seated at the flange <NUM> of the collar <NUM>.

In this embodiment the annular element <NUM> includes a detent <NUM> which engages the detent <NUM> on the duct <NUM> in order to provide that the wind stop <NUM> is oriented with a desired orientation.

In this embodiment the body member <NUM> further comprises a plurality of supports <NUM> which support the respective ones of the flow regulators <NUM>.

In this embodiment the supports <NUM> each include an elongate channel <NUM> which receives the respective flow regulator <NUM>.

The flow regulators <NUM> each comprise at least one flexible element <NUM> which, in the absence of any wind or wind gust, adopts a configuration in a direction away from the apertures <NUM> in the body member <NUM>, and, in the event of a wind or wind gust, flexes towards the apertures <NUM> in the body member <NUM> so as to restrict the flow path to the apertures <NUM>, and thereby reduce the flow through the duct <NUM>. In one embodiment the flexible element <NUM> could be pre-shaped such as to include a spine which is configured to fit within the channel <NUM> and with the flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> inclined thereto.

In this embodiment the flexible elements <NUM> of the flow regulators <NUM> are configured such as substantially to close the apertures <NUM> in the body member <NUM> when in the fully-flexed configuration.

In this embodiment the flow regulators <NUM> each comprise a single flexible flap element <NUM> which is fixed in the channel <NUM> of the respective support <NUM> by an elongate engagement element <NUM> which is located in the channel <NUM>, with the flap element <NUM> providing first and second flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> to opposite sides of the support <NUM>.

In this embodiment the engagement element <NUM> has a shaped head <NUM>, here having a taper, which determines the angle of the flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> in relation to the longitudinal axis of the duct <NUM> in the absence of any wind or wind gust.

In this embodiment the first and second flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> have a different shape and size, thereby providing for different response characteristics in response to winds or wind gusts.

In this embodiment the first and second flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> are formed from a common sheet material, here of a silicone rubber.

In this embodiment the flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> are formed from a sheet having a thickness of from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, optionally from about <NUM> to about <NUM>, optionally from about <NUM> to about <NUM>.

In an alternative embodiment the first and second flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> could be formed differently, such as from sheet materials of different thickness, in order to provide for different response characteristics in response to winds or wind gusts.

In one embodiment the flap sections <NUM>, <NUM> of the flap elements <NUM> of the first and second flow regulators <NUM> could be formed differently, such as from sheet materials of different thickness, in order to provide for different response characteristics in response to winds or wind gusts.

The wall vent further comprises a filter <NUM> which acts to filter the incoming air and is disposed within the duct <NUM> downstream of the wind stop <NUM>.

In this embodiment the filter <NUM> comprises a tubular filter case <NUM> which defines an inner cavity <NUM>, and a filter element <NUM> which is supported within the cavity <NUM> of the filter case <NUM>.

In this embodiment the filter case <NUM> has an outer diameter corresponding to the inner diameter of the duct <NUM>.

In this embodiment the filter case <NUM> has an inlet <NUM> which is fluidly connected to the wind stop <NUM> and an outlet <NUM> which is fluidly connected to the outlet <NUM> of the duct <NUM>, such that the incoming air flow is directed through the cavity <NUM> of the filter case <NUM> and the filter element <NUM> which is supported therein.

In this embodiment the filter case <NUM> includes a trap element <NUM> which is located within the cavity <NUM> thereof and extends over at least a lower section of the filter case <NUM>, here at the outlet <NUM>, such as to provide a dam or weir which prevents water, which is trapped by the filter element <NUM> and collects within the filter case <NUM>, from passing forwardly out of the wall vent through the cover panel <NUM>. The present inventors have recognized that, by arranging the filter element <NUM> to deliver any collected water to the a lower section of the filter case <NUM>, and providing the trap element <NUM> to prevent the escape of this collected water, water can be prevented from passing forwardly out of the wall vent through the cover panel <NUM> and thereby enables the collected water to evaporate over time.

In this embodiment the trap element <NUM> comprises a rearwardly and upwardly inclined flange, which acts to support a lower edge of the filter element <NUM>.

In this embodiment the filter case <NUM> further includes a support element <NUM> which is located within the cavity <NUM> thereof and extends over at least an upper section of the filter case <NUM>, and acts to support the filter element <NUM>.

In this embodiment the support element <NUM> comprises a forwardly and downwardly inclined flange, which acts to support an upper edge of the filter element <NUM>, whereby the filter element <NUM> is held in an inclined orient between the trap element <NUM> and the support element <NUM>.

In this embodiment the filter element <NUM> comprises a porous web having an average pore density of at most <NUM> pores per inch, optionally at most <NUM> pores per inch, here <NUM> pores per inch.

In this embodiment the filter case <NUM> includes a plurality of apertures <NUM> in the peripheral wall thereof. In this embodiment the apertures <NUM> are arranged in a grid pattern. In one embodiment the filter case <NUM> has an open area of at least <NUM>%. This construction allows for sound attenuation where the duct <NUM> is formed from a sound attenuating material, which acts to reduce noise created by the incoming air flow.

Claim 1:
A wall vent comprising a body (<NUM>) which provides a duct (<NUM>) which includes an inlet (<NUM>) and an outlet (<NUM>), and a cover panel assembly (<NUM>) comprising a support member (<NUM>), a cover panel (<NUM>) which covers the outlet (<NUM>) of the duct (<NUM>), characterized in that the wall vent comprises a linkage (<NUM>) which hingeably connects the cover panel (<NUM>) to the support member (<NUM>), wherein the linkage (<NUM>) is configured to allow the cover panel (<NUM>) to be hinged clear of the support member (<NUM>) and allow access to the duct (<NUM>); wherein the support member (<NUM>) includes at least one pivot coupling (<NUM>), the cover panel (<NUM>) includes at least one counterpart pivot coupling (<NUM>) and the linkage (<NUM>) comprises at least one elongate arm (<NUM>) which pivotably couples the pivot couplings (<NUM>, <NUM>).