Patent ID: 12252930

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring toFIGS.1-5, a window frame20, a window pane22, a window vent assembly30in accordance with an exemplary embodiment, and a portion of the wall40are illustrated. An advantage of the window vent assembly30is that the assembly30can be mounted on a top portion of a fixed pane window frame to allow air flow into and out of a building.

Window Frame

Referring toFIGS.1-3, the window frame20is provided to hold the window pane22therein. The window frame20is disposed within the opening42of the wall40and is coupled to the wall40. The window frame20has a lower window frame portion52, an upper frame portion54, a first side frame portion56, and a second side frame portion58. The first and second side frame portions56,58extend parallel to one another. The lower window frame portion52and the upper frame portion54extend parallel to one another and are coupled to the first and second side frame portions56,58. In an exemplary embodiment, the window frame20is constructed of a metal such as aluminum for example.

Window Vent Assembly

Referring toFIGS.1and5-10, the window vent assembly30is provided to route outside air through a first air gap141, an interior region145, and a second air gap142into an interior of a building and vice versa. The window vent assembly30is coupled to a top portion of the window frame20and to the wall40within the opening42. The window vent assembly30includes a lower frame assembly70, an upper frame assembly72, a first side plate81, a second side plate82, first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth, seventh, eighth screws101,102,103,104,105,106,107,108, an insect screen assembly110, first, second, third bolts121,122,123, first, second, third wingnuts131,132,133, a first air gap141, and a second air gap142. In an exemplary embodiment, the lower frame assembly70, the upper frame assembly72, the first side plate81, the second side plate82, and the insect screen assembly110are each constructed of a metal such as aluminum or steel for example.

Lower Frame Assembly

Referring toFIGS.5,8and12-14, the lower frame assembly70is disposed on and coupled to the upper frame portion54of the window frame50. The lower frame assembly70includes a horizontal plate portion150, first, second, third, and fourth vertical plate portions161,162,163,164, a slanted plate portion166, a water blocking plate portion168, a horizontal duct connection flange171, first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides181,182, a screen receiving gap184, a first side191(shown inFIG.12), and a second side192(shown inFIG.13).

Referring toFIGS.5and14, the horizontal plate portion150has a first end195and a second end196.

The first vertical plate portion161is coupled to the second end196of the horizontal plate portion150and extends upwardly from the horizontal plate portion150. The first vertical plate portion161is vertically aligned with the second vertical plate portion162.

The second vertical plate portion162is coupled to and extends downwardly from the second end196of the horizontal plate portion150. The third vertical plate portion163is coupled to and extends downwardly from the first end195of the horizontal plate portion150. The second and third vertical plate portions162,163extend parallel to one another such that a space194is formed therebetween that is sized to receive a portion of the window frame50(e.g., upper frame portion54) therein.

The slanted plate portion166is coupled to and extends from the first end195of the horizontal plate portion150to a top end of the first vertical plate portion161.

The water blocking plate portion168is coupled to and extends upwardly from the slanted plate portion166within the interior region145. The water blocking plate portion168blocks water/rain that has entered through the first air gap141from entering the second air gap142. The water blocking plate portion168blocks the water/rain which then flows downwardly on the slanted plate portion166and out of the first air gap141.

The fourth vertical plate portion164is coupled to and extends upwardly from the slanted plate portion166within the interior region145such that a screen receiving gap184is formed between the fourth vertical plate portion164and the water blocking plate portion168.

The horizontal duct connection flange171extends outwardly and perpendicular from the first vertical plate portion161and communicates with the second air gap142.

The first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides181,182are coupled to the horizontal plate portion150and extend longitudinally along the horizontal plate portion150, and are utilized to couple the first and second side plates81,82to the lower frame assembly70.

The first side191is coupled to the first side plate81which will be explained in greater detail below. Also, the second side192is coupled to the second side plate82which will be explained in greater detail below.

Upper Frame Assembly

Referring toFIGS.5,8and15-17, the upper frame assembly72is disposed above the lower frame assembly70to form the first air gap141and the second air gap142therebetween. The upper frame assembly72includes a horizontal wall portion200, first, second, third, and fourth vertical wall portions211,212,213,214, a horizontal duct connection flange216, first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides221,222, a first side231(shown inFIG.16), and a second side232(shown inFIG.15).

The horizontal wall portion200has a first end241and a second end242and extends parallel to the horizontal plate portion150of the lower frame assembly70.

The first vertical wall portion211is coupled to and extends downwardly from the first end241of the horizontal wall portion200such that the first air gap141is formed between the first vertical wall portion211and a portion of the slanted plate portion166directly below the first vertical wall portion211.

The second vertical wall portion212is coupled to and extends downwardly from the second end242of the horizontal wall portion200such that a second air gap142is formed between the second vertical wall portion212and a portion of the slanted plate portion166directly below the second vertical wall portion242.

The third vertical wall portion213is coupled to and extends upwardly from the first end241of the horizontal wall portion200. The first and third vertical wall portions211,213are vertically aligned with one another.

The fourth vertical wall portion214is coupled to and extends upwardly from the second end242of the horizontal wall portion200. The second and fourth vertical wall portions212,214are vertically aligned with one another.

Referring toFIG.5, the fifth vertical wall portion215is coupled to and extends downwardly from the horizontal wall portion200and is vertically aligned with the water blocking plate portion168of the lower frame assembly70.

The horizontal duct connection flange216extends outwardly and perpendicular from the second vertical wall portion212. The horizontal duct connection flange216communicates with the second air gap142.

The first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides221,22are coupled to the horizontal wall portion200and extend longitudinally along the horizontal wall portion200, and are utilized to couple the first and second side plates81,82to the upper frame assembly72.

Referring toFIGS.8and16, the first side231is coupled to the first side plate81which will be explained in greater detail below. Also, referring toFIGS.8and15, the second side232is coupled to the second side plate82which will be explained in greater detail below.

First Side Plate

Referring toFIGS.5,8and18, the first side plate81is coupled to the first side191(shown inFIG.12) of the lower frame assembly70and the first side231(shown inFIG.16) of the upper frame assembly72. The first side plate81is rectangular-shaped and has first, second, third, and fourth apertures251,252,253,254extending therethrough. The first and second screws101,102extend through the first and second apertures251,252in the first side plate81and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides181,182respectively of the lower frame assembly70—to couple the first side plate81to the lower frame assembly70. Further, the third and fourth screws103,104extend through the third and fourth apertures253,254in the first side plate81and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides221,222respectively of the upper frame assembly72—to couple the first side plate81to the upper frame assembly72.

Second Side Plate

Referring toFIGS.5,8and19, the second side plate82is coupled to the second side192(shown inFIG.13) of the lower frame assembly70and the second side232(shown inFIG.15) of the upper frame assembly72. The second side plate82is rectangular-shaped and has first, second, third, and fourth apertures261,262,263,264extending therethrough. The fifth and sixth second screws105,106extend through the first and second apertures261,262in the second side plate82and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides181,182respectively of the lower frame assembly70—to couple the second side plate82to the lower frame assembly70. Further, the seventh and eighth screws107,108extend through the third and fourth apertures263,264in the second side plate82and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides221,222respectively of the upper frame assembly72—to couple the second side plate82to the upper frame assembly72.

In an alternative embodiment, the first and second side plates81,28are not utilized. Instead, referring toFIGS.2,5and8, the first and second frame portions56,58of the window frame20are extended upwardly to enclose end portions of the lower frame assembly70and the upper frame assembly72. Further, the first and second screws101,102extend through the first frame portion56and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides181,182respectively of the lower frame assembly70—to couple the first frame portion56to the lower frame assembly70. Also, the third and fourth screws103,104extend through the first frame portion56and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides221,222respectively of the upper frame assembly72—to couple the first frame portion56to the upper frame assembly72. Further, the fifth and sixth second screws105,106extend through the second frame portion58and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides181,182respectively of the lower frame assembly70—to couple the second frame portion58to the lower frame assembly70. Also, the seventh and eighth screws107,108extend through the second frame portion58and into the first and second arcuate-shaped screw guides221,222respectively of the upper frame assembly72—to couple the second frame portion58to the upper frame assembly72.

Insect Screen Assembly

Referring toFIGS.5,8-11and20, the insect screen assembly110is provided to prevent insects and debris from passing from the interior region145through the second air gap142. The insect screen assembly110has an outer frame270and a metal screen272. The metal screen272is coupled to and disposed within the outer frame270. The outer frame270is rectangular-ring shaped and has a lower frame portion291and an upper frame portion292. The lower frame portion291is disposed in the screen receiving gap184. The upper frame portion292is disposed against the fifth vertical wall portion215of the upper frame assembly72. The upper frame portion292has apertures301,302,303extending therethrough. The first, second, and third bolts121,122,123extend through the apertures301,302,303respectively and through respective apertures in the fifth vertical wall portion215(not shown). The first, second, and third bolts121,122,123are coupled to first, second, and third wingnuts131,132,133respectively to couple the insect screen assembly110to the upper frame assembly72.

In an alternative embodiment, the lower frame assembly70and the upper frame assembly72can each be manufactured with an integral thermal brake separation member constructed of a non-heat conducting material similar to a thermal brake separation member utilized in a thermally-broken window frame.

While the claimed invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the claimed invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the claimed invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the claimed invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description.