My invention generally relates to a cover for vents which protrude from the exterior surface of building roofs. In particular this invention relates to a cover for a gas pluming vent which is custom shaped either on or off-site to conform to the slope and pitch of a particular roof. My pluming vent cover can be a three component device, with a lowermost base, a middle component which covers the pipe comprising the pluming vent, and a third component which forms an elevated cap. However, my preferred pluming vent cover comprises a cone-like base and an upper pyramidal cap.
My pluming vent cover is preferably made by (i) initially severing and folding a stiff steel or copper sheet to form a modified cone; and (ii) cutting and folding the cap. Preferably my pluming vent cover also comprises one longitudinal hem along the cone shaped base. The two edges forming the hem folds back upon themselves and remain in the folded position, because of the stiffness of the metal sheet. Two intersecting straps attach to the top of the cone-shaped base with pop rivets; pop rivets also fasten the small cap to the straps' respective central mid-lines.
As discussed infra, the prior art does not disclose a rigid pluming vent cover which does all of the following simultaneously:
For example, U.S. Pub. No. U.S. 2003/0054754 (McKee) discloses a passive venting device which comprises a base member and an attachment portion. There is also a vent structure for gas and other vapors to pass, as well as a cover mounted to the base, to permit gas and vapor to the outside. There is a baffle which obstructs precipitation from the roof exterior, as well as a ventilation pathway spaced from the roof. This path allows installation of thick shingles or tiles on a roof, which abut the device without interfering with ventilation. However, the baffle is not necessarily aesthetically pleasing, and the bottom edge is not custom-shaped to fit the roof's slope and pitch quickly on or off-site.
U.S. Pub. No. U.S. 2003/0104779A1(Marts et al.) discloses a security cover for a ventilation duct. This apparatus prevents solid, liquid or gaseous material from entering the vent. Several baffles form a convoluted path for materials entering or leaving the vent. However, this security cover does not necessarily cover all heights of plume vent pipes and cannot be shaped to fit a specific slope and pitch of a particular roof.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,010,700 (Blair) discloses a roof jack which has a planar roof covering with a central upstanding frusto-conical section. This conical section includes stepped graduated portions, with the region between each graduated portion flexing to accommodate differences in roof pitch. The entire device is made of polypropylene-synthetic rubber polymer and is produced by a single vacuum formed operation. However, there is no provision for a stiff rigid cover which is custom fit on or off-site along a bottom edge to fit a specific roof slope and pitch.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,612,924 (Mantyla et al.) discloses a passive venting device for a building which comprises a base with a vent for gases to and from the building. There is also an attachment coupled to the vent and a gas permeable screen to prevent objects from passing through the vent. The gas permeable screen is spaced from the attachment structure vertically away from the roof.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,052 B1 (Larson) discloses a soffit vent comprising a base with opposing elongated edges and a pair of parallel flanges extending upwardly. There is a vent zone in the base and attachment flanges formed by portions of the base. U.S. Pat. No. 6,447,392 (Henderson) discloses a one-sided roof vent with two ends. One end has a base cross section while the second end has a thickness of at least twice that of the base cross section. An optional pivot point permits the device to conform to the structure, along with a baffle or cover filer to prevent entry by environmental particles.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,508,704 B1 (Wilson) discloses an air vent apparatus for lighting devices. A staked chevron is symmetrically located within the air vent housing of the device. Numerous variations in the length of chevron vanes, vane angle and the pitch function are for a optimal vent for articles such as movie projects, arc lamps, and laser devices. However, this device is not a functional vent cover which is quickly custom-shaped on or off-site to fit the slope or pitch of a specific roof.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,484,712 B1 (Lyons et al.) discloses a vent cover assembly with a vent cap covering the vent apertures and an assembly extending around the vent cap and vent. In one embodiment the protective structural features allows air flow into and from the vent cap. In another embodiment, there is an attachment base with semi-cylindrical parts which connect to the attachment base. The base is made of sheet metal or other flame-retardant materials.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,372,585 (Evora) discloses a sleeve protector for venting pipes. It contains a tube attached at one end to a flat portion at the angle which follows the roof slope. There is also a protector cap mounted on the other end of the tube with annular spaced clamps which attach to ribs on the outside tube wall. The sleeve protector is installed by placing the hollow cylinder portion over the pipe. The attached flat portion protects against leaks in areas where the roof and pipe meet. Then the cap member inserts inside the pipe as completely as possible. Clamps interlock with the ribs, thereby protecting the pipe against accidental or intentional tampering.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,286,273 B1 (Villela) discloses a tile vent which covers the opening of an undulating roof ridge. The tile vent includes vent slots for air exhaust, as well as reinforcing stiffeners to support ridge tiles places over the ridge opening. The tile vent includes two integral panels which oppose each other, with the top portion of each panel attached to a ridge board and the bottom portion attached to the actual roof. U.S. Pat. No. 6,015,343 (Castillo et al.) discloses a similar tile roof vent which covers the ridge opening of an undulating tile roof. The vent in this invention includes two opposing panels, and each panel comprises a hard plastic sheet, each with an upper portion and a lower portion. The underside of the lower portions each attach to an air permeable mat. The lower portions are also reinforced by stiffeners and contain vent holes for exhausting air.
Design patents for roof vent covers disclose what appear to be non-functional embossed or raised designs on what appear to be either the pluming vent cover or the pluming vent pipe. For example, Des. 428,130 (Zirk) discloses a copper roof vent cover with what appears to be a cap which rests directly upon either the actual vent pipe. Des. 428,484 (Zirk) also discloses a copper roof vent cover which has a circular ornamental design as an integral part of the roof cover. Des. 259,208 (McCullough) discloses an ornamental design for a roof vent, but the design is apparently an integral decorative feature of the actual vent and not a separate roof vent cover per se. These features add no specific function to the vent covers, unlike my pending invention.
In addition to the preferred embodiment, in other embodiments my pluming vent cover conceals other kinds of roof vents on commercial as well as residential structures. In still other embodiments my pluming vent cover conceals sewer pipes and other protruding pipes and vents of diverse structures.
The present invention comprises an integral pluming vent cover with two rounded metal straps, an upper pyramidal cap and a cone-shaped base in the preferred embodiment. The present invention also comprises the method by which a visually attractive pluming vent cover is custom cut and folded into the appropriate shape either on-site or off-site. In the preferred embodiment, the initial stiff but bendable steel or copper sheet is severed and then folded into a pluming vent cover for any roof pitch, slope, tiles, or dimensions and shapes of pluming vent pipes. In addition to low materials and labor cost, as well as on-site custom fits, my pluming vent cover conceals the unattractive common plume vent pipe, its rubber flashing and base, which are routinely installed upon residential building roofs.
Currently on pluming vents, a flashing seals the interface between the pipe and the roof with a rubber washer and steel or plastic base, and the entire assembly creates an unsightly appearance. This result occurs is because the residential pluming vent is generally three different colors which differ from the color of the roofing materials. The actual pluming vent pipe is often painted black to camouflage the unsightly pipe, washer and base from the casual observer. Unfortunately, this paint exposed to the weather eventually cracks and peels, leaving the pluming vent even more unsightly.
For steel roofs, my pluming vent cover is preferably fabricated from a flat steel sheet for a consistent and attractive appearance. The flat steel sheet is initially marked or scored for cutting and bending into a cone-shaped base with one longitudinal hem. In my preferred embodiment, the pluming vent cover forms an approximate cone-shape from the metal sheet with an additional sheet hooked to either side. After my pluming vent cover is riveted to two rounded straps and a cap, it is placed over the pluming vent pipe. In other embodiments, my pluming vent cover comprises three components in addition to two rounded straps.
Each pluming vent cover is cut to roof specifications and caulked at all its points of contact with roofing shingles. The exact point at which each pluming vent cover is cut to fit each roof pitch is marked on the steel sheet, or other materials sheet, during cover construction, either on or of f-site. As roof pitches differ and roofing shingles each have their own slope, this base cut accounts for the slope. Preferably, the cut along the bottom ovoid continuous edge of the cone-shaped base is oval from the front to the posterior longitudinal hem at the cover posterior. The ovoid shape allows the cover to tightly abut the roof shingles.
In addition to the preferred steel or copper sheets, the roofer can use sheets with an embossed, raised, glazed, or enameled surface. Please see
My pluming vent cover can also comprise panels which prevent snakes, insects and rodents from entering pluming vent pipes. These screens are cut from conventional window screen materials and fasten to the both the upper pyramidal cap and lower cone shaped base with small pop rivets 40.
Accordingly, it is the goal of this invention to provide a pluming vent cover which is economical to produce.
It is another goal of this invention to provide a pluming vent cover on or off-site which is easily adapted to closely fit the slope, pitch and shingles of each individual roof.
It is another goal of this invention to provide a pluming vent cover which prevents the sun from drying the rubber washer encircling the pluming vent pipe.
It is another goal of this invention to provide a pluming vent cover which prevents animals from entering crawl spaces within a building through a pluming vent pipe.
It is another goal of this invention to provide a pluming vent cover which prevents precipitation and debris from clogging the pluming vent pipe.
It is another goal of this invention to provide a pleasing aesthetic appearance to a pluming vent cover which camouflages the pluming vent pipe, washer and base.
It is another goal of this invention to provide a pluming vent cover which matches or complements the color and materials of the roof materials and/or shingles.
Another goal of my invention is to match the material used for the pluming vent cover with the same material which forms the roof.
These and other features and advantages of my pluming vent cover will become apparent in the attached figures and detailed description of the preferred embodiment and other embodiments, infra.
Introduction
As seen in
Referring to
Preferred pluming vent cover 1 also comprises a separate upper pyramidal cap 10a which forms a shallow rounded pyramidal cross-section with an apex 40. Upper pyramidal cap 10a is attached to each rounded strap 6, 7 by four pyramidal pop rivets 30a, 30b, 30c, 30d respectively (generically pyramidal pop rivets 30). Caps 10 of other shapes and sizes are also within the scope of my invention. Pluming vent cover 1 can be enameled, glazed, or bear an embossed design 75. Please see
Referring to
Referring to
The roofer manually flattens each bent sheet edge 18a, 18b to form continuous longitudinal hem 16. The stiffness of metal sheet 13 (of which cone-shaped base 5 is made) maintains flattened longitudinal hem 16 in place without requiring mechanical fasteners or other attachments. Cone-shaped base 5 can be of other dimensions, shapes and sizes in other embodiments. Other embodiments need not comprise longitudinal hem 16, but they require mechanical fasteners or appropriate adhesives.
First and Second Rounded Metal Straps 6, 7 in the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to
Riveted first strap end 6a opposes riveted second strap end 6b along upper circular continuous edge 8 at approximately 180 degrees. First rounded metal strap 6 is preferably made of the same metal sheet material as that used for cone-shaped base 5, and each strap 6 is greater in length than width. However, in other embodiments first rounded metal strap 6 can be of other lengths, widths, thickness, and materials with appropriate flexibility and stiffness.
Still referring to
Each third and fourth pop rivet 9c, 9d respectively inserts through third and fourth rivet apertures 22a, 22b respectively within metal strap 7, and congruent third and fourth cone apertures 23a, 23b respectively within hollow cone-shaped base 5. Riveted third strap end 7a opposes riveted fourth strap end 7b along upper circular continuous edge 8 at approximately 180 degrees.
As best seen in
First and second rounded metal straps 6, 7 are preferably made from flat metal sheets 13 which are the same color and materials as cone-shaped base 5. However, in other embodiments rounded metal straps 6, 7 can be other colors, bear diverse embossed designs, and comprise glazed or enamel finishes.
Upper Pyramidal Cap 10a in the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to
As best seen in
As seen in
The roofer creates upper pyramidal cap 10a by severing an appropriately sized circular section 60 from a stiff metal sheet.
The operator creates a pluming vent cover 1 as follows:
Cone-Shaped Base 5
The roofer begins with one flat metal sheet 13 which he or she marks for severing according to roof specifications to create cone-shaped base 5.
In the best mode and on-site, the roofer next bends first sheet edge 18a backwards upon itself to form a first bent edge width of approximately ā
(five-eighths) inch.
An important advantage of this technique is the absence of rough metal edges on which the roofer can injure himself or herself. Each bent sheet edge 18a, 18b forms an exposed first exterior longitudinal fold 19a or a second interior longitudinal fold 19b respectively. These longitudinal folds 19a, 19b are sufficiently rounded and have a sufficiently smooth surface that the roofer's fingers will not catch on a jagged severed metal edge.
Attachment of Rounded Metal Straps 6, 7 and Upper Pyramidal cap 10a
The roofer next takes two originally straight stiff metal straps 6, 7, and manually bends each strap 6, 7 to the appropriate rounded configuration for attachment to both upper pyramidal cap 10a and cone shaped base 5. Please see
The operator then places the entire pluming vent cover 1 over pluming vent pipe 54a, base 54b, roof flashing 54c and washer 54d along roof 64. Please see
Preferably, the diameter of lower continuous ovoid edge 11 is approximately 28 inches for a pluming vent pipe 54a which is approximately three inches in length. Similarly, lower continuous ovoid base edge 11 has an approximate 32 inch diameter when pluming vent pipe 54a is approximately four inches in length. The trimming of lower continuous ovoid edge 11 to fit roof 64 does not fit a straightforward ratio, but instead empirically results in lower ovoid continuous edge 11 extending different distances from upper continuous circular edge 8. The exact points along which cone-shaped base 5 is severed to fit each roof pitch is marked upon the original stiff metal sheet 13. As roof pitches vary and roofing shingles contribute their own slope, the initial sheet metal measurement for a correctly aligned lower ovoid continuous edge 11 should accommodate these variables.
The above is a description for the preferred embodiment of my pluming vent cover 1, as well as the best mode of its application. However, those skilled in the art may envision other possible variations with the invention's scope, by changing the dimensions and shapes of its components. According, since my invention is possible in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics thereof. Instead, the embodiments described herein are considered in all respects illustrative and not restrictive. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are intended to be included therein.
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