Patent Application
20200173674
The present invention relates generally to roof ventilation systems for buildings, and specifically to integration of fans into roof vents.
Ventilation of a building has numerous benefits for both the building and its occupants. For example, ventilation of an attic space can prevent the attic's temperature from rising to undesirable levels, which also reduces the cost of cooling the interior living space of the building. In addition, increased ventilation in an attic space tends to reduce the humidity within the attic, which can prolong the life of lumber used in the building's framing and elsewhere by diminishing the incidence of mold and dry-rot. Moreover, ventilation promotes a more healthful environment for residents of the building by encouraging the introduction of fresh, outside air. These and other benefits of ventilation tend to compound as ventilation increases. That is, the greater the flow rate of air that is vented through the building, the greater the benefits. Consequently, power devices such as fans have been employed in active ventilation systems to force greater air flow into and out of an attic space.
A consideration in roof ventilation is ease of installation. Some ventilation systems require a relatively lengthy and confusing installation procedure, which may involve the use of more than one kind of tradesperson. Such systems are more expensive to install and may suffer failures during operation due to faulty installation.
A problem with conventional roofs having fans (e.g., powered by solar panels) is that the fans may require replacement prior to the remainder of the roof, or prior to replacement of the vents through which the fans provide ventilation. Additionally, the installation or replacement of the fans may require retrofitting an existing, completed roofing installation, which can increase the likelihood of roof leaks at that location. Additionally, the maintenance or installation of the fans may be performed by another professional, such as an electrician, who lacks the expertise to safely walk on a roof, or work on roofing components, such as roof vents or roofing elements. Weather proofing elements (e.g., mastic, peel and stick membranes, tar, adhesives and other flashing and roofing materials can be damaged by such disturbances under some conditions. Accordingly, a ventilation system that improves on one or more of these concerns and that is relatively easy to install and replace is desirable.
For purposes of summarizing the invention and the advantages achieved over the prior art, certain objects and advantages of the invention have been described herein. Of course, it is to be understood that not necessarily all such objects or advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment of the invention. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the invention may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves or optimizes one advantage or group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other objects or advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
In a first aspect, a roof vent member is disclosed. The roof vent member comprises a subflashing, an upper plate and a fan assembly. The subflashing comprises a subflashing body and a subflashing opening extending through the subflashing body. The upper plate comprises an upper plate body and an upper plate opening extending through the upper plate body. The fan assembly is operably coupleable to the subflashing and upper plate such that the subflashing is interposed between the upper plate and the fan assembly, with the fan assembly configured to be removed and replaced from under a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck. For example, the fan assembly can be configured to be removed and replaced from under a roof deck when the subflashing is weatherproofed into an upper surface of the roof deck.
In another aspect, a roof vent member is disclosed that comprises an upper plate having a plurality of fasteners. The upper plate comprises an upper plate body having a lower surface, a first opening extending through the upper plate body, and the plurality of fasteners positioned around the first opening and projecting generally downward from the lower surface. The roof vent member further comprises a subflashing comprising a subflashing body, a second opening extending through the subflashing body, and a first plurality of access holes extending through the subflashing body around the second opening. The roof vent member further comprises a fan assembly comprising a fan, fan housing, and a motor, wherein a second plurality of access holes extend through the fan housing. The upper plate, the subflashing, and the fan assembly are configured to allow the fasteners to extend through the first and second pluralities of access holes, to couple the upper plate and the fan assembly with the subflashing, with the subflashing positioned between the upper plate and the fan assembly, and to allow at least a portion of the fan assembly to extend below a lower surface of a roof deck when the subflashing is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck.
In some embodiments, the roof vent member optionally includes the plurality of fasteners where the fasteners each comprise a threaded distal end opposed from the lower surface of the upper plate body.
In some embodiments, the roof vent member includes the subflashing optionally having a lip coupled with and projecting generally upward from the subflashing body, where the lip forms a perimeter around the second opening and is positioned between the second opening and the first plurality of access holes. The lip may be configured to be received by the first opening of the upper plate.
In some embodiments, a roof comprising the roof vent member is disclosed, where the roof comprises the roof deck having a roof deck opening, and the subflashing is coupled with the upper surface of the roof deck around the roof deck opening to allow ventilation through the roof deck opening. In some embodiments, a first portion of the fan assembly is laterally surrounded by the roof deck, and a second portion of the fan assembly extends below a lower surface of the roof deck.
In another aspect, a roof vent is disclosed. The roof vent comprises the roof vent member and a secondary vent member. The secondary vent member is configured to be positioned above the roof vent member.
In some embodiments, the roof vent optionally includes a solar panel. The solar panel may optionally be secured to an upper surface of the secondary vent member. In some embodiments, the solar panel is flexible.
In some embodiments, the roof vent has the secondary vent member configured such that the roof vent is one of an S-shaped roof vent and an M-shaped roof vent, and the solar panel extends between at least two curved apexes formed on an upper surface of the secondary vent member.
In another aspect, a method for removing a fan assembly from a roof deck is disclosed. The roof deck may have one or more roof vent members mounted to an upper surface of the roof deck to allow fluid communication through a roof deck opening extending through the roof deck, with each roof vent member comprising an upper plate, a subflashing and a fan assembly, and the subflashing positioned between and coupled with the upper plate and fan assembly. The method comprises removing the fan assembly from the remainder of the roof vent member from a position below the roof deck without decoupling the remainder of the roof vent member from the roof deck. Removing the fan assembly comprises decoupling the fan assembly from the upper plate and lowering the fan assembly in a first direction away from the upper plate.
In another aspect, a method for installing a roof vent member is disclosed. The roof vent member may comprise a fan assembly and the roof vent member may be installed to an upper surface of the roof deck to allow fluid communication through a roof deck opening extending through the roof deck. In some embodiments, the roof vent member comprises an upper plate, a subflashing and a fan assembly, with the subflashing positioned between and coupled with the upper plate and fan assembly. The method may comprise moving the roof vent member from above the roof deck towards the roof deck opening in a first direction such that at least a portion of the fan assembly extends through the roof deck opening and below a lower surface of the roof deck, and mounting the subflashing on an upper surface of the roof deck. Moving the roof vent member and mounting the subflashing may be performed from a position above the roof deck. Removing the fan assembly may further comprise removing at least one sealing element positioned between at least one of the subflashing and the fan assembly, and the fan assembly and the lower plate.
All of these embodiments are intended to be within the scope of the invention herein disclosed. These and other embodiments of the present invention will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments having reference to the attached figures, the invention not being limited to any particular preferred embodiment(s) disclosed.
Various embodiments of roof vents with an integrated fan assembly and associated methods are disclosed. The roof vents may include a primary (e.g., lower) roof vent member having the integrated fan assembly and a secondary (e.g., upper) roof vent member. The primary roof vent member includes features for accessing the fan assembly and for performing various operations related to the fan assembly from underneath a roof. For instance, the fan assembly can be installed, removed, replaced, repaired, etc. from underneath the roof. This allows for performing these and other operations in an easy and simple manner without needing to get on the roof or disturbing the weather-proofing of the vent installation and/or other elements of the roof. For example, these operations on the fan assembly can be performed within an interior attic space, or other space below the roof. Embodiments also provide less invasive access to the fan assembly to perform such operations. For instance, the roof deck envelope need not be altered in order to access the fan assembly, saving time and money associated with removal, repair and/or remodeling of portions of the roof and associated systems, such as an electrical system. Thus, unlike conventional roof fans, removal and/or replacement of the fan assembly can be performed without having to remove tiles, shingles, portions of the vent, or other building structures, or otherwise having to disturb the building envelope.
Some of the features which allow for these and other advantages of the disclosed roof vent include an upper plate with downwardly projecting fasteners with which the fan assembly couples. The upper plate can be installed with a subflashing on a roof deck either prior to or after coupling it with the fan assembly. The fan assembly can be easily installed with the fasteners of the upper plate by raising the fan assembly towards the fasteners, for example, from underneath the roof deck. Similarly, the fan assembly can be easily removed, replaced, etc. by lowering the fan assembly away from the fasteners, for example, from underneath the roof deck. The fasteners may be received by access holes that extend through the fan assembly, and the fan assembly may be secured with the upper plate using complementary fastening elements that couple with the ends of the fasteners that protrude downward beyond the fan assembly. Other roof vent elements may be installed, removed, replaced, etc. in a similar manner, including but not limited to a lower plate, one or more sealing elements, and/or one or more screens, each of which may have access holes that receive the fasteners and are coupled thereon by coupling the complementary fastening elements with the ends of the fasteners that protrude downward beyond the lowest component of the roof vent, for instance the lower plate. Thus, one or more of the upper plate, subflashing, lower plate, sealing elements, and/or screens can be secured to the fan assembly in a stacked configuration to be mounted onto a roof. Each of these components has one or more openings extending therethrough. When these components are stacked together, these openings collectively form a channel through the roof vent, which in turn provides ventilation through the roof when the roof vent is installed over (e.g., into) a corresponding opening in a roof deck. The roof vent may include a variety of different types of secondary roof vent members, including but not limited to flat, tapered composition, S-shaped, and M-shaped, each of which may have a variety of types of solar panels attached thereto. These and other features of the disclosed roof vent and associated methods will now be discussed in further detail with reference to the figures.
The illustrated roof 10 can include a solar panel 22 secured to one of the tiles 18. The solar panel 22 can be flexible and configured to substantially conform to a flat or curved surface of one or more of the tiles 18. The roof 10 can include any number of solar panels 22. The solar panels 22 can be used to power a variety of different types of devices, such as ventilation fans, motorized vent doors, and the like. The solar panels 22 can alternatively or additionally be used simply to collect power (in the form of solar energy) that can be stored in a battery for later use. In some municipalities, the solar panels 22 can even deliver energy into the community's electrical grid, often in exchange for reduced electrical bills.
As mentioned, the roof tiles 18 can comprise flat tiles, S-shaped tiles, M-shaped tiles, or other shapes. As used herein, the terms “flat tile,” “S-shaped tile,” and “M-shaped tile” are to be construed as having their understood meanings within the roofing industry.
In one embodiment, the solar panel 22 comprises a durable, lightweight, spectrum-splitting amorphous silicon cell design on a flexible stainless steel sheet. Vinyl and foam modules can be encapsulated in UV stabilized polymers and bonded and stitched to a cushioned backing material. Suitable solar panels 22 are sold by United Solar Systems Corp. of Troy, Mich., under the trademark UNI-SOLAR. These are merely examples of a variety of suitable solar panels may be implemented.
The illustrated roof 10 of
Solar panels 22 can be affixed on the upper curved surfaces of the cap sections 42. The solar panels 22 can be form-fitting and conform to the curved upper surfaces of the cap sections 42. Preferably, the solar panels 22 are adhered to the cap sections 42. However, skilled artisans will appreciate that there are other ways to affix the solar panels 22 to the roof vent 40. While only shown affixed to the cap sections 42 of the roof vent 40, the solar panels 22 can alternatively or additionally be affixed to and be in conformity with the curved upper surfaces of the pan sections 44. Also, while two separate solar panels 22 are shown attached to the two cap sections 42, in some configurations it is possible to use a different number of solar panels, including just one solar panel for each vent 40. In some embodiments, a solar panel can extend between and/or across two or more vents, or two or more sections within a single vent. Preferably, electrical connections are provided for transferring solar energy absorbed by the solar panels 22 to a battery, municipal power grid, or other electrical devices. It will be appreciated that the roof 10 can include any suitable number of roof vents 40 with solar panels 22. In a preferred embodiment, roof vents are generally arranged near the ridge and eaves of the roof.
The secondary vent member 45 is spaced generally above the vent member 48. In one embodiment, the secondary vent member 45 is secured to the vent member 48 for example to the subflashing 43 by spacer elements (not shown). In this embodiment, the secondary vent member 45 can also be secured to adjacent surrounding tiles, such as to an upper or lower tile 18, 30 (e.g., with a storm clip). While such an embodiment ensures a desired physical relationship between the vent member 48 and the secondary vent member 45, it can also be problematic when the surrounding tiles (e.g., 18, 30, 32) are positioned inaccurately with respect to the secondary vent member 45. In general, a high degree of skill is required in the installation of the various tiles and roof vent(s) for accurate positioning thereof. In an alternative embodiment, the secondary vent member 45 is secured to one or more adjacent tiles in the roof's field of tiles, without being secured to the vent member 48. For example, the secondary vent member 45 can be secured (e.g., by a storm clip) to a lower and/or upper adjacent tile of a pitched roof (i.e., a tile in an adjacent upper or lower row). This embodiment allows for greater flexibility in the positioning of the tiles relative to the vent member 48.
The illustrated secondary vent member 45 includes a “skeleton” 41 with a vent opening 35 generally above the vent opening 46. The vent opening 35 may be covered by a screen 37. Elongated upstanding baffles 55 can be provided to help prevent wind-driven rain from flowing down through the vent opening 35. The cap member 42 is preferably secured to the skeleton 41 so that a ventilation space 54 is formed therebetween, for example by using any of a wide variety of different types of spacer elements. The cap member 42 is preferably positioned above the vent opening 35 to substantially prevent the ingress of rain through the vent opening 35. Elongated side hems or downward baffles 27 can be provided to help prevent wind-driven rain from flowing down through the vent opening 37. In use, attic air 62 flows from the attic 64 through the roof deck opening 58, vent opening 46, space or batten cavity 66, vent opening 35, and ventilation space 54 to the outside 65.
While the aforementioned solar panels 22 have been illustrated and described in the context of being attached to roof vents having curved surfaces, skilled artisans will understand that they can also be attached to flat surfaces of roof cover elements.
While described and illustrated in the context of tile roofs, the solar panels 22 can be applied to a variety of different types of roof coverings, including shingles and composition sheeting.
Referring to
The roof vent member 343 can include a subflashing 310 configured to be installed on the surface of a roof deck. The subflashing 310 can include a body 311 that may have side members, such as flanges, extending out from an opening 346B extending through the subflashing body 311. The subflashing 310 may be coupled with the upper surface of the roof deck 14 around the roof deck opening, to allow ventilation through the roof deck opening. The subflashing 310 can include a lip 312 (shown in
The roof vent member 343 can include an integrated fan assembly 323. The fan assembly 323 can include a fan housing 327, which can contain a fan 328 having one or more fan blades driven by a motor 329. The fan assembly 323 is configured to engage with one or more parts of the roof vent member 343, such as a lower surface of the subflashing 310. In some embodiments, a first upper portion of the fan assembly 323 is laterally surrounded by the roof deck 14, and a second lower portion of the fan assembly 323 extends below the lower surface of the roof deck 14. The fan assembly 323 is configured to generate airflow through an opening 346C of the fan, through the remainder of the vent member 343, and through the opening 58 of the roof deck 14 (
The fan housing 327 may include one or more access holes 325. The access holes 325 may be formed or otherwise defined by, and extend through, the fan housing 327. In some embodiments, the access holes 325 are formed by and in the structure of the fan housing 327 and extend from an upper surface of the housing 327 to a lower surface thereof. The access holes 325 may be arranged around or near an outer perimeter of the fan housing 327. The access holes 325 may extend around the opening 346C. The holes 325 may have a similar shape and/or locations as other holes of the vent member 343, such as the holes 315 of the subflashing 310, such that the various holes of the various components align when the vent member 343 is configured for installation with the roof deck 14. The holes 325 may have a variety of shapes, including circular or other shapes. In some embodiments, the holes 325 have a shape that complements the shape of the fasteners 331 of the upper plate 330, discussed below, such that lateral play of the fasteners 331 inside the holes 325 is reduced or removed. In some embodiments, the holes 325 are shaped and/or sized to provide an interference fit with the fasteners 331.
The fan assembly 323 can be attached to or otherwise coupled with the subflashing 310 or other parts of the roof vent member 343 in various ways. The fan can be powered by a solar panel, battery, or other power supply, and or can include a control system and other electronic features, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 8,608,533, issued on Dec. 17, 2013, the entire contents of which are herein incorporated by reference. The roof vent member 343 can include an upper plate 330 configured to couple the fan assembly 323 with the subflashing 310. The upper plate 330 can be configured to provide increased support to the fan assembly 323 relative to the support provided by the subflashing alone without the upper plate 330. For example, the upper plate 330 can comprise a stronger material, a different dimension (e.g., an increased thickness), and/or a more rigid shape than the subflashing 310, to provide increased support to the fan assembly 323 when the subflashing 310 and upper plate 330 are coupled thereto. Such support can be important due to the vibrations over time caused by the fan operation, which can loosen the components of the vent member 343, causing roof leakage or vent failure. The roof vent member 343 can include a lower plate 340 to provide additional support between the fan assembly 323 and other components of vent member 343. The upper and lower plates 330, 340 can include openings 346A and 346D, respectively, to allow ventilating air flow therethrough. Thus, two or more of openings 346A-346D, which can be similar or different shapes with respect to each other, can collectively form the channel 346 through vent member 343, when two or more of the upper plate 330, fan assembly 323, lower plate 340, and subflashing 310, and/or other vent components, are stacked together.
The upper plate 330 can include an upper plate body 333 and one or more fasteners 331. Fasteners 331 can be configured to engage with complementary fastening elements 341, to couple the subflashing 310 to the fan assembly 323. The fasteners 331 may engage with the complementary fastening elements 341 when the fasteners 331 are extended into, or in some embodiments, completely through corresponding access holes of other components of the vent member 343, such as access holes 345, 325, and 315 in the lower plate 340, the housing 327 of the fan assembly 323, and the subflashing 310, respectively. The fasteners 331 can be configured to allow the fan assembly 323 to be removed from a position below the roof deck 14. Such lower removal of the fan assembly can allow it to be replaced from, for instance, an attic space, and without needing to walk on the roof and risk damaging the roof cover elements or otherwise disturbing the building envelope. Additionally, the roof vent member 343 with the integrated fan assembly 323 can be installed by a roof professional, for example, during the initial roof installation, without disturbing the roofing envelope, or making other modifications (other than the hole in the roof deck), and without requiring a professional from another trade, such as an electrician.
The upper plate body 333 may be a generally flat, planar structure configured to couple with the subflashing 310 and/or other components of the roof vent member 343. The upper plate body 333 may be formed from a variety of materials, such as metal or other suitable materials. In some embodiments, the upper plate body 333 is a rigid material configured to support the weight of various components, such as the fan assembly 323. The upper plate body 333 can be configured to provide greater strength in supporting the fan assembly 323 than the subflashing 310. For example, the upper plate body can comprise a material with a greater rigidity, thickness, and/or yield strength, than that of the subflashing. The subflashing may comprise a thinner, more flexible, and/or weaker material than the upper plate 333, to allow the subflashing to better conform to and/or seal with a roof deck. The upper plate body 333 may have a variety of shapes, i.e. plan forms, as viewed from the top or bottom. In some embodiments, the upper plate body 333 has a generally polygonal plan form, but it may also have a more rounded shape, and/or combinations thereof. For instance, the upper plate body 333 may have a plan form that is square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, a shape with partially straight and partially rounded sides, etc.
The upper plate body 333 can include an opening 346A. The opening 346A can extend through the upper plate body 333. In some embodiments, the opening 346A is defined by one or more edges or surfaces of the upper plate body 333. For instance, the opening 346A may be formed or otherwise defined by a continuous inner edge at or near the center of the upper plate body 333. The opening 346A may have a variety of shapes. In some embodiments, the opening 346A is circular. It may also be any other shape, such as elliptical, oval, square, rectangular, other straight-sided shapes, or combinations thereof. The opening 346A may match the shape of the other openings in the roof vent member 343, such as the openings 346B, 346C, 346D of the subflashing 310, the fan housing 327, and the lower plate 340, respectively.
The upper plate body 333 can include a lower surface 334. The lower surface 334 may be one or more surfaces of the upper plate body 333 that is on the underside of the body 333. In some embodiments, the lower surface 334 is a surface on the underside of the upper plate body 333 and extends from an outer edge of the upper plate body 333 to an inner edge. The lower surface 334 may be interrupted or otherwise intersected by various features of the upper plate 330. In some embodiments, the lower surface 334 includes the underside of the upper plate body 334, extends from an outer edge of the underside to an inner edge of the opening 346A, and is interrupted by one or more fasteners 331. Thus, the lower surface 334 may include various areas or portions of the underside of the upper plate body 334 located around these or other features of the upper plate body 334. In some embodiments, the lower surface 334 is coupled with various features of the upper plate 330, such as the fasteners 331.
As mentioned, the upper plate body 333 can include one or more fasteners 331. The fasteners 331 can be any structural components with features configured for coupling the upper plate 330, subflashing 310, and fan assembly 323, to each other, or to additional components. The fasteners 331 can comprise an elongated member, such as a rod, screw, pin, or other similar structure. The fasteners 331 can have a circular, square, or other cross-sectional shape. The fasteners can be configured to couple to additional components, such as the complementary fastening elements 341. The fasteners 331 can be located on the lower surface 333 of the upper plate 330 and project in a generally downward direction when the roof vent member 343 is installed with the roof. The fasteners 331 can be located on the lower surface 333 in various positions around the opening 346A of the upper plate 330. In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 can be located along a perimeter (e.g., generally circular) or other shaped arrangement around the opening 346A. The fasteners 331 may be located near or adjacent to the opening 346A, or in other locations. In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 can comprise cylindrical projections extending downward from the upper plate 330. The fasteners 331 can have engaging features, such as external or internal threads thereon or therein, to engage with another corresponding structure, such as an internal or external threaded structure, respectively. The threads or other engaging features may extend along some, most, or substantially the entire length of the fasteners 331, or they may only be on portions thereof. For instance, the fasteners 331 may have threads only near the tips or distal ends of the fasteners 331, with an intervening unthreaded portion between the distal end and the lower surface 334 of the upper plate body 333. The “distal end” is the end of the fasteners 331 opposed from the lower surface 334 of the upper plate body 333. As discussed in further detail below, in some embodiments, the fasteners 331 may have a bore or other blind hole or passageway that opens at the distal end. For instance, the fasteners 331 may have an internally-threaded hole on the distal ends of the fasteners 331 into which complementary fastening elements 341, for example externally-threaded bolts, may engage.
The fasteners 331 may be coupled with the upper plate body 333 in a variety of ways. In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 are of a unitary construction with respect to the upper plate body 333. For instance, the fasteners 331 and the upper plate body 333 may be machined, cast, molded, or otherwise formed from the same piece of raw material. As another example, the fasteners 331 and the upper plate body 333 may be welded or otherwise permanently secured together. Thus, the fasteners 331 and the upper plate body 333 may form a single, monolithic structure. In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 may be separate components attached to or otherwise coupled with the upper plate body 333. For example, the fasteners 331 may be attached to the lower surface 334 with brackets or other attachments. The coupling may be direct or indirect. For instance, the fasteners 331 may be directly attached to the lower surface 334 or there may be an intermediate attachment structure between the fasteners 331 and the upper plate body 333. In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 may be coupled with the upper plate body 33 by mechanical or other means. For instance, the fasteners 331 may be bonded or otherwise adhered to or with the upper plate body 333. In some embodiments, combinations of these or other coupling means may be implemented to couple the fasteners 331 with the upper plate body 333.
The upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, and the fan assembly 323 are configured to allow the fasteners 331 to extend through the holes 315 of the subflashing 310 and through the holes 325 of the fan housing 327. For instance, the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, and the fan assembly 323 may be aligned such that their respective holes align and provide a passageway for the fasteners 331. This allows the upper plate 330 and the fan assembly 323 to couple with the subflashing 310. The subflashing 310 can be positioned between the upper plate 330 and the fan assembly 323 with at least a portion of the fan assembly 323 extending below a bottom surface of the roof deck 14 when the subflashing 310 is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck 14. The fasteners 331, by extending downward from the upper plate 330 and into the space under the roof deck 14, allow the fan assembly 323 to be accessed from under the roof deck 14. This allows for easy installation and/or removal of the fan housing 323 from inside the house or other building structure. Thus, the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, and the fan assembly 323 are configured to allow the fan assembly 323 to be removed and replaced from under the roof deck 14 when the subflashing 310 is mounted on the upper surface of the roof deck 14.
The engagements shown and described herein, either above or below, between the various components of the roof vent member 343 are for illustrative purposes, and it will be understood that other engagement means for attaching these components are possible. For example, the subflashing 310 may be attached to the upper plate 330 using attachment means that are separate from those that attach the fan assembly 323 to the subflashing 310, e.g. to allow removal of the fan assembly 323 without disengaging the upper plate 330 from the subflashing 310.
As mentioned, the roof vent member 343 can include a lower plate 340. The lower plate 340 and upper plate 330 can comprise similar or different shapes and/or materials with respect to each other. The lower plate 340 can include a lower plate body 344. The lower plate body 344 may be a generally flat, planar structure configured to couple with the fan assembly 323, such as the fan housing 327, and/or other components of the roof vent member 343. The lower plate body 344 may be formed from a variety of materials, such as metal or other suitable materials. In some embodiments, the lower plate body 344 can comprise a rigid material configured to support the weight of various components, such as the fan assembly 323. The lower plate body 344 may have a variety of shapes, i.e. plan forms, as viewed from the top or bottom. In some embodiments, the lower plate body 344 has a generally polygonal plan form, but it may also have a more rounded shape, and/or combinations thereof. For instance, the lower plate body 344 may have a plan form that is square, rectangular, circular, hexagonal, a shape with partially straight and partially rounded sides, etc. The lower plate body 344 may have a shape that matches or otherwise complements the shape of the fan housing 327.
The lower plate body 344 can include an opening 346D. The opening 346D can extend through the lower plate body 344. In some embodiments, the opening 346D is defined by one or more edges or surfaces of the lower plate body 344. For instance, the opening 346D may be formed or otherwise defined by a continuous inner edge at or near the center of the lower plate body 344. The opening 346D may have a variety of shapes. In some embodiments, the opening 346D is circular. It may also be any other shape, such as elliptical, oval, square, rectangular, other straight-sided shapes, or combinations thereof. The opening 346D may match the shape of the other openings in the roof vent member 343, such as the openings 346A, 346B, 346C of the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, and the fan housing 327, respectively.
The opening 346D, and/or the openings 346A, 346B and 346C, may be configured to form ventilation channel 346 (
The lower plate body 344 can include upper and lower surfaces configured to couple with various features of the roof vent member 343. The lower surface may be one or more surfaces of the lower plate body 344 that are on an underside of the body 344. In some embodiments, complementary fastening elements 341 attach to portions of the fasteners 331 that extend through access holes 345 and which butt up against the lower surface of the lower plate body 344. The access holes 345 may be formed or otherwise defined by, and extend through, the lower plate body 344. In some embodiments, the access holes 345 are formed by and in the structure of the lower plate body 344 and extend from the upper surface of the lower plate body 344 to the lower surface thereof. The access holes 345 may be arranged around or near an outer perimeter of the lower plate body 344. The holes 345 may have a similar shape and/or locations as other holes of the vent member 343, such as the holes 315 of the subflashing 310 and fan housing 327, such that the various holes of the various components align when the vent member 343 is configured for installation with the roof deck 14. The holes 345 may have a variety of shapes, including circular or other shapes. In some embodiments, the holes 345 have a shape that complements the shape of the fasteners 331 of the upper plate 330, such that lateral play of the fasteners 331 inside the holes 345 is reduced or removed. In some embodiments, the holes 345 are shaped and/or sized to provide an interference fit with the fasteners 331. The lower plate 340, the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, and the fan assembly 327 are configured to allow the fasteners 331 to extend through the access holes 345, to couple the lower plate 340 with the subflashing 310, with the lower plate 340 positioned under the fan assembly 323.
As mentioned, the complementary fastening elements 341 may couple with the fasteners 331. In some embodiments, the complementary fastening elements 341 are configured to removeably attach to portions of the fasteners 331 extending downward beyond the various components of the roof vent member 343. In some embodiments, the complementary fastening elements 341 are configured to removeably attach to portions of the fasteners 331 extending downward beyond the fan assembly 323 to couple the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310 and the fan housing 327. In some embodiments, the complementary fastening elements 341 are configured to removeably attach to portions of the fasteners 331 extending downward beyond the lower plate 340 to couple the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, the fan housing 327 and the lower plate 340. The complementary fastening elements 341 may engage with the distal ends of the fasteners 331, as defined above.
In some embodiments, the fastening elements 341 can be configured to removably attach to portions of the fasteners 331 that extend into, but not completely through or beyond another component of vent member 343. For example, the fastening elements 341 can be recessed below an upper surface of another component of vent member 343, such as the lower plate 340, to allow the fasteners 331 to extend into the upper surface and engage with the fastening elements 341, without extending the fasteners through the lower plate 340. In some embodiments, the various components of the vent member 343 may include recesses around their respective access holes that receive the complementary fastening elements 341. For instance, the fan housing 327 or the lower plate 340 may include recesses around the access holes 325 or 345, respectively, into which complementary fastening elements, such as nuts or bolts, extend when tightened to couple the vent member 343 components together. The fastening elements 341 can be configured to allow a snap fit, and/or interference fit, between the fastening elements 341 and fasteners 331.
The complementary fastening elements 341 may be nuts or other structures with internal threads that mate with corresponding external threads of the fasteners 331. Fastening elements 341 can be an insert that is positioned within an opening extending into or through one or more components of member 343, such as within access holes 325 or 345. Fastening elements 341 can have an outer perimeter (e.g., diameter) that is greater than a corresponding outer perimeter (e.g., diameter) of any access holes on a corresponding part of vent member 343. The elements 341 may be tightened onto the fasteners 331 to compress together the various components of the roof vent member 343, such as the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, the fan housing 327 and the lower plate 340. The elements 341 may be of various types, such as locking, nonlocking, crimped, etc. The elements 341 may be of formed from various materials, such as steel, titanium, aluminum, other materials besides metal, or combinations thereof. The complementary fastening elements 341 may be a variety of other fastening elements besides nuts, such as clamps, brackets, etc.
In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 provide internal coupling features and the complementary fastening elements 341 include complementary external coupling features. For instance, the fasteners 331 may be elongated projections that include an internally threaded bore into which the complementary fastening elements 341 are screwed. In some embodiments, the fasteners 331 have internal threads with which external threads of the complementary fastening elements 341 attach by rotating the elements 341 into the fasteners 331. Further, the fasteners 331 may include combinations of internal and/or external coupling features. For instance, some of the fasteners 331 may be externally-coupling fasteners while others may be internally-coupling. Similarly, the complementary fastening elements 341 may include combinations of internal and/or external coupling features, such as internally threaded nuts and externally threaded bolts.
These are just some of the various configurations that may be implemented with the fasteners 331 and the complementary fastening elements 341 that allow for access to the fan assembly 323 from under the roof. By attaching the complementary fastening elements 341 to or otherwise with the portions of the fasteners 331 extending through an underside of the roof vent member 343, such as with the distal ends of the fasteners 331, the elements 341 may be removed from under the roof, and thus the fan assembly 323 or portions thereof may also be easily removed from under the roof by sliding the assembly 323 down and away from the fasteners 331. To reinstall or replace the fan assembly 323, for instance with a second or replacement fan assembly 323, the second fan assembly 323 can slide over the fasteners 331, with the fasteners extending through the holes 325 in the fan housing 327, and the complementary fastening elements 341 can then be secured to the distal tips or portions of the fasteners 331 extending downward beyond the fan assembly 323. If the roof vent member 343 includes the lower plate 340 or other components, they can be removed and/or installed in a similar fashion.
The roof vent member 343 can further include screens 332, 342 to cover and prevent damage to fan assembly 323, and/or prevent injury caused by fan assembly 323, through openings 346A and 346D, respectively, of upper and lower plates 330, 340, respectively. The screens 332, 342 can be separate components that are separately attached to the plates 330, 340, or they can be integrally formed components thereof, or combinations of separate and integral. It will be understand that either or both screens 332, 342, or additional screens, can be employed with roof vent member 343.
The roof vent member 343 can further include one or more sealing elements. In some embodiments, the roof vent member 343 can include one or both of an upper sealing element 320 and/or a lower sealing element 324. The sealing element 320 can be configured to be positioned and form a seal between the subflashing 310 and the fan assembly 323. The sealing element 324 can be configured to be positioned between and form a seal between the fan assembly 323 and the lower plate 340. The sealing elements 320, 324 can include openings 346E, 346F, respectively, that can further form the ventilation channel 346 when configured with the other components of the roof vent member 343. The sealing elements 320, 324 can also include access holes 322, 326, respectively, that allow the sealing elements 320, 324 to be coupled with the other components. In some embodiments, the upper sealing element 320 can be positioned in between the subflashing 310 and the fan assembly 323, with the opening 346E aligned with the openings 346B and 346C, respectively, and the access holes 322 aligned with the access holes 315 and 325, respectively. In some embodiments, the lower sealing element 324 is positioned in between the fan assembly 323 and the lower plate 340, with the opening 346F aligned with the openings 346C and 346D, respectively, and the access holes 322 aligned with the access holes 325 and 345, respectively. Another sealing element (not shown) can be positioned and form a seal between the subflashing 310 and the upper plate 330. The sealing elements described herein can comprise a rubber, plastic, or other material suitable for sealing the aforementioned vent member components. The sealing elements can reduce the likelihood of leakage between components of the vent member 343 and from channel 346. Such leakage can overwork, and thus cause premature failure of fan assembly 323, and/or increase the number of vent members 343 needed to provide a certain amount of ventilation within a roof structure.
While described above with some reference to S-shaped roof vents, such as that shown in
The tapered composition roof vent 1440 comprises a roof vent member 1448 and a secondary roof vent member 1445 positioned above the roof vent member 1448. The secondary roof vent member 1445 may be coupled with the vent member 1448 and/or with various components of the roof, such as the roof deck (not shown). The roof vent member 1448 has an integrated fan assembly 1443, and the secondary roof vent member 1445 can have the solar panel 1422 attached thereto. The roof vent member 1448 can include complementary fastening elements 1431 (
The secondary roof vent member 1445 can include a tapered top 1433 with louver slits 1426 on its top surface and an opening 1428 on its front edge. Between the secondary roof vent member 1445 and the roof vent member 1448 is a cavity, which may include screens, baffles, or other filtering structures to cover and prevent damage to fan assembly 1443, and/or prevent injury caused by fan assembly 1443. In use, air from the attic is directed through the fan housing 1427 by the fan assembly 1423, then through a cavity between the roof vent member 1448 and the secondary roof vent member 1445, then through the louver slits 1426 and/or the opening 1428. The tapered design of the integrated vent may advantageously increase the velocity of air flowing through the vent into the building, as the tapered top acts as a kind of nozzle or flow restriction on the air inducted into the vent. It will be appreciated that air flow into the building can occur naturally or can be assisted by using the fan assembly 1438 that draws air into the building rather than exhausts air therefrom. For example, a controller can be configured to select a direction of rotation of the fan assembly 1438 based on whether it is desired to induct air into the building or exhaust air therefrom. Alternatively, the fan assembly 1438 can simply have fan blades designed to only draw air into the building. An increased air flow velocity through the vent and into the building may be particularly advantageous in some applications. In other embodiments, wherein the fan assembly 1438 is used or configured to exhaust air, the tapered design of the integrated vent reduces resistance to the exhaust of the air flow out of the building. A controller with similar function can be implemented to control the fan assemblies of the other vent members described herein.
The flat roof vent 1540 comprises a roof vent member 1548 and a flat secondary roof vent member 1545 positioned above the vent member 1548. The flat secondary roof vent member 1545 may be coupled with the vent member 1548 and/or with various components of the roof, such as the roof deck (not shown). The vent member 1548 can have an integrated fan assembly 1543, an upper screen 1520. The flat secondary roof vent member 1545 can have the solar panel 1522 attached thereto. The vent member 1548 can include complementary fastening elements 1531 (
The flat secondary roof vent member 1545 can include a flat top 1533 with louver slits 1526 on its top surface. The secondary roof vent member 1545 can include an opening 1534 to allow flow therethrough. Between the flat secondary roof vent member 1545 and the vent member 1548 is a cavity, which may include screens, baffles, or other filtering structures to cover and prevent damage to fan assembly 1523, and/or prevent injury caused by fan assembly 1523. In use, air from the attic is directed through the fan housing 1527 by the fan assembly 1538, then through a cavity between the roof vent member 1548 and the secondary roof vent member 1545, then through the louver slits 1526 and/or other openings in the front of the vent. The roof vent 1540 may have similar features and functionalities as the roof vent 1440 discussed with respect to
As shown in
The S-vent 1640 comprises a vent member 1648 and an S-shaped secondary roof vent member 1645 positioned above the vent member 1648. The S-shaped secondary roof vent member 1645 may be coupled with the vent member 1648 and/or with various components of the roof, such as the roof deck (not shown). The vent member 1648 has an integrated fan assembly 1643. In the embodiments shown in
The secondary roof vent member 1645 can include an S-shaped top 1633 and one or more openings 1628 (
The M-vent 1740 comprises a vent member 1748 and an M-shaped secondary roof vent member 1745 positioned above the vent member 1748. The M-shaped secondary roof vent member 1745 may be coupled with the vent member 1748 and/or with various components of the roof, such as the roof deck (not shown). The vent member 1748 has an integrated fan assembly 1743. In the embodiments shown in
The M-shaped secondary roof vent member 1745 can include an M-shaped top 1733 with apertures 1726 on its top surface and one or more openings 1728 along one or more edges thereof. Between the M-shaped secondary roof vent member 1745 and the roof vent member 1748 is a cavity, which may include screens, baffles, or other filtering structures to cover and prevent damage to fan assembly 1743, and/or prevent injury caused by fan assembly 1743. In use, air from the attic is directed through the fan housing 1727 by the fan assembly 1723, then through the cavity between the roof vent member 1748 and the M-shaped secondary roof vent member 1745, then through the apertures 1726 and/or through the one or more openings 1728. The roof vent 1740 may have similar features and functionalities as the roof vent 1440 discussed with respect to
The method 1800 begins with block 1810 wherein the fan assembly is decoupled from the upper plate of a roof vent member. The roof vent member may be the roof vent member 343, which may comprise the upper plate 330, the subflashing 310, and the fan assembly 323. In some embodiments, the roof vent member may include a lower plate, such as the lower plate 340. In some embodiments of block 1810, the roof vent member may further include either or both of the upper screen 320 and the lower screen 324.
In some embodiments, block 1810 may include decoupling either or both of the lower plate and the fan assembly from the upper plate. This may include, for example, removing complementary fastening elements 341 from fasteners 331 of the upper plate 330 such that the lower plate 340 and/or the fan assembly 323 may be removed. In some embodiments of block 1830, the complementary fastening elements 341 are nuts or bolts that are rotated to dis-engage from external or internal threads, respectively, of the fasteners 331.
The method 1800 next moves to block 1820 wherein the fan assembly is lowered in a first direction away from the upper plate. In some embodiments, block 1820 may include lowering the fan assembly from below the roof deck and away from the upper plate. This may include, for example, lowering the fan assembly 323 from the upper plate 330, while under the roof deck, such that the fasteners 331 are removed from the access holes 325 in the fan housing 327. Block 1820 may further include moving the fan assembly from a first position in which at least a first portion of the fan assembly is laterally surrounded by the roof deck opening, to a second position in which the portion of the fan assembly is not laterally surrounded by the roof deck opening. For instance, the fan assembly 323 may be lowered from a first position in which at least a first portion of the fan assembly 323 is laterally surrounded by the roof deck opening 58, to a second position in which the portion of the fan assembly 323 is not laterally surrounded by the roof deck opening 58.
In some embodiments, block 1820 may include lowering the lower plate from below the roof deck and away from the upper plate. This may include, for example, lowering the lower plate 340 from the upper plate 330, while under the roof deck, such that the fasteners 331 are completely removed from the access holes 345 in the lower plate 340.
In some embodiments, the method 1800 may include replacing the fan assembly from below the roof deck with a replacement fan assembly. The replacement fan assembly can be the same fan assembly (perhaps after it has been inspected, and found in good condition), the same fan assembly, but repaired or modified, or a different fan assembly, such as a new fan assembly. A replacement fan assembly may be raised from below the roof deck and toward the upper plate. This may include, for example, raising the replacement fan assembly 323 from below the roof deck 14 and toward the upper plate 330, such that the fasteners 331 are received in the access holes 325 of the fan housing 327. Block 1880 may further include raising the fan assembly such that corresponding distal ends of the fasteners extend into at least a portion of the fan housing. For instance, the fan assembly 323 may be raised such that corresponding distal ends of the fasteners 331 extend into at least a portion of the fan housing 327. The fan assembly 323 may be pressed against other features of the roof vent member, such as the upper sealing element 320, the subflashing 310, other features, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the method 1800 may include coupling the roof vent member with a roof deck. This may include, for example, coupling the roof vent member 343 with the roof deck 14. This may be done from above the roof deck 14. In some embodiments, block 1810 may include coupling a secondary roof vent member or other components with the roof vent member and/or the roof deck. For example, block 1810 may include coupling the roof vent member 1448 with the roof deck 14 as well as coupling the secondary roof vent member 1445 with either or both of the roof vent member 1448 or the roof deck 14. In some embodiments, the subflashing is coupled with the roof deck 14 when it is mounted on an upper surface of the roof deck 14. The roof vent member may be coupled with the roof deck with a variety of suitable means, including but not limited to mechanically attaching with bolts or other fastening tools or bonding it with adhesive, roofing tar, mastic, other roofing attachment means, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the method 1800 may include raising the lower plate from below the roof deck and toward the upper plate. This may include, for example, raising the lower plate 340 from below the roof deck 14 and toward the upper plate 330, such that the fasteners 331 are received in the access holes 345 of the lower plate 340. The lower plate may be pressed against other features of the roof vent member, such as the fan housing 327, the lower sealing element 324, other features, or combinations thereof.
In some embodiments, the method 1800 may include coupling one or both of the lower plate and the fan assembly with the upper plate. This may include, for example, coupling the lower plate 340 and/or the fan assembly 323 with the upper plate 330 by engaging complementary fastening elements 341 with distal ends of the fasteners 331. In some embodiments, the complementary fastening elements 341 are nuts or bolts that are rotated to engage with external or internal threads, respectively, of the fasteners 331.
These are just some examples of how the method 1800 may be performed. Further, other embodiments of the various components of the roof vent member may be implemented in the method 1800, including but not limited to the roof vent member 1540, the roof vent member 1640, and the roof vent member 1740.
While certain embodiments of the inventions have been described, these embodiments have been presented by way of example only, and are not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure. Indeed, the novel methods and systems described herein may be embodied in a variety of other forms. Furthermore, various omissions, substitutions and changes in the systems and methods described herein may be made without departing from the spirit of the disclosure. The accompanying claims and their equivalents are intended to cover such forms or modifications as would fall within the scope and spirit of the disclosure. Accordingly, the scope of the present inventions is defined only by reference to the appended claims.
Features, materials, characteristics, or groups described in conjunction with a particular aspect, embodiment, or example are to be understood to be applicable to any other aspect, embodiment or example described in this section or elsewhere in this specification unless incompatible therewith. All of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), and/or all of the steps of any method or process so disclosed, may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. The protection is not restricted to the details of any foregoing embodiments. The protection extends to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the features disclosed in this specification (including any accompanying claims, abstract and drawings), or to any novel one, or any novel combination, of the steps of any method or process so disclosed.
Furthermore, certain features that are described in this disclosure in the context of separate implementations can also be implemented in combination in a single implementation. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single implementation can also be implemented in multiple implementations separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations, one or more features from a claimed combination can, in some cases, be excised from the combination, and the combination may be claimed as a subcombination or variation of a sub combination.
Moreover, while operations may be depicted in the drawings or described in the specification in a particular order, such operations need not be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. Other operations that are not depicted or described can be incorporated in the example methods and processes. For example, one or more additional operations can be performed before, after, simultaneously, or between any of the described operations. Further, the operations may be rearranged or reordered in other implementations. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that in some embodiments, the actual steps taken in the processes illustrated and/or disclosed may differ from those shown in the figures. Depending on the embodiment, certain of the steps described above may be removed, others may be added. Furthermore, the features and attributes of the specific embodiments disclosed above may be combined in different ways to form additional embodiments, all of which fall within the scope of the present disclosure. Also, the separation of various system components in the implementations described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all implementations, and it should be understood that the described components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single product or packaged into multiple products. For example, any of the primary and secondary vent members described herein can be provided separately, or integrated together (e.g., packaged together, or attached together) to form a single vent product. For example, and with reference to
For purposes of this disclosure, certain aspects, advantages, and novel features are described herein. Not necessarily all such advantages may be achieved in accordance with any particular embodiment. Thus, for example, those skilled in the art will recognize that the disclosure may be embodied or carried out in a manner that achieves one advantage or a group of advantages as taught herein without necessarily achieving other advantages as may be taught or suggested herein.
Conditional language, such as “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments include, while other embodiments do not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments or that one or more embodiments necessarily include logic for deciding, with or without user input or prompting, whether these features, elements, and/or steps are included or are to be performed in any particular embodiment.
Conjunctive language such as the phrase “at least one of X, Y, and Z,” unless specifically stated otherwise, is otherwise understood with the context as used in general to convey that an item, term, etc. may be either X, Y, or Z. Thus, such conjunctive language is not generally intended to imply that certain embodiments require the presence of at least one of X, at least one of Y, and at least one of Z.
Language of degree used herein, such as the terms “approximately,” “about,” “generally,” and “substantially” as used herein represent a value, amount, or characteristic close to the stated value, amount, or characteristic that still performs a desired function or achieves a desired result. For example, the terms “approximately”, “about”, “generally,” and “substantially” may refer to an amount that is within less than 10% of, within less than 5% of, within less than 1% of, within less than 0.1% of, and within less than 0.01% of the stated amount. As another example, in certain embodiments, the terms “generally parallel” and “substantially parallel” refer to a value, amount, or characteristic that departs from exactly parallel by less than or equal to 15 degrees, 10 degrees, 5 degrees, 3 degrees, 1 degree, or 0.1 degree.
The scope of the present disclosure is not intended to be limited by the specific disclosures of preferred embodiments in this section or elsewhere in this specification, and may be defined by claims as presented in this section or elsewhere in this specification or as presented in the future. The language of the claims is to be interpreted broadly based on the language employed in the claims and not limited to the examples described in the present specification or during the prosecution of the application, which examples are to be construed as non-exclusive.
Any and all applications for which a foreign or domestic priority claim is identified in the Application Data Sheet as filed with the present application are hereby incorporated by reference under 37 CFR 1.57. This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 14/515,938, entitled “ROOF VENT WITH AN INTEGRATED FAN” and filed Oct. 16, 2014, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. Nos. 61/948,950, filed Mar. 6, 2014, and 62/043,988, filed Aug. 29, 2014, the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62043988 | Aug 2014 | US | |
| 61948950 | Mar 2014 | US |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parent | 14515938 | Oct 2014 | US |
| Child | 16672264 | US |
