Patent Application
20250164127
Real property structures can include residential, commercial and industrial structures, and generally include walls, which can define interior spaces and separate interior spaces from exterior spaces.
An object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated wall system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a ventilated wall system that can provide functional utility.
These and other objects are expressly, implicitly, and apparently provided via the illustrative embodiments and aspects described herein.
In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a ventilated wall system can include a wall frame, a ventilation spacer, a span of drywall, and a baseboard.
In other exemplary aspects of the invention, a wall frame can include a bottom plate having a bottom plate front face, and a wall stud having a wall stud front face and a wall stud lower end that can be configured to abut the bottom plate, the bottom plate can be configured to extend along and abut a floor, and the wall stud can be configured to extend upwardly from and perpendicular to the floor.
In additional exemplary aspects, a ventilation spacer can include a spacer first side, a spacer second side, a spacer top, a spacer bottom that can be configured to abut the floor, a spacer outer face, and a spacer inner face that can have at least one groove formed therein, such that with the spacer inner face can be configured to abut at least one of the bottom plate front face and the stud front face.
In further exemplary aspects, a span of drywall can have a drywall lower portion that can be configured to abut the spacer top, a drywall outer face, and a drywall inner face that can be configured to abut the wall stud front face.
In another exemplary aspect, a baseboard can have a baseboard inner face configured to abut at least one of the spacer outer face and the drywall outer face.
In still another exemplary aspect, the spacer inner face and at least one of the bottom plate front face and the stud front face can define a first channel extending from the spacer first side to the spacer second side.
In yet another exemplary aspect, the spacer bottom, the floor, and either the bottom plate front face or the baseboard inner face can define another channel extending from the spacer first side to the spacer second side.
In a further exemplary aspect, the spacer bottom can include a convex shape.
In still another exemplary aspect, the spacer outer face can include at least one slot formed therein, and the spacer outer face and the baseboard inner face can define an additional channel extending from the spacer first side to the spacer second side.
The present invention provides a novel ventilated wall system.
It should be noted that this disclosure includes a plurality of embodiments, each having a plurality of elements and aspects, and such elements and aspects need not necessarily be interpreted as being conjunctively required by one or more embodiments of the present invention. Rather, all combinations of all elements and aspects described herein can enable a separate embodiment of the present invention, which may be claimed with particularity in the present document or in one or more future filed Non-Provisional Patent Applications. Moreover, any particular structure, arrangements, shapes, or sizes disclosed herein, whether expressly or implicitly, are to be construed strictly as illustrative and enabling, and not necessarily limiting. Therefore, it is expressly set forth that such structure, arrangement, shapes, and sizes, independently or in any combination of one of more thereof, are merely illustratively representative of one or more elements and/or aspects of one or more embodiments of the present invention and are not to be construed as necessary in a strict sense. Further, elements of the present invention can be formed of any one or more desired materials insofar as functionally consistent with the present invention. For example and not in limitation, exemplary materials can include wood, plastic, rubber, metal, and crystalline, synthetic, or man-made material.
Notably, to the extent the same element or aspect is defined differently anywhere within this disclosure, whether expressly or implicitly, the broader definition is to take absolute precedence, with the distinctions encompassed by the narrower definition to be strictly construed as optional.
Illustratively, perceived benefits of the present invention can include functional utility, whether expressly or implicitly stated herein, or apparent herefrom. However, it is expressly set forth that these benefits are not intended as exclusive. Therefore, any explicit, implicit, or apparent benefit from the disclosure herein is expressly deemed as applicable to the present invention. Exemplary functional utility provided by a ventilated wall system disclosed herein can include a desirable amount of air and/or water flow within such a system.
Referring also to
In an exemplary aspect, spacer inner face 216 can include at least one groove G formed therein, and can be configured to abut bottom plate front face 111, and optionally, wall stud front face 121. In a further exemplary aspect, such a groove G can be configured to extend between spacer first side 211 and spacer second side 212 (see
According to the present invention, ventilation spacer 200 can be provided with any functionally compatible shape desired, such as any one or more geometric and/or irregular shapes, and is not limited to a parallelipiped shape as illustratively shown.
In yet another exemplary aspect, ventilation spacer 200 can include a spacer bottom 214 that can be provided with a convex shape and abut floor 2, as illustrated in
In another exemplary aspect, ventilation spacer 200 can be attached to bottom plate 110 and/or to wall stud 120 via at least one attachment element AE. Optionally, ventilation spacer 200 can be provided with apertures A to facilitate alignment and/or spacing of attachment element AE. It should be noted that the present invention contemplates utilization of any functionally compatible attachment element AE, including but not limited to, a screw, nail, adhesive, clamp, etc.
As further illustrated, drywall 300 can include a drywall lower portion 310 that can be configured to abut spacer top 213, a drywall outer face 320, and a drywall inner face 330 that can be configured to abut wall stud front face 121.
As additionally illustrated, baseboard 400 can include a baseboard inner face 410 that can be configured to abut spacer outer face 215, and optionally, can be configured to abut drywall outer face 320.
As illustrated in
Reference is now made to
According to the present invention, one or more first channels C1 can be defined by spacer inner face 216 and at least one of bottom plate front face 111 and stud front face 121; a second channel C2 can be defined by spacer bottom 214, bottom plate front face 111, and floor 2; a third channel can be defined by spacer bottom 214, floor 2, and baseboard inner face 410; and one or more fourth channels C4 can be defined by spacer outer face 215 and baseboard inner face 410.
In an exemplary aspect, each channel can extend from spacer first side 211 to spacer second side 212, which can desirably allow a gas and/or liquid to flow from one side to the other. Moreover, such channels can expose respective portions of system 1 defining such channels to air flow, which can reduce the risk of trapped moisture therebetween, which in turn can reduce the risk of mold or other fungi growth.
It should be noted that according to the present invention, a groove G or slot S can be provided with any desired one or more shapes and/or sizes insofar as functionally compatible with the present invention.
It will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that the manner of making and using the claimed invention has been adequately disclosed in the above-written and attached description of the exemplary embodiments and aspects of the present invention.
It should be understood, however, that the invention is not necessarily limited to the specific embodiments, aspects, arrangements, and components shown and described above, but may be susceptible to numerous variations within the scope of the invention. For example and not in limitation, to the extent elements of the present system are described herein as abutting other elements, such an abutment can be direct (i.e., element to element contact) or indirect (i.e., an intermediate structure, such as a vapor barrier, disposed therebetween). Therefore, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative and enabling, rather than a restrictive, sense.
Accordingly, it will be understood that the above description of the embodiments of the present invention are susceptible to various modifications, changes, and adaptations, and the same are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalents apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art.
