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Roof ventRelated Patent Categories: Ventilation, Having Both Inlet And Outlet Airways, Natural Ventilation Including Air Passage Through Rooftop (i.e., No Air Pump)Roof vent description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070173191, Roof vent. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application claims the priority benefit under 35 U.S.C. .sctn. 119(e) from provisional application No. 60/726,489, filed Oct. 12, 2005. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] The present invention relates generally to passive ventilation and specifically to roof vents. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] A prior art roof vent is shown in FIG. 1. The roof vent 1 includes a plastic lower member 2 and a plastic vent cap 3 configured to be secured to the lower member 2. The lower member 2 includes a base portion 4 configured to be mounted over an opening of a roof cover of a building. The lower member 2 also includes a closed wall structure 5 consisting of a sloped front wall 6 that faces upward toward the roof ridge, two side walls 7, and a rear wall 8 that together define a vent-opening at the upper end of the wall structure 5. The front wall 6 is sloped in order prevent the build-up of debris above the vent cap 3 and to make the vent 1 more aerodynamic. The walls 7 and 8 are oriented at a substantially right angle with respect to the base portion 4, while the front wall 6 is sloped at approximately a 45.degree. angle with respect to the base portion. A screen 9 is formed across the top of the wall structure 5 by a plurality of substantially parallel chords 10. The base portion 4, wall structure 5, and screen 9 are integrally formed together as one member 2 via plastic molding. [0006] The vent cap 3 includes a cover plate portion 11 and a closed flange structure 12 extending downward from the peripheral edge of the cover plate portion 11. The cover plate portion 11 prevents the ingress of rain from thereabove into the vent-opening defined by the wall structure 5. The closed flange structure 12 consists of a sloped front flange wall 13, side flange walls 14, and a rear flange wall 15. The vent cap 3 includes snap-engagement elements (not shown) that snap into receiving ports 16 in the wall structure 5 of the lower member 2. When the vent cap 3 is engaged on the lower member 2, a gap is formed between the flange walls 14 and 15 of the vent cap 3 and the walls 7 and 8 of the lower member 2. This gap provides a flow path for airflow through the vent 1. There is no gap formed between the sloped wall 6 and the flange wall 13. Like the lower member 2, the cover plate portion 11 and flange structure 12 are integrally formed together as one member 3 via plastic molding. [0007] In use, the vent 1 is mounted over an opening in a roof cover of a building. The vent 1 is configured to allow airflow in two general directions, both upward from below the roof and downward from above the roof. For example, if the vent 1 is installed near the uppermost portions of the roof (e.g., near the roof ridge), then air below the roof (e.g., in an attic of the building) tends to flow up through the vent-opening defined at the top of the wall structure 5, through the screen 9, laterally over the top of the walls 7 and 8, down through the gap between the walls 7, 8 and the flange walls 14, 15, and then underneath the bottom edges of the flange walls 14 and 15 to the region above the roof. On the other hand, if the vent 1 is installed near the lower portions of the roof (e.g., near the eaves), then air above the roof tends to flow down underneath the bottom edges of the flange walls 14 and 15, up through the gap between the walls 7, 8 and the flange walls 14, 15, laterally over the top of the walls 7 and 8, down through the screen 9 and the vent-opening defined at the top wall of the wall structure 5, and down into the region below the roof (e.g., the attic). The top of the vent cap 3 is exposed at the roof. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The present invention provides several improvements to the prior art roof vent 1 shown in FIG. 1. These improvements relate to the ability of the vent to (1) prevent the ingress of water, ice, hail, debris, and the like through the vent, and (2) admit sunlight into the building. [0009] In one aspect, the present invention provides a roof vent comprising a lower member and a vent cap. The lower member comprises a base portion configured to be secured over an opening in a roof cover, a closed wall structure extending upward from the base portion, one or more baffles extending transversely from the wall structure, and a screen. The wall structure defines a vent-opening at an upper end of the wall structure, and the screen covers the vent-opening. The vent cap is secured to the wall structure. The vent cap comprises a cover portion extending over the vent-opening and the screen, and a closed flange extending downward from the cover portion. The cover portion is configured to prevent the flow of water from above the cover portion into the vent-opening. The closed flange surrounds, and extends below the upper end of, the wall structure, such that a gap is formed between the closed flange and the one or more baffles. [0010] In another aspect, the present invention provides a roof vent comprising a lower member and a vent cap. The lower member comprises a base portion configured to be secured over an opening in a roof cover, a closed wall structure extending upward from the base portion, and a screen. The wall structure defines a vent-opening at an upper end of the wall structure, and the screen covers the vent-opening. The vent cap is secured to, and configured to be selectively attached to and detached from, the wall structure. The vent cap comprises a translucent cover portion extending over the vent-opening and the screen, and a substantially opaque, closed flange extending downward from a peripheral edge of the cover portion. The cover portion is configured to prevent the flow of water from above the cover portion into the vent-opening. The closed flange surrounds, and extends below the upper end of, the wall structure, such that a gap is formed between the closed flange and the wall structure. [0011] In another aspect, the present invention provides a roof vent comprising a lower member and a vent cap. The lower member comprises a base portion configured to be secured over an opening in a roof cover, a closed wall structure extending upward from the base portion, and a screen. The wall structure defines a vent-opening at an upper end of the wall structure, and the screen covers the vent-opening. The screen has a plurality of screen-openings, each of the screen-openings having a largest width between 0.125-0.25 inch. The vent cap is secured to the wall structure. The vent cap comprises a cover portion extending over the vent-opening and the screen, and a closed flange extending downward from the cover portion. The cover portion is configured to prevent the flow of water from above the cover portion into the vent-opening. The closed flange surrounds, and extends below the upper end of, the wall structure, such that a gap is formed between the closed flange and the wall structure. [0012] 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 above. 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. [0013] 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. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0014] FIG. 1 is an exploded top, front, perspective view of a prior art two-piece roof vent. [0015] FIG. 2 is an exploded top, front, perspective view of a roof vent in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention. [0016] FIG. 2A is an enlarged view of a portion of a screen of the roof vent of FIG. 2. [0017] FIG. 3 is an exploded bottom, front, perspective view of the roof vent of FIG. 2. [0018] FIG. 4 is an exploded side view of the roof vent of FIG. 2. [0019] FIG. 5 is an exploded front view of the roof vent of FIG. 2. [0020] FIG. 6 is an exploded rear view of the roof vent of FIG. 2. Continue reading about Roof vent... Full patent description for Roof vent Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Roof vent patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. 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