Shrouded roof vent for a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10093152-B2
Application number	US-201414299903-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 9, 2014
Priority date	Jun 9, 2014
Publication date	Oct 9, 2018
Grant date	Oct 9, 2018

Abstract

An air vent may cover an opening formed in a structure to block water or debris from entering an interior of the structure through the opening. The air vent is movable between a closed and an open position to selectively block or allow fluid communication between the interior and an exterior of the structure.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An air vent comprising:
a cover including a ceiling, the ceiling have an aperture formed therethrough, the cover further including a number of sidewalls extending from the ceiling, the number of sidewalls formed to define a first outlet opening,
a translucent dome secured to the cover and positioned in the aperture formed in the ceiling,
an interior plate coupled to the cover, the interior plate and the cover cooperating to define a damper chamber, the interior plate formed to define a screen-receiving opening that opens into the damper chamber, the first outlet opening opens into the damper chamber, and the screen-receiving opening is transverse to the first outlet opening, and
a damper coupled to the interior plate and positioned in the damper chamber, the damper selectively moveable between a closed position blocking fluid communication through the first outlet opening and an open position allowing fluid communication through the first outlet opening,
wherein the damper includes a first slat and a driver, the first slat is configured to move between a first position covering the first outlet opening when the damper is in the closed position and a second position uncovering the first outlet opening when the damper is in the open position, and the driver is coupled to the first slat and configured to move the first slat between the first and second positions.

2. The air vent of claim 1 , wherein the cover further includes a first outlet coupled to one of the sidewalls to cover the first outlet opening, the first outlet includes an air permeable vent grill removably coupled to the sidewall and a water impermeable awning coupled to the cover and the vent grill, and the awning extends away from the sidewall to block precipitation and debris from entering the first outlet opening.

3. The air vent of claim 2 , wherein the number of sidewalls are formed to define a second outlet opening, the damper includes a second slat, the second slat is configured to move between a first position covering the second outlet opening when the damper is in the closed position and a second position uncovering the second outlet opening when the damper is in the open position.

4. The air vent of claim 3 , wherein the first and second slats are configured to be maintained in a number of positions between the first and second positions.

5. The air vent of claim 3 , wherein the driver is coupled to the second slat and configured to move the second slat between the first and second positions.

6. The air vent of claim 5 , wherein the cover further includes a second outlet coupled to one of the sidewalls to cover the second outlet opening, the second outlet includes an air permeable vent grill removably coupled to the sidewall and a water impermeable awning coupled to the cover and the vent grill, and the awning extends away from the sidewall to block precipitation and debris from entering the second outlet opening.

7. An air vent comprising:
a cover configured to be received in an opening formed in a vehicle, the cover including a continuous ceiling and a number of sidewalls extending downward away from the ceiling, the ceiling and sidewalls cooperating to define an interior region and a plate-receiving opening that opens into the interior region, the cover formed to define a vent opening that opens into the interior region, and wherein the interior region, plate-receiving opening, and the vent opening cooperate to define a passage for air to communicate between an interior and an exterior of the vehicle,
a plate positioned in the plate receiving opening, the plate including a central opening and at least one peripheral opening, and
a damper positioned in the interior region, the damper selectively moveable between a closed position blocking fluid communication through the vent opening and an open position allowing fluid communication through the vent opening, wherein when the damper is in the closed position, through the interior region between the central opening and the at least one peripheral opening,
wherein the damper includes a first slat and a driver, the first slat is configured to move between a first position covering the first outlet opening when the damper is in the closed position and a second position uncovering the first outlet opening when the damper is in the open position, and the driver is coupled to the first slat and configured to move the first slat between the first and second positions.

8. The air vent of claim 7 , wherein the cover further includes a first outlet coupled to one of the sidewalls to cover the first outlet opening, the first outlet includes an air permeable vent grill removably coupled to the sidewall and a water impermeable awning coupled to the cover and the vent grill, and the awning extends away from the sidewall to block precipitation and debris from entering the first outlet opening.

9. The air vent of claim 8 , wherein the wherein the slat includes a guide that engages with the opening to position the slat when the damper is in the closed position.

10. The air vent of claim 9 , wherein the damper further includes a gasket that is positioned adjacent the guide, the gasket positioned between a surface of the slat and the sidewall to provide a seal.

11. The air vent of claim 10 , wherein when the damper is in the closed position, the surface of the slat is spaced apart from the sidewall.

12. The air vent of claim 11 , wherein the slat is formed to include a stand-off that engages the plate when the damper is in the fully opened position.

13. The air vent of claim 8 , wherein the number of sidewalls are formed to define a second outlet opening, the damper includes a second slat, the second slat is configured to move between a first position covering the second outlet opening when the damper is in the closed position and a second position uncovering the second outlet opening when the damper is in the open position.

14. The air vent of claim 13 , wherein the first and second slats are configured to be maintained in a number of positions between the first and second positions.

15. The air vent of claim 13 , wherein the driver is coupled to the second slat and configured to move the second slat between the first and second positions.

16. The air vent of claim 15 , wherein the cover further includes a second outlet coupled to one of the sidewalls to cover the second outlet opening, the second outlet includes an air permeable vent grill removably coupled to the sidewall and a water impermeable awning coupled to the cover and the vent grill, and the awning extends away from the sidewall to block precipitation and debris from entering the second outlet opening.

17. The air vent of claim 13 , wherein the slat includes a guide that engages with the opening to position the slat when the damper is in the closed position.

18. The air vent of claim 17 , wherein the damper further includes a gasket that is positioned adjacent the guide, the gasket positioned between a surface of the slat and the sidewall to provide a seal.

19. The air vent of claim 18 , wherein when the damper is in the closed position, the surface of the slat is spaced apart from the sidewall.

20. The air vent of claim 19 , wherein the slat is formed to include a stand-off that engages the plate when the damper is in the fully opened position.

Assignees

• Dometic Sweden Ab

Inventors

• Allard James
• Smith Mark L
• Sunkara Hari

Classifications

• B60H1/262 Primary

  Openings in or on the vehicle roof · CPC title

• B60H1/00364

  for caravans or trailers · CPC title