Block wall vent and method

Abstract

A vent is rigidly mounted in a block wall as a substitute for a block to provide venting through the attendant wall. A lintel extends across the top of the vent and is supported by adjacent blocks. Louvered panels are attached about the exterior and interior openings of the vent. The exterior louvered panel accommodates either a flat finish or a stucco finish. The interior louvered panel can accommodate either a flat finish of the wall or a wall finished with sheet rock.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates to wall vents and, more particularly, combustion air wall vents adapted for use with exterior block walls having a flat or a stucco type finish. [0003] 2. Description of Related Prior Art [0004] During the summertime in the southwest United States and in climatologically similar areas, the temperature in an unvented enclosed garage increases to well over 100° F. Such a high temperature may cause damage or deterioration to temperature sensitive items stored or otherwise disposed within such a garage. Moreover, the high temperatures render it very uncomfortable for a person working within the garage. To alleviate this problem, it is not uncommon to install vents in one or more exterior walls of a garage to permit airflow into and out of the garage. [0005] The simplest of such vents is a louvered panel of relatively light weight material nailed or screwed to the exterior surface of a wall ...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0008] A vent is substituted for a block in a block wall to provide ventilation through exterior and interior located louvered panels. Flanges extend from the sides and bottom of the vent for imbedding in the adjacent mortar to retain the vent in place. The exterior louvered panel extends laterally a sufficient distance past the vent to cover the adjacent sections of mortar. Flanges extending from the interior edges of the vent essentially cover the mortar about the interior edge of the vent. The interior louvered panel extends past these flanges and includes a circumscribing lip covering the edges of these flanges. A lintel extends across the top of the vent and is supported by opposed blocks and covered by lintel blocks to prevent crushing of the vent. An inset screen adjacent the interior of the exterior louvered panel prevents intrusion of insects through the vent.

[0009] It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a labor saving easy to install combustion air vent for use with an exterior block wall having either a flat or a stucco finish.

[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide a combustion air vent for an exterior block wall which is impossible to remove without major damage to the exterior wall.

[0014] A yet further object of the present invention is to provide an easily installable combustion air vent for a block wall.

Problems solved by technology

During the summertime in the southwest United States and in climatologically similar areas, the temperature in an unvented enclosed garage increases to well over 100° F. Such a high temperature may cause damage or deterioration to temperature sensitive items stored or otherwise disposed within such a garage.

Moreover, the high temperatures render it very uncomfortable for a person working within the garage.

Existing vents for use with such walls generally fail to accommodate the unique properties attendant the construction of stucco wall surfaces and cause the vent and surrounding stucco to be unsightly and generally unacceptably from an aesthetic viewpoint.

Additionally, sealing the junction between conventional vents and the stucco is of questionable merit and water readily flows therebetween as a result of rain or other wetting of the exterior wall.

As mentioned above, many presently available vents for this purpose are either inadequate as security devices to preclude entry into the garage, are unsightly or compromise the integrity of the exterior wall against intrusion of elements.

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