Vent component

Abstract

A vent component (100) having a body (102) with a front face (106) and a rear side for fiƫting over and / or into an opening on one side of an aperture (130) in a planar extent (128), the vent component including an at least first longitudinal slot (104), open between the front face (106) and the rear side, for allowing fluid flow therethrough, wherein the vent component (100) is configured to form part of a vent system, the vent system comprising a first such vent component (100) and a second such vent component (100'), and wherein, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component (100) and the second such vent component (100') are aligned so as to include a circumferential gap (134) formed between the rear side of the first such vent component (100) and the rear side of the second such vent component (100').

Description

VENT COMPONENTFIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to vents for facilitating fluid flow, particularly air flow between spaces separated by, for example, a door, a wall, and other structural features. The vent of the present invention may be used in many applications such as in buildings, vehicles, and in other circumstances.

[0002] In embodiments, the invention relates to vents that can be fitted into a planar object, such as a door.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Vents are used in buildings, vehicles, and in other circumstances to facilitating air flow. Generally, the air flow is between one space and another space within the building, vehicle or other circumstances, or the vent may also facilitate air flow between an inside space and outside of the building, vehicle or other circumstance.

[0004] Some vents are used as an entry to a space to supply warmed or cooled air from an air conditioning unit outside of the space. In one example, the air conditioning unit is outside of a residential building and the conditioned air is impelled through ducting into a room or multiple rooms inside the residence, and the conditioned air enters the room or rooms from the ducting via a vent.

[0005] In other examples, a vent may be used to assist with air pressure and / or air temperature equilibration between two adjacent spaces. For example, a vent may be situated between two rooms in a building to allow air to flow from one room to an adjacent room. The vent can be formed to favour air flow between the rooms in one direction, that is, from a first room to a second room; or the vent can be formed to allow air to move between the rooms in both directions, that is, with equal favour from the first room to the second room and from the second room to the first room.

[0006] Previously, in some circumstances, if air flow was desired between two spaces in a building, one option was to allow greater air flow under a door. This often required removing a door from its hinges and cutting off a lower section of the door, then reattaching the shortened door to its hinges. This approach suffers two immediate issues: the difficulty of removing, cutting, andremounting the door; and the undesired appearance of a larger gap under the door than would have appeared without such a venting gap being formed.

[0007] In other examples, a section of the lower part of the door was cut out, with a vent frame and vent inserted to the newly formed gap. Again, this process requires removal of the door from its hinges and reattachment after installation of a vent. Further, the appearance of a vent at the bottom of a door may be undesirable. An example of such a door vent is shown in US Patent 8,662,971 B2 (Warner). Such modifications to a door can affect the structural integrity of the door as there is little support for the door structure left at the sides of the vent, and there is no door structure at the bottom of the vent. The lack of structural integrity can cause the effective life of the door to be reduced.

[0008] An alternative solution to cutting the door to form a larger gap at the bottom thereof is to fit a vent into a higher position in the door. This requires forming an aperture in the door into which a vent can be fitted. However, previous vents used in such circumstances have a few problems. One such problem is the difficulty in fitting the vent into the aperture. This usually requires some sort of frame assembly, along with a vent insertion. This approach to installing a vent can be fiddly, cumbersome, and can result in badly fitted vents. In other designs, a vent may be provided with two sides, each side to be inserted from a respective side of the aperture formed in the door. However, such designs have a disadvantage of requiring at least two distinct and different components to be supplied that will interoperate to form an assembled vent, which significantly increases cost of manufacture, results in a more complex design and fitting, and makes for a more expensive product that may be more difficult to fit properly into the aperture in the door. It will be understood that the previous vents could be used in other applications, such as installing venting in walls, ceilings, floors and in other locations, and it will be understood that the same or similar disadvantages apply.

[0009] Previous vent designs often have an issue with lack of privacy. The slots in some such vents allow an almost straight through view from one side of the vent to the other. This may be problematic where there is a desire for privacy between two spaces connected by a vent. Other vent designs may have prevented straight through viewing possibilities, but would still allow for cameras to be readily used to spy through the slots in the vent.

[0010] A further issue with vents is unwanted sound transmission. By their nature, vents require gaps or slots for transmission of air or other fluids. However, such slots incur the problem of allowing sound to readily travel therethrough. Some vents have attempted to mitigate sound propagation, but these have required complex designs, expensive additional components, and / orunsightly externally located baffling. Often the means employed to attenuate sound transmission through a vent has resulted in substantial, often unacceptable, reduction in airflow through the vent. Further, many of the previous attempts at sound attenuation have not been effective enough to stop undesired noises being transmitted between spaces, such as from a bathroom into a hallway or other part of a building.

[0011] Yet another disadvantage with some vent designs is that the vent or components thereof are connected in such a way as to facilitate sound transmission via vibrations which are carried through the structure of the vent and / or its components. This is typically because such vents are designed with too much connected structure from one side of the vent opening in to a first space to the other side of the vent opening to a second space. Further, such connectedness in the structure of a vent and / or its components can result in greater thermal transmission from one side of the vent opening in to a first space to the other side of the vent opening to a second space.

[0012] It is an aim for the present invention to overcome and / or ameliorate one or more of the above-mentioned problems and / or disadvantages present in previous vent designs, or to overcome and / or ameliorate problems and / or disadvantages present in previous vent designs which have not been mentioned above.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0013] In a first aspect, the present invention provides vent component having a body with a front face and a rear side for fitting over and / or into an opening on one side of an aperture in a planar extent, the vent component comprising an at least first longitudinal slot, open between the front face and the rear side, for allowing fluid flow therethrough, wherein the vent component is configured to form part of a vent system, the vent system comprising a first such vent component and a second such vent component, and wherein, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component and the second such vent component are aligned so as to include a circumferential gap formed between the rear side of the first such vent component and the rear side of the second such vent component.

[0014] In a second aspect, the present invention provides a vent component having a body with a front face and a rear for fitting over and / or into an opening on one side of an aperture in a planar extent, the vent component comprising: an at least first longitudinal slot, open between the front face and the rear side, for allowing fluid flow therethrough, wherein the vent component is configured to form part of a vent system, the vent system comprising a first such vent component and a second such vent component, wherein, when formed as the vent system, the second suchvent component is rotated, with respect to the first such vent component, substantially through 180° around a notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the second vent component body such that the rear side of the first such vent component and the rear side of the second such vent component face each other, and wherein, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component and the second such vent component are aligned such that each at least first longitudinal slot of the first such vent component is offset from a notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system and such that each respective at least first longitudinal slot of the second such vent component is offset from the notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system, and such that the offset of the each at least first longitudinal slot of the first such vent component is, with respect to the notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system, diametrically opposite the offset of the each at least first longitudinal slot of the second such vent component.

[0015] In a third aspect, the present invention provides a vent system comprising a first vent component and a second vent component, each of the first vent component and the second vent component according to the above first and second aspects.SUMMARY OF SOME OPTIONAL EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0016] In embodiments of the first aspect, when formed as the vent system, the second such vent component is rotated, with respect to the first such vent component, substantially through 180° around a notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the second vent component body such that the rear side of the first such vent component and the rear side of the second such vent component face each other.

[0017] In other embodiments of the first aspect, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component and the second such vent component are aligned such that each at least first longitudinal slot of the first such vent component is offset from a notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system and such that each respective at least first longitudinal slot of the second such vent component is offset from the notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system, and such that the offset of the each at least first longitudinal slot of the first such vent component is, with respect to the notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system, diametrically opposite the offset of the each at least first longitudinal slot of the second such vent component.

[0018] In embodiments of the second aspect, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component and the second such vent component are aligned so as to include a circumferential gapformed between the rear side of the first such vent component and the rear side of the second such vent component.

[0019] In embodiments of any aspect, the at least first longitudinal slot includes first and second longitudinal slots.

[0020] In other embodiments of any aspect, the at least first longitudinal slot includes first, second, and third longitudinal slots.

[0021] In further embodiments of any aspect, the at least first longitudinal slot includes first, second, third, and fourth longitudinal slots.

[0022] In yet other embodiments of any aspect, the vent component further comprises an at least first channel at the rear side, each at least first channel adjacent its respective at least first longitudinal slot.

[0023] In yet further embodiments of any aspect, the vent component further comprises at least one fastener for fastening the vent component to the planar extent.

[0024] In embodiments of any aspect, the vent component further comprises at least one fastener wherein, when formed as the vent system, the at least one fastener fastens the first such vent component with the second such vent component.

[0025] In other embodiments of any aspect, the at least one fastener includes a nub with a hole to receive any one of a screw, a bolt, a pin, or a nail.

[0026] In further embodiments of any aspect, the vent component further comprises at least one fastener wherein, when formed as the vent system, the at least one fastener includes a protrusion and hole to receive the protrusion, and wherein the protrusion is on the first such vent component and the hole is on the second such vent component, or wherein the protrusion is on the second such vent component and the hole is on the first such vent component.

[0027] In yet other embodiments of any aspect, the protrusion and hole are secured by one of: friction fit and a barbed arrangement.

[0028] In yet further embodiments of any aspect, when formed as the vent system, there is a gap between the first such vent component and the second such vent component.

[0029] In further embodiments of any aspect, the gap or circumferential gap is formed to be from approximately 1 millimeter to approximately 5 millimeters wide.

[0030] In yet further embodiments of any aspect, the gap or circumferential gap is formed to be from approximately 1 millimeter to approximately 30 millimeters wide.

[0031] In further embodiments of any aspect, the gap or circumferential gap is formed to be from approximately 1 millimeter to approximately 50 centimeters wide.

[0032] In further embodiments of any aspect, the gap or circumferential gap is formed to be from approximately 1 millimeter to approximately 1 meter wide.

[0033] In further embodiments of any aspect, the gap or circumferential gap is formed so as to allow for sound waves to transmit from the vent system to a space within the planar extent. In some such embodiments, the planar extent has baffling or some similar sound attenuating substance in an inner space of the planar extent, which may have the effect of assisting in attenuation of sound being transmitted between spaces connected by the vent system due to some of the sound waves being transmitted into the baffling of the inner space of the planar extent. In some other such embodiments, the space of the planar extent will comprise a hollow space, which may have the effect of assisting in attenuation of sound being transmitted between spaces connected by the vent system due to some of the sound waves being transmitted into the hollow of the inner space of the planar extent. Without being limited by theory, the structure of the vent components and the resulting vent system, when installed in a suitable planar extent (for example, a door), may have the benefit of allowing relatively efficient flow of air through the vent system, while allowing for at least some attenuation of sound transmitted through the vent system. It is envisaged that, in embodiments of any aspect, the vent components and resulting vent system will be formed to attempt maximisation of the air flow through the vent system whilst minimising sound transmission through the vent system.

[0034] In embodiments of any aspect, the vent component further includes at least one sound attenuator.

[0035] In other embodiments of any aspect, each at least one sound attenuator is located in a respective at least first channel.

[0036] In further embodiments of any aspect, each at least one sound attenuator comprises a strip of foam and / or a strip of vinyl.

[0037] In yet further embodiments of any aspect, the vent component further comprises struts for structural reinforcement, each strut located along a respective at least first longitudinal slot.

[0038] In embodiments of any aspect, the planar extent is any one of a door, a wall, a floor, a ceiling, a roof, or a window.

[0039] In other embodiments of any aspect, the fluid is air.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0040] At least one embodiment of the invention will be described with reference to the following, non-limiting illustrations representing the at least one embodiment of the present invention, in which:

[0041] Figure 1 is a front perspective view of a vent component having a single slot;

[0042] Figure 2 is a rear perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 1;

[0043] Figure 3 is an exploded perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 1, with another like vent component initiating the formation of a vent system;

[0044] Figure 4 is a side sectional view of a vent component, similar to that shown in Figure 1, with another like vent component forming a vent system located in an aperture in a planar extent (in this example, a door);

[0045] Figure 5 is the same side sectional view as that shown in Figure 4 with an example substantially S-shaped fluid flow shown with a two-headed arrow;

[0046] Figure 6 is the same side sectional view as that shown in Figure 4 with an example sound transmission through the vent system shown along various paths, with transmission of some sound into an inner space of the door;

[0047] Figure 7 is a front perspective view of a vent component having a multiple slots, each slot spaced along one of two longitudinal axes of the vent component;

[0048] Figure 8 is a rear perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 7;

[0049] Figure 9 is an exploded perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 7, with another like vent component initiating the formation of a vent system;

[0050] Figure 10 is a side sectional view of a vent component, similar to that shown in Figure 1, with another like vent component forming a vent system located in an aperture in a planar extent (in this example, a door), also showing additional sound attenuators installed with the vent system;

[0051] Figure 11 is a similar side sectional view as that shown in Figure 10 with an example substantially S-shaped fluid flow shown with three two-headed arrows;

[0052] Figure 12 is a similar side sectional view as that shown in Figure 10 with an example sound transmission through the vent system shown along various paths shown with multiple two-headed arrows. Not shown in Figure 12 is transmission of some sound into an inner space of the door;

[0053] Figure 13 is a front perspective view of an alternative arrangement, which may be referred to as a tiling, of three vent components as shown in Figure 7;

[0054] Figure 14 is a front perspective view of another alternative arrangement, which may be referred to as a tiling, of six vent components as shown in Figure 7;

[0055] Figure 15 is a front perspective view of a vent component having a three slots;

[0056] Figure 16 is a rear perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 15;

[0057] Figure 17 is a perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 15, with another like vent component forming a vent system, having a circumferential gap between the two vent components;

[0058] Figure 18 is a reverse perspective view of the vent system shown in Figure 17;

[0059] Figure 19 is a front view of a double door showing two slightly different vent components in a tiling, each vent component having three slots, the vent components being similar to that shown in Figure 15;

[0060] Figure 20 is a side sectional view of a vent component, similar to that shown in Figure 15, with another like vent component forming a vent system located in an aperture in a planar extent (in this example, a door);

[0061] Figure 21 is the same side sectional view shown in Figure 20 with example substantially S- shaped fluid flows through the vent system shown with two-headed arrows;

[0062] Figure 22 is an exploded perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 15 with sound attenuation means provided by a combination of foam and vinyl strips;

[0063] Figure 23 is a perspective view of the vent component shown in Figure 15 with sound attenuation means provided by a combination of foam and vinyl strips, where the foam and vinyl strips are shown in cut away for easier viewing;

[0064] Figure 24 is a side sectional view of a vent component, similar to that shown in Figure 15, with another like vent component forming a vent system located in an aperture in a planar extent (in this example, a door), the vent components each including sound attenuation means provided by a combination of foam and vinyl strips; and,

[0065] Figure 25 is the same side sectional view shown in Figure 24 with a partially exemplified sound transmission shown along various paths between the two topmost slots of each vent component, including an indication that some of the sound transmission is directed into an inner space of the door through the circumferential gap formed between the two vent components.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF SOME EMBODIMENTS

[0066] Figure 1 shows an embodiment of a vent component 100 in accordance with the present invention. The vent component 100 has a vent body 102 in which there is located first, second, and third apertures or slots 104. The vent component 100 has a face 106 around which is a lip 108.Above the slots 104 (presuming a particular orientation of the vent component), on the face 106 of the vent body 102 is a first longitudinal face section 110, and below the slots 104 is a second longitudinal face section 112. The vent component 100 also has a rear projecting protrusion 114, which is shaped to be inserted into an aperture that may be formed in a planar extent (such as a door, a wall, or other objects or structures, not shown in Figure 1). Along the rear projecting protrusion 114 is a rear longitudinal channel 116.

[0067] In some embodiments, the rear projecting protrusion 114 may have castellations 118 (not shown or not visible in Figure 1, as they are on the rear side of the vent component 100). The castellations are thought to provide some advantages with sound attenuation, though this has not been demonstrated with certainty.

[0068] Vent component 100 has struts 120 between the slots 104. In some embodiments, the material used to manufacture the vent component may benefit from such struts to provide structural integrity.

[0069] Not shown in Figure 1, due to being located on the rear side of the vent component 100 are fastener nubs 122, each having a hole into which a fastener can be placed to either affix the vent component to a part of the planar extent or affix two vent components with each other.

[0070] The vent component 100 may be used with another such vent component 100' (as shown in Figure 2) to form a vent system (as shown in Figures 3, 4, 5, and 6). For clarity, this specification refers to a first vent component and a second vent component being used together to form a vent system. It will also be understood that a vent system may comprise a number of first vent components and matched number and placement of second vent components.

[0071] In embodiments, the two vent components are the same shape as each other, and the vent system is formed, in part, by rotating one of the vent components (say, the second vent component) 180° around a notional central axis of that second vent component such that the rotated second vent component is "upside down" with respect to the other first vent component which has not been rotated, and the rear side of the first vent component is facing the rear side of the second vent component. For simplicity, in this specification, the orientating of the vent components with respect to each other to, in part, form a vent system will be referred to as "rotating the second vent component with respect to the first vent component". Reference is also to be made to the Figures, which show how the rotation of the vent components is to be effected.

[0072] The vent system is further formed, in some embodiments, by placing each first and the second (rotated) vent component into respective openings on the ends of an aperture formed in a planar extent (as shown in Figures 4, 5, and 6). For example, the aperture may be a substantially rectangular hole through a door. Each vent component may then be affixed to the planar extent, or may be affixed to each other (or both these means of affixing can be employed), so as to hold each vent component in place in the aperture of the planar extent.

[0073] In embodiments, an advantage of having an arrangement of two same vent components with one vent component rotated with respect to the other vent component to form a vent system is that the slot(s) in one vent is (are) offset from the corresponding slot(s) in the other vent. This offset, in embodiments, leads to better privacy as a person on one side of the vent system is unable to readily see through to the other side of the vent system. Such privacy may be particularly valued in some circumstances, such as in bathrooms.

[0074] In embodiments, yet another advantage of having two vent components being the same and operable to form a vent system is a saving in production costs. At least many other vent systems require a minimum of two different vent components to be manufactured, thus leading to higherproduction costs. An advantage of embodiments of the present invention is that a single mould may be used to produce both component vents for a vent system. This advantage is multiplied in circumstances where there may be multiple vent components on both sides of a vent system (tiled vents), where all the components are the same.

[0075] Figure 2 shows the rear side of a second vent component 100', which is the same shape as the first vent component 100 shown in Figure 1. Similarly to the first vent component 100 of Figure 1, this exemplified second vent component 100' has a vent body 102' in which there is located first, second, and third apertures or slots 104'. The second vent component 100' has a face 106' (not shown in Figure 2) around which is a lip 108'. Above the slots 104' (presuming a particular orientation of the vent component), on the face 106' of the vent body 102' is a first longitudinal face section 110', and below the slots 104' is a second longitudinal face section (these face sections are not shown in Figure 2). The second vent component 100' also has a rear projecting protrusion 114', which is shaped to be inserted into the opposite side of an aperture in a planar extent from the side that the first vent component 100 is inserted. Along the rear projecting protrusion 114' is a rear longitudinal channel 116'.

[0076] The rear projecting portion 114' of the second vent component 100' has castellations 118' located at a top and bottom side of the rear projecting portion (as described above in relation to the first vent component 100). Also shown in Figure 2 are fastener nubs 122' (as described above in relation to the first vent component 100). The second vent component 100' has struts 120' between the slots 104'.

[0077] Figure 3 shows the first vent component 100 and the second vent component 100', wherein the second vent component is rotated with respect to the first vent component. As can be readily seen in Figure 3, the second vent component 100' may be said to be "upside down" compared to the first vent component 100, with the rear sides of each vent component facing each other.

[0078] Also shown in Figure 3 are fasteners 124. In this example embodiment, the fasteners are employed to secure the first and second vent components to each other. As demonstrated in Figure 3, two fasteners are placed through apertures (not shown in Figure 3) in the first vent component 100, and moved into holes in the fastener nubs 122' of the second vent component 100'. Similarly, two other fasteners are placed through apertures (not shown in Figure 3) in the second vent component 100', and moved into holes in the fastener nubs 122 of the first vent component 100.

[0079] It will be understood that, by affixing the vent components 100, 100' to each other with sufficient force (after fastening), the vent components can also be held to each side of an aperture (shown in dashed lines between the first and second vent components in Figure 3) formed in a planar extent, such as a door.

[0080] The fasteners may be screws, nails, bolts, barbed fasteners, or any other suitable fasteners.

[0081] In other embodiments, the fasteners may be formed on the vent components. In such embodiments, the fasteners may comprise a barbed protrusion that projects rearwardly from one vent component, and are designed to fit into a corresponding hole located in the other vent component, so as to affix the two vent components to each other. Such fasteners may use barbed projections, friction fitted projections and holes, or any other form of fastening suitable for the purpose.

[0082] In yet other embodiments, the vent components may be fastened to the planar extent, rather than being affixed to each other. In some embodiments, there may be both fastening of the vent components to each other and additional fastening of each vent component to the planar extent.

[0083] Also shown in Figure 3 is sound attenuation means 126 and 126', respectively placed in the rear longitudinal channels 116 and 116' of the first vent component 100 and the second vent component 100'. In one embodiment, the sound attenuation means 116, 116' is formed from foam or a like material. However, it is contemplated that any suitable material can be employed to provide sound attenuation, including materials suited specifically for sound attenuation, such as some acoustic foams.

[0084] Figure 4 shows the first vent component 100 and the second vent component 100' affixed to each other and placed in an aperture 130 in a door 128 (the exemplified planar extent). The door has an inner space, which may comprise a hollow space or may be filled with a material 132 (an inner filling), which is suitable to at least partially attenuate sound.

[0085] Also shown in Figure 4 is a gap (or circumferential gap) between the respective rear projecting protrusions 114, 114' of the first and second vent components 100, 100'. In some doors, which have a thickness of approximately 35 millimeters, the circumferential gap may be in the order of approximately 1 millimeter to approximately 3 millimeters. However, in some embodiments, the size of the circumferential gap should be at least suitable to allow some sound that is transmitted into the space between the vent components to be transmitted through openings 134 between thetwo vent components into the inner space of the door (or other planar extent). The openings 134 are present as part of the circumferential gap (or other type of gap) between the two vent components 100, 100', when the vent components are placed in the aperture 130 of the door 128.

[0086] Without being limited by theory, it is thought that the size of the circumferential gap (which also affects the size of the openings 134) will determine, to some extent, the frequency / frequencies (inversely, the wave amplitude(s)) of the sound passing through the vent system which is able to be transmitted through the openings 134 into the inner space of the door 128 and into the hollow of the inner space or into the material 132 therein. This will then, to some extent, affect which frequencies of sound are most likely attenuated by the vent system as this sound passes through at least one of the vent components.

[0087] Figure 5 shows a vent system similar to that shown in Figure 4, formed from two vent components 100, 100', and placed in an aperture 130 formed in a door 128. Figure 5 also shows a putative and exemplary path of airflow indicated by two-headed arrow 136 from one space in or around a structure (such as a bedroom in a house) to another space in or around that structure (such as a hallway in that house) through the vent system. It will be understood that airflow is not always laminar, so that the path of air travel may be different from that indicated by the two-headed arrow 136 in Figure 5. However, it is thought that, in many if not most circumstances, the airflow will follow at least a similar path as indicated in Figure 5.

[0088] Figure 6 is a similar view to that shown in Figure 5, but which shows putative and exemplary sound transmission through the vent system. As can be seen towards the top and bottom of the vent system, some of the sound 144 is transmitted from the vent system through the openings 134 into the inner space of the door 128, to be at least partially attenuated by the material 132 in the inner space.

[0089] To provide some indication of attenuation, the sound transmitted into the aperture 104 of the first vent component 100 is shown as a large amplitude 138 (unattenuated wave), the sound is attenuated (140) after partially reflecting from the foam 126' of the second vent component 100'. The sound is then further attenuated after partially reflecting from the foam 126 of the first vent component 100, thus passing out of the aperture 104' of the second vent component 100' as a twice attenuated sound 142.

[0090] It will be understood that sound waves travelling from the second vent component 100' side of the door 128 to the first vent component 100 side of the door will be similarly attenuated when travelling in an opposite direction to the sound attenuation described above.

[0091] As depicted in Figure 6, providing two means of sound attenuation (the foam 126, 126' and the openings 134 between the vent components into the inner space of the door 128) produces an additive sound dampening effect, which may be of some advantage when having a vent between two spaces in and / or surrounding a structure.

[0092] Figure 7 shows yet another embodiment of a vent component 200 (a first vent component), having a vent body 202, apertures (slots) 204 through the vent body, a face 206 of the vent component 200, and a lip 208 around the vent body 202. Above the slots 204 (presuming a particular orientation of the vent component 200), on the face 206 of the vent body 202 is a first longitudinal face section 210, and below the slots 204 is a second longitudinal face section 212.

[0093] Similarly to the vent component 100 depicted in Figure 1, the vent component 200 of Figure 7 has what may be described as a rear longitudinal channel 216. However, the vent component 200 of Figure 7 does not have what might be described as a rear projecting protrusion such as the rear projecting protrusion 114 of the vent component 100 shown in Figure 1. It will be understood that the feature described as a rear longitudinal channel 216 is a place on the rear side of the vent component 200 in which or on which to place a sound attenuating material such as foam.

[0094] Below the slots 204 on the vent component 200 are what may look like other slots; however, these are design feature patterns on the face 206 and do not constitute apertures from the front to the rear of the vent component.

[0095] Figure 8 shows a second vent component 200' (rotated with respect to the first vent component 200, as shown in Figure 7), which has all the same features, such as a vent body 202', apertures 204', a face 206', a lip 208', and a first longitudinal face section 210' and a second longitudinal face section 212'. Figure 8 also shows six fastener nubs 222' which each have a hole therein to accept a fastener (not shown in Figure 8).

[0096] It will be noted that the slots shown in the vent components 200, 200' of Figures 7 and 8, each have a rear facing trough-like formation. This is thought to perhaps improve airflow through the vent system in some circumstances, though this has not been definitively demonstrated.

[0097] Figure 9 shows an example of a first vent component 200 and a second like vent component 200' (rotated with respect to the first vent component) in an initial step of forming a vent system by being moved towards each other on opposite sides of an aperture (shown as a dashed line rectangular shape between the vent components) in a planar extent, such as a door (not shown in Figure 9).

[0098] Figure 9 also depicts fasteners 124, three of which pass through holes in the first vent component 200 to secure it to the second vent component 200', when the fasteners are placed into the fastener nubs 222' located on the second vent component 200'. Similarly, another three fasteners 124 are passed through holes in the second vent component 200' into the fastener nubs 222 (not shown in Figure 9) of the first vent component 200.

[0099] It will be appreciated that, for design aesthetics, the fasteners may be substantially hidden from view from most viewing angles from in front of each vent component. This arrangement provides what may be described as a sleeker or less industrial look to the vent components and the vent system.

[0100] Figure 10 shows a vent system comprising a first vent component 200 and a second vent component 200' (rotated with respect to the first vent component), with each vent component placed into respective opposite sides of an aperture of a door 128.

[0101] The form of the vent components 200, 200' in Figure 10 allows for larger openings 234 into the inner space of the door 128 than the openings depicted in, for example, Figure 6 showing a first described embodiment of vent components 100, 100'. This may allow for larger wave lengths of a sound to be passed into the inner space of the door 128 to be at least partially attenuated by the material 231 in the inner space. Figure 10 also shows foam sound attenuation 226 in the form of elongate triangular cross-section wedges.

[0102] Figure 11 is similar to Figure 10, and shows possible example airflow paths between the vent components 200, 200', as depicted by the three two-headed arrows.

[0103] Figure 12 is similar to Figure 11, and shows possible example sound paths through the vent system. The foam wedges 226 are for attenuating the sound (at least for some frequencies) that travels through the vent system. The triangular cross-section shape of the elongate foam wedges 226 is thought to also improve airflow through the vent system.

[0104] It will be understood that, generally, when providing a greater amount of sound attenuation, the airflow may be impeded, thus reducing airflow through the vent system. This will not always be desired. Accordingly, it envisaged that, in different embodiments, the amount of sound attenuation will be adjusted according to desires or needs in different circumstances. For example, for a bathroom door vent, it may be desirable to attenuate sound more than it is desired to have greater airflow, and so more sound attenuation can be provided. In such an example, it may be desirable to provide larger wedges than those depicted in Figure 12. Alternatively, it may be desiredto provide a larger number of wedges (and, perhaps, wedges of different shapes) in other parts of the space formed by the vent system in the aperture of the door.

[0105] Not depicted in Figure 12 are sound paths through the openings 134, 234 into the inner space 132 of the door 128. However, it will be understood that the configuration shown in Figure 12 allows for this so as to further attenuate the sound traveling through the vent system, much like embodiments of the invention described elsewhere in this specification.

[0106] Figure 13 shows another possible configuration of vent components 200 in a tiled formation, consisting of three same shaped vent components arranged in a vertical column.

[0107] Figure 14 shows yet another possible configuration of vent components 200 in a tiled formation, consisting of six same shaped vent components arranged in a two by three grid.

[0108] In a further embodiment, the tiled vent components could be made as modular units of two, three, four, or more vent components formed together. The modular units could be a column of vent components formed together (somewhat like the three individual vent components depicted in Figure 13, but instead of being made individually, the column is formed as a single modular unit). Alternatively, the modular units could be a row of vent components formed together. In another alternative arrangement, the modular unit could be a grid or matrix of vent components formed together (somewhat like the six individual vent components depicted in Figure 14, but instead of being made individually, the 2x3 matrix is formed as a single modular unit).

[0109] Figure 15 shows another embodiment of a vent component 10 (a first vent component of a vent system), having a vent body 12, and having a first aperture (or slot) 14, a second aperture (or slot) 16, and a third aperture (or slot) 18. The vent component 10 also has a face 20, a lip 22 around the body 12, along with a first longitudinal facial section 24, a second longitudinal facial section 26, and intermediate longitudinal facial sections 28, which are located, respectively, between the apertures 14 and 16, and 16 and 18. Midway along each aperture is a strut 32, included for structural integrity of the vent component 10.

[0110] Not shown in Figure 15 is a rear projecting protrusion 30 of the first vent component 10. However, this feature is depicted in later Figures 16 to 18 and 20 to 25.

[0111] Figure 16 shows a rear view of the vent component 10 of Figure 15. This view shows a rear projecting protrusion 30, along with fastener holes and nubs 46 towards each corner of the rear projecting protrusion 30. The rear projecting protrusion has castellations (40), and first 34, second36, and intermediate 38 rear longitudinal channels formed therein. The rear longitudinal channels are formed to accept sound attenuating materials (not shown in Figure 16).

[0112] Figure 17 shows a first vent component 10 and a second vent component 10' placed in position so as to form (or partly form) a vent system. The vent components 10, 10' are affixed to each other with fasteners 44.

[0113] There is a circumferential gap 42 formed between the rear projecting protrusion 30 of the first vent component 10 and the rear projecting protrusion 30' of the second vent component 10'. As previously described for other embodiments, the gap 44 allows for sound attenuation by permitting some parts of a sound travelling through the vent system to transmit into an inner space of a planar extent, such as a door, in which the vent system is placed when assembled.

[0114] Figure 18 shows a revers view of the vent system as shown in Figure 17.

[0115] It can be seen in Figures 17 and 18 that the first longitudinal facial sections 24, 24' are wider than their respective second longitudinal facial section 26, 26'. This width difference allows for the respective apertures (slots) in the two vent components 10, 10' to be offset from each other when the second vent component 10' is rotated with respect to the first vent component 10, whilst maintaining an apparent symmetry of the faces 20, 20' of the vent component bodies 12, 12'. In other embodiments, the first longitudinal facial sections 24, 24' are of equal width to their respective second longitudinal facial section 26, 26'.

[0116] Figure 19 shows an example embodiment of two different form vent components in a tiled arrangement (one above the other), with the tiled arrangement provided to both doors in a double door throughway. A careful examination of the two vent components, one above the other in each door, shows that the top vent component has a thinner second longitudinal facial section than the second longitudinal facial section of the bottom vent component. This unevenness in the second longitudinal facial sections provides for an overall symmetry in the tiled vent component arrangement, which may be a pleasing design feature.

[0117] Figure 20 shows the first and second vent components 10, 10' affixed to each other when placed in an aperture (54, see Figure 25) of a door 48. As can be readily seen in Figure 20, the arrangement of the vent components 10, 10' leaves a circumferential gap 42, which opens into the inner space of the door (in this example, having an inner filling 50), through openings 134 (top) and 234 (bottom).

[0118] Figure 21 shows putative example substantially S-shaped airflow paths depicted by two- headed arrows 56, 58, 60, 62, and 64 between the spaces in or around a structure in which the planar extent (a door in this example) is located. It will be understood that the airflow may take many other different paths through the vent system 10, 10'.

[0119] In Figure 22, there is depicted an example embodiment of sound attenuating means 66, which comprises first sound attenuation components 68 (lengths of foam), and second sound attenuation components 70 (strips of vinyl). It is thought that there may be many materials and combinations of material that can contribute to sound attenuation whilst allowing for a maximising of airflow through the vent system (given the desire to attenuate sound).

[0120] Figure 23 shows the sound attenuating means 66 situated in the vent component 10, with the lengths of foam 68 and strips of vinyl 70 shown in cutaway views to more clearly demonstrate the arrangement of the sound attenuating means 66 in the first 34, second 36, and intermediate 38 rear longitudinal channels.

[0121] Figure 24 is a similar view to that shown in Figure 20, with the sound attenuating means 66 in place.

[0122] Figure 25 shows an example path of sound moving through the vent system, with louder sound 72 entering through a slot in a vent component, being partially reflected off a length of foam to be partially attenuated 74, and being partially reflected off another length of foam to be further attenuated 76. Figure 25 also shows some sound 78 transmitting through the circumferential gap at openings 134 (top) and 234 (bottom) between the vent components into the inner space of the door 48 and into the material 50 in the inner space, so as to be further attenuated.

[0123] Throughout this specification and the claims which follow, unless the context requires otherwise, the word "comprise", and variations such as "comprises" and "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated integer or step or group of integers or steps but not the exclusion of any other integer or step or group of integers or steps.

[0124] The reference to any prior art in this specification is not and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that the prior art forms part of the common general knowledge.

Claims

CLAIMSThe claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. A vent component having a body with a front face and a rear side for fitting over and / or into an opening on one side of an aperture in a planar extent, the vent component including: an at least first longitudinal slot, open between the front face and the rear side, for allowing fluid flow therethrough, wherein the vent component is configured to form part of a vent system, the vent system comprising a first such vent component and a second such vent component, and wherein, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component and the second such vent component are aligned so as to include a circumferential gap formed between the rear side of the first such vent component and the rear side of the second such vent component.

2. The vent component according to claim 1, wherein, when formed as the vent system, the second such vent component is rotated, with respect to the first such vent component, substantially through 180° around a notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the second vent component body such that the rear side of the first such vent component and the rear side of the second such vent component face each other.

3. The vent component according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein, when formed as the vent system, the first such vent component and the second such vent component are aligned such that each at least first longitudinal slot of the first such vent component is offset from a notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system and such that each respective at least first longitudinal slot of the second such vent component is offset from the notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system, and such that the offset of the each at least first longitudinal slot of the first such vent component is, with respect to the notional substantially central longitudinal axis of the vent system, diametrically opposite the offset of the each at least first longitudinal slot of the second such vent component.

4. The vent component according to claim 1, wherein the at least first longitudinal slot includes first and second longitudinal slots.

5. The vent component according to claim 1, wherein the at least first longitudinal slot includes first, second, and third longitudinal slots.

6. The vent component according to claim 1, wherein the at least first longitudinal slot includes first, second, third, and fourth longitudinal slots.

7. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 6, further comprising an at least first channel at the rear side, each at least first channel adjacent its respective at least first longitudinal slot.

8. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 7, further comprising at least one fastener for fastening the vent component to the planar extent.

9. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 8, further comprising at least one fastener wherein, when formed as the vent system, the at least one fastener fastens the first such vent component with the second such vent component.

10. The vent component according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fastener fastens the first such vent component with the second such vent component such that the circumferential gap is formed.

11. The vent component according to any one of claims 8 to 10, wherein the at least one fastener includes a nub with a hole to receive any one of a screw, a bolt, a pin, or a nail.

12. The vent component according to claim 10, wherein the at least one fastener includes a protrusion and hole to receive the protrusion, and wherein the protrusion is on the first such vent component and the hole is on the second such vent component, or wherein the protrusion is on the second such vent component and the hole is on the first such vent component.

13. The vent component according to claim 12, wherein the protrusion and hole are secured by one of: friction fit and a barbed arrangement.

14. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 13, further including at least one sound attenuator.

15. The vent component according to claim 14, when appended to claim 7, wherein each at least one sound attenuator is located in a respective at least first channel.

16. The vent component according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein each at least one sound attenuator comprises one or both of a strip of foam and a strip of vinyl.

17. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 16, further comprising struts for structural reinforcement, each strut located along a respective at least first longitudinal slot.

18. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the planar extent is any one of a door, a wall, a floor, a ceiling, a roof, or a window.

19. The vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 18, wherein the fluid is air.

20. A vent system comprising a first vent component and a second vent component, each of the first vent component and the second vent component according to any one of claims 1 to 19.

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