Ventilation – Vehicle – Waterborne
Reexamination Certificate
2000-09-14
2001-11-27
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Vehicle
Waterborne
C454S145000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06322439
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, generally, to hatches for venting the interiors of boats, motor vehicles, and other enclosed spaces. More particularly, it relates to a hatch that can be opened in any direction so that maximum advantage may be taken of wind conditions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Vent hatches are provided on boats, motor homes, and the like for the purpose of enhancing air circulation in enclosed spaces. Some hatches are hinged and open like a door; however, if the wind is not blowing directly into the opening, maximum ventilation of the enclosed space is not achieved. Some hatches are called wind scoops because they are permanently open. These hatches are also not completely effective if the wind is not blowing directly into the scoop. Other hatches are mounted for up and down movement. These hatches can capture wind from all directions, but they must be raised and lowered with a crank means.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,524,400 to Magi, U.S. Pat. No. 4,434,740 to Childs, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,759 to Peabody disclose wind scoop systems of the type that are permanently fixed in one position so that maximum ventilation is achieved only when air moves directly into the scoop. U.S. Pat. No. 3,103,870 to Steiner, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,448,112 to Söderberg disclose multi-directional vents of the type that must be cranked up or down. This type of vent relies on a screw and takes a long time to open or close if the screw threads have a low pitch. However, if a greater pitch is used to reduce the time and effort required to open and close such a vent, then the lid of the vent tends to gradually close itself as a thread-engaging means “walks down” the thread in response to environmentally-caused vibrations.
What is needed, then, is a screw-free vent hatch that can capture air movement from any direction so that maximum ventilation of an enclosed space may be achieved. A need also exists for a vent hatch that can be opened and closed quickly without using a crank means.
However, in view of the prior art considered as a whole at the time the present invention was made, it was not obvious to those of ordinary skill in the pertinent art how the identified needs could be fulfilled.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The longstanding but heretofore unfulfilled need for a hingedly mounted vent hatch that maximizes ventilation independently of wind direction is now met by a new, useful, and nonobvious venting means adapted for ventilating an enclosed space of the type formed by a floor, a roof, and surrounding side walls. The novel apparatus includes a suitable opening formed in the roof of an enclosed space. A peripheral edge of the opening has a thickness predetermined by a thickness of the roof. A circular track is disposed in overlying relation to the peripheral edge and a carriage is slideably engaged to the circular track; the, carriage is positionable in any rotational position of adjustment relative to the circular track. A closure means selectively closes the opening. A hinge means is mounted on the carriage for interconnecting the closure means and the carriage.
If the opening is of rectangular or other noncircular shape, the circular track is affixed thereto, thereby allowing the hinge mechanism to travel 360°.
Accordingly, the carriage and hence the closure means is positionable in any preselected position relative to the circular track so that the closure means may be opened to direct a maximum amount of wind into the enclosed space regardless of wind direction.
The novel structure further includes a carriage locking means for locking the carriage into any preselected position about the circular track. The carriage locking means includes a plurality of blind bores formed in the circular track, each of which has an axis of symmetry coincident with a ray extending from a center of the opening. In a preferred embodiment, the circular track is “T”-shaped and the carriage has a flat front wall, a pair of legs that extend in a common direction from opposite sides of the flat front wall in normal relation thereto, and a pair of track-engaging members that respectively extend from the legs in normal relation thereto and toward one another to capture the “T”-shaped circular track.
A throughbore is formed in the main body of the carriage; it has an axis of symmetry coincident with a ray extending from a center of the opening. A lock member is slideably disposed in the throughbore and a bias means urges the lock member radially outwardly. The lock member is dimensioned and configured for sliding reception within any preselected blind bore of the plurality of blind bores. In this way, the carriage is held against movement along the circular track when the lock member is slideably disposed within a preselected blind bore and manual retraction of the lock member from the preselected blind bore against the bias enables repositioning of the carriage about the circular track so that the closure means may be re-positioned in response to shifts in wind direction.
The hinge means is a lockable hinge means so that the closure means is lockable into any preselected position of adjustment.
If the closure means is substantially larger than the opening, a depression is formed in the roof in circumscribing relation to the opening to accommodate a peripheral edge of the closure means when it is open. Moreover, a strip of weatherstripping may be disposed in circumscribing relation to the opening to enhance sealing thereof by said closure means.
It is therefore understood that a primary object of this invention is to provide a hingedly mounted vent means that can be opened in any rotational direction so that it can capture maximum airflow from any direction.
Another object is to provide a multi-directional vent hatch that can be locked into an open position.
Still another important object is to provide such a vent hatch in a durable, rugged form so that it can withstand harsh environments.
Yet another important object is to enable the hatch to open “back to” the wind, thus creating a venturi-effect for ventilation.
These and other important objects, advantages, and features of the invention will become clear as this description proceeds.
The invention accordingly comprises the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts that will be exemplified in the description set forth hereinafter and the scope of the invention will be indicated in the claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 44349 (1864-09-01), Sinclair
patent: 5797791 (1998-08-01), Humphrey et al.
patent: 6106385 (2000-08-01), Humphrey et al.
Joyce Harold
Smith Ronald E.
Smith & Hopen , P.A.
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