Ventilation – Having both inlet and outlet airways – Including automatic control means
Reexamination Certificate
2000-02-14
2001-04-24
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Having both inlet and outlet airways
Including automatic control means
C454S256000, C454S260000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220956
ABSTRACT:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
Not Applicable
STATEMENT REGARDING FED SPONSORED R & D
Not Applicable
REFERENCE TO MICROFICHE APPENDIX
Not Applicable
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to attic/roofing ventilation systems, specifically to a forced air system.
Buildings have long incorporated ventilation systems in their attics or roof crawl spaces. Current systems include natural convection systems, a combination of soffit vents, roof vents, gable vents, and ridge vents; forced air systems, a combination of natural convection methods and roof/gable fans; and turbines, a combination of natural convection methods and non-powered turbines. These systems are intended to prevent and remove excessive heat and moisture buildup from attic or roof crawl spaces, or similar spaces. The removal of the excess heat and moisture would lower energy costs for cooling and heating, and would preserve and add longevity to roofing systems.
Current systems are unable to adequately remove the excessive heat trapped in attic spaces. Natural convection systems must wait for attic space air to become heated and expand before cooler air can begin to filter into the attic space. This waiting period, ultimately, is allowing radiant heat to get a jump-start on heating the attic space.
Forced air systems and turbines rely on the suction of less dense air and are, therefore, inefficient. This inefficiency is similar to the flight limitations of a helicopter. Helicopters are limited by altitude because air becomes less dense at higher altitudes. A helicopter reaches maximum altitude when the motion of the blades through the less dense air cannot generate enough lift to compensate for the weight of the aircraft. Thus, air density directly relates to the efficiency of the blades of a helicopter or a fan.
As a result of current systems' inadequacies, there is a need for a more efficient and effective ventilation system that will help to provide more comfortable living, to lower energy costs for cooling and heating, and to preserve and add longevity to roof and shingle lives.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention provides an apparatus for use in ventilating an attic or roof crawl space, or similar space, which becomes a heat and/or moisture trap. The invention increases air flow in the attic space, and therefore improves ventilation and provides many advantages.
Accordingly, several objects and advantages of the invention are:
(a) to provide an apparatus that will help to lower energy costs for cooling and heating;
(b) to provide an apparatus that will add longevity to roofing systems;
(c) to provide an apparatus that will accelerate natural convection venting of heated, trapped air from an attic space;
(d) to provide an apparatus that will reduce heat loading within a building;
(e) to provide an apparatus that will control moisture due to humidity within an attic space;
(f) to provide an apparatus that will reduce moisture due to condensation within an attic space;
(g) to provide an apparatus that can be installed on new construction or onto existing buildings; and
(h) to provide an unobtrusive, inconspicuous ventilation apparatus.
Further objects and advantages are to provide an apparatus whose production requires minimal new tooling resulting in its relatively inexpensive manufacture. Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.
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patent: 6036102 (2000-03-01), Pearson
Kilian Jay T.
McConnell Gregory L.
Boles Derek S.
Joyce Harold
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