US3788013A — Drop away fire vent

Claim 1

Independent Claim 253 words

A drop-away fire vent, comprising in combination: means defining the periphery of an opening and including a fixed generally rigid frame portion and a plurality of support elements carried on fulcrum points on said frame portion at spaced locations around said periphery for movement between a first load-supporting position and a second non-supporting position, said elements including arm portions projecting inwardly of said opening when said elements are in said first position; a canopy means, including a closure member having a smaller periphery than that of said opening, a vertically anchored stop structure above said closure member and contacted by the latter from beneath, and means for supporting said closure member in place against said stop structure and upon said support elements when the same are in their said first position; said closure member being movable through said opening upon movement of said support elements to their second said position, to uncover said opening; means for collecting condensation from the underside of said canopy closure member and directing such condensation away from the perimeter of such member; and means for interconnecting said inwardlyprojecting arm portions of said support elements when the latter are in said first position thereof, and for holding said elements in position maintaining said canopy closure member in contact with said stop structure, said means including a releasable portion having heat-responsive means for releasing said support elements in the presence of heat for movement to said second position, whereby said canopy closure member moves through said opening and uncovers it.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 253 words

A drop-away fire vent, comprising in combination: means defining the periphery of an opening and including a fixed generally rigid frame portion and a plurality of support elements carried on fulcrum points on said frame portion at spaced locations around said periphery for movement between a first load-supporting position and a second non-supporting position, said elements including arm portions projecting inwardly of said opening when said elements are in said first position; a canopy means, including a closure member having a smaller periphery than that of said opening, a vertically anchored stop structure above said closure member and contacted by the latter from beneath, and means for supporting said closure member in place against said stop structure and upon said support elements when the same are in their said first position; said closure member being movable through said opening upon movement of said support elements to their second said position, to uncover said opening; means for collecting condensation from the underside of said canopy closure member and directing such condensation away from the perimeter of such member; and means for interconnecting said inwardlyprojecting arm portions of said support elements when the latter are in said first position thereof, and for holding said elements in position maintaining said canopy closure member in contact with said stop structure, said means including a releasable portion having heat-responsive means for releasing said support elements in the presence of heat for movement to said second position, whereby said canopy closure member moves through said opening and uncovers it.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 39 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said support elements comprise at least one balance weight portion having sufficient mass to move such portions unDer gravitational force when said interconnecting means is released in the presence of heat.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein said fulcrum points comprise structure on said frame portion for rockably mounting said support elements, such that said movement of such element is at least in part a rocking movement.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said fulcrum points comprise a free open pivot mount for said support elements such that in said second position of said elements the same are unsupported and free to move by gravity.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for interconnecting said support elements includes an elongate tension member, and wherein said heat-responsive means includes a heat-releasing coupling connected along the length of such tension member.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 38 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein said plurality of support elements have lever arm portions extending generally toward the inside of said opening, and wherein said tension member comprises a loop interconnecting said lever arm portions.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 40 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein said lever arm portions further comprise balance weight portions having sufficient mass to move the respective support elements to their said second position when said tension member is released by said coupling.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 37 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for collecting condensation comprises at least one apron member extending beneath the perimeter of said canopy closure member and outwardly thereof over portions of said frame means.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 30 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said apron member includes a flexibly deformable portion and at least portions of said apron extend over portions of said frame means.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 36 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said apron member includes a flexibly deformable portion and at least portions of said apron extend under at least portions of the perimeter of said canopy closure member.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 41 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 8, wherein said apron member includes a flexibly deformable portion and at least portions of said apron extend into contact with said means for supporting said canopy closure member in place and are supported thereby.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 200 words

A drop-away fire vent, comprising in combination: frame means defining a generally tubular upright chamber and including fixed, generally rigid wall portions and flange portions above said wall portions which partially hood said tubular chamber; a closure means having an outer periphery generally corresponding to, but at least somewhat smaller than, the cross section of said chamber, said closure means disposed within said chamber beneath said flange portions; and collapsible support means between said rigid wall portions and said closure means, for normally supporting the latter in position beneath said flange portions but for collapsing in response to heat to allow said closure means to drop downwardly by gravity within said chamber to vent the latter, said collapsible support means comprising a plurality of mutually spaced movably mounted individual supports in load-bearing engagement between said rigid wall portions and said closure means and heat-responsive means for releasing said supports from such engagement to thereby remove the support of said closure means, at least certain of said movably mounted supports including a first support element movably carried on said rigid wall portions and a separate second support element in compressive wedging engagement between the first support element and said closure means.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 200 words

A drop-away fire vent, comprising in combination: frame means defining a generally tubular upright chamber and including fixed, generally rigid wall portions and flange portions above said wall portions which partially hood said tubular chamber; a closure means having an outer periphery generally corresponding to, but at least somewhat smaller than, the cross section of said chamber, said closure means disposed within said chamber beneath said flange portions; and collapsible support means between said rigid wall portions and said closure means, for normally supporting the latter in position beneath said flange portions but for collapsing in response to heat to allow said closure means to drop downwardly by gravity within said chamber to vent the latter, said collapsible support means comprising a plurality of mutually spaced movably mounted individual supports in load-bearing engagement between said rigid wall portions and said closure means and heat-responsive means for releasing said supports from such engagement to thereby remove the support of said closure means, at least certain of said movably mounted supports including a first support element movably carried on said rigid wall portions and a separate second support element in compressive wedging engagement between the first support element and said closure means.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 48 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 12, wherein said closure means includes a closure partition whose edges define said outer periphery and a mounting frame for said partition, said mounting frame having at least two oppositely-disposed rail portions underlying and supportively engaging a pair of oppositely-disposed partition edges.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 28 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein said rail portions urge the said partition edges Which they engage upwardly against said flange portions hooding said tubular chamber.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 179 words

A drop-away fire vent, comprising in combination: frame means defining a generally tubular upright chamber and including fixed, generally rigid wall portions and flange portions above said wall portions which partially hood said tubular chamber; a closure means having an outer periphery generally corresponding to, but at least somewhat smaller than, the cross section of said chamber, said closure means disposed within said chamber beneath said flange portions; and collapsible support means between said rigid wall portions and said closure means, for normally supporting the latter in position beneath said flange portions but for collapsing in response to heat to allow said closure means to drop downwardly by gravity within said chamber to vent the latter; said closure means including a closure partition whose edges define said outer periphery and a mounting frame for said partition, said mounting frame having at least two oppositely-disposed rail portions underlying and supportively engaging a pair of oppositely-disposed partition edges, said rail portions including a condensation-collecting apron means disposed beneath and extending both laterally inwardly and outwardly of certain of said partition edges.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 179 words

A drop-away fire vent, comprising in combination: frame means defining a generally tubular upright chamber and including fixed, generally rigid wall portions and flange portions above said wall portions which partially hood said tubular chamber; a closure means having an outer periphery generally corresponding to, but at least somewhat smaller than, the cross section of said chamber, said closure means disposed within said chamber beneath said flange portions; and collapsible support means between said rigid wall portions and said closure means, for normally supporting the latter in position beneath said flange portions but for collapsing in response to heat to allow said closure means to drop downwardly by gravity within said chamber to vent the latter; said closure means including a closure partition whose edges define said outer periphery and a mounting frame for said partition, said mounting frame having at least two oppositely-disposed rail portions underlying and supportively engaging a pair of oppositely-disposed partition edges, said rail portions including a condensation-collecting apron means disposed beneath and extending both laterally inwardly and outwardly of certain of said partition edges.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 15 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said apron means has yieldably deformable portions.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 72 words

The apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein said apron means includes yieldable portions extending outwardly from said partition edges and over at least parts of said frame means chamber, said yieldable portions being sufficiently yieldable to deform and pass over said parts of said frame means and allow said apron means and said rail portions to move axially within said tubular chamber over and past said parts of said frame means.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1977-01-28	1977-07-30	1978-01-29	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1981-01-28	1981-07-30	1982-01-29	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1985-01-28	1985-07-30	1986-01-29	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Drop away fire vent

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