Fire vent

Claim 2

A vent for a building comprising; a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within said fixed frame when in a closed position, a panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, means for releasing said latch means to permit said movable frame to move to its open position, and means for limiting the open position of said movable frame including a pair of shock absorbers secured at opposite ends to said fixed frame and movable frame respectively, said fixed and movable frames each including spaced walls with the walls of the fixed frame facing the walls of the movable frame and being interdigitally arranged to form a space between one wall of the fixed frame and one wall of the movable frame for accommodating the shock absorbers, said means for urging not operable even though said releasing means is operable when the outside wind velocity is greater than a predetermined velocity.

Claim 3

The vent of claim 1 wherein said latch means includes a pin and hook member, one of which is secured to said fixed frame and the other to said movable frame.

Claim 4

The vent of claim 2 including means for biasing said hook member into engagement with said pin.

Claim 5

The vent of claim 1 wherein said releasing means includes a release member mounted to said fixed frame and a cable coupling to said latch means.

Claim 6

The vent of claim 4 wherein said releasing means includes a heat or smoke responsive element having a fusible link associated therewith and a second cable coupling from said element to said latch means.

Claim 7

The vent of claim 5 wherein said latch means includes a pair of spaced latch mechanisms and said second cable includes sections coupling to both said latch mechanisms.

Claim 8

The vent of claim 1 wherein said means for releasing includes an electrically operated means.

Claim 9

The vent of claim 7 wherein said electrically operated means includes a solenoid, a pivot member having two arms, and a spring fixed at one end and engageable with one of said arms, the other arm engageable with said solenoid.

Claim 10

A vent for a building comprising: a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within said fixed frame when in a closed position, a panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, means for releasing said latch means to permit said movable frame to move to its open position, and means for limiting the open position of said movable frame including a pair of shock absorbers secured at opposite ends to said fixed frame and movable frame respectively, said fixed and movable frames each including spaced walls with the walls of the fixed frame facing the walls of the movable frame and being interdigitally arranged to form a space between one wall of the fixed frame and one wall the movable frame for accommodating the shock absorbers, said means for urging including a torsion member having a biasing force insufficient to cause opening of said movable frame when the outside wind velocity is greater than a predetermined velocity.

Claim 11

A vent for a building comprising: a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within said fixed frame when in a closed position, a panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, means for releasing said latch means to permit said movable frame to move to its open position, and means for limiting the open position of said movable frame including a pair of shock absorbers secured at opposite ends to said fixed frame and movable frame respectively, said fixed and movable frames each including spaced walls with the walls of the fixed frame facing the walls of the movable frame and being interdigitally arranged to form a space between one wall of the fixed frame and one wall the movable frame for accommodating the shock absorbers, said means for urging including a torsion member having a biasing force insufficient to cause opening of said movable frame when the outside wind velocity is greater than a predetermined velocity.

Claim 12

A vent for a building comprising; a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within the fixed frame when in a closed position. a panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, means for limiting the open position of said movable frame, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, said latch means including a pair of latches secured to opposite sides of either said fixed frame or movable frame, and a release mechanism including a release handle, first and second cables coupling from the handle to respective latches, means for supporting said cables, a third cable having one end bifurcated into two pieces with one piece connecting to the first cable or latch and the other piece connecting to the second cable or latch and having another end, and means operable to pull said another end of said third cable for operating said latches.

Claim 13

A vent for a building comprising; a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit within the fixed frame when in a closed position. a panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, means for limiting the open position of said movable frame, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, said latch means including a pair of latches secured to opposite sides of either said fixed frame or movable frame, and a release mechanism including a release handle, first and second cables coupling from the handle to respective latches, means for supporting said cables, a third cable having one end bifurcated into two pieces with one piece connecting to the first cable or latch and the other piece connecting to the second cable or latch and having another end, and means operable to pull said another end of said third cable for operating said latches.

Claim 14

The vent of claim 10 wherein said means operable to pull includes a biasing means fixed at one end.

Claim 15

The vent of claim 11 wherein said means operable includes a fusible link for maintaining said biasing means under bias as long as the link is in tact.

Claim 18

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said means operable to pull said second cable means includes non-manually operated means.

Claim 19

The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first cable means includes first and second cable sections connecting respectively to said pair of latches and said second cable means includes first and second cable sections.

Claim 20

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein said means operable to pull includes a pivot bar and means for biasing the pivot bar, said first and second sections of said second cable means coupling to said pivot bar.

Claim 21

The apparatus of claim 16 including an electrically operated means for releasing said pivot bar from its biased state.

Claim 22

The apparatus of claim 16 including a fusible link coupled to said pivot bar for permitting release thereof.

Claim 23

The apparatus of claim 15 including adjustment means for both said first and second cable means.

Claim 24

The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first cable section of the first cable means connects to the first cable section of the second cable means, and the second cable section of the first cable means connects to the second cable section of second cable means.

Claim 25

The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said means for supporting said first and second cable means includes a plurality of pulleys, at least one being associated with each cable section.

Claim 30

A vent for a building comprising; a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit with said fixed frame when in a closed position, panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, means for releasing said latch means to permit said movable frame to move to its open position, and means coupled to at least the movable frame for limiting the open position of said movable frame, said means for releasing comprising cable means coupling to said latch means, a pivot member having two arms, means for pivotally supporting said pivot member, spring means coupled to one arm of said pivot member for urging the pivot member to a latch releasing position, means coupling the cable means to the pivot member, and an electrically operated means contacting the other arm of the pivot member for holding the pivot member in a latch maintaining position.

Claim 31

A vent for a building comprising; a fixed frame, a movable frame adapted to fit with said fixed frame when in a closed position, panel means for insertion into said movable frame, means for pivotally securing said movable frame to said fixed frame, means for urging said movable frame to an open position, latch means for maintaining said movable frame in the closed position, means for releasing said latch means to permit said movable frame to move to its open position, and means coupled to at least the movable frame for limiting the open position of said movable frame, said means for releasing comprising cable means coupling to said latch means, a pivot member having two arms, means for pivotally supporting said pivot member, spring means coupled to one arm of said pivot member for urging the pivot member to a latch releasing position, means coupling the cable means to the pivot member, and an electrically operated means contacting the other arm of the pivot member for holding the pivot member in a latch maintaining position.