Patent US1426129A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5081912A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5081912A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle vent
Assignee: ASHA Corp 600 WARD DRIVE SUITE C SANTA BARBARA CA 93111 A CORP OF
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Filing: 1991-02-05
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Granted: 1992-01-21
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Expires: 2011-02-05
Abstract
Abstract A vehicle vent (12) for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment includes a float valve (32) that prevents water that enters an outlet (24) of the vent from passing into the vehicle through the vent inlet (20) but which has a drain passage (36) for permitting a limited flow of the water to a drain (38) on the vent inlet side of the float valve (32). The vent (12) preferably includes a fan (40) that is most preferably energized by a solar panel (48). Mounting of the vent (12) can be provided on the vehicle roof, on the roof just forward of a vehicle back window, or as part of a sunroof.
Inventors
- 👤 Alain J-M. Clenet
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 04:20
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R13/00; B60R13/07; B60H; B60H1/00; B60H1/24; B60H1/248; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S454/00; Y10S454/90
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
197 words
A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment; the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet; a float valve movable between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider; the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve; the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; and the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
197 words
A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment; the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet; a float valve movable between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider; the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve; the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; and the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 1 further including a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 2 further including a solar panel for energizing the fan.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
55 words
A vehicle vent as in any one of claims 1 through 3 wherein the float valve includes a buoyant valve body and a lower pivotal connection that pivotally mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between the open and closed positions with respect to the divider opening through which the air flows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
28 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 4 wherein the buoyant valve body has an enlarged buoyant portion adjacent the pivotal connection and also has a smaller distal end.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 5 wherein the buoyant valve body has a flat side that seals with the divider and a curved side that cooperates with the flat side to define the enlarged buoyant portion and the smaller distal end.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
29 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 4 wherein the float valve also includes a counterbalance located on the opposite side of the pivotal connection from the buoyant valve body.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 4 wherein the float valve also includes a thermally responsive spring that maintains the float valve body in the closed position at lower temperatures.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing includes a peripheral flange for mounting the vent on a vehicle roof.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
27 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the housing is mounted on a vehicle roof, and the vent further including a solar panel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 10 wherein the solar panel is located just forwardly of a vehicle back window.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
18 words
A vehicle vent as in claim 10 wherein the solar panel is a component of a vehicle sunroof.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
236 words
A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment; the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet; a float valve including a buoyant valve body and a lower pivotal connection that pivotal mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider; the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve; the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground; and a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
236 words
A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment; the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet; a float valve including a buoyant valve body and a lower pivotal connection that pivotal mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider; the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve; the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground; and a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
242 words
A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment; the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet; a float valve including a buoyant valve body and lower pivotal connection that pivotal mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider; the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve; the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground; a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment; and a solar panel for energizing the fan.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
242 words
A vehicle vent for exhausting air from a vehicle occupant compartment to the environment, the vent comprising: a housing having an inlet through which air enters the vent from the vehicle occupant compartment and also having an outlet through which the air exits from the vent to the environment; the housing having a divider that defines an upper opening through which the air flows from the inlet to the outlet; a float valve including a buoyant valve body and lower pivotal connection that pivotal mounts the buoyant valve body on the housing for movement between open and closed positions with respect to the upper opening of the divider; the housing defining a collection chamber located toward the outlet from the divider such that water entering the vent from the environment accumulates in the collection chamber to close the float valve; the housing having at least one lower drain passage that extends from the collection chamber through the divider to a location toward the inlet from the divider such that water can flow therethrough at a limited rate even when the float valve is closed; the housing having a drain located on the side of the divider toward the inlet so as to receive water from the drain passage for draining from the vent to the ground; a fan for drawing air from the vehicle occupant compartment through the vent for exhaustion to the environment; and a solar panel for energizing the fan.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1995-01-20 | 1995-07-22 | 1996-01-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1999-01-20 | 1999-07-22 | 2000-01-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2003-01-20 | 2003-07-22 | 2004-01-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |