US20030172605A1

US20030172605A1 - Ventilation pipe cap

Info

Publication number: US20030172605A1
Application number: US10/105,665
Authority: US
Inventors: David Lutz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2002-03-14
Filing date: 2002-03-14
Publication date: 2003-09-18

Abstract

A ventilation-pipe cap has a cap sleeve (1) with an internal periphery having a cap fastener which fastens predeterminedly to an external periphery of a ventilation pipe (2) and has a plurality of ventilation orifices (4) sized and arranged intermediate the cap fastener and a cap apex (3) for preventing entry of debris and life forms into the ventilation pipe predeterminedly.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to ventilation caps for ventilation pipes that extend above roofs of buildings from plumbing and various spaces in the buildings.

Numerous ventilating covers and caps for ventilating pipes above roofs of buildings are known, but not with the effectiveness, convenience of installation and convenience of removal, if desired, taught by this invention..

Examples of most-closely related known but different devices are described in the following patent documents:



U.S. Pat. No.	Inventor	Issue Date

5,291,707	McDonald	Mar. 8, 1994
421,098	Harrington	Feb. 11, 1890
1,868,730	Dowrie	Jul. 26, 1932
6,244,006	Shue, et al.	Jun. 12, 2001
5,081,914	Mejia	Jan. 21, 1992
4,026,688	Patterson	May 31, 1977
4,399,743	Izzi, Sr.	Aug. 23, 1983
5,341,767	Smith	Aug. 30, 1994

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Objects of patentable novelty and utility taught by this invention are to provide a ventilation-pipe cap which:

prevents debris, bugs, rodents, snakes, frogs, roaches and other objectionable items from entry into ventilation pipes;

is quick and easy to install;

can be removed easily for maintenance if desired; and

is long lasting without corrosion, and can be made to fit all sizes of ventilation pipes.

This invention accomplishes these and other objectives with a ventilation-pipe cap having a cap sleeve with an internal periphery having a pipe fastener which fastens predeterminedly to an external periphery of a ventilation pipe and has a plurality of cap-ventilation orifices sized and arranged to prevent entry of debris and life forms predeterminedly without diminishing gas-flow ventilation capacity of the ventilation pipe.

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention should become even more readily apparent to those skilled in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description in conjunction with the drawings wherein there is shown and described illustrative embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

This invention is described by appended claims in relation to description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the following drawings which are explained briefly as follows: [0011]
FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of a ventilation-pipe cap having a domed apex on a cap sleeve with parallel cylindrical walls that fit predeterminedly onto an external periphery of the ventilation pipe which is shown extended from a ventilation-pipe base on a roof; [0012]
FIG. 2 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the ventilation-pipe cap shown in FIG. 1, but with a cap sleeve that includes a pipe-receptacle section with a step wall for receiving the ventilation pipe within the inside periphery of the pipe-receptacle section and for resting the ventilation-pipe cap on the step wall; [0013]
FIG. 3 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the ventilation-pipe cap shown in FIG. 1, but with slightly tapered cylindrical walls for a push-on fit of the internal periphery of the cap sleeve onto the external periphery of the ventilation pipe; [0014]
FIG. 4 is the FIG. 3 illustration, but with addition of an apex-riser section intermediate the cap apex and a cap fastener that includes the slightly tapered cylindrical walls of the cap sleeve for inclusion of horizontal ventilation orifices; [0015]
FIG. 5 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the ventilation-pipe cap having the domed cap apex and having a cap fastener that includes the cap sleeve with straight-threaded, tapered cylindrical walls screwed onto straight threads of a fastener sleeve that is adhered to the ventilation pipe; [0016]
FIG. 6 is the FIG. 5 illustration, but with addition of the apex-riser section intermediate the cap apex and having the cap fastener that includes the cap sleeve with straight-threaded, tapered cylindrical walls screwed onto straight threads of a fastener sleeve that is adhered to the ventilation pipe; [0017]
FIG. 7 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the ventilation-pipe cap having a perch-prevention point and having the slightly tapered cylindrical walls for a push-on fit of the internal periphery of the cap sleeve onto the external periphery of the ventilation pipe; [0018]
FIG. 8 is the FIG. 7 illustration, but with addition of an apex-riser section intermediate the cap apex and a cap fastener that includes the slightly tapered cylindrical walls of the cap sleeve for inclusion of horizontal ventilation orifices; [0019]
FIG. 9 is a partially cutaway side elevation view of the ventilation-pipe cap having the perch-prevention point and having the cap fastener that includes the cap sleeve with straight-threaded tapered cylindrical walls screwed onto straight threads of the fastener sleeve that is adhered to the ventilation pipe; [0020]
FIG. 10 is the FIG. 9 illustration, but with addition of the apex-riser section intermediate the perch-prevention point and having the cap fastener that includes the cap sleeve with the straight-threaded tapered cylindrical walls screwed onto the straight threads of the fastener sleeve that is adhered to the ventilation pipe; [0021]
FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway fragmentary view of the cap fastener that includes the fastener sleeve with tapered threads onto which matching tapered threads of the cap sleeve are screwed and the fastener sleeve is adhered to the ventilation pipe; [0022]
FIG. 12 is a partially cutaway fragmentary view of the cap fastener that includes the fastener sleeve having a quick-disconnect pin extended horizontally into a circumferential channel in the cap sleeve and the fastener sleeve is adhered to the ventilation pipe; [0023]
FIG. 13 is the FIG. 12 illustration with the cap sleeve rotated ninety degrees to show the quick-disconnect pin in a lock bay from a front view; and [0024]
FIG. 14 is a section view of the FIG. 13 illustration through a section line [0025] 13-13 of FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Listed numerically below with reference to the drawings are terms used to describe features of this invention. These terms and numbers assigned to them designate the same features throughout this description.



1.	Cap sleeve
2.	Ventilation pipe
3.	Cap apex
4.	Ventilation orifices
5.	Ventilation-pipe base
6.	Roof
7.	Pipe-receptacle section
8.	Step wall
9.	Fastening taper
10.	Apex-riser section
11.	Cap-fastener section
12.	Fastener sleeve
13.	Ventilation-pipe threading
14.	Fastener-sleeve threading
15.	Quick-disconnect pin
16.	Circumferential channel
17.	Linear inlet
18.	Lock bay
19.	Arcuate dome
20.	Perch-prevention point

Referring to FIG. 1, a ventilation-pipe cap has a [0027] cap sleeve 1 with an internal periphery that is circumferential and includes a cap fastener for fastening the cap sleeve 1 to a ventilation pipe 2 predeterminedly. The ventilation-pipe cap includes a cap apex 3 predeterminedly above and proximate an axis of the cap sleeve 1. A plurality of ventilation orifices 4 are arranged predeterminedly intermediate the cap fastener and the cap apex 3.
The [0028] ventilation pipe 2 extends from a ventilation-pipe base 5 that is sealed onto a roof 6 above plumbing and various building features that are ventilated with the ventilation pipe 2. The ventilation orifices 4 are sized and arranged predeterminedly intermediate the cap fastener and the cap apex 3 to prevent entry of predetermined debris and life forms into the ventilation pipe 2.
The cap fastener can include a circumferential internal periphery of the [0029] cap sleeve 1 that fits predeterminedly snug on an external periphery of the ventilation pipe 2 as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, the [0030] cap sleeve 1 can include a pipe-receptacle section 7 with a step wall 8 for receiving the ventilation pipe within the inside periphery of the pipe-receptacle section 7 and for resting the step wall 8 and, therefore, resting the ventilation-pipe cap on a top perimeter of the ventilation pipe 2. The pipe-receptacle section 7 and the step wall 8 are a cap fastener that can be gravity operable. Optionally, fit of the pipe-receptacle section 7 on the outside periphery of the ventilation pipe 2 can have a relatively low tolerance for inexpensive manufacture and can be adhered with an adherent.
Referring to FIGS. [0031] 3-4, the cap fastener can include a circumferential internal periphery of the cap sleeve 1 that has a predeterminedly fastening taper 9 outward radially from the axis of the cap sleeve 1 for a push-on fit of the internal periphery of the cap sleeve 1 onto the external periphery of the ventilation pipe 2. The fastening taper 9 outward radially is preferably one-half-to-one degree. This is less expensive to machine for a suitable fit than for machining the internal periphery of the FIG. 1 cap sleeve 1 to fit snugly onto the outside periphery of the ventilation pipe 2. This fastening taper 9 is so slight that it is not easily detectable in the drawing where it is shown in FIGS. 3-4 at the inside periphery of the cap sleeve 1. It is an additional inexpensive option to the pipe-receptacle section 7 and the step wall 8 of the FIG. 2 illustration.
As depicted in FIGS. 4, 6, [0032] 8 and 10, the cap sleeve 1 can include an apex-riser section 10 intermediate the cap apex 3 and a cap-fastener section 11 of the cap sleeve 1. The apex-riser section 10 includes the ventilation orifices 4 in fluid communication intermediate an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the apex-riser section 10.
Referring to FIGS. [0033] 1-14, an adherent that can be a sealant and that can include lead can be applied between the internal periphery of the cap sleeve 1 and the outside periphery of the ventilation pipe 2.
Referring further to FIGS. [0034] 5-6 and 9-11, the cap fastener can include a fastener sleeve 12 having a circumferential inside periphery that fits predeterminedly onto the external periphery of the ventilation pipe 2. The fastener sleeve 12 includes an external periphery having ventilation-pipe threading 13 and the internal periphery of the cap sleeve 1 includes fastener-sleeve threading 14 that matches the ventilation-pipe threading 13. The ventilation-pipe threading 13 and the fastener-sleeve threading 14 can be tapered threading or what is known as pipe threading as depicted in FIG. 11. Optionally, the ventilation-pipe threading 13 and the fastener-sleeve threading 14 can be un-tapered, parallel threading or what is known as straight threading as depicted in FIGS. 5-6, and 9-10.
Optionally, the [0035] fastener sleeve 12 can have an internal periphery with either a fit on the outside periphery of the ventilation pipe 2 as shown and described in relation to FIG. 1, a fastening taper 9 as shown and described in relation to FIGS. 5-6 and 9, or a pipe-receptacle section 7 with a step wall 8 as shown and described in relation to FIGS. 2, 10 and 12-13. An adherent is optional for either.
Referring to FIGS. [0036] 12-14, the cap fastener can include a quick-disconnect pin 15 that is extended radially from the fastener sleeve 12 into a circumferential channel 16 having a linear inlet 17 to receive the quick-disconnect pin 15. The linear inlet 17 terminates in the circumferential channel 16 that extends circumferentially for a partial rotation intermediate the linear inlet 17 and a lock bay 18 which receives the quick-disconnect pin 15 in a locked mode. To prevent weight of the ventilation-pipe cap from resting on the quick-disconnect pin 15 in the locked mode, the fastener sleeve 12 can be made to support the cap sleeve 1 with the step wall 8 in the cap sleeve 1 as described in relation to FIG. 2 for the ventilation pipe 2 to support the weight of the ventilation-pipe cap.
Referring further to FIGS. [0037] 1-6, the cap apex 3 can be domed upwardly with an arcuate dome 19 predeterminedly proximate the axis of the cap sleeve 1. The arcuate dome 19 can include the ventilation orifices 4 in fluid communication intermediate an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the arcuate dome 19.
Referring further to FIGS. [0038] 7-10, the cap apex 3 can be pointed upwardly with a perch-prevention point 20 predeterminedly proximate the axis of the cap sleeve 1. The perch-prevention point 20 includes the ventilation orifices 4 in fluid communication intermediate an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the perch-prevention point 20. The perch-prevention point 20 is predeterminedly sharp and steep to prevent perching and consequential defecation of birds thereon.
Referring further to FIGS. [0039] 1-14, there are a plurality of standard diameters and materials of construction of ventilation pipes 2 on the market. These are subject to change and increase or decrease in plurality. Matching of inside and outside diameters of sleeves and threading as described within the specification and claims can be employed for size adaptations generally.
A new and useful ventilation-pipe cap having been described, all such foreseeable modifications, adaptations, substitutions of equivalents, mathematical possibilities of combinations of parts, pluralities of parts, applications and forms thereof as described by the following claims and not precluded by prior art are included in this invention. [0040]

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A ventilation-pipe cap comprising:

a cap sleeve having an internal periphery that is circumferential;

the cap sleeve including a cap fastener for fastening the cap sleeve to a ventilation pipe predeterminedly;

a cap apex predeterminedly above and proximate an axis of the cap sleeve; and

a plurality of ventilation orifices sized and arranged intermediate the cap fastener and the cap apex for keeping debris and life forms from entering the ventilation pipe without diminishing ventilating capacity of the ventilation pipe.

2. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap fastener includes a circumferential internal periphery of the cap sleeve that fits predeterminedly snug on an external periphery of the ventilation pipe.

3. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap sleeve includes a pipe-receptacle section with a step wall for receiving the ventilation cap within the inside periphery of the pipe-receptacle section and for resting the ventilation-pipe cap on the ventilation pipe.

4. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap fastener includes a circumferential internal periphery of the cap sleeve that has a predeterminedly fastening taper outward radially from the axis of the cap sleeve for a push-on fit of the internal periphery of the cap sleeve onto the external periphery of the ventilation pipe.

5. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap fastener includes an adherent that is applied intermediate the internal periphery of the cap sleeve and the external periphery of the ventilation pipe.

6. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 4 wherein:

the adherent includes lead.

7. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap fastener includes a fastener sleeve having a circumferential inside periphery that fits predeterminedly onto the external periphery of the ventilation pipe;

the fastener sleeve includes an external periphery having ventilation-pipe threading;

the internal periphery of the cap sleeve includes fastener-sleeve threading that matches the ventilation-pipe threading.

8. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 7 wherein:

the ventilation-pipe threading and the fastener-sleeve threading are tapered pipe threading.

9. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 7 wherein:

the ventilation-pipe threading and the fastener-sleeve threading are straight threading.

10. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap fastener includes a quick-disconnect pin extended radially from the fastener sleeve into a linear inlet to receive the quick-disconnect pin;

the linear inlet terminating in a circumferential channel intermediate the linear inlet and a lock bay; and

the lock bay receives the quick-disconnect pin in a locked mode.

11. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap apex includes an arcuate dome that is domed upward predeterminedly proximate the axis of the cap sleeve.

12. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 11 wherein:

the arcuate dome includes the ventilation orifices in fluid communication intermediate an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the arcuate dome;

the ventilation orifices are predeterminedly sized to prevent entry of predetermined debris and life forms.

13. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap apex includes a perch-prevention point that is pointed upward predeterminedly proximate the axis of the cap sleeve.

14. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 13 wherein:

the perch-prevention point includes the ventilation orifices in fluid communication intermediate an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the perch-prevention point;

the ventilation orifices are predeterminedly sized to prevent entry of predetermined debris and life forms; and

the perch-prevention point is predeterminedly sharp and steep to prevent perching of birds thereon.

15. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 1 wherein:

the cap sleeve includes an apex-riser section intermediate the cap apex and a cap-fastener section of the cap sleeve.

16. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 15 wherein:

the apex-riser section includes the ventilation orifices in fluid communication intermediate an outside periphery and an inside periphery of the apex-riser section; and

17. A ventilation-pipe cap comprising:

a cap sleeve having an internal periphery that is circumferential;

the cap sleeve having a cap fastener for fastening the cap sleeve to a ventilation pipe predeterminedly;

a cap apex predeterminedly above and proximate an axis of the cap sleeve;

the cap sleeve including an apex-riser section intermediate the cap apex and the cap fastener; and

a plurality of ventilation orifices arranged predeterminedly intermediate the cap fastener and the cap apex.

18. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 17 wherein:

the cap apex includes an arcuate dome vertically above the apex riser section with the arcuate dome predeterminedly proximate the axis of the cap sleeve.

19. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 17 wherein:

20. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 17 wherein:

the cap apex includes a perch-prevention point that is pointed upwardly above the apex riser with the perch-prevention point predeterminedly proximate the axis of the cap sleeve.

21. The ventilation-pipe cap of claim 20 wherein:

the perch-prevention point is predeterminedly sharp and steep to prevent perching and consequential defecation of birds thereon.