IP Library Granted Patent US 11,002,006
Granted Patent B2
US 11,002,006 · App. 16/846,781 · Granted May 11, 2021

Flood vent having a panel

Inventors: Winfield Scott Anderson, Jr. (Palm Beach Gardens, FL); Tom Little (Pitman, NJ); Michael J. Graham (Pitman, NJ)
Assignee: Smart Vent Products, Inc.
E04B1/7076E04H9/145E06B5/10E06B7/14E06B9/02E06B2009/007
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,002,006
App. No.
16/846,781
Granted
May 11, 2021
Kind
B2
Abstract

According to one embodiment, a flood vent panel includes a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together, and a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces. The flood vent panel is configured to be coupled to a frame positionable on a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure. Each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces. Each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the panel frame.

Claims (41)

1. A flood vent, comprising:

a frame configured to be coupled to a structure;

a panel configured to be coupled to the frame so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure, the panel comprising:

at least 10 insulation pieces positioned together to form a plurality of rows of insulation pieces and a plurality of columns of insulation pieces, each of the at least 10 insulation pieces being substantially identical in shape and size to each of the other insulation pieces of the at least 10 insulation pieces;

a panel frame surrounding the at least 10 insulation pieces;

wherein each of the at least 10 insulation pieces is in physical contact with at least two of the other insulation pieces of the at least 10 insulation pieces;

wherein each of the at least 10 insulation pieces is separate from the other insulation pieces of the at least 10 insulation pieces;

wherein each of the at least 10 insulation pieces is separate from the panel frame; and

wherein the at least 10 insulation pieces and the panel frame are each made of a material comprising paper cellulose and wax.

2. A flood vent, comprising:

a frame configured to be coupled to a structure;

a panel configured to be coupled to the frame so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure, the panel comprising:

a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together to form a plurality of rows of insulation pieces and a plurality of columns of insulation pieces;

a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces;

wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is in physical contact with at least two of the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces;

wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces; and

wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the panel frame.

3. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces and the panel frame are both made of a material comprising paper cellulose and wax.

4. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the frame includes an internal holding space, wherein the panel is positioned in the internal holding space of the frame to couple the panel to the frame.

5. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the frame is a stainless steel frame.

6. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 10 insulation pieces.

7. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 15 insulation pieces.

8. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces is configured to uncouple from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

9. The flood vent of claim 8 , wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch.

10. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the panel frame is configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together in the panel, wherein the panel frame is further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

11. The flood vent of claim 2 , wherein the frame is configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together in the panel, wherein the frame is further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

12. A flood vent panel, comprising:

a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together to form a plurality of rows of insulation pieces and a plurality of columns of insulation pieces;

a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces;

wherein the flood vent panel is configured to be coupled to a frame positionable on a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening in the structure;

wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is in physical contact with at least two of the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces;

wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces; and

wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the panel frame.

13. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces and the panel frame are both made of a material comprising paper cellulose and wax.

14. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 10 insulation pieces.

15. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 15 insulation pieces.

16. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces is configured to uncouple from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

17. The flood vent panel of claim 16 , wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch.

18. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein the panel frame is configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together in the panel, wherein the panel frame is further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

19. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein the frame is configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together in the panel, wherein the frame is further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel.

20. The flood vent panel of claim 12 , wherein the flood vent panel includes acrylic paint on each of the separate plurality of insulation pieces and on the separate panel frame.

Assignments (4)
CERTIFICATE OF CONVERSION Recorded Aug 31, 2023
From: SMART VENT PRODUCTS, INC.
To: SMART VENT PRODUCTS LLC
Reel/Frame 064790/0064 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 7, 2023
From: SMART VENT HOLDINGS LLC; SMART VENT ACQUISITION LLC; SMART VENT PRODUCTS LLC; SMART PRODUCT INNOVATIONS LLC; RISK REDUCTION PLUS GROUP, INC.; FLOODPROOFING.COM, INC.
To: ALDINE CAPITAL FUND IV, L.P.
Reel/Frame 064179/0412 →
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jul 6, 2023
From: SMART VENT HOLDINGS LLC; SMART VENT ACQUISITION LLC; SMART VENT PRODUCTS LLC; SMART PRODUCT INNOVATIONS LLC; RISK REDUCTION PLUS GROUP, INC.; FLOODPROOFING.COM, INC.
To: FIRST COMMONWEALTH BANK, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT FOR THE BANKS
Reel/Frame 064170/0992 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 13, 2020
From: ANDERSON, WINFIELD SCOTT, JR; LITTLE, TOM; GRAHAM, MICHAEL J.
To: SMART VENT PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 052382/0201 →
Continuity (5)
Continuation 16269448 · Feb 6, 2019
Continuation In Part 15686809 · Aug 25, 2017
Continuation In Part 15583284 · May 1, 2017
Continuation 14965360 · Dec 10, 2015
Related Publication 20200240134A1 · Jul 30, 2020