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A ventilator device for allowing escape of air from enclosed spaces such as a building includes a unitary housing provided with an insert for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. The insert comprises a pair of insulative, tubular sleeves between which there is sandwiched a flow control valve.

A ventilator device for allowing escape of air from enclosed spaces such as a building includes a unitary housing provided with an insert for controlling the flow of fluid therethrough. The insert comprises a pair of insulative, tubular sleeves between which there is sandwiched a flow control valve. The valve may include a fabric-like foraminous membrane which permits passage of moisture laden air outwardly through the ventilator but prevents moisture in the form of liquid or droplets from returning into the building through the ventilator. Alternatively, the valve may comprise a flexible member which deflects in response to a pressure differential within the housing to allow rapid escape of air from the roof to the surrounding environment.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A roof ventilation device, comprising: an elongate hollow tube member having openings in opposite ends thereof, said tube including a longitudinal passageway communicatively connecting said openings and through which air may flow; a substantially planar valve member extending transversely acr

1. A roof ventilation device, comprising: an elongate hollow tube member having openings in opposite ends thereof, said tube including a longitudinal passageway communicatively connecting said openings and through which air may flow; a substantially planar valve member extending transversely across said passageway for controlling the flow of fluid through said passageway; and means within said tube member for mounting said valve member within said passageway intermediate said openings, said mounting means including a cylindrical sleeve of synthetic foam material disposed within and secured to said tube member, said sleeve having an outside cylindrical wall conformally engaging the inside wall of said tube member to prevent fluid flow therebetween, said sleeve having an inside cylindrical wall defining a portion of the flow path of fluid through said tube member, said mounting means further including an elongate strut formed integral with said inside cylindrical wall and extending transversely across said flow path, and means for securing said valve member on said strut. 2. The roof ventilation device of claim 1, including a cap covering one of said openings from the ambient environment but allowing air to flow through said one opening. 3. The roof ventilation device of claim 2, wherein said tube member is generally cylindrical and said cap is formed integral with one end of said tube member. 4. The roof ventilation device of claim 1, wherein: said tube member includes two adjacent sections having differing diameters and a radially extending, annular shoulder within said passageway, said shoulder being defined between said adjacent sections of said tube member, and said sleeve engages said shoulder. 5. The roof ventilation device of claim 4, wherein one end of said tube member is substantially cylindrical, said sleeve being disposed within and coextensive with said one end of said tube member. 6. The roof ventilation device of claim 5, wherein said one end of said tube member includes a substantially cylindrical sidewall and an outwardly extending annular flange. 7. The roof ventilation device of claim 1, wherein said sleeve includes first and second mating portions, said valve member being mounted between said first and second portions. 8. The roof ventilation device of claim 7, wherein said strut includes first and second opposing halves respectively integrally formed with said first and second portions of said sleeve, said valve being disposed in sandwiched engagement between said halves of said strut. 9. The roof ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said valve includes a central aperture therein, one of said strut halves includes a central cavity therein and the other of said strut halves includes a projection extending through said aperture and into said cavity whereby to prevent lateral movement of said valve relative to said strut. 10. The roof ventilation device of claim 8, wherein said valve member includes at least a portion which is pivotable about an axis extending perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of said passageway. 11. The roof ventilation device of claim 7, wherein said mounting means includes means for interconnecting said first and second portions and for preventing rotation of one of said portions relative to the other of said portions. 12. The roof ventilation device of claim 1, wherein said sleeve is structurally self supporting. 13. A device for relieving positive air pressure within a roof of the type including a flexible, substantially air tight outer membrane, comprising: an upstanding, essentially hollow housing having an upper end spaced above said roof and a lower end secured to said roof, said upper end including an outlet opening through which air may escape from said housing into the surrounding atmosphere, said lower end including an inlet opening adapted to overlie an opening in said membrane whereby air under positive pressure within said roof may pass into said housing through said lower opening; a one way flap valve within said housing and shiftable from an open position for allowing air within said roof under positive pressure to flow upwardly through said housing to a closed position for preventing air flow downwardly through said housing into said roof; and, means for mounting said flap valve within said housing in spaced relationship to said inlet and outlet openings, said mounting means including a cylindrical insert receivable within one end of said housing and having a longitudinal air passage therethrough, said insert being mounted within said housing and tightly engaging the entire inside perimeter of said housing, whereby all the air passing through said housing flows through said air passage in said insert, said insert including first and second mating sections of structurally self-supporting foam material, said insert including a strut extending transversely across said air passage, said strut being defined by first and second portions disposed in face-to-face relationship to each other and respectively formed integral with said first and second insert sections, said flap valve being sandwiched between said first and second strut portions. 14. The device of claim 13, wherein said first and second insert sections are each cylindrical and are connected in end-to-end relationship to each other. 15. The device of claim 14, wherein said insert includes an annular valve seat, and said flap valve includes a planar member of flexible material, at least portions of said planar member normally being seated on said valve seat when said valve is in said closed position but flexing upwardly away from said valve seat in response to positive air pressure within said roof whereby to open said valve. 16. The device of claim 13, wherein said housing includes first and second adjacent sections of differing diameters, the diameter of said first housing section being greater than the diameter of said second housing section, said housing further including an annular, outwardly extending shoulder between said first and second housing sections, said insert being dispoed within said first housing section and abutting said shoulder. 17. A device for relieving positive air pressure within a roof comprising: an upstanding, generally cylindrical tube having an upper end spaced above said roof and a lower end adapted to be secured to said roof, said upper end including an outlet through which air may escape from said tube into the ambient environment, said lower end including an inlet adapted to overlie an opening in said roof through which air under positive pressure may enter said inlet; and flow control means within said tube for controlling the flow of air through said tube, said flow control means including (1) a flexible valve member, (2) means for mounting said flexible valve member for flexing movement between an open position allowing air to flow from said inlet through said tube to said outlet, and a closed position preventing flow of fluid from said outlet through said tube to said inlet and into said roof, said mounting means including a sleeve received within and secured to said tube, said sleeve including first and second portions disposed in end-to-end, abutting relationship to each other, said valve member being sandwiched between said first and second sleeve portions. 18. The device of claim 17, wherein said first and second portions include means extending between said first and second portions for preventing rotation of said first and second portions relative to each other. 19. The device of claim 17, wherein said sleeve includes a shoulder upon which at least a portion of the periphery of said flexible valve member is seated when said valve is in said closed position. 20. The device of claim 17, wherein said tube includes a circumferential shoulder on the inner surface thereof and one end of said sleeve abutts said shoulder, whereby to limit the penetration of said sleeve into said tube. 21. The device of claim 20, wherein said tube includes a first section adjacent the bottom of said tube and a second section above and adjacent to said first section, said first section having a cross section greater in magnitude than the cross section of said second section, said shoulder being defined between said first and second sections. 22. The device of claim 17, including a cap on said tube covering said outlet but allowing air to escape through said outlet. 23. The device of claim 17, wherein said sleeve comprises synthetic, structurally self supporting foam material. 24. A method of fabricating a roof ventilation device, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a tubular housing through which air may flow; (b) forming a first insert portion; (c) forming a second insert portion, said first and second insert portions having a passageway through which air may flow; (d) forming a substantially flat valve member configured to cover said passageway; (e) interposing said valve member in sandwiched relationship between said first and second insert portions; and, (f) inserting said first and second insert portions and said valve member in sandwiched relationship into said tubular housing.