# US 12,215,495 B2 · Flood vent having a panel > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,215,495 B2 - Document ID: US12215495B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/307,229 - Filed: 2021-05-04 - Published: 2021-08-19 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2015-12-10 - Assignees: Smart Vent Products, Inc. - Applicants: Smart Vent Products, Inc. - Inventors: Winfield Scott Anderson, Jr.; Tom Little; Michael J. Graham - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12215495B2 ## CPC - E04B 1/7076: {Air vents for walls} - E04H 9/145: {Floods (protecting building openings E06B9/00)} - E06B 5/10: for protection against air-raid or other war-like action; for other protective purposes - E06B 7/14: Measures for draining-off condensed water or water leaking-in {frame members for draining off condensation water, throats at the bottom of a sash} - E06B 9/02: Shutters, movable grilles, or other safety closing devices, e.g. against burglary (louvre windows or grilles E06B7/08; lamellar blinds E06B9/26) - E06B 2009/007: {Flood panels} - E04B: GENERAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTIONS; WALLS, e.g. PARTITIONS; ROOFS; FLOORS; CEILINGS; INSULATION OR OTHER PROTECTION OF BUILDINGS (border constructions of opening in walls, floors or ceilings E06B1/00; {electromagnetic shielding H05K9/0001}) - E04H: BUILDINGS OR LIKE STRUCTURES FOR PARTICULAR PURPOSES; SWIMMING OR SPLASH BATHS OR POOLS; MASTS; FENCING; TENTS OR CANOPIES, IN GENERAL (foundations E02D) - E06B: FIXED OR MOVABLE CLOSURES FOR OPENINGS IN BUILDINGS, VEHICLES, FENCES OR LIKE ENCLOSURES IN GENERAL, e.g. DOORS, WINDOWS, BLINDS, GATES (shades or blinds for greenhouses A01G9/22; curtains A47H; lids for car boots or bonnets B62D25/10; skylights E04B7/18; sunshades, awnings E04F10/00) ## 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 ### Claim 1 A flood vent, comprising: a frame coupled in a vertical orientation to a structure; a flood vent panel coupled to the frame so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening that extends horizontally through the structure, the panel comprising: a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together to form a plurality of straight rows of insulation pieces and a plurality of straight columns of insulation pieces, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces are further positioned together to form a shape having an outer boundary that comprises a top portion of insulation pieces, a bottom portion of insulation pieces, a left-side portion of insulation pieces, and a right-side portion of insulation pieces; a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces, wherein the panel frame is in direct physical contact with the top portion of insulation pieces, the bottom portion of insulation pieces, the left-side portion of insulation pieces, and the right-side portion of insulation pieces; wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is in direct physical contact with at least two of the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces; and wherein, 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, one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces uncouple from the panel so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces and the panel frame are both made of a material comprising paper cellulose and wax. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, 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. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the frame is a stainless steel frame. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 10 insulation pieces. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 15 insulation pieces. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the panel frame. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the panel further comprises one or more insulation piece connectors configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein both the panel frame and the plurality of insulation pieces are made of a same material. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The flood vent of claim 1, wherein the panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces is a single individual unit. ### Claim 13 A flood vent panel, comprising: a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together to form a plurality of straight rows of insulation pieces and a plurality of straight columns of insulation pieces, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces are further positioned together to form a shape having an outer boundary that comprises a top portion of insulation pieces, a bottom portion of insulation pieces, a left-side portion of insulation pieces, and a right-side portion of insulation pieces; a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces, wherein the panel frame is in direct physical contact with the top portion of insulation pieces, the bottom portion of insulation pieces, the left-side portion of insulation pieces, and the right-side portion of insulation pieces; wherein the flood vent panel is coupled to a frame positionable in a vertical orientation on a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through an opening that extends horizontally through the structure; wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is in direct physical contact with at least two of the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces; and wherein, 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, one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces uncouple from the panel so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces and the panel frame are both made of a material comprising paper cellulose and wax. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 10 insulation pieces. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 15 insulation pieces. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the other insulation pieces of the plurality of insulation pieces. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separate from the panel frame. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The flood vent panel of claim 13, further comprising one or more insulation piece connectors configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together.