# US 2009/0260665 A1 · Ventilator for venting covers > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2009/0260665 A1 - Document ID: US20090260665A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 12/400,952 - Filed: 2009-03-10 - Published: 2009-10-22 - Earliest claimed: 2008-03-10 - Inventors: William Gridley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20090260665A1 ## CPC - B63J 2/04: of living spaces - F24F 7/02: Roof ventilation (ventilation of roof coverings E04D) - F24F 2007/0025: {using vent ports in a wall} - Y02T 70/00: Maritime or waterways transport - Y10S 135/905: Method of erecting shelter - B63J: AUXILIARIES ON VESSELS - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10S: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS ## Abstract Disclosed is an improved ventilator apparatus for vehicle covers. The apparatus comprises a dome section that is associated with a first ventilator plate on the outside of a vehicle cover. The Dome section extends through the vehicle cover where it is associated with a second ventilator plate. A nut is used to releasably associate the component pieces together so that a portion of the vehicle cover is clamped between the first ventilator plate and the second ventilator plate. Both the first ventilator plate and second ventilator plate are configured so that either plate may be used on the inside or outside of the cover. The improved ventilator plate design comprises air vents disposed within the plate so that water on a top surface of the ventilator plate cannot run into the vent openings. In addition, support gussets have been redesigned so provide an improved venturi action that tends to suck air through the vent opening when air blows across the vent openings. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover, said improved ventilator comprising: a dome comprising a dome portion and a depending shaft portion wherein said dome portion defines one of (a) a generally circular umbrella shape, and (b) a polygonal umbrella shape, wherein the center of said dome portion is the upper most portion an wherein the outer surface curves in a downward direction extending away from said axial center a predefined distance thereby defining a dome-outer-perimeter; wherein said shaft portion extends downwardly from the center of said dome portion, said shaft portion defining an shaft opening suitably sized to receive a support structure; two ventilator plates, wherein each ventilator plate comprises two opposed surfaces defining a plate hole there through in the approximate center, said plate hole defining a shaft receiver suitably sized to receive said shaft portion, wherein said opposed surfaces extend from said shaft receiver to a predefined point thereby defining an plate-outer-perimeter; wherein one side of said ventilator plate defines a gripping-surface and the opposing side of said ventilator plate defines a gusset-surface; wherein each ventilator plate further defines a vent section disposed around said shaft receiver, said vent section defining at least one air passage, where said air passage extends beyond the gusset-surface thereby defining a vent height; wherein each gusset-surface defines a plurality of gusset supports extending perpendicularly from the gusset-surface to a predefined gusset-height and further extending outward from said vent section toward said plate-outer-perimeter; wherein each gripping-surface defines a gripping region; a fastening device configured to mechanically associate the ventilator plates and dome together so that they clamp together; and wherein said predefined gusset-height is equal too or less than the vent height thereby improving airflow across said air vents. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 1, wherein said shaft opening is a blind axial opening and wherein one of said two ventilator plates is an integral component of said dome. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 1, wherein said shaft portion defines a step configured to associate with a surface of a first ventilator plate to determine the point where said first ventilator plate is positioned along said shaft portion and thereby defining the gap between the dome-outer-perimeter and the plate-outer-perimeter. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 2, wherein said shaft portion defines an axial key and wherein each ventilators plate defines a key way configured for associating with the axial key thereby aligning the ventilator plates and preventing said ventilator plates from rotating about the shaft portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 4, wherein said vent section defines four pairs of air passages disposed at substantially equal distances around the shaft portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 1, wherein said gripping region defines an annular region wherein said annular region defines an outer-gripping-diameter and an inter-gripping-diameter, wherein a plurality of gripping-strips extend along said annular region from the inter-gripping-diameter to the outer-gripping-diameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 6, wherein at least one of said plurality of gripping-strips is separated from an adjacent gripping-strip by an alignment-tooth. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 6, wherein said gripping-region comprises thirty gripping-strips. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 6, wherein said gripping region is divided by a seam-channel free of gripping-strips, said seam-channel suitable for receiving the seam of a cover. ### Claim 10 An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover, said improved ventilator comprising: a dome comprising a dome portion and a depending shaft portion wherein said dome portion defines one of (a) a generally circular umbrella shape, and (b) a polygonal umbrella shape, wherein the center of said dome portion is the upper most portion an wherein the outer surface curves in a downward direction extending away from said axial center a predefined distance thereby defining a dome-outer-perimeter; wherein said shaft portion extends downwardly from the center of said dome portion, said shaft portion defining an shaft opening suitably sized to receive a support structure; two ventilator plates, wherein each ventilator plate comprises two opposed surfaces defining a plate hole there through in the approximate center, said plate hole defining a shaft receiver suitably sized to receive said shaft portion, wherein said opposed surfaces extend from said shaft receiver to a predefined point thereby defining an plate-outer-perimeter; wherein one side of said ventilator plate defines a gripping-surface and the opposing side of said ventilator plate defines a gusset-surface; wherein each ventilator plate further defines a vent section disposed around said shaft receiver, said vent section defining at least one air passage, where said air passage extends beyond the gusset-surface thereby defining a vent height; wherein said gusset-surface defines a plurality of gusset supports extending perpendicularly from the gusset-surface to a predefined gusset-height and further extending outward from said vent section toward said plate-outer-perimeter; a fastening device configured to mechanically associate the ventilator plates and dome together so that they clamp together; wherein said gripping-surface defines an annular gripping region wherein said annular gripping region defines an outer-gripping-diameter and an inter-gripping-diameter, and wherein a plurality of gripping-strips extend along said annular gripping region from the inter-gripping-diameter to the outer-gripping-diameter; and a seam-channel running from a first outer-gripping-diameter point and along said gripping-surface to a second outer-gripping-diameter point, wherein said seam-channel is free of gripping-strips. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 10, wherein said predefined gusset-height is equal too or less than the vent height thereby improving airflow across said air vents. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 10, wherein said shaft opening is a blind axial opening and wherein one of said two ventilator plates is an integral component of said dome. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 10, wherein said shaft portion defines a step configured to associate with a surface of a first ventilator plate to determine the point where said first ventilator plate is positioned along said shaft portion and thereby defining the gap between the dome-outer-perimeter and the plate-outer-perimeter and wherein said shaft portion defines an axial key and wherein each ventilators plate defines a key way configured for associating with the axial key thereby aligning the ventilator plates and preventing said ventilator plates from rotating about the shaft portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 10, wherein said gripping-surface comprises an annular gripping-region defining an outer-gripping-diameter and an inter-gripping-diameter, wherein a plurality of gripping-strips extend along the gripping region from the inter-gripping-diameter to the outer-gripping-diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 6) An improved ventilator for ventilating a cover as in claim 6, wherein at least one of said plurality of gripping-strips is separated from an adjacent gripping-strip by an alignment-tooth. ### Claim 16 An adjustable ventilator system for ventilating a cover, said improved ventilator comprising: a dome comprising a dome portion and a depending shaft portion wherein said dome portion defines one of (a) a generally circular umbrella shape, and (b) a polygonal umbrella shape, wherein the center of said dome portion is the upper most portion an wherein the outer surface curves in a downward direction extending away from said axial center a predefined distance thereby defining a dome-outer-perimeter; wherein said shaft portion extends downwardly from the center of said dome portion, said shaft portion defining an shaft opening suitably sized to receive a support structure; two ventilator plates, wherein each ventilator plate comprises two opposed surfaces defining a plate hole there through in the approximate center, said plate hole defining a shaft receiver suitably sized to receive said shaft portion, wherein said opposed surfaces extend from said shaft receiver to a predefined point thereby defining an plate-outer-perimeter; wherein one side of said ventilator plate defines a gripping-surface and the opposing side of said ventilator plate defines a gusset-surface; wherein each ventilator plate further defines a vent section disposed around said shaft receiver, said vent section defining at least one air passage, where said air passage extends beyond the gusset-surface thereby defining a vent height; wherein said gusset-surface defines a plurality of gusset supports extending perpendicularly from the gusset-surface to a predefined gusset-height and further extending outward from said vent section toward said plate-outer-perimeter; a fastening device configured to mechanically associate the ventilator plates and dome together so that they clamp together; wherein said gripping-surface defines an annular gripping region wherein said annular gripping region defines an outer-gripping-diameter and an inter-gripping-diameter, and wherein a plurality of gripping-strips extend along said annular gripping region from the inter-gripping-diameter to the outer-gripping-diameter; a seam-channel running from a first outer-gripping-diameter point and along said gripping-surface to a second outer-gripping-diameter point, wherein said seam-channel is free of gripping-strips; and an adjustable support structure configured for being mechanically associated with said shaft portion wherein said adjustable support structure is configured so that one of: (a) the length of said adjustable support structure is adjustable, and (b) the position of the dome portion relative a support pole is adjustable. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) An adjustable ventilator system for ventilating a cover as in claim 16, wherein said predefined gusset-height is equal too or less than the vent height thereby improving airflow across said air vents. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) An adjustable ventilator system for ventilating a cover as in claim 16, wherein said shaft opening is a blind axial opening and wherein said adjustable support structure is a member of the group consisting of: (a) a pneumatically operated telescoping support structure; and (b) a flip lock telescoping pole. ### Claim 19 An adjustable ventilator system for ventilating a cover 16, further comprising a electronic module comprising a air input mechanically associated with an air source and an air output mechanically associated with said pneumatically operated telescoping support structure, wherein said electronic module is configured to maintain the air pressure in said pneumatically operated telescoping support structure between a predefined maximum and predefined minimum value. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) An adjustable ventilator system for ventilating cover as in claim 16, wherein the shaft hole extends though said shaft portion and said dome portion and wherein the position of the dome portion relative a support pole is adjustable and wherein said adjustable support structure is a member of the group consisting of: (a) a gear driven adjustable support structure; and (c) an adjustable ventilator jack support structure.