US-12624858-B2 - Adjustable vent

US12624858B2US 12624858 B2US12624858 B2US 12624858B2US-12624858-B2

Abstract

An adjustable vent cover assembly comprises sliding leaves with rigid frames and mesh panels that overlap and slide relative to one another, enabling expansion and contraction in both width and height dimensions. The assembly provides continuous adjustment to any position within its adjustment range through a cross-sliding configuration. A guiding system with clips secured to one leaf and rails on adjacent leaves constrains sliding motion to linear vectors while maintaining proper alignment. Each clip engages its corresponding rail in a channel-like relationship. The rigid frames are formed from metallic material, and mounting features include front flanges, fastener apertures, adhesive surfaces, or bracket attachment points for versatile installation options.

Inventors

Charles Lloyd, III
Charles Lloyd, IV
Jimmy Gao

Assignees

Aperture Control Systems LLC

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20251104

Claims (5)

1 . An adjustable vent cover assembly, comprising: a plurality of leaves, each leaf including a rigid frame and a mesh panel secured within the frame, wherein the plurality of leaves are configured to overlap and slide relative to one another to allow the assembly to expand and contract in both width and height dimensions, and wherein the assembly is configured for continuous adjustment to any position within an adjustment range, wherein the plurality of leaves comprises at least two leaves arranged in a cross-sliding configuration, wherein the adjustable vent cover assembly further comprises a guiding system that constrains sliding motion of the plurality of leaves to linear vectors and maintains alignment between adjacent leaves, wherein the guiding system comprises clips secured to a first leaf and rails on an adjacent second leaf, wherein each clip engages a corresponding rail in a channel-like relationship, wherein the guiding system employs at least six clips distributed along the plurality of leaves, wherein the clips are secured to the first leaf, wherein the mesh panel comprises ember-resistant mesh having apertures of ⅛ inch or smaller, wherein the assembly is configured for tool-free adjustment, wherein the assembly is configured to expand from a contracted state to an expanded state with expansion ranges allowing coverage from approximately 10×5 inches to approximately 17×8 inches.
2 . The adjustable vent cover assembly of claim 1 , wherein the rigid frame of each leaf is formed from a metallic material.
3 . The adjustable vent cover assembly of claim 1 , further comprising mounting features selected from the group consisting of a front flange extending outward from a perimeter of the plurality of leaves, apertures for mechanical fasteners, adhesive mounting surfaces, and bracket attachment points.
4 . A method of installing an adjustable vent cover assembly, comprising: providing an adjustable vent cover assembly having a plurality of sliding leaves configured to expand and contract in both width and height; adjusting the dimensions of the assembly to fit a vent opening; and securing the assembly to cover the vent opening, wherein the plurality of sliding leaves comprises at least two leaves arranged in a cross-sliding configuration, each leaf including a rigid frame and a mesh panel secured within the frame, wherein adjusting the dimensions comprises sliding the plurality of sliding leaves relative to one another using a guiding system that constrains sliding motion to linear vectors, wherein the guiding system comprises clips secured to a first leaf and rails on an adjacent second leaf, and wherein each clip engages a corresponding rail in a channel-like relationship; wherein the plurality of sliding leaves comprises at least two leaves with rigid frames formed from metallic material and mesh panels comprising mesh material selected from the group consisting of wire mesh, perforated sheet material, expanded metal, and fire-resistant fabric, wherein the mesh panel comprises ember-resistant mesh having apertures of ⅛ inch or smaller, wherein the guiding system employs at least six clips distributed along the plurality of sliding leaves with the clips being secured to the first leaf, wherein the guiding system alternatively comprises one of tongue-and-groove joints or dovetail joints between adjacent leaves, wherein adjusting the dimensions comprises expanding the assembly from a contracted state where the leaves overlap substantially to an expanded state with expansion ranges allowing coverage from approximately 10×5 inches to approximately 17×8 inches, wherein the assembly is configured for tool-free adjustment, and wherein securing the assembly comprises using a front flange extending outward from a perimeter of the adjustable vent cover assembly and mechanical fasteners extending through apertures in the frames.
5 . The method of claim 4 , wherein securing the assembly comprises using mounting features selected from the group consisting of a front flange, mechanical fasteners, adhesive mounting, and bracket attachment points.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 19/315,304, entitled “Adjustable Vent Cover Assembly,” filed Aug. 29, 2025, which claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/690,010, entitled “Adjustable Vent,” filed on Sep. 3, 2024 to Lloyd et al., and claims priority to and benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 63/798,800, entitled “Adjustable Vent,” filed on May 2, 2025 to Lloyd et al., which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties. FIELD OF INVENTION The present disclosure relates to ventilation systems and building airflow management, and more particularly to an adjustable vent cover assembly comprising sliding leaves with a clip-and-rail guiding system that allows expansion and contraction in both width and height dimensions to fit various vent opening sizes. BACKGROUND In the field of building construction, particularly in the design and installation of ventilation systems for residential and commercial properties, the use of vents for exterior openings in crawl-spaces and attics is a common practice. These vents serve a variety of purposes, including the regulation of air flow, the prevention of moisture buildup, and the deterrence of pests. They also play a critical role in fire safety, particularly in Woodland Urban Interface zones where the risk of wildfires is high and building codes increasingly require ember-resistant vent designs. Traditionally, these vents are designed and manufactured in specific sizes to fit standard-sized openings. This approach, while effective in many cases, presents several challenges. For one, it requires manufacturers to produce a wide range of vent sizes to accommodate the variety of potential opening dimensions. This can lead to increased manufacturing costs and complexity in inventory management. For builders and contractors, it means having to stock and manage a variety of vent sizes, which can be cumbersome and inefficient. Furthermore, in the case of older buildings with non-standard vent sizes, finding a vent that fits perfectly can be a challenge. This often necessitates custom-made vents, which can be time-consuming and costly to produce. In addition, in areas prone to wildfires, there is a growing demand for fire-resistant vents that can help prevent the spread of fire through the vent openings. These specialized vents often require multi-stage filtration systems to block embers while maintaining airflow, adding further complexity and cost to their manufacture. Therefore, there is a clear demand for improvements in the design and manufacture of vents for exterior openings in crawl-spaces and attics. Such improvements could potentially address the aforementioned challenges, offering a more versatile, cost-effective, and fire-safe solution for the construction industry. Vent openings are commonly installed in residential and commercial buildings to provide airflow for crawl-spaces and attics. These openings typically require a vent cover or grille to prevent debris, pests, and other undesirable matter from entering while also allowing air to flow freely. Conventional vent covers are manufactured in fixed, standard sizes and must precisely match the dimensions of the vent opening for proper installation. Most vent covers suffer from several limitations in their design and functionality. Fixed-dimension covers require homeowners and installers to purchase covers that exactly match their vent opening dimensions, which can be problematic when openings are non-standard sizes. When dimensional mismatches occur, modification of either the cover or the opening may be necessary, resulting in additional costs and installation time. Some adjustable vent covers exist in the prior art, but they often allow only linear expansion in one direction and tend to be mechanically weak, leaving gaps or misalignments when extended. Existing adjustable designs often lack precise guiding features, resulting in wobble, rattling, or poor fit when the cover is expanded. These structural weaknesses can compromise both the aesthetic appearance and functional performance of the ventilation system. Additionally, many conventional covers provide limited mounting options, restricting their versatility across different architectural environments and installation requirements. For vents that must comply with wildfire safety codes, the complexity of incorporating multi-stage filtration for ember resistance into an adjustable design has proven particularly challenging, often resulting in expensive custom solutions rather than adaptable, standardized products. Previous vent assemblies include the following: U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0220068 is directed to a vent assembly having a vent cover and sliding air flow regulator for controlling the flow of air through the vent cover. The assembly includes couplers that interconnect the air flow regulator and vent cover for