Appeal No. 2006-1308
Application No. 10/269,974
BACKGROUND
The appellant's invention relates to a fire-rated, self-closing vent for soffits
and walls connecting the exterior of a building to its interior (specification, p. 2).
The vent comprises a screen surrounded by a peripheral frame, wherein the screen
comprises cells coated with an intumescent material (i.e., a material that swells or
expands when subjected to excessive heat). Independent claim 1 is illustrative of
the claimed invention and reads as follows:
1. A self-closing venting system for preventing an
external fire from entering a building through external
vents, said self-closing venting system comprising in
combination:
an external wall of a building, said external wall
including a vent opening therethrough;
a self-closing vent, said self-closing vent
comprising:
a frame, said frame defining a central opening;
a screen, said screen being contained within said
frame and covering said central opening while allowing
free flow of air therethrough; and
the walls of said screen being coated with a layer
of an intumescent material which closes said screen when
subjected to the heat produced by an external fire; and
said self-closing vent being mounted on said
external wall to cover said vent opening.
The examiner relies upon the following as evidence of unpatentability:
Lamb 2,279,791 Apr. 14, 1942
Thwaites 4,093,818 Jun. 6, 1978
Urdaneta 4,722,158 Feb. 2, 1988
2
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