Flood vent having a panel

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 into an opening in a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through the opening in the structure. One or more of the plurality of insulation pieces are configured to uncouple from the flood vent panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the flood vent panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the flood vent panel.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A flood vent, comprising:
 a frame configured to form a fluid passageway through an opening in a structure; 
 a panel configured to be coupled to the frame in the fluid passageway so as to at least partially block the fluid passageway through the opening in the structure, the panel comprising:
 a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together; and 
 a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces; and 
 
 an insulation piece connector configured to couple the plurality of insulation pieces together, the insulation piece connector further configured to uncouple one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces from the panel 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, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the panel, wherein the frame is the insulation piece connector. 
 
     
     
       2. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the frame includes an internal holding space that is smaller than one or more dimensions of the panel, wherein the panel is positioned in the internal holding space of the frame to couple the panel to the frame. 
     
     
       3. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the frame is a stainless steel frame. 
     
     
       4. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the flood vent further comprises a plastic sheet coupled to the frame, the plastic sheet extending over each of the plurality of insulation pieces, wherein the plastic sheet is configured to prevent air from passing from a second side of the flood vent to a first side of the flood vent. 
     
     
       5. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separated from the other insulation pieces. 
     
     
       6. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separated from the panel frame. 
     
     
       7. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces and the panel frame are both made of cross linked polyethylene. 
     
     
       8. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 10 insulation pieces. 
     
     
       9. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 50 insulation pieces. 
     
     
       10. The flood vent of  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch. 
     
     
       11. A flood vent panel, comprising:
 a plurality of insulation pieces positioned together; and 
 a panel frame surrounding the plurality of insulation pieces; 
 wherein the flood vent panel is configured to be coupled to a frame positionable into an opening in a structure, so as to at least partially block a fluid passageway through the opening in the structure; 
 wherein one or more of the plurality of insulation pieces are configured to uncouple from the flood vent panel when at least a predetermined amount of pressure is applied to a portion of the flood vent panel by one or more of a fluid or an object carried by the fluid, so as to reduce an amount of blockage of the fluid passageway provided by the flood vent panel. 
 
     
     
       12. The flood vent panel of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separated from the other insulation pieces. 
     
     
       13. The flood vent panel of  claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of insulation pieces is separated from the panel frame. 
     
     
       14. The flood vent panel of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces and the panel frame are both made of cross linked polyethylene. 
     
     
       15. The flood vent panel of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 10 insulation pieces. 
     
     
       16. The flood vent panel of  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of insulation pieces comprises at least 50 insulation pieces. 
     
     
       17. The flood vent panel of  claim 11 , wherein the predetermined amount of pressure is 0.5-5.0 pounds per square inch.