Rim joist vent

Abstract

A vent including: a flange forming an outer periphery of the vent and having a substantially rectangular shape; an extruded portion extending outwardly from an inner portion of the flange; and a louvered section disposed in an area inside the extruded portion, the louvered section including a plurality of louvers each having an angled section disposed at an angle with respect to the flange, wherein the flange, the extruded portion, and the louvered section are formed as a single unitary piece.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vent comprising:
 a flange forming an outer periphery of the vent and having a substantially rectangular shape;   an extruded portion extending outwardly from an inner portion of the flange; and   a louvered section disposed in an area inside the extruded portion, the louvered section including a plurality of louvers each having an angled section disposed at an angle with respect to the flange,   wherein the flange, the extruded portion, and the louvered section are formed as a single unitary piece.   
     
     
         2 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the flange, the extruded portion, and the louvered section are formed from plastic material. 
     
     
         3 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein a least a portion of a surface of the vent is textured. 
     
     
         4 . The vent of  claim 3 , wherein the textured portion of the surface of the vent includes a wood grain texture. 
     
     
         5 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein each louver includes a front vertical section and a rear vertical section; and wherein the angled section connects the front vertical section and the rear vertical section. 
     
     
         6 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the louvered section includes a central support section; and wherein the central support section is disposed substantially toward the center of louvered section and includes support members disposed between and coupled with adjacent louvers. 
     
     
         7 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the louvered section includes end support sections disposed at ends of the louvers. 
     
     
         8 . The vent of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a mesh filter attached to a rear side of the vent.   
     
     
         9 . The vent of  claim 8 , wherein the mesh filter covers the rear side of the louvered section. 
     
     
         10 . The vent of  claim 8 , wherein the mesh filter is made of a plastic or metallic material. 
     
     
         11 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the flange includes a plurality of nail hole patterns pre-formed therein. 
     
     
         12 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the nail hole patterns are pre-formed in substantially corner areas of the flange. 
     
     
         13 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the nail hole patterns include at least one star pattern including a central circular portion and a plurality of triangular sections connected to and extending away from the central circular portion. 
     
     
         14 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the nail hole patterns include at least one wheel pattern including a central circular portion and a plurality of curved sections disposed apart from and extending away from the central circular portion. 
     
     
         15 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the nail hole patterns include at least one sun pattern including a central circular portion and a plurality of triangular sections disposed apart from and extending away from the central circular portion. 
     
     
         16 . The vent of  claim 11 , wherein the nail hole patterns include a depressed ex pattern including depressed section depressed below the surface of the flange and including an ex shaped pattern formed therein. 
     
     
         17 . The vent of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a removable cover structured to fit over the louvered section to prevent air from passing through the louvered section.   
     
     
         18 . The vent of  claim 1 , wherein the vent is adapted for use as a crawl space vent.