Abstract:
A vent assembly for attachment to a fluid discharge conduit of the type connected to a clothes dryer, room exhaust fan, or the like is adapted to reduce or prevent the trapping of dirt or lint as well as flapping or vibration of the door in windy conditions. A mount having an opening is received on the conduit and a door is pivotally received by the mount. The door is operable for displacement with respect to the opening between an open position and a closed position when engaged by a fluid, such as air from a clothes dryer, flowing through the discharge conduit. A hood is pivotally mounted over the door and mount opening, and is operable for displacement with respect to the mount when engaged by the door and/or by fluid flowing through the discharge conduit.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The present invention claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application Ser. No. 60/974,129, filed Sep. 21, 2007, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates in general to venting and conduit devices for routing fluid/air exhaust, such as from a clothes dryer or the like, from within a structure to a remote location outside of the structure. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    The exhaust from a clothes dryer, a bathroom fan, a kitchen fan or similar device is typically routed to the outside atmosphere by means of some type of conduit and vent. The exit location from the corresponding structure is typically an outside wall of the structure. The conduit is secured to an exhaust conduit of the clothes dryer, bathroom fan, or kitchen fan and then routed to the exit location. At the exit location a flow opening or passageway is created in the structure wall and a suitable vent is mounted into, onto, or across the exit flow opening. In order to substantially prevent the inflow or backflow of outside air, as well as to prevent the entry of moisture which may result from rain or snow, conventional exhaust vents may be covered with a hood and may include a one-way or hinged flapper or a series of hinged louvers secured within a surrounding frame. 
         [0004]    One of the problems with conventional vents, such as louvers or flappers, is that external vent hoods and even the conduit itself open out into the atmosphere and create a protected, warm location for birds and small animals to nest. The building of a nest in this area can prevent the conduit, flappers or louvers from freely opening in response to exiting exhaust air from the clothes dryer or similar device. Such an obstruction caused by the nest and/or birds or animals may interfere with the operation of the clothes dryer, cause damage to the clothes dryer, and could even create a risk of fire. Additionally, conventional clothes dryers may not provide any heat when such an obstruction causes limited or diminished air flow to the dryer. Even if the flapper or louvers are operable, an open and unguarded conduit provides an entrance path into the structure for birds and small animals. Moreover, birds and small animals are often able to open the flappers or louvers to gain entry into the conduit. 
         [0005]    Some conventional systems utilize grid-like guards to cover either the conduit opening or hood opening to prevent entry of birds and small animals. However, these conventional grid-like guard systems require constant monitoring to prevent build up of lint exiting the clothes dryer through the conduit, and require frequent and repeated cleanings to clear the passageways. If the screen or grid is not cleaned or cleared, the blockage of air flow may interfere with the operation of the clothes dryer or other device. Additionally, conventional systems also experience issues with chattering or vibration from vents during operation. Further, conventional systems equipped with relatively large, fixed hoods are generally unsightly, may entrap lint or other debris within the hood due to turbulence in the air or fluid flow within the hood, and may provide attractive space for hornet and wasp nests and the like. Also, fixed hood vents having pivoting vent doors may also encounter annoying and noisy flapping of the door within the hood in windy conditions even when there is no air flow through the conduit. This flapping can also create the opportunity for nesting and/or entry of birds or animals in the fluid conduit. 
         [0006]    Therefore, there is a need for an improvement to existing dryer exhaust vent design so that birds and small animals or insects cannot nest inside the hood or gain access to the area adjacent to the vent flapper or vent louvers around the conduit. 
         [0007]    There is a further need for unrestricted, free flow of exhaust from the clothes dryer while still providing a suitable barrier to the entry of birds and small animals without requiring frequent repeated inspection and maintenance to ensure unrestricted free flow of exhaust. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The present invention provides a vent assembly for a discharge conduit which, when installed on the conduit, provides a venting system that mitigates the above-discussed difficulties. The vent assembly of the present invention provides a hinged door for covering the discharge conduit and a hinged low-profile hood for covering the door. The door preferably has a surface portion that requires the door to be sufficiently moved out of the discharge conduit before access to the conduit is obtained, whereby birds and other wildlife are restricted from entering the conduit. The vent assembly of the present invention eliminates the need for continuous and repeated monitoring of the discharge conduit and/or vent assembly itself for any buildup of materials and the like. 
         [0009]    According to one form of the present invention, a vent assembly for attachment to a fluid discharge conduit includes a mount having an opening received on the conduit, a door pivotally received by the mount for covering the opening on the mount, and a hood pivotally received by the mount for covering the opening on the mount and the door. The door is movable between an open position and a closed position, with respect to the opening, when the door is engaged by fluid flowing through the discharge conduit. The hood is movable with respect to the mount and the door. The hood and the door restrict birds, animals, and the like from entering the conduit while permitting the flow of air or fluid out of the conduit. 
         [0010]    According to one aspect, the first and second surface portions of the door form a wedge-like shape. The first surface portion includes a planar plate. The second surface portion includes a conical wall forming a base of the wedge-like shape. The base is located opposite the position at which the door is pivotally received by the mount. 
         [0011]    According to another aspect, the first and second surface portions of the door form a recessed cavity in the door. 
         [0012]    In yet another aspect of the present invention, the door further includes a lip extending from the edge of the door and engaging the opening in the closed position. The opening includes a rim surface protruding from the mount to receive the conduit. The rim surface receives and engages the door in the closed position. The lip rests substantially flush on the rim surface. The first and second surface portions extend into the opening when the door is in the closed position. 
         [0013]    According to still another aspect of the present invention, the hood is urged into the open position only after the door pivots sufficiently to contact the hood. The door may support the hood in the hood&#39;s open position when the door is engaged by fluid flowing through the discharge conduit. Alternatively, the hood may be urged into the open position when the hood is engaged by fluid flowing through the discharge conduit. 
         [0014]    In another form of the present invention, a venting system includes a discharge conduit connectable to an air exhaust outlet with an open end, a mount having an opening received by the discharge conduit, a door pivotally received by the mount, and a hood pivotally received by the mount. The door includes a first surface portion for covering at least a portion of the opening, and a second surface portion extending from the door and protruding into the opening. The door is operable for displacement with respect to the opening between an opened position and a closed position when the door is engaged by a fluid flowing through the discharge conduit. The hood is operable for displacement with respect to the mount and the door. The door is in the open position only after the door pivots sufficiently to move the first and second surface portions fully out of the opening, whereby birds, animals, and the like are restricted from entering the conduit. 
         [0015]    According to another form of the present invention, a vent assembly for attachment to a fluid discharge conduit includes a mount, a door, and a hood. The mount has an opening for receiving the conduit. The door and hood are pivotally mounted or hinged to the mount via respective hinge members, with the hood covering the door when both are in a closed position. The hood includes a substantially continuous edge that contacts, abuts, or rests adjacent to the mount and surrounds the opening and door when the hood is closed. The door is positionable between an open position when fluid is discharged from the conduit, and a closed position when fluid is not discharged from the conduit. The hood is similarly positionable between open and closed positions according to the discharge of the fluid from the conduit and the position of the door. The door and/or hood are thus closed, and the hood substantially covers the door, when fluid is not being discharged from the conduit, whereby birds, animals, and the like are restricted from entering the conduit. 
         [0016]    In one aspect, at least a portion of an upper region of the hood extends downwardly away from the hood&#39;s hinge member when the hood is in the closed position, thereby at least partially defining a fluid path between the upper region of the door and the mount when the hood is open. 
         [0017]    In another aspect, the fluid path permits an ambient fluid to be drawn along the door in response to the discharge fluid flowing through the conduit. 
         [0018]    Therefore, the present invention provides a vent assembly for attachment to a fluid discharge conduit. The vent assembly preferably includes a door with a first surface portion, a second surface portion, and a lip surface for effectively closing an open end of the discharge conduit and freely opening to allow exhaust fluid from the discharge conduit. The vent assembly further includes a hood for aesthetically covering the door in a low-profile configuration when the door is closed, and for permitting free flow of fluid past the door and hood when the door and hood are in respective open positions. The first and second surface portions of the door extend from the door and protrude into the open end of the discharge conduit. The first and second surface portions of the door must be moved completely out of open end of the discharge conduit to place the door in an open position, thereby restricting entry of a bird or small animal into the discharge conduit. The vent assembly also reduces the buildup of lint and other matter that may collect in passageways of the discharge conduit and interfere with operations of a dryer or other similar devices. The vent assembly freely discharges lint and other matter from a discharge conduit to reduce the need for continuous and repeated monitoring of the discharge conduit for any buildup of lint or the like. Further, the present invention substantially prevents movement of the door in windy conditions when there is no fluid flow through the conduit. 
         [0019]    These and other objects, advantages, purposes, and features of the present invention will become apparent upon review of the specification in conjunction with the drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0020]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a vent assembly in accordance with the present invention with the hood shown in phantom; 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is an exploded perspective view of the vent assembly of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a front elevation of the vent assembly of  FIG. 1  with the hood shown in phantom; 
           [0023]      FIG. 4A  is a side elevation of the vent assembly in a closed position; 
           [0024]      FIG. 4B  is a side sectional view of the vent assembly in an open position when air is flowing through the conduit; 
           [0025]      FIG. 5  is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of the vent assembly of  FIG. 1 , with the hood shown in phantom; 
           [0026]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of another embodiment of the vent assembly with the hood shown in phantom; 
           [0027]      FIG. 7  is an exploded perspective view of the vent assembly of  FIG. 6 ; 
           [0028]      FIG. 8  is a front elevation of the vent assembly of  FIG. 6  with the hood shown in phantom; 
           [0029]      FIG. 9  is a side elevation of the vent assembly of  FIG. 6  in a closed position; 
           [0030]      FIG. 10A  is a side sectional view of the vent assembly in a closed position; 
           [0031]      FIG. 10B  is a side sectional view of the vent assembly in an open position when air is flowing through the conduit; and 
           [0032]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged perspective view of an upper portion of the vent assembly of  FIG. 6 , with the hood shown in phantom; 
           [0033]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of the vent assembly of  FIG. 10B , taken primarily from above; and 
           [0034]      FIG. 13  is a perspective view of the vent assembly of  FIG. 10B , taken from above and from the side. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0035]    Referring now the drawings and the illustrative embodiments depicted therein, a bird and small animal restricting vent assembly  10  for use in attachment to a fluid/air discharge conduit  12  is provided for protecting conduit  12  and presenting an aesthetically pleasing appearance ( FIGS. 1 and 4B ). Vent assembly  10  includes a mounting member or mount  14 , a door  16 , and a hood  18 , and is adapted to mount on and engage fluid discharge conduit  12 . Discharge conduit  12  is typically connected to an exhaust outlet (not shown) from a clothes dryer, a bathroom fan, a kitchen fan, or similar device to discharge fluid/air into the atmosphere outside a building, house, or similar structure (not shown). The term “air” is used hereafter to refer generally to any fluid that is vented through a conduit, and is not intended to be limiting in any way. 
         [0036]    As best seen in  FIG. 2 , mount  14  is a plate-like structure and includes a generally planar back plate  20  having an opening  22  for receiving discharge conduit  12 . Opening  22  is surrounded by a rim  23  that protrudes or extends from planar back plate  20 . A pair of door supports  24  are positioned above opening  22  for pivotally supporting door  16 , which is positioned in opening  22 . Additionally, a pair of resilient hood supports  26  is provided adjacent door supports  24  for pivotally supporting hood  18 , as will be described in greater detail below. Door  16  includes a lip  16   a  that lies adjacent or in contact with rim  23  when air is not flowing through conduit  12  ( FIG. 4A ). Door  16 , opening  22 , and the operation of door  16  in opening  22  are more fully described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/477,845, filed Jun. 29, 2006, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
         [0037]    Door  16  preferably has a truncated conical wall  27  joined to lip  16   a  and a planar plate or wall  29  joined to wall  27  to form a closure for conduit  12  when door  16  is in its closed position. A pair of hinge members  31 , located at an upper portion of door  16 , are pivotally received in respective door supports  24 . The center of gravity of door  16  urges the door to hang substantially vertically with the plane of lip  16   a  substantially vertical and door  16  closed substantially flush onto the edge of rim  23  when mount  14  is positioned on conduit  12 . Conical wall  27  serves to deter birds and small animals from accessing conduit  12  by blocking access to opening  22  when door  16  is initially moved away from its closed position adjacent rim  23  until door  16  has pivoted at least about 25 degrees outward from its closed position. 
         [0038]    A set of guide flanges  28  is provided on either side of opening  22  for receiving side portions  30  of hood  18 . Guide flanges  28  comprise inner flanges  28   a  and outer flanges  28   b . Outer guide flanges  28   b  extend a majority of the entire length of side portions  30  and protect side portions  30  from lifting forces caused by wind or animals, for example. In addition to side portions  30 , hood  18  includes lower portion  32 , upper portion  34 , side edges  30   a , a lower edge  32   a , and an upper edge  34   a.    
         [0039]    Hood  18  includes a pair of hinge members  36  that are substantially cylindrical and sized for pivotable engagement with grooves  26   a  in hood supports  26  ( FIGS. 2 and 5 ). Grooves  26   a  are a pair of partially-cylindrical channels that are coaxially aligned with one another and configured to pivotally receive hinge member  36 . Hood supports  26  are molded projections that are resilient so that supports  26  will flex to enlarge grooves  26   a  as hinge member  36  is snap-fit into them. Hinge member  36  is snap-fit into grooves  26   a  such that hinge member  36  is pivotably and releasably received at planar back plate  20  of mount  14  above door  16  and opening  22 . The resiliency and flexibility of the material of vent assembly  10 , such as molded polypropylene, facilitates the snap-fit action. 
         [0040]    Hood  18  is movable between a closed position ( FIGS. 1-4A  and  5 ) in which side edges  30   a  are adjacent or in direct contact with back plate  20  between inner flanges  28   a  and outer flanges  28   b , and an open position ( FIG. 4B ) in which hood  18  is moved away from back plate  20  of mount  14 . As best seen in  FIGS. 3 and 4A , when hood  18  is in the closed position lower edge  32   a  is positioned below rim  23  and lip  16   a  such that hood  18  completely covers door  16 , which completely covers opening  22 . Further, in the closed position, hood  18  stands out from planar back plate  20  approximately the same or a slightly greater distance than rim  23  and lip  16   a  stand out from planar back plate  20  when lip  16   a  is adjacent or contacting rim  23 . In this manner, hood  18  provides a low-profile cover that serves to hold door  16  closed and discourages access to door  16  and conduit  12  by birds or small animals when door  16  and hood  18  are in their respective closed positions, while also substantially preventing access, by nest-building insects, for example, to an inner region or space defined between hood  18  and back plate  20 . 
         [0041]    Door  16  is urged into the open position by air flow indicated by arrows in  FIG. 4B , as is more fully described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/477,845, incorporated by reference hereinabove. Hood  18  is urged into the open position by lip  16   a  of door  16  pushing against hood  18  ( FIG. 4B ) and/or by air flow directed against hood to pivot hood  18  upwardly. Hood  18  is preferably made of a lightweight material, such as polypropylene or the like, so that the weight of hood  18  does not substantially urge door  16  downwardly from the door&#39;s natural or free-floating open position and unnecessarily restrict air flow through conduit  12 . As best seen in  FIG. 4A , when the flow of air ceases, gravity acting upon door  16  and hood  18  urges them downwardly into their respective closed positions. 
         [0042]    Accordingly, the vent assembly  10  provides an animal- and wind-resistant cover for fluid conduit  12  where the conduit exits a building, without substantially hindering the flow of air through the conduit when an associated clothes dryer or fan is operating. Further, the close proximity or contact of hood  18  and door  16  when they are in their open positions substantially prevents the flow of air that is laden with lint or dirt between hood  18  and door  16 , which substantially prevents the buildup of lint or dirt between hood  18  and mount  14 , between door  16  and mount  14 , and in the vicinity of door supports  24  and hood supports  26 . The prevention of buildup of lint or dirt in these areas facilitates the continued proper operation of vent assembly  10  without need for frequent visual inspections or manual cleanout of the assembly. Additionally, hood  18  helps to prevent flapping or movement of door  16  in windy conditions when no air is flowing through conduit  12 . 
         [0043]    Optionally, and with reference to  FIGS. 6-11 , an alternative vent assembly  110  for connection to a fluid discharge conduit  112  includes a mounting member or mount  114 , a door  116 , and a hood  118 . When closed, hood  118  completely covers or encloses a rim  123  that protrudes or extends from a planar back plate  120  of mount  114 . Hood  118  includes an upper portion  134  that is contoured away from hinge members  136  such that an upper shoulder edge  134   a  is spaced from back plate  120  when hood  118  is open, as will be described in greater detail below. Hinge members  136  comprise cylindrical horizontal projections that extend laterally outwardly from upper portion  134 . Hinge members  136  are pivotably received in corresponding hood supports  126  of mount  114 . 
         [0044]    In the illustrated embodiment, a backing plate  135  is spaced from mount  114  on conduit  112  such that a building wall (not shown) is received between backing plate  135  and mount  114 . Backing plate  135  improves the aesthetic appearance of the interior wall surface where conduit  112  passes through the wall, and may provide an additional weather seal or prevent or reduce air leaks, drafts or the like. Vent assembly  110  is substantially similar to vent assembly  10 , with corresponding components identified with like numerals having 100 added thereto, such that a detailed discussion of each of the components of vent assembly  110  need not be repeated herein. 
         [0045]    Door  116  includes a single hinge member  131  that is received between a door support  124  and a pair of spaced protrusions or flanges  133  that extend outwardly from rim  123  ( FIGS. 10A-11 ). Hinge member  131  is a cylindrical pin that snaps between door support  124  (which includes a downward projection to releasably capture hinge member  131 ) and flanges  133 , which are located somewhat below door support  124 . Door support  124  permits door  116  to pivot outwardly away from rim  123 , such as when air is discharged through conduit  112  and out through an opening  122  in back plate  120 . 
         [0046]    Hood  118  includes a lower portion  132  that terminates at a lower edge  132   a  that abuts back plate  120  when hood  118  is closed. Lower edge  132   a  joins and is substantially coplanar with side edges  130   a , which join and are substantially coplanar with upper shoulder edge  134   a  ( FIGS. 7 and 9 ). Thus, edges  132   a ,  130   a ,  134   a  cooperate to substantially prevent access or fluid circulation around rim  123  and door  116  when fluid is not being discharged from conduit  112  and hood  118  is closed ( FIG. 10A ). 
         [0047]    As best seen in  FIGS. 12 , and  13 , when hood  118  is raised by the discharge of fluid from conduit  112 , fluid flow paths or open areas A are formed generally between back plate  120  and upper shoulder edges  134   a  of hood  118 . Open areas A provide a fluid flow path for ambient fluid, such as air, to be drawn into the fluid flow path of the fluid (such as hot laundry dryer air) that is being discharged from conduit  112 , where the ambient fluid and discharge fluid flow paths are depicted with arrows in  FIGS. 10B and 13 . The discharge fluid creates a low pressure area below door  116  due to the fluid flow (such as according to Bernoulli&#39;s principle), which draws higher pressure ambient fluid down through open areas A. The ambient fluid drawn into the discharge fluid path forms a cushion or layer of relatively clean ambient fluid between door  116  and the discharge fluid, which may be somewhat laden or contaminated with lint or other debris. 
         [0048]    Thus, the flow of ambient fluid drawn through areas A and between door  116  and the discharge fluid, limits or substantially prevents the buildup of lint, dirt, or debris carried by the discharge fluid through vent assembly  110 . Accordingly, vent assembly  110  permits substantially unrestricted flow of discharge fluid through conduit  112 , while preventing or limiting lint or debris from collecting along surfaces of door  116  and hood  118  and preventing access to the conduit by birds or small animals. 
         [0049]    Changes and modifications in the specifically described embodiments may be carried out without departing from the principles of the present invention, which is intended to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims, as interpreted according to the principles of patent law including the doctrine of equivalents.