Abstract:
Provided, herein is a bird proof exhaust vent apparatus, the apparatus comprising a top portion, the top portion comprising a vent inlet opening disposed for connection to an exhaust vent of a building structure, the exhaust vent apparatus further comprising a sidewall portion in connection with the top portion, the sidewall portion comprising an vertically oriented elongate sidewall portion forming a conduit and terminating in an outlet opening, wherein the conduit has a cross-sectional, dimension that is less than the wingspan of a target bird.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0001]    The present disclosure relates to exhaust vents, air inlets and outlets. In particular, the present disclosure relates to bird-proof exhaust vent covers. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Exhaust vents, such as exhaust vents for clothes dryers and bathroom exhaust fans, allow birds to get into the exhaust duct and build nests. The resulting obstruction causes air flow issues, as well as safety issues, and results in increased operational and repair expenses, as well as increased utility bills. Known exhaust vents sometimes include a mesh screen to keep birds out, but the screen catches lint, dust, causing the screen itself to become an undesirable obstacle to air flow. For example, for clothes dryer vents having a screen, within a few weeks to months the screen becomes blocked by lint, causing the dry time to be extended (if the clothes dry at all). The dryer can overheat, again increasing operational costs, repairs and high utility bills. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  illustrates a front view of an exemplary bird-proof vent cover apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary bird-proof vent cover apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  illustrates a rear view of an exemplary bird-proof vent cover apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  illustrates a rear perspective view of an exemplary bird-proof vent cover apparatus in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 5  illustrates an exemplary bird-proof vent cover apparatus mounted on a vertical surface in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0008]    Provided herein is a bird proof exhaust vent apparatus. The apparatus includes features to make it difficult, if not impossible, for birds to enter the vent or build nests in the vent or vent cover. The apparatus, in come embodiments, offers the further advantage of being low maintenance, requiring little to none in terms of cleaning and maintenance during its useful life (decades). 
         [0009]    In an example shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , an exemplary bird-proof, maintenance-free cover is shown. In this example, the cover  10  is designed to install easily over any existing residential exhaust vent that is mounted on a vertical surface. For example,  FIG. 5  shows the cover  10  mounted over an existing clothes dryer vent on the vertical exterior surface of a residential home having vinyl siding thereon. However, in another embodiment, the cover  10  can be a complete vent solution, including a cover  10  having an integral vent. In a preferred embodiment, the vent  100  includes a closeable vent louver  110 . In the most preferred embodiment, the vent  100  includes a hinged louver  110  for opening and closing the vent opening, such as by positive air pressure created by an attached appliance, such as a clothes dryer, exhaust fan, furnace, water heater, oven, or fireplace, for example. 
         [0010]    The cover  10  includes several key features that prevent birds from building nests, obstructing, entering, or otherwise interfering with the vent  100  and vent louver  110 , as well as the vent opening (not illustrated). In the example of  FIGS. 1-5 , the cover  10  includes a top portion  20  that is shaped and otherwise configured so as to prevent birds from sitting on the top portion  20 , and also to prevent the construction of nests on the top portion  20  of the cover  10 . In the example of  FIGS. 1-5 , the top portion  20  specifically comprises a sloped portion, as illustrated. In any case, when installed, the top portion  20  lacks any appreciable surface portion that would be oriented horizontally upon installation of the cover  10 . Preferably, the top portion  20  includes a surface or coating that provides low-friction. For example, the top portion  20  can include an outer surface portion that is coated with smooth, hard coating such as, but not limited to, paint, metal, PTFE (such as TEFLON brand PTFE by DuPont), and the like. 
         [0011]    As shown in  FIG. 1-5 , the cover  10  also preferably includes an elongate sidewall portion  40 . The sidewall portion  40  extends vertically downward from the top portion  20 , and forms and connects a vent opening  70  of the vent cover  10  to an end opening  50  of the cover  10 . In other words, the sidewalk portion  40  forms an elongate vertically-orientated conduit from outlet opening  50  to rear opening  70 , allowing air from the vent  100  to escape through the cover  10 , with most of the air preferably exiting outlet opening  50 . The sidewall portion  40  is illustrated as substantially rectangular, however, it may be made into any elongate shape and cross section. The critical feature of sidewall portion  40  is that it extends vertically downward from vent  100  and top portion  20  far enough to prevent birds from passing through outlet opening  50  and reaching the vent  100  or louver  110 . The inventive concept incorporated in this feature is that birds cannot fly vertically upward in confined vertical spaces. Therefore, the cross-sectional dimension of elongate portion of sidewall  40  should be less than a target bird&#39;s wing span. For example, for sparrows, the maximum inner diameter of sidewall portion  40  should be less than about 7 inches. However, even if a greater inner diameter is provided, the vertical length of sidewall portion is designed and sized, and optionally shaped (such as in a converging portion of a sidewall portion  40 ) to prevent vertical flying, such as to prevent a bird from entering opening  50  by reaching rear opening  70 . Preferably, the vertical length of sidewall portion spans at least 8 inches from the bottom of opening  70  to the end of sidewall portion  40  at outlet opening  50 . More preferably, that length is more than 10 inches. More preferably, that length is more than 12 inches. 
         [0012]    Optionally, the sidewall portion  40  of cover  10  further includes a permeable sidewall portion  30  that is permeable to air flow. The permeable sidewall portion  30  in the illustrated examples is a screen, such as a metal wire mesh screen having square openings of about 0.5 to 1.0 inch. However, the permeable sidewall portion  30  can be of any material, such as metal, plastic, or other screen material compatible with exposure to the exhaust air and with environmental elements such as sun, rain, snow, wind, for example. Optionally, in the preferred embodiments, the permeable sidewall portion  30   
         [0013]    includes a screen of significant opening sizes as to allow for ready exhaust air flow, while also permitting visual monitoring of the vent  100  and vent louver  110  function by a user from the ground under cover  10 . 
         [0014]    In the example illustrated in  FIGS. 1-5 , the square wire mesh of permeable portion  30 , and the elongate vertical sidewall portion  40  together function to keep birds out, since birds can not fly vertical with their wings closed. The open bottom design of outlet opening  50  further allows for any lint to drop out so the vent  100  and louver  110  will not clog. The top portion  20  of the vent cover is angled so birds can not build nests on top of it. A further advantage is that the exemplary cover  10  illustrated will not collect lint, but also will not prevent a vent  100  from catching lint if the vent  100  design is made to catch lint. 
         [0015]    Lastly, the cover  10  is adaptable to installation over existing, previously installed vents  100 . As shown in  FIGS. 1-5 , the cover  10  includes one or more mounting portions  60  that can be attached to a building  200  by any known fastener system. 
         [0016]    While the inventive concepts herein are illustrated in one embodiment, other embodiments are conceived and adequately described and enabled herein so as to entitle the inventor to a claim scope broader than the embodiment illustrated. Nothing herein is intended to narrow that scope.