Patent ID: 7491120

Claim:
An air vent coupling a first building-enclosed space to a second space primarily isolated from said first building-enclosed space for air movement therebetween, while simultaneously limiting a transmission of sound and thermal energy through said air vent, comprising: a first support channel; a vent control coupled to said first building-enclosed space and having an actuator which allows an occupant of said first building space to open or restrict said air movement between said first building-enclosed space through said first support channel to said second space; a first segment of pipe coupling air passing through said vent control to a first junction between first and second termini of a first acoustic pathway, said first acoustic pathway extending in two opposed directions from said first junction immediately adjacent to said first junction and thereby defining an axis of said first acoustic pathway adjacent to said first junction, said first segment of pipe adjacent said first junction angularly offset from said axis of said first acoustic pathway; said first acoustic pathway extending in a first direction from said first junction to said first terminus and primarily blocking air from passing therethrough; said first acoustic pathway extending in a second direction opposed to said first direction to said second terminus and coupling air passing through said first segment of pipe to said second space; at least one of said first segment of pipe and said acoustic pathway comprising plastic pipe to simultaneously dampen acoustic energy and restrict thermal conduction through said pipe; and a second acoustic pathway coupled through an air passage with said first acoustic pathway at a second junction, said second acoustic pathway extending in two opposed directions from said second function immediately adjacent to said second junction and thereby defining an axis of said second acoustic pathway adjacent to said second junction, said air passage adjacent said second junction angularly offset from said axis of said first acoustic pathway.