Ventilation – Having outlet airway – Having specific cover or shield for exterior vent opening
Reexamination Certificate
2000-06-22
2001-10-16
Joyce, Harold (Department: 3749)
Ventilation
Having outlet airway
Having specific cover or shield for exterior vent opening
C454S359000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06302788
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a clothes dryer vent which is particularly suited to venting the dryer exhaust outdoors while preventing animals from entering the vent.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Exhaust vents have been provided for dryers for several years. Commonly, the exhaust vent includes a type of flapper valve which prevents cold air or hot air from entering the house through the dryer vent. An example of a dryer vent with flapper valve is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,967,490. However, with the exterior vent animals can still enter the vent area and nest in those areas. U.S. Pat. No. 5,547,422 describes a cage-like guard which may be placed over the vent to preclude animals from entering the vent and nesting in the vent opening. However that system is quite bulky and can be damaged since it is mounted on the exterior of the home.
Protective grills or screens have been mounted in the exhaust vent, such as described in Canadian patent 2,111,157 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,408. The protective screens are clip-mounted in the vent or mounted in narrow channels. These arrangements are cumbersome and usually break-down resulting in animals gaining access to the interior of the vent opening.
An attempt to overcome these problems has been provided with snap-fit type grills; for example, as described in Canadian patent application 2,232,659 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,722,181 and 5,916,023. Various arrangements are provided in snap-fitting the grill in place. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,181, the entire grill is snap-fitted to a base. However, it projects considerably from the exterior wall and can be readily knocked off. The grill of U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,023 is mounted at the base of the vent opening. However it is very difficult to remove from the exhaust vent hood, because the snap-fit projections engage the front wall of the hood. One has to use a screwdriver or the like to unclip the grill from the hood. This can result in breakage of the grill particularly at colder temperatures. The hinge-mounted grill, as described in Canadian patent application 2,232,659 is pivoted at its base and clips into the hood at its top. Again, particularly in cold weather, it is particularly difficult to disengage the grill. Normally a screwdriver is required to pry it out. When the grill falls down, it can be readily disengaged from its hinge connections which can result in breakage of the unit.
Applicant's invention overcomes a number of the above problems by providing a grill which is snap-fitted into a downwardly projecting opening of the vent hood, The grill interfits with the hood in a way that it can only be mounted in one direction in the hood. It can only be disengaged by squeezing the grill at its sides and thirdly, the detent system is arranged where such gentle squeezing of the grill provides for immediate disengagement of the grill from the hood.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the invention, a cloths dryer exhaust vent comprises:
i) a vent hood having a rear wall for attachment to a building exterior wall and defining a downwardly projecting rectangular shaped vent opening, the opening being defined in part by a reinforcing flange about hood opening perimeter, the flange having an interior surface about three sides of the opening, the fourth side of the opening being defined by the rear wall, the flange interior having on opposing interior sides stops and detent projections, the rear wall defining said fourth side of the opening and having a downwardly extending ridge,
ii) a detachable grill for the vent hood opening which snap fits into the opening by engaging the interior surface of therein forcing flange, the grill having a three sided perimeter lip for fitment within the reinforcing flange, the fourth side of the grill having a depending lip for mating fit over the ridge of the rear wall, the grill having on opposing lip portion recesses for receiving the detent projections of the hood, the opposing lip portions having rear edges which engage the stops of the hood, the stops being positioned on the hood reinforcing flanges to locate the grill recesses to snap fit with the detents and provide for portions of the grill opposing lips to project outwardly of the hood flange, the outwardly projecting lip portions providing finger grip sections to permit grasping the grill opposing walls and by gentle inward pressure disengage the grill from the hood for cleaning, the grill depending lip matingly engaging the hood ridge providing for one-way fitment of the grill on reinstallation to the hood.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4967490 (1990-11-01), Berger
patent: 5046408 (1991-09-01), Eugenio
patent: 5547422 (1996-08-01), Seboldt
patent: 5722181 (1998-03-01), Meyer
patent: 5916023 (1999-06-01), Meyer
Boles Derek S.
Imperial Sheet Metal Ltd.
Joyce Harold
Young & Basile PC
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