# US 2014/0194053 A1 · Vertical Vent Stack Cap > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0194053 A1 - Document ID: US20140194053A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/734,409 - Filed: 2013-01-04 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-04 - Inventors: Fleming Vaughn Carroll - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140194053A1 ## CPC - F24F 13/20: Casings or covers - F24F 7/02: Roof ventilation (ventilation of roof coverings E04D) - F23J 2900/13005: Protections for chimneys or flue tops against external factors, e.g. birds - F24F: AIR-CONDITIONING; AIR-HUMIDIFICATION; VENTILATION; USE OF AIR CURRENTS FOR SCREENING (removing dirt or fumes from areas where they are produced B08B15/00; vertical ducts for carrying away waste gases from buildings E04F17/02; tops for chimneys or ventilating shafts, terminals for flues F23L17/02) - F23J: REMOVAL OR TREATMENT OF COMBUSTION PRODUCTS OR COMBUSTION RESIDUES; FLUES (combustion apparatus for consuming smoke or fumes, e.g. exhaust gases, F23G7/06) ## Abstract A vent cap may include a hollow tube comprising a side wall defining at least one airway; a cap coupled to a first end of the hollow tube, the cap configured to deter one or more unwanted objects from entering the hollow tube through the first end; and a mesh material covering the at least one airway, the mesh material configured to allow air to pass through the at least one airway, the mesh material configured to deter the one or more unwanted objects from entering the hollow tube through the at least one airway. The vent cap may comply with one or more plumbing and/or building codes. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vent cap comprising: a hollow tube comprising a side wall defining at least one airway; a cap coupled to a first end of the hollow tube, the cap configured to deter one or more unwanted objects from entering the hollow tube through the first end; and a mesh material covering the at least one airway, the mesh material configured to allow air to pass through the at least one airway, the mesh material configured to deter the one or more unwanted objects from entering the hollow tube through the at least one airway. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein a second end of the hollow tube is configured to be affixed with a vent stack, the second end opposite the first end. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vent cap of claim 2, wherein an area of the at least one airway is substantially equal to an area of an opening of the vent stack. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The vent cap of claim 3, wherein the area of the at least one airway is configured to be of a size such that after subtracting an area of the mesh material the area of the at least one airway is greater than or equal the area of the opening of the vent stack. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The vent cap of claim 2, wherein the vent cap is configured to deter the one or more unwanted objects from entering the vent stack when the second end of the cylinder is affixed to the vent stack. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The vent cap of claim 2, wherein a diameter of the hollow tube is greater than or equal to a diameter of the vent stack. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The vent cap of claim 2, further comprising: a reduction fitting coupled to the second end of the hollow tube, the reduction fitting configured to be affixed to a vent stack. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, further comprising: an adjustable connector configured for affixing a second end of the hollow tube to a vent stack, wherein the adjustable connector is configured for accommodating vent stacks having varying outside diameters, and wherein the adjustable connector is configured to deter the one or more unwanted objects from entering the hollow tube through the second end of the hollow tube when affixed to the vent stack. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the vent cap complies with a Uniform Plumbing Code (UPC). ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the one or more unwanted objects comprises at least one of an insect, bird, snake, lizard, rodent, garbage, bottle, leaf, can, cigarette butt, or rock. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube, vent cap, and mesh comprise a single molded piece. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube comprises a hollow cylinder. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein a perimeter of the cap comprises a curved lip. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the mesh material comprises a mesh insert, the mesh insert configured to be inserted into the hollow tube. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the at least one airway comprises a plurality of airways, each airway being dimensionally spaced about the side wall. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein: the at least one airway comprises a plurality of airways, the mesh material comprises a plurality of mesh inserts; and each mesh insert covers a respective one of the plurality of airways. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the hollow tube and the cap comprise at least one of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) or acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS). ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the at least one airway comprises a shape configured to resist development of insect nests. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vent cap of claim 1, wherein the mesh material comprises a mesh assembly comprising a bearing mechanism configured to allow the mesh assembly to rotate in the hollow tube. ### Claim 20 A system comprising: a vent stack having an airway of a first area; and a vent cap comprising: a hollow tube comprising a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a side wall defining at least one airway of a second area; a cap coupled to the first end of the hollow tube; and a mesh material covering the at least one airway, wherein the cap is configured to deter one or more objects from entering the hollow tube through the first end, wherein the mesh material is configured to allow air to pass through the at least one airway, wherein the mesh material is configured to deter the one or more objects from entering the hollow tube through the at least one airway, wherein the second end of the vent cap is configured to be affixed to the vent stack having an airway of a second area, wherein the second area is greater than or equal to the first area, and wherein the vent cap is configured to deter the one or more objects from entering the vent stack when the second end of the hollow tube is affixed to the vent stack.