Clothes dryer vent adapter

#A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office patent file records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

#My invention relates to dryer vents, and more particularly, to dryer vents which can be manufactured in a desired size and simply attached to achieve alignment between a dryer outlet and a discharge vent line.

#In residential construction, whether in single family residences, or in apartments, or otherwise, it is common practice to provide space to accommodate space for, and operable connection of, an electric or gas heated dryer. The builder of the residence generally will install an outlet receptacle for hot air discharged from a dryer, either in a location as indicated in the plans, or in a location where the construction workers judge most practical. Accepted building practice generally results in locating a dryer vent receptacle in the general vicinity of the required location, yet, still slightly mislocated with respect to the clothes dryer hot air exhaust outlet. Most modern clothes dryers have a hot air exhaust which is centered in the rear of the dryer, and most often located about five inches above the floor. Because of various reasons, such as (a) final floor height has not been established at time the receptacle is placed in the wall, (b) a pipe, drain, stud, is in the way, or (c) the fact that clothes dryers come in various sizes with varying outlet heights and varying lateral location of the hot air exhaust outlet, inevitably a need arises for an adjustment to be made, either at the dryer hot air exhaust outlet, or at the receptacle in the wall. Devices to correct large misalignments are available, such as flexible plastic or metal tube and extensible ducts. However, it would be desirable if suitable devices for correction of small misalignments were available. Importantly, the misalignment is usually small, often within three or four inches, although it may be in any direction, i.e., up, down, left, right, or any angular direction in between.

#FIG. 1 is a perspective view of my clothes dryer vent adapter, shown in the hand of a workman, in readiness for fitting in order to install a clothes dryer.

#FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of my dryer adapter, showing the first cylindrical portion with inlet tube and inlet cap, and the second cylindrical portion with outlet tube and outlet cap, and the inter-engaging flanges which allow a secure fit between the first and second cylindrical portions.

#FIG. 3 is a perspective view, showing, in unassembled position, the first and second cylindrical portions of the dryer vent adapter.

#Attention is directed to FIG. 1 of the drawing, where a clothes dryer vent adapter 9 is illustrated in a fully assembled position, and to FIG. 2 of the drawing, where a vertical cross-sectional view is provided to illustrate the various components of my dryer vent adapter 9. The vent adapter 9 has a somewhat pie-pan shaped first generally cylindrical portion 10, and a somewhat pie-pan shaped second generally cylindrical portion 12. These first and second generally cylindrical portions are interfittingly engagable for rotation each with respect to the other, prior to assembly.

#The first cylindrical portion 10 has a substantially cylindrical tubular segment 14 having a first longitudinal axis 16 and a radius R14, an effective inlet end 18, and an outlet end 20. An inlet end cap 22 is provided, affixed to the effective inlet end 18 of the substantially cylindrical tubular segment 14. Preferably, the inlet end cap 22 is provided oriented transversely to the first longitudinal axis 16. An inlet portion 30 is provided, preferably tubular, and more preferably in the form of a third substantially cylindrically tube in shape. The inlet portion 30 extends for a length L30 along a centerline denoted as centerline CL30. The inlet portion 30 is sealingly affixed at an outlet end 31 to the inlet end cap 22. Ideally, this is accomplished via use of a starting collar having a plurality of precut tabs 32, with the precut tabs 32 securely affixed to the interior wall portion 34 of the inlet end cap 22.

#The second cylindrical portion 12 has a substantially cylindrical tubular segment 44 having a second longitudinal axis 46, a radius R44, an inlet end 50, and an effective outlet end 48. An outlet end cap 52 is provided, affixed to the effective outlet end 48 of the substantially cylindrical tubular segment 44. Preferably, the outlet end cap 52 is oriented transversely to the second longitudinal axis 46. An outlet portion 60 is provided, preferably tubular, and more preferably cylindrically tubular in shape. The outlet portion 60 extends from an inlet end 61 outward for a length L60 along a centerline denoted as centerline CL60. Ideally, the outlet portion 60 provides a fourth substantially cylindrical tubular portion, that is sealingly affixed to the outlet end cap 52. Ideally, this is accomplished, at least in part, via use of a starting collar having a plurality of precut tabs 62, with the precut tabs 62 securely affixed to the interior wall portion 64 of the outlet end cap 52. For attachment to a dryer exhaust receptacle (not shown) in a building structure, I prefer to provide the tubular outlet portion 60 with flutes 68.