Universal dryer duct and vent

• US 5,145,217 A
• Filed: 12/04/1990
• Issued: 09/08/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 12/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Builder's Best, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Builders Pride Incorporated
• Inventors: Kenrick, Charles R., Anderson, Charles B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Reese, Randolph A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Aberle, Timothy
• Application Number:
  US07/621,774
• Time in Patent Office: 644 Days
• Field of Search: 285/181, 285/183, 285/163, 285/165, 285/424, 285/182, 285/164, 285/168, 285/903, 285/226, 98/DIG. 7
• US Class Current: 285/179
• CPC Class Codes: D06F 58/20 General details of domestic laundry dryers D06F59/00 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 43/001 made of metal
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 285/903 Corrugated

Abstract

A dryer duct assembly employs two universal elbow components and at least one flexible component. The flexible component has ends capable of connecting to another flexible component or to a universal component without the use of other devices such as hose clamps to secure connection. Each elbow has ends capable of attaching either to the wall opening or the dryer, in addition to attaching to the flexible component in the same manner as the flexible components may attach to each other. The elbow has an outer portion resembling the outer portion of a quarter-toroid, and a square type inner portion. The outer portion is made of a pair of mirror image hemi portions connected at adjacent flanges. The inner portion has an L-shaped plate with flow-through orifices in each leg of the L.

Claims

1. An air flow duct assembly comprising:

a flexible, metal, corrugated conduit having first and second ends;

said flexible conduit being axially extendible and contractible, and laterally flexible;

a pair of elbow connectors on said ends;

each elbow connector having a body and a pair of openings, and first and second cylindrical, flow-through, swivel sleeves in said openings, each sleeve being rotational on said body about its cylindrical axis;

said body having a radially outer portion which is like the outer portion of a quarter-toroid, having an L-shaped plate forming a pair of legs, each of which legs has one of said openings therethrough, and having an outer curvilinear surface semicircular in cross section and extending between said legs; and

each of said sleeves being male or female, one of said sleeves in each elbow connector telescopically interfitting with said flexible conduit.

2. The assembly in claim 1 wherein said conduit includes male or female members at its ends, interfitting with said female or male sleeves, respectively, on said elbow connectors.

3. The assembly in claim 1 wherein said swivel sleeves and said body have radially interfitting peripheral recesses and projections.

6. The assembly in claim 1 wherein said body has a radially inner portion which has a square elbow type configuration.

4. An air flow duct assembly comprising:

a flexible conduit having first and second ends;

a pair of elbow connectors on said ends;

each elbow connector having a body and a pair of openings, and first and second cylindrical, flow-through, swivel sleeves in said openings, each sleeve being rotational on said body about its cylindrical axis;

each of said sleeves being male or female, telescopically interfitting with said flexible conduit;

said body having a radially outer portion which is like the outer portion of a quarter-toroid; and

wherein said quarter-toroid portion is formed of two joined, mirror image, arcuate, metal elements and an L-shaped plate secured to said elements, the legs of said plate each having one of said openings.

5. The assembly in claim 4 wherein said elements and said plate have interconnected flanges to secure them together.