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  Exhaust vent bird guardUSPTO Application #: 20070015456Title: Exhaust vent bird guard Abstract: A square bird barrier for non-dryer household exhaust vents. The square barrier is mounted behind the horizontal flaps that are on a pre-existing plastic frame that covers exhaust vent external exit. Pre-drilled holes on the square barrier allow for the unimpeded outbound flow of air from the exhaust vent. (end of abstract)
Agent: Carol Jagdai Lowtan - Vancouver, WA, US Inventor: Carol Jagdai Lowtan USPTO Applicaton #: 20070015456 - Class: 454359000 (USPTO) Related Patent Categories: Ventilation, Having Outlet Airway, Having Readliy Movable Air Regulating Louver, Damper, Or Cover, Including Backdraft Preventer The Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070015456. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS REFERENCES [0001] U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,181 March 1998 Meyer [0002] U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,319 June 1998 Callaghan, Jr. [0003] U.S. Pat. No. 5,916,023 June 1999 Meyer [0004] U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,529 October 2001 Preston BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0005] The present invention relates to exhaust venting devices which route air from a first location to a second location. The present invention relates to house exhaust vents, including, but not limited to, bathroom exhaust vents, laundry room exhaust vents, and kitchen exhaust vents. The present invention is not designed for dryer exhaust vents. Exhaust air from bathrooms, laundry rooms, and kitchens is typically routed from a portal within the specific room, though a conduit, to another location, usually to the outside of the building. At the exit opening, a series of horizontal, one-way flaps encased in a square plastic border is placed over the opening in order to prevent foreign objects from entering the vent, while allowing the free-flow of outbound air when the exhaust system is in operation. [0006] A problem which continues to affect the operation of the vent system is birds nesting inside the conduit behind the horizontal flaps. Birds are attracted to the enclosed space of the vent system and lift the flaps in order to gain access. Birds nesting inside the vent system obstruct airflow. The activities of the birds often damage or destroy the horizontal flaps. The present invention solves this problem. [0007] The present invention is novel and is not obvious. Many households use unsightly items such as chicken mesh when attempting to block access from the birds. Several patented devices are placed outside of the horizontal flaps protecting the vent and protrude beyond the plane of the exterior walls of the building. The present invention is novel because it is placed inside of the horizontal flaps and cannot be seen once installed, except when the vent system is in operation and the horizontal flaps are open. The present invention is not obvious because the other patented devices do not take into account that the horizontal flaps protecting the vent are removable, thus allowing for installation of the protective device within the square plastic casing but behind the horizontal flaps. Once installed, the horizontal flaps are then replaced. The present invention does not interfere with the exhaust exit and is compatible with most styles of non-dryer household exhaust vents. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0008] The exhaust vent guard is designed to be mounted on a vertical surface in order to protect the exit area of an air vent conduit. The present invention is comprised of either sheet metal or countertop laminate which is cut into a 5 inch by 5 inch or 7 inch by 7 inch square. Rows of circular holes are drilled in the center of the square sheet. The present invention envisions the holes at a diameter of 1/2 inch each. These 1/2 inch holes are drilled 1/2 inches apart in horizontal rows. The horizontal rows are spaced 1/4 inches apart. The holes are thus small enough to prevent birds from penetrating the barrier but large enough not to impede airflow from the exhaust vent. The present invention envisions four screw holes drilled near each corner of the square sheet. Each screw hole is 1/8 inches in diameter. Each of the 4 screw holes is positioned 1/4 inches from each of the two sides of each corner of the square sheet. Screws are used to attach the square sheet to the plastic casing used to hold the horizontal flaps that protect the opening of house exhaust vents. When air flows through the vent, it passes through the holes in the device, exits the vent system unimpeded and then passes through the horizontal flaps. DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0009] FIG. 1 is a front view of the exhaust vent guard according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. [0010] FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of an installed exhaust vent guard according to a typical embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT [0011] Referring to FIGS. 1-2, illustrated is an exhaust vent guard 10 which is designed to be positioned over an exhaust vent outlet. The guard 10 is of a square size. Each of four screws is placed through one of four corner holes 11 in the guard 10. 1/4 inches of space 12 separate each of the corner screw holes 11 from each of the two sides of each corner 13 of the guard 10. [0012] Guard 10 is a unitary member that can be fabricated from sheet metal or countertop laminate which would provide the requisite strength. Guard 10 is flat across the front surface 14 and square in peripheral shape. Circular 1/2 inch holes 15 are drilled in evenly spaced horizontal rows in the center of the front surface 14 of the guard 10. Each horizontal row is parallel to line 16-16 as depicted in FIG. 1. 1/4 inches of space 17 separate each hole 15 in each horizontal row. 1/2 inches of space 18 separate each horizontal row. [0013] Guard 10 is made to fit over the exhaust exit and attach by screws or other threaded fasteners to the originally installed plastic square frame 19 used to hold the horizontal flaps 20 that protect the opening 21 of house-exhaust vents 22 from entry of foreign objects. Installation involves removing the horizontal flaps 20 from the plastic casing 19, drilling four holes 23 in the plastic casing 19, and then attaching guard 10 to said plastic casing 19 by screwing a threaded fastener through each of the four holes 11 in guard 10 and then through each of the four holes 23 in the plastic casing 19. The horizontal flaps 20 are then replaced. When air flows through the vent 22, the air exits the vent system through the vent opening 21, and the air passes unimpeded through the holes 15 in guard 10, and passes through the horizontal flaps 20. [0014] The described invention is to be considered illustrative and not restrictive. All changes and modification that come within the spirit of the invention are desired to be protected. Continue reading... Full patent description for Exhaust vent bird guard Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims Click on the above for other options relating to this Exhaust vent bird guard patent application. ###  How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored. 3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords. Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Exhaust vent bird guard or other areas of interest. ### Previous Patent Application: Orifice boundary layer suction method and system Next Patent Application: Entertainment system with bandless tuning, remote control, alarm and universal docking Industry Class: Ventilation ### FreshPatents.com Support Thank you for viewing the Exhaust vent bird guard patent info. 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