1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to exhaust vent systems for clothes dryers. More specifically it relates to a retractable clothes dryer vent for providing an easier clothes dryer vent connection and a reduced risk of fire.
2. Description of Related Art
When a clothes dryer is installed in a building, it must be vented to the outside. It is difficult to make this connection because the dryer's exhaust pipe is usually located at the lower portion of the back of the dryer. The connection is usually done by, but not limited to, one of the following methods.
The easiest solution has been to use a flexible dryer hose to connect the clothes dryer exhaust pipe to the outside vent. The flexible dryer vent hose is not only flexible but it is also accordion-like in that its length can be extended and collapsed, which allows attaching it to the clothes dryer while the clothes dryer is away from the rear wall. After the connection, the dryer is moved close to the rear wall which usually kinks the flexible vent hose. The kinks in the dryer vent hose result in numerous fires every year. Kinks in the dryer vent hose can also cause a restriction that reduces dryer efficiency. In gas dryers, that restriction can cause dangerous exhaust gases to be emitted into the building in which the clothes dryer is installed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,121,948 to Anderson et al., hereby incorporated by reference herein, discloses an assembly of lengths of rigid pipe connected together with a number of elbows. The configuration brings the connection of the clothes dryer to the outside duct to the top of the dryer, enabling the installer the ability to make the connection after the clothes dryer is installed. This method does not allow the clothes dryer to be installed tight to the wall behind the clothes dryer, because several inches of space between the dryer and the wall are necessary to accommodate the pipe and elbows. It is also difficult and time consuming to install, because several pipes need to be cut to the correct length and then assembled with several elbows to obtain the correct configuration. This system must also be disconnected to move the dryer away from the rear wall for servicing.
Another solution has been to connect the clothes dryer exhaust tube directly to the wall vent. This is the most difficult. The wall vent to the outside must be meticulously installed to align exactly with the clothes dryer exhaust. Even then it is usually necessary for two people to do the installation: one to push the dryer into position while the other lies down and reaches behind the dryer to align the dryer exhaust with the outside duct. Another drawback to this method is if a new dryer has to be installed, the wall vent to the outside will have to be moved unless the new dryer is the same make and model as the old dryer.
A retractable clothes dryer vent includes a support, a duct coupling, a dryer vent hose, a dryer exhaust coupling, a first retraction guide assembly, and a second retraction guide assembly. The duct coupling is mounted in the support and has a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and an opening extending through the support. The dryer vent hose has a first end extending from the first end of the duct coupling and a second end opposite the first end. The dryer exhaust coupling extends from the second end of the dryer vent hose. The first retraction guide assembly has a first end mounted to the support and a second end anchored to the dryer exhaust coupling. The second retraction guide assembly has a first end mounted to the support and a second end anchored to the dryer exhaust coupling.
A method of installing a clothes dryer includes pulling a dryer exhaust coupling of a retractable clothes dryer vent, mounted to a wall of a building, away from the wall. The method also includes attaching the dryer exhaust coupling to a dryer exhaust tube of the clothes dryer and moving the clothes dryer to an operational position at the wall with the dryer exhaust coupling attached to the dryer exhaust tube located vertically below the duct coupling.
A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably addresses the difficulty of connecting a clothes dryer exhaust safely to an outside vent.
A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably provides an easier clothes dryer vent connection.
A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably connects to a clothes dryer before the clothes dryer is moved into place.
A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably eliminates the kinking of a flexible dryer vent to prevent lint build-up, which can result in fire.
A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably eliminates the kinking of a flexible dryer vent hose to prevent exhaust restriction.
A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably allows the back of the dryer to be placed directly against a wall.
Turning now descriptively to the drawings, in which similar reference characters denote similar elements throughout the several views, the figures illustrate a support, a length of flexible dryer hose, a dryer exhaust coupling, a duct coupling, and a guide assembly.
The support is preferably in the form of a vent housing (10), a shelf (22), or a wire frame (23).
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The dryer exhaust coupling (30) has two ends. One end is connected to the lower end of the flexible dryer vent hose (20), and the other end is connectable to the clothes dryer's exhaust tube. The dryer exhaust coupling (30) has two anchors (31) attached to it. The end of one retractable line (56) is fastened to one of the anchors (31), and the end of the other retractable line (56) is fastened to the other anchor (31) One function of the dryer exhaust coupling (30) is to change the direction of flow of the exhaust after it leaves the dryer. Another function of the dryer exhaust coupling (30) is to allow easy attachment to the dryer. Another function of the dryer exhaust coupling (30) is to maintain the alignment of the flexible dryer hose (20), when the flexible dryer hose (20) retracts back into the vent housing (10). The dryer exhaust coupling (30) is shown as a bent elbow but may alternatively be a straight coupling.
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Each retractable spool assembly, as shown in an exploded view in
An alternative to the retractable line (56) is an elastic line. This elastic line not only replaces the retractable line (56), but eliminates the need for a retractable spool assembly. One end of the elastic line is anchored to the top of the support (10, 22, 23), and the other end is threaded through a series of guide eyelets (57) and connected to the anchor (31) on the dryer exhaust coupling (30). There are preferably two elastic lines. Each elastic line runs through a series of guide eyelets (57) on opposite sides of the flexible dryer vent hose (20). The elastic lines have enough tension to keep the guide eyelets (57) in line and thus keep the flexible dryer vent hose from kinking.
An alternative to the guide assembly described above is a flexible dryer vent hose (20) made from an elastic material. The elastic flexible dryer vent hose is preferably elastic enough to extend to the dryer, without breaking, prior to moving the dryer (10a) into place. After the elastic flexible dryer vent hose is connected, the dryer (10a) is installed as depicted in
Another alternative to the guide assembly described above is an expandable lever system. These expandable levers are attached to the flexible dryer hose and support the dryer hose throughout its extension and contraction. Each end of this lever system is fastened to each end of the flexible dyer hose.
Another alternative to the guide assembly described above includes an alternative energy-storing device in place of the retractable spool assembly. Energy-storing devices include, but are not limited to, a tubular gas cylinder with piston and rod, a coil spring, and a counter weight with cord and pulley. In another variation, a motor replaces the retractable spool assembly.
The two retractable lines (56) control the alignment of the flexible dryer hose (20) throughout extension and retraction. This alignment eliminates the possibility of kinking the flexible dryer vent hose (20) when the clothes dryer (10a) is moved into its final operating position. The flexible dryer hose (20) is held in alignment and supported by the guide eyelets (57) that are attached to flexible dryer hose. The guide eyelets (57) are held in alignment by the retractable line (56), which has tension applied to it by the spring-loaded spool (50). The tension on the retractable line (56) is maintained by the attachment of the retractable line (56) to the anchor on the dryer exhaust coupling (30). The spring-loaded spool (50) gets its torque from the coil spring (53). The coil spring (53) has two ends. One end is attached to the spring-loaded spool (50) and the other end is affixed to the spool housing (52). The spool housing (52) is stationary in that it is fastened to the support (10, 22, 23).
The installation of a clothes dryer requires a connection of a vent to the outside, which is difficult to accomplish after the clothes dryer is in place, because the dryer exhaust is at the bottom rear of the dryer and the dryer is usually installed between the clothes washer and a wall. There are however, flexible vent hoses available that permit the vent to be connected to the clothes dryer before it is moved into its final position. These flexible vent hoses have a problem in that, when they are connected to the dryer and then the dryer is moved into its final position (installed), they twist and kink, which not only restricts the exhaust flow but lint builds up in the kinks and becomes a fire hazard. A retractable clothes dryer vent preferably eliminates these problems.
If a retractable clothes dryer vent is not already installed, a user preferably first installs the retractable clothes dryer vent. The installation includes either mounting the retractable clothes dryer vent between wall studs, which allows the dryer to be installed close to the wall, or mounting the retractable clothes dryer vent directly on the wall surface, which is necessary if the wall is masonry. Either before or after the retractable clothes dryer vent is mounted, a duct to the outside is connected to the retractable clothes dryer vent at the duct coupling (40). Next the user extends the flexible dryer vent hose (20) by grasping the dryer exhaust coupling (30) and connecting it to the dryer exhaust tube using a hose clamp. The user then slides the dryer (10a) into place. As the dryer (10a) is moved into place, the flexible dryer vent hose (20) is supported and kept in alignment by the two retractable lines (56) via the guide eyelets (57) which are attached to the dryer vent hose. As the dryer (10a) is moved closer to the wall, the retractable lines (56) becomes shorter but tension is maintained on them by the spring-loaded spool (50), which retracts part of the retractable lines (56) into the spool housing (52). Because the flexible dryer vent hose (20) has the guide eyelets connected to it, through which the retractable lines (56) run, the flexible dryer vent hose (20) is supported and guided, without kinking, back into its collapsed accordion state fully within the vent housing (10).
Accordingly, it is to be understood that the embodiments of the invention herein described are merely illustrative of the application of the principles of the invention. Reference herein to details of the illustrated embodiments is not intended to limit the scope of the claims, which themselves recite those features regarded as essential to the invention.
This application claims an invention which was disclosed in Provisional Application No. 61/816,768, filed Apr. 28, 2013, entitled “RETRACTABLE CLOTHES DRYER VENT”. The benefit under 35 USC §119(e) of the United States provisional application is hereby claimed, and the aforementioned application is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
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