Claims
- 1. An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and a remote exhaust vent, the component having an inlet and outlet, and the dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet each having the same standardized diameter, the elbow comprising:a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air from the dryer vent outlet through the body, the body having: a first end terminating in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage; and a second end terminating in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage; wherein at least a portion of the first end has an effective inner diameter nominally greater than the standardized diameter for receiving therein one of the dryer vent outlet and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter, and wherein at least a portion of the second end has an effective outer diameter nominally less than the standardized diameter for being received within the other of the dryer vent opening and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter whereby the elbow can be reversibly connected between the dryer vent and the one of the component inlet or outlet.
- 2. The elbow according to claim 1 wherein the effective inner diameter varies along a portion of the length of the first end.
- 3. The elbow according to claim 2 wherein the effective inner diameter continuously varies along the length of the first end.
- 4. The elbow according to claim 3, and further comprising at least one dimple extending from the first end into the hollow interior of the body and the dimple defining a discrete variation in the effective inner diameter.
- 5. The elbow according to claim 3 wherein the effective inner diameter continuously decreases from the inlet opening.
- 6. The elbow according to claim 5 wherein the inlet opening has a diameter greater than the standardized diameter to form the at least one portion of the first end having an inner diameter greater than the standardized diameter.
- 7. The elbow according to claim 6 wherein the effective outer diameter continuously varies along the length of the second end.
- 8. The elbow according to claim 7 and further comprising at least one dimple extending from the first end away from the hollow interior of the body and the dimple defining a discrete variation in the effective outer diameter.
- 9. The elbow according to claim 7 wherein the effective outer diameter of the second end continuously decreases toward the outlet opening.
- 10. The elbow according to claim 9 wherein the outlet opening has a diameter less than the standardized diameter to form the at least one portion of the first end having an outer diameter less than the standardized diameter.
- 11. The elbow according to claim 1 wherein the first and second ends each have a portion along which the effective inner and outer diameters vary, respectively.
- 12. The elbow according to claim 11 wherein the effective inner and outer diameters continuously vary along the portion of the length of the first and second ends, respectively.
- 13. The elbow according to claim 12 wherein the first end portion begins at the inlet opening and the effective inner diameter continuously decreases therefrom, and the second end portion terminates at the outlet opening and the effective outer diameter continuously decreases toward the outlet opening.
- 14. The elbow according to claim 1 wherein the body has a substantially truncated cone-shape with a generally decreasing diameter from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.
- 15. The elbow according to claim 14 wherein the inlet opening has a diameter greater than the standardized diameter.
- 16. The elbow according to claim 15 wherein the outlet opening has a diameter less than the standardized diameter.
- 17. The elbow according to claim 16 wherein the standardized diameter is about four inches.
- 18. The elbow according to claim 16 wherein the body comprises first, second, third and fourth sections, the first and forth sections forming the first and second ends, with the first and second sections rotatably coupled together, the second and third sections rotatably coupled together, and the third and fourth sections rotatably coupled together, such that the relative rotation of the sections permits the elbow to have a curvature between 0 and 90 degrees.
- 19. The elbow according to claim 18 and further comprising dimples extending from the first section into the interior flow passage.
- 20. The elbow according to claim 19 and further comprising dimples extending from the second section away from the interior flow passage.
- 21. The elbow according to claim 1 wherein the body comprises first, second, third and fourth sections, the first and forth sections forming the first and second ends, with the first and second sections rotatably coupled together, the second and third sections rotatably coupled together, and the third and fourth sections rotatably coupled together, such that the relative rotation of the sections permits the elbow to have a curvature between 0 and 90 degrees.
- 22. A dryer duct assembly for connecting a dryer vent outlet with a standardized diameter and an exhaust vent, comprising:a duct having an inlet and an outlet, with both the duct inlet and outlet having a diameter equal to the standardized diameter; an elbow comprising a hollow body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing therethrough of dryer exhaust air, the body having an inlet opening and an outlet opening; wherein the inlet opening has an effective diameter nominally greater than the standardized diameter for insertion of the dryer vent outlet therein and the elbow outlet opening has an effective diameter nominally less than the standardized diameter for being slidably received within the duct inlet.
- 23. The duct assembly according to claim 22 wherein the body has a substantially truncated cone-shape with a generally decreasing diameter from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.
- 24. The duct assembly according to claim 23 wherein the body comprises first, second, third and fourth sequentially aligned sections, the first section defining the inlet opening, the forth section defining the outlet opening, with the first and second sections rotatably coupled, the second and third sections rotatably coupled, and the third and fourth sections rotatably coupled such that the relative rotation of the sections permits the elbow to have a curvature between 0 and 90 degrees.
- 25. The duct assembly according to claim 24 wherein the first section has an effective inner diameter that varies along the length of the first section.
- 26. The duct assembly according to claim 25 wherein the effective inner diameter varies discretely along the length of the first section.
- 27. The duct assembly according to claim 25 wherein the effective inner diameter continuously varies along the length of the first end defining a discrete variation in the effective outer diameter.
- 28. An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and a remote exhaust vent, the component having an inlet and outlet, and the dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet each having the same standardized diameter, the elbow comprising:a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air from the dryer vent outlet through the body, the body having: a first end terminating in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage; and a second end terminating in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage; wherein at least a portion of the first end has an effective inner diameter nominally greater than the standardized diameter for receiving therein one of the dryer vent outlet and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter and the effective inner diameter of the first end varies along a portion of the length of the first end, and wherein at least a portion of the second end has an effective outer diameter nominally less than the standardized diameter for being received within the other of the dryer vent opening and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter so that the elbow can be reversibly connected between the dryer vent and the one of the component inlet or outlet.
- 29. The elbow according to claim 28 wherein the effective inner diameter continuously varies along the length of the first end.
- 30. The elbow according to claim 29, and further comprising at least one dimple extending from the first end into the hollow interior of the body and the dimple defining a discrete variation in the effective inner diameter.
- 31. The elbow according to claim 29 wherein the effective inner diameter continuously decreases from the inlet opening.
- 32. The elbow according to claim 31 wherein the inlet opening has a diameter greater than the standardized diameter to form the at least one portion of the first end having an inner diameter greater than the standardized diameter.
- 33. The elbow according to claim 32 wherein the effective outer diameter continuously varies along the length of the second end.
- 34. The elbow according to claim 33 and further comprising at least one dimple extending from the first end away from the hollow interior of the body and the dimple defining a discrete variation in the effective outer diameter.
- 35. The elbow according to claim 33 wherein the effective outer diameter of the second end continuously decreases toward the outlet opening.
- 36. The elbow according to claim 35 wherein the outlet opening has a diameter less than the standardized diameter to form the at least one portion of the first end having an outer diameter less than the standardized diameter.
- 37. An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and a remote exhaust vent, the component having an inlet and outlet, and the dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet each having the same standardized diameter, the elbow comprising:a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air from the dryer vent outlet through the body, the body having: a first end terminating in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage; and a second end terminating in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage; wherein at least a portion of the first end has an effective inner diameter nominally greater than the standardized diameter for receiving therein one of the dryer vent outlet and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter, and wherein at least a portion of the second end has an effective outer diameter nominally less than the standardized diameter for being received within the other of the dryer vent opening and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter whereby the elbow can be reversibly connected between the dryer vent and the one of the component inlet or outlet, and wherein the first and second ends each have a portion along which the effective inner and outer diameters vary, respectively.
- 38. The elbow according to claim 37 wherein the effective inner and outer diameters continuously vary along the portion of the length of the first and second ends, respectively.
- 39. The elbow according to claim 38 wherein the first end portion begins at the inlet opening and the effective inner diameter continuously decreases therefrom, and the second end portion terminates at the outlet opening and the effective outer diameter continuously decreases toward the outlet opening.
- 40. An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and a remote exhaust vent, the component having an inlet and outlet, and the dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet each having the same standardized diameter, the elbow comprising:a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air from the dryer vent outlet through the body, the body having: a first end terminating in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage; and a second end terminating in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage; wherein at least a portion of the first end has an effective inner diameter nominally greater than the standardized diameter for receiving therein one of the dryer vent outlet and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter, and wherein at least a portion of the second end has an effective outer diameter nominally less than the standardized diameter for being received within the other of the dryer vent opening and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter whereby the elbow can be reversibly connected between the dryer vent and the one of the component inlet or outlet, and wherein the body has a substantially truncated cone-shape with a generally decreasing diameter from the inlet opening to the outlet opening.
- 41. The elbow according to claim 40 wherein the inlet opening has a diameter greater than the standardized diameter.
- 42. The elbow according to claim 41 wherein the outlet opening has a diameter less than the standardized diameter.
- 43. The elbow according to claim 42 wherein the standardized diameter is about four inches.
- 44. The elbow according to claim 42 wherein the body comprises first, second, third and fourth sections, the first and forth sections forming the first and second ends, with the first and second sections rotatably coupled together, the second and third sections rotatably coupled together, and the third and fourth sections rotatably coupled together, such that the relative rotation of the sections permits the elbow to have a curvature between 0 and 90 degrees.
- 45. The elbow according to claim 44 and further comprising dimples extending from the first section into the interior flow passage.
- 46. The elbow according to claim 45 and further comprising dimples extending from the second section away from the interior flow passage.
- 47. An elbow for use in a dryer duct assembly comprising at least one component for connecting a dryer vent outlet and a remote exhaust vent, the component having an inlet and outlet, and the dryer vent outlet and one of the component inlet and outlet each having the same standardized diameter, the elbow comprising:a body defining an interior flow passage for permitting the passing of dryer exhaust air from the dryer vent outlet through the body, the body having: a first end terminating in a first edge to define an inlet opening to the interior flow passage; and a second end terminating in a second edge to define an outlet opening to the interior flow passage; wherein at least a portion of the first end has an effective inner diameter nominally greater than the standardized diameter for receiving therein one of the dryer vent outlet and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter, at least a portion of the second end has an effective outer diameter nominally less than the standardized diameter for being received within the other of the dryer vent opening and the one of the component inlet or outlet with the standardized diameter whereby the elbow can be reversibly connected between the dryer vent and the one of the component inlet or outlet, and the body comprises first, second, third and fourth sections, the first and forth sections forming the first and second ends, with the first and second sections rotatably coupled together, the second and third sections rotatably coupled together, and the third and fourth sections rotatably coupled together, such that the relative rotation of the sections permits the elbow to have a curvature between 0 and 90 degrees.
RELATED APPLICATION
This application claims priority on U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/153,296 filed Sept. 10, 1999.
US Referenced Citations (6)
Provisional Applications (1)
|
Number |
Date |
Country |
|
60/153296 |
Sep 1999 |
US |