| |
| United States Patent
|
5,975,025 |
| Kangas , et al. |
November 2, 1999 |
System for thermal control of outdoor pet
enclosure
Abstract
A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a house
to a pet enclosure external of the house, thus allowing for the pet
enclosure to receive cooled or heated air approximating the
temperature of the house. An electric fan housed in a preformed
enclosure is installable in, or on, the house exterior wall. An air
conduit between the fan and pet enclosure is preferably provided by
a flexible rubber transfer duct which may vary in length. Conduit
connections at the house and at the pet enclosure use a
gasket/flange sealing system. A damper to avoid backflow of air is
provided near the fan. And a protective cover at the pet enclosure
limits access from the pet enclosure to the conduit. An end cap to
protect the house when the duct is not in use is also shown.
| Inventors: |
Kangas; Robert E.
(Glendale, AZ), Kangas; Jill S. (Glendale, AZ) |
| Appl. No.:
|
09/009,200 |
| Filed: |
January 20, 1998 |
| Current U.S.
Class: |
119/484 ;
119/500 |
| Current
International Class: |
A01K
1/03 (20060101); A01K 1/02 (20060101); A01K 1/00 (20060101);
A01K 001/00 () |
| Field of
Search: |
119/165,484,486,448,500 454/344 |
References Cited
[Referenced By]
U.S. Patent
Documents
Primary Examiner: Swiatek; Robert P.
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Stoneman; Martin L.
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a house
to a pet enclosure located externally of said house, comprising;
a. a house having an interior and having an external wall;
b. a pet enclosure located externally to said house, said pet
enclosure being essentially located above ground level;
c. an air forcing means, structured and arranged for location
substantially within said interior of said house, for forcing
ambient air from said interior of said house into said pet
enclosure;
d. conduit means for channeling said ambient air from said interior
of said house into said pet enclosure;
e. first attachment means for attaching said air forcing means to
said house;
f. second attachment means for attaching said conduit means to said
air forcing means; and
g. third attachment means for attaching said conduit means to said
pet enclosure.
2. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said conduit means
comprises a round cylindrical duct.
3. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 1, wherein said air forcing means
and first attachment means are structured and arranged for mounting
to an external wall of said house.
4. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 3, wherein said air forcing means
comprises an electrically powered fan.
5. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 4, wherein said electrically
powered fan and first attachment means are structured and arranged
for mounting on an interior portion of said external wall of said
house.
6. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 5, wherein said electrically
powered fan is housed in a cylindrical housing.
7. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a protective
means, structured and arranged for attachment adjacent said pet
enclosure, for limiting access to said conduit means from said pet
enclosure.
8. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 1 further comprising a first
sealing means for preventing flow of air into or out of said house
around said conduit means.
9. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure according to claim 8 further comprising a second
sealing means for preventing flow of air into or out of said pet
enclosure around said conduit means.
10. A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a
house to a pet enclosure external of said house, comprising;
a. a house having an interior and having an external wall;
b. a pet enclosure located externally to said house, said pet
enclosure being essentially located above ground level;
c. an air forcing means for forcing ambient air from said interior
of said house into said pet enclosure;
d. a conduit means for channeling said ambient air from said
interior of said house into said pet enclosure; and
e. said air forcing means being structured and arranged for mounting
to an interior side of said external wall of said house.
11. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 10, wherein:
a. said air forcing means comprises an electrically powered fan; and
b. said electrically powered fan is housed in a cylindrical housing.
12. A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a
house to a pet enclosure external of said house, comprising:
a. an air forcing means for forcing ambient air from said interior
of said house into said pet enclosure;
b. a conduit means for channeling said ambient air from said
interior of said house into said pet enclosure; and
c. said air forcing means being structured and arranged for mounting
to an interior side of an external wall of said house;
d. wherein said air forcing means comprises an electrically powered
fan;
e. wherein said electrically powered fan is housed in a cylindrical
housing;
f. wherein said conduit means includes a conduit portion of
cylindrical housing; and
g. wherein said cylindrical housing includes
i. located to an input side of said fan, a substantially square
first portion; and
ii. located to an output side of said fan, a substantially
round-cylindrical second portion comprising said conduit portion.
13. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 12 , wherein said conduit
means between said round-cylindrical second portion and said pet
enclosure comprises a round cylindrical duct.
14. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 13, wherein said round
cylindrical duct is structured and arranged for mechanical
attachment with said pet enclosure.
15. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 14 wherein at least a
portion of said electrically powered fan is structured and arranged
for location within said external wall of said house.
16. A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a
house to a pet enclosure external of said house, comprising:
a. a house having a first external wall;
b. a pet enclosure having a second external wall;
c. a housing having an integral fan and attached to said first
external wall, said housing comprising
i. a substantially square first end,
ii. a substantially round-cylindrical second end, and
iii. said substantially round-cylindrical second end comprising
first external threads;
d. a duct attachment device for said pet enclosure, having a first
attachment end and a second attachment end, said second attachment
end comprising second external threads;
e. a cylindrical duct having a first duct end and a second duct end,
wherein
i. said second duct end is structured and arranged for threaded
attachment by first internal threads to said second external threads
of said second attachment end, and
ii. said first duct end is structured and arranged for threaded
attachment by second internal threads to said first external threads
of said substantially round-cylindrical second end of said housing;
f. a first flange nut, having third internal threads for engagement
with said first external threads;
g. a first sealing gasket located between said first flange nut and
said first external wall;
h. a second flange nut, having fourth internal threads for
engagement with said second external threads; and
i. a second sealing gasket located between said second flange nut
and said second external wall.
17. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 16, further comprising:
a. attached within said housing, a closable damping means for
limiting air backflow from said pet enclosure to said house;
b. attached to said second external wall, a protective means for
limiting access to said cylindrical duct from said pet enclosure;
c. attached to said substantially square first end of said housing,
a substantially square fan cover; and
d. a cap, having fifth internal threads for engagement with said
first external threads, for sealing said substantially
round-cylindrical second end when said pet enclosure is not in use.
18. A system for transferring ambient air from an interior of a
house to a pet enclosure external of said house, comprising:
a. a house having an external wall;
b. an air forcing means for forcing ambient air from said interior
of said house into said pet enclosure;
c. a conduit means for channeling said ambient air from said
interior of said house into said pet enclosure; and
d. said air forcing means being mounted to an interior side of said
external wall of said house;
e. wherein said air forcing means comprises an electrically powered
fan;
f. wherein said electrically powered fan is housed in a cylindrical
housing;
g. wherein said conduit means includes a conduit portion of said
cylindrical housing; and
h. wherein said cylindrical housing includes
i. located to an input side of said fan, a substantially square
first portion; and
ii. located to an output side of said fan, a substantially
round-cylindrical second portion comprising said conduit portion.
19. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 18, wherein said conduit
means between said round-cylindrical second portion and said pet
enclosure comprises a round cylindrical duct.
20. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 19, wherein said round
cylindrical duct is structured and arranged for mechanical
attachment with said pet enclosure.
21. A system for transferring ambient air from a house to an
external pet enclosure according to claim 20 wherein at least a
portion of said electrically powered fan is located within said
external wall of said house.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to providing a system for thermal control of
an outdoor pet enclosure. More particularly, this invention concerns
a system for transferring ambient air from a house to an external
pet enclosure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typically, in those households that have pets, the pet owners may
prefer the pet to remain outside or to remain outside the house
during certain times of the day, such as night time. In these cases,
pet owners often provide the pet with some type of enclosure into
which the pet may enter at will. For those pets that are not
naturally equipped to handle extreme weather conditions such as very
high or low temperatures, the pet owners must either shave the pet
if the temperature is very warm and the pet has an abundance of fur,
or provide some type of garment for the pet if the temperature is
low and the pet lacks sufficient fur. In those cases where the pet
owners fails to provide the above-mentioned aids, the pet must
endure the adverse weather conditions with a possible result that
the pet will suffer sickness or even death.
Thus, pet owners who have outside pet enclosures for pets who
normally live outside the house, as for "outside" dogs and the like,
must be careful of injury to such pets from extreme summer heat or
from extreme winter cold. Even if such pet owners look into existing
means for thermal control of such pet enclosures, such pet owners
are typically faced with expensive and/or cumbersome devices, such
as air conditioning units or heating units expressly designed for
pet enclosures. Further, even such expensive and/or cumbersome
systems may expose the pet to danger or hot or moving parts--or may
expose the thermal devices to harm from the action of the pet.
In order to overcome these difficulties, the prior art has disclosed
various means by which pet owners may attempt to maintain a
comfortable environment for the pet. For example, U.S. Pat. No.
4,827,872 issued to William R. Sommers discloses an outside animal
shelter in which an inner cavity of the shelter is equipped with an
electric heating unit and temperature sensing controllers. But
systems such as that one are impracticable and expensive for many
pet owners, require outside electricity, which may be inefficient,
and deal with only either heat or chill, but not both, etc.
Thus it would be a boon to owners of "outside" pets having outside
pet enclosures, especially in very warm summer or very cold winter
locations, to be able to have a low-cost and efficient system for
thermal control, heating or cooling, of pet enclosures which system
is not harmful to the pet or exposed to harm from the pet.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A primary object of the present invention is to fulfill the
above-mentioned needs by the provision of a system for transferring
ambient air from a house to an external pet enclosure. A further
primary object of the present invention is to provide such a system
which is efficient, inexpensive, and easy to use. Other objects of
this invention will become apparent with reference to the following
invention descriptions.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, this
invention provides a system for transferring ambient air from an
interior of a house to a pet enclosure external of such house,
comprising: an air forcing means for forcing ambient air from the
interior of the house into the pet enclosure; conduit means for
channeling such ambient air from such interior of such house into
such pet enclosure; first attachment means for attaching such air
forcing means to such house; second attachment means for attaching
such conduit means to such air forcing means; and third attachment
means for attaching such conduit means to such pet enclosure. It
also provides such a system wherein such conduit means comprises a
round cylindrical duct; and, further, wherein such round cylindrical
duct comprises a flexible rubber material.
Further, this invention provides such a system wherein such air
forcing means and first attachment means are structured and arranged
for mounting to an external wall of such house; and, further,
wherein such air forcing means comprises an electrically powered
fan; and, further, wherein such electrically powered fan and first
attachment means are structured and arranged for mounting on an
interior portion of such external wall of such house; and, further,
wherein such electrically powered fan is housed in a cylindrical
housing. And it also provides such a system further comprising a
cover means for such fan for acting as a protective grill. It
moreover provides such a system further comprising a protective
means for limiting access to such conduit means from such pet
enclosure. In addition, this invention provides such a system
further comprising a closable damping means in such conduit means
for limiting air backflow from such pet enclosure to such house;
and, also, further comprising a first sealing means for preventing
flow of air into or out of such house around such conduit means;
and, also, further comprising a second sealing means for preventing
flow of air into or out of such pet enclosure around such conduit
means.
Additionally, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof,
this invention provides a system for transferring ambient air from
an interior of a house to a pet enclosure external of such house,
comprising: an air forcing means for forcing ambient air from such
interior of such house into such pet enclosure; a conduit means for
channeling such ambient air from such interior of such house into
such pet enclosure; and such air forcing means being mounted to an
interior side of an external wall of such house. It also provides
such a system wherein such air forcing means comprises an
electrically powered fan, and such electrically powered fan is
housed in a cylindrical housing.
Moreover, it provides such a system wherein such conduit means
includes a conduit portion of such cylindrical housing, and such
cylindrical housing includes, located to an input side of such fan,
a substantially square-cylindrical first portion, and, located to an
output side of such fan, a substantially round-cylindrical second
portion comprising such conduit portion. And it provides such a
system wherein such conduit means between such round-cylindrical
second portion and such pet enclosure comprises a round cylindrical
duct; and, further, wherein such round cylindrical duct is
mechanically attached with such pet enclosure; and, further, wherein
at least a portion of such electrically powered fan is located
within such external wall of such house.
Even further, in accordance with a preferred embodiment thereof,
this invention provides a system for transferring ambient air from
an interior of a house to a pet enclosure external of such house,
comprising: a house having a first external wall; a pet enclosure
having a second external wall; a housing having an integral fan and
attached to such first external wall, such housing comprising a
substantially square-cylindrical first end, a substantially
round-cylindrical second end, and such substantially
round-cylindrical second end comprising first external threads; a
duct attachment device for such pet enclosure, having a first
attachment end and a second attachment end, such second attachment
end comprising second external threads; a cylindrical duct having a
first duct end and a second duct end, wherein such second duct end
is structured and arranged for threaded attachment by first internal
threads to such second external threads of such second attachment
end, and such first duct end is structured and arranged for threaded
attachment by second internal threads to such first external threads
of such substantially round-cylindrical second end of such housing;
a first flange nut, having third internal threads for engagement
with such first external threads; a first sealing gasket located
between such first flange nut and such first external wall; a second
flange nut, having fourth internal threads for engagement with such
second external threads; and a second sealing gasket located between
such second flange nut and such second external wall.
This invention further provides such a system further comprising:
attached within such housing, a closable damping means for limiting
air backflow from such pet enclosure to such house; attached to such
second external wall, a protective means for limiting access to such
cylindrical duct from such pet enclosure; attached to such
substantially square-cylindrical first end of such housing, a
substantially square fan cover; and a cap, having fifth internal
threads for engagement with such first external threads, for sealing
such substantially round cylindrical second end when such pet
enclosure is not in use.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a house and pet enclosure with a
preferred embodiment of the present invention shown installed.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the house
portion of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along
the section 3--3 of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of another preferred embodiment of the
house portion of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 5 is a sectional view of the embodiment of FIG. 4 taken along
the section 5--5 of FIG. 4.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the pet
enclosure portion of the system of the present invention.
FIG. 7 is an elevation view showing the attachment of the pet
enclosure protective cover to the inside of the pet enclosure wall.
FIG. 8 is a left side elevation view of the house portion
illustrating the use of a cap when the pet enclosure is not in use.
FIG. 9 is an elevation view, partially in section, illustrating the
coupler used in the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT AND THE BEST MODE OF
PRACTICE
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a
preferred embodiment of the present invention, a system for
transferring ambient air from a house to an external pet enclosure.
This system is installed at and between the house 20 and the pet
enclosure 22. Shown is: the house installation 23 part of this
invention, which part includes the air forcing means of the present
invention, installed in house exterior wall 26; a conduit means 29
extending generally from the house 20 to the pet enclosure 22
(embodying herein a conduit means for channeling such ambient air
from such interior of such house into such pet enclosure); and the
pet-enclosure installation 30 part of this invention.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of the house
portion of the system of the present invention and showing the house
installation 23 at the house exterior wall 26. FIG. 3 is a sectional
view of the embodiment of FIG. 2 taken along the section 3--3 of
FIG. 2. As illustrated in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the present invention
draws in ambient air (see flow arrows) at room temperature from the
inside 21 of house 20 by means of a fan 34, preferably a 115 v-AC
single phase electric fan, having (as shown) a substantially
cylindrical fan housing 35, preferably an integral preformed plastic
housing. Fan 34 embodies herein the air forcing means of this
invention for forcing ambient air from the interior 21 of the house
20 into the pet enclosure 22. The preferred embodiment of fan 34 is
a NMB model 4715FS-12T-B30 fan manufactured by MINEBEA CO. LTD.,
made in Thailand. (The fan measures approximately 411/16" wide by
411/16" high by 11/2" deep.)
The preformed plastic fan housing 35 illustrated preferably has
preformed mounting holes 37 to provide a means for mounting fan 34
to the interior side 39 of exterior wall 26. The preformed mounting
holes 37 in the fan housing 35 allow for a mounting screw 38 to pass
through the fan housing 35 and mount into the interior side 39,
preferably to a wood or metal stud or into an appropriate type
anchor for the type of interior wall present. This attachment system
embodies herein first attachment means for attaching such air
forcing means to such house. As illustrated, cylindrical fan housing
35 preferably includes a substantially-square first portion 27
located to the input side of fan 34 and a substantially-round second
portion 28 located to the output side of fan 34 (which includes a
conduit portion 40). This arrangement embodies herein such conduit
means including a conduit portion of such cylindrical housing, and
such cylindrical housing including, located to an input side of such
fan, a substantially square-cylindrical first portion, and, located
to an output side of such fan, a substantially round-cylindrical
second portion comprising such conduit portion.
In operation, activation of the electric fan 34 through the use of
the fan power switch 31 causes ambient air from the inside of house
20 to be drawn through a cover 32, which acts as a protective grill
(embodying herein a cover means for such fan for acting as a
protective grill and attached to such substantially
square-cylindrical first end of such housing as a substantially
square fan cover) attached to the substantially-square end of fan
housing 35. Such ambient air then (see FIG. 1) passes through
conduit means 29 and into pet enclosure 22 by way of pet enclosure
installation portion 30.
Thus (with reference to FIGS. 2 and 3) such ambient air is forcibly
blown through a one-way internal damper 36 which is utilized to
prevent the backflow of outside air into the house when the fan is
turned off. Preferably, the damper 36 is constructed and arranged
(in well-known ways, using gravity and air-flow pressure) to
automatically open upon application of air pressure caused by the
running fan 34 and to automatically close when the fan 34 is turned
off, damper 36 embodying herein a closable damping means in such
conduit means for limiting air backflow from such pet enclosure to
such house. This blown ambient air (see flow arrows), after passing
through damper 36, goes through conduit portion 40 of fan housing 35
(which passes through the exterior side 42 of house exterior wall
26) and then through a transfer duct 46, preferably made of a
flexible rubber, which is mechanically attached (preferably by an
internally-threaded coupler 55, as shown) to conduit portion 40,
this arrangement embodying herein a second attachment means for
attaching such conduit means to such air forcing means. Then such
flowing ambient air (as shown in FIG. 6) passes into the pet
enclosure 22 by way of pet enclosure installation portion 30.
Thermal sealing of the house exterior wall 26 (by sealing off air
flow around conduit portion 40) is accomplished by means of a
sealing gasket 45 pressure fitted against the exterior side 42 of
house exterior wall 26 by a duct flange nut 44 threaded internally
that fits over an externally-threaded portion 41 of conduit portion
40 (as shown) that is a part of the preformed plastic fan housing
35. Externally-threaded portion 41, as shown in the drawings,
embodies herein such substantially round-cylindrical second end
comprising first external threads. The duct flange nut 44 (embodying
herein a first flange nut, having internal threads for engagement
with such first external threads) is tightened against the sealing
gasket 45 firmly, spreading the sealing gasket 45 (embodying herein
a first sealing gasket located between such first flange nut and
such first external wall) over and around the opening 43 in the
exterior side 42 of house exterior wall 26, the described
arrangement embodying herein a first sealing means for preventing
flow of air into or out of such house around such conduit means.
FIG. 6 shows a similar means used to seal the opening at the pet
enclosure 22. A separate preformed plastic attachment duct 47 is
installed through a pet enclosure wall 50. Here, for pet enclosure
installation 30, a similar (to house installation 23) sealing gasket
45 and duct flange nut 44 (embodying herein a second flange nut,
having internal threads for engagement with such second external
threads, and a second sealing gasket located between such second
flange nut and such second external wall) are mounted on the
exterior of a preformed plastic attachment duct 47 acting in a
similar way to conduit portion 40 as described above, embodying
herein a second sealing means for preventing flow of air into or out
of such pet enclosure around such conduit means. External threads 53
(see FIG. 6) and attachment duct 47 embody herein a duct attachment
device for such pet enclosure, having a first attachment end and a
second attachment end, such second attachment end comprising second
external threads.
Attachment duct 47 is installed in well known ways in a hole through
the pet enclosure wall 50. FIG. 7 shows a wire screen 49 installed
on the portion of the attachment duct 47 that protrudes through the
pet enclosure wall 50 into the interior of the pet enclosure 22,
wire screen 49 serving as a protective means for limiting access to
such conduit means from such pet enclosure. The wire screen 49 is
preferably installed in a plastic frame 54 mounted over and being an
integral part of such protruding end of the attachment duct 47. The
attachment duct 47 preferably has preformed mounting holes 37 in it
(as shown in FIG. 7) and installation with the proper screw/mounting
hardware prevents the attachment duct 47 from being pulled out of
the pet enclosure wall 50. Having now installed duct attachments at
the house 20 and pet enclosure 22, the two are connected by means of
a flexible rubber transfer duct 46 (shown in FIGS. 2 through 6),
embodying herein, together with the duct attachments at both ends,
conduit means comprising a round cylindrical duct.
This flexible rubber transfer duct 46 is preferably attached to the
end of the preformed plastic conduit portion 40 by means of a pipe
coupler 55 (see FIG. 9), constructed in well known ways, which has a
substantially round first end 56, a flanged second end 57, and an
internally threaded nut portion 58. Coupling of transfer duct 46 to
the preformed plastic conduit portion 40 is accomplished by sliding
an end of transfer duct 46 onto the substantially round first end 56
of the pipe coupler 55 thereby forming a tight friction fit. The
flanged second end 57 of the pipe coupler 55 is placed against the
end of the conduit portion 40 and the internal threads on the
internally threaded nut portion 58 are engaged with the external
threads on the externally threaded portion 41 of conduit portion 40
thereby forming a tight mechanical connection. Likewise, the
attachment of transfer duct 46 to attachment duct 47 is accomplished
by the use of the same type of pipe coupler 55 and in the same
manner as described above. This arrangement embodies herein a third
attachment means for attaching such conduit means to such pet
enclosure, and further, embodies such round cylindrical duct being
mechanically attached with such pet enclosure, and further, embodies
herein a cylindrical duct having a first duct end and a second duct
end, wherein such second duct end is structured and arranged for
mechanical (preferably threaded, as shown) attachment to such second
attachment end, and such first duct end is structured and arranged
for mechanical (preferably threaded, as shown) attachment to such
substantially round-cylindrical second end of such housing. Though
applicant has described the preferred method for the second and
third attachment means, other attachment methods, such as direct
slidable attachment of the transfer duct 46 ends to the conduit
portion 40 and attachment duct 47, may be used where cost or other
considerations dictate.
The fan power connection 33 for the preferred embodiment of FIGS. 2
and 3 is by means of a power cord connection at the preformed
plastic fan housing 35. A specialty power cord connects to the house
electric power supply by plugging into a house 20 electrical outlet,
and into the preformed plastic fan housing 35 fan power connection
33.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an alternate preferred embodiment of
the present invention. FIG. 5 is a sectional view of such alternate
preferred embodiment taken along the section 5-5 of FIG. 4. As shown
in FIGS. 4 and 5, the fan 34 draws in ambient air from the inside 21
of house 20. The fan 34 is enclosed in a preformed plastic fan
housing 35 with an integral conduit portion 40. As in the embodiment
of FIGS. 2 and 3, the air is drawn through a protective cover 32
attached as a grill over the preformed plastic fan housing 35, which
includes an electric fan power switch 31. In the alternate preferred
embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, as shown, the fan 34 is partially
located within house exterior wall 26 and thus partially located in
between the interior side 39 and the exterior side 42 of house
exterior wall 26, embodying herein that at least a portion of such
electrically powered fan being located within such external wall of
such house. The operation and air flow in this alternate embodiment
is the same as for the embodiment of FIGS. 2 and 3.
The preformed plastic fan housing 35 shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5
preferably has preformed mounting holes 37 to provide a means for
mounting the present invention to the interior house wall 39. The
preformed mounting holes 37 are mounted toward the front of the
plastic fan housing 35 to allow for the majority of the inner end of
the preformed plastic fan housing 35 to be hidden in the wall space
between the house interior wall 39 and house exterior wall 42.
Preferably, a mounting screw 38 is inserted through the plastic fan
housing 35 mounting holes 37 and installed into the house interior
wall 39 by direct means to a wood or metal stud or into an
appropriate type anchor for the type of interior wall present. As
discussed previously, the use of an internal damper 36 as previously
detailed prevents the exterior air from the pet enclosure from
entering the interior of the house 20 when the internal fan 34 is
not operating.
As in the first preferred embodiment, the alternate embodiment also
incorporates thermal sealing. Here also, thermal sealing of the
house exterior wall 26 (by sealing off air flow around conduit
portion 40) is accomplished by means of a sealing gasket 45 pressure
fitted against the exterior side 42 of house exterior wall 26 by a
duct flange nut 44 threaded internally that fits over an
externally-threaded portion 41 of conduit portion 40 (as shown) that
is a part of the preformed plastic fan housing 35. The duct flange
nut 44 is tightened against the sealing gasket 45 firmly, spreading
the sealing gasket 45 over and around the opening 43 in the exterior
side 42 of house exterior wall 26. The thermal sealing of the pet
enclosure remains unchanged in using the alternate preferred
embodiment. Also, the use of the flexible rubber transfer duct 46 is
the same for both illustrated embodiments, as shown.
The fan power connection 33 for the alternate preferred embodiment
is by the means of a wiring connection between the house electrical
system and the power cord connection at the preformed plastic fan
housing 35. This connection is an "in the wall connection" as shown
in FIG. 4. In the alternate preferred embodiment, electrical power
is drawn from the nearest outlet wiring (having established that the
power requirements of the fan do not exceed any established
electrical code requirements for the circuit or wiring) using the
appropriate wiring and connections in well-known ways.
FIG. 8 is a left side elevation view of the house portion of the
present invention, showing the end cap detail. Specifically
illustrated is the use of a cap 59, which is used to prevent access
to the interior 21 of the house 20 by insects, birds, or rodents
when the pet enclosure 22 is no longer in use. Cap 59, constructed
in well known ways, has internal threads for engaging the threads on
the external threaded portion 41 of the preformed plastic fan
housing 35 conduit portion 40. FIG. 9 illustrates the coupler area
detail, previously herein discussed.
Although applicant has described applicant's preferred embodiments
of this invention, it will be understood that the broadest scope of
this invention includes such modifications as diverse shapes and
sizes and materials. Such scope is limited only by the below claims
as read in connection with the above specification. Further, many
other advantages of applicant's invention will be apparent to those
skilled in the art from the above descriptions and the below claims.
* * * * *
|
|