Appliance vent

Abstract

A vent for a domestic appliance may comprise a through hole in an adjacent wall for increasing airflow to and/or from heat-generating or heat-dissipating components of a refrigerator or other type of appliance. An appliance vent may include a conduit installed through a wall, ceiling, floor, and/or cabinet to provide communication to an adjacent room or space, where warmer air may be ejected or from where cooler air may be drawn. An appliance vent may include vent louvers, acoustic baffles, or an adjustable shutter plate to adjust airflow through the vent. Sound dampening material may be placed within the through hole and/or conduit.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An appliance vent comprising:
 a vent plate installed on a barrier adjacent to an appliance and   a conduit passing through the barrier and providing communication from the appliance to the vent plate.   
     
     
         2 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a sound-dampening insert within the conduit. 
     
     
         3 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , further comprising a filter within the appliance vent. 
     
     
         4 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a wall. 
     
     
         5 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a ceiling. 
     
     
         6 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a cabinet. 
     
     
         7 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , wherein the barrier comprises a floor. 
     
     
         8 . The appliance vent of  claim 1 , further comprising an adjustable shutter within the conduit. 
     
     
         9 . A vent for an appliance comprising:
 a hole passing through an enclosure that is at least partially housing the appliance and   a conduit in the hole.   
     
     
         10 . The vent of  claim 9 , further comprising a vent plate in communication with the conduit. 
     
     
         11 . The vent of  claim 9 , further comprising a sound-dampening insert within the conduit. 
     
     
         12 . The vent of  claim 9 , further comprising an air filter within the vent. 
     
     
         13 . The appliance vent of  claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a wall. 
     
     
         14 . The appliance vent of  claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a ceiling. 
     
     
         15 . The appliance vent of  claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a cabinet. 
     
     
         16 . The appliance vent of  claim 9 , wherein the enclosure comprises a floor. 
     
     
         17 . The vent of  claim 9 , further comprising an adjustable shutter within the conduit. 
     
     
         18 . A method for providing ventilation to an appliance in an enclosure, comprising:
 cutting a hole through the enclosure adjacent to the appliance and   positioning a conduit in the hole to provide communication between the appliance and a space adjacent to the enclosure.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising installing a vent plate in the space adjacent to the enclosure at the hole. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising placing a sound-dampening insert within the conduit.