Insect barriers for inlets and vents

Abstract

A barrier device to prevent insects from entering an opening of a vent in fluid connection with an interior of a building includes a body which includes a housing. The housing includes a first end adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the vent opening and a second end. The barrier device further includes a mesh barrier positioned adjacent the second end, opposite the first end, through which fluid (gas and liquid) can pass. However, insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass through the mesh barrier. The mesh barrier has an effective open area at least as large as an open area of the opening of the vent.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A barrier device to prevent insects from entering an opening of a vent in fluid connection with an interior of a building, comprising: a body comprising a housing, the housing having a first end adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the vent opening and a second end, and a mesh barrier positioned adjacent the second end, opposite the first end, through which fluid can pass, but insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass, the mesh barrier having an effective open area at least as large as an open area of the opening of the vent. 
     
     
         2 . The barrier device of  claim 1  wherein the housing is formed of a generally rigid material. 
     
     
         3 . The barrier device of  claim 2  wherein the effective open area of the mesh barrier is at least 120% of the open area of the opening of the vent. 
     
     
         4 . The barrier device of  claim 2  wherein the effective open area of the mesh barrier is at least 150% of the open area of the opening of the vent. 
     
     
         5 . The barrier device of  claim 2  wherein the effective open area of the mesh barrier is at least 200% of the open area of the opening of the vent. 
     
     
         6 . A barrier system to prevent insects from entering an outlet of one of a plurality of vents, comprising: a body comprising a generally rigid housing having a first end adapted to be placed in connection with an outlet of a first of the plurality of vents which has a first configuration and a second end opposite the first end, a mesh assembly positioned adjacent the second end through which fluid can pass, but insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass, and an adapter section having a first end adapted to be placed in connection with the first end of the housing and a second end adapted to be placed in connection with an outlet of a second of the plurality of vents which has a second configuration, different from the first configuration. 
     
     
         7 . The barrier system of  claim 6  wherein the first end of the body is adapted to form a friction fit with the outlet of the first of the plurality of vents which has a first outer diameter and the second end of the adapter section is adapted to form a friction fit with the outlet of the second of the plurality of vents which has a second outer diameter, which is different from the first diameter. 
     
     
         8 . The barrier system of  claim 7  wherein the first end of the body is adapted to form a friction fit with the outlet of the first of the plurality of vents which has a first inner diameter of 2 inches and the second end of the adapter section is adapted to form a friction fit with the outlet of the second of the plurality of vents which has an inner diameter of a 2-inches female coupler, elbow or adapter. 
     
     
         9 . The barrier system of  claim 6  wherein the body is formed from PVC and the adapter section is formed from PVC. 
     
     
         10 . The barrier system of  claim 6  wherein no tools are required to place the body in fluid connection with the outlet of any one of the plurality of vents. 
     
     
         11 . A barrier device to prevent insects from entering an opening of a vent in fluid connection with an interior of a building, comprising: a body comprising a rigid, generally cylindrical housing, the housing having a first end adapted to be placed in connection with the vent opening and a second end opposite the first end, the barrier device further comprising a mesh barrier positioned adjacent the second end, through which fluid can pass, but insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass, the housing further comprising a plurality of passages extending radially through the housing through which liquid can pass via gravity flow to exit the housing, a number of the plurality of passages being positioned at different positions around the circumference of the housing so that the housing can be rotated about an axis of the housing over a range of positions when the axis of the housing is oriented generally horizontally and at least one of the plurality of passages is generally aligned the orientation of gravity. 
     
     
         12 . The barrier device of  claim 11  wherein the plurality of passages are positioned around circumference of the housing so that the housing can be rotated about the axis of the housing to any position when the axis of the housing is oriented generally horizontally and at least one of the plurality of passages is generally aligned the orientation of gravity. 
     
     
         13 . The barrier device of  claim 11  further comprising a mesh assembly comprising at least one ring member and the mesh barrier, which is in operative connection with the ring member, an outer wall of the ring member forming a connection with the inner wall of the housing, the ring member comprising a plurality of passage formed in the outer wall thereof via which liquid can flow to exit the housing, a number of the plurality of passages formed in the outer wall of the ring member being positioned at different positions around the circumference of the ring member so that the ring member can be rotated about an axis of the ring member over a range of positions when the axis of the ring member is oriented generally horizontally and at least one of the plurality of passages is generally aligned with the orientation of gravity. 
     
     
         14 . A barrier device to prevent insects from entering an opening of a vent in fluid connection with an interior of a building, comprising: a body comprising a housing, the housing having a first end adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the vent opening and a second end, the barrier device further comprising a mesh assembly positioned adjacent the second end, opposite the first end, through which fluid can pass, but insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass, the mesh assembly comprising a mesh barrier, a first ring rearward of the mesh barrier, the first ring comprising an outer wall which forms a friction fit connection with an inner wall of the housing, and a second ring forward of the mesh barrier, the second ring comprising an outer wall which forms a friction fit with an inner wall of the housing, the barrier device further comprising at least one removable connector which cooperates with the housing and the mesh assembly to releasably attached the mesh assembly to the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The barrier device of  claim 14  wherein the at least one removable connector is a fastener which passes through the housing to form a connection with the first ring. 
     
     
         16 . A barrier device to prevent insects from entering an opening of a vent in fluid connection with an interior of a building, comprising: a body comprising a housing, the housing having a first end adapted to be placed in fluid connection with the vent opening and a second end, and a mesh barrier positioned adjacent the second end, opposite the first end, through which fluid can pass, but insects of a predetermined range of size cannot pass, the mesh barrier comprising an insect repellent or insect killer thereon.