Extendable vent system

Abstract

A retractable vent system includes extendable portions that can be extended or retraced to position an inlet or outlet end of the vent at different locations. The extendable portion may be manually movable or power operated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An extendable vent system, comprising:
 a main bodying having an inlet; and   a plurality of nested sections that can be retracted into the main body and which can extend out of the main body to form a hollow passage that is operatively coupled to the inlet of the main body.   
     
     
         2 . The extendable vent system of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch that is configured to fix at least one of the nested sections with respect to the main body. 
     
     
         3 . The extendable vent system of  claim 2 , wherein the latch is configured to fix the nested sections with respect to the main body, to thereby determine a length of the extendable vent system. 
     
     
         4 . The extendable vent system of  claim 1 , further comprising a latch that is configured to fix a first one of the nested sections with respect to a second one of the nested sections. 
     
     
         5 . The extendable vent system of  claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of latches, wherein each latch is configured to fix one of the nested sections with respect to an adjacent nested section. 
     
     
         6 . The extendable vent system of  claim 1 , further comprising a drive unit that causes the plurality of nested sections to selectively extend from the main body, and selectively retract back into the main body. 
     
     
         7 . The extendable vent system of  claim 6 , wherein the drive unit comprises:
 a motor mounted on the main body; and   a wire having a first end attached to a nested section and a second end that is operatively coupled to the motor such that rotation of the motor in first and second rotational directions causes the nested sections to selectively extend from the main body, and selectively retract back into the main body.   
     
     
         8 . The extendable vent system of  claim 1 , further comprising a guide track that guides movement of the nested sections. 
     
     
         9 . The extendable vent system of  claim 1 , further comprising a frame that is configured to surround and protect the nested sections when they are extended from the main body. 
     
     
         10 . An extendable vent system, comprising:
 a main bodying having an inlet; and   an extendable vent line that having a first end that is operatively coupled to the inlet of the main body, wherein a second end of the extendable vent line can be extended from and retracted back into the main body.   
     
     
         11 . The extendable vent system of  claim 10 , wherein the extendable vent line is wound around spool that is rotationally mounted on the main body, and wherein the spool can be selectively rotated in first and second directions to cause the second end of the extendable vent line to extend away from and retract back into the main body. 
     
     
         12 . The extendable vent system of  claim 10 , further comprising a drive unit that causes the spool to selectively rotate in the first and second directions. 
     
     
         13 . The extendable vent system of  claim 10 , further comprising a guide track that guides movement of extendable vent line. 
     
     
         14 . The extendable vent system of  claim 10 , further comprising a frame that is configured to surround and protect the extendable vent line when it is extended from the main body.