Universal damper mounting system and method

A universal damper mounting system and method for mounting a damper within an opening in a wall includes the use of a plurality of metal straps, each of which is initially formed into an roughly S shape with one leg being longer than the thickness of a wall into which the damper is being installed and also being longer than an opposite leg. The damper includes a rectangular housing with top and bottom peripheral sealing flanges on one side of the housing. A first pair of the straps are abutted against the top sealing flange and a second pair are abutted against the bottom sealing flange with the opposite leg of each strap being folded over a respective one of the top or bottom sealing flanges. The damper is then placed in the wall opening and the terminal ends of the long legs of each strap are bent upward or downward, depending upon the position, to overlap the wall surface. The straps thus serve to retain the damper in the wall.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to a universal system and method for mounting 
a damper within a wall opening, and, more particularly, to such a method 
in which a plurality of S shaped metal straps are provided, preferably two 
on top of the damper housing and two on the bottom thereof. One leg of 
each strap protrudes outward past a front of the damper and is then bent 
around a peripheral sealing flange of the damper housing and an opposite, 
longer leg of each strap protrudes past a wall surface opposite the 
sealing flanges and the terminal end of the opposite leg of each strap is 
bent at a 90 degree angle to overlap the wall surface to thus secure the 
damper housing within the wall opening. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
In modern buildings, a variety of dampers are positioned at ventilation 
inlets, HVAC air supply inlets and returns, for fire dampers between rooms 
and hallways, etc. Each damper is typically positioned in a rectangular 
opening in a wall and includes one or more blades or vanes which are 
selectively movable between full open and completely closed positions to 
control air flow there through. In the past, the system and method used 
for installing such dampers the system and method used for installing such 
dampers varied depending upon the type of wall into which they were being 
installed. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,515,068, invented by the applicant 
and assigned to the present assignee, describes and illustrates a damper 
and mounting system for use in a concrete or masonry wall opening. In the 
'068 patent, the damper includes a peripheral frame with a plurality of 
internally threaded tubes attached to the frame peripheral walls and 
positioned over respective openings in the peripheral walls. A respective 
self-tapping, externally threaded stud is positioned within each such tube 
such that the studs can be turned, as by a wrench or the like, and 
threaded outward through the tube and into engagement with the sides of 
the wall opening. Two or more of the tubes and studs are required for each 
damper to secure it to the wall opening. 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,524,678, of Steven Klebanoff, also assigned to the present 
assignee, describes and illustrates a damper and mounting system for use 
in a conventional stud and sheet rock wall. In the '678 patent, a 
respective sheet steel strap is secured to the side of a damper housing, 
with the strap lying flat against the side of the housing. As the damper 
is inserted into a framed opening within a stud wall, the straps lie 
across vertically oriented studs on either side of the damper. Each end of 
each strap is then bent outward at a ninety degree angle to abut either 
side of the respective vertically oriented stud. The straps then hold the 
damper against the studs to retain it in the wall opening. 
In addition, both the '068 patent and the '678 patent illustrate prior art 
attachment methods which include four angle members respectively attached 
to the top and bottom of the damper housing on either side of the damper, 
with each angle member being attached to the damper housing and the wall. 
This prior art method, although usable with either stud or masonry walls, 
is time and labor consuming, making installation and removal difficult, 
particularly in the relatively tight quarters typically found in damper 
installations. 
By contrast, the systems and methods described and illustrated in the '068 
and '678 patents, while making the installation and removal of dampers 
convenient, are each designed for a particular type of wall construction. 
Thus, installers get equipment and jobs mixed up since different 
installation systems must be used for different wall types. 
It is clear then, that a need exists for an improved damper installation 
system and method. Such a system and method should allow for convenient 
and quick damper installation and should be universal to any type of wall 
construction. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention is directed to a universal damper mounting system and 
method for mounting a damper within an opening in a wall. The damper 
includes a rectangular housing forming an opening with the pivoting vanes 
or blades contained therein and with a top and bottom peripheral sealing 
flange on one side of the housing. The system and method includes the use 
of a plurality of metal straps with each of the straps being initially 
formed into an roughly S shape with a first leg being longer than the 
depth of a wall into which the damper is being installed. Each strap has 
an intermediate second leg and a shorter third leg, with the first leg 
being of a length to extend entirely through the wall and extend a 
significant distance out the side of the wall opposite the sealing flanges 
when the intermediate leg is abutting one of the sealing flanges. A pair 
of the straps are placed atop the damper housing and a pair of the straps 
are placed along the bottom of the housing with the intermediate legs of 
each strap abutting a respective one of the sealing flanges and with the 
third leg of each strap being folded over that sealing flange. The 
terminal end of the first leg of each strap is then bent upward or 
downward depending upon the position, to overlap a portion of the wall 
surface. The straps, thus bent at one end over the respective damper 
sealing flange and at the other end overlapping the wall surface, act to 
retain the damper in the wall opening. 
OBJECTS AND ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION 
The principal objects of the present invention include: providing a 
universal damper installation system and method; providing such a system 
and method which is usable with any type of wall construction to install a 
damper within that wall; providing such a system and method which allows 
the quick and convenient, yet reliable installation of the damper within a 
wall opening; providing such a system and method which is economical and 
flexible; and providing such a system and method which is particularly 
well adapted for its intended purpose. 
Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from 
the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying 
drawings wherein are set forth, by way of illustration and example, 
certain embodiments of this invention. 
The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary 
embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and 
features thereof.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed 
herein, however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are 
merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. 
Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are 
not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims 
and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to 
variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately 
detailed structure. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-5, a universal damper mounting system and method for 
mounting a damper within an opening in a wall is illustrated. The system 
and method includes the use of a plurality of metal straps 1, each of 
which is preferably initially formed into an roughly S shape, as shown in 
FIG. 5. Each of the S shaped straps 1 includes a first leg 2 which is 
significantly longer than an intermediate second leg 3 and an opposite, 
third leg 4. 
Referring to FIGS. 1-3, a damper 5 is illustrated installed within a wall 
opening 11 of a concrete wall 12. It should be noted that the concrete 
wall 12 is merely illustrative, and that the present system is usable with 
any type of wall construction. The damper 5 includes a generally 
rectangular housing 13 forming an opening 14 with a plurality of pivoting 
vanes 15 contained therein. The vanes 15 are selectively movable between a 
closed configuration, as illustrated, and an open configuration in 
conventional fashion via a conventional vane operating mechanism 21. The 
housing 13 includes an upper peripheral sealing flange 22 along a top 
front portion 23 thereof and a bottom peripheral sealing flange 24 along a 
bottom peripheral portion 25 thereof. A pair of the straps 1 are first 
laid atop housing 13 and an additional pair of straps 1 are positioned 
along a bottom of the housing 13. With each of the straps 1, the third leg 
4 is then bent over the respective upper or lower sealing flange 22 or 24 
to retain the straps 1 onto the housing 13. The housing 13, along with the 
attached straps 1, is then pushed into the wall opening 11 until the 
sealing flanges 22 and 24 are positioned against a rear surface 31 of the 
wall 12, as illustrated in FIG. 1. Each of the straps 1 thus has a 
terminal portion 32 of its long first leg 2 extending outward past a front 
surface 33 of the wall 12, as shown in phantom lines in FIG. 5. To 
complete the installation of the damper 5, the terminal portions 32 of 
each of the straps 1 are then bent, either upward or downward, depending 
upon orientation, at an approximate 90 degree angle, to engage the front 
wall surface 33, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 4. The damper 5 is thus 
securely retained within the wall opening 11, and the inventive 
installation system and method meets the "see through" test required of 
such installations due to the angle of the straps 1 and the sealing 
flanges 22 and 24. 
The inventive system and method is intended primarily for use in dampers 
used within the air return path of HVAC systems, but is also applicable to 
fire and smoke dampers, outside air inlets, or for any installation in an 
opening where fluid flow needs to be regulated. With the inventive system, 
an installer need only carry a single type of installation kit which is 
universally usable for damper installations in any type of wall 
construction. 
It is to be understood that while certain forms of the present invention 
have been illustrated and described herein, it is not to be limited to the 
specific forms or arrangement of parts described and shown.