Abstract:
A register opening cover may be used to cover register openings until the register boot is installed in the register opening. During the installation of the register boot, the invention may be used to hold the register boot in place until the register boot is securely connected to the floor. After the register boot is installed, the cover forms an insulator around the register boot. One embodiment of the invention provides a register opening cover and register boot frame that can be configured to fit register boots of different sizes. Another embodiment of the invention provides a register opening cover that will support some of the weight of a worker who may step on the covered register opening.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS  
       [0001]    This application claims priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Serial No. 60/317,883 filed Sep. 7, 2001; the disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    1. Technical Field  
           [0003]    The present invention generally relates to the technical field of heating, ventilation, and air conditioning equipment. More particularly, the present invention relates to equipment for mounting ventilation ducts in heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems. Specifically, the present invention relates to a register boot frame that is first used to cover the register openings in new construction and is then used to help install the register boots.  
           [0004]    2. Background Information  
           [0005]    Duct systems for ventilation systems include register boots where the ducts extend through register openings in floors. Floors are installed in new construction before the duct systems are installed. The register openings are also cut into the floors before the ventilation ducts are installed. In new house construction, the register openings allow debris to fall through the floor into the basement. Such falling debris is undesirable in generally but is especially undesirable when the new concrete floor is poured in the basement. Covers for the register openings are thus desired in the art.  
           [0006]    Register openings also create a safety hazard because people can accidently step through the openings and injure a foot, an ankle, or a leg. Any cover provided for the register openings would ideally provide a warning to those walking near the openings and would support the weight of a person who accidently steps on the cover.  
           [0007]    Another problem with register openings and register boots is that they are somewhat difficult and time consuming to install. The worker installing a register boot must first position the boot from below and have second worker connect the boot to the floor from above. This process is undesirable because it requires two workers. Another drawback is that the resulting connection between the register boot and the floor can be rather leaky.  
         BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0008]    The present invention provides a register opening cover that may be used to cover register openings until the register boot is installed in the register opening. During the installation of the register boot, the invention may be used to hold the register boot in place until the register boot is securely connected to the floor. After the register boot is installed, the cover forms an insulator around the register boot.  
           [0009]    One embodiment of the invention provides a register opening cover and register boot frame that can be configured to fit register boots of different sizes. Another embodiment of the invention provides a register opening cover that will support some of the weight of a worker who may step on the covered register opening. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]    [0010]FIG. 1 is a top plan view of the first embodiment of the register boot frame of the present invention.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 2 is a side view of the frame of FIG. 1.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the second embodiment of the register boot frame of the present invention.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 3A is a top plan view of the third embodiment of the register boot frame of the present invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a floor section having a register opening with the register boot frame of the invention aligned with the opening before it is installed.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4 showing the register boot frame installed over the opening.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6 is a section view taken along line  6 - 6  of FIG. 5.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the register boot frame with the center section removed and a register boot being aligned with the register opening.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 8 is a view similar to FIG. 6 showing the register boot installed in the register opening.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the register boot installed in the register opening with the register boot frame of the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment installed adjacent a wall with the longitudinal edge of the frame folded up.  
         [0021]    [0021]FIG. 11 is a series of views showing the installations processes for the invention. 
     
    
       [0022]    Similar numbers refer to similar elements throughout the specification.  
       DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0023]    The first embodiment of the register boot frame of the invention is indicated generally by the numeral  2  in the accompanying drawings. Frame  2  may be configured to be used with ten, twelve, or fourteen inch register boots by selectively removing the middle portion  3  of the body  4  of frame  2 . In the first embodiment, body  4  includes a center portion  6  and two end portions  8  that are separated from center portion  6  with a perforation line  10 . Perforation lines  10  allows both end portions  8  to be removed to size frame  2  to fit the ten inch register boot. One end portion  8  may be removed to size frame  2  to fit the twelve inch register boot. When a fourteen inch register boot is used, both end portions  8  remain in place. In another embodiment of the invention, markings are used instead of perforation lines  10  and the worker cuts end portions  8  away with a knife or scissors.  
         [0024]    Center portion  6  of frame  2  defines noncontinuous slits  12  in the form of a ten inch rectangle. Slits  12  are noncontinuous so that middle portion  3  does not fall out of center portion  6  until the worker intends to remove it. Noncontinuous slits  12  also allow middle portion  3  to support weight when frame  2  is initially installed. This allows frame  2  to support a worker who accidently steps on frame  2  when it is installed over a register opening.  
         [0025]    When frame  2  will be used with a ten inch register boot, the worker removes both end portions  8  and cuts away middle portion  3  with a suitable knife. This configuration is depicted in FIG. 4. In another embodiment of the invention, the ten inch rectangle may be marked on center portion  6  and the worker would cut out middle portion  3  with a knife.  
         [0026]    Each end portion  8  defines a noncontinuous, C-shaped slit  14  positioned with the open end of the C facing center portion  6 . When frame  2  is used with a twelve inch register boot, one C-shaped slit  14  is cut away such that the overall opening in frame  2  is twelve inches. In the twelve inch configuration, only one end portion  8  is cut away. When frame  2  is used with a fourteen inch register boot, two C-shaped slits  14  are cut away such that the overall opening in frame  2  is fourteen inches. In the fourteen inch configuration, both end portions  8  are used with frame  2 .  
         [0027]    In the first embodiment of the invention, frame  2  is designed to be used with register boots that are four inches width and ten, twelve, or fourteen inches long. In the second embodiment of the invention, frame  20  (FIG. 3) is designed to work with register boots that are 2¼ inches wide. In the second embodiment, frame  22  includes a plurality of openings  22  separated by bars  24 . Bars  24  are cut away in order to form the openings for the register boots. In this embodiment, bars  24  are used to support weight when frame  20  is initially installed. Frame  20  may also be configured with noncontinuous slits.  
         [0028]    A third embodiment of the invention is depicted in FIG. 3A and is indicated generally by the numeral  30 . Frame  30  has two end portions  8  disposed at the same end of center portion  6 . Frame  30  may include noncontinuous slits or the openings and bars depicted in the drawing.  
         [0029]    Each of these embodiments may include corner slits  40  that allow the sidewalls of body  4  to flex when a register boot is forced up through the opening of body  4 . As will be described below in more detail, the openings in body  4  is sized to frictionally engage the outer surface of the register boot. Corner slits  40  allow body  4  to frictionally engage the register boot without tearing.  
         [0030]    Body  4  of each embodiment may be fabricated from a corrugated plastic material. The corrugations may be disposed to run across the width of frame  2  to increase the strength of the material. The corrugations may also run the length of frame  2 . When the corrugations run along the longitudinal direction of frame  2 , the longitudinal edge of frame  2  may be folded up as described below with respect to fold line  80 . The material may be opaque and colored brightly to draw attention to the frame when it is initially positioned over a register opening. This material also allows some light to pass through into the lower level. Each frame may also be clearly marked with a warning that the frame is “NOT A STEP” so that workers will not fall through the frame and register opening.  
         [0031]    Body  4  may also define corner fold lines  50  that allow the inner corners  52  to be folded down to help the worker position frame  2  with respect to the register opening.  
         [0032]    Frame  2  is used in the manner depicted in FIGS.  4 - 9 . One frame  2  may be used as a template to mark opening  60  on floor  62 . The width of frame  2  may be used to space opening  60  from the wall. The user then cuts floor  62  along the marked lines to form opening  60 . An unused frame  2  is then selected to match opening  60 . In the example, frame  2  is being used with a 10×4 inch opening  60 . When inner corners  52  are not used, frame  2  is aligned with opening  60 . If corners  52  are available, the worker may fold down inner corners  52  before placing frame  2  over opening  60 . Inner corners  52  allow frame  2  to be easily positioned over opening  60  as depicted in FIGS. 5 and 6. Once positioned, frame  2  is connected to floor  62  with appropriate connectors  64  such as staples, screws, nails, or glue. Frame  2  then remains in place covering opening  60  for safety and preventing debris from falling though opening  60 .  
         [0033]    When register boot  70  is to be installed, the worker removes middle portion  3  and slides register boot  70  up through frame  2  from below. Frame  2  frictionally engages the outer surface of register boot  70  so that frame  2  will hold register boot  70  in place while the worker walks upstairs and connects register boot  70  to floor  62  with appropriate connectors  72 . Duct tape may be used between frame  2  and boot  70  to prevent air from flowing between the two members. The invention thus allows a register boot to be installed by a single worker instead of the two workers in the past.  
         [0034]    The flooring material may be positioned over frame  2  around the protruding portion of register boot  70 . Frame  2  then functions to seal opening  60  and to provide some insulation properties.  
         [0035]    In alternative embodiments, frames  2 ,  20 , or  30  may include a fold line  80  that allows one of the longitudinal edges of frame  2 ,  20 , or  30  to be folded up to abut a wall adjacent opening  60  as shown in FIG. 10. Fold line  80  may be a mark that shows the user where to fold the frame. Fold line  80  may also be a perforated line or a score line that allows the user to easily make the fold. This configuration is designed specifically for a baseboard boot frame application.  
         [0036]    In the foregoing description, certain terms have been used for brevity, clearness, and understanding. No unnecessary limitations are to be implied therefrom beyond the requirement of the prior art because such terms are used for descriptive purposes and are intended to be broadly construed.  
         [0037]    Moreover, the description and illustration of the invention is an example and the invention is not limited to the exact details shown or described.