Abstract:
A silicone or other insulating material is used as a cover for a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning boot. The cover is formed to easily fit onto the boot by slipping over the outside of the boot. The cover eliminates the need to wrap the boot with insulation, a time-consuming process.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/796,528, filed Mar. 15, 2013, the contents are which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to duct work for interior ventilation systems, and more particularly to insulating the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning air supply and return duct boot. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    In homes and other building structures, a typical heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a network of ducts that supply heated or cooled air to various rooms or areas of the building and return cooler or warmer air to the system. The duct systems are attached to furnaces, heat pumps, air conditioning units, or other systems for affecting the temperature or ventilation of the air within the building. 
         [0004]    An opening into a room or area of the building is generally located at the end of a run of ductwork to permit the air to enter the room from the HVAC system or to be withdrawn from the room and returned to the system. These openings are often located in the floor of the room, but can also be located on walls or the ceiling. The air flows into and out of the ductwork through a register that resembles a grate system to keep items out of the HVAC system and ductwork. Between the run of ductwork and the register is a part of the system known as a “boot.” The boot comes in a variety of shapes depending on its location along a run of ductwork. 
         [0005]    HVAC ducts and other parts are often made of sheet metal or similar material. To increase the efficiency of an HVAC system and to decrease the loss of desired cold or warm air, HVAC ducts are often covered with insulation material. For straight runs of ductwork, covering or wrapping with an insulating material is relatively simple. For parts of the system that are used as elbows and other unusual shapes, such as the boots, installing insulation is more difficult. 
         [0006]    Previously, HVAC boots have been wrapped with insulating tape or similar material. This is a time consuming process for the installers and often results in incomplete coverage of the boot due to improper installation or a poor fit and therefore incomplete insulation of the system, resulting in inefficiency due to the loss of cold air or warm air. 
         [0007]    Therefore, there is a need for a better-fitting and easier-to-install way of insulating HVAC boots to improve the efficiency of HVAC systems. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invention relates to various exemplary embodiments, including devices and products. 
         [0009]    These and other features and advantages of exemplary embodiments of the invention are described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an implementation of the invention. 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of another implementation of the invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of yet another implementation of the invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0013]    In the following detailed description, numeric values and ranges are provided for various aspects of the implementations described. These values and ranges are to be treated as examples only and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. In addition, a number of materials and ingredients are identified as suitable for various facets of the implementations. These materials and ingredients are to be treated as exemplary and are not intended to limit the scope of the claims. 
         [0014]    The invention relates to a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) duct boot cover that insulates the boot from loss of heated or cooled air. The cover slides quickly and easily over an existing HVAC duct boot or can be installed as a new line of ductwork is installed. 
         [0015]    As used herein, an HVAC “boot” refers to the portion of the HVAC duct that connects the main duct line to the register or vent through which the heated, ventilated, or cooled air enters or exits a room. The boot comes in various shapes, as set forth below, depending on whether the register or vent is at the end of a line of ductwork or is in the middle of the line. The present invention is not limited by the shape of the boot itself. 
         [0016]    The HVAC duct boot cover can be formed of various materials that provide sufficient insulating performance to keep heat or cold air loss from the boot to a minimum. For example, the boot cover may be formed from silicone or similar carbon-, hydrogen-, and oxygen-based polymers. The boot may be formed of open cell or closed cell insulation material, or from spray foam insulation. The boot may be formed from natural or synthetic latex, polyurethane, or various natural or synthetic rubber materials. Fiberglass insulation could also be used, as well as molded bubble wrap material. 
         [0017]    The boot could be formed by injection molding the desired material into the desired shapes to fit various HVAC boot sizes and shapes as needed. Other manufacturing methods known to those of ordinary skill in the art could be used to form the material into the desired shape. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , the HVAC boot cover  10  is shown in one implementation that is common to the industry. The HVAC boot cover  10  is shaped to fit over an existing HVAC boot or to fit over an HVAC boot while it is being installed. The boot cover  10  includes an opening  12  for the vent or register. The opening can be of various sizes depending on the particular HVAC boot being used, which will vary based on the desired size and characteristics of the register. Typical dimensions for the opening would be about 2 to 4 inches by about 10 to 12 inches, although larger or smaller dimensions could also be used. At the opposite end of the boot cover  10  is a round opening  14  that would attach the boot to the line of ductwork. The opening  14  would typically attach to an elbow or straight duct, depending on the orientation of the system. While the diameter of the opening  14  can vary based on the size of the duct to which the boot is to be attached, a typical, standard opening diameter is about 6 inches. 
         [0019]    The HVAC boot cover  10  will typically be about ¼ inch thick to provide sufficient insulation for the system. Thicker covers  10  can be used as the circumstances dictate, although this will result in increased cost and will reduce the ease of installation of the cover  10 . Similarly, thicknesses of less than ¼ inch may not provide sufficient insulation properties for the HVAC boot and will result in more lost energy. Of course, the thickness will depend on the exact material used. Less thickness is necessary to provide a similar level of insulation when the R-value of the material is greater. 
         [0020]    Referring to  FIG. 2 , the HVAC boot cover  20  is shown in another implementation that is common to the industry. The HVAC boot cover  20  is shaped to fit over an existing HVAC boot or to fit over an HVAC boot while it is being installed. The boot cover  20  includes an opening  22  for the vent or register. The opening can be of various sizes depending on the particular HVAC boot being used, which will vary based on the desired size and characteristics of the register. Typical dimensions for the opening would be about 2 to 4 inches by about 10 to 12 inches, although larger or smaller dimensions could also be used. At the opposite end of the boot cover  20  is a round opening  24  that would attach the boot to the line of ductwork. The opening  24  would typically attach to an elbow or straight duct, depending on the orientation of the system. While the diameter of the opening  24  can vary based on the size of the duct to which the boot is to be attached, a typical, standard opening diameter is about 6 inches. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIG. 3 , the HVAC boot cover  30  is shown in yet another implementation that is common to the industry. The HVAC boot cover  30  is shaped to fit over an existing HVAC boot or to fit over an HVAC boot while it is being installed. The boot cover  30  includes an opening  32  for the vent or register. The opening can be of various sizes depending on the particular HVAC boot being used, which will vary based on the desired size and characteristics of the register. Typical dimensions for the opening would be about 2 to 4 inches by about 10 to 12 inches, although larger or smaller dimensions could also be used. At the opposite end of the boot cover  30  is a round opening  34  that would attach the boot to the line of ductwork. The opening  34  would typically attach to an elbow or straight duct, depending on the orientation of the system. While the diameter of the opening  34  can vary based on the size of the duct to which the boot is to be attached, a typical opening diameter is about 6 inches. 
         [0022]    In use, the HVAC boot cover would be slipped over and around the existing HVAC boot to substantially cover the outer surface of the boot. The boot cover is formed of a material that provides insulating properties to the boot cover and protects the boot cover from the loss of heat, cold air, or ventilated air, as desired. The HVAC boot covers are available in standard sizes to fit various HVAC boots, making installation easier as compared to time-consuming methods of wrapping HVAC boots with insulation material. 
         [0023]    While the invention has been described in conjunction with specific exemplary implementations, it is evident to those skilled in the art that many alternatives, modifications, and variations will be apparent in light of the foregoing description. Accordingly, the invention is intended to embrace all such alternatives, modifications, and variations that fall within the scope and spirit of the appended claims.