Patent ID: 8024850

Claim:
A method of tightening duct sections, each section having a wall and a return flange along an edge to define a groove between the wall and the return flange that extends along the edge, the grooves of adjacent duct sections being adapted to receive a retaining cleat with a pair of arms, each arm proportioned to fit in a groove when the edges of the duct sections are drawn adjacent to each other, said method comprising placing two duct sections in an initial position where the ducts are generally aligned with each other, positioning a tool having a V-shaped slot with each edge of the V-shaped slot engaging an end portion of one of the grooves and pressing the tool so that as the edges of the duct sections move toward the bottom of the V-shaped slot they are forced by the walls of the V-shaped slot toward each other, inserting a cleat over the returns with one arm in each groove starting at said end portions of the grooves while the edges of the V-shaped slot remain in the grooves, and thereafter removing the tool.