Patent ID: 7685792

Claim:
An apparatus for enhancing reinforcing and firestopping around a duct extending perpendicularly through a structural panel comprising: A. an angular flange means attachable with respect to a structural panel and to a duct extending perpendicularly therethrough for facilitating firestop sealing therearound, said angular flange means including: (1) a first flange leg positioned extending along the duct at a position adjacent to the structural panel positioned therearound, said first flange leg defining an inner first leg surface attachable with respect to the duct at a position adjacent to the structural panel positioned therearound; (2) a second flange leg secured with respect to said first flange leg and extending longitudinally therealong, said second flange leg defining an inner second leg surface facing the structural panel extending therearound to facilitate firestop sealing between the structural panel and a duct extending therethrough, said inner second leg surface of said second flange leg being oriented extending approximately perpendicularly outwardly with respect to said inner first leg surface of said first flange leg to facilitate attachment of said angular flange means to the structural panel and to the duct extending therethrough and for facilitating firestop sealing therebetween; and B. a sealing member positioned between said angular flange means and the duct and between said angular flange means and the structural panel for facilitating sealing therebetween, said sealing member including: (1) a first sealing member leg extending over said inner first leg surface of said first flange leg to be positioned between said inner first leg surface of said first flange leg and the duct thereadjacent extending perpendicularly through the structural panel; (2) a second sealing member leg secured with respect to said first sealing member leg and extending longitudinally therealong, said second sealing member leg extending over said inner second leg surface of said second flange leg to be positioned between said inner second leg surface of said second flange leg and the structural panel surrounding the duct extending perpendicularly therethrough, said second sealing member leg being oriented at an oblique angle of greater than ninety degrees and less than 180 degrees with respect to said first sealing member leg, said sealing member being of a flexible material to facilitate flexible movement of said first sealing member leg and said second sealing member leg from an oblique angle orientation to approximately a perpendicular angle with respect to one another responsive to attachment of said first flange leg with respect to the duct and attachment of said second flange leg with respect to the structural panel due to the perpendicular orientation of said first flange leg with respect to said second flange leg and due to the perpendicular orientation of the structural panel with respect to the duct extending therethrough.