Patent ID: 7797893

Claim:
An apparatus for reinforcing and firestopping around a duct extending through a structural panel comprising: A. an angular flange positioned between a structural panel and a duct extending therethrough for facilitating firestop sealing therearound, said angular flange including: (1) a first flange leg being generally planar in configuration and 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 being generally planar in configuration and securely positioned 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 the angular flange adjacent to the structural panel and to the duct extending therethrough for firestop sealing therebetween; and B. a sealing member of flexibly resilient material attached to said inner second leg surface of said second flange leg and positionable at least partially between the structural panel and said inner second leg surface, said sealing member including an extended sealing section extending outwardly from said inner second leg surface in an approximately parallel direction with respect to said inner second leg surface of said second flange leg and toward the duct, said extended sealing section being oriented approximately perpendicularly with respect to said inner first leg surface of said first flange leg and extending therepast toward the duct to a position extending beyond the plane of the generally planar configuration of said inner first leg surface of said first flange leg and beyond any portion of said angular flange to allow deformation thereof by compression of said extended sealing section of said sealing member against the duct due to the flexible resilience thereof responsive to being urged into direct abutment and compression against the duct responsive to securement of said inner first leg surface of said first flange leg directly into abutting engagement with respect to the duct for enhancing firestop sealing between the structural panel and the penetrating duct without requiring attachment of said second flange leg directly with respect to the structural panel thereadjacent.