Patent ID: 7926229

Claim:
A system for closing a passage to an attic within a building, said system comprising: a permanent stairway leading to said attic; a door positioned at the lower end of said stairway for entrance to said stairway; an attic access opening at the upper end of said permanent stairway; a cover comprising: a frame comprising: an aperture portion comprising: an aperture smaller than said attic access opening but of sufficient size to allow a person to pass therethrough; and a plurality of components attached together to provide an uninterrupted length surrounding a perimeter of said aperture; and an extension portion comprising at least one component attached to said aperture portion, thereby expanding at least one spatial dimension of said aperture portion; and a closure for closing said aperture of said frame, said closure being separable from said frame and comprising: a protruding body portion having a proximal and distal end, said protruding body portion being sized and shaped to fit within a perimeter of said aperture when said protruding body portion is oriented with said distal end directed into said aperture; and a flange portion extending generally laterally from said proximal end of said protruding body portion, said flange portion being sized and shaped to contact and thereby form a seal with said frame external to said aperture when said protruding body portion is oriented to fit within said aperture; wherein said frame is larger than said attic access opening; and wherein when said cover having said aperture sealed by said closure is positioned over said attic access opening in a covering relationship to said attic access opening, a barrier is created which substantially inhibits air and heat flow through said attic access opening.