Patent ID: 7390251

Claim:
An apparatus to be used in connection with a duct for a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system, the apparatus comprising: an air duct boot body comprising: a first end including an opening defined by a lip; and a second end that is sized and configured to be connected to a HVAC duct, the body conveying air from second end to the first end when the apparatus is being used for HVAC; an outwardly extending flange disposed proximate the first end of the body, the flange including a generally planar upper surface and/or a generally planar lower surface, the flange being disposed at least substantially perpendicular to the air flow through the first end of the body when the apparatus is being used for HVAC, the upper surface and/or the lower surface of the flange being sized and configured to be connected to a preexisting support structure so that the apparatus can be positioned in a desired location relative to the support structure, the flange including an outer perimeter that is spaced apart from the body to facilitate attachment of the flange to the support structure; and a cover that is sized and configured to cover the opening in the first end of the body, the cover including an outer portion that is sized and configured to be disposed generally parallel to and flush with an outer, exposed surface of a floor, a wall or a ceiling when the cover is attached to the body, the outer portion of the cover being disposed generally parallel to the flange, the cover being disposed generally perpendicular to the intended air flow through the opening in the first end of the body when the cover is attached to the body, the cover including a lip with a lower surface that contacts an upper surface of the lip defining the opening in the first end of the body when the cover is attached to the body, the cover including an outermost perimeter that is generally aligned with an outer perimeter of the lip defining the opening in the first end of the body when the cover is attached to the body; wherein, when the cover is removed from the body, the lip defining the opening in the first end of the body is exposed and recessed with respect to the outer, exposed surface of the floor, the wall or the ceiling; wherein the lip defining the opening in the first end of the body is disposed generally perpendicular to the flange, generally parallel to the air flow through the first end of the body when the apparatus is being used for HVAC, forms at least a portion of the first end of the body when the cover is removed from the body, and includes a distal end that is spaced apart from and disposed downstream of the flange when the apparatus is being used for HVAC; and wherein the body, the flange and the lip are integrally formed as part of a unitary, one-piece structure.