H-shaped boot-to-register cover mounting adapter

Abstract

An adapter including a central body portion and a mount for connection to each of an HVAC register cover and duct-engaging boot. A surface of the central body portion includes mounting apertures, each configured to accept a fastener so that the central body portion can be mounted to a support structure, such as a ceiling joist. The adapter includes a register cover mounting surface that is adjustable so that it can accommodate different-sized register covers. The adapter also includes a boot mounting surface coupled to the register cover mounting surface such that, upon engagement between the register cover mounting surface and the register cover and upon engagement between the boot mounting surface and the boot, fluid communication between the boot and the register cover is established. Preferably, the adapter is made from a plastic, and more particularly an injection-molded plastic.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An adapter assembly for mounting an HVAC boot to a register cover, said adapter assembly comprising: 
 a central body portion defining a support structure mounting surface, said support structure mounting surface including a plurality of mounting apertures disposed therein, each of said plurality of mounting apertures configured to accept a fastener therethrough;    a register cover mounting surface at least a part of which is adjustably coupled to said central body portion; and    at least one boot mounting surface coupled to said register cover mounting surface such that, upon engagement between said register cover mounting surface and said register cover and upon engagement between said at least one boot mounting surface and said boot, fluid communication between said boot and said register cover is established.    
     
     
         2 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said support structure mounting surface of said central body portion defines an HVAC flowpath therethrough.  
     
     
         3 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said HVAC flowpath is substantially rectangular-shaped, and is configured to accept a comparably-sized flowpath defined by said register cover.  
     
     
         4 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 2 , wherein said part of said register cover mounting surface that is adjustably coupled to said central body portion is slidably cooperative therewith said such that said register cover mounting surface at least partially occupies an area projected by said HVAC flowpath.  
     
     
         5 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein at least a part of said central body portion includes a substantially planar surface configured to engage a flange of said register cover or a surface of a ceiling panel.  
     
     
         6 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 4 , wherein said central body portion, said register cover mounting surface and said at least one boot mounting surface form a contiguous structure.  
     
     
         7 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 6 , wherein said central body portion further includes plurality of elongate tabs extending therefrom such that at least one of said plurality of mounting apertures are situated in each of said plurality of elongate tabs.  
     
     
         8 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 7 , wherein said central body portion and said plurality of elongate tabs extending therefrom define a generally H-shaped construction.  
     
     
         9 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said at least one boot mounting surface comprises a plurality of upstanding tabs with fastener-accepting orifices disposed therein.  
     
     
         10 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein at least a part of each of said register cover mounting surface and said at least one boot mounting surface forms an integral part of said central body portion.  
     
     
         11 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 1 , wherein said adapter is plastic.  
     
     
         12 . An adapter assembly according to  claim 11 , wherein said plastic is an injection-molded plastic.  
     
     
         13 . An H-shaped interjoist adapter for mounting an HVAC boot to a register cover, said H-shaped interjoist adapter defined by a central body portion comprising: 
 a support structure mounting surface defining an HVAC flowpath in said central body portion, said support structure mounting surface including a plurality of mounting apertures disposed therein, each of said plurality of mounting apertures configured to accept a fastener therethrough;    a register cover mounting surface that at least partially occupies an area in said HVAC flowpath, said register cover mounting surface comprising: 
 a first part slidably coupled to said central body portion; and  
 a second part integrally formed with said central body portion;  
   a plurality of boot mounting surfaces, including: 
 at least one of which is coupled to said first part of said register cover mounting surface; and  
 at least one coupled to said second part of said register cover mounting surface such that, upon engagement between said register cover mounting surface and said register cover and upon engagement between said plurality of boot mounting surfaces and said boot, fluid communication between said boot and said register cover is established.  
   
     
     
         14 . A method of mounting an HVAC boot comprising: 
 configuring an adapter to include: 
 a central body portion defining a support structure mounting surface, said support structure mounting surface including a plurality of mounting apertures disposed therein, each of said plurality of mounting apertures configured to accept a fastener therethrough;  
 a register cover mounting surface at least a part of which is adjustably coupled to said central body portion; and  
 at least one boot mounting surface coupled to said register cover mounting surface such that, upon engagement between said register cover mounting surface and said register cover and upon engagement between said at least one boot mounting surface and said boot, fluid communication between said boot and said register cover is established;  
   adjusting said register cover mounting surface and said at least one boot mounting surface to engage corresponding parts of said adapter and HVAC boot, respectively; and    connecting said adapter to said HVAC boot.    
     
     
         15 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said step of connecting said adapter to said HVAC boot is effected with fasteners.  
     
     
         16 . A method according to  claim 15 , wherein said fasteners are threaded.  
     
     
         17 . A method according to  claim 14 , further comprising the additional steps of: 
 attaching said adapter to a building support structure; and    connecting said HVAC boot to an HVAC duct.    
     
     
         18 . A method according to  claim 17 , further comprising the additional step of connecting said adapter to a register cover.  
     
     
         19 . A method according to  claim 18 , wherein said register cover is secured to said adapter with fasteners.  
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein said fasteners are threaded.  
     
     
         21 . A method according to  claim 14 , wherein said adjustably coupled part of said register cover mounting surface is slidably cooperative with said central body portion to effect said step of adjusting said register cover mounting surface and said at least one boot mounting surface.  
     
     
         22 . A method of securing an HVAC register cover, said method comprising the steps of: 
 configuring an adapter to include: 
 a central body portion defining a support structure mounting surface, said support structure mounting surface including a plurality of mounting apertures disposed therein, each of said plurality of mounting apertures configured to accept a fastener therethrough;  
 a register cover mounting surface at least a part of which is adjustably coupled to said central body portion; and  
 at least one boot mounting surface coupled to said register cover mounting surface such that, upon engagement between said register cover mounting surface and said register cover and upon engagement between said at least one boot mounting surface and said boot, fluid communication between said boot and said register cover is established;  
   connecting said boot to said adapter;    mounting said adapter to a building support structure;    fluidly coupling an HVAC duct to said boot; and    connecting said register cover to said adapter.    
     
     
         23 . A method according to  claim 20 , comprising the additional step of covering said joist prior to said step of connecting said register cover to said adapter.  
     
     
         24 . A method according to  claim 22 , wherein said adjustably coupled part of said register cover mounting surface is slidably cooperative with said central body portion to effect said step of connecting said boot to said adapter.