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.

1 - 24 . (canceled)  
   
   
       25 . An adapter assembly for mounting an HVAC boot and a register cover comprising a one piece central body portion, wherein at least a portion of said central body portion is adjustable.  
   
   
       26 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said adjustable portion is slidable.  
   
   
       27 . The adapter of assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said adjustable portion defines a continuous HVAC flow path in said central body portion.  
   
   
       28 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the central body portion further comprises a plurality of mounting apertures.  
   
   
       29 . The adapter assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said plurality of mounting apertures are configured to accept a fastener therethrough.  
   
   
       30 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a register cover mounting surface.  
   
   
       31 . The adapter assembly of  claim 30 , wherein the register cover mounting surface comprises the adjustable portion.  
   
   
       32 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a boot mounting surface.  
   
   
       33 . The adapter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein the boot mounting surface comprises the adjustable portion.  
   
   
       34 . The adapter assembly of  claim 27 , wherein said HVAC flow path is substantially rectangular-shaped.  
   
   
       35 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least a part of said central body portion includes a substantially planar surface configured to engage a flange of said register cover.  
   
   
       36 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , wherein at least a part of said central body portion includes a substantially planar surface configured to engage a ceiling, wall or floor panel.  
   
   
       37 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , further comprising a register cover mounting surface and a boot mounting surface, wherein said central body portion, said register cover mounting surface and said boot mounting surface form a contiguous structure.  
   
   
       38 . The adapter assembly of  claim 28 , wherein said central body portion further includes a plurality of elongate tabs.  
   
   
       39 . The adapter of  claim 38 , wherein at least one of said elongate tables comprises at least one of said mounting apertures.  
   
   
       40 . The adapter assembly of  claim 38 , wherein said central body portion ands aid elongate tabs define a generally H-shaped construction.  
   
   
       41 . The adapter assembly of  claim 32 , wherein said boot mounting surface comprises a plurality of upstanding tabs.  
   
   
       42 . The adapter assembly of  claim 41 , wherein at least one of said upstanding tabs comprises at least one mounting aperture.  
   
   
       43 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , wherein said adapter comprising plastic.  
   
   
       44 . The adapter assembly of  claim 43 , wherein said plastic comprises an injection-molded plastic.  
   
   
       45 . The adapter assembly of  claim 25 , wherein the adapter is an H-shaped interjoist adapter assembly for mounting an HVAC boot and a register cover.  
   
   
       46 . A method of installing the adapter assembly of  claim 25 .  
   
   
       47 . A method of installing an adapter assembly for mounting an HVAC boot and a register cover, comprising the steps of: 
 a. placing the HVAC boot into the central body portion, wherein the central body portion comprises one piece and at least a portion of said central body portion is adjustable;    b. adjusting the adjustable portion to the HVAC boot to define a continuous HVAC flow path in said central body portion; and    c. fastening the central body portion to the HVAC boot.    
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the fastening step comprises fastening the central body portion to the HVAC boot via a plurality of mounting apertures comprised in the central body portion.  
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the fastening step comprises fastening with fasteners.  
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein said fasteners comprise threaded fasteners.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 47 , further comprising the steps of: 
 a. attaching said assembly to a building support structure; and    b. connecting said HVAC boot to an HVAC duct.    
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , further comprising the step of covering said building support structure.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 52 , further comprising the steps of connecting said assembly to a register cover.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein said connecting step comprises connecting with fasteners.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein said fasteners comprise threaded fasteners.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the adjusting step further comprises sliding said adjustable portion to define the continuous HVAC flow path.