IP Library › Granted Patent US 12693041
Granted Patent B2
US 12693041 · App. 18/534,937 · Granted Jul 28, 2026

Adjustable vent cover apparatus and method

Inventor: Jovanny Mota (Camden, NJ)
F24F13/20F24F13/084
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12693041
App. No.
18/534,937
Granted
Jul 28, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first device having first and second openings, and a first track between the first and second openings; second and third devices, each of which includes an elongated rail. The first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device can be inserted into the first opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the first track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the second opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies with the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device. Each of the second and third devices include a plate configured to be fixed to first and second structural members.

Claims (94)

1 . An apparatus comprising:

a first device having first and second openings, and a first track between the first and second openings of the first device;

a second device, which includes an elongated rail;

a third device, which includes an elongated rail;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device is configured to be inserted into the first opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the first track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the second opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies with the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device;

wherein the first device has a length and a width;

wherein the first device has a first outer wall and a first inner wall which is parallel to the first outer wall;

wherein the first outer wall runs the entire length of the first device; and

wherein the first track is between the first inner wall and the first outer wall;

further comprising:

a fourth device, which includes an elongated rail; and

a fifth device, which includes an elongated rail;

wherein the first device has third and fourth openings;

wherein the first device has a second track between the third and fourth openings of the first device;

wherein the first track and the second track are perpendicular to each other:

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device is configured to be inserted into the first opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the first track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the second opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies within the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the fourth device is configured to be inserted into the third opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the fourth device lies within the second track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the fifth device is configured to be inserted into the fourth opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the fifth device lies with the second track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the fourth device; and

wherein the majority of the rail of the third device lies within the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device, while the majority of the rail of the fifth device lies within the second track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the fourth device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the second device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the second device opposite the first end of the rail of the second device; and

wherein the third device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the third device opposite the first end of the rail of the third device.

3 . The apparatus of claim 2 wherein

the plate of the second device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the second device to a member;

wherein the plate of the third device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the second device to a member.

4 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first device includes a third track and a fourth track;

wherein the third track is between fifth and sixth openings of the first device;

wherein the fourth track is between seventh and eighth openings of the first device;

wherein the third track is parallel to the first track and perpendicular to the second track;

wherein the fourth track is perpendicular to the third track;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device is configured to be inserted into the fifth opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the third track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the sixth opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies with the third track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device, while a first end of the rail of the fourth device is configured to be inserted into the seventh opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the fourth device lies within the fourth track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the fifth device is configured to be inserted into the eighth opening of the first device so that a majority of the rail of the fifth device lies within the fourth track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the fourth device.

5 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first device has a rectangular periphery.

6 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the first device is made of plastic; and

the second, third, fourth, and fifth devices are made of metal.

7 . The apparatus of claim 1 wherein

the fourth device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the fourth device opposite the first end of the rail of the fourth device; and

wherein the fifth device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the fifth device opposite the first end of the rail of the fifth device.

8 . The apparatus of claim 7 wherein

wherein the plate of the fourth device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the fourth device to a member; and

wherein the plate of the fifth device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the fifth device to a member.

9 . The apparatus of claim 1

wherein the first device includes second, third and fourth inner walls;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth inner walls of the first device define a rectangular opening in the first device; and

wherein the rectangular opening of the first device is configured to align with an opening leading into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct.

10 . A method comprising the steps of:

fixing a first device to a first structural member and a second structural member by use of second and third devices, respectively;

wherein the first device has first and second openings, and a first track between the first and second openings of the first device;

wherein the second device includes an elongated rail;

wherein the third device includes an elongated rail;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device is configured to be inserted into the first opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the first track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the second opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies with the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device;

wherein the first device has a length and a width;

wherein the first device has a first outer wall and a first inner wall which is parallel to the first outer wall;

wherein the first outer wall runs the entire length of the first device; and

wherein the first track is between the first inner wall and the first outer wall;

further comprising:

simultaneously fixing the first device to a third structural member and a fourth structural member by use of fourth and fifth devices, respectively;

wherein the fourth device, which includes an elongated rail;

wherein the fifth device, which includes an elongated rail;

wherein the first device has third and fourth openings;

wherein the first device has a second track between the third and fourth openings of the first device;

wherein the first track and the second track are perpendicular to each other;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device is configured to be inserted into the first opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the first track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the second opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies with the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the fourth device is configured to be inserted into the third opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the fourth device lies within the second track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the fifth device is configured to be inserted into the fourth opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the fifth device lies with the second track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the fourth device; and

wherein the majority of the rail of the third device lies within the first track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device, while the majority of the rail of the fifth device lies within the second track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the fourth device.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein

the second device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the second device opposite the first end of the rail of the second device; and

wherein the third device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the third device opposite the first end of the rail of the third device.

12 . The method of claim 11 wherein

the plate of the second device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the second device to a member;

wherein the plate of the third device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the second device to a member.

13 . The method of claim 10 wherein

the first device includes a third track and a fourth track;

wherein the third track is between fifth and sixth openings of the first device;

wherein the fourth track is between seventh and eighth openings of the first device;

wherein the third track is parallel to the first track and perpendicular to the second track;

wherein the fourth track is perpendicular to the third track;

wherein the first device is configured so that a first end of the rail of the second device is configured to be inserted into the fifth opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the second device lies within the third track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the third device is configured to be inserted into the sixth opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the third device lies with the third track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the second device, while a first end of the rail of the fourth device is configured to be inserted into the seventh opening of the first device, so that a majority of the rail of the fourth device lies within the fourth track of the first device, while a first end of the rail of the fifth device is configured to be inserted into the eighth opening of the first device so that a majority of the rail of the fifth device lies within the fourth track of the first device and interlocks with the rail of the fourth device.

14 . The method of claim 10 wherein

the first device has a rectangular periphery.

15 . The method of claim 10 wherein

the first device is made of plastic; and

the second, third, fourth, and fifth devices are made of metal.

16 . The method of claim 10 wherein

the fourth device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the fourth device opposite the first end of the rail of the fourth device; and

wherein the fifth device includes a plate fixed to a second end of the rail of the fifth device opposite the first end of the rail of the fifth device.

17 . The method of claim 16 wherein

wherein the plate of the fourth device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the fourth device to a member; and

wherein the plate of the fifth device has an opening through which a fastener is configured to be inserted to fix the plate of the fifth device to a member.

18 . The method of claim 10 wherein

the first device includes second, third and fourth inner walls;

wherein the first, second, third, and fourth inner walls of the first device define a rectangular opening in the first device; and further comprising:

aligning the rectangular opening in the first device with an opening leading into a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning duct.