Duct boot seal

Abstract

A duct boot seal and a method of installing the duct boot seal in a duct boot are disclosed. The duct boot seal has a unitary body that extends through the inside of a duct boot, thereby reducing air leakage at the duct boot and its associated interfaces.

1 . A duct boot seal comprising:
 an airtight body including one or more side walls extending from an upper wall;   wherein the one or more side walls define a first opening on a first side of the body;   wherein the body includes a raised portion defining a second opening on a second side of the body;   wherein the body includes a peripheral flange that surrounds the first opening; and   wherein a gasket is disposed on at least one side of the peripheral flange.   
     
     
         2 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein the body includes four side walls; and
 wherein the first opening is rectangular.   
     
     
         3 . The duct boot seal of  claim 2 , wherein the first opening has a width in the range of 2-24 inches; and
 wherein the first opening has a length in the range of 6-24 inches.   
     
     
         4 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein the second opening is circular. 
     
     
         5 . The duct boot seal of  claim 4 , wherein a diameter of the second opening is in the range of 4-22 inches. 
     
     
         6 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the raised portion is in the range of 2-4 inches. 
     
     
         7 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein a length of the raised portion is in the range of 4-8 inches. 
     
     
         8 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein the second side of the body is the upper wall. 
     
     
         9 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein the body defines a non-rectangular volume therein. 
     
     
         10 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein a first gasket is disposed on a first side of the peripheral flange, and
 wherein a second gasket is disposed on a second side of the peripheral flange.   
     
     
         11 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the side walls has a variable length. 
     
     
         12 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , wherein the body is flexible. 
     
     
         13 . The duct boot seal of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one baffle. 
     
     
         14 . A method of installing a duct boot seal in a duct boot situated adjacent to an opening in a structure, the method comprising inserting the duct boot seal through the opening in the structure such that an airtight body of the duct boot seal extends through the opening in the structure and into the duct boot, while a flanged portion of the body does not pass through the opening. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the structure is one of a wall, floor, and ceiling. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising positioning a raised portion of the body of the duct boot seal at least partly inside a collar of the duct boot, the collar operable to connect the duct boot to a branch duct. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the raised portion is at least partially affixed to an inner surface of the collar by an adhesive. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 16 , wherein the raised portion is at least partially affixed to an inner surface of the collar by an annular member friction fit inside the collar. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising extending a raised portion of the body of the duct boot seal through a collar of the duct boot, the collar operable to connect the duct boot to a branch duct, and folding the raised portion around at least a portion of an outer surface of the collar. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the flanged portion includes a gasket. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 14 , further comprising affixing the flanged portion of the body to the structure.