US20060258283A1

US20060258283A1 - Vent armour pest control insert

Info

Publication number: US20060258283A1
Application number: US11/122,275
Authority: US
Inventors: Teresa Carden; Bobby Carden
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2005-05-04
Filing date: 2005-05-04
Publication date: 2006-11-16

Abstract

The Vent Boot Insert(s) will eliminate pests, including vermin, mice and small reptiles from utilizing the floor, ceiling; wall registers to enter the interior of the structure. Insert(s) will not restrict heating and cooling airflow. Inserts provide catchall for items dropped into register and may include a small pull for easy removal. Simple installation.

Description

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The destruction caused today by mice and vermin is catastrophic. By gnawing into the flex heat duct piping, mice and vermin make entryways into the structure. These holes often undetected by the human eye, create entry points for all type of pests. Small reptiles (ex: snakes) that value vermin and mice as a food source will also enter the home through this avenue as well. Often times these pests hibernate and live within these flex duct pipes.
The Air Duct Boot has two openings. The duct vent insert, while it will not stop the entrance into the flex heat duct piping, it will close off the entry points into the structure without restricting airflow. The duct vent insert is a separate apparatus and is not attached to the air duct boot; it is a drop-in insert and/or cap, which can be installed by the consumer post construction.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

One morning, while getting ready for the day, one of our worst fears came to life! To our horror slithering within inches of our small toddler was a real, live snake! To make matters worse the snake went down our vent register in the bathroom before we could catch it! After stacking several books on top of the heat vent register in which the snake exited into, we contacted a local pest and reptile removal company. Unfortunately, after inspection, the service technician could neither locate nor remove the snake from our home.
We learned from the service technician that our problem was very common. Over 99% of all households have welcomed mice, vermin and reptiles, without even knowing it! Surprisingly, our heat vent registers were one of the largest entranceways into the home or office. This is due partly to the fact that flex duct piping, while being a less expensive way to bring heating and cooling into the home or office, unlike its metal predecessor does not share its strength. One small mouse can chew a tiny opening creating a pathway for all types of critters and reptiles.
Later that day, the snake reappeared in a different room by way of the causeway created by our unprotected registers. Luckily, we were able to remove it from the home. To avoid additional reptiles and mice from entering into our home, we wrapped our heat vent registers in a wire mess. While offering piece of mind, we quickly realized this method was difficult and cumbersome for various reasons. It was hard to clean, damaged your registers, and frankly was incredibly ugly.
For months, we searched the Internet, local and national hardware chains and home improvement stores hoping to locate something better than plain wire. To our dismay, a better product was non-existent.
Because nothing was available, necessity created the desire to invent a product to protect our home from these pests. After careful planning and research, we have developed a simple, yet efficiently designed product, eliminating heat vent registers as pathways into the home and/or office. Our duct vent product is a simple drop in apparatus made from a wire mess that can be used indiscreetly in homes or offices whether old or new construction, and without constricting airflow. It does not damage the register and is easily removable for cleaning. It also becomes a great catch for those items dropped into he register. While simple in design, this new product will fill a consumer void and revolutionize the pest control industry.

DRAWING DESCRIPTIONS

Example A

Side view of wire insert in basket shape showing the construction angles which allow the insert to fit into duct boot. Angles and size will change in order to fit different boot and register openings.

Example B

Top view of wire insert showing the upper view of construction angles, allowing the insert to fit into duct boot. This example shows the insert edging, which may be constructed of either metal or a plastic based material. This edging rests over the floor, ceiling or wall and is held in place securely once the existing ceiling, floor, or wall register is reinserted. This edging also helps to seal off the entryway.

Example C

Insert is shown from the bottom opening of the Air Duct Boot. The insert depth is designed to be long enough to avoid any contact or constrict any movement of the register louvers, but short enough not to touch the duct vent boot.

Example D

This drawing shows a side angle view of the existing duct vent boot with the insert in place, and the insert edge resting on the floor. The insert edging is thin enough, even on wood or hard surface flooring, not to raise the height of the register.

Example E

Side view of wire insert in circular shape showing the design and construction which allow the insert to fit snuggly over duct boot. Height of edging and size will change in order to fit different boot and register openings.

Example F

Bottom view of the duct vent boot showing the circular wire insert fitting over the end of the metal duct. The metal reinforced edging may be from ½″ to 2″ in depth, rests snuggly over the circular opening of the duct vent boot sealing off the entryway. Circumference of the insert will be based on the size of standard vent boots. Custom sizes are also available

Claims

1. The Vent Boot Insert is constructed from a 23 gauge or thicker wire mess which is formed into a slanted rectangular insert or circular insert with an opening at the top and edged with light weight metal or plastic type material, sized to the depth and width to fit standard sized existing duct vent boot either through the upper or lower openings. This Vent Boot Insert, because of its size, edging and construction material will eliminate mice, vermin or reptiles from entering the home via the register opening when utilized.

2. The Vent Boot Insert also provides a catchall for items larger than a ¼″ inch dropped through the floor or wall heat register.

3. The Vent Boot Insert construction and material provides protection restricting mice or rats from gnawing their way into the home through the register opening even after they have entered the flex duct piping.

4. The Vent Boot Insert does not restrict airflow

5. The rectangular basket is easily removable.