US 6,014,841 AGranted

Insulated cover for attic openings

OwnerGeorge W. McCoy, Jr., George W. McCoy, Sr.inventors

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Abstract

A cover apparatus (10) is provided which is easily and quickly installed, is simple to use, and is cost effective for selective closing of an attic opening (14) and for providing a thermal and dust barrier. The cover apparatus (10) preferably includes structure (12), adapted for placement over an opening (14) defined by peripheral wall or ceiling surfaces (16), and a plurality of snap fasteners (18a, 18b, 18c, 18d) for detachably coupling the structure (12) to the surfaces (16). The structure (12) includes a panel (20) presenting an inboard face (22), continuous, circumscribing sidewalls (24) extending from the inboard face (22) of panel (20), and a continuous, circumscribing flange (32) extending transversely and outwardly from the outer margin (28) of the sidewalls (24). The flange (32) includes an outermost lip (36) configured for firmly engaging the surfaces (16) when the structure (12) is coupled to the surfaces (16). Each snap fastener (18a-d) has an interconnecting first and second element (38, 40), with each first element (38) being adapted for attachment to the surfaces (16) adjacent the opening (14), and each corresponding second element (40) being secured to the flange (32). In addition, the apparatus (10) includes insulation (48) disposed within the enclosure (30) cooperatively defined by the panel (20) and the sidewalls (24) of the structure (12) in order to promote an air-tight seal and provide a thermal barrier when the structure (12) is coupled to the surfaces (16).

Claims2

Dependent claims

Cover apparatus adapted for positioning adjacent an attic opening for selective closing thereof, said opening defined by peripheral ceiling or wall surfaces, said apparatus comprising:

structure adapted for selective placement in covering relationship to said opening and including
panel presenting an inboard face,
continuous, circumscribing sidewalls extending from said inboard face and each presenting an inner margin adjacent said inboard face and an opposed outer margin, said panel and said sidewalls cooperatively defining an enclosure, and
a continuous, circumscribing flange extending transversely and outwardly from said outer margin, said flange presenting an outermost lip extending therefrom and configured for engaging said surfaces when said structure is detachably coupled to said surfaces, said flange being formed of resilient material capable of deformation of the flange when the structure is detachably coupled with said surfaces;
insulation received within said enclosure and engaging the entire inboard face of the panel and said sidewalls and extending beyond said outer margin whereby to present a face which is substantially coplanar with that of the lip;
and
means for detachably coupling said structure to said surfaces including a plurality of snap fasteners,
said snap fasteners each having interconnecting first and second elements, each of said first elements being adapted for attachment to said surfaces proximal to said opening, each of said second elements being secured to said flange inwardly of said lip and configured for interconnection with a corresponding one of said first elements to thereby detachably couple said structure to said surfaces, said lip being deformed when said structure is so coupled, the face of the insulation adapted to engage the proximal surface of the adjacent ceiling or wall surfaces.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.