Cover assembly for a through-penetration

• US 7,114,303 B2
• Filed: 11/15/2002
• Issued: 10/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Reier, Matthew D., Miller, Stephen A., Cordts, Brandon L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Nelson, Jr., Milton
• Application Number:
  US10/295,081
• Publication Number:
  US 20040093814A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,418 Days
• Field of Search: 522/208, 522/201, 527/841.1, 523/71
• US Class Current: 52/220.8
• CPC Class Codes: F16L 5/04 to form a firebreak device
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/0412 Heat or fire protective means for fire in electric circuits A62C3/16
• CPC Class Codes: H02G 3/22 Installations of cables or lines through walls, floors or ceilings, e.g. into buildings

Abstract

A fire stopping apparatus for fire stopping a through-penetration includes fire stop material arranged within the through-penetration, a frame arranged adjacent the top opening of the through-penetration, and a plurality of slats arranged on the frame adjacent the through-penetration top opening.

Claims

1. A cover assembly for a through-penetration containing fire stop material, wherein the through-penetration has a top opening, said cover assembly comprising:

(a) a frame arranged adjacent the top opening of the through-penetration; and

(b) a plurality of longitudinal slats arranged on said frame, said slats having corresponding nesting features such that a first slat overlaps a second, adjacent laterally positioned slat and is overlapped by a third, adjacent laterally positioned slat, wherein said nesting features are configured to allow adjacent slats to be re-positioned laterally relative to one another between a fully nested arrangement and a partially nested arrangement.

2. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein each of said slats are arranged in overlapping relation relative to adjacent slats.

3. A cover assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said slats are corrugated to allow adjacent slats to be nested.

4. A cover assembly as defined in claim 3, wherein said slats are individually removable.

5. A cover assembly as defined in claim 2, wherein said slats include mating protrusions and recesses for aligning overlapping slats.

6. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, further comprising at least one side member arranged perpendicular to said slats along a side of said slats.

7. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said slats are secured to said frame.

8. A cover assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein said frame and said slats are formed of metal.

9. A cover assembly for a through-penetration containing fire stop material, wherein the through-penetration has a top opening, said cover assembly comprising;

(a) a frame configured to be positioned adjacent a top opening a through-penetration, wherein said frame includes a main portion and a pair of parallel side portions extending perpendicularly from opposed ends of said main portion; and

(b) a plurality of slats arranged on said frame, said slats having corresponding nesting features such that a first slat overlaps a second, adjacently positioned slat and is overlapped by a third, adjacently positioned slat.

10. A cover assembly as defined in claim 9, wherein each said main portion and said side portion includes a lower lip portion for arrangement within said through-penetration, a support portion extending perpendicularly from an end of said lower lip portion, and an upper lip portion extending from an end of said support portion opposite said lower lip portion parallel to said lower lip portion.

11. A cover assembly for a through-penetration containing fire stop material, wherein the through-penetration has a top opening, said cover assembly comprising:

(a) a frame configured to be positioned adjacent a top opening of a through-penetration; and

(b) a plurality of slats arranged on said frame, said slats having corresponding nesting features such that a first slat overlaps a second, adjacently positioned slat and is overlapped by a third, adjacently positioned slat, wherein upon assembly to said frame, said slats combine to form a load bearing cover capable of supporting a load of at least 300 pounds at room temperature.

12. A cover assembly for a through-penetration having a top opening, said cover assembly comprising:

(a) a frame configured to be positioned adjacent the top opening of a through-penetration, said frame including a main portion and a pair of parallel side portions extending perpendicularly from opposed ends of said main portion;

(b) a plurality of slats arranged on said frame in overlapping relation, each said slat including mating peaks and valleys to allow adjacent slats to be nested; and

(c) at least one side member arranged perpendicular to said slats along a side of said slats;

wherein said cover assembly is secured to the through-penetration.