Fireplace damper assembly

Claim 1

IN A FIREPLACE DAMPER ASSEMBLY, A FIREPLACE DAMPER UNIT COMPRISING AN ELONGATED OPEN FRAME HAVING UPSTANDING SIDE MEMBERS AND AN UPSTANDING END MEMBER EXTENDING BETWEEN AND SECURED TO THE COMPLEMENTAL REAR ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, A LEDGE INWARDLY OF AND EXTENDING ALONG EACH OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS, SAID LEDGES EXTENDING TOWARD EACH OTHER, AN APRON BRIDGING THE LEDGES AND EXTENDING FROM THE COMPLEMENTAL FRONT ENDS OF SAID SIDE MEMBERS AND TERMINATING AT A POINT SPACED FROM SAID END MEMBER AND SECURED TO SAID SIDE MEMBERS, A DOWNWARDLY AND OUTWARDLY-SLOPING LIP EXTENDING ALONG AND DEPENDING FROM THE TERMINATING END OF SAID APRON, THE LOWER END OF SAID LIP BEING CONTIGUOUS TO AND SPACED FROM SAID LEDGES AND FORMING WITH SAID LEDGES A SLOT, THE PART OF SAID FRAME DEFINED BY SAID LIP, SAID END MEMBER AND THE ADJACENT PORTIONS OF SAID LEDGES FORMING AN OPENING ADAPTED TO CONFORM TO THAT OF A FUE IN A FIREPLACE, A FLAT PLATE VALVE MOUNTED IN SAID FRAME FOR SLIDING MOVEMENT ALONG SAID LEDGES BETWEEN A POSITION WHOLLY CONCEALED BELOW SAID APRON AND INWARDLY OF SAID SLOT AND OUT OF CLOSING RELATION WITH RESPECT TO SAID OPENING, AND A POSITION PROJECTED OUT OF SAID SLOT AND BEYOND SAID APRON AND IN CLOSING RELATION WITH RESPECTIVE TO SAID OPENING, AND MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID VALVE FOR MOVING SAID VALVE BETWEEN THE AFORESAID POSITIONS.