Virgie M. Claggett Ammons
| Virgie M. Claggett Ammons | |
|---|---|
| Born | December 29, 1908 |
| July 12, 2000 (aged 91)July 12, 2000 (aged 91) | |
| 💼 Occupation | |
| Known for | U.S. Patent No. 3,908,633 |
Virgie M. Claggett Ammons (December 29, 1908—July 12, 2000) was an African-American self-employed caretaker and inventor of the fireplace damper actuating tool. She received U.S. Patent No. 3,908,633 for the invention on September 30, 1975.[1][2]
Early life
Ammons was born on December 29, 1908, in Gaithersburg, Maryland.[3] She was the daughter of Samuel Claggett and Mary (Jones) Claggett. She had at least three brothers: Joseph, Thomas, and Eugene Claggett.[4]
At some point in her early life, Ammons’ family relocated from Maryland to West Virginia, where she spent most of her life. By the time she filed her patent application in 1974, she was living in Eglon, West Virginia, as listed in the patent record.[3][5]
Invention
Ammons is best known for inventing the fireplace damper actuating tool, for which she filed a patent application on August 6, 1974.The patent was granted on September 30, 1975, under U.S. Patent No. 3,908,633.[1][2]
According to the patent abstract, the invention was "[a] tool to open and close a fireplace damper and to operate also as a securing means to prevent fluttering of the damper due to wind." In the patent description, Ammons explained that some fireplace dampers could make noise in gusty weather or fail to remain fully shut because of differences in air pressure between the room and the chimney. Even a slightly open damper, she noted, could result in the loss of heated or cooled air, reducing household energy efficiency.[1][2]
Her tool was designed to engage the damper lever and, when the damper was closed, wedge against the inner surface of the fireplace lintel to hold the mechanism firmly in place. The invention combined the functions of an operating tool and a locking device, making it a practical improvement to conventional fireplace systems.[1][2]
Later Life and Death
Ammons's patent record lists her residence as Eglon, West Virginia at the time of filing. Later biographical references identify her as having lived in West Virginia for most of her adult life.[3][5]
She died on July 12, 2000, reportedly as the result of injuries sustained in an automobile accident near Aurora, West Virginia.[4] She was 91 years old.
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 US3908633A, Ammons, Virgie M., "Fireplace damper actuating tool", issued 1975-09-30
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 3908633, "Fireplace damper actuating tool", issued 1975-09-30
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 "The Virgie Ammons Fireplace Tool Keeps Heat From Escaping the Chimney". ThoughtCo. Archived from the original on 2026-01-14. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Ammons, Virgie (Inventor) – UrbanAreas.net". urbanareas.net. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Reed, Megan (2014-09-30). "A Look Back in History: Inventor Virgie M. Ammons". Blerds. Retrieved 2026-03-30.
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