Abstract:
A thermal insulating cover is described along with a method of manufacturing a cover for use over a set of attic stairs, when they are retracted into the ceiling. The cover is made of two major protective surfaces, surrounding a insulating material to form a blanket, that is then cut and folded to form a box, that is fastened together to form the cover.

Description:
[0001]    A thermal insulating cover is described along with a method of manufacturing a cover for use over a set of attic stairs, when they are retracted into the ceiling. The cover is made of two major protective surfaces, surrounding a insulating material to form a blanket, that is then folded to form a box, that is fastened together to form the cover.  
         FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    This invention relates to insulating covers and more particularly to insulating covers that are used over attic stairs.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0003]    As is well known and understood, a building such as a very leaky house will be very uncomfortable and will have high energy bills. This is due to air infiltration, conduction, and convection bringing in outside temperatures, into a temperature controlled environment or allowing a temperature controlled environment to escape to the outside air. According to the department of energy, it is desirable to insulate the ceiling area because it is one of the most cost effective energy efficient measures. It not only reduces heat loss in the winter and heat gains in the summer, ceiling insulation improves comfort by bringing ceiling temperatures closer to room temperatures. The attic door, although mounted on the ceiling is not only not insulated, but it is also usually very leaky. A typical attic door is usually made of quarter inch plywood with an R-value of less than one and is usually poorly fitted. Attic doors have been insulated in the past in many different ways. They go from the simplest that do not cover the whole door, to the more complex that turn into a construction project in your attic.  
           [0004]    The insulating cover that is described by Robert A. Edwards in U.S. Pat. No. 4,151,894 describes an inverted box like cover that has a handle and wheels. It sounds like a very heavy item and would also be a very awkward to ship and install.  
           [0005]    The Scuttle hole insulation system that Robert Wessley describes in U.S. Pat. No. 6,223,490 comprises of numerous parts including a cap, locking channels, and a sleeve that all have to be assembled together, and may be outside the scope of ability of someone that is not mechanically inclined.  
         DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
         [0006]    The preferred embodiment of this invention consists of a blanket made of two major sides of foil, surrounding a insulating material, in this case a bubble type insulation that is filled with air or a gas. The two major external lengths are then folded inward to approximately three inches to not only add rigidity to the blanket but to also create pockets if additional weight is needed to help the finished product seal to the attic floor. The major lengths are then cut in such a way that when folded for the second time they will engage with the two minor widths. The two minor external widths are also folded inward three inches for rigidity and to create pockets for additional weight. The four sides are then folded perpendicular approximately six inches, away from the major blanket area, with the extra flaps from the major lengths, being folded into the pockets of the minor width to remain parallel and tightly behind the minor widths. The corners will be fastened together, along with any other fastening that is needed along the sides to form the cover. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    These and other features of the present invention will be clearly understood from a consideration of the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective view, helpful in understanding that this invention is constructed from one single blanket of insulation and embodies the principles of this invention;  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective of the blanket after it has been folded approximately three inches on all its external sides, and folded once again, approximately six inches along its major lengths.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a perspective of the blanket completely folded to form an inverted box along with the inside folds that connect the major lengths to the minor widths to give this box strength and rigidity. The drawing also shows the inside pocket around the inside perimeter that weight may be added at a later time to help the blanket seal to the attic floor.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3A is a perspective of the inverted box from the outside.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a perspective of the blanket in a folded state from the radius side of the folded blanket.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 4A is a perspective of the blanket in a folded state showing the side opposite the radius side of the fold.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 5. is a cut away perspective from the side of the stairs being folded up into the attic door cover.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 5A. is a cut away perspective of the attic door cover from the minor side of the cover and opening, after receiving the attic stairs in their retracted position.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 6. is a view from the underside of the cover. 
     
    
     DETAILED  
       [0017]    While there have been described what are considered to be preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the teachings herein, of using an attic door blanket and, or, the way it is constructed to act as a means of insulating an attic door. For at least such reason, therefore, resort should be had to the claims appended hereto for a true understanding of the scope of the invention. Referring to FIG. 1, it shows the insulating blanket in a unfolded state, with  10  indicating what will be the external top surface of the cover. FIG. 2 shows the blanket with the two major lengths  52 , folded at  12  which is approximately nine inches from the edge  14  by way of  16 . Item  11  indicates where the folds will be on the minor widths, also approximately nine inches from the edge  15  by way of  17 . Items  16  and  17  indicate a fold that was made approximately three inches from the edge,  14  and  15 , facing inward and against the inside walls and fastened against the walls. Items  19  and  21  indicate the folded sections which not only add rigidity to the blanket, but also form pockets where weight may be added at a later time to help the blanket seal against the attic floor at  16  and  17 . Item  18  is a short section of the major side wall that is folded at  23  to be parallel to  22  when it is folded downward 90 degrees at  11  to form the minor width wall. Items  11  and  22  can be interlocked together at this point and then fastened together with the corner of the cover being formed at  23 . FIG. 3 indicates all sides of the cover folded and fastened. Item  10  indicates the top external surface of the cover,  11  and  12  show the folds that form the sides  22  and  52 ,  14  and  15  show the edges of the blanket after they have been folded inward,  18  is shown, folded behind the minor sides  22 ,  19  and  21  is the hem that gives rigidity and  23  forms the corners, and  16  and  17  is the edge of the blanket that seals against the attic floor. FIG. 4 indicates the major parts that form the cover. Item  10  is the top external surface,  11  and  12  are the folds that form the top and sides  22  and  52 ,  23  forms the corners, and  16  and  17  form the bottom sealing surface and  31  indicates that this cover has been fastened together. FIG. 5 shows the blanket folded for shipping and storage after it has been folded several times. The side that is shown is the radius of the fold  20 , along with the top external sides of the cover  10 . FIG. 6 shows the side opposite FIG. 5 with the many folds of the cover  30  FIG. 7 shows the cover along its major side receiving the attic stairs  29  with  10  indicating the top external side of the cover and  27  shows the floor of the attic with the edge of the cover  16  sealing against it. FIG. 8 shows the minor side of the cover with  10  being the top external surface and the edge of the cover  17  sealing against the floor of the attic  27 , with the stairs  29  recessed inside. Item  51  indicates the attic door closed against the opening to the attic. Item  52  is the side of the cover. FIG. 9 shows the underside of the box  25 , with the sealing surfaces of the cover  16  and  17  for sealing against the attic floor, along with the hem sections  19  and  21  for rigidity. The inside edge of the cover  14  and  15 , is shown along with  22  and  52 , the outside minor and major external sides.