THERMAL INSULATING MATERIAL

Abstract: Materials for the thermal insulation of building structures. Each consists of a plurality of webs (4, 5, 6) of a flexible sheet material, and a pair of side members (1, 2), to the central portions of which the edge regions of the webs are secured, with the faces of the webs in spaced-apart relationship. The side members (1, 2) have border parts (8) which project beyond the central portions and are foldably linked to the central portions. The webs (4, 5, 6) and the side members (1, 2) may be arranged in a substantially flat state with at least one of the webs (4, 5, 6) pleated, and may be opened up to cause the webs to adopt their spaced-apart relationship. The border parts (8) of the side members (1, 2) may be folded away from the webs and secured, e.g. to joists, to secure the material in an operative position with the spaced-apart webs (4, 5, 6) acting as a heat-insulating barrier. The materials are of value in suspended ceiling constructions.

Description: THERMAL INSULATING MATERIAL The present invention relates to the thermal insulation of building structures. One method of insulating building structures involves securing to the rafters, walls or ceiling joists, layers of sheet material which are spaced apart over a substantial part of their area. The air trapped between the layers has favourable insulating properties attributable to limited convection. A significant improvement is obtained by employing a sheet material which is thermally reflective, at least on one face, and thereby reducing the transmission by radiation. An object of the present invention is to provide an improved material for use in the method aforesaid. In accordance with the present invention, there is provided a material for the thermal insulation of building structures which comprises a plurality of webs of a flexible sheet material and a pair of side members, to the central portions of which the edge ^ regions of the webs are secured, with the faces of the webs in spaced-apart relationship, the side members having border parts which project beyond the central portions and are foldably linked to the central portions, the arrangement being such that the webs and the side members may be arranged in a substantially flat state with at least one of the webs pleated, may be opened from the substantially flat state to produce the spaced-apart relationship and the border parts of the side members may be folded away from the webs for securing the material in an operative position. Improved results are obtained by having at least one face of at least one of the webs formed of a thermally reflective material. Conveniently, the border parts and the central portions of the side members join together along creases. It is then a simple matter to fold the border parts, usually through 90 * , to lap them over struts between which the material is fitted. In one convenient arrangement at least one side of the material is provided with a longitudinally-extending strut and the border parts are secured thereto. This arrangement renders it a simple matter to apply the material to existing structures, e.g. to line the v-shaped, or other shaped, roof of a factory building or to install a suspended ceiling. Conveniently, the plurality of webs provides a pair of outer webs, the depth of the strut between a pair of opposite faces thereto is substantially equal to the spacing between the pair of outer webs, and the border parts of the pair of outer webs are secured over the opposite faces of the strut by pinning means. The material may be located in the required position by hanging it by means of wires, chains or other tensile material connecting the struts with .the roof or other support and, for this purpose, may be provided with projecting heads adapted to be secured to means for suspending the material. One convenient arrangement is to provide the heads in the form of hooks or eyelets. According to a preferred arrangement for connecting the material with a strut, a metal facing is provided for at least the upper side of the strut, the facing having, distributed along its length, pairs of communicating' slits, the material between which is deformable to provide spikes for securing the border parts of the material to the strut. This facing may also be provided with holes for insertion, through into the strut, of components for attachment to means for suspending the material. The following description in which reference is made to the accompanying drawings is given in order to illustrate the invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 shows an example of a material according to the invention in plan, Figure 2 shows the material of Figure 1 in side elevation. Figures 3 are respectively a cross section and a plan and 4 showing material according to Figure 1 used in a suspended ceiling, Figures 5 are respectively perspective and longitudinal and 6 cross section of part of a metallic facing. Figure 7 is a cross section showing the facing of Figures 5 and 6 as used in a modification of the arrangement of Figures 3 and 4, and Figure 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, components used in the arrangement of Figure 7. The material of Figures 1 and 2 is in the form of a pair of lengths 1 and 2 of stout card material, e.g. chipboard, formed with longitudinal creases 3. Secured to the region of the card material between the creases are three webs 4, 5 and 6, all of the same width, formed of kraft paper to one face of which is laminated a layer of aluminium foil for the purpose of reflecting thermal radiation or reducing the emission thereof. Webs 4 and 6 are arranged with the foil facing outwardly. Web 5 has the foil on the face which faces web 4. Reflective layers of metal other than aluminium may be employed. Further, instead of paper webs there may be employed webs of a resinous material, e.g. polyvinyl chloride, polyethylene or polypropylene. In this case the webs may have a metal layer physically or chemically deposited or sprayed thereon. The webs are secured to the lengths 1 and 2 by an adhesive applied in bands along the edges of the webs. In the drawings, the adhesive is indicated, for convenience, by points 7. It will be understood however that the bands of adhesive have a finite width. For convenience of storage and transport the material is supplied in a flat condition as shown in Figures 1 and 2. It is converted, for use, into an open state (shown for example in Figure 3) by pivoting in the directions shown at A in Figure 1 about the inner edges of the bands of adhesive which secure web 6. Pleats 4a. and 5a., provided in webs 4 and 5 to enable the material to be placed in the flat condition, are eliminated by the pivoting action. Longitudinal creases 3 enable the outer parts 8 of the lengths of card material to be folded through 90" to be secured to the tops 9 and bottoms 10 of longitudinal struts 11. Where, as is preferred, the width of the outer parts is substantially equal to the thickness of the struts, the two outer parts 8 protruding from opposite faces of the struts overlap. This is a convenient condition in that it allows the two outer parts to be secured in position over the tops and bottoms of the struts in a simple manner, e.g. in the case of wooden struts, by nailing through the outer parts in a single operation. Figure 1 shows slots 12 formed in outer parts 8. When the struts 11 are formed of a soft material, e.g. foamed polystyrene, the slots of two outer parts may be registered together and then secured by fixing devices 13 and 14 of the generally flat configuration shown in Figure 3. Devices 13 have a locking portion 5 which is pushed through two slots registered together and then rotated through 90 * to join the material. Devices 14 have a similar locking portion 15" which is employed in a similar manner but have a generally circular head 16 formed with a convergent slot 17 leading to a central aperture. The assembly is secured in the required position by wires 18 engaged with the central aperture by sideways passage through slots 17. These wires are readily arranged to position the assembly as required. For example the wires may have ends which are attached to a roof structure for the construction of a false ceiling. The aforesaid use of a soft material permits the rotation of the locking portion 15' by means of a simple tool. After assembly the soft material is enclosed by card material and the arrangement is found to give adequate rigidity. Figure 5 shows a metallic channel structure which may be fitted over the top, and usually also over the bottom, faces of the struts. The sides 19 of the structure receive the struts therebetween and the base 20 fits in contact with the struts' top and bottom faces. Holes 21 permit the passage of the stem parts 22 of securing eyes 23, e.g. for supporting wires. The stems of these eyes have cross-pieces 24 which limit penetration of the card material and the struts. When the stems have been passed through the holes 21, they are secured by self-clamping washers 25 (Figure 8). In addition to holes 21, the base of the channel is also formed with a series of pairs of slits 26 converging to a common point 27 from a transverse line of weakening 28. This arrangement allows the material between slits 26 to be bent to project outside the channel from base 20 to provide spikes for holding the card material in position.

Claims: CLAIMS 1. A material for the thermal insulation of building structures which comprises a plurality of webs of a flexible sheet material, and a pair of side members, to the central portions of which the edge regions of the webs are secured, with the faces of the webs in spaced-apart relationship, the side members having border parts which project beyond the central portions and are foldably linked to the central portions, the arrangement being such that the webs and the side members may be arranged in a substantially flat state with at least one of the webs pleated, may be opened from the substantially flat state to produce the spaced-apart relationship and the border parts of the side members may be folded away from the webs for securing the material in an operative position. 2. A material according tb claim 1 in which at least one face of at least one of the webs is formed of a thermally reflective material. 3. A material according to either of claims 1 or 2 in which the border parts and the central portions of the side members join together along creases. 4. A material according to any one of claims 1 to 3 in which are least one side is provided with a longitudinally extending strut and the border parts are secured thereto. 5. A material according to claim 4 in which the plurality of webs provides a pair of outer webs, the depth of the strut between a pair of opposite faces thereof is substantially equal to the spacing between the pair of outer webs and the border parts of the pair are secured over the opposite faces of the strut by pinning means. - 7 - 6. A material according to claim 5 in which the pinning means is provided with projecting heads adapted to be secured to means for suspending the material. 5 7. A material according to claim 6 in which the heads are in the form of hooks or eyelets. 8. A material according to any one of claims 4 to 7 in which a metallic facing is provided for at least the upper 10 side of the strut, the facing having, distributed along its length, pairs of communicating slits, the material between which is deformable to provide spikes for securing the border parts of the material to the strut. 15 9. A material according to claim 8 in which the facing is also provided with holes for the insertion, through into the strut, of components for attachment to means for suspending the material.

Inventors: WOLFF NORBERT, WOLFF, NORBERT
Applicants: UNITED TECHNOLOGI IND LTD
Application year: 1986
Main classification: E04B1
IPC codes: E04B1