Abstract:
A blank for an enclosure for a recessed light fixture in an attic comprises a sheet of a thermally resistant material subdivided into a plurality of panels by living hinges. The panels are foldable to provide a housing for the recessed light fixture.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/992,508, filed on May 13, 2014, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates to housings for recessed light fixtures in an attic. 
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION 
       [0003]    Ceilings in homes are commonly insulated by a loose fill insulation, usually fiberglass and the like. Recessed light fixtures installed in such ceilings can create drafts coming in through the light fixture, contribute to heat loss by air flow past the recessed light fixture, and transfer humidity into the home from the recessed light. 
         [0004]    The present invention provides a means for minimizing undesirable air flow past recessed light fixtures installed in an attic. 
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
       [0005]    An enclosure for a recessed light fixture in an attic is provided by means of a blank which is transformable from a flat configuration into a cubical housing that envelops a recessed light fixture. 
         [0006]    In a preferred embodiment the blank is a cruciform sheet of a thermally resistant material provided with intersecting living hinges that define the sheet into five rectangular panels of the same size. Each living hinge permits pivoting movement of adjacent panels of at least 90 degrees but no more than 270 degrees. More particularly, the cruciform sheet defines first and second pair of uniformly spaced living hinges, the living hinge in each pair being parallel to one another. The living hinges of one pair intersect the living hinges of the other pair at a right angle. 
         [0007]    In an alternate embodiment, the blank is a rectangular sheet of a thermally resistant material provided with intersecting living hinges that define the sheet into nine rectangular panels of the same size. Prior to transformation of this particular blank into a cubical housing, the four corner panels of the sheet are removed to provide the aforementioned cruciform configuration. 
         [0008]    The aforementioned blanks can be compactly packaged by folding one or more of the panels 180 degrees against an adjacent panel in a back-to-back relationship and juxtaposing the sheets relative to one another so that the folded back panels abut one another. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0009]    In the drawings, 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view of an enclosure for a recessed light fixture installed over the light fixture; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of a blank suitable for forming the enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a side elevation view of the blank shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4   a  is a side elevation of a compact package comprising a pair of blanks shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4   b  is a perspective view of a compact package comprising a pair of blanks shown in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a plan view of another blank suitable for forming the enclosure of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6   a  is a side elevation of a compact package comprising a pair of blanks shown in  FIG. 5 ; and 
           [0017]      FIG. 6   b  is a perspective view of a compact package comprising a pair of blanks shown in  FIG. 5 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0018]    Referring to  FIG. 1 , enclosure  10  of a thermally resistant material envelops recessed light fixture  12  in an attic, mounted between framing members  14  and  16 . Conduits  18  and  20  are operably connected to light fixture  12 . A bead of insulation such as polyurethane foam bead  22  provides an insulating seal between enclosure  10  and ceiling  24 . The space between framing members  14  and  16  can be filled with insulation  26 , if desired. 
         [0019]    A blank suitable for forming enclosure  10  is shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 . In particular, blank  30  is a square sheet of a thermally resistant material partitioned into nine equal size square panels  32 ,  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46  and  48  by pairs of spaced living hinges  50 ,  52 ,  54  and  56 . One pair of living hinges, i.e., living hinge  50  and living hinge  52 , intersects another pair of living hinges, i.e., living hinge  54  and living hinge  56 , at right angles. 
         [0020]    A compact package of blanks such as blank  30  can be formed for storage and shipping as shown in  FIGS. 4   a  and  4   b . Blanks  60  and  80 , having the same configuration as blank  30  shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , are juxtaposed relative to one another. One row of panels in blank  60 , i.e., the row beginning with panel  78 , is folded back or pivoted about  180  degrees against an adjacent row of panels, i.e., panels  76 ,  70  and  64 , in a back-to-back relationship. Similarly, one row of panels in blank  80 , i.e., the row beginning with panel  82 , is folded back against an adjacent row of panels, i.e., the row beginning with panel  84 , in a back-to-back relationship. Blanks  60  and  80  with panels folded as described hereinabove are juxtaposed relative to one another so that outside edges of the folded back row of panels are juxtaposed relative to one another as illustrated by outside edge  79  of panel  78  abutting outside edge  83  of panel  82 . 
         [0021]    Typical size for the blank is 36 inches by 36 inches, with each square panel measuring 12 inches by 12 inches. Thickness of the blank can vary, but usually is about ½ inch to about ¾ inch. 
         [0022]    To form the insulating enclosure such as enclosure  10 , corner panels  32 ,  36 ,  44  and  48  are removed and the rest of the panels, i.e., panels  34 ,  38 ,  40 ,  42  and  46  are folded to form the inverted, box-like structure of enclosure  10 . 
         [0023]    An alternate configuration of a blank suitable for forming the insulated enclosure is shown in  FIG. 5 . In this particular embodiment, blank  100  is a sheet of thermally resistant material having a cruciform configuration with living hinges  110 ,  112 ,  114 ,  116  partitioning blank  100  into five square panels  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126 ,  128  of the same size. To form the insulating enclosure, panels  120 ,  122 ,  124 ,  126  and  128  are folded to form an insulated, inverted box-like structure similar to enclosure  10 . 
         [0024]    A compact package of two cruciform sheets  100  and  130  having the same configuration as cruciform sheet depicted in  FIG. 5  is shown in  FIGS. 6   a  and  6   b  which show sheets  100  and  130  juxtaposed relative to one another. Sheet  100  has panel  126  pivoted or folded under panel  124 . Sheet  130  has panel  146  pivoted or folded over a panel adjacent to panel  148  in a back-to-back relationship. Edge  127  of panel  126  is juxtaposed relative to edge  147  of panel  146 . Panel  142  is juxtaposed with panel  126  as shown in  FIG. 6   b . Likewise, panel  146  is juxtaposed with panel  122 . 
         [0025]    Suitable materials of construction for the aforedescribed blanks are vinyl-coated, extruded polyethylene sheet, and the like. 
         [0026]    The foregoing description is illustrative, but is not to be taken as limiting. Still other variants within the spirit and scope of the invention are possible and will readily present themselves to those skilled in the art.