Patent Publication Number: US-6212831-B1

Title: Foundation insulation covering

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention is related generally to insulation covering and, more particularly, to coverings for enclosing insulation on the foundation of a building. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The installing insulation against the walls and foundations of building structures is well known in the art. Insulation is used to hold heat within a building thereby making heating systems more efficient while at the same time preventing moisture from damaging the walls of a structure. 
     Recent changes in several state and local building codes have mandated the use of an insulation covering that protects the insulation used on foundations. Such protective covering must extend from the top of the foundation to a certain distance below ground level. An example of a protective covering used to protect foundation insulation is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,409,766 (Blackmore). While the protective covering in Blackmore protects the face of the insulation layer, no protection is afforded or even suggested for the edge of the insulation that is exposed at the edge of the foundation wall at, for example, a window recess. The same shortcoming is present in U.S. Pat. No. 4,335,548 (Rehbein) which discloses a foundation insulating skirt that protects the face of the insulation while leaving the edge exposed. 
     A corner piece used to protect the edge of an insulation barrier where two pieces of insulation form a right angle is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,058 (Patton). Although the device in Patton protects the insulation edge when the edge foundation forms a right angle, it does not suggest ways of protecting the edge of a layer of insulation that is exposed because of a window recess or the end of the foundation wall forming any angle other than 90°. An insulation protective covering that would allow for the insulation on the foundation of a building, including all insulation edges to be completely enclosed would be an important improvement in the art. 
     OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION 
     It is an object of the invention to provide a method and system of protecting insulation that overcomes some of the shortcomings of the prior art. 
     It is another object of the invention to provide a method and system of protecting insulation that does not leave any portion of the insulation exposed to environmental elements such as rain, sleet and snow. 
     Still another object of the invention is to provide a method and system of protecting insulation that is easy to attach. 
     Yet another object of the invention is to provide a method and system of protecting insulation that is aesthetically pleasing. How these and other objects are accomplished will become apparent from the following descriptions and from the drawings. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention involves a method for enclosing a layer of insulation covering a building foundation having a vertical edge, where the layer of insulation has front, back and edge surfaces, the method comprising: (1) placing the back surface of the layer of insulation against the foundation such that the edge surface of the insulation is aligned with the edge of the foundation; (2) covering the front surface of the layer of insulation with a first protective cover; and (3) enclosing the edge surface and parts of the front and back surface of the insulation with a second protective cover by positioning a back overlap portion of the second protective cover between the back of the layer of insulation and the foundation and a front overlap portion of the second protective cover between the front of the layer of insulation and the first protective cover, whereby all surfaces of the layer of insulation are enclosed. 
     In one embodiment of the invention, the protective covers are made of polyvinylchloride. In still another embodiment, the layer of insulation and both protective covers extend below ground level. 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first protective cover is attached to the foundation. In a specific version of such embodiment, nails are used to attach the first protective cover to the foundation. 
     In a more preferred embodiment of the invention, the second protective cover has a “J-shaped” edge. In yet another embodiment the layer of insulation is in sheet form. In still another embodiment, the front protective cover has an “L-shaped” edge. 
     The invention also involves an improved system for protecting insulation covering a building foundation having a vertical edge where the insulation has front and back surfaces and an edge surface aligned with the edge of the foundation and a first protective sheathing covering the front portion, the improvement comprising a second protective cover surrounding the edge surface of the insulation and overlapping the front and back surfaces of the insulation. In one embodiment of the improved system, the second protective cover has a “J-shaped” edge. 
     In another embodiment of the system, the protective covers are made of polyvinylchloride. While in a preferred embodiment, the layer of insulation and both protective covers extend below ground level. 
     In a more preferred embodiment of the system, the first protective cover is attached to the foundation. In a specific version of this embodiment, nails are used to attach the first protective cover to the foundation. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The drawings illustrate preferred embodiments which include the above-noted characteristics and features of the invention. The invention will be readily understood from the descriptions and drawings. In the drawings: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a foundation including an opening for a window showing the second protective cover inserted within the first cover portion thereby enclosing the layer of insulation attached to the outside of the foundation. 
     FIG. 2 is a top view of a foundation segment showing a cut-away portion of the first protective covering with the second protective covering enclosing the edge of a layer of insulation. 
     FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portion of a foundation including an opening for a window showing the second protective cover inserted within the first cover portion thereby enclosing the layer of insulation all of which extend below ground level. 
     FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the first and second protective coverings. 
     FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing how the first and second covering portions fit together. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     The invention involves a method for enclosing a layer of insulation  10  covering a building foundation  12  having a vertical edge  14 , as shown in FIGS. 1-3. The layer of insulation  10  enclosed by the inventive method has front, back and edge surfaces  16 ,  18 ,  20 , the method comprising the steps of: (1) placing the back surface  18  of the layer of insulation  10  against the foundation  12  such that the edge surface  20  of the insulation  10  is aligned with the edge  14  of the foundation  12 ; (2) covering the front surface  16  of the layer of insulation  10  with a first protective cover  22 ; and (3) enclosing the edge surface  20  and parts of the front and back surfaces  18 ,  20  of the insulation  10  with a second protective cover  24  by positioning a back overlap portion  26  of the second protective cover  24  between the back  18  of the layer of insulation  10  and the foundation  12  and a front overlap portion  28  of the second protective cover  24  between the front  16  of the layer of insulation  10  and the first protective cover  22 , whereby all surfaces  16 ,  18 ,  20  of the layer of insulation  10  are enclosed. 
     The placement of the back overlap portion  26  of the second protective cover  24  between the foundation  12  and the layer of insulation  10  and the front overlap portion  28  between the insulation  10  and the first protective cover  22  allows the edge surface  20  of the insulation  10  to be completely enclosed without disrupting the aesthetic appearance of the protective covering  22 ,  24 . This arrangement prevents the seepage of any moisture between the adjoining edges  30  of the protective covering  22 ,  24 . 
     The protective covering  22 ,  24  used in the inventive method is made of a weatherproof material that prevents moisture and precipitation such as rain or snow from contacting the layer of insulation  10 . In one particular embodiment of the invention, the protective covers  22 ,  24  are made of polyvinylchloride (PVC). These covers  22 ,  24  also include an ultraviolet inhibitor that prevents them from being discolored as a result of exposure to sunlight. In a more specific version of this embodiment, the PVC covering has a tensile strength @ 2″/min. of 6,400 psi. and a flexural strength of 12,300 psi. In still another embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, the layer of insulation  10  and both protective covers  22 ,  24  extend below ground level  32 . 
     In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first protective cover  22  is attached to the foundation  12 . In a specific version of such embodiment, as shown in FIG. 3, nails  34  are used to attach the first protective cover  22  to the foundation  12 . 
     FIGS. 4 and 5 show a more preferred embodiment of the invention where the second protective cover  24  has a “J-shaped” edge  36 . Such shape allows the second protective cover  24  to completely enclose the edge  20  of the insulation  10 . In yet another embodiment the layer of insulation  10  is in sheet form. In still another embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the first protective cover  22  has a “L-shaped” edge  38 . 
     The invention also involves an improved system for protecting insulation  10  covering a building foundation  12  having a vertical edge  14  where the insulation  10  has front and back surfaces  16 ,  18  and an edge surface  20  aligned with the edge  14  of the foundation  12  and a first protective sheathing covering  22  the front surface  16 , the improvement comprising a second protective cover  24  surrounding the edge surface  20  of the insulation  10  and overlapping the front and back surfaces  16 ,  18  of the insulation. In a preferred embodiment of the system, the second protective cover  24  has a “J-shaped” edge  36 . 
     In another embodiment of the system, the protective covers  22 ,  24  are made of polyvinylchloride. As mentioned above, these covers  22 ,  24  may also have an ultraviolet inhibitor to prevent discoloring as a result of exposure to sunlight. In a preferred embodiment of the system, the layer of insulation  10  and both protective covers  22 ,  24  extend below ground level  32 . 
     In a more preferred embodiment of the system, the first protective cover  22  is attached to the foundation  12 . In a specific version of this embodiment, nails  34  are used to attach the first protective cover  22  to the foundation  12 . 
     While the principles of the invention have been shown and described in connection with but a few embodiments, it is to be understood clearly that such embodiments are by way of example and are not limiting.