Patent Publication Number: US-2015079330-A1

Title: Radiant and insulating barrier

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This application claims the priority of Provisional Application No.  61 / 877 , 377  filed on Sep.  13 ,  2013  and entitled “Radiant and Insulating Barrier”. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates to a radiant and insulating barrier and, more particularly, to such a barrier having sealed insulation to prevent moisture buildup therein. 
     2. Description of the Background Art 
     Most radiant barriers currently in use do not include insulation. In cases where radiant barriers do include insulation, they are perforated so that the insulation therein is exposed and thus may be subject to moisture buildup and breed mold/mildew. The radiant and insulating barrier of the present invention is not subject to these disadvantages. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The radiant and insulating barrier of the present invention comprises two sheets bonded together to form a laminate that has elongated spaced flat channels in a predetermined relation to define sealed pockets or pillows filled with insulation of a suitable type. The channels may be provided with perforations which do not extend through the pockets such that the pockets are hermetically sealed. Any securing devices are positioned in the channels only and do not extend through the hermetically sealed pockets. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a perspective view of a radiant and insulating barrier of the present invention without perforations; 
         FIG. 2  is a plan view of a portion of the top of the barrier shown in  FIG. 1  with perforations; and 
         FIG. 3  is a sectional view taken substantially along line  3 - 3  in  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , the radiant and insulating barrier  10  of the present invention comprises two sheets  11  bonded together to form a laminate that comprises elongated spaced flat channels  12  in predetermined relation, e.g., parallel and perpendicular relation, to define sealed pockets or pillows  14  filled with insulation  16  of any suitable type. The laminated sheets  11  have an outer surface formed of any suitable radiant heat reflecting material. The channels  12  are provided with perforations  16  which do not extend through the pockets  14  such that the pockets  14  are hermetically sealed to prevent the insulation therein from being exposed to moisture or the like. 
     When the barrier  10  is installed, staples, nails or other securing devices are positioned in the channels only and do not extend through the hermetically sealed pockets  14 . 
     The channels may be perforated for air circulation. In some cases, the barrier  10  can be produced without perforations in the channels to prevent moisture from traveling from one side to the other thereof. 
     In summary, the new and improved features of the radiant and insulated barrier  10  of the present invention are as follows: 
     1. The barrier produces radiant heat reflection and also provides an R factor for insulation;
 
2. Any perforations in the barrier are limited to the flat channels and thus do not breach the insulated pockets that are hermetically sealed;
 
3. The barrier can be easily formed of two radiant heat reflecting sheets bonded together to create a laminate;
 
4. Each insulated pocket in the barrier is hermetically sealed so mold/mildew cannot begin to form therein. Even if one pocket is breached, the mold/mildew cannot migrate to adjacent pockets;
 
5. Any perforations in the barrier are only in the flat channels between the pockets and installation can be easily accomplished with a staple gun or nails that are installed only in the flat channel areas;
 
6. The provision of the flexible flat channels allows the barrier to be bent along the channels such that it can be easily wrapped around circular or other shapes; and
 
7. A non-perforated version of the barrier can be used in certain applications, such as a crawl space application where moisture from the outside cannot breach the barrier and get trapped between the floor-joist and the barrier.
 
     The sheets laminated together to form the barrier can be formed of any suitable material that provides a radiant barrier function, such as foil, plastic or the like. The pockets in the barrier may be filled with any suitable type of insulation such as fiberglass or other suitable material. 
     While the invention has been described in connection with what is presently considered to be the most practical and preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the invention is not to be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, is intended to cover various modifications and equivalent arrangements included within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.