Patent Abstract:
A flexible attic access cover positionable for attachment to the framework of an attic access opening of an attic access door for the purpose of reducing heat transfer between the attic and conditioned portion of a building or house.

Full Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/873,157, filed Dec. 5, 2006; and is also a continuation-in-part of Design application Nos. 29/243,861, filed Dec. 1, 2005, each of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety. This application also incorporates by reference U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/844,434, filed Sep. 14, 2006 in its entirety. This is a divisional application of U.S. Non-Provisional Application 11/999,680, filed Dec. 5, 2007. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to the field of insulated attic access covers and, more specifically, an invented attic access door insulator for any type of door between the attic and a conditioned space. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Conventionally, attics are insulated from the remaining portion of the house in order to minimize heat transfer between the attic and conditioned portion of the house. For example, it is not uncommon to have ample insulation in an attic floor, with an R-value of 38 or higher, to reduce heat transfer from the attic to the conditioned house during the summer, as well as reduce heat transfer from the conditioned house to the attic during the winter. However, conventional insulation is difficult and impractical to install at the point of access to the attic. 
         [0006]    Typically, access to the attic is gained through either a folding attic stairway in the ceiling or through a knee-wall access door in a wall. With regards to the attic access opening in the wall, the attic door is difficult to insulate and the integrated door seal is easily damaged, the frame becomes warped after installation or the door is warped preventing a good seal. Typical methods to insulate the door are hanging fiberglass insulation batts to the back of the door by stapling or gluing. The insulation does not cover the door in its entirety and is usually torn off of the door during its use and when the homeowner carries articles into the attic. The use of foam board has been somewhat effective. However, the same problem exists with trying to cover the door in its entirety and the additional thickness hinders the installation so the door can open without hitting the insulation and tearing it off of the door. Also, due to the placement of the insulation, pieces of that are often torn or otherwise damaged by a person while accessing the attic, further reducing the effectiveness of the insulation and causing insulation debris to fall to the floor. Neither method of installation provides a seal for the opening and therefore the infiltration and exfiltration of the conditioned space takes place dependant upon the attic pressure versus the conditioned space pressure. The furnace and air conditioning within the home may create pressurization or depressurization. Dryer vents, bathroom exhaust fans and kitchen stove fans create a negative effect and may help draw attic air into the living space. 
         [0007]    In addition, the variations in the dimensions of the attic access openings create a problem in fitting the covers to the attic access opening unless an enclosure is built. In most installations, the door is placed within 3 to 4 feet from the edge of the roof, thus the roof vents in the soffit allow the wind to enter the attic and blow directly against the door or in some cases creates an inductor effect to depressurize the attic. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    The invented access cover eliminates the need to replace warped doors and frames because it conforms to the door frame and seals the frame even when the door or seal have been damaged or warped. The home owner is able to prevent outside air from the attic entering the home as well as the insulative benefits of the invented attic access cover. Furthermore, the cover insulates the door framework further reducing heat transfer between the attic and conditioned space. The frame of the invented cover is permanently attached to the exterior surfaces of the framework and creates an air space to further enhance the insulation properties of the cover. 
         [0009]    If the attic access cover is a premium unit that has a zippered top as previously referenced in related applications, the home owner only has to unzip the cover to the side and rezip when leaving the attic. The invented method is not only practical, safer and easier to use but provides a superior permanent seal between the attic and conditioned space. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0010]    The above described and other features, aspects, and advantages of the present invention are better understood when the following detailed description of the invention is read with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0011]      FIG. 1  is a front view of the invented attic door access cover installed in a wall (or ceiling) for insulating a door in order to reduce heat transfer between the attic and conditioned portion of a house; 
           [0012]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view of an attic access cover installed in a ceiling; 
           [0013]      FIG. 3  is a left side view of the attic access cover in  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 4  is a top view of the attic access cover of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0015]      FIG. 5  is a right side view of the attic access cover of  FIG. 2 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 6  is a bottom view of the attic access cover of  FIG. 2 . 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
       [0017]    The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings in which preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be considered as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. These exemplary embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be both thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
         [0018]    Referring to  FIGS. 1-6  the invented embodiment of an attic access cover  400  for insulating an attic access opening  410  for a knee wall door  412  ( FIG. 1 ) is illustrated. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the knee wall-door  412  includes a door  414 , hinges  416  for allowing the door  412  to swing between an open and closed position, and framework  418  that defines the opening  410  within a wall  422  (or ceiling) of a house. 
         [0019]    In the preferred embodiment the attic access cover  400  includes a perimeter flange  424 , a top wall  426  and a zipper  428  connecting the flange  424  to the top wall  426 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 1-6 . One-half of the zipper  428  is attached to the top wall  426  and the complementary other half of the zipper  428  is attached to the perimeter flange  424 . The zipper  428  is oriented generally perpendicular to the flange  424  and top wall  426  such that the top wall  426  is projected outwards from the flange  424 . The zipper  428  and top wall  426  collectively define a chamber  430  (i.e., the top wall  426  forms the top, the zipper  428  forms the sides, and the bottom is open) of air between the wall door  412  ( FIG. 1 ) and cover  400  when the wall door is closed, thereby improving the insulation characteristics of the cover  400 . By only requiring the zipper  428 , (i.e., no other component to form walls) to space the top wall  426  outward from the flange  424 , the cover  400  requires minimal components and little space, yet provides excellent insulative properties. Preferably, the flange  424  is unitary in construction, that is, it is uninterrupted along the perimeter direction without requiring any seams. 
         [0020]    The top wall  426  encompasses the entire top portion of the cover  400  so that it does not interfere with ingress and egress there-through and to reduce the possibility of tripping which can otherwise cause a person to fall or damage the cover  400 . 
         [0021]    The zipper  428  forms the connection between the top  426  and the flange  424 . Preferably, the zipper  428  is, or is nearly, continuous, extending around the perimeter or the top wall  426  and, thus, beginning and ending at about the same point, which preferably is at one of the corners of the zipper pathway. The zipper  428  forms a zipper pathway with rounded corners to allow for smooth movement of the zipper  428  around the perimeter of the top wall  426 . By the zipper  428  being, or nearly being, continuous it forms the connection between the top wall  426  and flange  424  about which the top wall  426  hinges when being opened or closed. That is, the portion of the zipper  428  that is unzipped forms the hinge about which the top wall  426  opens and closes. Optionally, the zipper  428  may include double pulls  432 ,  434  so that the zipper  428  may be independently unzipped in opposite directions to allow for the cover  400  to be hingedly opened in a variety of directions. It is to be noted since the left, right, bottom and top of the cover  400  have the same configuration, other than possible differences in length,  FIG. 3  showing the left side is also illustrative of the right side and, likewise,  FIG. 5  showing the top is also illustrative of the bottom. 
         [0022]    The top wall  426  and flange  424  are formed of at least one material having insulative properties. In a preferred embodiment, the are comprised of a closed cell insulation (foam) core with 99% pure aluminum laminates on both sides to reflect radiant energy, such as the insulative material sold under the name of PRODEX®. Preferably the top wall  426  has two or more layers to enhance the insulative properties of the cover  400 . It is to be understood that other material may be suitably used. 
         [0023]    The flange  424  is sized to be larger than the access opening  420  so that it may be secured to the framework  418 . Preferably, the flange  424  and top wall  426  are formed of a flexible or semi-flexible material in order to properly install the cover  400  as discussed below. 
         [0024]    In installing the cover  400 , the flange  424  is secured to the outward facing surface  436  (i.e. the surface of the framework  418  that faces inward towards the attic) of the framework  418  defining the access opening  410 . During installation, an installer pre-applies caulking to the outward facing surface  436  that positions the cover  400  over the opening  410  and pushes the flexible flange  424  to the framework  418  whereat the pre-applied silicone caulking adheres the flanges  424  in place. As the flange  424  is flexible, the cover  400  can be easily installed, even if the framework  418  is uneven, without requiring modification of the cover  400  or additional caulking to fill in gaps that could otherwise exist if the flange  424  was of a rigid construction. 
         [0025]    It is to be understood that the foregoing description and specific embodiments are merely illustrative of the best mode of the invention and the principles thereof, and that various modifications and additions may be made to the apparatus by those skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

Technology Classification (CPC): 4