Patent ID: 8079194

Claim:
An aircraft including a thermal insulating element configured to thermally insulate a device, the thermal insulating element comprising: a first plate forming at least a part of an outer face of the insulating element; a second plate forming a further part of the outer face of the insulating element; a frame structure coupled to the first plate and the second plate, the frame structure including a plurality of frame elements establishing a geometry of the insulating element and coupled to one another to define a closed circumferential surface between the first plate and the second plate, wherein the first plate, the second plate, and the frame structure collectively define a cavity filled with air; at least one vent opening formed in one or more of the first plate, the second plate, and the frame structure, the at least one vent opening communicating with the cavity filled with air so as to provide free convection by air exchange through the at least one vent opening when the air in the cavity is heated by the device thermally insulated by the thermal insulating element; and a projecting edge portion formed along an edge of a portion of the insulating element which is provided with the at least one vent opening, the projecting edge portion being adapted to at least partially cover a gap between two insulating elements disposed side by side in the aircraft.