Patent ID: 8272182

Claim:
An insulated frame unit for use in constructing an exterior wall of a building that has an exterior finish member for the exterior of the building and an interior finish member for the interior room that is defined by the wall, the wall including a plurality of spaced apart generally vertical studs, the studs having an exterior side facing the exterior of the building and an opposed interior side facing the interior room, and the studs having a generally predetermined thickness, predetermined width, and spacing between the studs of at least about 12 inches, the frame unit comprising: a panel composed substantially of a rigid foam insulating material, the panel having first and second generally opposed ends, and third and fourth generally opposed ends, an inner side and an outer side; and at least two stud-receiving openings in the inner side of the panel, the stud-receiving openings generally parallel to each other and extending between the first and second ends of the panel, the stud-receiving openings having a width that is sufficient to allow a stud to be mounted within the stud-receiving openings, and the stud-receiving openings having a depth that is less than the predetermined width of the stud, so that when the exterior side of the stud has been fully inserted into the stud-receiving opening the interior side of the stud is spaced away from the inner side of the panel for providing a service chamber between the inner side of the panel and an interior finish member secured to the interior side of the studs, and whereby an exterior finish member can be secured proximate to the outer side of the panel; and the third end of the panel having a first flange and first recess, and the fourth end of the panel having a second flange and a second recess whereby the first flange of the panel of the insulated frame unit is adaptable to be positioned in the second recess of a second insulated frame unit substantially identical to the insulated frame unit to thereby provide a stud-receiving channel.