A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to the reproduction by anyone of the patent document or patent disclosure as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office, patent file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever.
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates primarily to devices and systems for maintaining air circulation space proximate to thermal or other insulation. Particularly, the present invention is directed to a device to maintain ventilation space proximate thermal insulation in order to facilitate expulsion of heat and moisture from the insulation.
2. Description of Related Art
Thermal insulation is required to reduce the energy loss from structures for the purposes of maintaining comfortable interior spaces both in heating months and cooling months. The need to reduce the consumption of fossil fuels and the “greenhouse effect” has required the ever-increasing improvement in insulation values. Dimensional lumber sizes used in the framing of structures, and standard dimensions of light steel framing members have not changed significantly in many years. The depth of framing members and therefore the insulation cavity are determined by structural requirements which, for the foregoing reason, have remained fairly constant. Exterior wall, floor and roof construction is where thermal insulation is most commonly used. The ever-increasing thickness requirements for fibrous insulation, which is the most commonly-used and economical insulation type for insulating framing cavities, makes adequate ventilation of this insulation more difficult to achieve. Increased thickness of other types of insulation for thermal or other (e.g., sound) purposes, such as certain rigid foams and the like, also present ventilation problems, particularly if the material is porous to any degree.
Insulation used in roofs has the most crucial requirement for ventilation over the top of the insulating materials. Roofs are required to have the greatest amount of thermal insulation, since as heat rises to the highest point of a space, it creates the highest differential between inside and outside temperatures of any part of the so-called “thermal envelope” and therefore is the area of the greatest heat loss during the heating season. During the cooling season, heat from the sun heats the roof to such an extent that it becomes the greatest source of heat gain. Use of dark-colored roofing materials only worsens the problem. In the heating and cooling seasons, insulation absorbs heat in the daytime as part of the insulation cycle. That heat must be expelled during the cooler night time hours to be ready to store new heat during the next daylight period, which helps slow down heat transfer through the insulation and into the structure. If ventilation is inadequate, or non-existent, the heat will not be adequately expelled from the insulation and the effectiveness of the system will be reduced. However, as the heat is expelled during the night and cools down, the insulation absorbs moisture, because the cool night air is usually relatively damp. Ventilation during daylight hours expels the moisture as the insulation is heated. If ventilation is not adequate, insulation can become completely saturated with moisture and ruin drywall, plaster and ceiling finishes, causing interior dripping and risking collapse of the ceiling. Prolonged and/or frequent water retention can also promote mildew, mold and rotting of the roof structure. In today's era of more “efficient” building technology with fewer places for air to penetrate to ventilate insulation, wet insulation and the aforementioned mildew and mold problems can become very serious, often affecting the health of occupants exposed to the mold. If mold is present in large quantities, it is sometimes referred to as “sick building syndrome.”
For similar reasons, wall systems may require ventilation. Vapor barriers are often installed under drywall; or insulation batting is provided with an impermeable plastic or foil layer. However, if any part of the system is faulty, is improperly installed or becomes damaged, moisture can penetrate into the insulation and reduce its effectiveness and/or cause any of the aforementioned problems such as mold. Water and moisture can also penetrate insulation from the outside if external sheathings, sidings or wall penetrations such as windows, doors or louvers are faulty. Accordingly, proper ventilation of the insulation within wall cavities can be crucial.
A variety of methods, systems and products have been developed for attempting to maintain a ventilation space proximate to thermal insulation. However, such conventional methods and systems suffer from certain significant deficiencies.
Before legislation brought about insulation requirements for roofs, floors and exterior walls, the ventilation cavity between the top of insulation (e.g., fibrous insulation) and sheathing was formed by simply having an insulation thickness less than the void depth.
As environmental concerns brought about the creation of energy construction codes, and these codes started to require greater thicknesses of insulation, it became necessary for the insulation to be installed carefully. The practice of “patting-down” the top of the insulation during installation came about and was initially sufficient. As the thicknesses of insulation continued to increase, the Rafter-Vent® product was developed. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,125,971, 4,406,095, 5,341,612 and 5,600,928 are examples of such existing technology. Other patents such as U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,102,092, 4,214,510, 4,446,661 and 4,660,463 disclose devices concerned with maintaining ventilation over insulation at the eaves only, but do not maintain ventilation spaces over the entire length of the rafters.
The problems with the Rafter-Vent® and similar products are significant.
Reference numeral 15 indicates the roof sheathing, reference numeral 18 indicates the fibrous insulation mass, and reference numeral 21 indicates a typical rafter in a “cathedral” ceiling, “tray” ceiling or flat roof assembly or attic joists with storage floor boards attached.
The Rafter-Vent® product thus has significant deficiencies because it does not insure a uniform ventilation space and because versions of it are frequently used “correctly” rendering it ineffective for the purpose that should be intended.
As briefly mentioned above, the method used prior to the advent of the Rafter-Vent® product to form the air space was the action of the insulation installer patting the insulation down with his hand. This earlier method was, to some extent, superior to the Rafter-Vent concept since airflow was not essentially completely blocked by an impermeable foam plastic layer. However, with increased thicknesses of insulation required, the “patting down” method does not work today, because it is necessary to resist the force of the compressed insulation in order to maintain the ventilation space.
Thus, as is evident from the related art, conventional methods are ineffective for maintaining an insulation space that permits adequate ventilation of insulation material. There thus remains a serious need for an efficient, simple and economic method and system for maintaining an insulation space proximate to thermal or acoustic insulation material in a building. There also remains a need for structural techniques and building designs that further facilitate the ventilation of insulation spaces. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions for these as well as other problems.
The purpose and advantages of the present invention will be set forth in, and be apparent from, the description that follows, as well as will be learned by practice of the invention. Additional advantages of the invention will be realized and attained by the methods and systems particularly pointed out in the written description and claims hereof, as well as from the appended drawings.
To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described, in accordance with one embodiment, the invention includes a spacer device including a body having a plurality of openings defining an openwork, to allow ventilation when placed in contact with insulation material, and a plurality of struts fixedly attached to the body. The struts can be configured to maintain a predetermined distance between a first side of the insulation and an external or internal surface of a building, whereby the body and struts act to define a ventilation space between the unfaced side of the insulation and the building surface facing the insulation.
The spacer device according to the invention can be used with any type of insulated building surface, but it is especially recommended for the bottom face of a roof, an attic floor or wall sheathing, such that a ventilation space is defined between the insulation and the roof, attic floor or wall sheathing.
In accordance with still a further aspect of the invention, the device can be provided in such a form that is capable of being transported and stored as a separate item from the insulation. In accordance with a specific embodiment of the invention, the device is stored in nested layers. Alternatively, the device can be stored in rolled form.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a system is provided which includes the spacer device as described herein above, wherein the device is attached to the insulation material, which itself may be fibrous, rigid foam or another type of insulation. The combined spacer device or strut and insulation material construct can be packed face to face, in pairs with the spacing struts facing each other, such that the struts of one assembly penetrates through the openwork body into the insulation material of the other body in the example of fibrous insulation.
In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, the struts can be provided with a height of between about 0.25 and 6 inches. More preferably, the struts can be provided with a height between about 0.75 and 3 inches. Even more preferably, the struts can be provided with a height between about 1.0 and 1.75 inches. Most preferably, the struts can be provided with a height of about 1.0 and 1.5 inches.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the spacer struts can be formed integrally with the openwork body, or can be attached with adhesive or welded to the body using heat, ultrasonic techniques, solvent bonding, mechanical attachment such as insertion into a tight hole in the body (e.g., an interference fit), snapped or secured by an enlarged bulb in the strut or annular rings, or other forms of attachment that can resist the heat and other forces encountered during shipping, storage, deployment and use. The spacer struts, if attached to the body rather than integrally formed with the openwork body can be individual units wherein each strut is formed with an attaching pod of circular, square, or any other geometric shape, or the struts may be part of a body having a plurality of struts attached or formed thereto in the form of a strip or other geometric shape which is attached to the openwork body.
In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, the body and struts can be compressed with the attached fibrous insulation material and packaged into a rolled form. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, the struts can be bent or folded parallel to the body of the device during packaging to take up less space. Moreover, the struts can be provided with a shape memory characteristic such that the struts deploy substantially perpendicular to the body of the device when the insulation is unpackaged by a user.
In accordance with still a further aspect of the invention, a device and method of using the device as generally described herein is provided wherein the body is defined by a plurality of overlapping strips forming a crisscross, parallelogram pattern and defining openings between the strips permitting air circulation. In further accordance with this aspect of the invention, the struts can be mounted at junctures of the strips so as to act as pivot points for the strips. Having the strips pivotally attached to one another, in turn, can permit the width of the ventilation maintenance device to be adjusted to fit one or more width spaces in accordance with a method of the invention.
In accordance with still another aspect of the invention, a spacer device is provided including a body having a plurality of openings defining an openwork to allow ventilation when placed in contact with insulation material, wherein the body includes a mass of entangled rigid filaments. The body can be configured to maintain a predetermined distance between a first side of the insulation and a building surface, the body acting to define a ventilation space between the first side of the insulation and the surface. Moreover, the body can be configured into a three-dimensional form suitable for nesting multiple devices for shipping and storage. For example, the body can be formed in an accordion fashion.
In further accordance with the invention, a method is provided. In accordance with one aspect of the method of the invention, a device for maintaining an insulation space as described herein is provided, and a piece of insulation material (preferably fibrous insulation) is also provided. The method includes the steps of placing the device for maintaining the insulation space proximate to the insulation material, and installing the components into a structure such that the device for maintaining the insulation space is interposed between building structure and the insulation material to permit ventilation of the insulation. Preferably, the device is interposed between exposed fibrous insulation material and the underside of a roof sheathing or the underside of an unheated attic floor. However, the device can be interposed between the thermal insulation material and a wall structure, as desired.
In further accordance with the invention, an exemplary method is provided of packaging a device for maintaining an insulation space. The method includes providing a device as herein described, and the step of compressing the device body and struts (if provided) during the packaging process to minimize their profile for stacking or rolling. If the body and struts are pre-attached to the insulation material, they can be compressed with the attached fibrous insulation material and packaged into a rolled form. The method can alternatively or additionally include deploying the insulation material. If struts are provided on the device for maintaining the insulation space, the struts preferably deploy substantially perpendicular to the body of the device when the insulation is unpackaged by a user. Alternatively, if the device is provided in the form of an entangled netting structure, the device can be configured to be rolled up individually upon itself, or in combination with the insulation material.
In further accordance with the invention, a method of creating an embodiment of insulation spacer device (and the spacer device itself) is provided. A suitably rigid cross bar is provided having suitably rigid struts integral therewith disposed along the length of the cross bar. The cross bar is then affixed to a perforate mesh backing material that is placed in contact with an unfaced fibrous insulation mass. Preferably, the backing is flexible and distorts to permit rolling-up of the spacer device either by itself or attached to insulation.
In further accordance with the invention, a method of forming an insulation spacer for use, for example, between building sheathing and fibrous insulation is provided. Such spacer may be formed, for example, by forming depressions in sheet material or other material. The depressions are preferably about two inches across (or of other suitable dimension) and may be any shape (e.g., round, square, oval, rectangular, etc.). The depressions preferably have a depth of about 0.75 to 2.0 inches and even more preferably a depth of 1.0 to 1.5 inches. The device preferably includes perforations that may be formed in the process of making the depressions. In accordance with one embodiment, a unperforated portion (such as a land) may be formed in the bottom of each depression that is adapted and configured to contact the inside of roof or wall sheathing (or other surface) wherein the device may be attached to the sheathing with staples, nails or other suitable means. The depressions may be spaced from one another in any desired pattern and distance. In accordance with one embodiment, about four depressions may be formed within a one-square foot area of the device. Preferably, the spacing of the depressions is in a uniform pattern to facilitate stacking of a plurality of such devices for storage and shipment. Advantageously, such embodiments facilitate attachment to structural components of the building thereby facilitating their handling and use.
In further accordance with the invention, a method of utilizing insulation spacing devices as described herein in interior partitions treated with fibrous acoustical insulation such as in demising partitions between building tenants is also provided. In accordance with such method, the device may be employed in similar fashion to thermal insulation applications. The body of the spacer device may be placed against the fibrous blanket and the points of the spacer struts or equivalent structure may contact the inside face of the wallboard. This application could be used on one or both sides of the fibrous blanket, forming a void or voids that permit the pulling of wires subsequent to construction of the partition.
In accordance with further aspects a method of constructing a building and associated resulting structure are provided. The method includes constructing a wall structure from a plurality of vertically-oriented studs to form an external wall of the building, applying sheathing to an outer surface of the studs, and applying a spacer device to an inner surface of the sheathing in a space defined by adjacent studs, the spacer device having a thermoformed body defining a plurality of corrugations along the thermoformed body, the spacer defining a plurality of openings therethrough that permits moisture to pass through the spacer. The method further includes disposing insulation material proximate the spacer device, wherein the corrugations of the spacer device act to space the insulation material from the sheathing to form a ventilation space between the building sheathing and the insulation material, wherein the openings defined by the spacer body permit moisture to be passed from the insulation material through the body of the spacer device into the ventilation space. The insulation material can be fibrous insulation material such as fiberglass, rock wool, blown cellulose, polymeric fiber batts or the like.
In accordance with a further aspect, the corrugations can be directed parallel, perpendicularly or obliquely with respect to the studs. The openings of the spacer can be aligned with the corrugations. If desired, the spacer device can be assembled from a plurality of smaller spacer devices that are overlapped and held together by at least one attachment inserts, the attachment insert having a body that includes at least one protrusion for mating with aligned openings defined through the plurality of smaller spacer devices. The spacer device can be secured to the wall structure by applying a fastener to the attachment insert to attach the attachment insert to the wall structure.
In accordance with another aspect, the disclosure provides an insulation batt made from a mass of polymeric thermoplastic fibers, wherein the batt includes a longitudinal surface including at least one longitudinal groove formed into the batt along its length to form at least one ventilation channel for facilitating ventilation of the insulation batt after installation. The longitudinal groove can be formed by the application of pressure and heat to the batt.
A building structure and associated construction method are also provided. The structure includes a wall and/or roof structure formed from a plurality of vertically-oriented studs and/or rafters to form an external panel of the building. Sheathing is applied to an outer surface of the studs and/or rafters to form an inwardly facing building surface, and the polymeric insulation batt discussed immediately above is disposed between the studs and/or rafters, wherein the longitudinal surface having the at least one groove is oriented to contact the inwardly facing building surface, such that the at least one groove is vertically oriented to define at least one ventilation channel between the interior building surface and the insulation material, wherein the heat and moisture can be transported from the insulation material into the at least one ventilation channel to permit ventilation of the insulation.
It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention claimed. The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute part of this specification, are included to illustrate and provide a further understanding of the methods and systems and devices of the present invention. Together with the description, the drawings serve to explain the principles of embodiments of the invention.
a)-14(b) illustrate a fifth embodiment of a ventilation device made in accordance with the invention using, for example, entangled net technology as described in detail below.
Reference will now be made in detail to the present preferred embodiments of the invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The methods and corresponding steps of the invention will be described in conjunction with the detailed descriptions of the system.
The methods and devices presented herein may be used for maintaining a ventilation space proximate to insulation material such as thermal insulation. The present invention is particularly suited for maintaining a ventilation space proximate to fibrous thermal insulation, but may be applied to other types of insulation material.
Spaces maintained in accordance with this invention are a significant improvement over existing technology. Devices made in accordance with the embodiments herein are suitable for use in roofs and ceilings where ventilation must be maintained in order to expel heat and moisture from thermal insulation. In fact, the device is suitable for any application involving building surfaces where it is desired to maintain a ventilation space. Devices made in accordance with the invention may be used in cathedral ceilings and roof structures or in flat roof structures. Additionally, devices made in accordance with the invention may be used in roof and wall structures of buildings made of metal, such as those made from corrugated steel, aluminum and composite materials.
An air space of approximately one and one-half inches is usually recommended for effective ventilation of roofs through a spacer device made in accordance with the present invention. However, devices made in accordance with the invention can be made to provide any size air space desired. The ever-greater requirements to increase insulation values and resultant increase of insulation thickness taxes that regulated air space and requires a more substantial and positive method of maintaining the ventilation space.
Unlike devices of the prior art as described initially herein, a spacer device made in accordance with the invention (e.g., as in any of the embodiments described herein) allows thermal insulation to ventilate over its entire area. Moreover, a device made in accordance with the invention can be stored on a construction site with almost no danger of damage, deterioration or wind disbursement, as the openwork configuration permits wind to blow through the devices without moving them. In addition, materials likely to be used to make a device in accordance with the invention (e.g., plastic materials such as PVC, nylon or polyester) are tough and able to resist abuse and UV degradation. In addition, accurate and positive regulation of the insulation vent space offer the possibility of permitting a smaller recommended depth, allowing greater R values to be used, thus resulting in a savings in construction cost. In addition, if a device made in accordance with the invention is attached to insulation material, (e.g., fiberglass blankets) in the factory, the proper and correct use, even for careless or untrained installers, is ensured.
A device made in accordance with the invention can incorporate a flexible mesh or openwork with a plurality of struts attached to, and projecting perpendicularly from, the plane formed by the mesh or openwork. A gridwork backing, where provided, will be almost completely open thereby exposing the entire face of the top of the insulation to the air space to maximize the effectiveness of the ventilation.
Devices made in accordance with the invention can be delivered to the jobsite in a compact bundle of stacked units, in a roll that can be cut to the length required, or pre-attached to the insulation either rolled-up with the insulation or attached to it in straight packaging.
Though particularly advantageous when used in connection with thermal insulation, devices made in accordance with the invention may also readily be applied to insulation material used for other purposes, such as acoustical insulation. Likewise, if a gap is not needed for insulation for air circulation but for another purpose, the invention may advantageously be applied. For example, in a partition having acoustical fibrous blankets for sound-deadening, the device can be used to create a space for the pulling of wires or other flexible conduit such as certain plumbing.
As shown in the figures, devices made in accordance with the invention generally include an openwork body that is preferably slightly narrower in width than the distance between building structure framing members (e.g., joists). An openwork body can correspond to a structure wherein sufficient perforations or openings exist through the body to permit transport of air and moisture therethrough. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, attached and generally perpendicular to the plane formed by the body is a plurality of spacing struts more or less evenly distributed along the planar surface of the body, facing away from the body. The body is placed against the insulating material with the tips of the spacing struts facing away from the insulation such that the struts contact the inside face of the building sheathing or metal wall of roof deck. Moreover, if attachment devices are placed on the opposing planar face of the body, they can anchor into fibrous insulation, facilitating alignment therewith and insulation installation.
In some embodiments, the body of the device may be arranged such that it is not immediately adjacent to the insulation. For example, if struts are arranged on both sides of the body, one set of struts may contact the sheathing or flooring. The other set of struts may either anchor into the insulation, or only press against the insulation; alternatively it can be configured to have a first portion for anchoring into the insulation, and a second portion with increased cross-sectional area for resting against the insulation and preventing penetration therethrough.
Alternatively still, two bodies may be provided, with struts creating an air space therebetween. In such an arrangement, one body rests against the sheathing or flooring, and the other body rests on the insulation.
For purpose of illustration and not limitation, a first embodiment of device made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in
The patterns of openings in the embodiments depicted in
The struts can be manufactured by punching by a die from flexible plastic sheet along with the ventilation holes, or they can be cast-molded along with the flexible mesh body as illustrated in
For purpose of illustration and not limitation, another embodiment of the spacer device, made in accordance with the present invention, is illustrated in
The strut pins shown in
It will be understood that while the spacer struts shown in
For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein and as illustrated in
For purpose of illustration and not limitation, a sectional view is provided in
For purpose of illustration and not limitation, as embodied herein,
For purpose of illustration and not limitation,
By way of further illustration and not limitation, another embodiment of device made in accordance with the present invention is illustrated in the isometric view in
The “Entangled net” system is available commercially from Enka Geomatrix Systems, a Division of BASF Corporation of Enka, N.C., and its successor, Colbond, Inc. U.S. Pat. No. 4,212,692 discloses a method of forming the “entangled net” material. U.S. Pat. No. 5,960,595 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,487,826 utilize this product in areas of roof ventilation at the eave and ridge only. These patents are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
In further accordance with the invention, a method is provided. In accordance with this aspect of the invention, a device for maintaining an insulation space as described herein is provided, and thermal insulation material (preferably fibrous insulation) is also provided. The method further includes the steps of placing the device for maintaining the insulation space proximate to the insulation material, and installing the components into a structure such that the device for maintaining the insulation space is interposed between building sheathing and the insulation material to permit ventilation of the insulation. Preferably, the device is interposed between exposed thermal insulation material and the underside of roof sheathing or the underside of an attic floor. However, the device can be interposed between the thermal insulation material and wall sheathing, as desired. Any of the devices described herein can be used likewise, in accordance with the methods of the invention.
In further accordance with the invention, the embodiment depicted in
In further accordance with the invention, the device as herein described, such as the device depicted
Alternatively, the device attached to the fibrous insulation blankets as shown in
Moreover, it is to be remembered that a device made in accordance with the invention can also be used wherever it is desired to maintain a ventilation space, or similar voids for other purposes, including walls of structures, interior acoustically dampened partitions, or alternative applications such as automotive, marine, aviation or aeronautical applications.
In
For purposes of further illustration, and not limitation,
As further depicted in
For purposes of further illustration and not limitation,
Specifically,
As further depicted in
As further depicted in
For the purposes of further illustration and not limitation,
The depressions 82 are preferably evenly spaced along the plane of the mesh body 81. For example, approximately four or more depressions could be located in each square foot of the area of the mesh body 81. Preferably, the pattern of depressions 82 is even and repetitive to facilitate compact stacking of a plurality of such devices for purposes of storage and shipment.
For purposes of further illustration, and not limitation,
Up to the current time, it is believed that construction has not attempted to ventilate the insulation in exterior walls, yet exterior walls can be the largest part of the envelopes of many buildings. Trapped moisture in fibrous insulation in walls has caused mold growth in houses, structural decay and has rendered the thermal properties of insulation either diminished or practically useless. It is even likely that wet insulation is a superior conductor of heat and may actually be worse than no insulation at all.
Accordingly, Applicant has concluded that there is a need for positive ventilation of fibrous insulation in order to maintain the insulation values required in new construction. It is doubtful that construction of buildings even only a year or two old have the thermal resistance as when originally constructed. Moreover, depending on building exposures, climate, and the habits of the occupants, fibrous insulation may have varied amounts of moisture. Fibrous insulation, whether made from glass, cellulose or slag, has a propensity to absorb and retain moisture. Drying this material, and keeping it dry, therefore may require that affirmative steps be taken. In modern buildings, it can generally be said that each year it takes slightly more fuel to heat or cool the building due to deteriorating insulation. That amount of fuel consumed never goes down, and only goes up, unless something is done to remedy the situation.
Techniques described herein and illustrated in
The same principle may be applied to existing construction, with some modification. Siding and sheathing may need have to be replaced, but with the current price of fuel, there is a realistic pay-back period.
Description of Framing at Present and as Proposed
In what is commonly referred to as “platform construction”, the most frequently used method of framing a building, a floor platform consisting of joists, in most cases, is covered with subflooring which usually comprises plywood or boards. This surface is then used to lay-out the exterior walls which are usually of 6″ wood studs, required economically to accommodate R-19 fibrous insulation. Prior to the institution of most energy codes approximately twenty-five years ago, 4″ wood studs were used for economy as insulation thicknesses were less than required by R-19. At that time there was resistance to changing to 6″ studs because of increased cost due to the increased use of wood. This effectively reduced the usable size of a building with a foundation of a given size by 4″ in each direction.
The use of platform construction, aside from making walls easier to build, employs shorter lengths of lumber also has one other inherent advantage. It also provides an automatic fire stop effect which did not exist in the earlier “balloon” framing method which has been used for many years, perhaps as early as medieval times. In the “balloon” method, walls were made up to three stories high in place and floor spanning members were inserted onto “ribbons” let into the sides of the vertical wall members. Among the problems with this kind of wall construction was that vertical fire spread was quite rapid due to the lack of a fire stop at each floor. Most buildings that burned did so faster than the ability of firefighters to save them. Modern balloon framing, if used, requires firestopping to be employed at floor levels.
For purposes of illustration and not limitation, as illustrated in
As depicted, at the outside edge of all floor platforms 101, prior to installation of wall sheathing, full 2″×2″ dimensional furring 96 is installed between the tops and bottoms of all stud projections to block horizontal fire spread at the edge of floor platforms 101. Accordingly, the studs 103 in the upper and lower walls are substantially in alignment. This will result in discrete vertical channels under the sheathing closing off any horizontal paths which fire could follow.
Like the “balloon” frame described above, however, there is a potential condition in
These materials and similar devices using these or similar substances as illustrated in
After erection of walls, floors and roofs and prior to installation of fibrous insulation batts or blankets 106 (or contemporaneously with such installation), a spacer device made in accordance with the present invention may be mounted, as desired, in walls, roofs and under attic subfloors.
As will be further appreciated by those of skill in the art, while the system depicted herein may be designed for placement between rafters or studs spaced 12 or 16 inches on center, the system may be sized and shaped for placement between rafters or studs of any particular spacing, such as for example: 6 inches, 18 inches, 20 inches, 24 inches, 30 inches, 32 inches, 36 inches, or 48 inches on center, among others, and may be employed in steel framed structures as well as wood framed structures. In accordance with still another embodiment, the techniques described herein can advantageously be applied in the context of premanufactured homes.
By way of still further example, the construction techniques described herein may be applied to existing structures, for example, by removing the sheathing in the structure, adding furring strips to the existing studs 103 and over the floor platforms 101 to create vertical channels along the height of the building, and modifying the soffits to create continuous flow passages from the bottom of the building up to the ridge vent. Ventilation spacers 111 can then be provided as described herein.
Horizontally oriented intumescent devices 110 can be installed proximate the floor platforms to replicate the structure depicted in
If desired, it is also possible to use more conventional 2×4 construction and avoid using the above-described technique by drilling holes through the floorplates to connect the air passages in wall cavities on subsequent floors. However, this is not as preferred as the aforementioned technique. In accordance with another embodiment, holes are provided through external sheathing proximate the floor plates or all along the sheathing and a layer of openwork spacing material is also provided on the outside of the sheathing permitting the vertical ventilation flowpath to be completed by routing it outside of the building, around the floorplate and back into the building. Such external spacer can be one that separates the outer surface of the sheathing from a further exterior layer, such as shingles. Such spacers are made, for example, by the Benjamin Obdyke company and are substantially described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,594,965, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.
Applicant also believes that insulation in fibrously insulated new construction can be vulnerable to moisture present in the building materials adjacent the insulation batts, specifically construction lumber. Wall assemblies of the prior art are generally well-sealed long before the moisture in green or semi-green lumber has dissipated. Applicant believes that this moisture may contribute to the degradation of fibrous wall insulation, as well as moisture hailing from other sources.
Further exemplary ventilation devices for the maintenance of the integrity of fibrous building insulation provided by this disclosure can be made by a continuous forming process. The material from which the device is formed is preferably a plastic and/or composite material able to resist deformation in moderate working temperatures. The forming of such devices in a continuous process, off of a roll can include forming temperatures exceeding those working temperatures.
Ventilation can be achieved with rows of diecut holes punched or louvers formed prior to, during or after thermoforming. The holes and/or louvers can be formed through the sheet in a prior process, or can be formed immediately before entering the thermoforming machine. Registration of the rows of holes and/or louvers is preferably maintained with respect to corrugations or undulating portions of the spacer device.
In accordance with another embodiment, a spacer device is provided further including snap-in clips to aid in installation prior to installing fibrous insulation, The clips can also be used to join the ends of two pieces of the device.
For purposes of illustration, and not limitation,
The device 201 may also be attached with staples to the building sheathing. Corrugations 204 can be provided to make the total thickness of the device between about ⅝″ and 2″ thick, more preferably between about 1″ and 1½″ of total thickness.
In accordance with a further embodiment, an exemplary ventilating device is provided wherein the ventilation channels are integrally formed on one surface of the insulation mass opposite a side attached, for example, to a paper or plastic or aluminized surface used as an attachment means and vapor barrier, if desired. The aluminized surface, if used, serves as an additional means of reducing radiant energy loss. The channels are formed on the side of the insulation batt contacting the wall or roof sheathing. Moreover, a method of forming the ventilation channels on the surface of the insulation is also provided wherein heated rollers are employed that may be heated electrically or with fluids maintaining a temperature that will result in the formation of the channels. A plurality of channels are preferably formed longitudinally providing a continuous integrally ventilated insulation mass.
For purposes of illustration, and not limitation, as embodied herein,
For purposes of further illustration,
Reference 404 indicates a drive roller which can be used to cool and drive the insulation mass. Spaced spikes 405, if desired, can be attached to the roller to enhance traction and insure ventilation penetrations at uniform intervals as the fusing heat might otherwise melt the formed surface into a membrane. The fusing heat is carefully controlled to minimize undesired melting and/or deformation. Reference 406 indicates the trough or conveyance for the formation of the non-woven insulation batt which is cut to lengths as required for packaging. Reference 411 indicates the depth of the batt which varies according to the desired R value of the product.
For purposes of still further illustration,
For purposes of further illustration reference 407 indicates the heat input into the roller which may be of electrical resistance coils, heated fluid coils or other source. Reference 408 indicates the roller axles which can be hollow to provide access for heating or other purposes, or may be solid. The axles are adapted and configured to ride in bearings and to be engaged to drive mechanisms.
The following patents and patent applications are also incorporated by reference in their entirety for any purpose whatsoever: U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,572,126, 2,872,101, 3,196,797, 4,032,264, 4,541,787, 5,603,612, 5,294,480, 6,604,330 and 6,540,491, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/713,189, filed Mar. 2, 2007, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/012,248, filed Feb. 1, 2008 and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/100,566, filed Apr. 10, 2008.
The methods and systems of the present invention, as described above and shown in the drawings, provide for an insulation spacing system with superior properties to those of the prior art. Embodiments of the present invention are adapted and configured to provide superior ventilation potentially leading to decreased mold and toxic conditions and buildings, thereby benefiting the general health of the population. It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the device and method of the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention include modifications and variations that are within the scope of the subject disclosure and equivalents.
This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/788,132, filed May 26, 2010, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/649,946, filed Dec. 30, 2009, which is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/139,442, filed Jun. 13, 2008 and issued Feb. 12, 2010 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,654,051, which is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/203,354, filed Aug. 12, 2005 and issued Dec. 2, 2008 as U.S. Pat. No. 7,458,189, which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/634,823, filed Dec. 9, 2004. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/788,132, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/649,946, filed Dec. 30, 2009, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/139,442, filed Jun. 13, 2008, which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60/943,692, filed Jun. 13, 2007, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/035,360, filed Mar. 10, 2008. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/788,132, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/181,125, filed May 27, 2009 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/321,130, filed Apr. 5, 2010. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority to U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/399,768, filed Mar. 6, 2009, which in turn is a continuation-in-part of and claims benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/348,181, filed Feb. 6, 2006 and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 7,503,534, which in turn claims the benefit of priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/650,203, filed Feb. 4, 2005. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/819,557, filed Jun. 21, 2010, which in turn is a continuation of and claims the benefit of priority from International Application No. PCT/US2009/038056, filed Mar. 24, 2009, which in turn claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/039,429, filed Mar. 26, 2008, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/054,805, filed May 20, 2008. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/575,439, filed Oct. 7, 2009, which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/103,613, filed Oct. 8, 2008. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/582,748, filed Oct. 21, 2009, which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/107,337, filed Oct. 21, 2008. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/823,948, filed Jun. 25, 2010. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/723,185, filed Mar. 12, 2010, which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/159,776, filed Mar. 12, 2009. This patent application is a continuation-in-part of and claims the benefit of priority from U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/749,358, filed Mar. 29, 2010, which in turn claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/164,424, filed Mar. 29, 2009. This patent application claims the benefit of priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/345,144, filed May 16, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/332,756, filed May 8, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/332,141, filed May 6, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/390,915, filed Oct. 7, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/412,958, filed Nov. 12, 2010, U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/445,631, filed Feb. 23, 2011, and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/418,456, filed Dec. 1, 2010. This patent application is also related to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/317,271, filed Mar. 24, 2010 and U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/310,383, filed Mar. 4, 2010. The disclosure of each of the aforementioned patent applications is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety for any purpose whatsoever.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60634823 | Dec 2004 | US | |
60943692 | Jun 2007 | US | |
61035360 | Mar 2008 | US | |
61181125 | May 2009 | US | |
61321130 | Apr 2010 | US | |
60650203 | Feb 2005 | US | |
61039429 | Mar 2008 | US | |
61054805 | May 2008 | US | |
61103613 | Oct 2008 | US | |
61107337 | Oct 2008 | US | |
61159776 | Mar 2009 | US | |
61164424 | Mar 2009 | US | |
61345144 | May 2010 | US | |
61332756 | May 2010 | US | |
61332141 | May 2010 | US | |
61390915 | Oct 2010 | US | |
61412958 | Nov 2010 | US | |
61412958 | Nov 2010 | US | |
61445631 | Feb 2011 | US | |
61418456 | Dec 2010 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12139442 | Jun 2008 | US |
Child | 12649946 | US | |
Parent | PCT/US2009/038056 | Mar 2009 | US |
Child | 12819557 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
---|---|---|---|
Parent | 12788132 | May 2010 | US |
Child | 13101334 | US | |
Parent | 12649946 | Dec 2009 | US |
Child | 12788132 | US | |
Parent | 11203354 | Aug 2005 | US |
Child | 12139442 | US | |
Parent | 12399768 | Mar 2009 | US |
Child | 11203354 | US | |
Parent | 11348181 | Feb 2006 | US |
Child | 12399768 | US | |
Parent | 12819557 | Jun 2010 | US |
Child | 11348181 | US | |
Parent | 12575439 | Oct 2009 | US |
Child | PCT/US2009/038056 | US | |
Parent | 12582748 | Oct 2009 | US |
Child | 12575439 | US | |
Parent | 12823948 | Jun 2010 | US |
Child | 12582748 | US | |
Parent | 12723185 | Mar 2010 | US |
Child | 12823948 | US | |
Parent | 12749358 | Mar 2010 | US |
Child | 12723185 | US |