Patent Application
20190010696
The present invention relates generally to building materials and, in particular, to insulated panels.
Insulated panels, also known as composite insulation panels or insulated sheathing, is traditionally made of a thermally insulating material such as polystyrene foam laminated on a wood fiber board. The board may be coated with asphalt for greater weather resistance. Alternatively, a vapour barrier in the form of a polymer membrane is applied. Insulated panels are attached to the outer sides of the studs of a framed house or other building structure. An exterior cladding, e.g. vinyl siding or bricks, and installed outside of the insulated panels to complete the construction. The insulated panel serves multiple functions in the wall cavity (providing insulation, an air barrier, and a vapour barrier). The insulated panel can be installed in one step, thereby saving labour costs.
Further improvements in insulated panels remain highly desirable.
The following presents a simplified summary of some aspects or embodiments of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the invention. It is not intended to identify key or critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some embodiments of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later.
In general, the present invention provides a novel insulated panel having an extruded polystyrene panel attached to a fibreboard panel or other wood-based panel. The panels are bound together mechanically and/or chemically with any suitable glue or adhesive.
Accordingly, one inventive aspect of the present disclosure is an insulated panel comprising an extruded polystyrene layer that is impermeable to both water and air and a wood-based panel to which the extruded polystyrene is attached.
Another inventive aspect of the present disclosure is an insulated panel comprising an extruded polystyrene panel and a fibreboard panel laminated to the extruded polystyrene panel.
Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, taken in combination with the appended drawings in which:
It will be noted that throughout the appended drawings, like features are identified by like reference numerals.
In one specific embodiment, the extruded polystyrene layer is 11/16 inch and the fibreboard has a thickness of ½ inch. The thickness of each of the two dissimilar materials (i.e. the extruded polystyrene and the fibreboard) can be increased to meet any given insulation requirement.
The insulated panel may be rectangular as shown in
The extruded polystyrene layer may be installed such that it faces outward. Alternatively, the extruded polystyrene layer may be installed such that it faces inward.
In at least one embodiment, as depicted in
As noted above, the insulated panel is reversible so as to be installable either with the extruded polystyrene panel facing outwardly or inwardly. It is preferable though to install the extruded polystyrene panel facing outwardly. Whether it is installed with the extruded polystyrene facing inwardly or outwardly, the panel is impermeable to both water and air.
The insulated panel provides a very high level of thermal insulation, thus enabling the panel to be relatively thinner than prior-art panels of equivalent thermal insulation, i.e. to achieve the same degree of thermal insulation as a prior-art panel, the novel panel can be made thinner. Because it is thinner, the resulting panel is lightweight and easier for construction workers to install.
This invention has been described in terms of specific embodiments, implementations and configurations which are intended to be exemplary only. Persons of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, having read this disclosure, that many obvious variations, modifications and refinements may be made without departing from the inventive concept(s) presented herein. The scope of the exclusive right sought by the Applicant(s) is therefore intended to be limited solely by the appended claims.
