Patent Application
20240059374
Not applicable.
Not applicable.
The present invention relates to the field of insulation, and more particularly to the field of insulation for marine vessels which must be in compliance with United States Coast Guard (USCG) regulations.
Insulation, particularly insulation within marine vessels, may be critical for providing condensation protection, a thermal barrier, and/or sound dampening capabilities, thereby preventing rusting or corrosion of the vessel as well as keeping passengers and crew safe and comfortable while onboard the vessel. Typically, marine vessel insulation may include, without limitation, an anti-sweat or anti-condensation coating, a sound dampening coating (e.g., spray-on materials), other types of known insulation (e.g., fiber insulation), or combinations thereof. To ensure optimum safety, the USCG enforces various rules and regulations, particularly in regards to the standards and practices of insulation, and among the various insulation regulations, the USCG may require a minimum air gap between coatings and other types of known insulation utilized on marine vessels. Currently, a means by which to easily, effectively, and efficiently create such an air gap between insulation layers, that is also in compliance with USCG regulations, does not exist. However, makeshift attempts often comprise the cutting of brass rods to suitable lengths and positioning said cuttings between insulation layers. This attempt may be both time consuming to construct and at least partially ineffective at maintaining the required minimum air gap.
Consequently, there is a need for an insulation spacer that may easily, efficiently, and effectively provide a means by which to create and maintain an air gap between insulation layers on a marine vessel that complies with USCG regulations.
These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by an insulation spacer for marine vessel insulation, comprising a circularly-shaped top face comprising a locking means; a side wall extending from a perimeter of the circularly-shaped top face at a first angle measuring between about 90° and about 180° relative to an internal surface of the top face, thereby forming a bottom opening; a flange portion extending from a perimeter of the bottom opening at a second angle measuring equal to the first angle relative to an external surface of the side wall, whereby the flange portion is parallelly oriented to the circularly-shaped top face, wherein the side wall provides at least a ½-inch space between the circularly-shaped top face and the flange portion.
These and other needs in the art are addressed in one embodiment by a method for insulating a marine vessel, comprising adhering one or more insulation pins to a marine vessel substrate; applying a coating onto the marine vessel substrate; installing an insulation spacer onto each of the one or more insulation pins over the coating via a locking means, wherein each insulation spacer comprises a circularly-shaped top face comprising the locking means; a side wall extending from a perimeter of the circularly-shaped top face at a first angle measuring between about 90° and about 180° relative to an internal surface of the top face, thereby forming a bottom opening; a flange portion extending from a perimeter of the bottom opening at a second angle measuring equal to the first angle relative to an external surface of the side wall, whereby the flange portion is parallelly oriented to the circularly-shaped top face, wherein the side wall provides at least a ½-inch space between the circularly-shaped top face and a flange portion; installing standard insulation onto the one or more insulation pins over each insulation spacer; installing an insulation pin cap onto each of the one or more insulation pins over the standard insulation.
The foregoing has outlined rather broadly the features and technical advantages of the present invention in order that the detailed description of the invention that follows may be better understood. Additional features and advantages of the invention will be described hereinafter that form the subject of the claims of the invention. It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the conception and the specific embodiments disclosed may be readily utilized as a basis for modifying or designing other embodiments for carrying out the same purposes of the present invention. It should also be realized by those skilled in the art that such equivalent embodiments do not depart from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
For a detailed description of the preferred embodiments of the invention, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings in which:
The present invention relates to an insulation spacer that may provide a means by which to create and maintain a suitable air gap or space between insulation layers of marine vessel insulation that complies with or adheres to USCG regulations. As illustrated in
As illustrated in
Top face 4 may be a portion of insulation spacer 2 comprising an external surface 10 and an internal surface 12. In embodiments, top face 4 may provide a footprint of any suitable shape or size for contacting external surface 12 with either coating layer 7 or standard insulation layer 9 of the marine vessel insulation, depending on direction of installation. Top face 4 may be circular, oval, elliptical, square, rectangular, or triangular in shape, or alternatively may be any other polygonal shape. In some embodiments, top face 4 may be circularly-shaped and comprise a diameter measuring between about 10 mm and about 100 mm, or alternatively between about 30 mm and 80 mm, or further alternatively about 40 mm.
In further embodiments, top face 4 may comprise a locking means 14. Locking means 14 may comprise a hole disposed through top face 4 from external surface 10 to internal surface 12. Further, the hole may be disposed at a center of top face 4 and dimensioned to receive one or more insulation pins 5, respectively. In embodiments, the hole may comprise a diameter measuring between about 1 mm and about 10 mm, or alternatively between about 2 mm and 5 mm, or further alternatively about 3 mm.
Depending on the shape of top face 4, insulation spacer 2 may comprise side wall or walls 6 extending from a perimeter of top face 4, with side wall or walls 6 comprising an external surface or surfaces 16 and an internal surface of surfaces 18, respectively. For instance, embodiments in which top face 4 may be circular, oval, elliptical, or the like, insulation spacer 2 may comprise a side wall 6 with external surface 16 and internal surface 18, whereas embodiments in which top face 4 may be square, rectangular, triangular, or any other polygonal shape, insulation spacer 2 may comprise side walls 6 with external surfaces 16 and internal surfaces 18. As further illustrated in
Referring once again to
Although the present invention and its advantages have been described in detail, it should be understood that various changes, substitutions and alterations may be made herein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.
