Patent Application
20080000570
With reference to
The film 10 can be substantially any semi-permeable material such as a plastic, cellophane, an acetate, etc. In one embodiment, the material is transparent in order to prevent obstructing a view through the portal to be insulated. For example, a user may wish to maintain a particular line of sight through a window, etc. after it has been insulated via the film 10. In one example, the film 10 is sold in a particular quantity which is related to the number and/or type of portals a user may wish to insulate. For instance, a plurality of portals can require more film than a single portal. In addition, the size of film (e.g., length) can vary to accommodate various portal types. In one example, a door may require a larger size film than required for a window.
A zipper seal 14 can be employed to adhere the film to the perimeter of the portal to be insulated. The zipper seal 14 can be comprised of two elements (e.g., male and female, etc.) that can be repeatedly coupled and uncoupled in a non-destructive manner. In one example, the zipper seal 14 is comprised of a first and second element each with a front and back portion. The back portion of each element can contain a surface that is coated with an adhesive. The front portion of each element can contain a plurality of tubular structures, wherein the first element has one more tubular structure than the other. For example, the first element can have four tubular structures and the second element can have three tubular structures. The three tubular structures from the second element can be offset from the four tubular structures from the first element. In this manner, the three tubular structures can be pressed between the four tubular structures on an alternating basis to form a seal.
In another embodiment, the zipper seal 14 can employ a pull tab to draw a first and a second element together to create a seal. In this manner, the pull tab can be moved in one direction to separate the first and the second element and a second direction to join the first and second element together. In yet another embodiment, the zipper seal can utilize a material on the front side of the first and second elements that allow temporary (e.g., non-permanent) coupling to occur. For example, the first and second elements can be coated with a low impact adhesive wherein a user can separate (unseal) the elements and reseal the elements on a repeatable basis.
The zipper seal 14 can be wrapped around a core 16 to be dispensed in particular quantity. In one embodiment, the zipper seal 14 can be placed around the perimeter of a portal to secure the film 10. For example, one side of the zipper seal 14 can have a side that contains an adhesive with a backing that can be removed. Once removed, the adhesive side can be placed around a window frame that contains four sides. The zipper seal 14 can be applied to each of the four sides in a particular order to insure that a continuous seal is applied around the entire window frame. In this manner, the window can be sealed to prevent air from transferring between an adjacent room and the outside to provide insulation from undesirable weather conditions.
The width of the zipper seal 14 can be substantially any size such as 0.5 inches for example. The width of the zipper seal 14 can be correlated to the size and/or number of tubular structures associated therewith. In one approach, the tubular structures 38-46 can be comprised of the same material as the male element 30 or female element 32. The tubular structures 38-42 can be offset from the tubular structures 44 and 46 in order to create a left or right bias. Moreover, the tubular structures 38, 40 and 42 of the male element 30 can be spaced a particular distance to accommodate the tubular structures 44 and 46 of the female element 32. In this manner, the tubular structures 38-46 can be interlocked to create a seal.
In order to maintain a seal, the tubular structures 38-46 can be shaped with a teardrop profile. In other words, a portion of the tubular structure furthest from the male or female element can have a wider cross section than the portion closest to the male or female element. Such a profile can help “lock” the zipper seal and require additional force to separate the male element 30 from the female element 32 once a seal has been created. The tubular structures 38-42 can extend the length of the zipper seal 14.
The first backing element 34 and the second backing element 36 can be made of a material that does not have a high degree of adherence to the adhesives 48 and 50. In one approach, the first backing element 34 and the second backing element 36 are made of a paper coated with wax or other equivalent material. The first backing element 34 and the second backing element 36 can be substantially wider than the width of the zipper seal 14. In this manner, they can be easily removed by a user. Typically, the second backing element 36 is removed prior to the removal of the first backing element 34. In one approach, after the second backing element 36 is removed, the zipper seal 14 is adhered to a surface (e.g., window frame, door frame, etc.) via the adhesive 50. Scissors or other means can be employed to cut the zipper seal 14 length to accommodate a particular size portal.
In one embodiment, the zipper seal 14 is attached to the film 10 as a single unit such that the film 10 can be dispensed and adhered to a first side 62 of the perimeter of the window 60. In one example, the backing 36 is removed to expose the adhesive 50 which is pressed against the first side 62 of the window thereby adhering the film 10 and the zipper seal to the first side 62. Once the film 10 and the zipper seal 14 are adhered to the first side 62, they can be cut utilizing scissors or equivalent means. Such an application can be similar to the method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,141,921 (Leeuwenburgh et al.). This method can be modified such that instead of utilizing an adhesive strip as disclosed in the '921 patent, a zipper seal can instead be employed.
After the film 10 and zipper seal 14 have been applied to the first side 62, the zipper seal 14 can be applied to a second side 64. The backing 36 can be removed from the zipper seal 14 and placed from the edge of the zipper seal 14 placed on the first side 62 to the far end of the second side 64. In one embodiment, the zipper seal 14 on the second side 64 can be placed under the zipper seal 14 on the first side 62 and extend to the end of the second side 64 of the perimeter of the window 60. In this manner, a continuous seal can be created around the perimeter of the window 60.
Once the zipper seal 14 has been placed on the second side 64 of the window, the zipper seal 14 can be placed on a third side 66 of the window 60. The backing 36 can be removed from the zipper seal 14 to expose the adhesive 50 which is placed against the surface of the third side 66. The zipper seal 14 on the third side 66 can be placed adjacent the end of the zipper seal 14 on the second side 64. In one approach, the zipper seal 14 extends adjacent from the left side of the second side 64 to the end of the third side 66.
The zipper seal 14 on a fourth side 68 can be placed adjacent to the zipper seal 14 from the third side 66. The zipper seal 14 on the fourth side 68 can be placed from the zipper seal 14 on the third side 66 on one end to the zipper seal 14 on the first side 62 at the other end. In this manner, a continuous zipper seal can be placed around the entire perimeter of the window 60.
Once the film 10 is applied to the zipper seal 14 on the perimeter of the window 60, it is coupled to the zipper seal 14. In this manner, a user can remove and reattach the film 10 to the window 60 (or any portal) as desired. In one example, the film 10 is removed based at least in part upon seasonal changes. In another example, the film is removed when access to a portal is desired. For instance, the film 10 can be employed to cover an opening defined by a perimeter of a sliding glass door via the zipper seal 14. In one approach, a user may wish to utilize a door insulated via the film 10 and zipper seal 14 periodically and thus, remove the film 10 from time to time.
While, for purposes of simplicity of explanation, the methodologies of FIGURES 5 and 6 are shown and described as executing serially, it is to be understood and appreciated that the exemplary embodiment is not limited by the illustrated order, as some aspects could, in accordance with the exemplary embodiment, occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other aspects from that shown and described herein. Moreover, not all illustrated features may be required to implement a methodology in accordance with an aspect of the exemplary embodiment.
At 72, the film and zipper seal are applied to a first side of a perimeter of a portal. The portal can be substantially any opening wherein insulation is desired. For example, the portal can be a window, a door, a sliding glass door, etc. In addition, the perimeter of the door can be substantially any shape such as a square, a rectangle, a circle, an ellipse, etc. Typically, the entire perimeter is utilized in order to create a seal that provides optimum insulation conditions. In one example, the portal is a window with a rectangular shape, and the first side consists of one side of the rectangular opening.
At 74, the zipper seal is applied to the one or more remaining sides of the perimeter of the portal. In one approach, a first adhesive layer can be exposed by removal of a first backing element. Subsequently, this adhesive layer can be pressed against the one or more remaining sides of the perimeter of the portal. In addition, the zipper seal can contain a second backing element that is coupled to a second adhesive layer. The second backing element can remain in place until the film is applied across the opening of the portal. It is to be appreciated that only the zipper seal is applied to the remainder of the portal and not the film. In this manner, the film can be applied to the zipper seal on the remainder of the perimeter of the portal.
At 76, the second backing element is removed from the zipper seal. The second backing element can be a non-adhesive substance that is coupled to an adhesive layer. The second backing element can be located on a side that is opposite the first backing element on the zipper seal. In one example, the second backing element is comprised of the same material as the first backing element. For instance, the second backing element can be comprised of paper or other material that is infused with a non-adhesive substance such as wax, etc. In addition, the first and second backing elements can have a width which is larger than the zipper seal in order to allow a user to easily remove the backing elements.
At 78, the film attached to the zipper seal on the first side of the portal is folded down. In one approach, the film is anchored on one end via the zipper seal on the first side. The film is folded down from the anchor point such that it can cover the opening created by the perimeter of the portal. In one aspect, the film is a semi-permeable material such as plastic, acetate, etc. Alternatively or in addition, the film is can vary in size based at least in part upon a change in temperature. For example, the film can shrink in size when heat (e.g., from a hair dryer, heat gun, etc.) is applied to the film.
At 80, the film is attached to a zipper seal on the one or more remaining sides of the perimeter of the portal. In one example, the film is attached to the zipper seal via an adhesive layer exposed by removal of the second backing element. In one embodiment, after the film is attached to the zipper seal, a heating element is applied to the film to shrink and tighten the film to provide a transparent material. In addition, excess film can be cut such that the film does not extend beyond the perimeter of the portal. Thus, by utilizing this method, a portal can be insulated utilizing a transparent film.
At 92, the film is removed from the perimeter of the portal via the zipper seal. As noted, the film can be adhered to the zipper seal which in turn is adhered to the perimeter of the portal. In one approach, the film is removed by pulling on the film to provide sufficient force to separate the tubular structures interlocked within the zipper seal. At 94, the portal is utilized. In one approach, the portal is a sliding glass door that is opened to provide access to a patio, porch, or other exterior area. In another approach, the portal is a window which is opened and closed as desired. Utilizing the zipper seal can provide convenient and repeatable access to utilize a portal. Such an approach can provide greater convenience than convention means wherein the film is adhered directly to the portal such that it cannot be removed in a non-destructive manner.
At 96, the film is reattached to the portal via the zipper seal. The zipper seal can contain two sides with tubular structures that can be interlocked when the two sides are pressed together to create a seal. In one approach a first side contains three tubular structures and a second side contains two tubular structures. The first side can be adhered to the perimeter of the film and the second side can be adhered to the perimeter of the portal. The first side can be pressed and interlocked into the second side via one or more tubular structures. At 98, the film can be attached and removed from the portal as desired.
It will be appreciated that variations of the above-disclosed and other features and functions, or alternatives thereof, may be desirably combined into many other different systems or applications. Various and variant embodiments presently unforeseen or unanticipated alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein may be subsequently made by those skilled in the art which are also intended to be encompassed by the following claims. In addition, the claims can encompass embodiments in hardware, software, or a combination thereof.
