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US 4,204,373 AGranted
Compressed expandable insulation tape and method
OwnerJames D. Davidsoninventor
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OwnerJames D. Davidsoninventor
Estimating the term…
A method of providing thermal insulation in relatively small spaces, such as the spaces between window and door frames and the structural members forming the rough openings therefor, comprises use of a prefabricated compressed-insulation tape, which may be secured at the factory to the outer periphery of the window or door frame, or to the inner periphery of the rough opening on the building site, the tape comprising a strip of any suitable compressible insulation material, such as spun glass or polyurethane, for example, retained in a compressed state by means such as a paper or plastic envelope, the envelope having at least one rip cord, whereby when the rip cord is pulled after installation of the window or door frame to rip the envelope longitudinally off the tape, the compressed insulation expands to fill the air gap space between the frame and the rough opening structure to provide thermal insulation therefor.
An energy conserving structural element, comprising an outer frame adapted to be inserted into an opening therefor with sufficient clearance to leave a relatively narrow air gap around said frame, said element having a strip of compressed expandable thermal insulation attached substantially around the outer periphery of said frame, said insulation strip having enveloping means to maintain the same in a compressed condition, said enveloping compressing means being easily tearable so as to be capable of being rendered inoperative so as to allow said strip to expand to substantially fill said air gap.
An energy conserving insulation product adapted to provide thermal insulation of air spaces, such as the air gap between window and door frames and the structural elements forming the rough opening therefor, said product including means comprising material that has thermal insulation properties better than that of the air gap and that is compressible from its free expanded state and will expand to essentially its former free state upon release of the compressing pressure, and enveloping means forming a part of said product retaining said material in a substantially compressed state until said retaining means is rendered inoperative to allow said material to expand toward its free state in said air gap, said enveloping means being tearable to render the same inoperative.
An energy conserving structural element normally used in combination with other structural elements in a manner such that a relatively narrow air gap that should be thermally insulated is created between elements, said element comprising a structural member having thermal insulation means secured thereon on the side thereof that will define the air gap, said insulation means comprising compressed expandable thermal insulation material having enveloping means retaining the same in the compressed state, said enveloping retaining means being capable of being rendered inoperative so as to allow said insulation material to expand, said insulation material, in its expanded state, having a thickness to substantially fill the air gap.
A method of thermally insulating the air gap between a window, door or other frame and the structural elements forming the rough opening therefor, said method comprising the following steps:
An energy conserving thermal insulation tape adapted to provide thermal insulation of narrow spaces, such as the air gap between window and door frames and the structural elements forming the rough opening therefor, said tape including thermal insulation means comprising a continuous strip of thermal insulation material that may be compressed from its free expanded state and that will expand to essentially its former free state upon release of the compressing pressure and means retaining said continuous strip of insulation material in a substantially fully compressed state, said retaining means forming a part of said tape and being capable of being rendered inoperative, whereby said strip is released to expand to its free state.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.