Insulated building structure and apparatus therefor

An insulated building structure comprising:

• an array of spaced-apart structural members;
• an intermediate member interconnecting the spaced-apart structural members, the intermediate member having a planar surface;
• a layer of thermal insulation lying across the intermediate member;
• a bracket comprising:
• a sheathing mounting element including a mounting surface configured to receive a mechanical fastener;
• a spacer attached to the sheathing mounting element and extending away from the sheathing mounting element by a predetermined standoff distance, wherein the spacer:
• defines a contact pattern configured to prevent pivoting motion of the spacer relative to a planar surface;
• comprises a sheet-metal plate oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface;
• and
• includes two spaced-apart lateral edges and terminates at a cutting edge that extends between the lateral edges;
• and
• wherein the sheathing mounting element comprises an inverted “U”-shape with a web and two spaced-apart flanges downturned over the spacer, such that each of the flanges contacts and extends partially along a corresponding one of the lateral edges, leaving the cutting edge exposed between the two lateral edges, such that the spacer is configured to penetrate fibrous insulation by cutting action of the cutting edge;
• wherein the bracket is positioned with the cutting edge in contact with the intermediate member such that the spacer penetrates the thermal insulation and extends away from the intermediate member by the predetermined stand-off distance, such that the mounting surface is exposed outside the thermal insulation.

A method of insulating a building structure having an array of spaced-apart structural members and an intermediate member interconnecting the spaced-apart structural members, and a layer of thermal insulation lying across the intermediate member wherein each the intermediate member includes a planar surface, the method comprising:

• providing a plurality of brackets, each bracket comprising:
• a sheathing mounting element including a mounting surface configured to receive a mechanical fastener;
• a spacer attached to the sheathing mounting element and extending away from the sheathing mounting element by a predetermined standoff distance, wherein the spacer:
• defines a contact pattern configured to prevent pivoting motion of the spacer relative to a planar surface;
• and
• comprises a sheet-metal plate oriented perpendicular to the mounting surface
• with two spaced-apart lateral edges and terminating at a cutting edge that extends between the two lateral edges;
• and
• wherein the sheathing mounting element comprises an inverted “U”-shape with a web and two spaced-apart flanges downturned over the spacer, such that each of the flanges contacts and extends partially along a corresponding one of the lateral edges, leaving the cutting edge exposed between the two lateral edges;
• positioning the bracket in contact with the intermediate member by pushing the bracket, such that the spacer penetrates the thermal insulation by cutting action of the cutting edge and extends away from the intermediate member by the predetermined stand-off distance, and such that the mounting surface is exposed outside the thermal insulation.