Units insulated with foams and having flexible outer skins
AssigneeDow Global Technologies LLC
InventorJulio Mortarotti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An insulation unit including an inner lining having an inner face and an outer face, in which the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulation unit is provided. An insulating foam is disposed on the outer face of the inner lining, and the insulating foam includes an inner face and an outer face, and the inner face of the insulating foam is adhered to the outer face of the inner lining. An outer lining is disposed on the outer face of the insulating foam. The outer lining includes a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of the insulation unit and is adhered to the outer face of the insulating foam.
Claims19
An insulation unit, comprising:
- an inner lining comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulation unit;
- an insulating foam disposed on the outer face of the inner lining, wherein the insulating foam comprises an inner face and an outer face, and the inner face of the insulating foam is adhered to the outer face of the inner lining;
- and
- an outer lining disposed on the outer face of the insulating foam, wherein the outer lining comprises a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of the insulation unit and is adhered to the outer face of the insulating foam;
- and
- a plurality of reinforcement structures arranged in a manner selected from at least one of parallel to an edge of the insulation unit and diagonally across a vertical or horizontal side of the insulation unit,
- wherein the inner lining and the outer lining are connected by at least a ball and socket joint.
A method for assembling a insulating unit, comprising:
- providing an inner lining comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulating unit;
- providing an outer lining disposed around the outer face of the of the inner lining in a space apart arrangement, wherein the outer lining comprises a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of the insulating unit, and wherein there is a space defining a volume between the outer face of the inner lining and the outer lining;
- securing the inner lining and non self-supporting flexible skin together using a ball and socket joint;
- placing reinforcement structures in a manner selected from at least one in proximity to and parallel to an edge of the insulating unit and diagonally across the surfaces of the unit, the reinforcement structures disposed in proximity to at least one of the inner face of the inner lining, the outer face of the inner lining, and the outer surface of the insulation unit;
- and
- injecting a foam forming formulation into the volume between the outer face of the inner lining and the outer lining, wherein the foam forming formulation is allowed to foam and cure into an insulating foam.
An article of manufacture, comprising:
- an inner lining comprising an inner face and an outer face, wherein the inner face is disposed to define a cavity of the insulation unit;
- foam disposed on the outer face of the inner lining, wherein the foam comprises an inner face and an outer face, and the inner face of the foam is adhered to the outer face of the inner lining;
- and
- an outer lining disposed on the outer face of the foam, wherein the outer lining comprises a non self-supporting flexible skin which is adapted to define at least parts of an outer surface of an insulation unit and is adhered to the outer face of the foam;
- and
- a plurality of reinforcement structures arranged in a manner selected from at least one of parallel to an edge of the insulation unit and diagonally across a vertical or horizontal side of the insulation unit,
- wherein the inner lining and the outer lining are connected by at least a ball and socket joint.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.