GB2059488A

GB2059488A - Insulation panel for windows, doors and the like

Info

Publication number: GB2059488A
Application number: GB8027574A
Authority: GB
Original assignee: Southern Chemicals Ltd
Current assignee: Southern Chemicals Ltd
Priority date: 1979-09-28
Filing date: 1980-08-26
Publication date: 1981-04-23
Also published as: IE791852L

Abstract

An insulation panel for windows and the like comprises a relatively rigid sheet or board (12) of insulating material such as foam polystyrene having an edge strip (13) of resilient material such as polyurethane foam. The board (12) is cut to fit into the window frame (10), or into the window opening adjacent the frame, and the edge strip (13) releasably secures the board (12) in this position by compression between the edge of the board and the frame or opening. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Insulation means for windows, doors and the like This invention relates to a method for insulating windows, doors and the like - hereinafter referred to collectively as windows - and to an insulation panel for use in such method.

It is well known that in a building a major heat loss is through the windows of that building.

Modern insulation techniques, e.g. double glazing, have brought considerable savings both in heat loss and financial terms - however modern techniques are generally only fully effective when incorporated into a new building when that building is being constructed. The adaptation of "old" buildings are not generally wholly successful and in many instances the adaptation costs are very high and often economically prohibitive.

The present invention is directed towards overcoming the above problems in both existing and new buildings by providing an insulation panel for windows and the like comprising a relatively rigid sheet or board of insulating material having an edge strip of resilient material, the insulating board being shaped to fit into the window frame or into the window ope adjacent the frame, and the edge strip being adapted to releasably secure the board in this position by compression of the edge strip between the edge of the board and the frame or ope.

The invention further provides a method of insulating a window or the like comprising providing a relatively rigid board or sheet of insulating material having a shape adapted to fit into the window frame or into the window ope adjacent the frame, providing said insulating board with an edge strip of resilient material, and releasably securing the board in the frame or ope by compression of the edge strip between the edge of the board and the frame or ope.

The edge strip is preferably a foam rubber material which compresses readily to seal the board along its edges against the window frame and releasably secure the board in a window insulating position; on removal of the panel from its secured position the foam rubber edge strips revert to their normal expanded position.

The invention will be understood from the following description of an embodiment thereof given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a front view of a two part window, one part of which is insulated according to the one embodiment of the present invention; and Figure 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings there is provided a two part window, i.e. a window with a divided frame, the said window having a window frame 10 and window panes 1 1. One part of the window is insulated by means of an insulation panel comprising a foamed polystyrene sheet or board 12 having secured thereto a continuous edge strip 13 of a foam rubber material around substantially the entire periphery thereof. The insulation board 12 is cut or otherwise formed into a shape to suit the configuration of the window frame 10 and the compressible edge strip 13 provides both a means for sealing the small gap between the edges of the board and the window frame and a means to releasably support the board within the window frame 10 and hold the board 12 in a window insulating position.

The board 12 is covered on both sides with a high impact polystyrene film. The board 12 has a black film applied on that side of the board 12 which will be exposed to daylight in order to minimise the ultraviolet degradation of the polystyrene panel. Preferably the other side of the board 12 which faces into the room in which the relevant window is located is given a white film which enhances the appearance of the panel and clearly differentiates, for the use, between the side of the panel to face outward and the side of the panel to face inward. The use of high impact polystyrene film makes it easy to keep the two surfaces of the panel clean since any dirt may be simply rubbed off the film surface by the use of an ordinary cloth.

It will be readily appreciated that as an alternative to fixing the panel to the window frame one may in the manner already described secure the panel to the ope of the window. This alternative panel securing position has particular relevance when one is dealing with, as a first example, non-timber windows where the window frame may not provide an adequate seating for the panel and, as a second example, neo-Georgian windows where one wishes to cover the multipane window with one insulation panel.

It is envisaged that the insulation panels may be placed in position on a window during night time and removed during daylight hours. Further the panels may be placed in position on windows on a semi-permanent basis, in rooms which are not in regular use, e.g. spare bedrooms which are only rarely used. The use of the insulation panels in this manner leads to a considerable advance in reducing heat losses from a building, giving better use of energy and savings in monetary outlay on the heating of the building.

It will be readily appreciated that since the panels are primarily of a foamed polystyrene material the panels are easily handled and should not present anybody - especially aged people with any difficulty in fixing the panels in position on the window frame or removing the panels from the window frame.

Window frames are of many different shapes and dimensions. Accordingly it is envisaged that the insulation boards be sold in a standard board size of say 8 ft x 4 ft and 20 mm thick which may be cut to size to suit the dimensions of the relevant window frame. The foamed rubber strip may be provided as a separate component and adhesively secured around the edges of the "cut to size" board to give an insulation panel for that particular window.

The edge strip employed is preferably polyurethane foam. It will be appreciated therefore that the edge strip itself is a material which has a good insulation value.

Claims

1. An insulation panel for windows and the like comprising a relatively rigid sheet or board of insulating material having an edge strip of resilient material, the insulating board being shaped to fit into the window frame or into the window ope adjacent the frame, and the edge strip being adapted to releasably secure the board in this position by compression of the edge strip between the edge of the board and the frame or ope.

2. A method of insulating a window or the like comprising providing a relatively rigid board or sheet of insulating material having a shape adapted to fit into the window frame or into the window ope adjacent the frame, providing said insulating board with an edge strip of resilient material, and releasably securing the board in the frame or ope by compression of the edge strip between the edge of the board and the frame or ope.

3. A panel or method as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the edge strip extends around substantially the entire periphery of the insulating board so as to also seal the gap between the edges of the board and the frame or ope.

4. A panel or method as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the insulating board comprises foamed polystyrene.

5. A panel or method according to claim 4, wherein the board is faced on opposite sides with a smooth plastics film.

6. A panel or method according to claim 5, wherein the film is high impact polystyrene.

7. A panel or method as claimed in claim 5 or 6, wherein the film is provided with relatively dark and light colours on opposite sides of the board respectively.

8. A panel or method as claimed in any preceding claim, wherein the edge strip comprises a foam rubber material.

9. A panel or method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the edge strip comprises polyurethane foam.

10. An insulation kit for windows or the like, comprising a cuttable board of insulating material and a separate strip of resilient material which may be adhesiveiy secured to the edges of the cut board to provide a panel as claimed in claim 1 or any one of claims 3 to 9 when directly or indirectly dependent in claim 1.

11. An insulation panel for windows and the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

12. A method of insulating a window or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

13. An insulation kit for windows or the like substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.