WO2024086869A1

WO2024086869A1 - A device for insulating a concrete body

Info

Publication number: WO2024086869A1
Application number: PCT/AU2023/050932
Authority: WO
Inventors: Gregory John O'BEIRNE; Joseph William Dean
Original assignee: Intratek Australia Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2022-10-25
Filing date: 2023-09-27
Publication date: 2024-05-02

Abstract

Embodiments of the invention relate to a device for insulating a concrete body. The device comprises a body for providing insulation, and at least one protrusion extending from the body. The at least one protrusion is configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the at least one protrusion extends into and is encased by the concrete material of the concrete body thereby fixating the device to the concrete body. The device further comprises a mount for attaching the device to a casting formwork for the concrete body. The device is configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

Description

A device for insulating a concrete body

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a device and method for insulating a concrete body. In particular, the present invention relates to a device for insulating an edge of a concrete body.

Background

[0002] Slab edge insulation has become a building code requirement in Australia, and is soon to become more prominently required within energy code mandates. Without insulation, concrete slabs that are cast directly on the ground can cause a significant transfer of thermal energy between the edge of the concrete slab and the adjoining atmosphere, soil, fill or other masses that may be prone to wide variations in temperature. Generally, heat loss at the concrete slab edge to external atmosphere and soil junction is significant with research showing up to an 80 % energy loss.

[0003] Conventionally, rigid insulation in the form of polystyrene panels is placed into the perimeter trench, after which the concrete is poured. However, this method is problematic as due to the insulation not being held securely in place, the force of the poured concrete typically displaces the insulation and destroys the continuity of the installation. The displacement and lack of continuity negates any thermal benefit of the insulation and therefore results in a non-compliant and messy installation which is not possible to repair. It would be advantageous if at least an embodiment of the present invention addressed the above-described problems or at least provided a workable alternative.

[0004] Any discussion of documents, acts, materials, devices, articles or the like which have been included in the present specification is not to be taken as an admission that any or all of these matters form part of the prior art base or were common general knowledge in the field relevant to the present invention as it existed before the priority date of each claim of this application.

[0005] Throughout the specification the word "comprise", or variations such as "comprises" or "comprising", will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps, but not the exclusion of any other element, integer or step, or group of elements, integers or steps. Summary

[0006] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for insulating a concrete body, the device comprising: a body for providing insulation; at least one protrusion extending from the body, the at least one protrusion being configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the at least one protrusion extends into and is encased by the concrete material of the concrete body thereby fixating the device to the concrete body; and a mount for attaching the device to a casting formwork for the concrete body; wherein the device is configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

[0007] Embodiments of the present invention provide significant advantages. In particular, as the device is mounted to the casting formwork, the insulation material provided by the device is secured in place when the concrete material is poured into the formwork. As such, a continuous insulation along the edge of the concrete body can be achieved. Furthermore, in some embodiments the device may additionally function as a termite barrier, a UV shield or other protective barrier against weather, chemicals and impact damage. Moreover, by using the device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention, a depth, thickness and profile of the insulation can be customised depending on the requirements of the concrete body or preferences of the builder, or code requirement.

[0008] In an embodiment, the body may comprise a hollow space for receiving an insulation material. The body may be configured such that the insulation material is at least partially enclosed by the body of the device. Providing a hollow space for receiving the insulation material is particularly advantageous if the insulation material is provided in a rigid form, as for example, in the shape of a block, sheet or panel. In such examples, the body may be shaped and sized such that the insulation material can be slotted into the hollow space of the body of the device.

[0009] In a specific example, the body of the device may be configured to fully encase the insulation material. In this way, the device forms a complete insulated board that can be attached to the concrete body by virtue of the at least one protrusion. [0010] In a specific example, the body may comprise one or more ribs that extend into the hollow space such that in use when the insulation material is positioned within the hollow space, the one or more ribs are configured to extend into the insultation material. This has the advantage of strengthening the connection between the body of the device and the insulation material which may simplify handing of the device as the risk of the insulation material slipping out of the device can be minimised or at least reduced. Additionally or alternatively, the body may comprise an adhesive or sealant to strengthen the connection between the insulation material and the body of the device.

[0011] In one example, the body of the device comprises first and second walls that extend substantially parallel and are spaced relative to each other to define the hollow space for receiving the insulation material, wherein the first wall comprises the at least one protrusion. The first and second walls may be connected to each other by a joint. In a specific embodiment, the joint may be rigid. Alternatively, the joint may be flexible. Providing a flexible joint may increase the overall flexibility in handling the device and to position the insulation material within the defined hollow space. For example, the joint may be made of a flexible material.

[0012] In an embodiment, the device is configured such that, in use, the body of the device has a top surface that defines a slope to allow water, for example from rainfall, to flow off the device. The slope is typically configured such that water flows away from the concrete body. This has the advantage that water from rainfall and the like does not collect on the top surface of the device, or flows towards the concrete body where the water may cause damage to the concrete body.

[0013] In an embodiment where the body of the device comprises first and second walls that are spaced relative to each other to define the hollow space, in use, the second wall may define the perimeter of the concrete body. This has the significant advantage that an insulation material within the space between the first and second walls can be protected from any outer impacts, including but not limited to environmental and physical impacts.

[0014] In an embodiment, the body of the device may be in the form of a receptacle that is configured to receive an insulation material. This is particularly advantageous to ensure the integrity of the insulation material as it is protected against external impacts, such as caused by weather or physical impact. [0015] In one specific embodiment, the body of the device comprises the insulation material. For example, the body of the device may be solid and made of the insulation material. Specifically, the body may be in the form of a rigid, monolithic board.

[0016] In an embodiment, the at least one protrusion is in the shape of a longitudinal protrusion that extends along an outer surface of the body of the device. For example, the at least one protrusion may be continuous or incremental along the outer surface of the body of the device. Additionally or alternatively, the device may comprise a plurality of protrusions that each extend from the body of the device and are arranged to be encased within the concrete material when the concrete body is cast.

[0017] In an embodiment, an end portion of the at least one protrusion may be enlarged. This has the advantage that the permanent attachment between the device and the concrete body is strengthened.

[0018] In one example, the end portion of the at least one protrusion may comprise a hook. Similar to the enlarged end portion, providing a hook has the advantage that the permanent attachment between the device and the concrete body is strengthened. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the at least one protrusion may have any suitable shape, including any suitable cross- sectional shape. For example, a cross-sectional shape of the protrusion may be hook-like and/or comprise one or more ribs that improve the permanent connection between the body of the device and the concrete body.

[0019] In an embodiment, the mount may be configured to temporarily attach to the casting formwork. For example, the mount may be attached using of one or more mechanical fasteners, including but not limited to bolts, nails and screws. In this way, the mount can be detached, for example, once the concrete body is cast and cured and the casting formwork is removed.

[0020] In a specific embodiment, the mount is in the form of a flange that extends from the body of the device to be attached to the casting formwork. In this regard, the flange may comprise one or more apertures for receiving respective mechanical fasteners to attach the mount to the casting formwork. The flange may extend in any suitable direction relative to the device. In one specific example, the flange is connected to the body of the device via a flexible joint, such as a flexible material. This has the advantage that the flange can be pivoted relative to the body of the device to accommodate for different casting formworks. [0021] In an embodiment, the mount is connected to the body of the device via a predetermined breaking element, such as a breaking point and/or a breaking line. In this way, the mount can be removed from the device once the concrete body is cured. This has the significant advantage that the end product of the concrete body with the insulation barrier provides a smooth edge.

[0022] In a specific example, the mount is in the form of a flange that is connected to the body of the device via a predetermined breaking line. This may be implemented by thinning the material at the connection between the body and the mount.

[0023] In an embodiment, the device is configured such that a plurality of devices can be arranged in series, for example, along a straight portion of a concrete body and/or along a corner portion. In one example, the device may be configured to connect to a separate connector, such as a corner connector or a straight connector. Specifically, side portions of the body of the device may comprise connectors that are configured such the device can be connected to another device and/or another connector, such as a corner connector or a straight connector. In another example, the device may be configured to directly attach to another device. For both examples, side portions of the device body may comprise lock-in joints, such as dovetail joints or other male-female connector parts, to connect to a side portion of the device to a further device body and/or a connector.

[0024] In an embodiment, the device may be configured to extend along a straight length of a concrete body. For example, the device may extend along the entire edge of a concrete body or at least a portion of the edge. In this regard, the device may be configured as a straight edge insulation device. Additionally or alternatively, the device may be configured as a corner edge insulation device. In this regard, the device may be configured to extend over a corner of the concrete body. For example, the body of the device may be arranged to define a substantially perpendicular space for receiving a corner of the construction body. However, other shapes of the body of the device are envisaged that substantially match a shape of a corner, including angles other than 90° and even rounded corners.

[0025] In an embodiment, the device may be made of any suitable material or material compositions, including but not limited to plastics, vinyl, composite and metal. A suitable material may be selected depending on the application of the device. For example, plastics material has the advantage that the device can be made light weight, whereas metal material may provide stronger protection against physical impact and fire. In a specific embodiment, the body, the mount and the at least one protrusion are made of the same material. For example, the device may be integrally formed. [0026] In an embodiment, the device may further comprise a termite barrier element.

[0027] In an embodiment, the device may further comprise a fire protection element.

[0028] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of insulating a concrete body, the method comprising: providing a casting formwork for casting a concrete body; providing a device as described above, the device comprising a body for providing insulation, at least one protrusion extending from the body, and a mount for attaching the device to the casting formwork; positioning the device relative to the casting formwork by attaching the mount of the device to the casting formwork such that the at least one protrusion extends from the device into the casting formwork; and pouring concrete material into the casting formwork; wherein the method is conducted such that when the concrete body is cast and the at least one protrusion is encased within the concrete material of the concrete body, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

[0029] In an embodiment, the method may comprise a step of removing the mount from the device.

[0030] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method of insulating a concrete body, the method comprising: providing a casting formwork for casting a concrete body; providing a device for insulating a concrete body, the device comprising: a body for providing insulation, and at least one protrusion extending from the body, the at least one protrusion being configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the at least one protrusion extends into and is encased by the concrete material of the concrete body thereby fixating the device to the concrete body; positioning the device relative to the casting formwork by attaching the device to the casting formwork such that the at least one protrusion extends from the device into the casting formwork; and pouring concrete material into the casting formwork; wherein the method is conducted such that when the concrete body is cast and the at least one protrusion is encased within the concrete material of the concrete body, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

[0031] Embodiments of the present invention relate to a device for insulating a concrete body, the device comprising: a pair of walls extending substantially parallel and being spaced relative to each other to define a space for receiving a rigid insulation material; and a joint connecting the pair of walls; wherein the device is configured to attach to an edge of a concrete body using at least one mechanical fastener, such that when the insulation material is positioned within the defined space between the pair of walls, and the device is attached to the concrete body using mechanical fasteners, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body with one of the walls defining an exterior surface of the insulating barrier.

[0032] These embodiments of the present invention relate to a retrofit device that can be used to insulate existing concrete bodies. These embodiments have the significant advantage that by having one of the walls define the exterior surface, the insulation body can be protected from external impacts, such as environmental impacts or physical impacts, for example, from gardening equipment.

[0033] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments and/or aspects without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. For example, it will be apparent that certain features of the invention can be combined to form further embodiments. The present embodiments and aspects are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings.

Brief Description of Drawings

[0034] Certain exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[0035] Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a device for insulating a concrete body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0036] Figures 2A and 2B are different views of the device of Figure 1 including the insulation material;

[0037] Figures 3 is a schematic side view illustrating a plurality of devices when attached to a casting formwork in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;

[0038] Figure 4 is a detailed view of one of the devices of Figure 3;

[0039] Figure 5 shows a flow chart illustrating a method of insulating a concrete body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;

[0040] Figures 6A and 6B show devices for insulating a concrete body in accordance with further embodiments of the present invention;

[0041] Figure 7 illustrates a device for retrofit installation to insulate an existing concrete body in accordance with a further embodiment of the invention; and

[0042] Figure 8 shows a schematic illustration of devices connecting to a plurality of joints to extend over a corner section of a concrete body in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. Description of Embodiments

[0043] Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a device for insulating a concrete body, such as an edge of a concrete slab. The device comprises a body for providing insulation, at least one protrusion extending from the body, and a mount for attaching the device to a casting formwork for the concrete body. The at least one protrusion is configured such that once the concrete body is cast, the protrusion extends into and is encased by the concrete material of the concrete body thereby permanently fixating the device to the concrete body. The device is configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

[0044] Conventional insulation barriers bear the problem that the insulation material, which is typically in the form of rigid panels, is positioned within the trenches of a concrete slab. When the concrete body is cast in situ, the pressure of the concrete material causes the insulation blocks to move. This results in displacement of the insulation blocks and ultimately destroys the continuity of the installation. The inventors of the present invention have found that the displacement and lack of continuity negates any thermal benefit of the insulation and may result in non-compliant and messy installation which is not possible to repair.

[0045] Embodiments of the present invention aim to address these problems by providing a device that is permanently attached to the concrete body. This is solved by providing the at least one protrusion that extends into the wet concrete material when the concrete body is cast, as well as providing a mount that is secured to the casting formwork. In this way, the device is held in place when the concrete body is poured, and a permanent attachment can be achieved between the insulation provided by the device and the concrete body. As such, a continuous insulation barrier along the edge of the concrete body can be achieved together with its thermal benefits.

[0046] Furthermore, by using the device in accordance with embodiments of the present invention a depth, thickness, profile, and finish of the created insulation barrier can be customised depending on the requirements of the concrete body and/or preferences of the builder, or code requirement.

[0047] Referring now initially to Figures 1 and 2 of the accompanying drawings, there is shown a device 100 for insulating a concrete body, such as a concrete slab 102. The device 100 comprises a body 104 for holding an insulation material 106. In this particular example, the body 104 is shaped to define a hollow space 108 for receiving the insulation material 106 which in this example is a rigid block of any suitable insulation material, including but not limited to EPS or XPS foam panels. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that other insulation materials are envisaged, including insulation materials in liquid form that may be incorporated into the device 100 when the device 100 is manufactured.

[0048] The body 104 of the device 100 is formed by providing first and second walls 110, 112 that extend substantially parallel to each other and are spaced relative to each other to accommodate the rigid block of insulation material 106. The first and second walls 110, 112 are connected to each other by a joint 114 which in this case is another wall portion 114 that connects the first and second walls 110, 112 on one end portions of the respective walls 110, 112. In this example, the entire body 104 of the device 100 is made of the same material, namely plastics, and is integrally formed. In this example, the plastics material provides an inherent characteristic of flexibility. As such, the joint 114 is sufficiently flexible so that the first and second walls 110, 112 can be bent slightly to slot the block of insulation material 106 into the hollow space 108. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the joint 114 and/or the entire body 104 may be made of a rigid material, or implemented by a different joint that can be configured in an opened and closed position to position the block of insulation material 106 within the hollow space 108.

[0049] As illustrated in the Figures, the device 100 is configured such that in use when the device 100 is attached to the concrete body 102, a top surface of the device 100 defines a slope such that water, for example from rainfall, repairs or maintenance, can flow off the device 100. In this particular example, the slope is defined by the joint / wall section 114 in that a top surface of the joint 114 is inclined to slope away from the concrete body 102. This embodiment addresses the problem of water collecting on the top surface of the device 100 or flowing back towards the concrete body 102 where damage may be caused to the concrete body 102 or the building by the water.

[0050] A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the device 100 may be made of any suitable material or material compositions, including but not limited to plastics, vinyl, composite and metal. A suitable material may be selected depending on the application of the device 100. For example, plastics material has the advantage that the device 100 can be made light weight and manufactured relatively low costs. On the other hand, using a metal material or metal composition may provide stronger protection against physical impact and fire, and provides the advantage of durability compared to plastics. [0051] In an example (not shown), the body 104 of the device 100 may further comprise one or more ribs that extend into the hollow space 108. In this way, a connection between the body 104 and the insulation material 106 can be strengthened as the risk of the insulation material 106 slipping out of the hollow space 108 can be reduced.

[0052] By using a device 100 with a hollow space 108 that holds the insulation material 106, the insulation material 106 can be protected from external impacts. This has the advantage that the integrity of the insulation material 106 can be ensured. Thus, in use, when the device 100 is attached to the concrete slab 102, the device 100 forms an insulation barrier at the edge of the concrete slab 102 with the second wall 112 defining an exterior surface of the insulation barrier. This provides the significant advantage that the second wall 112 forms a protective cover for the insulating material 106 as well as for the concrete slab 102 from external impacts. Exemplary impacts may relate to gardening impacts, such as from gardening equipment, weather related impacts such as UV radiation, or chemical impacts from the soil or the like. By shielding the insulation material 106 from such external impacts, continuity and integrity of the insulation material 106 can be ensured. In some instances, due to these external impacts, it may be advantageous to configure the device 100 such that the insulation material 106 is fully enclosed as will be shown with reference to Figure 6B.

[0053] Referring back to Figures 1 and 2, the device 100 further comprises at least one protrusion 116, 118 that extends from an outer surface of the body 104, in this example from an outer surface of the first wall 110. The at least one protrusion 116, 118 is configured such that once the concrete slab 102 is cast and cured, the at least one protrusion 116, 118 extends into and is encased within the cured concrete material of the concrete slab 102. This has the particular advantage that the device 100 can be permanently attached to the concrete slab 102, in particular to the edge of the concrete slab 102.

[0054] The device 100 may comprise any suitable number of protrusions 116, 118 in any suitable shape that may be selected based on the application of the device 100. In this embodiment, the device 100 comprises a first protrusion 116 and a second protrusion 118. Both protrusions 116, 118 are in the shape of continuous longitudinal protrusions 116, 118 that extend along a width of the body 104 of the device 100. This provides a consistent connection between the device 100 and the concrete slab 102 along the entire width of the device 100.

[0055] The first protrusion 116 comprises an end portion that is enlarged which, in use, functions as an anchor within the concrete material of the concrete slab 102. This has the advantage that the permanent attachment between the device 100 and the concrete slab 102 can be strengthened. The second protrusion 118 has an end portion that comprises a hook. Similar to the enlarged end portion, providing a hook has the advantage that the permanent attachment between the device 100 and the concrete material of the concrete slab 102 can be strengthened. Moreover, due to its curvature, the hook shaped end portion may also assist in sliding the rigid insulation material 106 into the hollow space 108 of the device 100.

[0056] As well known to the person skilled in the art, one method of casting concrete bodies such as concrete slab 102 is in situ by using a casting formwork at the construction site. The casting formwork may be made of any suitable material and provided in any suitable shape as required by the building requirements or desired by the builder. An exemplary casting formwork 120 is shown in Figure 3. The device 100 utilises any suitable casting formwork to hold the device 100 securely in place when the concrete material of the concrete slab 102 is poured into the casting formwork. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that a conventional casting formwork may need to be adapted to accommodate for the device 100 in accordance with the present invention as will be described with reference to another example in Figure 3.

[0057] In order to attach the device 100 to a casting formwork (not shown), the device 100 comprises a mount 130. In this particular example, the mount 130 is provided in the form of a flange 130 that extends from the body 104 of the device 100, in particular from a section of the body 104 where the second wall 110 is connected to the joint 114. The flange 130 is configured such that the flange 130 can be secured to the casting formwork by using mechanical fasteners. In this way, the device 100 can be temporarily attached to the casting formwork and removed once the concrete slab 102 has been cast and cured. The mount 130 may be attached to the device 100 via a flexible connection so that the mount 130 is moveable relative to the body 104 of the device 100. In this example where the mount 130 is in the form of a flange 130, the flange 130 may be connected to the body 104 in a way so that a direction of the flange 130 can be modified, for example, pivoted relative to the body 104. Specifically, the flange 130 may be moveable between a position where the flange 130 extends substantially perpendicular relative to the second wall 112 and a position where the flange 130 extends substantially parallel relative to the second wall 112. In this way, the flange 130 can be manipulated to accommodate for different types of casting formworks.

[0058] In this example, the flange 130 extends along the top portion of the second wall 112 and is connected to the body 104 via a predetermined breaking element, in this example a predetermined breaking line 134. By connecting the mount 130 to the body 104 via one or more breaking elements, the mount 130 may be removed from the device 100 once the concrete slab 102 is cured. As illustrated in the Figures of the accompanying drawings, once the flange 130 is removed from the body 104 of the device 100, the remaining components of the body 104 of the device 100 form an insulation barrier with a smooth exterior surface thereby defining a new perimeter of the insulated concrete slab 102. The breaking line 134 in this example is implemented by a line where the material of the body 104 Of the device 100 is thinner such that the mount 130 can be torn off by hand. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the mount 130 may need to be removed from the body 104 of the device 100 using suitable tools or machinery once the concrete slab 102 is cured.

[0059] Thus, in use when the concrete slab 102 is cast and the insulation material 106 is positioned within the body 104 of the device 100, the device 100 forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete slab 102. Some of the advantages of the device 100 include that the insulating barrier can be provided in any desired depth, length, thickness, profile or finish. For example, the device 100 may be configured such that the created insulation barrier is located below, at and/or above ground level. Also, the created insulation barrier may be provided to the outside edge of the footing trench and also to the outside edge of the rebate if required, such as for masonry veneer or the like. Such example is shown in Figure 3.

[0060] With regard to the external surface of the created insulation barrier, the device 100 provides the advantage that this could be provided in any desired colour, profile and finish. For example, the exposed surface of the permanently installed device 100 may be formed by the second wall 112 which may be provided with any desired finish, such as textured, woodgrain, stucco, lined or grid finish. This may enhance the visual appearance of the finished concrete slab 102. Due to the flexibility that the device 100 provides for the insulation barrier, another advantage is that concrete bodies that have a curved edge may be insulated by using the device 100 without reducing the visual appeal of the concrete slab 102.

[0061] Referring now to Figures 3 and 4, there are shown two devices 100A, 100B in use and attached to a casting formwork 120. Both devices 100A, 100B are of the type and general configuration as described with reference to device 100 above, and like numerals with the addition of the letter "A" or "B" refer to like features of the device 100. In this particular example, the concrete slab 102A comprises a rebate 103A which is in the form of a recess provided at an edge of the concrete slab 102A. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that this embodiment is merely illustrative and that either device 100A, 100B may be used alone for a concrete slab that does not have a rebate 103A. [0062] The first device 100A is positioned to insulate an edge of the rebate 103A of the concrete slab 102A, whereas the second device 100B is positioned to insulate an edge of the footing trench 103B of the concrete slab 102. The casting formwork 120 in this example comprises two parts of timber formwork 120A, 120B that are connected to each other via a metal formwork frame 122. The mounts 130A, 130B of the respective devices 100A, 100B are connected to the timber formwork 120A, 120B using nails 132A, 132B. Thus, when the concrete material of the concrete slab 102A is cast into the casting formwork 120 comprising casting formworks 120A, 120B, the device 100A, 100B are held in place by virtue of the mounts 130A, 130B. The protrusions 116A, 116B, 118A, 118B of the devices 100A, 100B extend into casting formworks 120A, 120B to be encased within the concrete material when the concrete material of the concrete slab 102A is poured. Thus, a permanent connection between the devices 100A, 100B and the concrete slab 102A can be achieved. Once casting of the concrete slab 102A is completed and the concrete slab 102A is cured, the timber formworks 120A, 120B are removed by removing the nails 132A, 132B. Subsequently, the mounts 130A, 130B are removed from the devices 100A, 100B by tearing off the flanges 130A, 130B. As a result, the bodies 104A, 104B of the devices 100A, 100B with the insulation material 106A, 106B remain and form insulating barriers along an edge of the concrete slab 102A with the second walls 112A, 112B forming an exterior surface of the insulating barriers.

[0063] Figure 4 shows a detailed view of device 100B. As shown, the overall configuration is the same as for device 100 described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The device 100B further comprises a termite barrier element 140. In this particular embodiment, the termite barrier element 140 is provided on an inner surface area of the first wall 110. For example, a self-adhesive strip of a termite barrier element 140 may be provided on the first wall 110 as shown in Figure 4. However, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that other termite barrier elements are envisaged. For example, a material that functions as a termite barrier may be incorporated within the material of the body 104B of the device 100B.

[0064] Further, the device 100B may comprise an additional fire protection element (not shown). Such fire protection element may be implemented in any suitable manner.

[0065] Referring now to Figure 5, there is shown a flow chart illustrating a method 200 of insulating a concrete body, such as concrete slab 102. The method comprises a first step of providing 202 a casting formwork for casting a concrete body, such as casting formwork 120 with timber formworks 120A, 120B and metal frame 122. A person skilled in the art will appreciate that the casting formwork 120 may comprise parts specifically adapted to attach to the device. In a further step, a device is provided 204, such as device 100, 100A or 100B. The device comprises a body for providing insulation, at least one protrusion extending from the body, and a mount for attaching the device to the casting formwork. The method 200 further comprises positioning 206 the device relative to the casting formwork by attaching the mount of the device to the casting formwork such that the at least one protrusion extends from the device into the casting formwork. In further steps, concrete material is poured 208 into the casting formwork and the concrete body is cured 210. The method is conducted such that when the concrete body is cast and the at least one protrusion extends into and is encased within the concrete material of the concrete body, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

[0066] Referring now to Figures 6A, 6B, and 7, there are shown further illustrative examples of devices for insulating a concrete body, such as a concrete slab 102.

[0067] Figure 6A shows a device 300 for insulating a concrete body. This example illustrates how a plurality of devices 300 may be connected to each other in series. In this regard, side portions 310, 312 of the body 304 of the device 300 may comprise connectors 314, 316 that are configured to connect to a further connector. The further connector may be part of another device, such as another device 300, or be part of a dedicated joint as shown in Figure 8. The dedicated joint may be a connecting joint and comprise an end cap. In this particular example, the connectors 314, 316 are in the form of a male-female connector, in particular of a dove tail lock joint. Thus, by providing the device 300 with connectors 314, 316 as shown, a plurality of devices 300 can be connected to each other to form a straight insulating barrier. In order to form an insulating barrier over a corner of a concrete slab, a dedicated corner connector part may be provided.

[0068] The device 300 further comprises three protrusions 314, 316 and 318 extending from an outer surface of the body 304 of the device 300. The protrusions 316 and 318 are similar to the protrusions 116, 118 of device 100 in that the protrusion 316 has an enlarged end portion and extends continuously along a width of the device 300, and the protrusion 318 has an end portion that comprises a hook. The protrusion 314 is in the form of a longitudinal protrusion extending along the width of the device 300. However, instead of a continuously extending protrusion as the protrusions 316, 318, the protrusion 314 is provided in increments that define gaps between them.

[0069] Figure 6B schematically illustrates a device 400 for insulating a concrete body, such as concrete slab 102. The device 400 is similar to the device 100 shown in Figures 1 and 2. However, in this example, the insulation material is incorporated into the device 400. Thus, there is no need to assemble the device 400 by attaching the insulation material to the body of the device at the construction site. Instead, the device 400 inclusive of the insulation material 406 can be readily mounted to the casting formwork so that the in situ casting of the concrete body can commence. Specifically, the body 404 of the device 400 defines a receptacle 408 with four wall sections that surround the block of rigid insulation material 406. Whilst the device 400 has open side portions, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the body 404 of the device 400 may comprise side walls to fully enclose the insulation material 406 from all directions.

[0070] The device 400 further comprises a single longitudinally extending protrusion 416A with an enlarged end portion, and a mount 430 in the form of flange.

[0071] Referring now to Figure 7, there is shown a device 500 that is suitable for retrofit installation to insulate existing concrete bodies, such as concrete slabs. The device 500 comprises a pair of walls 510, 512 that extend substantially parallel and are spaced relative to each other to define a hollow space for receiving a rigid insulation material 506. The device 500 further comprises a joint 514 connecting the pair of walls 510, 512 at respective end portions of the walls. The device 500 is configured to attach to an edge of a concrete body, such as concrete slab 102, using at least one mechanical fastener. In this regard, one or more apertures (not shown) may be provided within the walls 510, 512 to simplify handling of the device at the construction site. When the rigid insulation material 506 is positioned within the hollow space 508 between the walls 510, 512, and the device 500 is attached to the concrete body using mechanical fasteners, the device 500 forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body with walls 512 defining an exterior surface of the insulating barrier.

[0072] The device 500 has the significant advantage that by having walls 512 define the exterior surface, the insulation material 506 can be protected from external impacts, such as environmental impacts or physical impacts, for example, from gardening equipment.

[0073] Referring now to Figure 8, there is shown two devices 100 connected to dedicated corner joints 600. The corner joint 600 may be provided to connect to side portions of the devices 100, in this example by providing a plurality of protrusions 602 that are received together with the insulation material 106 within the hollow space 108. Alternatively, each joint may comprise a connector similar to the dove tail lock joint shown in Figure 6A. [0074] By using dedicated joints, such as joint 600, an insulating barrier can be provided over a corner edge of a concrete body, such as concrete slab 102. Furthermore, a joint 610 may be provided to define a 135° internal angle for enclosing a corner of a concrete slab. Figure 8 illustrates the flexibility in shape and applications for the device 100 as by using the device 100 any suitable shape of concrete bodies can be provided with insulating barriers.

[0075] As described above, a person skilled in the art will appreciate that the device may be configured as dedicated straight or corner devices with the respective bodies of the devices forming an angle of 180° for insulating a straight portion of a concrete body and forming an angle of 90° for insulating a corner portion of a concrete body.

[0076] It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that numerous variations and/or modifications may be made to the invention as shown in the specific embodiments and/or aspects without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention as broadly described. For example, it will be apparent that certain features of the invention can be combined to form further embodiments. The present embodiments and aspects are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive. Several embodiments are described above with reference to the drawings. These drawings illustrate certain details of specific embodiments that implement the systems and methods and programs of the present invention. However, describing the invention with drawings should not be construed as imposing on the invention any limitations associated with features shown in the drawings.

Claims

1. A device for insulating a concrete body, the device comprising: a body for providing insulation; at least one protrusion extending from the body, the at least one protrusion being configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the at least one protrusion extends into and is encased by the concrete material of the concrete body thereby fixating the device to the concrete body; and a mount for attaching the device to a casting formwork for the concrete body; wherein the device is configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the body comprises a hollow space for receiving an insulation material such that the insulation material is at least partially enclosed by the body of the device.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the body comprises one or more ribs that extend into the hollow space such that in use when the insulation material is positioned within the hollow space, the one or more ribs are configured to extend into the insultation material.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein the body comprises first and second walls that extend substantially parallel and are spaced relative to each other to define the hollow space for receiving the insulation material, wherein the first wall comprises the at least one protrusion.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the first and second walls are connected to each other by a joint, and wherein, in use, the second wall defines an exterior surface of the insulation barrier.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the body of the device comprises an insulation material.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the at least one protrusion is in the shape of a longitudinal protrusion that extends along an outer surface of the body of the device.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein an end portion of the at least one protrusion is enlarged.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein an end portion of the at least one protrusion comprises a hook.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the mount is configured to temporarily attach to the casting formwork using one or more mechanical fasteners.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the mount is in the form of a flange that extends from the body of the device to be attached to the casting formwork.

12. The device of claim 1, wherein the mount is connected to the body of the device via a predetermined breaking element such that the mount can be removed from the device once the concrete body is cured.

13. The device of claim 1, wherein side portions of the body comprise respective connectors such that the device can be connected to another device, a separate connector for connecting the device to another device, and/or an end part.

14. The device of claim 1, being configured to extend along a straight length of a concrete body.

15. The device of claim 1, being configured to extend over a corner of the concrete body.

16. The device of claim 1, comprising a termite barrier element.

17. The device of claim 1, comprising a fire protection element.

18. A method of insulating a concrete body, the method comprising: providing a casting formwork for casting a concrete body; providing the device of claim 1; positioning the device relative to the casting formwork by attaching the mount of the device to the casting formwork such that the at least one protrusion extends from the device into the casting formwork; and pouring concrete material into the casting formwork; wherein the method is conducted such that when the concrete body is cast and the at least one protrusion is encased within the concrete material of the concrete body, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

19. The method of claim 18, comprising a step of removing the mount from the device.

20. A method of insulating a concrete body, the method comprising: providing a casting formwork for casting a concrete body; providing a device for insulating a concrete body, the device comprising: a body for providing insulation, and at least one protrusion extending from the body, the at least one protrusion being configured such that when the concrete body is cast, the at least one protrusion extends into and is encased by the concrete material of the concrete body thereby fixating the device to the concrete body; positioning the device relative to the casting formwork by attaching the device to the casting formwork such that the at least one protrusion extends from the device into the casting formwork; and pouring concrete material into the casting formwork; wherein the method is conducted such that when the concrete body is cast and the at least one protrusion is encased within the concrete material of the concrete body, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body.

21. A device for insulating a concrete body, the device comprising: a pair of walls extending substantially parallel and being spaced relative to each other to define a space for receiving a rigid insulation material; and a joint connecting the pair of walls; wherein the device is configured to attach to an edge of a concrete body using at least one mechanical fastener, such that when the insulation material is positioned within the defined space between the pair of walls, and the device is attached to the concrete body using mechanical fasteners, the device forms an insulating barrier along at least an edge of the concrete body with one of the walls defining an exterior surface of the insulating barrier.