Building Insulation Element With Flexible Zone And Trim
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fibrous insulation materials for building structures, such as mineral wool batts, require multiple sizes to fit varying distances between elongated members, leading to high waste and storage challenges due to their rigidity and limited compressibility, making them costly and less available in retail stores.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a flexible zone on one side and a trim portion on the opposite side of the insulation element, made by compressing and reducing fibre bonding during manufacturing, allowing for compression and easy trimming to fit various distances without compromising thermal insulation properties.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If insulation elements are manufactured in many different sizes to fit varying distances between elongated members, then the insulation elements can fit correctly in the cavities, but the storage space required increases significantly and waste material increases
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation element is divided into two distinct zones: a rigid zone that maintains structural integrity and a flexible zone that can be compressed to adapt to varying cavity distances. This segmentation allows a single product to serve multiple size requirements without needing multiple inventory variants.
Solution Approach 2:
The flexible zone is created by changing the physical parameters of the insulation material in that region during manufacturing - specifically by compressing the edge region and reducing fibre bonding. This creates a zone with different compressibility characteristics that enables the element to adapt to different cavity sizes within a single product design.
2Adaptability or versatility
If insulation elements are compressed to fit smaller cavities, then they can accommodate varying distances, but the insulation elements may bend out of the cavity if too compressed
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the insulation element into rigid and flexible zones, the patent ensures that compression occurs only in the flexible zone while the rigid zone maintains structural support. This prevents the entire element from bending out of the cavity even when highly compressed to fit small spaces.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the insulation element are given different mechanical properties - the rigid zone maintains high structural stability while the flexible zone is engineered for high compressibility. This local differentiation of material properties allows the element to be compressed without compromising overall structural integrity.
3Temperature
If fibrous insulation material is used to meet thermal insulation requirements, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the material requires high storage space and generates high waste when cut to size
Solution Approach 1:
The patent modifies the fibre bonding parameters in the flexible zone during manufacturing to create compressibility while maintaining thermal insulation performance. This allows the single element to be compressed and trimmed to fit various cavity sizes without generating significant waste, as the flexible zone can be compressed to accommodate size variations.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple sizes of insulation slabs are kept in store to serve DIY customers, then customer needs are met, but the storage space consumption becomes unacceptable for retailers
Solution Approach 1:
The insulation element is designed as a universal product that can serve multiple functions and size requirements through its dual-zone construction. The flexible zone enables the same product to adapt to different cavity distances, making it a multi-functional solution that replaces the need for multiple specialized products in retail inventory.
Solution Approach 2:
The segmentation into rigid and flexible zones creates a product that inherently provides size adaptability, allowing retailers to stock fewer variants while still meeting diverse customer needs for different cavity dimensions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution enables a broader range of use with fewer sizes needed, reducing waste and storage requirements, making the insulation more cost-effective and accessible to retailers and DIY users while maintaining effective thermal insulation.
Implementation Method 1
the flexible zone is provided by softening the respective side by compressing the edge region during manufacture and thereby reducing the fibre bonding in the flexible section
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention concerns an insulation element (1) for fitting between elongated members (2) in a framework of a building structure, such as between rafters, beams or the like, said insulation element (1) having a substantially rectangular shape with substantially parallel first and second sides and substantially parallel third and fourth sides, exhibiting a first side portion and a substantially parallel opposing second side portion, wherein at least said first side portion is provided with a trim portion (3) with a elongated trim section along the first side, said trim section having a predetermined width; and at least said second side portion is provided with a flexible zone (4) extending along the second side comprising a flexible section with a predetermined width in the insulation element (1). Hereby, an insulation element is provided which is suitable for fitting within a wide range in the distance between elongated members in a building framework.