Flexible Loft Hatch Insulation Device with Movable Skirt
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Solution Overview
Problem
Loft openings in buildings often remain uninsulated, leading to heat loss and increased energy consumption as heat escapes through these openings, while existing solutions fail to effectively address the insulation and draught exclusion needs of these areas.
Innovation Solution
An insulation device comprising an insulating body portion and a movable skirt portion filled with insulating material, joined by a stiffened seam, which fits within the loft opening and extends around its periphery to prevent draughts and heat transfer, with optional fire retardant additives and a lightweight, pillow-like structure for flexibility and ease of installation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If a rigid insulation block is used to insulate the loft opening, then thermal insulation performance is improved, but the ability to accommodate irregular opening shapes and allow movement with access doors deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a flexible skirt portion made of movable material that can adapt to irregular opening shapes and move with access doors. This flexible component is combined with an insulating body to provide both thermal insulation and adaptability, resolving the contradiction between rigid insulation performance and flexibility requirements.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulation device is divided into distinct segments: an insulating body portion and a separate skirt portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the insulating body provides thermal insulation while the separate skirt portion provides flexibility and draught exclusion, enabling the overall system to meet both insulation and adaptability requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a movable skirt portion is added to allow movement with access doors, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the skirt portion with the insulating body through a joined construction, where the skirt portion is attached to the insulating body. This merging approach allows the movable skirt to be integrated with the insulation function, providing movement capability while minimizing additional complexity by combining multiple functions into a unified structure.
3Ease of operation
If the insulation device is made lightweight and pillow-like for ease of installation, then ease of operation is improved, but structural strength and rigidity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a flexible, pillow-like structure for the insulating body that is easy to handle and install. The flexibility of this design allows it to be easily positioned and secured in the loft opening, prioritizing ease of operation while the overall construction maintains sufficient structural integrity through the combination of flexible and rigid components.
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
The insulation device significantly reduces heat transfer through the loft opening, excludes draughts, and enhances fire safety by providing effective thermal insulation and draught exclusion, while allowing for easy movement and installation without impeding the opening and closing of access doors.
Implementation Method 1
an insulating body portion adapted to fit within the loft opening and a skirt portion extending around at least a part of a periphery of the insulating body portion... The insulation of the opening substantially reduces heat transfer through the opening
Implementation Method 2
The pillow-like structure of the insulating body provides flexibility in the arrangement of the insulation device within a loft opening. Since the pillow-like structure is deformable, the insulation device can take up the shape of the loft opening
Data Source
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AI summary
A flexible loft hatch insulation device as suitable to be used on all different types of loft hatches. Manufactured from a variety of different insulation materials including various waste streams. Application includes insulation as well as draught proofing.