Abstract: Tongs are provided having a base and two elongate, resilient fingers supported by and cantilevered from the base. At least one and preferably both of the fingers includes a tapered section having a taper increasing in thickness from a proximal location at or near the base to a distal location at or near the distal end. The tapered fingers are more flexible at proximal lengthwise portions near the base and more durable at distal lengthwise portions near the distal ends. The distal gripping faces of the fingers can flatten out, to conform to the shape of the object, and spread out the force on the object, allowing the object to be grasped both firmly and gently.

Abstract: A packaged insulation product is provided comprising at least one insulation product oriented for storage or transportation and disposed in a package, wherein the package comprises a vapor-permeable membrane.

Abstract: An insulation product is provided comprising a sheet of randomly oriented fibers bonded by a binder. The sheet has first and second major surfaces and a pair of side portions. A facing layer is bonded to at least one of the major surfaces. A region of the sheet proximate to the facing layer is more puncture resistant than a remainder of the sheet.

Abstract: Reinforced fiber insulation is formed by depositing a mixture of textile fiber segments and rotary and/or flame attenuated segments on a surface, mixing a binder with the fibers, and heating the binder to join the fibers together. The low cost process provides a mixed fiber insulation product with improved strength after compression.

Abstract: An insulation product is provided comprising a sheet of randomly oriented fibers bonded by a binder. The sheet has first and second major surfaces and a pair of side portions. A facing layer is bonded to at least one of the major surfaces. A region of the sheet proximate to the facing layer is more puncture resistant than a remainder of the sheet.

Abstract: A packaged insulation product is provided comprising at least one insulation product oriented for storage or transportation and disposed in a package, wherein the package comprises a vapor-permeable membrane.

Abstract: An insulation composite for attenuating energy or sound transmission has a body layer of insulating material with a roughly textured face and a uniform thickness solid cover layer permanently embedded in the body layer to a partial depth so that material of the body layer does not protrude through the surface of the cover layer. The body layer can be rigid board or resilient batting such as fiberglass. The cover layer is formed from a curable fluid cast onto the upwardly facing surface of the body layer. The uniform thickness of the cover layer is achieved by spreading the fluid over the surface utilizing a coating bar having a downwardly facing corrugated profile defining ridges in contact with the body layer and grooves between the ridges, such as a wire wound coating bar Some of the fluid is pressed into the body layer by the ridges while other fluid passes through the grooves then settles to uniform thickness over the wet surface of the body layer.

Abstract: A duct board or duct liner comprises: an insulating layer formed from fibrous material bound with a resin binder, an outer facing layer adhered to an outer surface of the insulating layer, and a water repellant mat facing adhered to an interior surface of the insulating layer opposite the outer surface to form a duct board material. The mat facing provides sufficient water repellency to repel a mixture of about 40% isopropanol and about 60% water. The duct board or duct liner material may be formed into a tubular shape capable of conducting air, with the mat facing on the interior of the tubular shape.

Abstract: Water-resistant fibrous air duct insulation products and methods for making such products. The products may include a duct board or a duct tube including a first layer of resin-bonded fibrous mat having a second layer of durable, preferably non-woven, facing material adhered thereto, wherein the facing material defines the air stream surface for the board or tube. The duct board or tube is preferably rendered water-repellent at the air stream surface by incorporating a hydrophobic agent into the adhesive used to adhere the second layer to the first layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating materials (14), insulation-containing building material products bearing the materials and methods for applying the coatings to the building material products. The coating materials (14) possess one-way “breathability” characteristics with respect to water and aqueous solutions. That is, the coatings are essentially impermeable to liquid water and permeable to water vapor. Vapor from water insulation coated by the material may thus pass through the coating, whereas liquid water is effectively prevented from passing through the coating and entering the insulation.

Abstract: A duct board material comprises a substantially rigid fiber glass board having an interior surface and an exterior surface, an exterior facing adhered to the exterior surface, and a bonded, non-woven mat facing adhered to the interior surface. The mat has a plurality of parallel or substantially parallel fibers oriented in a longitudinal direction of the duct board material.

Abstract: Water resistant fibrous air duct insulation products and methods for making such products. The products may include a duct board or a duct tube including a plurality of layers of resin-bonded fibrous mat. The duct board or tube is preferably rendered water-repellent at the air stream surface by incorporating a hydrophobic agent into the resin of at least one of the layers adjacent the air stream surface.

Abstract: A duct board or duct liner comprises: an insulating layer formed from fibrous material bound with a resin binder, an outer facing layer adhered to an outer surface of the insulating layer, and a water repellant mat facing adhered to an interior surface of the insulating layer opposite the outer surface to form a duct board material. The mat facing provides sufficient water repellency to repel a mixture of about 40% isopropanol and about 60% water. The duct board or duct liner material may be formed into a tubular shape capable of conducting air, with the mat facing on the interior of the tubular shape.

Abstract: A duct board material, comprises a rigid fiber glass board having an interior surface and an exterior surface. The rigid fiberglass board having a density that is less than 69.9 kilograms/meter3 (4.36 lb./foot3). An exterior facing is adhered to the exterior surface. A bonded, non-woven mat facing is adhered to the interior surface, wherein the duct board material has an elastic modulus-moment of inertia product of at least 475 pound-inch2.

Abstract: The present invention provides coating material (14), insulation-containing building material products bearing the material and methods for applying the coatings to the building material products. The coating matarials (14) possess one-way breathability characteristics with respect to water and aqueous solutions. That is, the coatings are essentially impermeable to liquid water and permeable to water vapor. Vapor from water in insulation coated by the material may thus pass through the coating, whereas liquid water is effectively prevented from passing through the coating and entering the insulation.

Abstract: Reinforced fiber insulation is formed by depositing a mixture of textile fiber segments and rotary and/or flame attenuated segments on a surface, mixing a binder with the fibers, and heating the binder to join the fibers together. The low cost process provides a mixed fiber insulation product with improved strength after compression.

Abstract: Water-resistant fibrous air duct insulation products and methods for making such products. The products may include a duct board or a duct tube including a first layer of resin-bonded fibrous mat having a second layer of durable, preferably non-woven, facing material adhered thereto, wherein the facing material defines the air stream surface for the board or tube. The duct board or tube is preferably rendered water-repellent at the air stream surface by incorporating a hydrophobic agent into the adhesive used to adhere the second layer to the first layer.

Abstract: Water-resistant fibrous air duct insulation products and methods for making such products. The products may include a duct board or a duct tube including a first layer of resin-bonded fibrous mat having a second layer of durable, preferably non-woven, facing material adhered thereto, wherein the facing material defines the air stream surface for the board or tube. The duct board or tube is preferably rendered water-repellent at the air stream surface by incorporating a hydrophobic agent into the adhesive used to adhere the second layer to the first layer.

Abstract: Water resistant fibrous air duct insulation products and methods for making such products. The products may include a duct board or a duct tube including a plurality of layers of resin-bonded fibrous mat. The duct board or tube is preferably rendered water-repellent at the air stream surface by incorporating a hydrophobic agent into the resin of at least one of the layers adjacent the air stream surface.

Abstract: A method of coating a substrate of insulation material with a barrier layer involves spreading a curable liquid on a surface of the insulation using a spreader blade having a composite cross section profile. The profile includes a leading surface that converges toward the substrate surface and a trailing surface that is parallel to the substrate surface. The coating method is useful for fabricating acoustical and thermal energy insulation boards of nonwoven webs of glass fibers and other conventional insulation material. Particular benefit is derived from the method in coating grooved insulation boards for lining curved air conveying ducts with an elastically deformable, flexible coating that covers the board surface between grooves and bridges the grooves while leaving the groove channels open.