Under concrete insulating system

Abstract

An insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system comprises at least one layer of polyethylene and an aluminum foil layer bonded to at least one side of the at least one layer of polyethylene. Such insulating system further includes a foam insulating layer engageable with the aluminum foil layer that is bonded to the at least one layer of polyethylene.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is closely related to and claims benefit from U.S. Provisional application Ser. No. 60/676,729 filed May 02, 2005.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates in general to an insulating system, and more specifically the present invention relates to a insulating system for use under concrete floors or concrete slabs.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

There have always been problems with concrete floors, particularly with concrete floors in a basement. One of the major problems is one of dampness, while another problem is that the temperature of such floor is generally uncomfortable.

Similar problems are encountered with concrete floors that are constructed with radiant heating. The problem in this case is that much of the radiant energy is lost because the insulation below the floor is inadequate and thus there is a sizeable heat loss and additional expense.

Thus, it would be advantageous if there were an insulating system that can eliminate most if not all of the problems that are encountered with insulating under concrete floors.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention provides an insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system comprises at least one layer of polyethylene and an aluminum foil layer bonded to at least one side of the at least one layer of polyethylene. Such insulating system further includes a foam insulating layer engageable with the aluminum foil layer that is bonded to the at least one layer of polyethylene.

An alternate embodiment of the invention provides an insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system comprises a foam insulating layer and at least one layer of polyethylene having at least one layer of aluminum foil bonded thereto, the layer of aluminum foil is engageable with at least one surface of the foam insulating layer.

Yet another embodiment of the invention provides an insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system comprises a foam insulating layer, a first layer of polyethylene having at least one layer of aluminum foil bonded thereto. The layer of aluminum foil engageable with a first surface of the foam insulating layer. There is further a second layer of polyethylene having at least one layer of aluminum foil bonded thereto, the layer of aluminum foil is engageable with a second surface of the foam insulating layer.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide an insulating system which will increase the heating efficiency of concrete floors with radiant heating.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating system which will reduce heat loss.

Still Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating system which will reduce time and labor to install. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating system which will eliminate basement dampness underneath concrete slabs.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an insulating system which will provide an excellent vapor barrier.

These and various other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent after a full reading of the following detailed description, particularly, when read in conjunction with the attached drawings as described below and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a drawing of an insulating system for use with one of concrete floors with radiant heating and with concrete slabs.

FIG. 2 is a drawing of an insulating system for use with one of concrete floors with radiant heating and with concrete slabs according to an alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a drawing of an insulating system for use with one of concrete floors with radiant heating and with concrete slabs according to yet another alternate embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 4 is a drawing of an insulating system showing how it is used with concrete floors with radiant heating.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE

PRESENTLY PREFERRED AND ALTERNATE

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

Prior to proceeding with the more detailed description of the present invention it should be noted that, for the sake of clarity, identical components which have identical functions have been designated by identical reference numerals throughout the several views illustrated in the drawings.

The present invention provides an insulating system, generally designated 10, for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system 10 comprises a foam insulating layer 2. There is at least one layer of polyethylene 4 engageable with at least one surface of the foam insulating layer 2. Such layer of polyethylene 4 has a sheet of aluminum foil 6 bonded to at least one side of the layer of polyethylene 4.

It is presently preferred that such layer of polyethylene 4 be a polyethylene bubble-pack 4. It is also presently preferred that such polyethylene bubble-pack 4 have aluminum foil 6 on only one side. Although it is also presently preferred that such polyethylene bubble-pack 4 be disposed on only one side of the foam board insulating layer 2, it is within the concept of the invention that such insulating system have polyethylene bubble-pack with aluminum foil bonded thereto to be disposed on both sides of such foam insulating layer.

In a preferred embodiment for the installation of the insulating system, the layer of polyethylene bubble-pack 4 is bonded to an upper side of the foam insulating layer 2 with the polyethylene bubble-pack 4 layer up. Thus, the aluminum foil 6 side of the layer of polyethylene bubble-pack 4 is bonded to an upper side of foam insulating layer 2 by means of an adhesive.

In laying down the foam insulating board 2 with the bubble-pack 4 already adhered to the board 2, the seams are butted together and sealed with polyethylene tape 8. It is presently preferred that such tape 8 is white polyethylene tape 8.

In the installation, according to a preferred embodiment, the foam insulating board 2 is placed on the ground, with the polyethylene side 4 of the polyethylene bubble-pack up and the aluminum foil 6 down. The seams are butted and sealed with the polyethylene tape 8. Then, if this is an installation with radiant heating, the radiant heating is installed and the concrete is poured on top of the radiant heating coils as is usually done.

It is recommended that about an inch of sand be added over the polyethylene bubble-pack 4 to facilitate the drainage of water. This will also shorten actual curing time.

If the installation is to be made under concrete slabs the steps in the installation are the same as described above except there are no heating coils to be installed. The concrete is just poured over the polyethylene bubble-pack 4. Similar to the other installation it is recommended that an inch of sand be added above the polyethylene before the concrete is poured. When used with radiant heating such insulating system 10 directs the heat inside and increases the heating system efficiency. It helps to radiate the energy in the slab and is an excellent vapor barrier. Such a system reduces time and labor over alternative insulations. The product can be used with ice and snow melts.

When such insulating system 10 is used under concrete slabs such system helps in eliminating basement dampness and increases comfort for the people using the floor, keeping the slab temperature very close to the room temperature. The installation is quick and easy and provides an excellent vapor, methane and radon barrier. The use of the bubble pack layer can reduce heat loss by up to 77%.

An alternate embodiment of the invention provides an insulating system 10 for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system comprises a foam insulating layer 2 and at least one layer of polyethylene 4 having at least one layer of aluminum foil 6 bonded thereto, the layer of aluminum foil 6 is engageable with at least one surface of the foam insulating layer 2. In this embodiment such polyethylene bubble pack 4 with such aluminum foil 6 bonded thereto can be placed either on top of such foam insulating layer 2 or under such foam insulating layer 2.

Yet, another embodiment of the invention provides an insulating system 10 for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs. The insulating system 10 comprises a foam insulating layer 2, a first layer of polyethylene 4 having at least one layer of aluminum foil 6 bonded thereto. The layer of aluminum foil 6 is engageable with a first surface of the foam insulating layer 2. There is further a second layer of polyethylene 4 having at least one layer of aluminum foil 6 bonded thereto, the layer of aluminum foil 6 is engageable with a second surface of the foam insulating layer 2.

Thus in this embodiment there would be a polyethylene bubble pack 4, an aluminum foil layer 6, the foam insulating layer 2, an aluminum foil layer 6 and a polyethylene bubble pack 4.

While both the presently preferred and a number of alternative embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above it should be understood that various other adaptations and modifications of the present invention can be envisioned by those persons who are skilled in the relevant art without departing from either the spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs, said insulating system comprising:

(a) at least one layer of polyethylene;

(b) an aluminum foil layer bonded to at least one side of said at least one layer of polyethylene; and

(c) a foam insulating layer engageable with said aluminum foil layer bonded to said at least one layer of polyethylene.

2. The insulating system, according to claim 1, wherein said at least one layer of polyethylene is a polyethylene bubble-pack.

3. The insulating system, according to claim 2, wherein said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack with said aluminum foil layer bonded thereto is bonded to an upper side of said foam insulating layer with said polyethylene bubble-pack layer up.

4. The insulating system, according to claim 3, wherein said foam insulating layer is placed on a supporting surface.

5. The insulating system, according to claim 3, wherein such supporting surface is ground.

6. The insulating system, according to claim 3, wherein said aluminum foil layer bonded to said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack is bonded to an upper side of said foam insulating layer by means of an adhesive.

7. The insulating system, according to claim 6, wherein seams between sections of said foam insulating layer with said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack with said aluminum foil layer bonded thereto are sealed with polyethylene tape.

8. The insulating system, according to claim 7, wherein said tape is white polyethylene.

9. The insulating system, according to claim 1, wherein such one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs are poured on top of said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack bonded to said foam insulation.

10. The insulating system, according to claim 1, wherein said aluminum foil layer bonded to said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack is bonded to both sides of said foam insulation.

11. The insulating system, according to claim 10, wherein said insulating system from a bottom to a top of said insulating system would be said polyethylene bubble-pack, said aluminum foil layer, said foam insulating layer, said aluminum foil layer and said polyethylene bubble-pack.

12. The insulating system, according to claim 11, wherein said aluminum foil layer of said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack is bonded to said both sides of said foam insulating layer by means of an adhesive.

13. The insulating system, according to claim 3, wherein said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack with said aluminum foil layer bonded thereto is bonded to a lower side of said foam insulating layer with said foil side of said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack bonded to said lower side of said foam insulating layer.

14. The insulating system, according to claim 13, wherein said aluminum foil side of said at least one layer of polyethylene bubble-pack is bonded to said lower side of said foam insulating layer by means of an adhesive.

15. The insulating system, according to claim 14, wherein said insulating system would be from a bottom to a top of said insulating system polyethylene bubble-pack, said aluminum foil layer and said foam insulating layer.

16. An insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs, said insulating system comprising:

(a) a foam insulating layer; and

(b) at least one layer of polyethylene having at least one layer of aluminum foil bonded thereto, said layer of aluminum foil engageable with at least one surface of said foam insulating layer.

17. The insulating system, according to claim 16, wherein said at least one layer of polyethylene is a polyethylene bubble-pack.

18. An insulating system for use under one of concrete floors with radiant heating and concrete slabs, said insulating system comprising:

(a) a foam insulating layer;

(b) a first layer of polyethylene having at least one layer of aluminum foil bonded thereto, said layer of aluminum foil engageable with a first surface of said foam insulating layer; and

(c) a second layer of polyethylene having at least one layer of aluminum foil bonded thereto, said layer of aluminum foil engageable with a second surface of said foam insulating layer.

19. The insulating system, according to claim 18, wherein said first layer and said second layer of polyethylene is a polyethylene bubble-pack.

20. The insulating system, according to claim 18, wherein said insulating system from a bottom to a top of said insulating system would be said polyethylene bubble-pack, said aluminum foil layer, said foam insulating layer, said aluminum foil layer and said polyethylene bubble-pack.