Radiant barrier shingles

Abstract

The present inventive apparatus relates generally to the field heat reflective radiant barriers that may be installed on a structure without the need to simultaneously replace rigid construction deck panels or roofing felt. The heat reflective radiant barrier is for use as a part of the outer protective water-shedding materials of a building and is substantially shingle-shaped. The heat reflective radiant barrier may be flexible or rigid.

Description

PRIORITY CLAIM

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/757,183, filed Jan. 6, 2006, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to the field of heat reflective radiant barriers that may be conveniently installed on structures without the need to replace decking panels or tar paper.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Roofs and siding are subject to potentially high temperatures, especially in summer months, that increase the heat trapped inside a building and can increase the costs of cooling the interior space of a building. One previous solution to avoid this heat increase includes putting additional layers of insulation in an attic. This solution proved problematic as it could potential consume too much attic space and actually increase the heat trapped in the house. Several other solutions involved the use of spray on materials in an attic to provide a radiant barrier with heat reflective layers and/or draping metallic foil under the beams in an attic to create a heat reflective barrier. Recently, one solution involved the use of a metallic barrier coupled with roofing felt to be rolled out on top of a roof prior to laying shingles in order to establish a radiant barrier.

All of the prior art involves a time consuming and expensive endeavor to be undertaken by a user who desires to erect a radiant barrier. In several embodiments of the present invention, some of the previously mentioned problems with prior art radiant barriers are alleviated. In one embodiment, the current inventive device presents a compact radiant barrier which can be coupled with others of its kind to completely cover a roof or a portion of a roof cheaply and effectively. In one embodiment, the current inventive device does not require the application or installation of radiant barrier materials inside of a dwelling or a building in order to erect a radiant barrier.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The various drawings supplied herein may be representative of one or more embodiments of the present inventions.

FIG. 1 illustrates a partial side view of the layers of shingle materials and radiant barrier material in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates side view of a roof with shingles in accordance with one embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates one embodiment of the present inventive device. Illustrated is the heat reflective radiant barrier 10, which is substantially comprised of a heat reflective radiant material 14 and a outer protective barrier 15. The heat reflective radiant material 14 preferably comprises a material with high heat reflection capability, such as, but not limited to, foil. In a preferred embodiment of the inventive device, the heat reflective barrier material 14 is comprised of a metallic foil, such as aluminum or tin foil. The reflective barrier material 14 is selected for its ability to block or reflect heat and may be of any suitable material that is capable of blocking or reflecting heat. The reflective barrier material 14 may be comprised of a flexible or rigid material.

The reflective barrier material 14 may be glued with adhesives, epoxies, or otherwise attached by heating, rolling, pressing, indentations, fasteners or the like to the outer protective barrier 15 at interface 18. Alternatively, a second layer of outer protective barrier 15 can be utilized wherein the reflective barrier material 14 is sandwiched between two outer protective barriers 15. One or more reflective barrier materials 14 may also be utilized therein creating a heat reflective radiant barrier 10 with a plurality of layers of outer protective barriers 15 and reflective barrier materials 14.

Referring now to FIG. 2, in a preferred embodiment, the heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is preferably shingle-shaped and can be used to replace any standard industry shingle. The heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is preferably used in roof construction 32 and can be used to form the final outer surface of roof construction 32. The heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is constructed to be part of an outer protective water-shedding layer for use on homes and buildings. The heat reflective radiant barrier 10 may be mounted directly on the construction decking layer 40 or on a layer of roofing felt 42 in a conventional fashion. The construction decking layer 40 is typically comprised of decking sheets or oriented strand board and is usually supported by rafters, crossbeams and the like.

In a preferred embodiment, the heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is secured to the outside construction decking layer 40 or felt 42. If the heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is composed of one layer of radiant heat reflective material 14 and one layer of outer protective barrier, then the radiant heat reflective material 14 is preferably installed facing the decking layer 40, thus allowing for the outer protective barrier 15 of each barrier 10 to face the exterior and provide an outer protective water shedding barrier 5. The outer protective barrier 15 is preferably constructed with a rough exterior, thereby reducing slick and potential safety hazards from rain or other weather hazards by providing a grip to a user. The outer protective barrier 15 may be composed of a flexible material or of a solid non-pliable material. Examples of materials that can be used to comprise the outer protective barrier 15 include, but are not limited to, asphalt, metal, wood, concrete, tile, single-ply shingle material, recycled content material, solar shingles, or aluminum. It is conceived that in alternate embodiments of the invention, the radiant barrier 10 may be constructed of two or more layers of protective barrier material 15 with one or more layers of heat reflective material 14, therein preferably providing a rough exterior barrier 15 on each side of the reflective material 14 to reduce slipperiness during installation and provide grip for the reflective radiant barrier 10 on the installation surface.

The heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is installable in the place of prior art roofing shingles, as part of the outer protective water shedding barrier 5. For the same costs as would normally be required to install roofing shingles, the significant advantages of providing a heat reflective radiant barrier within a shingle may also be obtained and installed on the building or house. Thus, heat reflective radiant barrier 10 is conveniently installable when the outer layer of a building or house, such as standard shingles, are replaced or for maintenance purposes. If standard shingles are to be replaced, then the heat reflective radiant barrier 10 can be installed, instead of the standard shingles, to provide a radiant barrier and to provide protective water shedding capabilities. It is foreseen that the heat reflective radiant barriers 10 are installed on buildings and home, in the manner normally consistent with shingle installation.

The foregoing disclosure and description of the invention is illustrative and explanatory thereof.

Claims

1. A heat barrier for installation on the outer surface of a dwelling, the heat barrier comprising:

an outer protective barrier; and

a heat reflective radiant material attached to said outer protective barrier.

2. The heat barrier of claim 1, wherein said heat reflective radiant material includes a metallic foil.

3. The heat barrier of claim 2, wherein said metallic foil includes at least one of aluminum foil and tin foil.

4. The heat barrier of claim 1, which includes an additional outer protective barrier, wherein said heat reflective radiant material is positioned between and attached to said outer protective barriers.

5. The heat barrier of claim 1, wherein the heat barrier is formed in the shape of a roof shingle.

6. The heat barrier of claim 1, wherein said outer protective barrier includes a rough exterior surface.

7. The heat barrier of claim 1, wherein said outer protective barrier includes at least one of: asphalt, metal, wood, concrete, tile, single-ply shingle material, recycled material, solar shingle material and aluminum.

8. The heat barrier of claim 1, wherein said outer protective barrier forms a water shedding layer.

9. A method of making a heat barrier for an outside surface of a dwelling, the method comprising:

providing an outer protective barrier; and

attaching a heat reflective radiant material to said outer protective barrier.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein attaching said heat reflective radiant material to said outer protective barrier includes at least one of: gluing, heating, rolling, pressing, attaching by using indentations and fastening.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said heat reflective radiant material includes a metallic foil.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein said metallic foil includes at least one of aluminum foil and tin foil.

13. The method of claim 9, which includes attaching an additional outer protective barrier to said heat reflective radiant material, wherein said heat reflective radiant material is positioned between said outer protective barriers.

14. The method of claim 9, which includes forming the heat barrier into the shape of a roof shingle.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said outer protective barrier includes a rough exterior surface.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein said outer protective barrier includes at least one of: asphalt, metal, wood, concrete, tile, single-ply shingle material, recycled material, solar shingle material and aluminum.

17. The method of claim 9, which includes providing a water shedding layer including said outer protective barrier.