Radiant thermal barrier

Abstract

Fan-folded panels are provided with longitudinal cuts or fold lines along an extended length of the panels to enable folding of edge sections of the panels into channel walls on either side of an intermediate panel section together forming a channel having a heat reflective surface inside the channel, the channel for insertion between two facing joists or studs so that tops of the channel walls are pushed up against a facing surface supported by the joists to form an air cavity between the facing surface and the channel acting as the radiant thermal barrier. A hydronic under floor heating pipe may be pre-installed attached to the facing surface supported by the joists or studs with the result that a proper air cavity is maintained with the radiant thermal barrier.

1 . A radiant thermal barrier, comprising an extended length of board having a laminar skin adhered to each planar surface of said board to form a laminated board, said laminated board having a series of transverse cuts spaced along said extended length through said laminated board and alternately through only one laminar skin, the uncut skin acting as a hinge between adjacent planar sections of said laminated board to enable fan-folding of said laminated board, said laminated foam board having longitudinal cuts perpendicular to said transverse cuts, each cut through only one laminar skin to enable folding of edge sections of said planar sections into channel walls with said board unfolded and extended into said extended length, said channel walls having a heat reflective laminar skin inside a channel formed by said adjacent planar sections and said channel walls folded along said longitudinal cuts for insertion between two facing joists or studs up against a facing surface to form an air cavity including said radiant thermal barrier. 
   
   
       2 . The thermal heat barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said longitudinal cuts comprise two pairs of longitudinal cuts including an outer pair cut through the laminar skin on only one side of said adjacent planar sections and an inner pair cut through the laminar skin on the other said of said adjacent planar sections so that said extended length of board is foldable along said inner pair of longitudinal cuts to form an inner layer of said channel walls and is foldable along said outer pair of longitudinal cuts to form an outer layer of said channel walls with said outer layer extending beyond said inner layer so as to form a protruding section that is fastenable to said facing joists or studs. 
   
   
       3 . The radiant thermal barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said heat reflective laminar skin inside said channel is a metalized laminar skin. 
   
   
       4 . The radiant thermal barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said heat reflective laminar skin is metalized with aluminum. 
   
   
       5 . The radiant thermal barrier of  claim 1 , wherein said heat reflective laminar skin is aluminum foil. 
   
   
       6 . A thermal panel, comprising:
 a first side and an opposing second side, a first edge on the first side, a second edge on the second side, and four folding lines substantially parallel to both the first edge and the second edge; said four folding lines comprising:   a first inner folding line provided on the first side;   a first outer folding line provided between the first inner folding line and the first edge;   a second inner folding line provided on the second side; and   a second outer folding line provided between the second inner folding line and the second edge, wherein the four folding lines partition the panel into a plurality of portions comprising;   a first edge portion between the first edge and the first outer folding line; a first intermediate portion between the first outer folding line and the first inner folding line;   a middle portion between the first inner folding line and the second folding line;   a second intermediate portion between the second outer folding line and the second inner folding line; and   a second edge portion between the second edge and the second outer folding line, such that when a force is applied about the first outer folding line and about the second outer folding line in a direction substantially perpendicular to the middle portion, the panel is folded into a shape having the middle portion between a first wall on the first side and a second wall on the second side, with the first wall made of the first intermediate portion and the first edge portion, and the second wall made of the second intermediate portion and the second edge portion.   
   
   
       7 . The thermal panel of  claim 6 , further comprising a heat reflective surface on a surface of said thermal panel.